PREFACE IF the attempt to go over ground already trodden by a historian of the power and learning of Dr. Pauli should carry with it an appearance of presumption, I may plead by way of excuse, and, as I hope, of justification, that in the first instance I had thought of confining myself to the office of a translator, and of asking permission of Dr. Pauli to reproduce his history in English. But as I went further into the history of the period, I found myself unable to agree with many of his conclusions, while the necessity of fuller treatment in certain portions of the subject, especially the constitutional aspect of it, forced itself upon me. I therefore began to study the history of De Montfort's time afresh, and the present volume is the result. I have no fear of being charged with any wish of superseding the work of Dr. Pauli, or any others which may be the fruit of conscientious toil, for it is generally admitted by historical scholars that the student can derive nothing but benefit from carefully studying the views even of a large number of independent writers on the same subject. I trust, therefore, that the following pages may be found to contain matter, not to be found elsewhere, which may deserve the attention of the historical inquirer. As regards the personal life of Simon de Montfort I have been able to add but little to the admirable account of Dr. Pauli. Still even here I have seldom relied on my predecessor, but have based my conclusions almost entirely on the records of the time. I say this however with no idea of casting a veil over my obligations to this eminent historian. The readers of this volume cannot fail to see the value which his work has for me. The other book to which I owe most is, I need scarcely say, the 'Constitutional History of England,' by Professor Stubbs; and here, again, if it should be necessary to anticipate any charge of not acknowledging my obligations, I may say that the portion of my book which has special reference to the constitutional struggle was written before the second volume of Professor Stubbs' work appeared. In that part of the volume some of my conclusions involve a slight dissent from his views; but it was with hearty satisfaction that on reading his pages I found I was in the main in agreement with the greatest of living authorities. My obligations to him are, however, not only such as appear on the surface: I cannot sufficiently express my gratitude for the invaluable aid he has given me, especially in the correction of the sheets |
