CHAP. IV. 1252 Simon leaves England, and returns to Gascony. break of hostilities. beneath thy feet.' With that he retired, and crossing at once with his eldest son Henry to France, soon drew together in the country of his birth, by the help of his family and friends, a sufficient force, with which, burning for revenge, he marched upon Gascony. He stayed some time at Boulogne on his way, and seems to have wished to see and consult Adam Marsh on affairs of importance. The Countess of Leicester went to Oxford, but failed to persuade the Franciscan to undertake the journey. A little later Adam wrote to the earl, announcing the approaching confinement of his wife, and rebuking him for carrying off the parish priest at Odiham to be his chaplain.2 The delegates returned to Gascony in high displeasure at the attitude of the English nobility, having first done homage to Prince Edward, on whom the king now formally conferred the province. But on their arrival they found the earl awaiting them. Fresh out The ridiculous precautions taken by the king in the hope of keeping peace were seen in a moment to be worthless; both sides at once proceeded to hostilities. The Gascons had at first a slight success, and, routing an ambuscade set for them, carried off a certain knight, a dear friend of the earl. Thereupon Simon roused himself as if out of sleep. Asking him who brought the news whether the enemy were far off, he at once set spurs to his horse, and, without waiting for his followers, attacked the enemy with all the headlong vehemence which distinguished him in battle. He speedily 1 Matt. Par. 844. 2 Mon. Franc. 262, 336. These letters are probably to be referred to this date. CHAP. IV. 1252 Simon. released the prisoner, but was unhorsed and surrounded. The Gascons turned all their force against him, and he was in the greatest danger, when the knight whom he had rescued clove his way through the press, and, mounting the earl upon his horse, brought him out unharmed. The battle lasted half Victory of the day, but ended in the complete rout of the enemy. Five of the chief nobles were taken, and the Gascons did not dare again to meet de Montfort in the field.' Soon after this the news of Henrys last attempt against him, alluded to above, was brought to the earl, who only remarked, 'I knew the king would make the attempt, in order to enrich some Poitevin or Provençal with my earldom.'2 Meanwhile however strenuous efforts were being made at home by the countess in his behalf, and in her attempts to mitigate the kings anger she was supported by the queen, with whom she was on excellent terms.3 Eleanors influence over her brother, that of a strong character over a weak one, had always been considerable, and doubtless contributed largely to the change we find taking place shortly after these events in the kings attitude towards the earl. into Towards the end of the year 1252 Simon retired He retires into France. It is a striking testimony to his widespread fame, and the general respect for his character, 1 Matt. Par. 845, ́nec sunt ausi amplius inimici ejus contra ipsum. obgrunnire.' Id. 853; see above, pp. 100, 101. Mrs. Greens suggestion (Princesses ii. 106), that the letters of Adam Marsh (Mon. Franc. 393, 394) relative to the above are to be referred to this period, is most probable; but that authoress seems to have no ground for saying that Simon returned to England this winter, though Adam expects he will next spring, and warns him to beware of danger; the dismissal of which she gives an account on p. 107, appears also to be misplaced. France. CHAP. 1252-53 Offer of the High Stewardship of France to Simon. Anarchy in Simon resigns his office. that the French nobility, after the death of the Queen Regent and during the absence of Louis IX on crusade, offered him a place among the guardians of the Crown, and the office of High Steward of France with all the honours appertaining to it.' It is a still more striking proof of the justice of that estimate that he twice declined this splendid offer, 'being unwilling to prove a renegade' from the service of him who had called him a traitor a few months before.2 Hardly had Simon turned his back on Gascony than the miserable country was again in uproar. Civil war broke out; every mans hand was against his neighbour; Gaston of Bearn transferred his allegiance to the King of Aragon.3 Some authorities declare that the king deposed Simon in the autumn of 1252, and ordered the edict to be proclaimed in Gascony. If this is true, it is probably the reason why he left the country. His last expedition seems to have been undertaken merely with the object of taking private vengeance on his foes, and not in his quality of seneschal. Even if he had not been formally dismissed, the events of the past year must have shown him that it would be impossible for him any longer to hold the province. At any rate he practically resigned his post in the winter of 12521253. He was afterwards compensated in a pecuniary 1 Matt. Par. 863, 879. His brother Amauri, now dead some years, had been High Constable of France. 2. Constanter comes, ne transfuga videretur, renuebat.'-Matt. Par. 865. Se transtulit ad regem Hispaniæ.'-Matt. Par. 864. Matt. West. 250; Matt. Par. 867 says it was in 1253; Ann. Dunst. 184, say the king deposed him, but he refused to obey; T. Wikes 104 says the earl, enraged at his dismissal, gave up three castles to the enemy, these being probably the three he gave up to Henry (above p. 96). CHAP. IV. 1253 arrives in point of view, at least to some extent, for the remaining two years of his term of office. He remained inactive in France some time, and looked on at the failure of all attempts to allay the disorder. The The king king arrived at Bordeaux early in September 1253, Gascony: having placed the Regency in the hands of the queen and the Earl of Cornwall. As late as April he had, or pretended to have, the intention of going to the Holy Land; when he was on the point of starting for Gascony the Pope excommunicated all who should disturb the kingdom during his absence in Palestine.1 The crusades were a pretext which Henry and the Pope knew well how to use. only partial: On his arrival in Gascony Henry succeeded in his success recovering his own castles, though at great loss; his army suffered terribly from privations. At the same time he busied himself in furthering the marriage of his son Edward to the sister of the King of Castile, and of his daughter Beatrice to the eldest son of the King of Aragon. He hoped doubtless to anticipate any attempts on Gascony from that side. His efforts towards subjugating the country were confined to the destruction of vineyards. He released his prisoners, who at once rejoined their companions. Soon after his arrival he had summoned Simon de Montfort to his aid, but apparently in vain. Matters were now looking so hopeless that he had to repeat his request in a humbler tone, begging the earl to come and treat with him, promising him a safe conduct and leave to return if he wished to do so. At the same time he 877. 1 Fad. i. 289, 292. Which the Gascons 'pugnam anilem reputabant.'-Matt. Par. he applies to Simon for aid. CHAP. IV. 1253-54 Simon comes to the kings aid. Partial reconciliation. Henry returns to England. made efforts to conciliate him by grants of money. Simons influence in France was invaluable to the king, and he was begged to bring with him all the light troops he could find. At length he gave way. If he had seen with secret joy the kings distress, he had now the serene satisfaction of returning good for evil. The last words of the old Bishop of Lincoln are said to have prompted him to this exercise of charity; he obeyed 'that dear friend who had been to him as a father confessor,' and went with a large force to the kings assistance.2 The Gascons, who feared him like a thunderbolt,'' gave way at once; the Pope opportunely excommunicated Gaston of Bearn and his associates, and the province was again reduced to order. Financial difficulties were settled between the brothers-in-law, at least in some degree, and the breach was for the time healed over. How long Simon remained with the king we do not know. He may have spent Christmas with the Court, and have returned with Earl Richard and other magnates immediately afterwards for the Parliament which met. in January 1254 to discuss the kings demands for aid. He was in England at any rate by Easter of that year. Whether it was want of money, or the arrangements for Prince Edwards marriage, which kept Henry at Bordeaux, is not clear; at any rate he remained there in wasteful idleness till the autumn of 1254, and then returned by way of Paris, where Lettres de Rois i. 87, 90, 95, 96. 2 Cui (sc. episcopo) comes tanquam patri confessori extitit familiarissimus.'-Matt. Par. 879. Tanquam fulgur formidabant.'-Matt. Par. 879. |
