Pagina:Annales monastici Vol IV.djvu/39

PREFACE. XXxi many, and of his stopping the tolls on the Rhine except at Boppart and Woerden (p. 222), and of his marriage with Beatrice of Falkenstein (p. 224). During the war the historian mentions the attack by the Londoners on Richard's manor of Isleworth, and their ingratitude towards one who had been their bene- factor (p. 140). The account in the next page (p. 141) of the rioters destroying a chapel of S. Cuthbert in the manor of Walter de Merton, where four of them were killed by a beam, shows that the author had some means of his o^m for knowing what was going on.^ Just before the battle of Lewes (p. 148) he represents Simon de Mont- fort as trying to gain over king Richard by the promise of 50,000 marks,^ and seems rather to hint that the offer, though finally rejected, was taken into consideration. His character, however, must have always stood high, as throughout his career all parties were so continually ready to submit to his arbitration, and he seems to have been genuinely anxious for peace, and to heal the dis- cords which were dividing the country. Gilbert de Clare, the earl of Gloucester, is rather kept Gilbert de in the background by Wykes ; his joining De Montfort '^' is attributed to the influence of liis mother, Maud de Lacy (p. 140). Of Walter de Cantelupe, bishop of Worcester, though Walter de on the barons' side, he speaks well ; mentioning his "'^ ^^^' holy life above all other bisliops, and adding that had it not been for his opposition to the king, he would have merited insertion in the catalogue of Saints (p. 180). On the other hand, he does not spare Peter de Ekeblanke Peter (Aigue-Blanche), bishop of Hereford, though a royalist, Blanche' using very violent terms respecting the ills brought on ' So too in the account of prince i " rant cum domino Edwardo fideli- Edward's crusade, he states he had | " ter asserebant " (p. 238). information from some who were - See Pauli, Gcschichte von Eny- with him : "sicut quidam qui fue- | land, iii. p. 767. c 2