Pagina:Annales monastici Vol IV.djvu/40

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XXXn PREFACE. the country by his management of the affair of prince Edmund's attempt on the crown of Sicily (p. 134). Heuiy of Henry of Hastino-s, who is mentioned as leader of the Hastings. Londoners at Lewes, is accused of being the first to fly, — " qui pfene primus audacipe formidinem anteponens " fugit e prsplio, fug?e potius beneficio se credere tutum " duxit, quam belli casus fortuitos expectare " (p. 150). This must be received with caution.^ ottoboiii Of the legate Ottoboni's proceedings in forcing the Adrian V.) ^^^^ ops of London, Winchester, Worcester, and Chi- chester to swear to denounce as excommunicate Simon de Montfort and his party, there is a very curious account, especially as the author expresses himself doubtful as to whether their subsequent capture and treatment by the people of the Cinque Ports were not by their own wish (sponte nescio vel invite), p. 156. Of the lamentable result of the revenge for the legate's denunciations taken by tlie people of the Cinque Ports, he speaks very strongly ; and he points out the folly of Simon de Mont- fort's statement that the English might be well sup- ported on their own products without commerce with foreigners ; ^ though he mentions that some, to please the earl, wore their clothes undyed, instead of sending them to Flanders to be dyed (p. 158). In a subsequent year (1293) either he or the annalist who followed him at Osney speaks of the inconvenience in England from the want of French goods in consequence of Philip IV.'s prohibition of commerce with the English (pp. 335, 356). Roj'alist as he is, he yet speaks of the over-hastiness with which S. Louis gave his judgment respecting the provisions of Oxford (forte minus sapienter et utiliter quam deceret, p. 139), and he speaks strongly as to the injvistice of imprisoning the London citizens who went to the king at Windsor in 1265 (pp. 176, 177). Though he

  • See Blaauw's Baron's War, I ^ Jh. ip. 2A.

p. 172. I