Sarum - Edward Rutherfurd [307]
But to his surprise Aaron had taken him by the arm and begged:
“Don’t do so. It can only harm you, and it won’t help me.” And when Peter protested the Jew reminded him: “Look what happened to the Franciscans.”
It was sadly true that when, ten years before, the Franciscan order had protested against the inhumanity – and plain mendacity – of the Jewish persecutions and blood-accusations, the prejudice against the Jews had been so strong that they themselves had been universally execrated. Peter had continued his donations to the brotherhood in New Salisbury, but he knew of many others who had not.
“But Montfort’s a reformer,” he countered.
Aaron smiled ruefully.
“My friend, Simon de Montfort is almost as extravagant as the king. He’s in debt to Jewish moneylenders up to his ears. He hates us more than anyone.”
Peter had parted from him despondently. And at London, whenever he had been able to strike up a conversation with those who were taking part in the proceedings, he found that even the burghers from York and Lincoln had little interest in these and other practical affairs which concerned him.
“There are high politics to be dealt with first, friend,” one of them told him seriously. “Until we settle which party holds which castles, and whether Prince Edward will come to terms with the council as well as his father, nothing else can be done I assure you.”
These were matters about which the merchant had no opinions. After four days he decided to go. But he was not discouraged – indeed, what he had seen made him more determined than ever to take part in the future.
“This is not my parliament,” he thought. “But the next one will be. Or the next.”
In fact, the parliament of 1265, which lasted into March, accomplished a great deal. The feudal questions of the king and prince’s castles were settled, leaving Montfort secure but the royal party appeased. New officers of state were appointed, cases heard, and the wool trade with Flanders was reopened. Even Montfort’s dislike of the Jews was modified later that year when he realised that he must either lift some of the burdens upon them or destroy them as a source of government funds completely.
But across the Channel, the papal legate waited – for whatever the parliament might agree, his position remained unchanged. Montfort, the defier of the pope, must be rooted out of England. And on the Welsh borders, the friends of Prince Edward, though they had sworn oaths of loyalty to Simon and the new government, were waiting too.
Back in the relative calm of Sarum however, Peter Shockley watched these great events unfolding with detachment. When, that summer, Prince Edward escaped to his friends in the west, and led them against Montfort, he hoped that Montfort would prevail. But when, on August 4, the great man was trapped and killed at the battle of Evesham, he was not downhearted.
“These are quarrels between the magnates now,” he said to Alicia. “The burgesses have been allowed into the king’s council: that is all that matters.” And although his wife smiled at his naïvety, the merchant felt sure that events one day would prove him right.
For the next two years, a great and majestic series of feudal events took place. The friends of Montfort great and small were formally deprived of their lands. Fortunately however, since his own loyalty was well known, old Godefroi was forgiven his son’s rebellion, and left in peace; Simon’s son fought on but had to flee the island and his last followers, after holding out in the eastern isle of Ely, finally surrendered. The papal legate Ottobuono with all the pomp of his position came to England and, as great churchmen had done before, arranged in his Dictum of Kenilworth a lasting settlement which would allow the rebels, on payment of stiff penalties, to regain their lands; and in the great Statute of Marlborough he not only reconfirmed the liberties in Magna Carta but added most of the Provisions of Simon de Montfort as well. The net result of all these high feudal politics was accurately