body durst threaten, much less offer to offend me, neither could my sword endure it. I have been entrusted and employed in public negociations, which are ever attended with great difficulties, but never contracted therein any dishonour or reproach. And I should have thought my labour ill bestowed, had it not been upon signal and eminent occasions-not desiring to acquire to myself the name of a man of honour and honesty, by the unjust and unworthy means which some men propose to themselves. For he that is not an honest man, but because the world should know him to be such, and honour and esteem him the more for it; he who will not do good, but upon condition that men should know his virtue, is not a person from whom much service may be expected. We must, saith the maxim, go to war out of duty, and wait for that recompense which cannot fail to attend all worthy actions, though never so secret; we must content ourselves with our good intentions, it being a mighty pleasure and satisfaction which a well-governed conscience receives in itself for well doing. My courage therefore remaining in my breast entire proof against all the assaults of fortune, and having my conscience clear in this, that I never gave you any occasion whatsoever to move you against me, I have made no difficulty to appear in your assembly, to bring my head, not my treasures, to expose it to the mercy of the soldiers; not to bring my riches, as so many bulwarks to secure my country, which you have already without cause reduced to a very miserable condition, but to resign myself to be judged by your council, and to submit to whatsoever shall be agreed upon thereby. For I had much rather never been born than to survive my reputation, and I could not endure to see that honour and glory extinguished, which I justly acquired in my younger years. Have you ever known me to be an enemy to the kingdom of France? If so, then let me shamefully lose both my life and honour together. And who is it that dares say it to my face? Have I ever conspired against the church? What then can I have done to deserve such treatment as this? And do you think, that for the sake of the little time which I have to spend in this vain and trifling life, I would forfeit the life eternal, and expose myself to everlasting death, to please any one's fancy and desire? Wise men are wont to propose more just and honourable ends in so weighty and im portant an enterprise. Every person of honour would rather choose to sacrifice his honour than his conscience. It is that which I look upon as the most valuable jewel in all my cabinet. Let me, I pray you, enjoy the same privilege which the kings of France have given me; that is, to be accounted faithful, as they have formerly esteemed me, when they had occasion to make use of my house: to the end, that not being provoked, I may not be constrained to defend myself, and offend you, which would be contrary both to my inclinations and design. This I solemnly vow and protest to you." d

Roger the earl of Foix's son was very much concerned at the submission of his father, as being an action beneath the grandeur of their house. The king of Arragon was likewise distasted at it; for although he was allied to the earl Simon, yet he did not spare to let him know, that he could not approve of his unjust usurpations, under the colour of religion.

The earl Simon on the other hand, spoke openly and aloud; "That the conquests were just and lawful: that he had his right from the pope: that

d Hologaray, Hist. of Foix, p. 133.

he possessed nothing, but what he had won by the sword: that he had an army to answer whomsoever offered to oppose him in it, though it were the king of Arragon himself, and strength enough to defend himself against any one whatsoever.

The king of Arragon wrote to the earl of Foix, that since the legate and earl Simon had deceived him, in not making restitution of his lands and places, which they had promised to restore unto him, he must trust them no more: that the design of earl Simon was too evident and well known; which was, to make himself great and rich out of other men's substance, under the cloak of religion; if a stop were not put to his ambition and avarice, by the joint arms and confederacy of those, whom he had already robbed and deprived of their goods, together with those who were apprehensive, that having begun with their neighbours, his inclinations would prompt him to persecute them without end; for that the insatiable desires of men are boundless. That he knew, he did not seek after an alliance with him, out of any desire he had to be honoured thereby; but only to hinder him from succouring and assisting those, whom he designed to strip naked of what they had. He also sent letters to Roger the earl of Foix his son, exhorting him to strengthen himself against the unjust usurpations of Montfort, or otherwise he would be made a general laughing stock: that the earl Simon was but weak, accompanied with a few discontented crusaders, ready to return home; and that he should therefore take the field, and then he would quickly see who would assist him.

Earl Remond being troubled at the alienation of the king of Arragon, by the marriage of his son with Simon of Montfort's daughter, thought it necessary to try to regain him by another marriage. He therefore moved a match between Remond his only son, and one of the king of Arragon's daughters. The king of Arragon complied with the motion. Earl Simon was displeased at it. The monk saith, That that marriage rendered the king of Arragon very infamous and suspected, because the earl of Toulouse was a manifest persecutor of the church.'

The king of Arragon knowing the murmuring of earl Simon, did not fear openly to declare his design, to defend the earls of Foix and Toulouse; that one was his brother in law, and the other his subject. That he did not doubt, but that God would one day put it into their power to make him repent of his unjust conquests.

Earl Simon being advertised of the threats of the king of Arragon, besought him to blot those ill opinions, which he had conceived of him, out of his mind, and he would make him judge and umpire of the difference betwixt him and the earl of Foix. The earl of Foix, on the other hand, entreated the king of Arragon to comply with the motion, who obtained of earl Simon a restitution of all his lands, except Pamiers. When Roger his son heard of that exception, he presently said, that he would agree to nothing of that; but that he knew well enough how to recover that by the sword, which he by treachery and false pretences had unjustly taken from him. He took up arms, entered the field, foraged the country, and so seasonably laid hold of all opportunities and occasions, and managed his time with such an incredible diligence in all his exploits, that he made the army of the cross feel the bloody effects of his valour.

• Hologaray, Hist. of Foix, p. 133.

f Petrus Vallis Sarnens. chap. 64.

The earl of Thoulouse, on the other hand, laid hold on that occasion, kindled and fomented those sparks of division, endeavoured to insinuate himself into the friendship of the earl of Foix, and they made between them and their confederates, a league offensive and defensive, against earl Simon, their common enemy; and met together at Toulouse to confirm it by oath; and thereupon they prepared themselves for the war: every one of them contributing according to their abilities, to so weighty and important an affair.

CHAPTER X.

Siege of Castelnau d'Arri-Earl Simon's retreat.-The Earl of Foix offered him battle.-The King of Arragon interceded for the Earls of Toulouse, Foix, and Comminge.-He wrote in their behalf to the Council at de la Vaur.-The King of Arragon bade defiance to Earl Simon.Levies made on both sides; but Earl Simon advancing, took several places.

THE first exploit which the confederates undertook in that war, was the siege of Castelnau d'Arri. They marched thither in the following manner; the van guard was led by the earl of Foix and his son Roger; the main body by Remond earl of Toulouse; and the prince and sovereign de Bearn brought up the rear. That army consisted of fifty thousand infantry, and ten thousand cavalry; and moreover the city of Toulouse was well furnished and supplied with a good strong garrison, and all sorts of ammunition and instruments of war. Earl Simon threw himself into Castelnau d'Arri. That place was very well situated, and the castle much better; and the city was sufficiently provided with soldiers, officers, and ammunition, to hold out a long siege. The earl of Foix made his approach, and lodged himself near the rampires, where he erected several machines. The enemy at the time made a sally out of the city, and rudely fell upon the vanguard, but they were so vigorously repulsed, that many were left dead in the trenches. The suburbs were taken by the besiegers. Earl Roger was there wounded with a stone from the city, cast out of one of their engines. The earl of Toulouse encamped upon a hill over against the castle, encompassed and surrounded with barriers. The prince de Bearn pitched on the other side of the city. The army of the Albigenses hourly increased upon the report which was spread abroad, that earl Simon was there blocked up, so great a desire had every one to see his ruin. Because there were too many Albigenses at that siege, it was judged convenient that Earl Remond should go with a party to surprise certain little castles, which were disadvantageous to the army. He made himself master of Puilaurens, Albi, Rabasteins, Gaillac, Montagu, and Sauerdun.

Earl Simon began to be sensible of his folly, in suffering himself to be blocked up in Castelnau d'Arri; and that he, a general, ought to be at liberty, to make a general provision for those places which did depend upon his authority. He left Guy de Lewis, called the marshal of the faith, within the place; and the better to favour his escape, he caused a sally to be made upon the besiegers, to engage some of the troops whilst he

made it.

Earl Remond being advertised of Earl Simon's departure, was extremely vexed, rather out of shame, than from an apprehension of any evil, which

he supposed would follow it. For the report had been every where spread abroad, that the general was in the cage, and that he should not come out thence, but bareheaded with a rope about his neck, begging for mercy. They complained one of another; the earl of Foix, because they had left him to engage in so fierce a battle without succours; and earl Remond, because he had run himself into such extreme dangers, without communicating it to any one.

At length they resolved to raise the siege, because winter was drawing on, and a vast levy of crusaders were marching towards them, whose lives the earl Simon would not much value, because he had the pope's bull, that such as should lose their lives in that war, would go straight into paradise, as free from sin, as a hen-roost is from scent. This earl Simon began to be puffed up with pride, and made a scoff at the great and fruitless preparations, which the Albigenses made for the war, and especially that they had suffered him to make his escape, though they were twelve to one.

Upon that retreat, the people of Castelnau must needs pursue the army: but they came off with the worst of it. For Roger turned upon them with that fury, that he chased and slew the enemy even to their gates.

The monk of the valleys of Sernay writes very fabulously concerning this matter. For he says, that although the army of the Albigenses did consist of one hundred thousand fighting men, yet the people of Castelnau d'Arri did gather their vintage, as if there had been no enemy before the city, and that the servants went to water the horses, half a league from the place, the Albigenses never daring to set upon them. Thus you may see the fidelity of such monkish historiographers; yet when he falls to vilifying and reproaches, he knows no limits in his excess. In the same place he put himself in a rage against one Savari de Mauleon, president to the king of England at Guienne, who had led some troops before Castelnau d'Arri in favour of the Albigenses. He calls him infidel, oppugner of the church, a most virulent and venomous person, a wicked and undone wretch, an enemy to God, the prince of apostacy, artificial in cruelty, the author of perversity, a diabolical person, nay even the devil himself. He had either doubtless followed very close upon their heels, or else this style is very monkish.a

After this retreat, every one of the Albigensian lords withdrew into their own quarters. The earl of Foix understanding that earl Simon was gone to Pamiers, where he did much annoy his subjects, departed from Toulouse with two thousand men, and came to the gates of Pamiers, to offer earl Simon battle, but he would not hearken thereto, finding his crusaders too weak to run the hazard of it; and doubting that the Albigenses would take the field the spring following, earl Simon thought of nothing so much all the winter, as to fortify those places in his possession, so as that they might hold out a siege. Amongst others, endeavouring to make provision for Famiaux, a place of importance. Roger perceiving the design, lay in ambush so advantageously, that he routed and defeated all those who brought them either ammunition or provision.

Earl Simon in the meanwhile, who feared nothing but the king of Arragon, got the legate to write to him, that he should intermeddle no more with the affairs of the Albigenses, unless he would involve himself in the same miseries and excommunication with them. He desired also that

a Petrus Vallis Sarn. p. 113.

Philip king of France would write to him, and intreat him not to take their parts, who are enemies to the pope and the church. The legate also got the pope to write to him upon the same subject.

Those intreaties of the pope and the king of France were to him as so many express commands, and therefore when the earls of Foix, Toulouse, and Comminge, were urgent upon him to assist them; he told them he would do it, but that it was necessary first to try whether he could not procure that by peaceable and gentle means, which could not without danger be obtained by war. That the legate had called a council of all those of his party, that he would write to them, and that if he could do no good by letters, he would endeavour to bring them to reason by arms. He therefore wrote to the said council, entreating them to put an end to those cruel and bloody wars undertaken under colour of religion, offering for the earls' part, their obedience to the pope and the court of Romebut that they must never promise themselves any peace, until they had made restitution to the said earls of all their lands and possessions. The council at de la Vaur made the following answer.

"We have heard the requests which you have formerly made in behalf of the earl of Toulouse, his son and his council, the earls of Foix and Comminge, and the lord of Bearn, in which you style yourself the humble and devoted son of the church; for which we return hearty thanks to our Lord God and your highness. You may assure yourself, that out of regard to the love you bear to the church, we would readily hear, and gladly comply with your petitions—but in answer to your highness, and the intercession which you make for the earl of Toulouse, his council, and his son, we do certify and assure you, that their cause and the determination thereof, doth belong to our sovereign father, he having reserved it to himself. You may call to mind if you please, the infinite number of graces, favours, and offers, made to him by our holy father the pope, after innumerable cruelties, and horrid outrages committed by him: you may also remember the kind and endearing entertainment which he found at the hands of the then abbot of Cisteaux, and the legate at Montpelier, in the archbishopric of Narbonne, about two years ago; as likewise the offers that were then made to him, which he rejected and refused to accept. Which grace and favour he did in such a manner contemn and despise, that he did often and arrogantly make himself appear to be an enemy not only to God, but also to his church; for which reason he hath deserved to be forever banished and excluded from the favour of God, and of his church. As to the petitions of the earls of Foix and Comminge, and the lord of Bearn, they have falsified and infringed the oaths which they took; and instead of conforming themselves to that mild and courteous admonition and instruction given, they are filled with that abominable heresy, for which they were to their great shame and disgrace excommunicated. This is all the answer that we can make in satisfaction to the request of your highness. Given at La Vaur the fifteenth of the Kalends of Febru

́ary, Anno 1212."

The king of Arragon being much moved with this answer, wrote a second time to the council, requiring truce for the said earls, until an answer could come from the pope: but it was denied.

The earl of Foix was very well pleased that the council had not satisfied the requests of the king of Arragon, because he must have been