Saint Simon de Montfort: The Miracles, Laments, Prayers and Hymns (Boydell Medieval Texts, 4)

The rebellion of Simon de Montfort inspired a cult at his grave in the abbey there. A miracle book, prayers and hymns inspired by him are rare evidence of an unusual aspect of popular religion. Simon de Montfort led the barons' rebellion against Henry III in 1265, and was killed at the battle of Evesham. The rebellion had attempted to force changes in central and local government on the king, and was to some degree a popular protest movement. Earl Simon was immediately the object of an unofficial miracle cult, which lasted until c.1280. In England no other layman had attracted a miracle cult since Earl Waltheof (d.1076). It centred on Montfort's grave in Evesham abbey, and it had to be practised in secret for at least two years. Earl Simon was never officially canonized. The Evesham miracle book records some two hundred alleged events, and the contemporary laments, prayers, and hymns reflect the bitterness, despair and longing that animated the cult. The only previous edition of the miracle book appeared in 1840; most of the verses and prayers also appeared in print long ago, but in scattered publications and to no uniform standard. The documents are mostly in Latin, with a few in French. Only some of the items have hitherto been translated into English prose. Collectively, the documents illustrate local and social history, popular religion, and contemporary opinion across a range of social ranks at a time of crisis. A miracle book, prayers and hymns inspired by Simon de Montfort provide rare evidence of an unusual aspect of popular religion. Simon de Montfort led the barons' rebellion against Henry III in 1265, and was killed at the battle of Evesham. The rebellion had attempted to force changes in central and local government on the king, and was to some degree a popular protest movement. Earl Simon was immediately the object of an unofficial miracle cult, which lasted until c.1280. In England no other layman had attracted a miracle cult since Earl Waltheof (d.1076). It centred on Montfort's grave in Evesham abbey, and it had to be practised in secret for at least two years. Earl Simon was never officially canonized. The Evesham miracle book records some two hundred alleged events, and the contemporary laments, prayers, and hymns reflect the bitterness, despair and longing that animated the cult. The only previous edition of the miracle book appeared in 1840; most of the verses and prayers also appeared in print long ago, but in scattered publications and to no uniform standard. The documents are mostly in Latin, with a few in French. Only some of the items have hitherto been translated into English prose. Collectively, the documents illustrate local and social history, popular religion, and contemporary opinion across a range of social ranks at a time of crisis. About the pagination of this eBook 2 Contents 8 Figures 10 Preface and Acknowledgements 11 Abbreviations 13 Introduction 18 Catalogue of the Texts and Manuscripts 41 Editorial Procedure 51 TEXTS AND TRANSLATIONS 52 The Evesham abbey miracle book 53 Miracles from the Melrose chronicle 148 A miracle from the Lanercost chronicle 153 Anno milleno 155 Chaunter mestoit 161 Chaunter mestut 165 Illos saluauit 169 Vbi fuit mons 183 Vulneratur karitas 196 Calendar entries 201 Salue Symon: antiphon, versicle and response 203 Salue Symon: motet 206 Rumpe celos 207 Mater Syon 210 Nequit stare 211 O decus militie (Cambridge MS) 215 O decus militie (Cologne MS) 217 Miles Christi 219 Select Bibliography 222 Index of Persons and Places 224