BRITISH

SUMMARY.

CHAPTER I.

Were the Ages of Faith pacific?—State of the question-We are not obliged to show that ages of faith

were untroubled-Peace from war not promised by the gospel-Wars and disorders, therefore, do not

form ground of objection to the title of these ages to the character of eminently Christian-The causes

of war always exist-Consequent misery of the present life-A glance at the most warlike periods of the

Christian history

p. 5

CHAPTER II.

The love and desire of peace which prevailed in ages of faith-The pacific character which nations

assumed-Peacefulness deemed synonymous with conversion-How peace was extolled: how war was

regarded with horror-The objection of modern writers respecting the wars of the middle ages might be

turned against later times-Instances of the manner in which wars were stigmatized-The demon known

chiefly as the enemy of peace-The people detested war-Warriors themselves had remorse

CHAPTER III.

p. 19

The desire of peace expressed in the prayers, hymns, and regular office of the church-A sense of

danger indicated by them-Other devotions for peace practised-Ancient local offices cited-The antiphon

Media vita-Public supplications for peace-The flagellants-The processions of the whites

CHAPTER IV.

p. 37

The peace invoked and promised by the Prince of peace was known to be chiefly internal,-peace of

the breast-Testimonies of the middle ages cited-How peace was enjoyed; first, from internal disorder,

men were at peace with God, and, therefore, at peace with the evils of life, with death, with the grave;

secondly, they were at peace with themselves: hence they had the spirit of wisdom, and were personally

at peace with the enemies of truth; thirdly, they were at peace with men: but they renounced an evil

peace-Definitions of evil peace-The ancient portraits denote this threefold peace

CHAPTER V.

P. 47

From internal peace followed the peace of domestic life-The simple manners of these ages promoted

it-Peace between all members of the house-The patriarchal character of Catholic families indicated

peace-The peace of marriage-Discords appeased by marriages

CHAPTER VI.

p. 60

From domestic peace followed peace through society-The pacific character of all Catholic life-Litiga-
tion denounced and shunned-The legal profession sanctified, but a horror prevailed for law-suits-men
preferred suffering loss-Causes referred to arbitration by the clergy-Diplomas of popes and bishops
cited-The trial by battle condemned as contrary to peace-To all disputes men were averse-Ambitious

desires as contrary to peace repressed-They were excluded by the prevailing taste for natural joys-

The pacific character of life in cities-in the country-The spirit of peace had descended through religion

upon men

CHAPTER VII.

P. 78

From the domestic and social peace passed to all views of the political constitution-The pacific ideal

of all government in ages of faith-Its object was to extend the good of peace-Ancient testimonies cited

-The ritual of coronations-Representations of monarchy-The pacific education of princes-The

pacific symbols of power-The pacific instructions given to kings-The pacific counsellors of kings-The

pacific intervention of women in government-The judicial character of the monarchy preferred to a

warlike The parliament-The pacific duties of all administrators-Peace indicated by the harmony

between the temporal and spiritual powers-The desire of establishing a unity of empire arose from the

desire of peace-The pacific ideal of subjects implied in the views of government-No undue advantage

taken of it-The good of the people recognised as essential to states

CHAPTER VIII.

p. 95

The pacific ideal of government, how far realised-The pacific kings, princes, and nobles of the ages of

faith-Testimonies of tombs-The middle ages enjoyed more peace than modern writers pretend-

Evidence alleged-Origin and nature of the truce of God

CHAPTER IX.

p. 116

Peace resulted from the union of all nations by the Catholic Church-No national spirit opposed to

this harmony-The love of one's country cherished-No wars of opinion then-No wars of religion-No

national wars-Political peace desired and ratified on religious grounds

CHAPTER X.

p. 131

What wars were sanctioned-General character of warlike operations in the middle ages-Wars

commenced, conducted, and terminated in a spirit of peace-The calamities of war fell not on all men-

Multitudes enjoyed exemption from them-Wars did not interrupt works of peace-Destructive modes of

warfare prohibited-The pacific ideal of the military profession in those ages-The pacific instructions

given to soldiers-What were their duties-Chivalry instituted with a view to counteract their vices

and promote peace-The pacific warriors that flourished-Three kinds of war sanctioned; first, wars for

justice, examples; secondly, wars for mercy, examples-The crusades to rescue oppressed brethren-

The Templars

CHAPTER XI.

p. 138

Thirdly, wars for peace-Border wars to repel invaders-Internal wars against disturbers of peace-

The degenerate feudal lords-Terrific character of their castles-The cries of the Church against local

tyrants-Brotherhoods instituted to defend the country against them-The royal power invoked-In

Italy feudal tyrants subdued-The wars of the French kings against their castles-The clergy used their

temporal power to defend the people, and erected castles-Wars of German bishops against the castles of

the robber-knights-Their labours to secure peace-These wicked Castellans sometimes converted p. 159

CHAPTER XII.

The blessed peace-makers-Men who imparted peace by pacific means passed in review-including

kings, princes, feudal lords, knights, who were not the advocates of duelling in the modern sense, obscure

men, women, the clergy generally, who condemned tournaments as contrary to peace-The sovereign

pontiffs-The papal legates-The great prelates-The monks and friars

p. 183