Simon De Montfort
August 6, 2015
G.D.O'Bradovich III
1
I was pleasantly surprised by "The Perfect Heresy: The Life and Death of the Cathars" for two reasons: firstly, almost all books outside of few remaining reference books that are still available in the once glorious Vigo County Public Library tend to be only the most popular among the patrons, that is, contain the most nonsense and, secondly, the topic of southern France is usually treated in an extraordinary, mystical or conspiratorial manner. The book is well written and I recommend it, especially for the final chapters that explains the de-evolution of the subject matter by certain individuals in the latter decades of the twentieth century.
The reading of Simon de Montfort's death reminded me of Fomenko's commentary of another warrior killed in a familiar manner. As Fomenko clearly writes and cautions his readers, his theories are not based on philology or linguistics, but mathematics. While I understand the main points of Fomenko's new chronology, many times I can not relate to, or fully understand, the minutiae that is afforded many minor subjects. However, after reading "The Perfect Heresy", doing my own research and writing the following essay, I have more appreciation for the ironic death of Simon de Montfort within the Medieval period. If we transpose the endless fighting in "Judea" to France and Italy, then the references to the the multiple massacre of civilians, fortified towns, walls and towers can be understood as the endless wars of the popes: Viva la Vendetta.
Simon de Montfort was a leader in the Albigensian Crusade and “After maintaining the siege for nine months, Simon was killed on 25 June 1218 while combating a sally by the besieged. His head was smashed by a stone from a mangonel, operated, according to the most detailed source, by the donas e tozas e mulhers ("ladies and girls and women") of Toulouse.”[Wikipedia] We note the triple emphasis on the gender of the defenders.
The crusade and the sacking of Constantinople (1204) occurred during the reign of Innocent III (of Unam Sanctam fame). Although Crusades are dated to the 11th century, they are first recorded in English sources in the 16th century.
The reading of Simon de Montfort's death reminded me of Fomenko's commentary of another warrior killed in a familiar manner. As Fomenko clearly writes and cautions his readers, his theories are not based on philology or linguistics, but mathematics. While I understand the main points of Fomenko's new chronology, many times I can not relate to, or fully understand, the minutiae that is afforded many minor subjects. However, after reading "The Perfect Heresy", doing my own research and writing the following essay, I have more appreciation for the ironic death of Simon de Montfort within the Medieval period. If we transpose the endless fighting in "Judea" to France and Italy, then the references to the the multiple massacre of civilians, fortified towns, walls and towers can be understood as the endless wars of the popes: Viva la Vendetta.
Simon de Montfort was a leader in the Albigensian Crusade and “After maintaining the siege for nine months, Simon was killed on 25 June 1218 while combating a sally by the besieged. His head was smashed by a stone from a mangonel, operated, according to the most detailed source, by the donas e tozas e mulhers ("ladies and girls and women") of Toulouse.”[Wikipedia] We note the triple emphasis on the gender of the defenders.
The crusade and the sacking of Constantinople (1204) occurred during the reign of Innocent III (of Unam Sanctam fame). Although Crusades are dated to the 11th century, they are first recorded in English sources in the 16th century.
2
The following citations are courtesy of the Oxford English Dictionary (only the three earliest examples are cited):
a. Hist. A military expedition undertaken by the Christians of Europe in the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries to recover the Holy Land from the Muslims.
α.
1577 W. Harrison Descr. Eng. (1878) iii. iv. ii. 29
... preached the Croisad there.
1616 King James VI & I Remonstr. Right of Kings 161
...as vndertooke the Croisade...
1753 Ld. Chesterfield Let. 1 Jan. (1932) V. 1991
His [sc.Voltaire's] history of the Croisades.
β.
1611 J. Speed Hist. Great Brit. ix. xx. 734/1
A Croisado heere against the Turkes.
1655 J. Howell 4th Vol. Familiar Lett. xix. 50
A Croisada to the Holy Land.
1748 Ld. Chesterfield Let. 20 Sept. (1932) IV. 1222
This gave rise to the Croisadoes...
γ.
1631 J. Weever Anc. Funerall Monuments 793
To preach the Crusado.
a1678 A. Marvell Britannia & Raleigh in State Poems (1689) 12
Her true Crusada shall...
1765 H. Walpole Castle of Otranto (1834) v. 249
Until his return from the crusado.
δ.
1706 Phillips's New World of Words (ed. 6)
Croisado or Crusade.
c1750 W. Shenstone Ruin'd Abbey 118
Here the cowl'd zealots..Urg'd the crusade.
1755–73 Johnson Dict. Eng. Lang.
Crusade, Crusado: see Croisade.
b. transf. Any war instigated and blessed by the Church for alleged religious ends, a ‘holy war’; applied esp. to expeditions undertaken under papal sanction against infidels or heretics.
1603 J. Florio tr. Montaigne Ess. ii. xxvii. 403
...who vnder the title of a Croysada...
1624 R. Montagu Gagg for New Gospell? xiii. 95
Vrban... may proclaime a Croisado...
1681 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Reformation: 2nd Pt. 122
Afterwards croisades came in use...
†3. A papal bull or commission authorizing a crusade, or expedition against infidels or heretics.
1588 (title) , The Holy Bull and Crusado of Rome, first published by ... Gregory the XIII.
1643 W. Prynne Soveraigne Power Parl. App 64
... a Crossado from the Pope against ...
a1677 I. Barrow Treat. Pope's Supremacy (1680) 31
... by Croisade, &c. to fight...
a. Hist. A military expedition undertaken by the Christians of Europe in the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries to recover the Holy Land from the Muslims.
α.
1577 W. Harrison Descr. Eng. (1878) iii. iv. ii. 29
... preached the Croisad there.
1616 King James VI & I Remonstr. Right of Kings 161
...as vndertooke the Croisade...
1753 Ld. Chesterfield Let. 1 Jan. (1932) V. 1991
His [sc.Voltaire's] history of the Croisades.
β.
1611 J. Speed Hist. Great Brit. ix. xx. 734/1
A Croisado heere against the Turkes.
1655 J. Howell 4th Vol. Familiar Lett. xix. 50
A Croisada to the Holy Land.
1748 Ld. Chesterfield Let. 20 Sept. (1932) IV. 1222
This gave rise to the Croisadoes...
γ.
1631 J. Weever Anc. Funerall Monuments 793
To preach the Crusado.
a1678 A. Marvell Britannia & Raleigh in State Poems (1689) 12
Her true Crusada shall...
1765 H. Walpole Castle of Otranto (1834) v. 249
Until his return from the crusado.
δ.
1706 Phillips's New World of Words (ed. 6)
Croisado or Crusade.
c1750 W. Shenstone Ruin'd Abbey 118
Here the cowl'd zealots..Urg'd the crusade.
1755–73 Johnson Dict. Eng. Lang.
Crusade, Crusado: see Croisade.
b. transf. Any war instigated and blessed by the Church for alleged religious ends, a ‘holy war’; applied esp. to expeditions undertaken under papal sanction against infidels or heretics.
1603 J. Florio tr. Montaigne Ess. ii. xxvii. 403
...who vnder the title of a Croysada...
1624 R. Montagu Gagg for New Gospell? xiii. 95
Vrban... may proclaime a Croisado...
1681 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Reformation: 2nd Pt. 122
Afterwards croisades came in use...
†3. A papal bull or commission authorizing a crusade, or expedition against infidels or heretics.
1588 (title) , The Holy Bull and Crusado of Rome, first published by ... Gregory the XIII.
1643 W. Prynne Soveraigne Power Parl. App 64
... a Crossado from the Pope against ...
a1677 I. Barrow Treat. Pope's Supremacy (1680) 31
... by Croisade, &c. to fight...
We will linger on the irony of Simon being killed in battle by a projectile from the women defenders. Interestingly, there is an account of another warrior killed by a woman in the ninth chapter of the book of Judges.
“22 When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel…”
Simon “was appointed lord over all the newly acquired territory as Count of Toulouse and Duke of Narbonne” in 1215 and died in 1218, that is, he ruled three years.
“Peter de Vaux de Cernay... wrote an account of the crusade. Historians consider this to be a piece of propaganda to justify the actions of the crusaders; Peter justified their cruelties as doing "the work of God" against depraved heretics.”
The author of the ninth chapter of Judges is convinced of Abimelech’s ruthlessness. The curious reader can peruse Abimelech’s heroics at his leisure. We continue in Judges:
52 And Abimelech came unto the tower... and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
53 And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech's head, and all to brake his skull.
54 Then he called hastily unto the young man his armourbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A women slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.
Unlike Simon, Abimelech did not die in battle because of a woman. Similar to the medieval romances, we encounter many towers in the adventures of Abimelech. We could not help but notice the oddity of the word “armourbearer” in the context of the Old Testament. We learn that the word, נָשָׂא nasa' [Strong’s H5375], is found 645 times in the Old Testament and is translated in a variety of ways:
“(bare, lift, etc...) up (219), bear (115), take (58), bare (34), carry (30), (take, carry)..away (22), borne (22), armourbearer (18), forgive (16), accept (12), exalt (8), regard (5), obtained (4), respect (3),misc (74).” [Blue Letter Bible]
We see the from the majority of the examples, that nasa is frequently translated for a type or variety of movement. Of the fourteen times “nasa” is translated as “armourbearer”, nine are found in First Samuel, three are found in First Chronicles and one is found in Second Samuel.
We offer the following translations for the Gentle Reader’s convenience:
“22 When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel…”
Simon “was appointed lord over all the newly acquired territory as Count of Toulouse and Duke of Narbonne” in 1215 and died in 1218, that is, he ruled three years.
“Peter de Vaux de Cernay... wrote an account of the crusade. Historians consider this to be a piece of propaganda to justify the actions of the crusaders; Peter justified their cruelties as doing "the work of God" against depraved heretics.”
The author of the ninth chapter of Judges is convinced of Abimelech’s ruthlessness. The curious reader can peruse Abimelech’s heroics at his leisure. We continue in Judges:
52 And Abimelech came unto the tower... and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
53 And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech's head, and all to brake his skull.
54 Then he called hastily unto the young man his armourbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A women slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.
Unlike Simon, Abimelech did not die in battle because of a woman. Similar to the medieval romances, we encounter many towers in the adventures of Abimelech. We could not help but notice the oddity of the word “armourbearer” in the context of the Old Testament. We learn that the word, נָשָׂא nasa' [Strong’s H5375], is found 645 times in the Old Testament and is translated in a variety of ways:
“(bare, lift, etc...) up (219), bear (115), take (58), bare (34), carry (30), (take, carry)..away (22), borne (22), armourbearer (18), forgive (16), accept (12), exalt (8), regard (5), obtained (4), respect (3),misc (74).” [Blue Letter Bible]
We see the from the majority of the examples, that nasa is frequently translated for a type or variety of movement. Of the fourteen times “nasa” is translated as “armourbearer”, nine are found in First Samuel, three are found in First Chronicles and one is found in Second Samuel.
We offer the following translations for the Gentle Reader’s convenience:
New International Version
New Living Translation English Standard Version New American Standard Bible Holman Christian Standard Bible International Standard Version NET Bible GOD'S WORD® Translation Jubilee Bible 2000 King James 2000 Bible American King James Version American Standard Version Douay-Rheims Bible Darby Bible Translation English Revised Version Webster's Bible Translation World English Bible Young's Literal Translation |
... to his armor-bearer..
... to his young armor bearer... ... to the young man his armor-bearer... ... to the young man, his armor bearer... He quickly called his armor-bearer... ... to his young armor bearer... ... to the young man who carried his weapons... He quickly called his armorbearer... ... the young man, his armourbearer... ...the young man his armorbearer... ... the young man his armor bearer... ... the young man his armorbearer... And he called hastily to his armourbearer... .... to the young man that carried his armour... ...the young man his armourbearer... ... to the young man his armor-bearer... ... to the young man his armor bearer... ... the young man bearing his weapons... |
Of the eighteen translations, all but two are translated as the specific “armorbearer” and the remaining two use a general meaning; bearing or carrying “his weapons”. We note that when “nasa” is combined with כְּלִי [kĕliy] the translation is always “armourbearer” in the King James Version. We would prefer the general “weapons bearer”, since armour recalls the Medieval times of Simon Montfort, not the Bronze Age of the Bible.
3
Strong's H5288 is translated in following manner:
"young man (76), servant (54), child (44), lad (33), young (15), children (7), youth (6), babe (1), boys (1), young (1)." [Blue Letter Bible] Clearly, H5288 is almost consistently applied to young men. We refer to the Oxford English Dictionary:
One who carried a warrior's armour or weapons; a squire.
1611 Bible (A.V.) 1 Sam. xiv. 14
That first slaughter which Jonathan and his armour-bearer made [ Wyclif, squyer; Coverdale, wapen bearer].
1772 T. Pennant Tours Scotl. (1774) 296
Each chieftain had his armour-bearer.
1870 W. C. Bryant tr. Homer Iliad I. x. 305
Meriones, the armor-bearer of Idomeneus.
We are surprised that the first reference to “armour-bearer” is the King James Version of the Bible. We learn from the 1885 entry:
1. collect. sing. Defensive covering worn by one who is fighting; mail. Cf. arm n.2 1.
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. 397
He & hys armure were þoru out hot.
1393 Langland Piers Plowman C. ii. 155
May non Armure hit lette.
c1485 Digby Myst. (1882) i. 352
Harneysed in armour of plate and maile.
†2. (with a pl.) A suit of mail. Obs. (Cf. 7.)
1483 Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende 278/1
He had..armours ynowe for...
1487 (▸a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xi. 76
Wapnys and armowris ...
1569 J. B. Heath Some Acct. Worshipful Company of Grocers (1869) 75
... armours...
†3. a. collect. sing. with pl. Military equipment or accoutrement, both offensive and defensive, in the widest sense; the whole apparatus of war. Obs. exc. in Law.
a1300 Becket 955
Other armure nadde he none, for holi churche to fiȝte.
1388 Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) 1 Sam. xx. 40
Jonathas ȝaf hise armeris to the child.
a1464 J. Capgrave Abbreuiacion of Cron. (1983) 152
... with vitaile and armour.
†b. in obs. phrases in which arms is the usual word; cf. arm n.2 4.
1570 Homelie against Disobedience i. sig. Biv,
Subiectes..who..take armor wickedly,...
1577 R. Holinshed Hist. Scotl. 57/1 in Chron. I
... in armor against him.
1577 R. Holinshed Hist. Scotl. 33/1 in Chron. I
...were vp in armor agaynst the king.
†4. The exercise or employment of arms; warfare, fighting, active hostilities. Cf. arm n.2 6. Obs.
▸a1387 R. Higden Polychron. (1869) II. 275
Nynus bare out armour [L. arma foris extulit.]
▸a1387 R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1872) IV. 41
... noon armour wiþoute Italy.
1526 Bp. J. Clerk To Wolsey in MS. Cott. Calig. D ix. 104
For a suspention off armeur.
Wyclif uses the word "squyer", not armourbearer. We continue our research with the word “squire”:
Forms: α. ME–16 squier (ME squiare, ME -ere), ME–15 squyer (ME sqyer, squyȝer, MEsqvyȝer), ME squyere (ME squyeer), squyar; ME sqwyer (ME sqwier), sqwyar, (ME Sc.sqwhyare), ME–15 sqwyere; ME scwyer, scwier, scoyer, skwier, skuyer (ME skuyere), MEskyer; ME suier, ME–15 swyer, ME swier(e, swiar. β. ME squeyer, ME squeer; Sc.ME squear,sqwear, squere, 15 sqwere. γ. ME swyr, 15 swyre; ME squir, ME–15 squyre, 15– squire. δ. 16–'squire
1 a. In the military organization of the later middle ages, a young man of good birth attendant upon a knight; one ranking next to a knight under the feudal system of military service and tenure.
α.
c1290 Beket 2427 in S. Eng. Leg. 176
... Of seriaunz and of squiers.
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 7801
He let gadery is kniȝtes & is squiers al so.
13.. K. Alis. 6022
..., withowte pages and skuyeris.
β.
a1400 R. Gloucester's Chron.3878 (Harl. 201)
...and knyȝtes, squeers monyon.
c1440 Ipomydon 320
... ‘Will ye se þe proude squeer, Shall serue my lady of þe wyne?’
1474 in T. Dickson Accts. Treasurer Scotl. (1877) I. 69
...vpon the squere, the were man...
γ.
1452 W. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 149
He harde sey of j swyre of ij c. marc be...
a1500 (▸?c1450) Merlin (1899) xiii. 191
... as squyres vsed in tho dayes.
1515 Scottish Field (Chetham) 484
Many swyres full swiftelie were swapped to the deathe.
†b. Placed after the surname as a designation of rank. Obs.Chiefly in formal documents.
1382 in H. T. Riley Memorials London (1868) 456
... to make answer to] Walter Begood, Squyer.
c1440 Brut ii. 370
To hym come Iohn Standisch, Squyer.
1450 in Catal. Anc. Deeds IV. 327
Comeng..to excuse hym opon a boke be for John Hudelston swier.
c. A personal attendant or servant; a follower. Also transf.
c1380 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 148
...& tatrid squeyeres & oþere meyne.
c1386 Chaucer Summoner's Tale 535
Now stood the lordes squier at the bord, That carf his mete.
a1425 Edward, Duke of York Master of Game (Digby) ii,
Somtyme a gret hert hath an other felawe,
†d. In contemptuous use. Obs.
1570 T. Tusser Hundreth Good Pointes Husbandry (new ed.) f. 11v,
... not lubberly squire, that loueth...
1596 T. Nashe Haue with you to Saffron-Walden sig. H2,
O scabbed scald squire ...
a1618 J. Sylvester Tobacco Battered 20 in Wks. (1880) II. 267
...of Phantastick Squires.
2. Applied to personages of ancient history or mythology regarded as holding a position or rank similar to that of the mediæval squire. Freq., esp. in or after Biblical use, with the literal sense ‘shield-bearer’ or ‘armour-bearer’.
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) 1 Chron. x. 4
... his squyer, Drawȝe out thi swerd.
a1400 (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 7717
Þe squier hight abysai, þat to þe ...
a1400 (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 6279
King ne knight, suier ne suain,...
A squire is "a young man of good birth attendant upon a knight" is it used “after Biblical” examples. If the Bible existed before the Albigensian Crusade, then this is a true statement and we can understand how Abimelech's attendant, if seen in the milieau of the Wycliff, can be described as a squire or an armour bearer. We recall that Abimelech's squire is a "young man" in all but four translations.
Of course, if the account of Simon de Montfort is first, then the creation of the Old Testament must have occurred after the Albigensean Crusade. Fomenko writes that events recorded in the Old Testament were happening as late as the year 1600.
By combining the version of Simon, with the emphasis on the women operators, and Abimelech's statement, we presented with a coherent story:
Simon's head was smashed by a stone from a mangonel, operated... by the ladies and girls and women of Toulouse and then he called hastily unto the young man his armourbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A women slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.
As always, the Gentle Reader will reach their own conclusion.
To read Old Testament accounts of Jews backsliding into Orthodox Christianity or Ba'al worship.
"young man (76), servant (54), child (44), lad (33), young (15), children (7), youth (6), babe (1), boys (1), young (1)." [Blue Letter Bible] Clearly, H5288 is almost consistently applied to young men. We refer to the Oxford English Dictionary:
One who carried a warrior's armour or weapons; a squire.
1611 Bible (A.V.) 1 Sam. xiv. 14
That first slaughter which Jonathan and his armour-bearer made [ Wyclif, squyer; Coverdale, wapen bearer].
1772 T. Pennant Tours Scotl. (1774) 296
Each chieftain had his armour-bearer.
1870 W. C. Bryant tr. Homer Iliad I. x. 305
Meriones, the armor-bearer of Idomeneus.
We are surprised that the first reference to “armour-bearer” is the King James Version of the Bible. We learn from the 1885 entry:
1. collect. sing. Defensive covering worn by one who is fighting; mail. Cf. arm n.2 1.
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. 397
He & hys armure were þoru out hot.
1393 Langland Piers Plowman C. ii. 155
May non Armure hit lette.
c1485 Digby Myst. (1882) i. 352
Harneysed in armour of plate and maile.
†2. (with a pl.) A suit of mail. Obs. (Cf. 7.)
1483 Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende 278/1
He had..armours ynowe for...
1487 (▸a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xi. 76
Wapnys and armowris ...
1569 J. B. Heath Some Acct. Worshipful Company of Grocers (1869) 75
... armours...
†3. a. collect. sing. with pl. Military equipment or accoutrement, both offensive and defensive, in the widest sense; the whole apparatus of war. Obs. exc. in Law.
a1300 Becket 955
Other armure nadde he none, for holi churche to fiȝte.
1388 Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) 1 Sam. xx. 40
Jonathas ȝaf hise armeris to the child.
a1464 J. Capgrave Abbreuiacion of Cron. (1983) 152
... with vitaile and armour.
†b. in obs. phrases in which arms is the usual word; cf. arm n.2 4.
1570 Homelie against Disobedience i. sig. Biv,
Subiectes..who..take armor wickedly,...
1577 R. Holinshed Hist. Scotl. 57/1 in Chron. I
... in armor against him.
1577 R. Holinshed Hist. Scotl. 33/1 in Chron. I
...were vp in armor agaynst the king.
†4. The exercise or employment of arms; warfare, fighting, active hostilities. Cf. arm n.2 6. Obs.
▸a1387 R. Higden Polychron. (1869) II. 275
Nynus bare out armour [L. arma foris extulit.]
▸a1387 R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1872) IV. 41
... noon armour wiþoute Italy.
1526 Bp. J. Clerk To Wolsey in MS. Cott. Calig. D ix. 104
For a suspention off armeur.
Wyclif uses the word "squyer", not armourbearer. We continue our research with the word “squire”:
Forms: α. ME–16 squier (ME squiare, ME -ere), ME–15 squyer (ME sqyer, squyȝer, MEsqvyȝer), ME squyere (ME squyeer), squyar; ME sqwyer (ME sqwier), sqwyar, (ME Sc.sqwhyare), ME–15 sqwyere; ME scwyer, scwier, scoyer, skwier, skuyer (ME skuyere), MEskyer; ME suier, ME–15 swyer, ME swier(e, swiar. β. ME squeyer, ME squeer; Sc.ME squear,sqwear, squere, 15 sqwere. γ. ME swyr, 15 swyre; ME squir, ME–15 squyre, 15– squire. δ. 16–'squire
1 a. In the military organization of the later middle ages, a young man of good birth attendant upon a knight; one ranking next to a knight under the feudal system of military service and tenure.
α.
c1290 Beket 2427 in S. Eng. Leg. 176
... Of seriaunz and of squiers.
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 7801
He let gadery is kniȝtes & is squiers al so.
13.. K. Alis. 6022
..., withowte pages and skuyeris.
β.
a1400 R. Gloucester's Chron.3878 (Harl. 201)
...and knyȝtes, squeers monyon.
c1440 Ipomydon 320
... ‘Will ye se þe proude squeer, Shall serue my lady of þe wyne?’
1474 in T. Dickson Accts. Treasurer Scotl. (1877) I. 69
...vpon the squere, the were man...
γ.
1452 W. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 149
He harde sey of j swyre of ij c. marc be...
a1500 (▸?c1450) Merlin (1899) xiii. 191
... as squyres vsed in tho dayes.
1515 Scottish Field (Chetham) 484
Many swyres full swiftelie were swapped to the deathe.
†b. Placed after the surname as a designation of rank. Obs.Chiefly in formal documents.
1382 in H. T. Riley Memorials London (1868) 456
... to make answer to] Walter Begood, Squyer.
c1440 Brut ii. 370
To hym come Iohn Standisch, Squyer.
1450 in Catal. Anc. Deeds IV. 327
Comeng..to excuse hym opon a boke be for John Hudelston swier.
c. A personal attendant or servant; a follower. Also transf.
c1380 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 148
...& tatrid squeyeres & oþere meyne.
c1386 Chaucer Summoner's Tale 535
Now stood the lordes squier at the bord, That carf his mete.
a1425 Edward, Duke of York Master of Game (Digby) ii,
Somtyme a gret hert hath an other felawe,
†d. In contemptuous use. Obs.
1570 T. Tusser Hundreth Good Pointes Husbandry (new ed.) f. 11v,
... not lubberly squire, that loueth...
1596 T. Nashe Haue with you to Saffron-Walden sig. H2,
O scabbed scald squire ...
a1618 J. Sylvester Tobacco Battered 20 in Wks. (1880) II. 267
...of Phantastick Squires.
2. Applied to personages of ancient history or mythology regarded as holding a position or rank similar to that of the mediæval squire. Freq., esp. in or after Biblical use, with the literal sense ‘shield-bearer’ or ‘armour-bearer’.
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) 1 Chron. x. 4
... his squyer, Drawȝe out thi swerd.
a1400 (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 7717
Þe squier hight abysai, þat to þe ...
a1400 (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 6279
King ne knight, suier ne suain,...
A squire is "a young man of good birth attendant upon a knight" is it used “after Biblical” examples. If the Bible existed before the Albigensian Crusade, then this is a true statement and we can understand how Abimelech's attendant, if seen in the milieau of the Wycliff, can be described as a squire or an armour bearer. We recall that Abimelech's squire is a "young man" in all but four translations.
Of course, if the account of Simon de Montfort is first, then the creation of the Old Testament must have occurred after the Albigensean Crusade. Fomenko writes that events recorded in the Old Testament were happening as late as the year 1600.
By combining the version of Simon, with the emphasis on the women operators, and Abimelech's statement, we presented with a coherent story:
Simon's head was smashed by a stone from a mangonel, operated... by the ladies and girls and women of Toulouse and then he called hastily unto the young man his armourbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A women slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.
As always, the Gentle Reader will reach their own conclusion.
To read Old Testament accounts of Jews backsliding into Orthodox Christianity or Ba'al worship.
The death of Abimelech
or
the death of Simon de Montfort?
or
the death of Simon de Montfort?