After
the Battle
of Lewes in 1264 Simon de Montfort
organised a new parliament.
As well as barons and leaders of the church, two representatives from
each town were invited to attend parliament. The day-to-day running
of the country was carried out by three men: Simon de Montfort, the
Earl of Gloucester and the Bishop of Chichester. However, within a
few months the barons started to complain that Montfort was acting
like a king. Gilbert the Red, his
second in command, argued with Simon and left London.
Prince Edward, the king's
son, had been imprisoned after the Battle of
Lewes but on 26th May 1265 he managed to escape. In June 1265
Gilbert the Red met Prince Edward
in Ludlow. The two men raised
an army and began their campaign by capturing Gloucester.
When Montfort heard about the size of his enemy's army, he is reported
to have said: "Let us commend our souls to God, because our bodies
are theirs."
A dawn attack at Kenilworth
on 2nd August 1265 took forces led by Montfort's son by surprise.
The following day Montfort's main army was attacked at Evesham.
Prince Edward's army had an easy victory and Montfort's outnumbered
army was slaughtered. After Simon de Montfort had been killed, his
body was mutilated. His head was cut off and displayed round the country
as a warning of what happened to people who rebelled against their
king.
The
Normans: Classroom Activities
(1)
The Song of Lewes (1264)
May the Lord bless Simon de Montfort and also his sons and
his army who, exposing themselves to death, fought bravely for the
English people... Simon de Montfort had few men used to arms; the
royal party was large, having assembled the greatest warriors in England...
but God provided... since God is a help for those who are on the side
of
justice. Thus it was right that God should help the Earl, for without
God he could not overcome the enemy.
(2)
Thomas
Wykes, Chronicles (c. 1290)
Simon de Montfort... desired to put down the mighty and ruin
their power... so that he might more freely and easily subdue the
people, after having destroyed the strength of the magnates.
(3)
Extract from the song The Lament of Simon de Montfort (c. 1270)
By his death
the Earl Montfort gained the victory,
Like the martyr of Canterbury
he finished his life;
The good Thomas would not
allow holy church to perish,
The Earl fought a similar
cause, and died without
flinching.
(4)
Matthew
Paris, English History (c.
1275)
Earl Simon,
who gave up not only his property, but also his person, to defend
the poor from oppression, and for the maintenance of justice. Report
goes, that Simon, after his death, was distinguished by the working
of many miracles, which, however, were not made publicly known, for
fear of kings.
Last
updated: 20th September, 2002
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