his
son and the motions of the enemy, he proceeded to Evesham, with the
intention of continuing his march the next morning for Kenilworth. The
Prince had returned with his prisoners to Worcester, but left the city
in the evening, and, to mask his real design, took the road which
leads to Bridgenorth. He passed the river near Clains, and, wheeling
to the right, arrived before sunrise in the neighborhood of Evesham.
He took his station on the summit of a hill in the direction of
Kenilworth; two other divisions, under the Earl of Gloucester and
Roger de Mortimer, occupied the remaining roads. As the royalists bore
the banners of their captives, they were taken by the enemy for the
army of Simon de Montfort. But the mistake was soon discovered.
Leicester, from an eminence, surveyed their numbers and disposition,
and was heard to exclaim, "The Lord have mercy on our souls, for our
bodies are Prince Edward's." According to his custom he spent some
time in prayer, and received the sacrament. His first object was to
force his way through the division on the hill. Foiled in this
attempt, and in danger of being surrounded, he ordered his men to form
a circle, and oppose on all sides the pressure of the enemy. For a
while the courage of despair proved a match for the superiority of
numbers. The old King, who had been compelled to appear in the ranks,
was slightly wounded, and as he fell from his horse would probably
have been killed had he not cried out to his antagonist, "Hold,
fellow! I am Harry of Winchester." The Prince knew the voice of his
father, sprang to his rescue, and conducted him to a place of safety.
During his absence Leicester's horse was killed under him; and, as he
fought on foot, he asked if they gave quarter. A voice replied, "There
is no quarter for traitors." Henry de Montfort, his eldest son, who
would not leave his side, fell at his feet. His dead body was soon
covered by that of the father. The royalists obtained a complete but
sanguinary victory. Of Leicester's partisans all the barons and
knights were slain, with the exception of about ten, who were
afterward found breathing, and were cured of their wounds. The foot
soldiers of the royal army--so we are told to save the honor of the
leaders--offered to the body of the earl every indignity. His mangled
remains were afterward collected by the King's orders and buried in
the church of the abbey.

By this victory the sceptre was replaced in the hands of He