in the case of the earls and barons only
twenty-three were invited, for Simon had no desire for the presence of
those who were his enemies. The Full Parliament sat till March, and then
two months later war had once more blazed out. Earl Gilbert of Gloucester
broke away from Simon, Prince Edward escaped from custody, and these two
joined Lord Mortimer and the Welsh Marchers.

On August 4th Edward surprised and routed the army of the younger Simon
near Kenilworth, and then advanced to crush the great Earl, who was
encamped at Evesham, waiting to join forces with his son. All hope of
escape for Earl Simon was lost, and he was outnumbered by seven to two. But
fly he would not. One by one the barons who stood by Simon were cut down,
but though wounded and dismounted, the great Earl "fought on to the last
like a giant for the freedom of England, till a foot soldier stabbed him in
the back under the mail, and he was borne down and slain." For three hours
the unequal fight lasted in the midst of storm and darkness, and when it
was over the Grey Friars carried the mangled body of the dead Earl into the
priory at Evesham, and laid it before the high altar, for the poorer clergy
and the common people all counted Simon of Montfort for a saint.

"Those who knew Simon praise his piety, admire his learning, and extol his
prowess as a knight and skill as a general. They tell of his simple fare
and plain russet dress, bear witness to his kindly speech and firm
friendship to all good men, describe his angry scorn for liars and unjust
men, and marvel at his zeal for truth and right, which was such that
neither pleasure nor threats nor promises could turn him aside from keeping
the oath he swore at Oxford; for he held up the good cause 'like a pillar
that cannot be moved, and, like a second Josiah, esteemed righteousness the
very healing of his soul.' As a statesman he wished to bind the King to
rule according to law, and to make the King's Ministers responsible to a
Full Parliament; and though he did not live to see the success of his
policy, he had pointed out the way by which future statesmen might bring it
about."[21]

In the hour of Simon's death it might seem that the cause of good
government was utterly lost, and for a time Henry triumphed with a fierce
reaction. But the very barons who had turned against Simon were quite
determined that the Charters should be observed, and Edward was to show, on
his coming to the throne, that he h