4. The following are extracts from a song (Polit. Songs, 125), written immediately after the Battle of Evesham : Chaunter m'estoit, mon cuer le voit, en un dure langage. Mes par sa mort le quens Montfort conquist la victorie, Ne voleit pas li bon Thomas qe perist seinte Eglise, Sire Hue le fer, ly Despencer, tresnoble justice, Ore est a tort lyvre a mort, a trop male guise. Sire Henri, pur veir le dy, fitz le quens de Leycestre, Sire Simoun, ly prodhom, e sa compagnie, En joie vont en ciel amount, en pardurable vie. Mes Jhesu Crist, qe en croyz se mist, Dieu en prenge cure, Ore est ocys la flur de pris, qe taunt savoit de guere, Ly quens Montfort, sa dure mort molt emplorra la terre. 5. The following is a fragment of an office in memory of Simon de Montfort, which concludes the MS. containing the account of his miracles, published with the Chronicle of Rishanger by Mr. Halliwell for the Camden Society. It may be compared with the longer fragment in Appendix IV. Anno Domini M.cc.lx. v. octavo Symonis Montisfortis sociorumque ejus, pridie nonas Augusti. Salve, Symon Montis-Fortis, Totius flos militiæ, Duras pœnas passus mortis, Protector gentis Angliæ. Sunt de sanctis inaudita, Abscidi virilia. Sis pro nobis intercessor Apud Deum, qui defensor In terris exterritas. Ora pro nobis, beate Symon, ut digni efficiamus promissionibus Christi. 3.-CHARACTER OF SIMON DE MONTFORT. 'Erat signidem, &c.' Rish. de Bellis, &c., 6. 7. He was indeed a mighty man, and prudent, and circumspect; in the use of arms and in experience of warfare, superior to all others of his time; commendably endowed with knowledge of letters; fond of hearing the offices of the church by day and night; sparing of food and drink, as those who were about him saw with their own eyes; in time of night watching more than he slept, as his more intimate friends have oft related. In the greatest difficulties which he went through while handling affairs of state, he was found trustworthy, notably in Gascony, whither he went by command of the king, and there subdued to the Kings Majesty rebels beforetime unconquered, and sent them to England to his lord the King. He was moreover pleasant and witty in speech, and ever aimed at the reward of an admirable faith; on account of which he did not fear to undergo death, as shall be told hereafter. His constancy all men, even his enemies, admired; for when others had sworn to observe the Provisions of Oxford, and the most part of them despised and rejected that to which they had sworn, he having once taken the oath, like an immoveable pillar, stood firm, and neither by threats, nor promises, nor gifts, nor flattery could he be moved to depart in any way with the other magnates from the oath which he had taken to reform the state of the realm. He commended himself to the prayers of the religious, and humbly, as with brotherly affection, he begged to be allied with them, in the pouring out of prayers to God for the state of the realm and the peace of the church; and he was constant in supplication that divine grace might keep him spotless from avarice and covetousness of earthly things, knowing for a surety that many in those days were encumbered by such vices, as the issue of things afterwards made clear. To the religious and other prelates of the church, commended by honesty of life, he showed all due reverence; deserving to be called the perfect disciple of a perfect master; having been instructed in all good discip line, inasmuch as he clung with hearty affection to the blessed Robert, once Bishop of Lincoln, and gave his children to be brought up by him, and did many things by his wholesome advice. And the said bishop is related to have enjoined upon the Earl, for the remission of his sins, that he should take upon himself that cause for which he fought even unto death; declaring that the peace of the English church could never be secured without the temporal sword, and constantly affirming that all who died in her and for her should receive the crown of martyrdom. It is related by trustworthy persons, that the bishop once placed his hands on the head of the Earls firstborn son, and said to him, 'My dearest son, thou and thy father shall both die on one day and by one hurt, for the cause of justice.' And of what sort was the life of the Bishop, the miracles, done by the grace of God at his tomb, sufficiently declare. And the Earl, like a second Joshua, worshipped justice, as the very medicine. of his soul. DorM |