On
14 May 1264 near Lewes, Sussex, the army of the baronial reformers under
the command of
Simon de Montfort,
Earl of Leicester, defeated king Henry III's forces against all odds. As
soon as the battle began Henry was deserted first by the Londoners, who
were pursued by his son Edward, and then by most
of his followers. Eventually, King Henry was captured by Gilbert of Clare,
Earl of Gloucester. On his return to the battlefield Prince Edward thought
his father had won and was taken prisoner as well.
The
barons' victory is praised in the famous poem on the battle:
Sire simond
de montfort haž suore bi ys chyn,
heuede he nou here že erl of waryn,
shulde he neuer more come to is yn,
ne wiž sheld ne wiž spere ne wiž ožer gyn,
to help of Wyndesore.
Richard, žah žou be euer trichard,
tricchen shalt žou neuermore!
Sire simond
de montfort haž suore bi ys top,
Heuede he nou here sire hue de bigot,
al he shulde quite here tuelfmonež scot,
shulde he neuer more wiž his fot pot
to helpe Wyndesore.
Richard, žah žou be euer trichard,
tricchen shalt žou neuermore!
(A Song of Lewes, Vv. 33-46)
