The monarchy restored! Plantagenets, triumphant!

This time the Lord Edward was ready. His father, the king was still a prisoner of Monty, but of that, nothing as yet could be done.

Simon ( Monty) de Montfort.

The Lord Edward enjoyed support not only from the lords of the Welsh Marches, but also from Llewellyn ap Gruffydd who agreed to provide military aid. The Welsh prince was prepared to give Edward considerable assistance, but his price included Edward agreeing to his being granted the title the ‘Prince of Wales.’ This would prove to be somewhat ironic, given Edward’s actions in Wales once he became king. But no matter, in the meantime, there occurred an enthusiastic meeting of allies. With great appreciation, Edward sent the following message to Llewellyn:

‘Llew, just a line to let you know that I am so very grateful to you!

Should you need any aid from me, Llewy, just ask, don’t hesitate, please do!

With your help from the west, accompanied with your customary zest!

Together against the traitorous Monty, we will prevail by doing our very level best!’

An image of Llewellyn ap Gruffydd.

The Lord Edward’s first victory occurred at Kenilworth in July 1265. Monty’s son, Simon the Younger, had taken an army there with a view to confronting Edward.

Simon the younger.

The appearance of young Simon and his army had in fact prompted Edward to retreat back to Worcester. In the event, it was the younger Simon who was to be taken unawares. In a daring overnight cavalry attack he surprised young Simon at dawn, and captured a number of leading barons. However, Simon the younger was able to escape and hoped to regroup with his father who had the king in tow.  With a view to combining with his son’s forces, Monty arrived at Evesham abbey on August 4th 1265. From here he would await the arrival of his son. So confident of success was Monty, that he cheerfully attended mass with his prisoner, King Henry that morning. Monty looked forward to the arrival of his son who was expected later in the day.

‘However the morning sunrise brought poor Monty a horrible surprise!

The Lord Edward would arrive at Evesham in a most beguiling disguise!

Edward had conceived a clever trick!

It was one which left Monty feeling quite utterly sick!’

Monty was informed that a large army bearing his son’s colours was approaching the abbey. He was overjoyed at the news, but then a terrible truth was discerned. It was not Simon the younger who was in sight, but the Lord Edward. The prince tricked Monty’s lookouts by bearing Simon the younger’s banners which had been captured at Kenilworth.

The Battle of Evesham.

The Lord Edward was hell bent on revenge and purification. Today he would purge himself of the guilt he had carried since the defeat at Lewes. He had erred by indulging himself in chasing and massacring those worthless cockneys, instead of staying on the field and protecting his father’s flank. That error had helped bring about the present humiliating situation. As usual Edward’s allies, scenting victory, were licking their lips as they pondered the high prices for which they would ransom the captured barons back to their families. But this was not to be, for Edward, honour must come before profit. The prince drew his commanders together and told them that they must forego the tantalising prospect of ransoming captured nobles. These traitors were all to be slaughtered as pigs in a pen.

‘You talk that the fruits of today’s victory will satisfy your insatiable greed!

I tell you that only the shedding of traitorous blood will complete our intended and noble deed!’

This was to be a blood sacrifice as only blood could wash away the shame of the catastrophic defeat suffered at Lewes. Edward then designated Roger Mortimer to lead a squad of handpicked knights charged with the specific task of killing Monty. The job of sending Monty into eternity required careful preparation, nothing was to be left to chance.

The outlook did not bode well for Monty, Edward’s army outnumbered his by two to one. The fact that Simon the younger and his forces had failed to appear, meant certain defeat for him. There was but one course of action to follow, and that was to fight in the hope that Simon the younger would arrive or die to the last man. In an unforgivable insult, Monty attired King Henry in a suit of armour with rebel insignia and press ganged the unfortunate monarch into joining his ranks in combat against his own son. Quite swiftly, the royalist forces surrounded de Montfort’s men and his son Henry was soon slain. Upon hearing of Henry’s death the old earl said, ‘well then it is time to die’.

Henry de Montfort.

Despite his advanced years Monty fought bravely and vigorously, as the twelve man assassination squad led by Mortimer cornered him on the field. It is said that Monty died when Mortimer pierced his throat with a lance from behind.

‘As the battle raged on, Mortimer saw his chance!

Catching Monty from behind, he took aim and pierced his throat with a lance!

The dreaded de Montfort was dead, but was that enough? No, not for Edward and his men it was not. A curious and extremely grisly sort of ritual then took place. Driven by an insatiable blood lust, they hacked and stabbed at Monty’s body, dismembering it limb by limb.

Mortimer gleefully gathered up Monty’s head and testicles with his own hands to take home to his wife as souvenirs of the victory at Evesham field.

A great victory for the royalist forces, but one that nearly cost King Henry his life. Adorned in de Montfort’s colours, he was attacked and wounded by his own men. Thankfully, he was able to identify himself to his assailants by crying out:

‘For the love of God, I am Henry of Winchester, your king. Don’t kill me!’

before further, perhaps fatal damage was done.

Simon the younger, apparently did make a belated arrival at Evesham, keen to see his father face to face. Well he did, at the battle’s close he was able to view his father’s head securely balanced on the tip of Roger Mortimer’s lance.

‘I have just seen my father’s head atop a lance!

I can’t wait around to meet the Lord Edward’s menacing glance!

‘Tis high time for me to take a boat and flee across the sea to France!

And flee he eventually did. The royal authority of the House of Plantagenet had been restored.