Have thou no fear of menaces or terrors of the grave,
Defend with might the nation’s cause, naught else thine own needs crave.”
—Rishanger, Political Songs.
[47] Stubbs.
[48] “The Song of Lewes”—Political Songs.
[49] I am indebted to my friend Fr. Bede Jarrett, O.P., for this interesting and, I believe, hitherto unpublished suggestion.
[50] It was to a Dominican Convent at Montargis that Simon’s widow, the Princess Eleanor, retired after the fatal battle of Evesham.
[51] An appeal was lodged at Rome by several English bishops against the threatened excommunication, but the papal legate himself became pope early in 1265, and, as Pope Clement V., was the strongest enemy of Simon and the national cause. It was only after Evesham and the death of Simon that Clement urged a wise policy of mercy on Henry and the royalists.
[52] “In this year, while Edward, the king’s son, was still held in ward in the Castle of Hereford, dissension arose between Simon, Earl of Leicester, and Gilbert, Earl of Gloucester....
“For which cause the old friendship was turned into hate, so much so that neither the consideration of his oath nor former devotion could thenceforth pacify the said Gilbert.... An endeavour was made by certain prelates to restore the Earls of Leicester and Gloucester to their former union; but they could in no wise succeed.”—W. Rishanger.