Page:The Queens of England.djvu/124

104 THE QUEENS OF ENGLAND. Edward, and those of the barons by the celebrated Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester. This nobleman had encamped his army at Evesham, where he was anxiously expecting the arrival of his son, Simon de Montfort, to whom he had sent directions to hasten to him by forced marches, with all the troops he could render available. Accordingly, De Montfort was hurrying to the relief of his father, when, at Kenil worth, he was suddenly surprised and attacked in his camp by Prince Edward, who he had imagined was directing his whole force and attention against the Earl of Leicester at Ever-ham. The success of the prince was complete ; the opposing army was scattered in all directions, and the Earl of Oxford, and several other noblemen, were taken prisoners, almost without a show of resistance. Edward lost no time in improving his advantage, and this by adopting a very ingenious stratagem. Without allowing Leicester time to glean intelligence of his son's disaster, he divided his troops into two bodies, one of which he pushed for- ward along the road leading from Kenilworth to Evesham, with orders to carry in front of them the banners captured from De Montfort's army. He himself made a circuit with the other division of his forces, with the intention of attacking the enemy in another quarter. Leicester, experienced and accomplished as he was in the art of war, was completely deceived and taken by surprise. Observing a large force advancing from the very quarter from which he was anxiously straining his eyes to behold the approach of his son — perceiving, also, the friendly banners, the sight of which was so welcome to him — his only feelings were those of satisfaction at his orders having been so successfully and promptly obeyed. When at length the truth flashed upon him, and he perceived the great superiority and excellent disposition of the royalists, his first feeling seems to have been admiration of the talent by which he was out- witted. They had learned, he said, the art of war from him ; and he added : "The Lord have mercy on our souls, for I see our bodies are the prince's!" The conflict lasted but a short time, and was attended with great slaughter. Leicester him- self, while in the act of asking for quarter, was slain in the heat of the action ; as were also his eldest son, Henry, Hugh le De- spencer, and about one hundred and sixty knights, and many other gentlemen. The old king, Henry the Third, who for some time has been a prisoner in the hands of the rebels, had been