Henry having relieved Rochester, marched also into the south, doubtless intent upon the reduction of the Cinque ports; for this, however, Simon gave him no time.  He came thundering down, half London weltering behind him, across the Weald, and Henry, wheeling to meet him, came upon the 12th of May up the vale of Glynde and occupied Lewes.  On the following day Simon appeared at Fletching in the vale of the Weald, some nine miles north of Lewes; there he encamped.  Very early in the morning of the 14th May, Simon arrayed his troops and began his march southward upon the royal army.  Dawn was just breaking when his first troopers came over the high Down and saw Lewes in the morning mist, the royal banners floating from the Castle—­all still asleep.  Slowly and at his ease Simon ordered his men.  Upon the north, conspicuously, he set his litter with his standard above it and about it massed the raw levies of London.  Upon the south he gathered the knights and men-at-arms led by the young Earl of Gloucester.  As for himself he remained with the reserve.  Then when all was ready he gave the order and both wings, north and south, began to advance upon the town “hoping to find their enemies still abed.”

Simon’s plan was a simple one, he hoped to surprise his foes and he intended in any case to throw his main strength southward upon the Priory of St Pancras, while pretending that his main attack was to be upon the Castle.  He did not altogether succeed in surprising his foes, but in everything else he was successful.  The royalists were aware of his approach only at the last moment, so that when they poured out of the Castle and Priory and town they were in some confusion.  Then Prince Edward, observing the standard of Simon over the litter, flung himself upon the Londoners, who broke and fled while he pursued them, nor did he stay his hand till he was far away from Lewes.  He returned at last victorious and triumphant to find Simon’s banner floating from Lewes Castle, the King of the Romans and the King of England in Simon’s hands and the day lost.  Weary though he was, he attempted with all the impetuosity of youth to reverse that verdict.  Through the streets of Lewes he fought, till at length he was forced to take refuge in the church of the Franciscans, where indeed Simon found him.

Such was the battle of Lewes, which gave all England to De Montfort for more than a year; till indeed Lewes was reversed, by Prince Edward who, escaping from his hands at Hereford, gathered a new army about him and forced Simon to meet him upon the field of Evesham where, when the great soldier-mystic saw the royal banners upon the dawn, he cried out that last great word of his, “The Lord have mercy on our souls for our bodies are Prince Edward’s”:  to be answered when he demanded mercy, “there is no treating with traitors.”

CHAPTER XII

THE DOWNS

LEWES TO BRAMBER