Everywhere the Earl’s death was looked upon as a martyrdom; and monk and friar united in praying for the souls of the men who fell at Evesham as for soldiers of Christ.  It was soon whispered that heaven was attesting the sanctity of De Montfort by miracles at his tomb.  How great was the effect of this belief was seen in the efforts of King and Pope to suppress the miracles, and in their continuance not only through the reign of Edward the First but even in the days of his successor.  But its immediate result was a sudden revival of hope.  “Sighs are changed into songs of praise,” breaks out a monk of the time, “and the greatness of our former joy has come to life again!” Nor was it in miracles alone that the “faithful,” as they proudly styled themselves, began to look for relief “from the oppression of the malignants.”  A monk of St. Alban’s who was penning a eulogy of Earl Simon in the midst of this uproar saw the rise of a new spirit of resistance in the streets of the little town.  In dread of war it was guarded and strongly closed with bolts and bars, and refused entrance to all strangers, and above all to horsemen, who wished to pass through.  The Constable of Hertford, an old foe of the townsmen, boasted that spite of bolts and bars he would enter the place and carry off four of the best villeins captive.  He contrived to make his way in; but as he loitered idly about a butcher who passed by heard him ask his men how the wind stood.  The butcher guessed his design to burn the town, and felled him to the ground.  The blow roused the townsmen.  They secured the Constable and his followers, struck off their heads, and fixed them at the four corners of the borough.

[Sidenote:  The Younger Simon]

The popular reaction gave fresh heart to the younger Simon.  Quitting Kenilworth, he joined in November John D’Eyvill and Baldewin Wake in the Isle of Axholme where the Disinherited were gathering in arms.  So fast did horse and foot flow in to him that Edward himself hurried into Lincolnshire to meet this new danger.  He saw that the old strife was just breaking out again.  The garrison of Kenilworth scoured the country; the men of the Cinque Ports, putting wives and children on board their barks, swept the Channel and harried the coasts; while Llewelyn, who had brought about the dissolution of Parliament by a raid upon Chester, butchered the forces sent against him and was master of the border.  The one thing needed to link the forces of resistance together was a head, and such a head the appearance of Simon at Axholme seemed to promise.  But Edward was resolute in his plan of conciliation.  Arriving before the camp at the close of 1265, he at once entered into negotiations with his cousin, and prevailed on him to quit the island and appear before the king.  Richard of Cornwall welcomed Simon at the court, he presented him to Henry as the saviour of his life, and on his promise to surrender Kenilworth Henry gave him the kiss of peace.  In spite of the opposition