it was known that he generally travelled in a closed car or horse-litter.  This vehicle he posted in a conspicuous place on the northerly spur, and planted over it his standard.  In front of it were massed the London militia, mainly infantry and the least effective element in his host.  Meanwhile the knights and men-at-arms were mustered on the southerly spur under the personal direction of Montfort, who held himself in the rear with the reserve, while the foremost files were commanded by the young Earl of Gloucester, whom Simon solemnly dubbed to knighthood before the assembled squadrons.  Then the two divisions of the army advanced towards Lewes, hoping to find their enemies still in their beds.

At the last moment the alarm was given, and before the barons approached the town, the royalists, pouring out of castle, town, and priory, hastily took up their position face to face to the enemy.  All turned out as Montfort had foreseen.  Edward, emerging from the castle with his cousin Henry of Almaine, his Poitevin uncles, and the warriors of the march, observed the standard of Montfort on the hill, and supposing that the earl was with his banner, dashed impetuously against the left wing of Leicester’s troops.  He soon found himself engaged with the Londoners, who broke and fled in confusion before his impetuous charge.  Eager to revenge on the flying citizens the insults they had directed against his parents, he pursued the beaten militia for many a mile, inflicting terrible damage upon them.  On his way he captured Simon’s standard and horse-litter, and slew its occupants, though they were three royalist members of the city aristocracy detained there for sure keeping.  When the king’s son drew rein he was many miles from Lewes, whither he returned, triumphant but exhausted.

The removal of Edward and the marchers from the field enabled Montfort to profit by his sacrifice of the Londoners.  The followers of the two kings on the left of the royalist lines could not withstand the weight of the squadrons of Leicester and Gloucester.  The King of the Romans was driven to take refuge in a mill, where he soon made an ignominious surrender.  Henry himself lost his horse under him and was forced to yield himself prisoner to Gilbert of Gloucester.  The mass of the army was forced back on to the town and priory, which were occupied by the victors.  Scarcely was their victory assured when Edward and the marchers came back from the pursuit of the Londoners.  Thereupon the battle was renewed in the streets of the town.  It was, however, too late for the weary followers of the king’s son to reverse the fortunes of the day.  Some threw themselves into the castle, where the king’s standard still floated; Edward himself took sanctuary in the church of the Franciscans; many strove to escape eastwards over the Ouse bridge or by swimming over the river.  The majority of the latter perished by drowning or by the sword:  but two compact bands of mail-clad horsemen managed