The Evesham abbey miracle book (1–197)

Summary

[fol. 162r] [Prologus.] Anno Domini M°CC° < sextodecimo quinto primo die > augusti dominus Edwardus <primogenitus regis et Gilbertus> de Clare ***^c Quo peruento dominum Symonem de Monteforti iuniorem et exercitum suum in prioratu et papilionibus suis extra castrum inuenerunt inermes et dormientes. Dominus autem Symon de Monteforti in castrum cum difficultate non modica susceptus euasit. Et paucis interemptis ibidem captiuati sunt Gilbertus de Graunt, comes Oxonie, Willelmus de Mouncheinysy, Ricardus de Gray, Adam de Newmarche, Baldewinus Wake, Walterus de Colevile, Iohannes de Gray filius Ricardi de Gray, Hugo Nevill ***^d quod uia pacis inueniri non potuit. Dominus rex et dominus Symon comes Leycestrie cum exercitu suo de Kemesey ante horam diei primam apud Evesham uenientes ***^e circa horam diei tertiam audito de aduentu dictorum dominorum Edwardi et Gilberti de Clare et eorum exercitus qui de ciuitate Wigorniensis profecti fuerant ***^f Caligauit enim terra sub nubilo et celum tenebris inhorrens inconsuetam et procellosam set breuem imbrium emisit tempestatem. [fol. 162v] <Demum declinata>^g terribili tempestate predicta factus est aer serenior et aura clementior. Exeuntibus igitur domino rege et domino Symone comite Leycestrie et eorum exercitu extra uillam Eueshamie Vnfredus de Boun cum omnibus peditibus quoniam ductor eorum [erat]^h constitutus in acie posteriori extra uoluntatem dicti Symonis comitis Leycestrie moratus est. Prenominati domini Edwardus et Gilbertus de Clare cum exercitu suo ut alios

The Evesham abbey miracle book

London, British Library, Cotton MS Vespasian A VI, fols 162r–183r

[Prologue.] In the year of our Lord 1265 on the first day of August Sir Edward, the king's first-born, and Gilbert of Clare *** On reaching there, they found Sir Simon de Montfort the younger and his army in the priory and in their tents outside the castle, unarmed and asleep. But Sir Simon de Montfort, with considerable difficulty, escaped into the castle. Few were killed, but Gilbert de Gaunt, the earl of Oxford, William de Munchensi, Richard de Grey, Adam of Newmarket, Baldwin Wake, Walter de Coleville, John de Grey son of Richard de Grey and Hugh de Neville were taken prisoner there *** that the ‘way of peace’ could not be found.