Illos saluauit (206)

Summary

[fol. 261r]

Illos saluauit Mons Fortis quos superauit.

Carceribus dati sunt multi, non cruciati.

Militie flores anglorum nobiliores

Anglos rexere, qui mortem post subiere,

Vt sum daturus <nece> qua sit Mons periturus.

Ecclesie festa Leus hec dant tempora mesta

Quo bellum primum multis fecit capud imum.

Annus et Henrici regis quo sunt inimici

Grecus si detur eheu longa mihi semper habetur.

Ecclesie festa Leus hec dant tempora mesta

Quo bellum primum multis fecit capud imum.

Bella dabat que lis Leus est uocitata fidelis,

In qua distortum fuerat nil primitus ortum.

Excipitur sanguis quem fuderat impius anguis.

Anglia plaudebat dum Mons hanc sorte regebat.

Morti Monte dato diro ruit Anglia fato.

Simonis huic \nomen/ magnum sibi contulit omen.

Miles preclarus, armis super omnia gnarus,

Quem gens gallorum produxit, dux fit eorum.

Quam desponsauit germanam regis amauit,

Anglorum gentis regem per cuncta uerentis.

Hic fuit anglorum dux et protector eorum.

Namque duos reges cupientes uertere leges

Anglorum uicit, prius ut gens singula dicit,

Hiis nimium parcens quorum mala non <fuit arcens>.

Eius et adiutor comes et fuit undique <tutor>

De Clare Gilebertus, stabilis non inde repertus.

Illos saluauit (206)

London, British Library, Cotton MS Otho D VIII, fols 261r–262r

Montfort spared those whom he defeated; many were given imprisonment and not put to death; and they would come to have dominion over the flowers of English knighthood, the most noble of Englishmen, who met their death, as I shall tell, in the violent manner by which Montfort was to die. [6] These times render mournful the festal date of Lewes, where for many men the first battle made the greatest into the least; if King Henry's regnal year, in which they were at enmity, were to be stated in Greek, alas I would certainly feel that it was rather long-winded. [10] These times render mournful the festal date of Lewes, where for many men this first battle made the greatest into the least. The which fine (bella) conflict (lis) is called ‘Lewes the trusty’, in which nothing hitherto established had been changed. The blood was taken that a wicked snake had shed. [15] England rejoiced while Montfort by good fortune ruled her. When death came to Montfort England fell headlong to dire misfortune. Simon's reputation conferred great power upon himself. A brilliant soldier, supremely skilled in arms, whom the French people brought forth, he became one of their noblemen.