A.D. 1265. QE THE BATTLE OE EVESHAM. 425 so that he was unable to travel or move through his own territories, without being utterly under the guidance and in the power of his rival. After pope Urban was dead (as has been mentioned above), he was succeeded by Guy of Sabionetta, who had been lately sent into England as legate, and who was called Clement the Fourth. About this time, John Mansel, that over-powerful occupier of ecclesiastical benefices, reached the .end of this life, in the countries beyond the sea. Also Godfrey, archbishop of York, departed from this world, and was succeeded by Walter Giffard. After a great conference on the subject of securing the peace of the kingdom had been held in London during Lent, Edward, the son of the king, who had been detained as a hostage ever since the battle of Lewes described above, was released from the custody of the earl before mentioned ; but he was not yet left entirely his own master, but was still in some degree under the power of the earl and his sons. Which, however, Edward concealed, waiting for such a time and place as might give him the opportunity of escaping. Of the battle of Evesham. A.D . 1265, which is the fiftieth of the reign of king Henry, Gilbert, earl of Gloucester, being excited in indignation against the earl of Leicester, who had usurped for himself and his sons the dominion over the whole of England, made a treaty with the lords marchers, and united his army with theirs. Therefore, Edward, the eldest son of the king of England, went with bis guards outside the city of Hereford for the purpose of taking the air, and mounting a destrier, passed on beyond his appointed ground, and fled away, and was joyfully received by the army of the lords marchers. And then the earl of Leicester being full of fury, leading about the king of England, supported by the assistance of the prince of Wales, destroyed the castles and towns of the lords marchers with fire. Therefore, the king of England and the earl of Leicester came in the silence of the night, with a numerous army, to Evesham, and were pursued by Edward, the king's eldest son, and by Gilbert, earl of Gloucester, with an army eager for battle. Therefore, on the fourth of August, the earl of Leicester and his partisans were slain in the plain in front of