The little group of knights around Simon fought desperately, falling one by one till the Earl was left alone.

So terrible were his sword-strokes that he had all but gained the hill-top when a lance-thrust brought his horse to the ground, but Simon still rejected the summons to yield till a blow from behind felled him mortally wounded to the ground.

Then with a last cry of "It is God's grace," the soul of the great patriot passed away.
[Sidenote: The Royalist reaction] The triumphant blare of trumpets which welcomed the rescued king into Evesham, "his men weeping for joy," rang out in bitter contrast to the mourning of the realm.

It sounded like the announcement of a reign of terror.

The rights and laws for which men had toiled and fought so long seemed to have been swept away in an hour.