+Source.+--Continuation of _Matthew Paris_ (attributed to William
Rishanger), vol. iii., p. 355. (Bohn's Libraries.)
Thus ended the labours of that noble man Earl Simon, who gave up not
only his property, but also his person, to defend the poor from
oppression, and for the maintenance of justice and the rights of the
kingdom. He was distinguished for his learning; to him an assiduous
attention to divine duties was a pleasure; he was moderate and frugal;
and it was a usual practice of his to watch by night, in preference to
sleeping. He was bold in speech and of a severe aspect. He put great
confidence in the prayers of religious men, and always paid great
respect to ecclesiastics. He endeavoured to adhere to the counsels of S.
Robert, surnamed Grosseteste, Bishop of Lincoln, and entrusted his
children to him to be brought up when very young. On that prelate's
counsel he relied when arranging matters of difficulty, when attempting
dubious enterprises, and in finishing what he had begun, especially in
those matters by which he hoped to increase his merits. It was reported
that the same Bishop had enjoined on him, in order to obtain remission
of his sins, to take up this cause, for which he fought even to the
death, declaring that the peace of the Church of England could not be
firmly established except by the sword, and positively assuring him that
all who died for it would be crowned with martyrdom. Some persons,
moreover, stated that on one occasion the Bishop placed his hand on the
head of the Earl's eldest son, and said to him: "My well-beloved child,
both thou and thy father shall die on one day, and by one kind of death;
but it will be in the cause of justice and truth." Report goes that
Simon, after his death, was distinguished by the working of many
miracles, which, however, were not made publicly known, for fear of
Kings.