ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNE. SEI 
attacked his camp, leaped over the entrenchments, and, singling 
out Gurdon, ran him down, wounded him, and took him prisoner.* 
There is not perhaps in all history a more remarkable instance 
of command of temper, and magnanimity, than this before us : that 
a young prince, in the moment of victory, when he had the fell 
adversary of the crown and royal family at his mercy, should be 
able to withhold his hand from that vengeance which the van- 
quished so well deserved. A cowardly disposition would have 
been blinded by resentment; but this gallant heir-apparent saw 
at once a method of converting a most desperate foe into a lasting 
friend. He raised the fallen veteran from the ground, he pardoned 
him, he admitted him into his confidence, and introduced him to 
the queen, then lying at Guildford, that very evening. This un- 
merited and unexpected lenity melted the heart of the rugged 
Gurdon at once; he became in an instant a loyal and useful 
subject, trusted and employed in matters of moment by Edward 
when king, and confided in till the day of his death. 
*M. Paris, p 675, and Triveti Annale 
