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towards the town of Farnham. After the battle of 

 Evesham, in which Mountfort fell, in the year 1265, 

 Gurdon might not think it safe to return to his house for 

 fear of a surprise ; but cautiously fortified himself amidst 

 the forests and woodlands with which he was so well 

 acquainted. Prince Edward, desirous of putting an 

 end to the troubles which had so long harassed the 

 kingdom, pursued the arch-rebel into his fastnesses ; 

 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 vanquished 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 unmerited 

 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. 



LETTER IX 



It has been hinted in a former letter that Sir Adam 

 Gurdon had availed himself by marrying women of 

 property. By my evidences it appears that he had three 

 wives, and probably in the following order : Constantia, 



^ M. Paris, p. 675, and Triveti Annales. 



