OF SELBORNK. 307 



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, pur- 

 sued 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. 11 



There is not perhaps in all history a more remarkable in- 

 stance 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 ven- 

 geance 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. a 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 Grurdon 

 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, Ameria, and Agnes. The 

 first of these ladies, who was the companion of his middle 

 life, seems to have been a person of considerable fortune, which 



" M. Paris, p. 675. & Triveti Annales. 



* [See a very pleasing version of this incident in Miss M. S medley's 

 ' Lays and Ballads,' p. 66. T. B.] 



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