346 ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNE. 



does not seem to be known in the south ; but there is a name so 

 like it in an adjoining kingdom, and which belongs to two or 

 three noble families, that it is probable this remarkable person 

 was a North Briton ; and the more so, since the Christian name 

 of Adam is a distinguished one to this day among the family of 

 the Gordons. But, be this as it may, Sir Adam Gurdon has been 

 noticed by all the writers of English history for his bold disposi- 

 tion and disaffected spirit, in that he not only figured during the 

 successful rebellion of Leicester, but kept up the war after the 

 defeat and death of that baron, entrenching himself in the woods 

 of Hampshire, 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 sur- 

 prise; 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 harrassed 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 intro- 

 duced him to the queen, then lying at Guildford, that very even- 

 ing.* 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. 



LE1TER IX. 



IT has been hinted in a former letter that Sir Adam Gurdon had 



* M. Paris, p. 6/5, & Triveti Annale. 



