ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNE. 



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 



