ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNE. 319 



silence, therefore, of my evidences it seems probable that this 

 extraordinary person finished his life in peace, not long after, at 

 his mansion of Temple. Gurdon's seal had for its device a man, 

 with an helmet on his head, drawing a cross-bow ; the legend, 

 " Sigillum Ade de Gurdon; " his arms were, " Goulis, iii floures 

 argent issant de testes de leopards." * 



If the stout and unsubmitting spirit of Gurdon could be so much 

 influenced by the belief and superstition of the times, much more 

 might the hearts of his ladies and daughter. And accordingly we 

 find that Ameria, by the consent and advice of her sons, though 

 said to be all under age, makes a grant for ever of some lands 

 down by the stream at Durton ; and also of her right of the 

 common of Durton itself, f Johanna, the daughter and heiress 

 of Sir Adam, was married, I find, to Richard Achard ; she also 

 grants to the prior and convent lands and tenements in the village 

 of Selborne, which her father obtained from Thomas Makerel ; and 

 also all her goods and chattels in Selborne for the consideration of 

 two hundred pounds sterling. This last business was transacted in 

 the first year of Edward II., viz., 1307. It has been observed 

 before that Gurdon had a natural son ; this person was called by 

 the name of John Dastard, alias Wastard, but more probably 

 Bastard ; since bastardy, in those days, was not deemed any 

 disgrace, though dastardy was esteemed the greatest. He was 

 married to Gunnorie Duncun ; and had a tenement and some 

 land granted him in Selborne by his sister Johanna. 



* From the collection of Thomas Martin, Esq., in the "Antiquarian Repertory." p. too, 

 No. XXXI. 

 t Durton, now called Dorton, is still a common for the copyholders of Selborne manor. 



