THE ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNE 239 



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 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 entrench- 

 ments ; and, singling out Gurdon, ran him down, wounded 

 him, and took him prisoner. 1 



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. 



1 M. Paris, p. 675, and Triveti Annale. [G. W.] 



