ANTIQUITIES 
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 intrenchments ; 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 
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. 
LETTER IX. 
T has been hinted in a former letter that Sir 
Adam Gurdon had availed himself by mar- 
rying women of property. By my evidences 
it appears that he had three wives, and pro- 
bably 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 
^ M. Paris, p. 675, and Triveti Annales— G. W. 
