A.D. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1270. 



put his hand to his belt, as though he would have pulled 

 out some secret letters, and suddenly he pulled out an 

 invenomed knife, thinking to have stroken the prince 

 Prince into the belly therewith as he lay : but the prince lifting 

 Edward ^^ j^jg \\2in(\ to defend the blow, was striken a great 

 wounded'^ wound into the arme, and being about to fetch another 

 stroke at him, the prince againe with his foot tooke him 

 such a blow, that he feld him to the ground : with that 

 the prince gate him by the hand, and with such violence 

 [II. i. 38.] wrasted the knife from him, that he hurt himselfe there- 

 with on the forehead, and immediatly thrust the same 

 into the belly of the messenger and striker, and slew 

 him. 



The princes servants being in the next chamber not 

 farre off, hearing the busHng, came with great haste 

 running in, and finding the messenger lying dead in the 

 floore, one of them tooke up a stoole, and beat out his 

 braines : whereat the prince was wroth for that he stroke 

 a dead man, and one that was killed before. 



But the rumour of this accident, as it was strange, 

 so it went soone thorowout all the Court, and from 

 thence among the common people, for which they were 

 very heavy, and greatly discouraged. To him came 

 also the Captaine of the Temple, and brought him a 

 costly and precious drinke against poison, least the 

 venime of the knife should penetrate the lively blood, 

 and in blaming wise sayd unto him : did I not tell 

 your Grace before of the deceit and subtilty of this 

 people ? Notwithstanding, sayd he, let your Grace take 

 a good heart, you shall not die of this wound, my life 

 for yours. But straight way the Surgions and Physi- 

 cians were sent for, and the prince was dressed, and 

 within few dayes after, the wound began to putrifie, 

 and the flesh to looke dead and blacke : wherupon 

 they that were about the prince began to mutter among 

 themselves, and were very sad and heavy. 



Which thing he himself perceiving, said unto them : 

 why mutter you thus among your selves "^ what see 



364 



