Of those that were left aliue, some they
kept to serue as bondmen, other for couetousnesse of gaine they sold,
and some they put in prison, of whome yet diuerse afterwards escaped.
This with more hath the foresaid author written of this matter,
declaring further, that Alfred being conueied into the Ile of Elie,
had not onelie his eies put out in most cruell wise, but was also
presentlie there murthered. But he speaketh not further of the maner
how he was made away, sauing that he saith he forbeareth to make long
recitall of this matter, bicause he will not renew the mothers greefe
in hearing it, sith there can be no greater sorrow to the mother than
to heare of hir sonnes death.
ΒΆ I remember in Caxton we read, that his cruell tormentors should
cause his bellie to be opened, & taking out one end of his bowels or
guts, tied the same to a stake which they had set fast in the ground;
then with needels of iron pricking his bodie, they caused him to run
about the stake, till he had woond out all his intrailes, & so ended
he his innocent life, to the great shame & obloquie of his cruel
aduersaries. But whether he was thus tormented or not, or rather died
(as I thinke) of the anguish by putting out his eies, no doubt but his
death was reuenged by Gods hand in those that procured it. But whether
erle Goodwine was cheefe causer thereof, in betraieng him vnder a
cloked colour of pretended freendship, I cannot say: but that he tooke
him and slue his companie, as some haue written, I cannot thinke it to
be true, both as well for that which ye haue heard recited out of the
author that wrote "Encomium Emmae," as also for that it should seeme he
might neuer be so directlie charged with it, but that he had matter to
alledge in his owne excuse.
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