Publisher's Synopsis
John was very angry when he found that his orders had not been obeyed, and heimmediately determined to send Arthur to another prison, which was in the townof Rouen, the keeper of which he knew to be an unscrupulous and merciless man.This was done, and soon afterward it was given out through all the kingdom thatArthur was dead. Every body was convinced that John had caused him to bemurdered. There were several different rumors in respect to the way in which thedeed was done. One story was that John, being at Rouen, where Arthur wasimprisoned, after having become excited with the wine which he had drunk at acarousal, went and killed Arthur himself with his own hand, and that he thenordered his body to be thrown into the Seine, with heavy stones tied to the feet tomake it sink. The body, however, afterward, they said, rose to the surface andfloated to the shore, where some monks found it, and buried it secretly in theirabbey.Another story was that John pretended to be reconciled to Arthur, and took himout one day to ride with him, with other horsemen. Presently John rode on withArthur in advance of the party, until late in the evening they came to a solitaryplace where there was a high cliff overhanging the sea. Here John drew his sword, and, riding up to Arthur, suddenly ran him through the body. Arthur cried aloud, and begged for mercy as he fell from his horse to the ground; but John dragged himto the edge of the precipice, and threw him over into the sea while he was yet aliveand breathing.A third story was that John had determined that Arthur must die, and that he camehimself one night to the castle where Arthur was confined in Rouen on the Seine. Aman went up to Arthur's room, and, waking him from his sleep, directed him to rise."Rise," said he, "and come with me."Arthur rose, and followed his guard with fear and trembling. They descended thestaircase to the foot of the tower, where there was a portal that opened close upon 10the river. On going out, Arthur found that there was a boat there at the stairs, withhis uncle and some other men in it. Arthur at once understood what these thingsmeant, and was greatly terrified. He fell on his knees, and begged his uncle to sparehis life; but John gave a sign, and Arthur was stabbed, and then taken out a littleway and thrown into the river. Some say that John killed him and threw him intothe river with his own han
