The king sick.
In the moneth of Maie, prince Edward the kings sonne set forward on his iournie towards the holie land, and taking the sea at Douer, passed ouer into France, and came to Burdeaux, where he staied a while, and after went to Agues Mortes, and there tooke shipping, first sailing (as some write) vnto Thunis, where the christian armie, which Lewes the French king as then deceassed had brought thither, was readie to depart, and so prince Edward, with the new French king Lewes and other princes passed ouer into Sicill, where he soiourned for the winter time. In this yeare the king was vexed with a gréeuous sicknesse: and the Irishmen in rebellion slue a great sort of Englishmen, as well magistrats as others in that countrie.
An. Reg. 55.
1271.
Prince Edward arriueth at Acres.
Abington.
Arsacide, of some named Assassini. Prince Edw. is traitorouslie wounded.
When the spring of the yeare began to approach, prince Edward eftsoones tooke the sea, and finallie arriued at Acres with a thousand chosen men of warre, though there be writers that affirme, how there arriued with him of sundrie countries fiue thousand horsemen, and double the same number of footmen. But amongst those that went out of England with him, these we find as principall, Iohn de Britaine, Iohn de Vescie, Otes de Grantson, and Robert de Bruse, besides other. Of his noble chiualrie there atchiued, yée shall find a bréefe note in the description of the holie land, and therefore here we omit the same. Howbeit this is to be remembred, that whilest the lord Edward soiorned there in the citie of Acres, he was in great danger to haue béene slaine by treason: for a traitorous Saracen of that generation which are called Arsacidæ, and latelie reteined by the same lord Edward, and become verie familiar with him, found means one day as he sat in his chamber, to giue him thrée wounds, which suerlie had cost him his life, but that one of the princes chamberleins staied the traitors hand, and somewhat brake the strokes, till other seruants came to the rescue, and slue him there in the place.
Part Iapha.