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Of an Infirmity which hapned to Arthur; and how by some Dreams they see the remedy for his Cure.
AMong these Sweets, Fortune must needs be mixing her Bitters; and so severe she was, as to bring upon Arthur an incurable Disease; and 't was after this sort. Arthur's Body was all corrupted within, whence proceeded out of all parts of it an infinity of Vermin; and they would certainly have devoured him, but that he ever hastened to kill them: Not a Physi∣cian
but disgusted the sight, nor a Servant that could indure the stench. He had half lost the sight of his Eyes, and his Speech falter'd, and he was become a perfect Skeleton: Yet his Body was inwardly swell'd, all the li∣gaments of his Joints were dissolved and lax, like a Paralitick; he could not raise his Head from his Pillow, nor turn him in his Bed; whatever he eat gave him no nourishment; and in a word, so strange was his Malady that the Doctors could not find any remedy for it. None but Olivaires had courage to look on him, and he continually attended him: And when Arthur wish'd and begg'd for death a thousand times in an hour, he com∣forted him, and pray'd him to bear his condition patiently; telling him, He did not think it the least trouble to wait on him, but did it freely and with great satisfaction. One night Arthur dream'd he saw Olivairer's Daughter breathe a Vein; and that she sprinkling some of the Blood is∣used
from it on his Visage, and giving him more to drink, he was cured by the virtue of it. Whereupon he waken'd for joy; but then finding it only a Dream, he said nothing of it to Oli∣vaires: The Virgin was of competent stature, and she also dream'd the same night she saw Arthur drinking of Blood out of a Bowl, and to be cur'd thereby; and she told it to her Mo∣ther. Olivaires one morning 'bout break of day see in a Dream a Lady drawing blood out of her Vein, and with it bathing Arthur, and also gi∣ving him of it to drink, and that he was cur'd thereby: The sight whereof wonderfully rejoyc'd him; and the same morning told the Vision to Ar∣thur. Helena from her Soul loving Arthur as if he had been her own Brother, declareed also her Daughters Dream. Arthur, though secretly, had made his Vision known to the Doctor, who did assure him that Blood was his only remedy.