Prince Edwin could not deny that he had used these words; but it seemed
to him very hard that they should be repeated to the king in the hour
of his sore distress. Looking around, with a countenance expressive of
mingled sorrow and indignation, he said,--

"Unhappy that I am! they that were my most familiar friends are they
that speak against me! Is there no one that can bear me witness that I
am guiltless of the crime of plotting to take away my brother's life?"

"I will, though I die for it!" cried a voice, feeble from bodily
suffering, but firm in the courageous utterance of truth. It was that
of Wilfrid, the page, who, with his countenance still pale and
disfigured from the effects of the blow received from Prince Edwin,
stood boldly forward to bear witness of the scene which had taken place
in his presence between Brithric and the prince.

"Oh, Wilfrid, generous Wilfrid," cried Edwin, bursting into tears, "how
nobly do you fulfill the precepts of your heavenly Master by returning
good for evil!"

Now Athelstane had been so deeply prejudiced against his unfortunate
brother by the wicked Brithric, that he would not listen to Wilfrid's
honest evidence. When, therefore, he heard that he was the son of the
traitor Cendric, who had been so deeply implicated in Alfred's plot, he
was so unjust as to believe all that Brithric said against him.
Accordingly, he took Wilfrid, as well as the young Atheling, and
carried them prisoners to London. He there put them on board a ship
that was lying in the river Thames, and when night came, set sail with
them and went out to sea.