Answer:
By a snake bite.
Explanation:
In the play "Hamlet", when the old King Hamlet died, rumors spread that the king died after a snake bit him.
<u>We can find about this in Act 1 Scene 5 when the Ghost of the old King appears to Hamlet to reveal about his murder and his murderer.</u>
The Ghost said in lines 35-40 of Act 1, Scene 5:
<em>" 'Tis given out that, </em><u><em>sleeping in my orchard, </em></u>
<u><em>A serpent stung me. So the whole ear of Denmark</em></u><em> </em>
<em>Is by a forgèd process of my death </em>
<em>Rankly abused. But know, thou noble youth, </em>
<u><em>The serpent that did sting thy father’s life </em></u>
<u><em>Now wears his crown.</em></u><em>"</em> (Quoted Text from Hamlet)
So, the correct answer is words spread about the murder of the king that he was bit by a snake and died.