Tudor Books, Grafton's Chronicle Richard III

After that the Protector had taken vpon him the royal estate, preheminence and kingdome of this realme, as is aforesaid in the historic of king Edward the fift, he the next day folowyng with a great traine, went on foote to Westminsterhall, & there when he had placed himselfe in the Court of the kings Benche, he declared to the audience, that he would take vpo him the crowne there in that place where the king himselfe sitteth, & ministreth the lawe, because he considered, that it was the chiefest duty of a king to minister the lawes. Then with as pleasaunt an oracion as he coulde, he went about to wynne the hartes of the nobles, the merchauntes, & artificers, and in conclusion all kinde of men, but speciall the Lawyers of this realme. And finally to the entent that no man should hate him for feare, and that his deceytfull clemency might get him the good will of the people, when he had declared tiie discommoditie of discord, and the commoditie of concord, and vnitie, he made an open proclamacion, that he did put out of his minde all enemities, and that he there did pardon all offences committed against him. And to the entent that he might shew a proofe thereof, he commauded that one Fogge, whome he had deadly hated, shoulde be brought before him, who being brought out of the Sanctuarie, for thether had he fled for feare of him. In the sight of the people he tooke him by the hand, which thing the common people reioysed at, and praysed: But wise men tooke it for a vanitie. And in his retourne homewarde, whom so euer he met, he saluted: for a mind that knoweth it selfe guiltie, is in a maner deiected to a seruile flattery.

When he had begonne his reigne the. xix. daye of Iune, in the yeare of our Lorde 1483 after this mockish election, then was he procluymed king openly by sounde of trompet the next day folowing, and the sixt day of lulye next ensuyng, was solemply crowned at Westminster. And that solempnitye uas furnished for the most parte with the selfe same prouision that was apoynted for the coronation of his nephew. But forasmuch as the maner of the same coronacion came vnto my hands, & also for that no mencion is made of the maner of the Coronacion of any prince in al this Chronicle, I thought it not amisse in this place to expresse the same.

The fourth day of Iuly he came to the tower by water with his wyfe, and there he created Edwarde, his onely begotten sonne, a childe of ten yeres olde, Prince of Wales, and Iohn Hawarde, a man of great knowlege, and vertue, (aswell in counsaile, as in battaile) he created Duke of Norffolk, and Sir Thomas Haward his sonne, he created Erle of Surrey, & William Lord Barkley was then created Erle of Nottingham, and Fraunces Lord Louell was then made vicount Louell and the kings chamberleyne, and the Lorde Stanley, was deliuered out of ward for feare of his son the Lord Straunge which was then in Lancasshire gathering men (as it was saide) and the sayd Lorde was made stewarde of the kings housholde, and likewise the Archebishop of Yorke was deliuered. But Morton Bishop of Ely was deliuered to the Duke of Buckingham to kepe in warde, which sent him to his manor of Brecknock in Wales, from whence (as ye shall after here) hee escaped to kyng Richardes confusion.

The same night the king made. xvij. knights of the Bathe, whose names were these.

Sir Edmonde the Duke of Suffolkes sonne.

Sir George Gray the Erle of Rentes sonne.

Sir william the Lorde Souches sonne.

Sir Henry Burgany.

Sir william Say.

Sir Christopher Willoughby.

Sir Edmond Bedingfield.

Sir William Barkley.

Sir William Enderby.

Sir Henry Banington.

Sir Thomas Lekenor.

Sir Thomas Arondell.

Sir Thomas of Vernon.

Sir Thomas Boleyn.

Sir Iohn Browne.

Sir Brews of Clifton.

Sir William Barkley.

The next day beyng the fift day of Iuly the king roade through the Citie of London towarde Westminster with great pompe, beyng accompanied with these Dukes, Erles, Lordes, and knightes, whose names folow.

Edward Prince of Wales the kinges onely sonne.

Dukes.

The Duke of Suffolke.

The Duke of Norffolke.

The Duke of Buckyngham

Erles.

The Erle of Northumberland

The Erle of Arondell

The Erle of Kent

The Erle of Surrey

The Erle of Wilshire

The Erle of Huntingdon

The Erle of Nottyngham

The Erle of Wanvicke

The Erle of Lyncolne.

Lordes.

The Lorde Lisle Vicount

The Lorde Louell Vicount

The Lorde Stanley

The Lorde Audeley

The Lorde Dakers

The Lord Ferrers of Chertley

The Lorde Powes

The Lorde Scrope of Vpsale

The Lorde Scrope of Bolton

The Lorde Gray Cotener

The Lorde Gray of Wilton

The Lorde Sturton

The Lorde Cobham

The Lorde Morley

The Lorde Burgany

The Lorde Sowche

The Lorde Ferrers of Croby

The Lorde Welles

The Lorde Lomney

The Lorde Matreuers

The Lorde Harbert

The Lorde Becham.

Knightes.

Sir Tames Tyrell

Sir William Knyuet

Sir Thomas Aborow

Sir William Standley

Sir William Aparre

Sir George Browne

Sir Robert Middlcton

Sir Iohn Heningham

Sir Nicholas Latimer

Sir Thomas Monghonbrey

Sir Thomas Delamer

Sir Gilbert Debnam

Sir Terry Robsart

Sir William Brandon

Sir Iohn Sauell

Sir Henry Wcntfoord

Sir Edward Standley

Sir Henry Seyntmonte

Sir William Yong

Sir Thomas Bowser

Sir Henry Winkfielde

Sir Thomas Wortley

Sir Iohn Seyntlowe

Sir Charles of Pilkinton

Sir lames Haryngton

Sir Iohn Asheley

Sir Thomas Barkley

Sir Richard Becham

Sir William Hopton

Sir Thomas Percye

Sir Robert Dimock

Sir Iohn Cheyney

Sir Richard Ludlow

Sir Iohn Eldryngton

Sir William Sandes

Sir Richard Dudley

Sir William Seyntlowe

Sir Thomas Twaightes

Sir Edmond of Dudley

Sir Raufe Ashton

Sir Richard Charlyngton

Sir Thomas Graye

Sir Philip Barkley

Sir Robert Harington

Sir Thomas Gressley

Sir Richard Hartcourt

Sir William Noris

Sir Thomas Selenger

Sir Richard Hodylston

Sir Iohn Conyas

Sir William Stoner

Sir Philip Courtney

Sir William Gaskoyn

Sir Richard Amedylton

Sir Roger Fynes

Sir George Vere

Sir Henry Percye

Sir Iohn Wood

Sir Iohn Aparre

Sir Iohn Gray

Sir Iohn Dan by

Sir Richard Taylebushe

Sir Iohn Ridet

Sir Iohn Heryng

Sir William Stoner

Sir Richard Enderby

Sir Iohn Barkeley

Sir lames Strangwishe

Sir Raufe Carubreke

Sir Iohn Constable

Sir Robert Elyard

Sir Richard Derell

Sir Iohn Gilford

Sir Iohn Hewes

Sir Iohn Lekenor

Sir Iohn Boleyn

Sir Iohn Morley

Sir Edmond Shaa Alderman.

On the morow beyng the sixt day of Iuly, the king with Queene Anne his wife, came downe out of the white Hall into the great Hall at Westminster, and went directly to the kinges Benche. And from thence the king and the Queene goyng vpon rave cloth barefooted, went vnto Saint Edwards Shrine, and all his Nobilitie goyng with him, euery Lorde in his degree. And first went the Trompets, and then the Heraultes of Armes in their rich Cotes, and next folowed the Crosse with a solempne Procession, the priestes hauyng fine Surplesses, and gray Amysses vpon them. The Abbottes and Bishops Mytred and in riche Copes, and euery of them caryed their Crosiers in their handes. The Bishop of Rochester bare the Crosse before the Cardinall. Then folowed the Erle of Huntingdon, bearyng a payreof guilt Spurres, signifiyng Knighthood. Then folowed the Erle of Bedford bearyng Saint Edwardes staffe for a Relique. After them came the Erle of Northumberland bare hedded, with the poyntlesse sworde naked in his hand, which signified mercy. The Lorde Stanley bare the Mace of the Constablesbip. The Erle of Kent bare the second sworde on the right hande of the king naked, with a poynt which signified iustice to the Temporaltie. The Lorde Louell bare the thirde sworde on the left hande with a poynt, which signified iustice to the Clergie. The Duke of Suffolk folowed with y Scepter in his hande, which signified peace. The Erle of Lincolne bare the Ball and Crosse, which signified a Monarchy. The Erle of Surrey bare y fourth sword before the king in a rich skaberd, and that is called the sword of estate. Then went three together, in the middest went Garter king at amies in his riche Cote. And on his left hande went the Maior of London bearing a Mace, and on his right hand went the Gentleman Vsher of the priuie chamber. Then folowed the Duke of Norffolke bearing the kinges crowne betwene his handes. Then folowed king Richard in his robes of purple Veluet, and ouer his head a Canapie borne by foure Barones of the fiue portes, and on euery side of the king there went one Bishop, that is to say, the Byshop of Bathe, and the Byshop of Durham. Then folowed the Duke of Buckyngham bearing the kings trayne, with a whyte staffe in his hande, signifiyng the office of the high Steward of England. Then there folowed a great number of Erles and Barons before the Queene. And then came the Erle of Huntington, who bare the Queenes Scepter, and the Lorde Lisle Viscount bare the rod with the doffe, w*hich signifieth innocencie. The Erle of Wiltshire bare the Queenes crowne before her. Then folowed Queene Anne daughter to Richard Erle of Warwike in robes lyke to the king, and hauing a Canapy ouer her head, and on euery corner of the same was a Bell of Golde. And on her head was a Circlet of Golde, set with manye precious stones. The Countesse of Richmond bare the Queenes trayne. And after them came the Duchesse of Suffolke in her robes of estate, and or. her head a Cronicle of Golde. Then folowed the Duchesse of Norffolke appareled in lyke maner as was the Duchesse of Suffolke, and then folowed twentie Ladies richely apparelled, and after them a great number of knightes and Esquires, and then a great number of Typstaues, and passed forwarde vntill they came vnto Saint Edwardes Shryne to their seates of estate. And shortly the king and the Queene sat downe in their seats of estate. And forthwith there came vp before the King & the Queene both priests and Clarkes, that song most delectable and excellent Musick. And so soone as thys was done, the King and Queene were shifted from their robes, and had dyuers places open fiom the middle vpwarde, in which places they were annoynted. And that beyng done, the King and Queene chaunged their robes into cloth of Golde. And then forthwith the Cardinall beyng accompanied with all the Byshops, crowned the lung and Queene with great solempnity, with the crowne of Saint Edward, and then they sang Te deum and the Organs went, and then they put vpon the king Saint Edwardes Cope (as an holy relique.)

And the Byshops deliuered to the king the Scepter in his right hande, and the Ball with the Crosse in his left hande, and to the Queene the Scepter in her right hand, and the rod with the Doue in her left hande. And then the Cardinall and Byshops went to Masse, and the King and Queene went to their sealcs agayne. And shortly after came vp before the king two Byshops and kneeled downe before him a little whyle, and then they arose vp and kissed the King one after another: on euery side of the king stoode a Duke, and on euery side of the Queene stood a Byshop. And before the king stood the Erle of Surrey with a sword in hys hande, and before the Queene was a Lady kneeling. And there kneeled before the Queenes seate the Duches of Norffolke and sundrie other Ladies. And so they sate still vntill the Paxe was geuen, and then the King & Queene dissended and came downe to the highe aultar, and there receyued the Sacrament, the same beyng dcuided betweene them. And then they went vp vnto S. Edwards Shryne, and there the king offi ed saint Edwards crowne with many other reliques. And then the king returned agayne to his seat, and the Lordes set hys awne crowne vpon his head. And so in order as they came they departed to Westminster hall, and so to their Chambers for a season. During which time the Duke of Norffolke came into the hall, his horse being trapped to the ground in cloth of Golde as high Marshall, and voyded the Hall.

About foure of the clock the King and Queene entred the Hall, and the King sate in the middle, and the Queene on the left hande of the table, and on euery side of her stoode a Countesse, holding a cloth of pleasaunce when she list to drinke. And on the right diande of the King sate the Archebyshop of Caunterburie. All the Ladies sate on one side at a table, in the middle of the hall, and at the table agaynst hym sate the Chauncelour and all the Lordes. At the table next the Cupbord sat the Maior of London. At the table behind the Lordes sate the Barones of the hue Portes. And at the other bords sate dyuers noble and worshipfull personages.

When all persons were set, the Duke of Norffolke Erle Marshall, the Erle of Surrey Constable for that day, the Lorde Stanley Lorde steward, syr Wylliam Hopton Treasorer, and syr Thomas Percy Comptroller came in and serued the Kingsolempnly with one dishe of Golde, & another of Syluer, and the Queene all in guilt Vessel, and the Byshop in Siluer. At the second course came into the hall syr Robert Dymmock the kings Champion makyng proclamation, that whosoeuer would save that king Richard was not lawfuli King, he woulde fight with him at the vtteraunce, and threwe downe his gauntlet, and then all the hall cryed King Richard, King Richard. And so he did in three partes of the hall. And then one brought him a Cup of Golde with Wine couered, and when he had dronke as much as he woulde, he threwe out the rest and departed with the Cup. After that the Heraultes cryed a largesse thrise in the hall, and so went vp to their stage. At the ende of dynner the Maior of London serued the king and Queene with Ipocras, and had of eche of them a Cup of Golde with a couer of Golde. And by that tyme all was done it was darke night, and so the King and Queene returned to their Chambers, and euery man to his lodging.

Incontinent after thys feast he sent a solempne Ambassade to Lewys the French king to conclude a league and amity with him, trusting also to obteyne the tribute that king Edwarde his brother had before out of Eraunce. But the French King so abhorred him and his crueltie, that he woulde neyther see nor here his Ambassadors, & so in vaine they returned home againe.

Now after this triumphant coronation", there fell mischiefes thick and thick, & as the thing euill gotten is neuer well kept, so through all the time of his vsurped reigne, neuer ceased their cruel murtber, death, and slaughter, till his awne destruction ended it. But as he finished his time with the best death and most rightwise, that is to say his awne, so began he with the most pitteous and wicked, I meane the lamentable murther of his innocent Nephews the yong king and his tender brother, whose death and finall fortune hath neuerthelesse so farre come in question that some remayned long in doubt whether they were in his dayes destroyed or no. Not for that one'.y that Parkyn Warbeck by many folkes malice, and mo folkes folly so long space abusing the worlde, was as well with princes as with poore people reputed and taken for the yonger of these two: But for that also that all things were in late dayes so couertly demeaned, one thing pretended and another ment, tbat there was nothing so playne and openly prooued, but that yet for the Close baling is common custome of close and couert dealing, men had it euer inwardly suspect, as many euer su *i" C10 well counterfeit Iewels, make the true mistrusted. Howbeit, concerning y opinion, with the occasions moiling either party, we shall haue place more at large to intreate, in the storie of the late Noble Prince of famous memorie king Henry the seuenth, in the processe of Parkyn. But in the meane season, for this present matter I shall reherse to you the dolorous ende of these two Babes, not after euery waye that I haue heard, but after that waye that I haue so heard by such men and such meanes as me thinketh it were harde but it should be true.

Kyne Richarde after his coronacion, taking his waye to Glocester, to visite in his newe honour, the towne, of which he bare the name before of old, deuised as he rode to fulfill that thing which he before had entended. And forasmuch as his minde gaue him that his neuewes lyuing, men woulde not recon that he coulde haue right to the realme: he thought therefore without delay to ridde them, as though the killyng of his kynsmen might ende hys cause, and make him a kindly king. Where vpon he sent one Iohn Greene, whome he specially trnsted. vnto

Sir Robert Brakenburie, constable of the tower, with a letter and credence also, that the same

Sir Robert in anye wyse shoulde put the two children todeath. This Iohn Greene did his errand to Brakenbury, kneeling before our Ladye, in the Towre, who plainely aunswered that he would neuer put them to death, to die therefore. With y which aunswere Iohn Greene returned, recompting the same to king Richarde at Warwike yet on his iourney, wherwith he toke such displeasure, & thought, that the same night, he sayd, to a secret page of his: Ah, whome shall a man trust? they that I haue brought vp my selfe, they that I went would haue most surely serued me, euen those favle me, & at my commaundement wyll do nothing for me.

Sir quod the page, there lieth one in the palet chambre without, that I dare well say, to do your grace pleasure, the thing were right hard that he would refuse, meanyng this by

Sir Iames Tirrell, which was a man of right goodly personage, and for the giftes of nature worthy to haue serued a much better Prince, if he had well serued God, & by grace obteyned to haue as much truth and good will, as he had strength and witte. The man had an high hart, and sore longed vpwarde, not risyng yet so fast as he had hoped beyng hindered and kept under by

Sir Richard Ratcliffe, and

Sir William Catesby, which longyng for no more partners of the Princes fauour, namelye not for him, whose pride they knewe woulde beare no pere, kept him in secret driftes out of all secret trust: which thing this page had well marked, and knowen: wherefore, this occasion offered, of very speciall friendship spied his time to set him forward, and in such wise to doe him good, that all the enemies that he had (except the Deuill) coulde neuer haue done him so much hurt and shame, for vpon the Pages wordes, king Richard arose (for this communication had he sitting en a Iaques, a cotmenient carpet for such a counsuyle) and came out into the palet chambre, where he did find in bed the sayd Iames Tyrrell, and

Sir Thomas Tyrrell, of person like, & brethren of blood, but nothing of kinne in condicions. Then sayde the king merely to them, what

Sirs, be you in bed so sone? and called vp Iames Tyrrel and brake to him secretly his minde, in this mischeuous matter, in the which he founde him nothyng straunge. Wherfore on the morowe he sent him to Brakinburie with a letter by the which he was commaunded to deliuer to the sayd Iames all the keyes of the Towre for that night, to the ende that he might there accomplishe the kings pleasure in such things as he there had geuen him in commaudement. After which letter deliuered and the keyes receyued, Iames appointed the next night ensuing to destroy them, deuisyng before & preparyng the meanes.

The Prince assone as the Protectour toke vpon him to be king, and left the name of Protectour, was thereof aduertised and shewed, that lie shoulde not raigne, but his vncle shoulde haue the crowne. At which word the prince sore abashed began to sighe, and sayde: Alas I woulde mine vncle woulde let me haue my life, although I leese my kingdome. Then he that tolde him the tale vsed him with good wordes, and put him in the best comfort that hee coulde, but forthwith he and his brother were both shut vp, and all other remoued from them, one called blacke Wyll, or William Slaughter onely except, which were set to serue them, and foure other to see them sure. After which time, the Prince neuer tyed his pointes, nor any thing rought of hymselfe, but with that yong babe his brother lyngered in thought & heauinesse, till this traiterous dede deliuered them of that wretchednesse.

For James Tyrrell deuised that they should be murthered in their beds and no blood shed: to the execution whereof, he appointed Miles Forest one of the foure that before kept them, a felow flesh bred in murther before time, and to him he ioyncd one Iobn Dighton, his awne horsekeper, a big, broade square, and strong knaue. Then all the other beyng remoued from them, this Miles Forest, and Iolm Dighton about midnight, the siely children liyng in their beddes, came into the chambre, and sodculy lapped them vp amongest the clothes, and so bewrapped them, .and entangled them, kepyng downe by force the fetherbed & pillovves hard vnto their mouthes, that within awhile they smored, and stiried them, & their breathes faylyng, they gaue vp to God their innocent soules, into the ioyes of beauen, leauing to y tormentors their bodies, dead in y bed, which after the wretches perceiued, first by the strugling, with the pangs of death, & after long liyng stil to be throughly dead, they layd the bodies naked out vpon the bed, & fetched Iames Tyrell to see them, which when he saw them perfitely dead, he caused y murtherers to bury them at the stayre foote, metely deepe in the ground vnder a great heape of stones.

Then rode lames Tyrrell in great haste to king Richard, and shewed him all the maner of the murder, who gaue him great thankes, and as men say, there made him knight, but he allowed not their buriall in so vile a corner, saiyng that he would baue them buried in a better place, because they were a kinges sonnes: Lo the honourable courage of a king, for he would recompence a detestable murther with a solempne obsequie. Wherevpon a priest of Sir Robert Brakenburies toke them vp, and buried them in such a place secretly as by the occasion of his death (which was very shortly after) which onely knew it, the very truth coulde neuer yet be well and perfective knowen. Some say that king Richard caused them to he taken vp, and closed them in lead, & to put them in a Coffin full of holes, hooked at the endes with two hookes of yron, and so cast them into a place called the black deepes, at the Thames mouth, so that they should neuer rise vp nor he seene againe. This was the verve truth vnknowen by reason that the sayde priest died so shortly, and disclosed it neuer to any person that would vtter it. And for a truth, when sir lames Tyrrell was in the Tower for treason committed agaynst king Henry the seuenth: both he and Dighton were examined together of this poynt, and both they confessed the murder to be done in the same maner as you baue heard, but whether the bodyes were remoued, they both affirmed lhev neuer knewe. And thus a^ I haue learner! of them that much knewe, and little cause had to lye, were these two noble Princes, these innocent tender children, home of the most royal! blood, and brought vp in great welth, likely long to line, 10 reigne & rule in the realme, by trayterous tirannie taken and depriued of their estate, shortly shut vp in prison, and priuilye slaine and murdered by the cruell ambicion of their natu.rall Vncle and hys dispiteous tormentors: which ihinges on euery part well pondered, God gaue this worlde neuer a more notable example, either in what vnsuretie standeth this worldes weale, or what mischiefe worketh the prowde enterprice of an high heart, or finally what wretched aide ensueth of such dispiteous crueltie. For first to begin with the ministers, Myles Forest, at Saint Martines le graund, by peece ineale miserably rotted away, Iohn Dighton lined at Calice long alter, no lesse disdeyned and hated then poynted at, and there dyed in great misery: But Sir James Tirrell was behedded at the Tower hill for treason: And king Richard himselfe was slaine in the fielde, hacked, and hewen of his enemies hands, haried on a horseback naked being dead, his heare in dispite torne and tugged like a curre Dogge. And the mischiefe that he tooke in lesse then three yeres, of the mischiefe that he did in three monethes be not comparable, and yet all the meane time spent in much trouble and paine outwarde, and much feure, dreade, and anguishe within. For I haue heard by credible report, of such as were secret with his chamberers that after this abhominable deed done, he neuer was quiet in his mind, he neuer thought himselfe sure where he went abroad?, his bodie priuilye fainted, his eyen whirled aboute, his hande euer on his dagger, his countenaunce and maner like alwayes to strike again, he toke euill rest on nightes, lay long wakyng and musyng, foreweried with care and watch, rather slumbred then slept, troubled with fearefull dreames, sodeinly sometime start vp, leapt out of his bed and loked about the Chamber, so was his restlesse heart continually tossed and tombled with the tedious impression and stormie remembraunce of his abhominable murther and execrable tirannie.