Disappearance of the Princes in the Tower

Memoirs of Philip de Commines Book 6 Chapter 8. June 1483. Our King was quickly informed of King Edward's death; but he expressed no manner of joy upon hearing the news. Not long after, he received letters from the Duke of Gloucester (age 30), who had made himself king¹, styled himself Richard III., and barbarously murdered his two nephews² [King Edward V of England (age 12) and Richard of Shrewsbury 1st Duke of York (age 9)]. This King Richard desired to live in the same friendship with our king as his brother had done, and I believe would gladly have had his pension continued; but our king looked upon him as an inhuman and cruel person, and would neither answer his letters nor give audience to his ambassador; for King Richard, after his brother's death, bad sworn allegiance to his nephew, as his king and sovereign, and yet committed that inhuman action not long after; and, in full Parliament, caused two of his brother's daughters to be degraded and declared illegitimate, upon a pretence which he justified by means of the Bishop of Bath (age 63), who, having been formerly in great favour with King Edward, had incurred his displeasure, was dismissed, imprisoned, and fined a good sum for his releasement³. This bishop affirmed, that King Edward being in love with a certain lady whom he named, and otherwise unable to have his desires of her, had promised her marriage; and caused the bishop to marry

Note 1. Richard III did not assume the title of King until the 26th of June, 1483; after the death of his nephew Edward V.

Note 2. Molinet (ii. 402.) gives the following account of the murder of the princes: "The eldest was simple and very melancholy, aware of the wickedness of his uncle, but the youngest was joyous and witty, nimble, and ever ready for dances and games; and he said to his brother, who wore the order of the garter, 'My brother, learn to dance:' and his brother answered, 'It would be better for us to learn to die, for I think we shall not long remain in the world!' They were prisoners for about five weeks; and Duke Richard had them secretly slain by the captain of the Tower. And when the executioners came, the eldest was asleep, but the youngest was awake, and he perceived their intention, and began to say, 'Ha! my brother, awake, for they have come to kill you,' Then he said to the executioners, 'Why do you kill my brother? kill me, and let him live.' But they were both killed and their bodies cast into a secret place."

Note 3. See notes, vol. i. pp. 395, 396.

The History of King Richard the Third by Thomas More. [July 1483] Wherewith he took such displeasure and thought, that the same night, he said unto a secret page of his: "Ah, whom shall a man trust? Those that I have brought up myself, those that I had thought would most surely serve me, even those fail me and at my commandment will do nothing for me."

"Sir," said his page, "there lies one outside in your bedchambers who, I dare well say, to do your Grace pleasure, the thing were right hard that he would refuse," meaning by this Sir James Tyrell (age 28), who was a man of right goodly personage and for nature's gifts, worthy to have served a much better prince, if he had well served God and by grace obtained as much truth and good will as he had strength and wit.

The man had a high heart and sore longed upward, not rising yet so fast as he had hoped, being hindered and kept under by the means of Sir Richard Radcliff (age 53) and Sir William Catesby (age 33), who, longing for no more partners of the Prince's favor, and namely, none for him, whose pride they knew would bear no peer, kept him by secret plans out of all secret trust. Which thing this page well had marked and known. Because this occasion offered very special friendship with the King, the page took this time to put him forward and, by such a way, do him such good that all the enemies he had, except the devil, could never have done him so much harm.

For upon this page's words King Richard (age 30) arose (for this communication had he sitting on the stool, an appropriate court for such a council) and came out into the bedchambers, where he found in bed Sir James and Sir Thomas Tyrell, of person alike and brethren of blood, but nothing of kin in qualities. Then said the King merrily to them: "What, sirs, be you in bed so soon?" and calling up Sir James, revealed to him secretly his mind in this mischievous matter, in which he found him nothing unfriendly.

Wherefore on the morrow, he sent him to Brakenbury with a letter, by which he was commanded to deliver Sir James all the keys of the Tower for one night, to the end he might there accomplish the King's pleasure in such thing as he had given him commandment. After which letter was delivered and the keys received, Sir James appointed the next night to destroy them, devising before and preparing the means.

Richard III. [July 1483] Enter Tyrrel.

TYRREL The tyrannous and bloody act is done,

The most arch deed of piteous massacre

That ever yet this land was guilty of.

Dighton and Forrest, who I did suborn

To do this piece of ruthless butchery,

Albeit they were fleshed villains, bloody dogs,

Melted with tenderness and mild compassion,

Wept like two children in their deaths' sad story.

"O thus," quoth Dighton, "lay the gentle babes."

"Thus, thus," quoth Forrest, "girdling one another

Within their alabaster innocent arms.

Their lips were four red roses on a stalk,

And in their summer beauty kissed each other.

A book of prayers on their pillow lay,

Which once," quoth Forrest, "almost changed my mind,

But, O, the devil-" There the villain stopped;

When Dighton thus told on: "We smotherèd

The most replenishèd sweet work of nature

That from the prime creation e'er she framed."

Hence both are gone with conscience and remorse;

They could not speak; and so I left them both

To bear this tidings to the bloody king.

Enter Richard.

And here he comes.-All health, my sovereign lord.

RICHARD Kind Tyrrel, am I happy in thy news?

TYRREL If to have done the thing you gave in charge

Beget your happiness, be happy then,

For it is done.

RICHARD But did'st thou see them dead?

TYRREL I did, my lord.

RICHARD And buried, gentle Tyrrel?

TYRREL The chaplain of the Tower hath buried them,

But where, to say the truth, I do not know.

RICHARD Come to me, Tyrrel, soon at after-supper,

When thou shalt tell the process of their death.

Meantime, but think how I may do thee good,

And be inheritor of thy desire.

Farewell till then.

TYRREL I humbly take my leave.

Tyrrel exits.

The History of King Richard the Third by Thomas More. [July 1483] The Prince (age 12), as soon as the Protector (age 30) had left that name and took himself as King, had it showed unto him he should not reign, but his uncle should have the crown. At which word the Prince, sore abashed, began to sigh and said: "Alas, I would my uncle would let me have my life yet, though I lose my kingdom." Then he that told him the tale, spoke to him with good words and put him in the best comfort he could. But forthwith were the Prince and his brother (age 9) both shut up, and all others removed from them, only one, called Black Will or William Slaughter, set to serve them and see them safe. After which time the Prince never tied his laces, nor took care of himself, but with that young babe, his brother, lingered in thought and heaviness till this traitorous death delivered them of that wretchedness.

For Sir James Tyrell (age 28) devised that they should be murdered in their beds. To the execution whereof, he appointed Miles Forest, one of the four that kept them, a fellow hardened in murder before that time. To him he joined one John Dighton, his own housekeeper, a big, broad, square strong knave. Then all the others being removed from them, this Miles Forest and John Dighton about midnight (the innocent children lying in their beds) came into the chamber, and suddenly lapped them up among the bedclothes-so bewrapped them and entangled them, keeping down by force the featherbed and pillows hard unto their mouths, that within a while, smothered and stifled, their breath failing, they gave up to God their innocent souls into the joys of heaven, leaving to the tormentors their bodies dead in the bed.

Which after that the wretches perceived, first by the struggling with the pains of death, and after long lying still, to be thoroughly dead, they laid their bodies naked out upon the bed, and fetched Sir James to see them. Who, upon the sight of them, caused those murderers to bury them at the stair-foot, suitably deep in the ground, under a great heap of stones.

Then rode Sir James in great haste to King Richard and showed him all the manner of the murder, who gave him great thanks and, as some say, there made him knight. But he allowed not, as I have heard, the burying in so vile a corner, saying that he would have them buried in a better place because they were a king's sons. Lo, the honorable nature of a king! Whereupon they say that a priest of Sir Robert Brakenbury took up the bodies again and secretly buried them in a place that only he knew and that, by the occasion of his death, could never since come to light.

The Usurpation of Richard III by Mancini. [August 1483]. Up to this point, although all the signs of aiming for the kingdom were evident, nevertheless some hope was left, that he would not establish the kingdom for himself, since he boasted of doing all these things as a punisher of injustices and treasons: and since all private memorials and public documents were marked with the titles and name of Edward the Fifth. But after Hastings was removed, all the servants who had served the little king were prohibited from approaching him. He himself, with his brother, was brought into the innermost chambers of his tower, and they began to be seen less and less through the bars and windows each day; so much so that they completely ceased to appear. The Strasbourg doctor, who was the last one his little king used, reported that the little king, as if a victim prepared for sacrifice, sought to cleanse his guilt every day with confession and penance, thinking that death was imminent for him. This place seems to demand that I not pass over the character of the young man in silence. But since there are so many things that he said and did generously, humanely, and even wisely, beyond what was appropriate for his age, I will excuse the labour itself with my right. However, I will not overlook this, that he was extremely learned in literature, so that he could speak elegantly, and whatever came to his hands, whether poetry or prose, unless it was from difficult authors, he understood completely and expressed excellently. He had such dignity in his whole body and such grace in his face that although he greatly delighted the eyes of those who beheld him, he never satisfied them. I have seen not a few people burst into tears and weep when his memory was brought up after he was removed from the sight of men, and it was already suspected that he had been eliminated. Whether he has indeed been removed, and by what manner of death, I have not yet discovered.

Hucusque quamvis affectari regnum omnia argumenta conspicerentur, attamen aliquid spei relinquebatur, quod sibi regnum non astrueret, cum tanquam iniuriarum et proditionis vindicem hec omnia se facere iactaret: cumque omnia privata monumenta et rescripta publica titulis et nomine Eduardi quinti notarentur. Sed postquam Astinco amotus est, omnes familiares qui regulo inservierant ab eius accessu prohibiti sunt. Ipse cum fratre in penitiores ipsius turris edes reducti, rarius per cancellos et fenestras in dies conspici ceperunt; usque adeo ut penitus desierint apparere. Referebat Argentinus medicus, quo ultimo ex suis regulus usus fuit, regulum tanquam victimam sacrificio paratam singulis diebus confessione et penitentia suas noxas diluere, quod mortem sibi instare putaret. Postulare videtur hic locus ut adolescentis indolem silentio non preteream. Sed cum tam multa sint, que ab eo liberaliter humane quinimmo sapienter dicta et facta preterquam illi convenerat etati, memorantur: [page xxv] ut multo indigeant labore, laborem ipsum meo iure excusabo. Illud tamen non preteribo, quod apprime litteris eruditus fuit, ut loqui eleganter posset, et quicquid ad manus veniret, sive carmen sive prosa, nisi ex difficilioribus auctoribus esset, plane intelligeret et optime enuntiaret. Dignitatis habebat tantum in toto corpore et in vultu gratie, ut intuentium oculos, etsi multum pasceret, nunquam tamen satiaret. Non paucos homines in lacrymas et fletus prorupisse vidi, cum eius memoria fieret postquam a conspectibus hominum est amotus, et jam suspitio foret esse sublatum. An autem sublatus sit, et quo genere mortis, nihil adhuc compertum habeo.

Chronicle of Jean Molinet Chapter 100. [August 1483]. The second son of King Edward, named George [Richard] (age 9), as previously mentioned, was brought and placed in the Tower of London with his elder brother; the Duke Richard had them given a state which greatly diminished. The elder son was simple and very melancholic, somewhat aware of the wickedness of his uncle, and the second son was very joyful and witty, evident and quick in dances and amusements, and said to his brother, wearing the Order of the Garter: 'My brother, learn to dance.' And his brother replied: 'It would be better for you and me to learn to die, for I believe we will not be in this world for much longer.' They were imprisoned for about five weeks; and by the captain of the tower, the Duke Richard secretly had them put to death and eliminated.

Some say he had them thrown into a great pit, and enclosed there without food or drink. Others say they were extinguished between two cushions, lying in the same room. And when it came to the execution, Edward, the elder son, was asleep, and the younger was awake, who perceived the malice, for he began to say: 'Oh, my brother, wake up, for they come to kill you!' Then he said to the apparitors, 'Why do you kill my brother? Kill me and let him live!' Thus one after the other were executed and extinguished, and the bodies thrown into some secret place; then they were collected, and after the death of King Richard, they were given royal obsequies.

Le second fils du roi Edouard, nommé Georges, comme dit est, frit rendu et bouté en la tour de Londres avecq son frère aisné; le duc Richard leur fit donner estât qui fort diminua. L'aisné fils estoit simple et fort mélancolieux, cognoissant aulcunement la mauvaisetié de son oncle, et le second fils estoit fort joyeux et spirituel, appert et prompt aux danses et aux esbats, et disoit à son frère, portant l'ordre de la Jarretière: "Mon frère, apprenez à danser."Et son frère lui répondit: "Il vauldroit mieux que vouset moi apprinsions à mourir, car je cuide bien sçavoir que guaires de temps ne serons au monde." Ils furent environ cinq sepmaines prisonniers; et par le capitaine de la tour, le duc Richard les fit occultement mourir et estaindre.

Aulcuns disent qu'il les fit bouter en une grande huge, et enclorre illec sans boire et sans manger. Aultres disent qu'ils furent estains entre deux quieutes, couchants en une mesme chambre. Et quant vint à l'exécution, Pierre, l'aisné fils, dormoit, et le jeune veilloit, lequel s'appercutdo malice, car il commença à dire: "Ha, mon frère, esveillez-vous, car l'on vous vient occir! Puis disoit aux appariteurs, Pourquoi tuez-vous mon frère? tuez-moi et le laissez vivre! Ainsi doncques l'un après l'autre furent exécutés et estaincts, et les corps rués en quelque lieu secret; puis furent recueillis, et après la mort du roy Richard eurent royaux obsecques.