Memoirs of Philip de Commines Book 6 Chapter 8. Jun 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. [Jul 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.

The History of King Richard the Third by Thomas More. [Jul 1483] Whereupon he sent one John Green, whom he specially trusted, unto Sir Robert Brakenbery, Constable of the Tower, with a letter and credentials also, that the same Sir Robert should in any way put the two children to death. This John Green did his errand unto Brakenbery, kneeling before a statue of Our Lady in the Tower, who plainly answered that he would never put them to death, even if he had to die, with which answer John Green, returning, recounted the same to King Richard (age 30) at Warwick, still on his way.

The Mayor of Bristowe is Kalendar by Robert Ricart. ¹[Jul 1483]. And this yere the two sonnes of King E. were put to scylence in the Towre of London.

Note 1. This is written by Ricart in the margin, as though he had gone on and forgotten it.

The History of King Richard the Third by Thomas More. [Jul 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.

History of the Kings of England by John Rous. [Jul 1483] He [King Richard III of England (age 30)] received his lord King Edward V blandly, with embraces and kisses, and within about three months or a little more, he killed him along with his brother, and poisoned Queen Anne, his wife, the daughter of the Earl of Warwick.

Dominum suum regem Edwardum quintum blandiendo cum amplexibus & osculis recepit, & infra circiter tres menses vel parum ultra cum fratre suo interfecit, & dominam Annam reginam suam filiam comitis Watrwici intoxicavit.

Memoirs of Philip de Commines Book 2 Chapter 7. [Aug 1483]... but after King Edward's death, his second brother, the Duke of Gloucester, caused his two sons to be murdered, declared his daughters to be illegitimate, and had himself crowned king.

Chronicle of Jean Molinet Chapter 100. [Aug 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.

Polydore Vergil. [Aug 1483]. 8. And so, without popular assent and only by the will of certain favoring nobles, and against law and right, Richard gained the crown. Not long thereafter, when affairs at London were settled to his satisfaction, he went to York and then straight on to Gloucester. While he was staying there, at every moment he was so gnawed by awareness of his crimes that he was in constant fear. And to rid himself of this altogether he decided to kill his nephews, for as long as they were safe he could by no means be free of danger.

The Usurpation of Richard III by Mancini. [Aug 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.

Croyland Chronicle 1483. At last, it was determined by the people in the vicinity of the city of London, throughout the counties of Kent, Essex, Sussex, Hampshire, Dorsetshire, Devonshire, Somersetshire, Wiltshire, and Berkshire, as well as some others of the southern counties of the kingdom, to avenge their grievances before-stated; upon which, public proclamation was made, that Henry, duke of Buckingham, who at this time was living at Brecknock in Wales, had repented of his former conduct, and would be the chief mover in this attempt, while a rumour was spread that the sons of king Edward before-named had died a violent death, but it was uncertain how. Accordingly, all those who had set on foot this insurrection, seeing that if they could find no one to take the lead in their designs, the ruin of all would speedily ensue, turned their thoughts to Henry, earl of Richmond, who had been for many years living in exile in Britany. To him a message was, accordingly, sent, by the duke of Buckingham, by advice of the lord bishop of Ely, who was then his prisoner at Brecknock, requesting him to hasten over to England as soon as he possibly could, for the purpose of marrying Elizabeth, the eldest daughter of the late king, and, at the same time, together with her, taking possession of the throne.

Around Aug 1483 the Princes in the Tower, brothers King Edward V of England (age 12) and Richard of Shrewsbury 1st Duke of York (age 9) disappeared from the Tower of London [Map].

King Edward V of England: Earl March, Earl Nottingham, Earl Norfolk, Earl Pembroke extinct.

Richard of Shrewsbury 1st Duke of York: Duke York, Duke Norfolk extinct.

Chronicle of Robert Fabyan 1483. [Aug 1483]. In which passe tyme the prynce, or of ryght kynge Edwarde the v., with his broder the duke of Yorke, were put vnder suer kepynge within the Tower, in suche wyse that they neuer came abrode after.

And thus endyd the reygne of Edward the v. when he had borne the name of a kyng by the space of (two monethes and xi. dayes). And vpon the Frydaye, beyng the. xxi daye of Juny, was the sayde lorde protectour proclaymed thorughe the cytie kynge of Englande, by the name of Richarde the thirde.

Grafton's Chronicle. [Aug 1483]. For James Tyrrell (age 28) 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.

Croyland Chronicle 1484. I shall pass by the pompous celebration of the feast of the Nativity, and come to the Parliament, which began to sit about the twenty-second day of January. At this sitting, Parliament confirmed the title, by which the king had in the preceding summer, ascended the throne; and although that Lay Court found itself [at first] unable to give a definition of his rights, when the question of the marriage³³ was discussed, still, in consequence of the fears entertained of the most persevering [of his adversaries], it presumed to do so, and did do so while at the same time attainders were made of so many lords and men of high rank, besides peers and commoners, as well as three bishops, that we do not read of the like being issued by the Triumvirate even of Octavianus, Antony, and Lepidus. What immense estates and patrimonies were collected into this king's treasury in consequence of this measure! all of which he distributed among his northern adherents, whom he planted in every spot throughout his dominions, to the disgrace and lasting and loudly expressed sorrow of all the people in the south, who daily longed more and more for the hoped-for return of tdeir ancient rulers, rather than the present tyranny of these people.

Note 33. Of Edward the Fourth with lady Boteler.

On 03 Dec 2024 Channel Five broadcast "Princes in the Tower: A Damning Discovery" in which historian Tracey Borman and actor Jason Watkins presented Professor Tim Thornton's discovery of the will of Margaret Arudell, sister of the Anne, wife of James Tyrrell [who Thomas More and others describe as arranging the murder of the Princes], which includes "Also, I bequeath to my son, Sir Giles, his father’s chain which was young King Edward the V’s”.

Curiously the "Discovery" the programme reveals i.e. the Will of Margaret Capell was previously shared in Testamenta Vetusta in 1826 and the Transactions of the Essex Archaeological Society in 1852.

Further, the programme, unfortunately, doesn't cite the sources that it frequently refers to. The following list attempts to address that short-coming, with times at which the refences were used:

19:13. Describing James Tyrrell as "was a man of right goodly personage .... an high hart" from Grafton's Chronicle.

22:02. Describing the Richard, Duke of Gloucester's role in the death of King Henry VI: "A number of authorities".

Memoirs of Philip de Commines Book 3 Chapter VII.

Warkworth's Chronicle.

Chronicle of Robert Fabyan.

24:10. Describing how the Princes were declared illegitimate author Nathen Amin quotes Mancini's "The Usurpation of King Richard III".

30:34. Report from John Argentine as to King Edward V's state of mind "as if a victim prepared for sacrifice" being The Usurpation of Richard III by Mancini [originally in Latin].

31:28. Describing how Edward and his brother "being withdrawn into the inner apartments of the Tower proper"; the programme assumes the Tower proper is the White Tower i.e. Keep . Also The Usurpation of Richard III by Mancini [originally in Latin]. Mancini makes no mention of a "24 hour guard" being placed over them. However, the Croyland Chronicle has: "In the meantime, and while these things were going on, the two sons of king Edward before-named remained in the Tower of London, in the custody of certain persons appointed for that purpose."

36:00. Discovery of bones in the White Tower: "Witnesses reported there was velvet in the chest". Alison Weir states "the bones were discovered with pieces of rag and velvet about them" but doesn't quote a source. The programme then refers to an entry for the 17th of August 1481 in the The Wardrobe Accounts of King Edward IV in which "velvet" is provided for the Princes.

37:00. Bones analysis. No sources found. Analysis based on 'average', 'typical'. Programme refers to the Prince's father King Edward IV being "very tall". See Chronicle of Jean Molinet Chapter 94: "a very elegant figure, tall and upright". But then his brother King Richard III wasn't?

43:55. The History of King Richard the Third by Thomas More: "that within a while, smothered and stifled, their breath failing, they gave up to God their innocent souls into the joys of heaven".

50:31. Tyrrell's Confession. The History of King Richard the Third by Thomas More: "both Dighton and he were examined and confessed the murder in manner above written, but to where the bodies were removed, they could nothing tell".

51:12. King Henry VII's and Queen Elizabeth's movements in 1502. "at the Tower 27th April to 2nd May". Chamber Books:

Item the 29 day of May to Lewes Waltier for conveyeng the Queen in her Barge with 21 Rowers from Greenwich to the Tower the 27 day of April

Item the 2 day of May conveyeng the Queen from the Tower to Greenwich with 21 Rowers.

52:30. Queen Elizabeth visits her sister. Chamber Books¹: "Item the 3rd day of May to the Queen's purse by the hands of Henry Pole at Greenwich 10s. Item to John Williams, Thomas Nelmes, Hugh Dolbyn, Edward Davy and John Fitzwilliams to every of them 3s 4d in Reward for geuyng attendance at the house of the duchess of Suffolk at Stebenhith [Stepney] 16s 8d Elysabeth". [Note. Queen Elizabeth's aunt Elizabeth, Duchess Suffolk, 1444-1503, sister of Kings Edward IV and Richard III.]

55:39. Professor Tim Thornton. Letter from Thomas More. See The English Correspondence of Sir Thomas More:

13. Knight, More, Wilsher, Sampson, Hannibal, Hewsten to Wolsey. Bruges, 1 October 1515: "sent unto your Grace by M. Forest,"

77. To Wolsey. Woking, 5 July <1519> To My Lord Legate's Grace: "that yesternight the King's Grace commanded me to deliver unto your servant Forest".

57.32. Will of Margaret Capell nee Arundel, sister of James Tyrrell's wife Anne Arundel: "also I bequeath to son Sir Giles his father's chain which was young King Edward V's".

Note 1. The Chamber Books also contain numerous references to Sir William Capell including "Item to Sir William Capell knight for money by him lent to the Queen's grace £100".