Richard III- The Princes in the Tower

INTRODUCTION

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How is the 'Princes in the Tower' viewed today?

One of the most vexing, unsolved murder mysteries in British history,

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What is the event of the 'Princes in the Tower'? WHo were they?

-More than 500 years ago, the two sons of King Edward IV and Queen Elizabeth Woodville vanished, aged 12 and 9

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When did King Edward IV die? What was the effect of his death?

April 1484- A series of events were instigated to re-fill this power chasm,

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What was decided about who should take control?

IT was decided Edward V would be crowned King, allowing the Council to govern under the King's nominal rule,

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What did this mean for Richard?

This removed Richard as Protectorate

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What did Richard do to regain power before Edward had even arrived in London?

Richrd seized Edward V on his procession to London, capturing Woodville faction members, accusing them of attempting to seize power

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When were Princes's Edward and Richard first put into the Tower of London?

May 1483 was when Edward held in the Tower of London, a month later his brother joined him

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What is the general consensus by historians about this event, based on who killed them and when?

Most historians accept at least some version of the original accounts which implicate Richard III, and agree the Princes were killed in the summer/ autumn of 1483

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However what group of historians state Richard was innocent?

Revisionists, who state either the Princes were killed by someone else in the Summer/Autumn of 1483, or were not killed at all,

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WHy did rumours run rife through Europe?

As no official enquiry was conducted or their deaths pronounced

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Does anyone know what happened to the Princes?

No one knows what truely happened. These sources are largely based off rumour, with little evidence being discovered

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PARA 1- THE PRINCES KILLED IN THE SUMMER

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What are the three sources that show the Princes were killed in the summer?

1) Fabian's Chronicle, 2) Polydore Vergil, 3) Sir Thomas More

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1) Fabian's Chronicle

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Around what date does the Fabian Chronicle suggest the Princes were killed?

Summer of 1483

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Who was Robert Fabyan/ Fabian?

A citizen, alderman and sheriff of London

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When did he write Fabians Chronicle?

He wrote after Richard's reign in Both Henry VII, years after the event described

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How did he get information on the event?

He compiled various accounts of events that occured before and after Richard's reign

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Was this Chronicle official? Was it written for a purpose?

Not official in nature- It presents a citizens view of events.

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However as a merchant, why might this affect the reliability?

-As a merchant and minor politician , it would hardly have been good for business to include reports which praised Richard and attacked Henry

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What is his over stance towards Richard and why based on his views?

-Fabyn was a Lancastrian, -Opposed the claims of Richard's family

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What does Fabyn's chronicle state about Richard and the Princes?

'King Richard had within the tower put unto secret death the two sons of his brother Edward IV''

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What does Faybn follow on as what event Richard's action caused?

It was the cause of the Duke of Buckingham's rebellion, which wsa in October, so before that,

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2) Polydore Vergil

2) POlydore Vergil

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Around what date does Polydore Vergil state the Princes were killed?

Late AUgust 1483

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Why did Vergil write his History?

Vergil wrote an official Tudor history which was commissioned by Henry VII

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What did this mean for the views presented in Vergil's history?

He blackened Richard III's memory, writing what the Tudors wanted to read

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What was Vergil even accused of doing to prove the views in his work?

He was accused of destroying a vast number of documents that contradicted these views,

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When did Vergil finally complete this history?

Under the reign of Henry VIII, published in 1534

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Why was Vergil's work so important?

His was the first work in print to accuse Richard of killing his nephews 50 years earlier

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According to Vergil, who did Richard first give orders to to kill the Princes?

Brackenbury, Lieutenant of the Tower of London

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However, what happened with Brackenbury/?

Brackenbiry couldn't commit the murder but feared for the repurcussions from Richard, so delayed

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Who did Richard turn to instead? What does Vergil state about how the Princes were killed?

-Sir James Tyrell who 'rode sorrowfully to London, and, to the worst example that has almost ever been heard of, murdered those babes of the royal issue.'

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Who heavily used Vergil's history for their own

Sir Thomas More

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However, what does More include in his history, which Vergil doesnt?

The confessions of Tyrell,

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3) SIr THomas More

3) Sir Thomas More

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When does Sir Thomas More's history place the death of the Princes?

Late July/ August 1483

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Who was Thomas More?

Tudor historian and courtier to Henry VIII

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Was MOre's history contemporary?

No- More wrote in the early 16th C. More was not even 10 years old when Richard was ruling,

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Where did More gain his information from? What is the problem with this?

He had access to other men who served during Richard's reign, but by this time they would be staunch supporters of the Tudor regime,

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Who was his primary source of information?

John Morton, bishop of Ely and lawyer,

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How did More know John Morton?

More lived with Morton when he was growing up,

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What was Morton's view on Richard?

He was completley against Richard, and it is unlikely More heard anything positive about Richard

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Who conclude that More's history was actually written by Morton?

Sir George Buck

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What two bits of evidence does Buck provide to prove this?

1) Parts of the manuscript seem to have been written by someone who was present, 2) Sone parts of the Latin manuscript aren't up to the standard of other Latin works by More

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HOWEVER, what historians questions Buck?

Field

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What two bits of evidence does Buck provide to counter-act Buck's arguments?

1) Work contains some descriptions of Morton whcih are unlikely to be written by himself, -Morton's Latin as a churchmen and lawyer would also be as perfect as Mores,

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When did More publish this work?

He didn't- He never finished it,

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What do Revisionist state about why More didn't finish his History?

As he worked on it, he began to learn more and more facts that tended to exonerate Richard to the point it became dangerous to publish it,

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How far did More write up until?

It covers the period up to 1483, and the eve of the rebellion of the DUke of Buckingham, stopping shortly after Richard takes the throne

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What does More state was Richard's motivation for killing the Princes?

The Sanctuary Plot to move the Princesses abroad,

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Where and when did Richard discover this plot and first send an order to kill the Princes?

On his King Procession at the end of July,

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Is Vergil and More's account of events and who killed the Princes the same?

Yes except for dates- Vergil states Richard gave the order to kill the Princes much later in his procession at York, wheras More states Richard sent the orders in Gloucester, more earlier in his procession,

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How does More describe the death of the Princes?

'The innocent children...keeping them down by force the featherbed and pillow hard unto their mouth, that within a while smothered and stifled, their breath failing, they gave up God.''

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What two events in the future mae More's account more plausible?

1) Arrest and confession of Tyrell , 2) Discovery of bones under the stairs where More stated they were,

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When was James Tyrell arrested and what did he confess to doing?

Arrested in 1502, but for a different crime, -Under torture he confessed to killing the Princes on the orders of Richard,

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More uses this confession in his History. However, what does what historians state about the accessiblility of these confessions?

-Seward, -Confessions not made public, but various versions seem to have circulated, which More reconstructed,

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When were the bones of two children found under the stairs?

1674

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However, what was More's mistake in conjunction with this find?

Mroe later states a priest found and reburied their bodies,

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4) Conclusion

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Why is the death of the Princes in the summer of 1483 compelling?

-lAst seen in the summer, after learning of the sanctuary plot to save the princesses, and an attempt to save the Princes- Pushed into killing them due to threat of rebellion,

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What does Gaidner state about Richard and his decision to kill the Princes in summer?

Richard gave the command on impulse, in reaction to the growing threat of an attempt to release the Princes,

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What does Seward state about the threat and Richard's decision?

The threat was real enough- The report may have spurred Richard on to take action to solve the problem of his nephews,

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THE PRINCES KILLED IN AUTUMN

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What three sources state the Princes were killed in Autumn?

1) Crowland Chronicle, 2) Robert Ricart's Kalender 3) Great Chronicle of London

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1) Crowland Chronicle

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When does the Crowland Chronicle state the Princes were killed?

September/October 1483

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What is the Crowland Chronicle?

A continuin account of current English events maintained at the Benedictine Abbey of Croyland in Lincolnshire,

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However, what happened to the Crowland Chronicle in the 18th C? How has this affected its validity?

-Much of the original manuscript destroyed in a fire in 1731, -Historians had to rely on an earlier version published in 1684- Can't prove its accuracy,

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Who is the 'second Crowland continuator'?

He is anonymous, but historians have decided he was educated man who was close to the centre of government

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What stance did his writing have on Richard?

Anti-Richard and pro-Tudor,

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What does the Chronicle state abotu Richard and the princes?

'Rumour arose that King Edward's sons, by some unknown manner of vilent destruction, had met their fate'

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When does this rumour begin?

Before the DUke of Buckingham's rebellion

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What is interesting about hwo the Chronicle portrays this event?

He doesn't directly state the Pricnes were killed, stating it was a rumour and makes no comment on the truth,

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Why is the Crowland Chronicle largely mroe reliable?

Despite evident bias, Chronicle is more reliable guide than blatant Tudor apologists who wrote in the pay of Henry VII

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2) Robert Ricart's Kalendar

2) Robert Ricart's Kalender

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When does Ricart place the death of the Princes?

September 1483

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Who was Ricart?

A recorder of Bristol

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What does Ricart state in this Kalender?

'in this year [the year ending 15th Septemebr 1483] the two sons of King Edward were put to silence in the Tower of London'

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How did Ricart gain this information?

BAsed entirely on rumours- There would be no reason why Richard would have any special access to information

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3) Great Chronicle of London

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When does the Great Chronicle of London place the death of the Princes?

Late 1483 to Easter of 1484

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Who do many historians speculate wrote the Great Chronicle of London?

The same Robert Fabian who wrote Fabians Chronicle

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What view does he present in the GReat Chronicle of London of Richard?

A london based view of Richard- Shwos a general dislike and distrust in his protectorate,

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What does the GReat Chroncile state about when the Princes wre last seen?

He stated children of King Edward were last seen before Autumn 1483, shooting and playing in the garden,

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What does the Chronicle state changed between OCtobr 1483 and Easter?

It stated the 'land was in good quiet, but after Easter there was much whisperiing' that Richard had killed the Princes,

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How does the timng differ to Fabyn's own chronicle?

In Fabyns chronicle, he stated the deaths of the princes motivated the duke of buckinghams betrayal

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Who does the Chronicle of London state killed the Princes?

Accuses Sir James Tyrell, or another old servant of King Richard of committing the murder before More,

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4) Conclusion

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Why is the timing of autumn compelling for the deaths of the Princes?

It sparked the rebellion of Buckingham- The last time Buckingham and Richard interacted was in York on his kingly procession, supposedly when the order was given,

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What is another piece of evidence surrounding the rebellion of Buckingham and the Princes being killed in autumn?

The initial purpose of Buckingham's rebellion was to restore Edward V. Shortly afte the uprising began, in reaction to the rumours, the rebels shifted their allegiance to Henry Tudor,

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PARA 3- ONLY PRINCE EDWARD KILLED

PARA 3- ONLY PRINC EDWARD KILLED

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What three bits of evidence show it was only Prince Edward that was killed?

1) Dominic Mancini, 2)Theory with Sir Thomas More, 3) Peter Warbeck

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1) Dominic Mancini

1) DOminic Mancini

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Who was Dominic Mancini?

An Italian cleric and humanist

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When was he in England??

He arrived in the summer of 1483 and left jut after Richard's coronation on 6th July 1483,

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However, when do some historians such as who argue Mancini arrived in Engand?

-Field, -Just before the death of Edward IV in April 1483

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Why was Mancini seen as authentic and regarded with high value?

Due to his detached, observer status,

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However, why has historian confidence recenty slipped?

His views are not impartial or objective, and is critical and hostile

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Who did Mancini write his report for? Why could this have affected his work?

-Angelo Cato, archbishop of Vienne and member of the royal French council, a physician and astrologer to Louis XI, -Would he have been writing what Louis wanted to hear?

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In terms of the motivations of Louis, why would Mancini want to portray Richard in a negative light?

France doesn't want another battle with England over land. Henry Tudor grew up on the continent in Brittany, so if the French support him, there would be less risk of an English invasion,

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WHo is Mancini's most compelling source?

Dr Argentine, physician to Edward V in the tower

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When does the source say all Edward's servants and Dr Argentine was removed?

After Hastings was removed on the 20th June

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What does Dr Argentine report about Prince Edward and his condition?

Prince Edward 'like a victim prepared for sacrifice, sought remission of his sins by daily confession and penance because he beleived death was facing him.'

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What two things does Edward expecting death show?

1) Prince Edward believe he was to be killed 2) Prince Edward was very ill

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For the argument Pricne Edward believed he was to be killed, how compelling is this argument?

Not very- Would a 12 year old be suspicious of their Uncle's motives?

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For argument 2 that Prince Edward was very ill, how compelling is this argument?

More so- It would explain Dr argentines's frequent visits,

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What did Ashdown Hill state about Dr Argentine and Edward?

He believes Edward was ill due to the regular visits of the physician to the Tower,

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What does Ashdown-Hill also state about the likelihood Edward was ill based on his family?

From Edward IV's children, 4 of them died before the age of 13, so for Edward V to die around this age would not have been unusua;,

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What does Gregory also state about the likelihood Edward was ill based on the Tower of London?

Tower unhealthy and riddled with plague most hot summers, and it was summer time,

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LAstly, what does Ashdown Hill state about the likelihood Edward died in summer/autumn 1483 based on future events?

No body claimed to be Edward V, so probably died around this time

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2) Theory with More

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What is the theory about Prince Richard involving More?

Richard was not murdered but adaopted a false identity, and married More's daughter, harboured and protected by More

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What evidence this theory based around?

Sir Holbein's painting of the More family, where Richard of York is said to be painted in,

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What does this theory suggest in relation to More's damning history?

He wrote to throw potential enemies off the trail,

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3) Peter Warbeck

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When did PEter Warbeck first make an entrance to Britain's stage and where?

In 1491, -Appeared in Ireland claiming to be Richard, (legend states he was crownd King here)

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How persuasive was Peter Warbeck on this first appearance?

Very- He had distinctive Plantagenet looks, richly dressed and claimed to be Prince Richard

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What did the spies of Henry VII find about this 'Prince Richard'?

He was in fact Peter Warrbeck, a commoner from Tournai- He also confessed to this after the rebellion,

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What was particularly persuasive about this 'pretender;?

He knew intimate knowledge about Edward IV and his family which only someone who was a member or close associate would have known

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Was he the right age for Richard?

Yes- Around 18 years old

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What did he claim happened to him?

He claimed he was smuggled out of England to live in Flanders until he was old enough

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What was HEnry VII's view? What happened to Peter Warbeck?

He was worried, but he also let him serve in the KIng's household until he kept trying to escape, and was then executed,

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PARA 4- NEITHER PRINCE KILLED BY RICHARD IN 1483

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Which group portray Richard as innocent of the death of the Princes and what do they say?

-Revisionists, -They state he was a brave senstiive man, a loving husband and a loyal brother, a splendid King who was popular with his subjects.

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What do they state about why Richard has such a bad portraya;?

Richard became the victim of a massive campaign of disinformation and slander by Tudor propagandists who falsely portrayed him,

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What source states Richard would not have killed the Princes?

Nicholas Von Poppelau- A silisesian ambassador of the Holy ROman Emperor Frederick II

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When did Nicholar Von Poppelau visit Richard?

May 1484

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What did he state about Richard and the rumours?

He stated he was impressed with Richard's generous and courterous manner and would never do that based on his meeting

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However, why woudl this visit not accurately portray Richard?

-Von Poppelau was an important ambassador with great opportuntiies for future international agreements- Richard would have wanted to present himself in the best way,

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Who is the other large contender of the death of the Princes if Not Richard in the summer of 1483?

Henry Tudor

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What two pieces of evidence suggest his guilt?

1) His silence on the deaths of the Princes might be because theu were alive, and then killed by him, 2) Act of Attainder passed in autumn 1485 was unspecific,

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CONCLUSION

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Overall, why is Richard the most likely candidate to tkill the Princes?

-He had motive, -He had the power, -He had the means

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While many say he didn't have motive as the boys were declared illegitimate, why was this not enough?

The accusation of pre marriage was never confirmed in a court of law, -Escape attempts continue to get the Princes out, and if they escape they would become a threat,

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Why did he also have to kill them based on history?

Looking at other Kings, such as Edward II and Richard II, they had to be killed to stop rebellion and allow the new King to rule,

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Richard III- The Princes in the Tower

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