=Source.=--Ingulph's _Chronicles_, pp. 479, 480. (Bohn Edition.)
Now each began to look upon the other with no very fraternal eyes. You
might then have seen (as such men are generally to be found in the
courts of all princes) flatterers running to and fro, from the one side
to the other, and carrying backwards and forwards the words which had
fallen from the two brothers, even if they had happened to be spoken
in the most secret closet. The arrest of the duke for the purpose of
compelling him to answer the charges brought against him happened under
the following circumstances. One Master John Stacy, a person who was
called an astronomer, when in reality he was rather a great sorcerer,
formed a plot in conjunction with one Burdet, an esquire, and one of
the said duke's household; upon which he was accused, among numerous
other charges, of having made leaden images and other things to procure
thereby the death of Richard, Lord Beauchamp, at the request of his
adulterous wife. Upon being questioned in a very severe examination as
to his practice of damnable arts of this nature, he made confession
of many matters, which told both against himself and the said Thomas
Burdet. The consequence was, that Thomas was arrested as well; and at
last, judgment of death was pronounced upon them both, at Westminster,
from the Bench of our lord the king, the judges being there seated,
together with nearly all the lords temporal of the kingdom. Being drawn
to the gallows at Tyburn, they were permitted briefly to say what they
thought fit before being put to death; upon which, they protested their
innocence, Stacy indeed but faintly; while, on the other hand, Burdet
spoke at great length, and with much spirit, and as his last words
exclaimed with Susanna, "Behold! I must die; whereas I never did such
things as these."
On the following day, the Duke of Clarence came to the council-chamber
at Westminster, bringing with him a famous Doctor of the Order of
Minorites, Master William Goddard by name, in order that he might read
the confession and declaration of innocence above-mentioned before the
lords in the said council assembled; which he accordingly did, and
then withdrew. The king was then at Windsor, but when he was informed
of this circumstance, he was greatly displeased thereat, and recalling
to mind the information formerly laid against his brother, and which
he had long kept treasured up in his breast, he summoned the duke to
appear on a certain day in the royal palace of Westminster: upon which,
in presence of the Mayor and aldermen of the city of London, the king
began, with his own lips, amongst other matters, to inveigh against
the conduct of the before-named duke, as being derogatory to the laws
of the realm, and most dangerous to judges and jurors throughout the
kingdom. But why enlarge? The duke was placed in custody, and from that
day up to the time of his death never was known to have regained his
liberty.
The circumstances that happened in the ensuing Parliament my mind
shudders to enlarge upon, for then was to be witnessed a sad strife
carried on before these two brethren of such high estate. For not a
single person uttered a word against the duke except the King; not one
individual made answer to the King except the duke. Some parties were
introduced, however, as to whom it was greatly doubted by many, whether
they filled the office of accusers rather, or of witnesses; these
two offices not being exactly suited to the same person in the same
cause. The duke met all the charges made against him with a denial, and
offered, if he could only obtain a hearing, to defend his cause with
his own hand. But why delay in using many words? Parliament being of
opinion that the informations which they had heard were established,
passed sentence upon him of condemnation, the same being pronounced by
the mouth of Henry, duke of Buckingham, who was appointed Seneschal
of England for the occasion. After this, execution was delayed for a
considerable time; until the Speaker of the Commons, coming to the
upper house with his fellows, made a fresh request that the matter
might be brought to a conclusion. In consequence of this, in a few days
after, the execution, whatever its nature may have been, took place
(and would that it had ended these troubles!) in the Tower of London,
it being the year of our Lord, 1478, and the eighteenth of the reign of
King Edward.