=Source.=--_The History of King Richard the Third_, by Sir Thomas
More, pp. 67 _et seq._ (London: 1557.)
[+Note.+--More's life of Richard III. was written about 1513. It
has, however, almost the value of a contemporary authority, as much of
the information was derived from Cardinal Morton.]
But in the mean time for this present matter I shall rehearse you the
dolorous end of those babes, not after every way that I have heard, but
after that way that I have so heard by such men and by such means, as
methinks it were hard but it should be true. King Richard, after his
coronation, taking his way to Gloucester to visit in his new honour
the town of which he bore the name of his old, devised as he rode to
fulfill that thing which he before had intended. And forasmuch as his
mind gave him that, his nephews living, men would not reckon that he
could have right to the realm, he thought therefore without delay to
rid them, as though the killing of his kinsmen could amend his cause,
and make him a kindly king. Whereupon he sent one John Green, whom he
specially trusted, unto sir Robert Brackenbury, Constable of the Tower,
with a letter and credence also, that the same sir Robert should in
any wise put the two children to death. This John Green did his errand
unto Brackenbury kneeling before our Lady in the Tower, who plainly
answered that he would never put them to death, with which answer John
Green returning recounted the same to King Richard at Warwick, yet in
his way. 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," quoth the page, "there lieth one on your
pallet without that I dare well say, to do your grace pleasure, the
thing were right hard that he would refuse,"--meaning by this sir James
Tyrrell, which 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 goodwill 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 Ratcliff and sir William Catesby, which
longing for no more partners of the prince's favour, and namely not
for him whose pride they wist would bear no peer, kept him by secret
drifts out of all secret trust. Which thing this page well had marked
and known. Wherefore this occasion offered, of very special friendship
he took his time to put him forward, and by such wise do him good that
all the enemies he had, except the devil, could never have done him so
much hurt. For upon this page's words King Richard rose ... and came out
into the pallet chamber, on which he found in bed sir James and sir
Thomas Tyrrell, of persons alike and brethren of blood, but nothing of
kin in conditions. Then said the King merely unto them: "What, sirs! be
ye in bed so soon?" And calling up sir James broke to him secretly his
mind in this mischievous matter. In which he found him nothing strange.
Wherefore on the morrow he sent him to Brackenbury 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
delivered and the keys received, sir James appointed the night next
ensuing to destroy them, devising before and preparing the means. The
prince, as soon as the protector left that name and took himself as
king, had it showed unto him that 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 used him with
good words, and put him in the best comfort he could. But forthwith was
the prince and his brother both shut up, and all other removed from
them, only one called Black Will or William Slaughter excepted, set to
serve them and see them sure. After which time the prince never tied
his points[46] nor ought heeded of himself, but with that young babe
his brother, lingered in thought and heaviness until this traitorous
death delivered them of that wretchedness. For sir James Tyrrell
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 fleshed in murder beforetime. To him he joined one John Dighton,
his own horse keeper, 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 clothes, so bewrapped
them and entangled them, keeping down by force the feather bed 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 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. Which upon the sight of them, caused those murderers
to bury them at the stair foot, fairly deep in the ground under a heap
of stones.
[46] Lace fastenings.