On the 8th September 1483, Edward of Middleham, the only child of Richard III and his wife Anne Neville was invested as the Prince of Wales in a spectacular ceremony in the city of York.
The Crowland Chronicler writes of the occasion that Edward was
"elevated to the rank of Prince of Wales, with the insignia of the golden wand, and the wreath upon the head;
while, at the same time, he (Richard) gave most gorgeous and sumptuous feasts and banquets."
Don't be fooled by the writer's tone, the chronicler was not writing of this event in a positive light, far from it. The chronicler went on to state that the celebrations were only for effect to 'gain the affections of the people' and paid for with the amassed wealth entrusted to Richard, as executor of his late brother Edward IV's will - taken it was written 'the very moment that he (Richard) had contemplated the usurpation of the throne.'
"elevated to the rank of Prince of Wales, with the insignia of the golden wand, and the wreath upon the head;
while, at the same time, he (Richard) gave most gorgeous and sumptuous feasts and banquets."
Don't be fooled by the writer's tone, the chronicler was not writing of this event in a positive light, far from it. The chronicler went on to state that the celebrations were only for effect to 'gain the affections of the people' and paid for with the amassed wealth entrusted to Richard, as executor of his late brother Edward IV's will - taken it was written 'the very moment that he (Richard) had contemplated the usurpation of the throne.'
What is interesting about this text is that there is a mention that the so called Princes in the Tower were actually in the Tower of London whilst the investiture took place - "in the meantime, and while these things were going on, the two sons of king Edward before-named remained in the Tower of London," surprisingly the writer doe's not seize the opportunity to relay to his readers exactly what happened to the two boys after the investiture seeing that most people thought Richard had 'done away with them' towards the end of the summer of 1483. The chronicler also goes on to state that Edward IV's daughters should leave the sanctuary of Westminster, and
'go in disguise to the parts beyond the sea; in order that, if any fatal mishap should befall the said male children
of the late king in the Tower, the kingdom might still, in consequence of the safety of his daughters, some day fall
again into the hands of the rightful heirs."
'go in disguise to the parts beyond the sea; in order that, if any fatal mishap should befall the said male children
of the late king in the Tower, the kingdom might still, in consequence of the safety of his daughters, some day fall
again into the hands of the rightful heirs."
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The important word in that sentence is IF, doesn't this suggests that nobody, including the writer, knew what happened to the two boys at the time?
We should bare in mind that the Crowland Chronicle was written two years after these events took place - the writers were spouting propaganda, words they thought their new king wished to hear, words that would keep them safe in the new Tudor era and by someone who was educated in law and who was privy to information within the royal court.
The Benedictine residents of Crowland Abbey had at their head one Lambert Fossdyke who had been Abbot at Crowland since January 1484 and who was a Bachelor of Law and it was such a man with a degree in law who was considered to be the writer of malicious rumors about Richard III. John Russell, Bishop of Lincoln, is commonly thought to be the author but it could just as well have been Fossdyke dictating to one of his monks?
We should bare in mind that the Crowland Chronicle was written two years after these events took place - the writers were spouting propaganda, words they thought their new king wished to hear, words that would keep them safe in the new Tudor era and by someone who was educated in law and who was privy to information within the royal court.
The Benedictine residents of Crowland Abbey had at their head one Lambert Fossdyke who had been Abbot at Crowland since January 1484 and who was a Bachelor of Law and it was such a man with a degree in law who was considered to be the writer of malicious rumors about Richard III. John Russell, Bishop of Lincoln, is commonly thought to be the author but it could just as well have been Fossdyke dictating to one of his monks?
Of Edward and Richard's fate there is no evidence, however poor Edward of Middleham would only live another seven months, he died in the April of 1484.
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