Lord Hastings was born c.1431 within a well respected Yorkshire family that had long supported the House of York against the House of Lancaster during the Wars of the Roses. When Lord Hasting was 30 years old he had gallantly fought for Edward at the Battle of Townton which gained Edward the throne.
Edward IV was the first member of the House of York to be King. Hastings was given his title, lands and a seat on the royal council following King Edward IV's coronation. He was also made a Knight of the Garter.
In 1460 when he was 29 years old he Katherine, daughter of Richard Neville Earl of Salisbury, and widow of Lord Bonville. She was also sister to Warwick, the spin doctor who had helped Edward to the throne and nicknamed "The King Maker".
At the top of his game
Hastings was a popular personality at court and was liked by all. He was known for his sense of duty, his charity and his love of the arts. He was at his peak, he has power, and wealth more than money than many of his peers. He also had control of who had access to the King. Only those in his favour were granted access.
Edward IV was married to Queen Elizabeth Wydeville. Hastings directly and openly competed against the Queen and her family for royal favour and also against the Queen's eldest son, Lord Dorset, for the love and attention of the King's mistress, Elizabeth Shore.
In April 1483, when Edward IV was 41yrs old he died. It is not known what actually caused Edward's death. Pneumonia and typhoid have both been conjectured, as well as poison. Some attributed his death to an unhealthy lifestyle, as he had become stout and inactive in the years before his death. On his deathbed he ordered the three of them, Hastings, the Queen and Dorset to make peace.
The next King of England
Edward IV's heir, also named Edward was only twelve years old when his father died and so was too young to rule as King. Therefore Edward IV named his brother, Richard Duke of Gloucester, as Lord Protector.
While Gloucester was in the north of England the Queen Elizabeth tried to seize power. Hastings feared his power and status would be lost with the death of Edward IV and the increasing power of the Queen. In response to his fears he notified Gloucester of his brother's death. The Queens family had failed to do so. Instead, the Queen sent for her son, the young Edward V, who was at Ludlow Castle on the Welsh border to return to London to be crowned. Hastings also wrote to Gloucester stating that the Queen meant to remove him from power and that he himself was in danger. In response to Hastings' letter Gloucester, wearing black for his brother, rode southwards with an army of 300 men. At Northampton he met with the Duke of Buckingham who was accompanied by a large force. The two men joined forces and continued their journey towards London.
The Prisoner, the Prince of Wales
Whilst Gloucester was on his way to London Hastings told the royal council that the Queen's bloodline was unfit to rule and recommended that Gloucester should rule as stated in Edward IV's will. He was making deadly enemies with the Wydevilles. Earl Rivers, the Queen's brother and Sir Richard Grey, the Queen's younger son were escorting the young Edward V to London. Gloucester and Buckingham met and dined with Earl Rivers and Sir Richard Grey but the following morning Rivers and Grey, along with the king's chamberlain, Thomas Vaughan, were arrested and sent north. Gloucester and Buckingham continued their journey to London with Edward V. Once this news reached the Queen took sanctuary in Westminster Abbey with her only other son, Richard, and her five daughters.
Having arrived in London, Gloucester sent Edward V to live in the palace in the Tower of London. There was nothing unusual about this, Edward IV had held court there many times and it was usual for a King to spend the few days before his coronation at the Tower. Edward V had been on his way to London to be crowned as per his mother's request.
Gloucester was in charge and Hastings was pleased at this 'new world'. Not one drop of blood had been shed.
Could Gloucester be trusted?
The young prince was his father's son. How could Gloucester ever be safe? Making a bid for the throne itself was a realistic option. Had he planned this all along? Had Hastings mis-judged Gloucester?
Hastings was loyal to Edward IV and was helping the Prince of Wales to learn how to rule as part of his small court in the Tower. 'The Hastings Hours' were a collection of fine books given to Hastings by Edward V which are now safely archived at the British Library, London.
Hastings had the same position under Edward V as he had had under Edward IV's rule and even though he had received no reward for helping Gloucester to power he had no reason to doubt Gloucester. Buckingham who was much liked and trusted by Gloucester put to Hastings the idea of Gloucester claiming the throne. Hastings stated he would accept Gloucester as a Protector for Edward V but never as King.
Hastings now knew the truth
Once Hastings was aware of Gloucester's quest for the throne he eagerly sought help from the other lords of the royal council and even his original enemy the Queen, but she had no power to help. Gloucester learned of Hastings' activities. He sentenced Earl Rivers and Sir Richard Grey to death, without trial, 'so as to leave no danger to himself from any quarter'.
The fateful royal council meeting
Three days later on 13th June 1483 Gloucester called a royal council meeting at the Tower of London. The agenda was believed to be discuss the coronation of Edward V. Gloucester arrived at the meeting and seemed to be in an amiable mood. After asking the Bishop of Ely to send him some fruit from his garden he left the meeting only to return an hour later in an angry mood. He was 'frowning, fretting and biting his lips.' He sat in silence and then glared at Hastings and spoke 'What do men deserve for plotting the death of me?' Hastings responded that if a person had done such a wicked thing then they were worthy of just punishment. 'If?' cried Gloucester in response, 'I tell you, they have done it, and I will make good upon your body, traitor!' Crimes against a lord protector are not treasonous so perhaps Gloucester was already visualising himself as King? Gloucester accused four other men of plotting with the Queen against his rule and his life with organising an ambush.
Acting outside of the law
Gloucester banged his hand on the table and armed guards entered the chamber and arrested Hastings and four others. 'I will not dine until I see your head off!' Gloucester said to Hastings who then realised that he had only minutes to live. Gloucester was acting outside the law. It was the right of a lord to be tried by his peers but there was no trial. Perhaps Hastings knew too much of Gloucester's plot to seize the throne?
Hastings pleaded for mercy but his cries fell on deaf ears. A priest was summoned but wasn't given much time to give Hastings the last rites before he was dragged to 'the green beside the chapel in the Tower.' It was there where Hastings was made to kneel by a block of wood before an usher struck off his head with a sword. Hastings was buried in the chantry chapel in St George's Chapel at Windsor which was built for him. He rests near his friend King Edward IV and his tomb can still be seen there today. On 26th June 1483, less than a fortnight after Hastings' execution Gloucester became King Richard III.
Was Edward V aware of what was going on?
It's worth noting that Edward V, even though he wasn't at the meeting, he was in the Tower and the windows of his rooms overlooked the Tower Green where Hastings was speedily executed. Had Edward witnessed the murder of his best friend?
Edward's younger brother the little Duke of York was forced from the arms of his mother, still in sanctuary at Westminster Abbey, to join his brother in the Tower. The two 'Princes in the Tower' were never seen again. Read my post 'Two Princes in the Tower' and the theories supporting their undocumented disappearance.
In the course of 118 years, between 1483 - 1601, seven famous traitors were beheaded in the Tower of London. Five of these traitors were women. King Henry VIII kept the executioners busy. Three of these be-headings were ordered by him over six years.
2. Anne Boleyn (1536)
3. Countess of Salisbury (1541)
4. Katherine Howard (1542)
5. Lady Rochford (1542)
6. Lady Jane Grey (1554)
Edward IV was the first member of the House of York to be King. Hastings was given his title, lands and a seat on the royal council following King Edward IV's coronation. He was also made a Knight of the Garter.
In 1460 when he was 29 years old he Katherine, daughter of Richard Neville Earl of Salisbury, and widow of Lord Bonville. She was also sister to Warwick, the spin doctor who had helped Edward to the throne and nicknamed "The King Maker".
At the top of his game
Hastings was a popular personality at court and was liked by all. He was known for his sense of duty, his charity and his love of the arts. He was at his peak, he has power, and wealth more than money than many of his peers. He also had control of who had access to the King. Only those in his favour were granted access.
Edward IV was married to Queen Elizabeth Wydeville. Hastings directly and openly competed against the Queen and her family for royal favour and also against the Queen's eldest son, Lord Dorset, for the love and attention of the King's mistress, Elizabeth Shore.
In April 1483, when Edward IV was 41yrs old he died. It is not known what actually caused Edward's death. Pneumonia and typhoid have both been conjectured, as well as poison. Some attributed his death to an unhealthy lifestyle, as he had become stout and inactive in the years before his death. On his deathbed he ordered the three of them, Hastings, the Queen and Dorset to make peace.
The next King of England
Edward IV's heir, also named Edward was only twelve years old when his father died and so was too young to rule as King. Therefore Edward IV named his brother, Richard Duke of Gloucester, as Lord Protector.
While Gloucester was in the north of England the Queen Elizabeth tried to seize power. Hastings feared his power and status would be lost with the death of Edward IV and the increasing power of the Queen. In response to his fears he notified Gloucester of his brother's death. The Queens family had failed to do so. Instead, the Queen sent for her son, the young Edward V, who was at Ludlow Castle on the Welsh border to return to London to be crowned. Hastings also wrote to Gloucester stating that the Queen meant to remove him from power and that he himself was in danger. In response to Hastings' letter Gloucester, wearing black for his brother, rode southwards with an army of 300 men. At Northampton he met with the Duke of Buckingham who was accompanied by a large force. The two men joined forces and continued their journey towards London.
The Prisoner, the Prince of Wales
Whilst Gloucester was on his way to London Hastings told the royal council that the Queen's bloodline was unfit to rule and recommended that Gloucester should rule as stated in Edward IV's will. He was making deadly enemies with the Wydevilles. Earl Rivers, the Queen's brother and Sir Richard Grey, the Queen's younger son were escorting the young Edward V to London. Gloucester and Buckingham met and dined with Earl Rivers and Sir Richard Grey but the following morning Rivers and Grey, along with the king's chamberlain, Thomas Vaughan, were arrested and sent north. Gloucester and Buckingham continued their journey to London with Edward V. Once this news reached the Queen took sanctuary in Westminster Abbey with her only other son, Richard, and her five daughters.
Having arrived in London, Gloucester sent Edward V to live in the palace in the Tower of London. There was nothing unusual about this, Edward IV had held court there many times and it was usual for a King to spend the few days before his coronation at the Tower. Edward V had been on his way to London to be crowned as per his mother's request.
Gloucester was in charge and Hastings was pleased at this 'new world'. Not one drop of blood had been shed.
Could Gloucester be trusted?
The young prince was his father's son. How could Gloucester ever be safe? Making a bid for the throne itself was a realistic option. Had he planned this all along? Had Hastings mis-judged Gloucester?
Hastings was loyal to Edward IV and was helping the Prince of Wales to learn how to rule as part of his small court in the Tower. 'The Hastings Hours' were a collection of fine books given to Hastings by Edward V which are now safely archived at the British Library, London.
Hastings had the same position under Edward V as he had had under Edward IV's rule and even though he had received no reward for helping Gloucester to power he had no reason to doubt Gloucester. Buckingham who was much liked and trusted by Gloucester put to Hastings the idea of Gloucester claiming the throne. Hastings stated he would accept Gloucester as a Protector for Edward V but never as King.
Hastings now knew the truth
Once Hastings was aware of Gloucester's quest for the throne he eagerly sought help from the other lords of the royal council and even his original enemy the Queen, but she had no power to help. Gloucester learned of Hastings' activities. He sentenced Earl Rivers and Sir Richard Grey to death, without trial, 'so as to leave no danger to himself from any quarter'.
The fateful royal council meeting
Three days later on 13th June 1483 Gloucester called a royal council meeting at the Tower of London. The agenda was believed to be discuss the coronation of Edward V. Gloucester arrived at the meeting and seemed to be in an amiable mood. After asking the Bishop of Ely to send him some fruit from his garden he left the meeting only to return an hour later in an angry mood. He was 'frowning, fretting and biting his lips.' He sat in silence and then glared at Hastings and spoke 'What do men deserve for plotting the death of me?' Hastings responded that if a person had done such a wicked thing then they were worthy of just punishment. 'If?' cried Gloucester in response, 'I tell you, they have done it, and I will make good upon your body, traitor!' Crimes against a lord protector are not treasonous so perhaps Gloucester was already visualising himself as King? Gloucester accused four other men of plotting with the Queen against his rule and his life with organising an ambush.
Acting outside of the law
Gloucester banged his hand on the table and armed guards entered the chamber and arrested Hastings and four others. 'I will not dine until I see your head off!' Gloucester said to Hastings who then realised that he had only minutes to live. Gloucester was acting outside the law. It was the right of a lord to be tried by his peers but there was no trial. Perhaps Hastings knew too much of Gloucester's plot to seize the throne?
Hastings pleaded for mercy but his cries fell on deaf ears. A priest was summoned but wasn't given much time to give Hastings the last rites before he was dragged to 'the green beside the chapel in the Tower.' It was there where Hastings was made to kneel by a block of wood before an usher struck off his head with a sword. Hastings was buried in the chantry chapel in St George's Chapel at Windsor which was built for him. He rests near his friend King Edward IV and his tomb can still be seen there today. On 26th June 1483, less than a fortnight after Hastings' execution Gloucester became King Richard III.
Was Edward V aware of what was going on?
It's worth noting that Edward V, even though he wasn't at the meeting, he was in the Tower and the windows of his rooms overlooked the Tower Green where Hastings was speedily executed. Had Edward witnessed the murder of his best friend?
Edward's younger brother the little Duke of York was forced from the arms of his mother, still in sanctuary at Westminster Abbey, to join his brother in the Tower. The two 'Princes in the Tower' were never seen again. Read my post 'Two Princes in the Tower' and the theories supporting their undocumented disappearance.
Traitors in the Tower of London:
1. Lord Hastings (1483)2. Anne Boleyn (1536)
3. Countess of Salisbury (1541)
4. Katherine Howard (1542)
5. Lady Rochford (1542)
6. Lady Jane Grey (1554)
