Earl Rivers was Elizabeth Woodville’s brother. At the time of Edward IV’s death he was in Wales with young Edward and immediately set off to bring the new king to Anthony Woodville, Earl London. Rivers Born around 1440, died His actions were interpreted as treason by Richard, Duke of Gloucester, who feared 1483 Rivers wanted to take the important job of Lord Protector of the king for himself. Rivers was accused of treason, sent to prison in Pontefract in Yorkshire, and executed. William Hastings was a close friend and advisor of Edward IV. After Edward’s death his position as a rich an influential man was in danger if he chose the wrong side. William Hastings, Baron Hastings tried to stop the Woodville’s gaining too much power and helped Richard, (or Lord) Hastings Duke of York. Born around 1431, died 1483 But things changed for the worse when Richard accused Hastings of plotting with the Woodvilles to kill him. During a council meeting at the Tower of London, Richard accused Hastings of treason and had him executed immediately and without trial. The problem with the disappearance of the Princes in the Tower, was that no one ever saw the boys’ dead bodies, and rumours went about that they were still alive. Perkin Warbeck Born around 1474, In 1490 a young man showed up at a court in Europe claiming to be one of the died 1499 princes: Richard, Duke of York. Edward IV’s sister Margaret of York recognised him and so proved his identity. When he landed in England in 1497 the new Tudor king Henry VII was worried that would try and take the throne. ‘Richard’ After some time in the Tower, Perkin confessed to being an imposter and was released. But Henry VII kept a close eye on him, and when he tried to run away, Perkin was imprisoned again and then hanged.
Anthony Woodville, Earl Rivers Born around 1440, died 1483 Earl Rivers was Elizabeth Woodville’s brother. At the time of Edward IV’s death he was in Wales with young Edward and immediately set off to bring the new king to London. His actions were interpreted as treason by Richard, Duke of Gloucester, who feared Rivers wanted to take the important job of Lord Protector of the king for himself. Rivers was accused of treason, sent to prison in Pontefract in Yorkshire, and executed. William Hastings, Baron (or Lord) Hastings Born around 1431, died 1483 William Hastings was a close friend and advisor of Edward IV. After Edward’s death his position as a rich an influential man was in danger if he chose the wrong side. Hastings tried to stop the Woodville’s gaining too much power and helped Richard, Duke of York. But things changed for the worse when Richard accused Hastings of plotting with the Woodvilles to kill him. During a council meeting at the Tower of London, Richard accused Hastings of treason and had him executed immediately and without trial. Perkin Warbeck Born around 1474, died 1499 The problem with the disappearance of the Princes in the Tower, was that no one ever saw the boys’ dead bodies, and rumours went about that they were still alive. In 1490 a young man showed up at a court in Europe claiming to be one of the princes: Richard, Duke of York. Edward IV’s sister Margaret of York recognised him and so proved his identity. When he landed in England in 1497 the new Tudor king Henry VII was worried that ‘Richard’ would try and take the throne. After some time in the Tower, Perkin confessed to being an imposter and was released. But Henry VII kept a close eye on him, and when he tried to run away, Perkin was imprisoned again and then hanged.
teach041_princesinthetowercharacters_web.docx