Edward V.

Edward V., son of the preceding, was born 4th November 1470. The story of his life is brief and tragic. At the death of his father, he was living at Ludlow in Shropshire. When the news reached Ludlow, Earl Rivers, his maternal uncle, set out with him for London. Richard, Duke of Gloucester, however, contrived to obtain possession of his person at Northampton, and brought him to the capital himself, in May 1483. Towards the end of the same month Richard was appointed Protector of the kingdom. In June the young Duke of York, Edward V.'s brother, also fell into his hands. The two hapless boys were then removed to the Tower, and were never more heard of. In 1674 some bones were discovered below the stairs which led to the White Tower chapel, and were reinterred as the princes' remains in Westminster Abbey in Henry VII.'s chapel. There is no doubt that they were murdered by their uncle Gloucester, who himself began his short reign as Richard III., July 6, 1483.