“Certainly, my lord,” said he, “if they be guilty of these crimes, they deserve the severest punishment.”  “And do you reply to me,” exclaimed the Protector, “with your ifs and your ands?  You are the chief abettor of that witch, Shore; you are yourself a traitor; and I swear by St. Paul that I will not dine before your head be brought me.”  He struck the table with his hand; armed men rushed in at the signal; the councillors were thrown into the utmost consternation; and one of the guards, as if by accident or mistake, aimed a blow with a pole-axe at Lord Stanley, who, aware of the danger, slunk under the table; and though he saved his life, he received a severe wound in the Protector’s presence.  Hastings was seized, and instantly beheaded on a timber-log which lay in the court of the Tower.

Lord Stanley, the Archbishop of York, the Bishop of Ely, and other councillors were committed prisoners in different chambers of the Tower.  These acts of violence, exercised against the nearest connections of the late King, prognosticated the severest fate to his defenceless children; and after the murder of Hastings, the Protector no longer made a secret of his intentions to usurp the crown.  The licentious life of Edward afforded a pretence for declaring his marriage with the Queen invalid and all his posterity illegitimate.  It was also maintained that the act of attainder passed against the Duke of Clarence had virtually incapacitated his children from succeeding to the crown; and, these two families being set aside, the Protector remained the only true and legitimate heir of the house of York.  The Protector resolved to make use of another plea, still more shameful and scandalous.  His partisans were taught to maintain that both Edward IV and the Duke of Clarence were illegitimate, and that the Duke of Gloucester alone appeared to be the true offspring of the Duke of York.

In a few days the Duke of Buckingham went to Baynard’s castle, where the Protector then resided, to make him a tender of the crown.  Richard refused to appear, and pretended to be apprehensive for his personal safety; a circumstance taken notice of by Buckingham, who observed “that the Prince was ignorant of the whole design.”  At last he was persuaded to step forth, but he still kept at some distance; and he asked the meaning of the intrusion and importunity.  Buckingham told him that the nation was resolved to have him for King.  The Protector declared his purpose of maintaining his loyalty to the present sovereign.  He was told that the people had determined to have another prince; and if he rejected their unanimous voice, they must look out for one who would be more compliant.  This argument was too powerful to be resisted; he was prevailed on to accept of the crown; and he thenceforth acted as legitimate and rightful sovereign.