When Henry was informed of this new plot, he set himself cautiously but steadily and resolutely to foil it.  His first object was to ascertain the reality of the death of the young prince, and to confirm the opinion which had always prevailed with regard to that event.  Richard had engaged five persons to murder his nephews—­viz., Sir James Tirrel, whom he made custodian of the Tower while his nefarious scheme was in course of execution, and who had seen the bodies of the princes after their assassination; Forrest, Dighton, and Slater, who perpetrated the crime; and the priest who buried the bodies.  Tirrel and Dighton were still alive; but although their stories agreed, as the priest was dead, and as the bodies were supposed to have been removed by Richard’s orders, and could not be found, it was impossible to prove conclusively that the young princes really had been put to death.

By means of his spies, Henry, after a time, succeeded in tracing the true pedigree of Warbeck, and immediately published it for the satisfaction of the nation.  At the same time he remonstrated with the Archduke Philip on account of the protection which was afforded to the impostor, and demanded that “the theatrical king formed by the Duchess of Burgundy” should be given up to him.  The ambassadors were received with all outward respect, but their request was refused, and they were sent home with the answer, that “the Duchess of Burgundy being absolute sovereign in the lands of her dowry, the archduke could not meddle with her affairs, or hinder her from doing what she thought fit.”  Henry in resentment cut off all intercourse with the Low Countries, banished the Flemings, and recalled his own subjects from these provinces.  At the same time, Sir Robert Clifford having proved traitorous to Warbeck’s cause, and having revealed the names of its supporters in England, the king pounced upon the leading conspirators.  Almost at the same instant he arrested Fitzwater, Mountfort, and Thwaites, together with William D’Aubeney, Thomas Cressener, Robert Ratcliff, and Thomas Astwood.  Lord Fitzwater was sent as a prisoner to Calais with some hopes of pardon; but being detected in an attempt to bribe his gaolers, he was beheaded.  Sir Simon Mountfort, Robert Ratcliff, and William D’Aubeney were tried, condemned, and executed, and the others were pardoned.

Stanley, the chamberlain, was reserved for a more impressive fate.  His domestic connection with the king and his former services seemed to render him safe against any punishment; but Henry, thoroughly aroused by his perfidy, determined to bring the full weight of his vengeance upon him.  Clifford was directed to come privately to England, and cast himself at the foot of the throne, imploring pardon for his past offences, and offering to condone his folly by any services which should be required of him.  Henry, accepting his penitence, informed him that the only reparation he could now make was by disclosing