That was when interest in the case became so widespread, because under torture Burdett admitted that they were studying the stars for the purpose of reading the fate of the king.
Even Edward must take note of this. He had set up judges to discover the nature of these investigations and the verdict was that these people had been concerned in prophesying the death of the king and, moreover, using their arts to bring this about. This was treason and sentence was passed on all the men involved. They were taken to Tyburn and hanged.
This should have been a warning to Clarence, as one of the accused was a member of his household.
Clarence never learned lessons. He railed against the injustice done to innocent men. He blamed the Woodvilles. They controlled the king. The king had no power over his wife and her rapacious relatives were running and ruining the country.
Every day we waited to hear of some outrageous act. Edward's patience was at an end.
It was a June day when a messenger came to Middleham from the king. Clarence had been committed to the Tower and Richard was commanded to come to court without delay.
The king's younger son, Richard, Duke of York, was to marry Anne Mowbray, heiress of Norfolk, and Richard must play his part in the ceremony.
"Marry!" I cried, when Richard told me.
"He is only a child."
"I believe all of four years old and his bride is six. But she is one of the richest heiresses in the country. This will be the queen's contriving."
I was horrified to contemplate such a marriage. Why, the boy was much the same age as my own son Edward.
However, for such an occasion, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester must be present.
It was a long and tiresome journey and I knew Richard's heart was heavy. Clarence was a menace and there would be no peace while he was allowed to pursue his rebellious ways but for a brother to be a prisoner in the Tower was something Richard found hard to accept. I was sure the king felt the same.
When we arrived in London, Richard went at once to the king. He was with him for a long time and when he came back he was very sorrowful.
"I think Edward is probably going to forgive him," he said.
"He cannot bear to think of the little boy whom he used to love so dearly as an enemy. He said to me: "He wants my crown, Richard. I believe nothing else will satisfy him. He is so wild ... so foolish. How long does he think he would last as king? He never thinks beyond the moment. There is more to being a king than wearing a crown and smiling at the loyal shouts of the people. George will never understand this." I said: "You have done the only thing possible by sending him to the Tower. He will come to his senses there. It seems the only way to make him realise the dangerous position he has put himself in." I think he agreed with me but he is wavering."
It was shortly after that when Cecily, Duchess of York came to visit us. The duchess, Richard's mother and my father's aunt, was a lady of great presence. She was indeed one of the most regal persons I have ever met; and I believe that since her son Edward came to the throne she behaved as though she were a queen, , demanding homage from all those who came into contact with her.
In her presence one felt impelled to show the respect due to royalty.
She was a very handsome woman. In her youth she had been noted for her beauty and known as The Rose of Raby; but now her face was ravaged by sorrow. I had heard that she had never recovered from the death of her husband, for they had been a devoted couple and she had accompanied him on many of his campaigns even when she was pregnant, which she invariably was at that time.
Seeing her now in her old age, but still a commanding figure, I could imagine how angry and humiliated she had felt when her husband's head, adorned with a paper crown, had been set on the walls of York. It must be a consolation for such a woman that her son, Edward, was now King of England.
I went to her and knelt, which seemed the natural thing to do in her presence. She bade me rise.
She said: "I am in great distress. I would speak with Richard."
"My lady." said Richard.
"Anne and I have no secrets from each other. You need have no fear to speak before her."
She looked at me intently. Then she said: "Very well. Stay here. It is of George I wish to speak."
"George is the king's prisoner," said Richard in dismay.
"His own brother!" cried the duchess.
"There should not be quarrels within the family."
"George has been behaving very foolishly." said Richard.
"He has done so many reckless things damaging to the king. And now he has allowed himself to be involved in this witchcraft plot against the king's life."
"George is a little careless. He means no harm, I am sure."
Richard looked faintly exasperated. I guessed he had heard that said so often in his childhood.
"My lady mother," he said, "you must know that George has committed many acts for which other men would have lost their heads."
She looked at him disbelievingly.
"I know he has a streak of mischief."
"Mischief indeed! Do you know he shut Anne up in a cookshop and left her there to work in the kitchens? Do you call that a streak of mischief? He should have lost his head for that alone."
"Richard! You are speaking of your brother."
"I know it and I wish he were any man's brother but mine."
"You must not talk thus of George. Anne, you must persuade him. You must understand that this is his brother ... my son!"
"Could you not speak to the king, my lady? George's fate is in his hands."
"I have spoken to the king. Naturally I spoke to him first."
"And did he not listen?" asked Richard.
"He listened. He was all charm and sympathy, but there was a hardness in his face. It is that woman. She is against George. Edward should never have married her."
"I believe that at this time it is not the queen but Edward himself who is beginning to realise what a danger George is to him."
"Listen to me, Richard. Edward is fond of you. You are his favourite. You always adored him so blatantly. Edward is a fine man ... a great king ... but he grows hard. And we are speaking of his brother."
"Edward is the most forgiving man I know. He has forgiven George over and over again. But this time George has gone too far."
"But you will speak to him, Richard. I, your mother, beg you to. No ... I command you to. George is mischievous. Edward knows this. It is not to be taken too seriously. If you will talk to Edward ... explain he means no harm ... he will listen to you."
"I think he will make up his own mind in this matter. George has been judged a traitor and you know the penalty for that, my lady."
"Edward cannot allow his own brother to be put to death!"
"I am sure he will not allow that. He will soften towards him as he has done so many times before."
"Richard, you must speak to your brother. I beg you to."
"Then I will speak to him."
"Remind him that George is his brother."
"He is not likely to forget that, my lady."
"I rely on you."
"I will tell him of your feelings, but it may be that this time George has gone too far."
He would promise nothing more. She was displeased. She was one of those women who expect immediate obedience from everyone around them, and that includes their own children.
The wedding of the Duke of York to the little Norfolk heiress was a grand affair. The bridegroom was very handsome as all the king's children were with his sturdy young body and fair looks. The king was clearly proud of his family and he had good reason to be, and so had the queen. She was very contented. There was no question about her beauty; she was dazzlingly so, even now. But there was something very cold about her; she was statuesque and her perfect features might have been cut out of marble. She was clearly proud of her achievements widow of a humble knight to become Queen of England and moreover hold her place in the heart of the philandering king all these years. Of course, she was clever. Many still said she relied on witchcraft and her mother had undoubtedly been a witch. A strong woman, the queen's mother. She had been married to the mighty Duke of Bedford and had become a widow when she was only seventeen years old; and then she had fallen passionately in love with Sir Richard Woodville, had married this comparatively humble man and had remained in love with him, it was said, all through their married life. She was an exceptional woman and belonged to the royal house of Luxembourg. She was the one, it was said, who had bewitched the king into marrying her daughter.