Hicks', rather surprisingly for a pro-Ricardian accepts that Richard did have a role to play in the death of Clarence. He uses the Clarence affair as an example of how Richard's character was developing. In the chapter, titled The Making of the King, the Clarence affair is dealt with as just another episode in Richard's formative years. To Hicks; '....the destruction of Clarence'(23) , showed just how closed Richard could be about his thoughts.
He accepts that although the Woodvilles may have plotted against Clarence he is in no doubt that the responsibility lay with the king and the court. Of those involved in the trail and execution of Clarence, Hicks writes; 'There was nothing improper about their participation, nor that of Richard.'(24). He acknowledges that Richard played a role in the demise of Clarence, both as a high ranking officer of the land and for personal gain. Hicks sees the role that the Clarence affair as less important to the life of Richard than does Seward. Consequently he is not as outraged by Richard's actions as Seward is and therefore makes less of it. Hicks has set the way in which Richard dealt with Clarence within the violent age that he lived in.
Without doubt the most controversial event in the life of Richard is the mystery of the Princes in the Tower. Although they are referred to as the Princes, one of them was actually a king, albeit uncrowned. Little is actually known about the fate of the Princes, who were the two sons of Edward IV. The eldest was Edward V, formally the Prince of Wales, was 13 years old. His young brother, Richard was the 4th Duke of York who was 10. On the death of Edward IV, his son became Edward V. As he was too young to rule, his uncle, Richard, was named as Protector in his father's will. Edward was brought to London from Wales and installed in the royal apartments within the Tower. He was soon joined by by his brother, who was already in London with his mother, Edward IVs widow.
There had been arguments about where the boys were to stay to prepare for Edward's coronation. Before he could be crowned, both boys were declared illegitimate. It was claimed that the boy's father, Edward IV, had entered into a secret marriage before he married Elizabeth, the boy's mother. As the boys could no longer inherit the throne the next in line, their Uncle Richard, was declared king. The boys were to been seen playing in the Tower but soon they disappeared from view, never to be seen again.
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