With a woman like Jane this seemed natural enough, but what was surprising was that she was found to be visiting Elizabeth Woodville in sanctuary, and these visits had begun before Dorset left the country. And now she was living with Hastings.
"The wife and the mistress, what can that mean?" said Richard.
"The queen never interfered with the king's mistresses," I said.
"No. We all know that. She is a wise woman. We must be watchful of this. We must find out why Jane Shore is visiting the queen."
At the time I thought it was perhaps not so strange that Jane should go to see the queen. Jane was a refined woman. She had been the wife of a goldsmith a rich man and she had been well brought up by her own family. She had not been accustomed, of course, to living in royal circles until she met the king, but she had been with him for a long time and would have become conversant with the manners of the court. She could well become on friendly terms with the queen.
The matter flared into significance one day when William Catesby came to see Richard.
I had heard of Catesby. He was well versed in the law and was a protege" of Lord Hastings, through whom he had acquired a high position in Nottingham and Leicester.
I knew that Richard thought highly of his abilities.
Richard spent a long time with him, and after he had left remained shut in his apartments, seeing no one for about an hour.
I was getting anxious about him. I guessed that Catesby had brought bad news. So I went to Richard's private chamber and scratched lightly on the door. There was no answer so I opened it and went in.
Richard was sitting staring before him.
"Richard!" I cried.
"What ails you?"
He looked at me blankly and said: "I cannot believe this, Anne. And yet..."
Tell me,"I begged.
Then it came out. That arch plotter, Dorset, with whom it seemed Jane had become obsessed, had prevailed on her to win Hastings to the side of the Woodvilles. It had not, apparently, been a difficult task, as Hastings was already wavering. Dorset had insisted that Jane become Hastings' mistress, so that she could discover whether it might be possible to break his allegiance to Richard and get young Edward crowned and rule through him with the Woodvilles.
I said: "I cannot believe this."
There is evidence," Richard told me.
"Undeniable evidence. Catesby was aware of the plot. Hastings has betrayed me, Anne. Dorset has escaped to France and Hastings is plotting with Elizabeth Woodville. Jane Shore has been carrying messages from Dorset first and then Hastings ... to the queen."
"But Hastings is your friend, Richard. He was the one who came to tell you of the king's death and warned you against the Woodvilles. He was one of Edward's best friends."
"In depravity." said Richard bitterly.
"It was more than that. They trusted each other. Hastings knows that you are the king's choice. You are the one he chose to look after the young king and the state."
"Anne, I have evidence that he is a traitor. I know he is plotting to thrust me aside ... to crown the king and then he, I presume, with his dear friends the Woodvilles, will set about ruling the country."
"Are you sure?"
"I have proof. Catesby has shown me a letter which Hastings would have sent to the queen. There can be no mistake. Hastings sought to embroil Catesby in the conspiracy, but he would have none of it."
"What are you going to do, Richard?"
"Act promptly."
So many people have heard of that dramatic meeting in the Tower. The date was the thirteenth of June and two meetings of the councillors had been called for that day. It was announced that arrangements were to be made for the coronation of the king and this was to be dealt with. There was one other matter which the Protector was eager to settle without delay.
At the meeting, over which Richard presided, were Hastings, Stanley, Morton, Chancellor Rotherham, Buckingham and a few others.
They assembled as arranged in the White Tower. Richard sat at the head of the table and the meeting began.
Later Richard told me about it in detail how they had come unsuspecting to the table. Hastings was as affable as ever; Morton talked about the strawberries in the garden of his palace in Ely Place and begged Richard to allow him to send some to Crosby's Place because he was sure they would please me.
Richard said: "I accepted his offer graciously and wondered how long I should allow this meaningless chatter to continue. I stood confronting them all ... Hastings, Morton, Stanley ... there was not one I trusted. I asked them if they were aware that before my brother died he had named me as guardian of his son and Protector of the Realm? They all looked astonished. Indeed, what I had said was true, they declared. All were aware of it.
"Then I said, "You know it well, but there are those among you who would seek to deprive me of these rights given to me by my brother." They all continued to look astounded. I looked straight at Hastings and said, "And you, my lord Hastings, what think you of these plots of treason?" Even then he did not realise what was behind this. He looked bland enough, sleek and contented, plotting with the Woodvilles by day and indulging in night sports with Jane Shore, I thought.
"What say you?" I insisted; and he had the temerity to reply, "But if they had done this that your lordship suggests, they should be punished."
"With death, my lord Hastings?" I asked.
"With death," he repeated."
"He must have realised then that you knew of his perfidy."
"I am not sure that he had till then, but in the next moment he must have, for I cried: "There are some among us who stand against me. Jane Shore, who was my brother's mistress, is involved. She visits the sanctuary and is in league with the queen ... and there are others." I was looking straight at Hastings and he knew then that I had uncovered the plot and that I was aware that Jane Shore was his messenger and the nature of her mission. I said, "Lord Hastings, tell us again what the fate of those who scheme against the government should be."
"If they have done such things," said Hastings slowly, "and if such things can be proved against them..." I could contain my anger no longer. Smooth-voiced traitor that he was, he enraged me, the more so because he had feigned to be my loyal friend.
"I shouted at him, "Enough of your ifs and ands, Hastings. You are the traitor. You have done these things and you are guilty of treason." He was stricken. I saw the shame on his face. I thought of the worthlessness of his assumed friendship, and I wanted revenge. I said to him, "I swear I will not dine while your head is on your shoulders." Then I rapped on the table and shouted: "Treason!" The guards, warned what to expect, came in.
"I pointed to Rotherham and Morton, for they were involved in the plotting, though not as deeply as Hastings. I said, "Arrest these men and take them to the Tower." I was not sure of Stanley. When could one ever be sure of Stanley? I did not want to be unjust. Nothing had actually been proved against him. Yet I suspected him.
"Put him under house arrest," I said. Then it was Hastings' turn. He was a proved traitor and I ordered that he should be taken out to the Green at once and his head severed from his shoulders."
I could not believe this. I stared at Richard in dismay. Knowing him, I was well aware of the depth of his feelings. He had liked Hastings: Hastings was the kind of man whom people did like.
"It had to be," said Richard.
"They took him to the Green. They found a priest and he was shriven; they could find no block, so they used a piece of wood which was lying around, intended for repairs that were due to be done to the chapel. And there Hastings lost his head."