Research has shown that King Richard III did not kill the young Princes in the Tower more than 500 year ago, but instead gave Edward V the freedom to live secretly in Devon, under an assumed name.
According to them, Edward’s mother made an agreement with Richard III. Historicalists believe Richard III murdered Edward’s nephews in order for him to claim the Tudor in the 15th Century.
Edward IV was Richard III’s older brother and he died suddenly in 1483. Richard became Lord Protector to take care of Edward V (12 years) and Richard III, 9-years-old, Duke of York.
Edward was to ascend the throne of England, but not before he could become king. Richard declared the brothers illegitimate, and had them imprisoned in Tower of London so they would never be seen again.
Tudor authorities passed down a story, popularized by William Shakespeare, that suggested the king murdered the brothers to make it clear his authority and to allow Edward to take the throne.
But despite a pair of skeletons being found in the Tower in 1674, 200 years after their supposed death, no evidence of Edward and Richard’s murder has ever been discovered — and now researchers believe a series of ‘Da Vinci Code’-style clues suggest it may be because they were never killed.
The findings are part of the Missing Princes Project, led by Philippa Langley, the historian responsible for a dig that found the remains of Richard III in a Leicester car park in 2012.
Speaking to the Telegraph, Langley and colleagues followed a paper trail including medieval documents that led them to Coldridge, where royal Yorkist symbols are carved into the local church, St Matthew’s.
According to the findings, there may have been a secret agreement between Richard III’s mother and Edward V that enabled Edward V live under the false name of John Evans.
There is also an effigy titled “John Evans” in the church, looking at a stained-glass window depicting Edward V. This suggests that they are one person.
“With all its secret symbols and clues it almost sounds like the Da Vinci Code.” The discoveries made in this mysterious church are amazing. John Dike is the main researcher.
Despite a pair of skeletons being found in the Tower in 1674, 200 years after their supposed death, no evidence of Edward and Richard’s murder has ever been discovered — and now researchers believe a series of ‘Da Vinci Code’-style clues suggest it may be because they were never killed
Research has revealed that King Richard III did not kill the young “Princes of the Tower” over 500 years ago, but instead permitted Edward V to remain in hiding under an assumed name in a Devon rural village.
Researchers discovered a number of clues in the ‘Da Vinci Code’ style at a Devon church, which included a huge crown with 41 deer in it, hovering above an Edward V stained-glass depiction. John Evans was the “Parker” for Coldridge’s deer estate.
A church effigy has a scar across the chin. This is similar to the image in Edward V’s stained glass window that shows a crown on a face.
Researchers used medieval documents to follow a paper trail that took them to Coldridge. Here, royal Yorkist symbols were carved into St Matthew’s church.
Langley created the Missing Princes Project in 2004. He has so far accumulated more than 100 lines to inquire into the fates older brothers.
The team has been investigating a trail that includes medieval documents as well as clues in an old parish church.
Dike said that while the idea of a lost prince in Devon may seem fanciful, the extraordinary discoveries made in this middle-of-nowhere church are remarkable.
The unexpected finding suggests Edward, on condition that he kept silent, was sent by his half-brother to Devon in order to spend the remainder of his life there.
According to Dike, this was part of an agreement between Richard III and his mother. Henry Tudor was the successor.
He added that if you look at all the clues it seems like the story about the Princes of the Tower needs to be rewritten.
There is no conclusive proof that Edward V or Richard of Shrewsbury was murdered, but some historians suggest it might have been a conspiracy to discredit Richard III.
In the summer of 1483 the last time they were seen, the boys were found playing near the Tower of London.
These bones were found beneath a tower staircase. They now rest in an urn at Westminster Abbey. The Queen is believed to have refused scientists access to the bone samples.
Team members disagree, however, that Edward V arrived in Devon on a strong paper trail, and there is ample evidence that he was John Evans.
Historians know that in March 1484, Elizabeth Woodville, mother of the two princes, left Westminster with her daughters after reaching a deal with Richard III.
The Rose of York symbol appears throughout the church, including in the tiles of the floor, which is unusual for a church in Devon
One part of the transparent glass windows shows a face thought to represent John Evans. This mysterious visage has a scarred and deformed smile. He is wearing an ermine jacket, and carrying a crown.
Yorkish symbolism can be found throughout Devon’s church. Researchers say this is a rare discovery in a rural structure.
The medieval prayer desk bears the inscribed ‘Pray For John Evans Parker of Coldridge’. Team believes that this desk was created in the same year of the stained-glass windows from 1511.
The church contains an inverted writing etching of the word “KING” written on John Evans’ tomb. There are also nine carving lions which may represent the year Edward V was able to take back the throne.
Then she wrote Thomas Grey Marquis de Dorset to her rebel son. She asked him to return home, and Richard accepted his pardon.
According to royal records, Richard sent his follower from Yorkshire on March 3. This mission took him from Yorkshire into Coldridge in Devon. Coldridge lies within Grey’s seized lands.
John Evans, who appeared unexpectedly in the village soon after, was awarded the title Lord de Manor. The Telegraph received the report from researchers.
Evans was born in Devon and no records have been made of his life. However, the title prestigious, including ‘Parker,’ a 130-beast-strong, deer park, behind the church, has appeared out of nowhere.
Three carvings show a Tudor lady with a snakelike tongue. It could possibly be an attack on Henry Tudor’s mother.
Portrait of Edward V, King of England. Edward V of England – portrait. It appears that Edward, now living under John Evans, created a Coldridge chantry that provided clues for future generations about his true roots, decades after his exile.
There is a tiny symbol carved in the ceiling of St Matthew’s Church that depicts part of the Sunne in Splendour, a symbol of the House of York linked to the princes
Dike and co-workers published their results because of the song at St Matthew’s local church. It was full of symbolism and was built in 1511 by John Evans.
Dike said that John Evans received these titles, despite the fact that he appeared to have arrived out of the blue.
“It’s possible Edward was sent to this country in secret as part of the agreement between Richard and his mom.
Dike and his colleagues published their findings after the choir at St Matthew’s Church in St Matthew’s, which was constructed by John Evans 1511. It is full of symbolism and includes a glass representation of Edward V, a boy-king like a saint, that was painted.
Dike was intrigued to find out “Why is there a royal portrait of Edward V?” Portrait of Edward V taken in this small church, in the middle nowhere.
Edward, according to him, was trying to send a message out to the future generations by revealing his true royal identity.
There is a huge crown over Edward’s head in the glass. The Crown is also littered with 41 pictures of deer.
Edward V would have turned 41 in the year 1511 when the chantry was constructed.
Other symbols include the name John Evans being incorrectly spelt EVAS, with the team suggesting the EV stood for Edward V and AS for ‘asa’, which is Latin for in sanctuary.
The building also contains symbols that link the House of York to the church, such as in the floor tiles or carved into its wooden roof.
Dike stated that it was a sign of the importance of the church’s symbolic detail, as well as its location in rural Devon.
“It would be a great place for Thomas Grey to have Richard III, or Henry VII agree, and then to get his half-brother out of politics.
Dike and his colleagues now seek more evidence as they suspect their tomb could be under the church’s floor.
Previous research has also suggested that Edward died of natural causes while his younger brother, Richard, was eventually reunited with his mother, Queen Elizabeth Woodville, and allowed to live with her under the supervision of trusted courtiers.
David Baldwin (University of Leicester) suggested that Richard of Shrewsbury had moved to Lutterworth in Leicestershire after which he was taken to Bosworth field the day before Richard of York was killed.
According to historians, King Richard might have thought about naming the boy his son. However, his defeat and subsequent death made everything different.
Baldwin suggests that Prince Richard, who was captured to St John’s Abbey Colchester at the Battle of Bosworth after the Battle of Bosworth, worked as bricklayer till the Dissolution of 1539.
‘Murder of The Little Princes,’ 1483, (c1850). Legend claims that Edward V, his brother Richard of Shrewsbury, were assassinated in Tower of London.
Rose artwork and motif are seen throughout the church.
Dike and co-workers published their results because of the song at St Matthew’s local church. It was full of symbolism and was built in 1511 by John Evans.