But to Tyrrel and his two assassins, Forest and Deighton, the spectacle suggested neither pity nor remorse.
At a signal from Tyrrel, who remained outside the room while the deed was being done, the ruffians snatched the pillows from under the heads of the sleepers, and ere they could either resist or cry out the poor lads were stifled beneath their own bedclothes, and so perished.
Then these two murderers called to Tyrrel to enter and look on their work, and bear witness that the king's command had been faithfully executed.
The cup of Richard's wickedness was now full.

He concealed for some time the fate of his two victims, and few people knew what had become of their rightful king and his brother.

But the vengeance of Heaven fell on the cruel uncle speedily and terribly.

His own favourite son died, his family turned against him, his people rebelled: the kingdom so evilly gained was taken from him, and he himself, after months of remorse, and fear, and gathering misfortunes, was slain in battle, lamented by none, and hated by all.
Two centuries later, in the reign of King Charles the Second, some workmen, digging in the Tower, discovered under the stairs leading to the chapel of the White Tower a box containing the bones of two children, corresponding to the ages of the murdered princes.

These were found to be without doubt their remains, and in a quiet comer of Westminster Abbey, whither they were removed, a simple memorial now marks their last resting-place, and records the fact of their cruel murder by perhaps the worst king who ever sat upon the throne of England..