Misfortunes never came singly to the unhappy queen; the Marquis of Dorset, her son by her first husband, was arrested soon after and thrown into the Tower. In the following year at the coronation of the queen, his half-sister, he was however released is believed to have been present at the ceremony.
Elizabeth Woodville, the Queen Dowager appears to have been left to pine away in her enforced solitude at Bermondsey, where she remained till 1492, when a fatal illness seized her. On her deathbed she dictated the following will, which is of itself an indication as to the penury of her final days.
Dated: Bermondsey, April 10 1492
"I, Elizabeth, by the grace of God, Queen of England, late wife to the most victorious prince of blessed memory, Edward the Fourth, being of whole mind, seeing the world so transitory, and no creature certain when they shall depart from hence, having Almighty God fresh in mind, in whom is all mercy and grace, bequeath my soul into his hands, beseeching him of the same mercy to accept it graciously, and Our Blessed Lady Queen of Comfort, and all the holy company of heaven, to he good means (or mediators) for me.
Item: I bequeath my body to be buried with the body of my lord at Windsor, according to the will of my said lord and mine, without pomps entering or costly expenses done thereabout.
Item: Whereas I have no worldly goods to do the Queen's Grace, my dearest daughter, a pleasure with, neither to reward any of my children according to my heart and mind, I beseech Almighty God to bless her Grace, with all her noble issue; and with as good heart and mind as is to me possible, I give her Grace my blessing, and all the aforesaid my children.
Item: I will that such small stuff and goods that I have be disposed truly in the contentation of my debts, and for the health of my soul, as far as they will extend.
Item: If any of my blood will any of the said stuff or goods to me pertaining, I will that they have the preferment before any other. And of this my present testament I make and ordain mine executors, that is to say, John Ingleby, Prior of the Charter House at Shene; William Sutton and Thomas Biente, Doctors; and I beseech my dearest daughter, the Queen's Grace, and my son, Thomas, Marquis of Dorset, to put their good wills and help for the performance of this my testament."