Richard had worked hard to control the threat of rebellion from the Woodville's. stabilise the government, and organise his nephew's Coronation. Sillington's bombshell was the last thing he wanted to stir up  more unrest and mistrust.

The council was divided, old allegiances and factions had raised their heads, like vipers rising from a pit. Everything Richard had worked for seemed to be in tatters .

As the Bishops prepared to debate the issue in private, the Woodville's sprang into action. as soon as they knew the secret was  or was about to be revealed. Secret meetings were held between Hastings, Moreton, Rotherham and Stanley with sureptitious consultations with the young king (Kendall).  Jane Shaw, the former mistress of Edward IV, now went from Dorset's bed to the bed of Hastings and back again, with messages. Margaret Beaufort became a regular visitor at the sanctuary of Westminster, sharing her personal  physician with Elizabeth Woodville. While Moreton and Bray had a finger in every illicit pie.. Amidst all of this Dorset managed to escape to Brittany.

Richard too had his spy's and was master of the preemptive strike. By the end of the Council meeting he was anticipating trouble (perhaps he had already been forewarned by Catesby?)  He entrusted  Ratcliffe to deliver an urgent message to the York Council asking for urgent assistance in the form of armed men as soon as possible. A copy of this letter was printed by Annette  Carson, The Maligned King, page 92 and for the convenience of the reader I quote here

"We hertely pray you to come unto us  to London in all the dilligence ye can possible aftir sight hereof, with as many as ye can make defensibly arraied, their to eide and assiste us ayanst us ayanst the Quiene, hir blode adherentts and affinitie,, which have entended and daly  doith intend, to murder and utterly distroy us and our cousyn the duc of Bukkyngham, and the old royall blode of the realme, and as it is now openly knowen, by their subtil and dampnabill wais forecasted the same."

When the conspirators  entered the council meeting on 13th June Hasting's came armed, prepared to take the life of the Protector. But Richard was well aware of their activities and their plans. His own defensive strategy was in place.