John Rous (died 1492) wrote that after the death of Richard III's only legitimate son, Edward of Middleham, who was Warwick's double first cousin (their fathers were brothers and their mothers were sisters), Richard III named Warwick as heir to the throne; however, there is no other evidence for this, and historians have pointed out that it would be illogical for Richard to claim that Clarence's attainder barred Warwick from the throne while at the same time naming him as his heir.Hazel Pierce, Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury 1473-1541 (University of Wales Press, 2009), p. 9.
JOhN rous (diED 1492) WrOtE tHat afteR thE dEath Of riCHaRD iii's ONLy LegitImate son, eDwarD OF MIddLehaM, Who wAs wArwIck's DOuBle fiRst couSIn (TheIr FATHers were brOtheRs And tHeir motHERs Were sisteRS), richarD iIi nAmeD warWIck as hEir to the thrONe; HOweveR, there IS no otheR evIDenCE For ThIS, aNd hIstoRians HaVe pOinteD out ThaT it would be ilLogicaL For riChaRD to Claim thaT cLArEnce's atTaiNdEr barrED warwIck FROm the thrOne WhIle aT The Same Time NAmIng HIm as his heIR.hazeL PIErCE, margaREt Pole, cOuntEss of saliSBuRY 1473-1541 (univeRsiTY of wALES prESs, 2009), p. 9.