Fransceco Sforza: It is necessary to employ all our wit and industry”

Francesco Sforza, Duke of Milan had an interest in the events taking place in England in 1460-61. Though far away, the Duke’s economic and diplomatic interests were potentially impacted by changes taking place in England. Consequently, he employed diplomats, used clerical ties, and collated information from sources such as merchants, to keep himself informed of events.

The Duke of Milan was eager to receive news promptly, and accurately. His concern is clear: “every disaster to the cause there will tend to disaster to the cause here”. Fransceco Sforza’s ‘disaster‘ would not be the deaths of family, retainers, or men of his companies on the battlefield. His interest was, in simple terms, financial.

The allegiances on the continent that had been forged by the Lancastrians and Yorkists had an impact on commerce. This led to foreign statesmen such as the Duke of Milan taking a close interest in events. Francesco Sforza’s methods included using his influence on the church to affect their support for English causes most favourable to his interests.

Francesco Sforza, Duke of Milan, to Francesco Copino, Bishop of Terni, Apostolic Legate

67. Francesco Sforza, Duke of Milan, to Francesco Copino, Bishop of Terni, Apostolic Legate.

These last days by a courier of merchants, we received two letters dated at London the 9th ult., and also received letters from the Duke of Warwick and from M. Antonio dalla Torre dated at Sandwich on the 24th ult., bringing word of the result of the conflict, at which we are very sorry for every respect, considering that every disaster to the cause there will tend to disaster to the cause here.

We sent your letters to his Holiness and will do everything for your advancement as if you were our own brother. We are expecting D. Antonio any day and the reply from Rome. We only write thus to tell what we have done and show our good disposition.

We beg you to make every use of us you please. It is necessary to employ all our wit and industry to adapt and establish matters and to bring back that kingdom in peace to the king’s Majesty, while we are sure that his Holiness will not fail to do his part. We also shall not fail, but it is essential that we be advised more frequently of things as they happen. We hope that by means of your industry and ability matters may be turned into the good way. We inform you that King Ferrando’s affairs are prosperous and improving, so that this summer we hope to obtain a complete victory, by the divine favour.
Milan, the 15th February, 1461.
[Italian; draft.]

‘Milan: 1461’, in Calendar of State Papers and Manuscripts in the Archives and Collections of Milan 1385-1618, ed. Allen B Hinds (London, 1912), British History Online

We learn from this source that the Duke of Milan had received updates directly from his own envoy and Richard Neville Earl of Warwick regarding events in England. These had been dated from January, when he himself had written to the Pope asking for intervention. The correspondence all relates to the ways in which the Duke of Milan could influence events for the benefit of the Yorkist faction.