The Bishop of Terni’s second letter of 27 April 1461 was written to a Minister of the Duke of Milan. It acts to reiterate the matters and opinions noted in his letter to Franscesco Sforza of the same date. In doing so, Coppino notes that there are opportunities to be had as a result of the situation in England. That pressure should be applied diplomatically as ‘if we are helped we shall do wonders’. Again, the legates allegiance to the Yorkist cause is clear, noting the ‘glorious victory won by our friends‘ and noting in his postscript that not all hold the same views: ‘they do not sleep with you‘.
97. Francesco Copino, Bishop of Terni, Papal Nuncio, to Master Cricho de Calabria, Minister of Francesco Sforza, Duke of Milan.
As we are about to mount horse I will write to you at length; but you will see what I am writing to our lord and the glorious victory won by our friends in England, the like of which was never seen. We are going to arrive there while things are still fresh and pursue our enterprises. If we are helped we shall do wonders. It was God’s will that we should leave in time to be in safety and able to effect honourable things for God and the Church and all the state of Italy. You will see the particulars of the battle; God pardon the other side and give us grace to do well. I commend to you the letters we are writing to his Holiness and to Master Falcone. Our lord duke should write a letter to England and perhaps we shall send you the note according to our design. We have seen by the letters of Master Antonio dalla Torre your diligence and zeal for our affairs. Continue in the same, and we shall hope to gratify you.
Malines, the 27th April, 1461.
Kept until the 1st May at Bruges, and we have letters from his Lordship about the coming of M. Anto. della Turri. There is no need for more. In this part I do not think we can look for anything better, and do you see that they do not sleep with you.
[Italian.]‘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.
Related Content
This letter is part of our series on the Road to Towton as told by the Milan State Papers. These letters cover the period from the Battle of Wakefield to the reporting of the Battle of Towton. They include references to the Second Battle of St. Albans and the proclamation of Edward as being King of England.
Image Credit
Prologue by Gilbert de la Porrée (ff. 2r-3v); Apocalypse (Revelation) inprose with glosses (ff. 3v-58v). 4th quarter of the 15th century. Add MS 17333. British Library.