News of the proclamation of Edward IV as King of England had reached Bruges by 9 March 1461. The Milanese archive contains this letter which notes that reports from England are varied according to [the sources] personal predilections. However, among the individual responses to events the author of this letter can identify some facts. Most notable, other than Edward having being crowned, is that the new King had met with the Earl of Warwick.
As with other letters within the Milanese archive there is a suggestion of a vast army being arrayed by the Yorkists. Here, Michele Arnolfini suggests that some 200,000 foot had been amassed, with further recruiting underway. In another letter of the same day, the Milanese representative to the French Court suggests different figures, illustrating the problems that interested third parties had in ascertaining facts about the situation in England at the time.
72. Michele Arnolfini to Francesco Copino, Bishop of Terni, Papal Legate to England and Flanders.
Most Reverend Father in Christ: I only write to send the enclosed received several days ago from Carlo Gigli. Since then I have received daily advices up to the 23rd February last. We have no more recent letters from him but expect them every day. There are various reports since that date, but they vary greatly according to personal predilections. But, among the matters better established, they say that letters have reached Calais, which the Earl of Warwick had written on the 4th inst. saying that he and the Earl of March had met together with several other lords, spiritual and temporal, and by their wish and that of the people they crowned the Earl of March King of England with great pomp. They afterwards reckoned up the number of men on whom they could count and found they had 200,000 foot and they are preparing to go and find others, You will be able to compare this with what Carlo writes in his last. As your lordship will arrive here soon and learn everything I need not enter into further particulars.
Bruges, the 9th of March, 1461.
[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
This letter is part of our series on the Road to Towton as told by the Milan State Papers.
Image Credit
King Edward IV published by John Player & Sons, after Unknown artist.
Cigarette card, 1935
NPG D48126
© National Portrait Gallery, London