In the aftermath of the Battle of Wakefield the Earl of Warwick was quick to reassure his European contacts that the Yorkist cause was not lost. He wrote to the Pope on 11 January 1461 to restate his confidence, and to press for the advancement of the Papal Legate, Fransceco Copino. Alongside the Earl’s own correspondence were letters from diplomats with whom the Earl of Warwick had established a working relationship, such as Antonio della Torre.
“We shall obtain either a fair and sure peace or victory”
56. Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, to Pope Pius II.
Your Holiness must not be troubled if you have heard of the events in England and of the destruction of some of my kinsmen in the battle against our enemies. With the help of God and the king, who is excellently disposed, all will end well. We shall obtain either a fair and sure peace or victory, especially if you confer the long-expected promotion on your legate. The people will then see that our adversaries, who daily scorn your authority and the legate’s, and say the latter has no power and is no legate, adding marvellous falsehoods to make him unpopular, to the detriment of the Church and the king. If, according to your former letters, you value my allegiance and the allegiance of those who are conscientiously aiding the king and the legate (in conformity with the statement of Dom. Antonio della Torre, his Majesty’s ambassador), it will be necessary so to deal with us and the legate that all may know such to be the fact, and that he may bear the cross which you sent him without envy and opposition on the part of our two archbishops and primates, as dom. Antonio, the bearer, can inform you. Be pleased to give him full credence, and do not desert me and the others, whom you formerly received as sons, for eventually you will see us end well and devoutly. The king sends his recommendations and desires certain concessions, which Antonio will declare.
London, the 11th January, 1461.
[Latin; copy.]
Heraldic device of Richard Neville 16th Earl of Warwick. Add MS 40742 f.10. Sir John Fenn collection via Heraldry Society. Image dated to c1470.
Further Reading
The Battle of Wakefield page includes recent research along with the traditional account. The Battle of Towton page contains a range of source material outlining the changing narrative over time. The Milanese papers are extensive, with a selection of relevant documents indexed here. An overview of the traditional narrative of the Battle of Wakefield, or the Battle of Towton, with notes on more recent thinking. For recent research and academic commentary about this period, see the Substack posts by Dr. David Grummitt.
