Reflection on Wakefield 9 January 1461
This letter from Antonio de la Torre to the Duke of Milan provides a very early written record of what had been said about the Battle of Wakefield. It is written from London and based on reports, presumably from various sources which may include eyewitness accounts along with rumour and hearsay. It is, however, indicative of what was being said in Yorkist dominated London at the time. This is the full letter, a section of which begins our appraisal of early written sources on the page dedicated to the Battle of Wakefield.
The letter contains mistakes, such as suggesting that it took place 80 miles north of London. In reality it is closer to 185 miles. Torre also notes Pontefract, rather than Sandal Castle. Though this is at odds with most accounts, either contemporary or popular, it perhaps stems from the fate of the Earl of Salisbury and may be indicative of where the Earl was taken prisoner: as the place of his capture is not stated very specifically in relatively contemporary accounts.
54. Antonio de la Torre to Francesco Sforza, Duke of Milan.
It is now many days since I was despatched on my way back with every commission fitting and favourable for public and private affairs. I am charged to make every demand by word of mouth and in such form that I am sure, when I arrive, your Excellency will see that they do not slumber here over the affairs of the Church or those of your Excellency or yet those of all Italy. Just as I was about to leave some very important events occurred, for which I stayed on for some days in order to see the end.
Some of the lords of the queen’s party, rendered desperate by the victory of the lords here, and especially by the Earl of Warwick, assembled a force in the northern parts, eighty miles from London, to come and attack their opponents here who are with the king, and get back the king into their power, as they had him before. Accordingly the Duke of York, with two of his sons and Warwick’s father, the Earl of Salisbury (Dariberi), went out to meet them. And it came to pass that, although they were three times stronger (piu forti tretanti), yet from lack of discipline, because they allowed a large part of the force to go pillaging and searching for victuals, their adversaries, who are desperate, attacked the duke and his followers. Ultimately they routed them, slaying the duke and his younger son, the Earl of Rutland, Warwick’s father and many others. This news caused great alarm in these parts, although it seems Warwick was not there. Nevertheless, owing to his singular valour and by his popularity with the people and because the king wishes him every good, he is making preparations with every encouragement. Although their taking so little account of the legation and of the things done up to the present by his Reverence the Legate has been the cause of this disaster, since the other side had put about the report that he was not a legate and the pope had recalled him and was displeased about the things which had happened through his efforts, and much more nonsense; nevertheless the people here, with their affection for the king and Warwick, hearing that the legate was present and remembering the advantage his presence was to them on the last occasion, all took heart and mustered gladly, so that they hope in a month or two to have more than 150,000 men in camp. The belief is that if peace does not ensue the consequent devastation will be worse than has been seen in this realm for a thousand years Should our legate escape, he may possibly put himself once more in the midst of these turmoils, though he has no cause to do so, unless the Curia makes other arrangements or treats him differently. I crave your pardon for saying so, but they do not seem to know him as your Excellency does. In the meantime, in the fulfilment of his duty and what pertains to his office of legate, he has written a letter to the opposite side, of which I enclose a copy for your lordship. He directed it to an Italian friar, one of his dependants, who is with them, so that it might be made public through his means. If the Church of Rome had only shown that it held these English affairs in greater account than it has done, repute would have upheld and increased the first victory. This is now lost and confused merely by neglect and for the reason given above.
I shall set out as soon as possible, and in the meantime your Excellency should urge the Curia to make some further demonstration here and that soon, as if help is given even yet, things have been arranged, honourable and advantageous for the estate of the Church and in harmony with the wishes of his Holiness and of Italy, such as our days have never seen. But the legate being merely a poor bishop, makes our folk of the Court consider the great things done by him as dreams, despite all they have seen by experience, which ought to suffice to make them believe, but possibly envy has something to do with it, and when I was there I observed some signs of it. May God provide, who knows all!
London, the 9th of January.
Postscript.—This engagement took place on the last day but one of December near a castle called Pontefract.
[Italian; copy.]
Featured Image
Richard Neville, 5th Earl of Salisbury KG PC (c. 1400 – 31 December 1460) who married Alice Montagu, daughter and only legitimate child of Thomas Montagu, 4th Earl of Salisbury. Unusually, he gives place of honour to the arms of his wife on his surcoat, placing them on the dexter half, impaling his own arms of Neville. The full image shows his wife at right. Via Wikimedia.
