Words of Common Fanatics
On 27 March 1461, as the warring parties in England readied themselves for the clashes that would determine the result of this phase of the Wars of the Roses, the Milanese again had cause to note ‘news’ from England. Again, it was in relation to King Henry VI along with commentary on the unravelling Military situation.
This letter repeats, dismissively, the rumour that King Henry VI had abdicated. In sections more based on fact than gossip, it relates that Edward Earl of March had been proclaimed King in London and that his coronation would take place after “he has annihilated the other king and reduced the island and the realm to a stable peace”.
On the likely clashes between the rival King’s and their supporters the letter makes clear that the Earl of Warwick is arraying many men, and that the House of York has the support of the City of London. The Queen [Margaret of Anjou], however, is noted as being prudent in her plans and that from her defensive position many think that she, “will tear to pieces these attacks of the people”.
Rumours: “Words of Common Fanatics”
76. Prospero di Camulio, Milanese Ambassador to the Court of France, etc., to Francesco Sforza, Duke of Milan.
I think I have written to your Excellency constantly upon the progress of the strange events in England, both on the 6th inst. and then on the 9th, advising your Excellency by way of Bruges how they said that the King of England had resigned his crown in favour of his son, although they say his Majesty remarked at another time, that he must be the son of the Holy Spirit, etc., but these may only be the words of common fanatics, such as they have at present in that island (quamvis se dice che Sua Maesta alias habia dicto che conveni chel sy figlolo del Spirito Sancto, etc., he qual’ forse sonno parole de vulgi furiosi como al presente sonno in quella insula).
I also wrote how the people of London, the leaders of the people of the island, together with some other lords, full of indignation, had created a new king, Edward, son of the Duke of York, known as my lord of March. From what we have heard since, he was chosen, so they say, on all sides as the new king by the princes and people at London. By the last letters they say that his lordship accepted the royal sceptre and staff and all the other ceremonies except the unction and the crown, which they have postponed until he has annihilated the other king and reduced the island and the realm to a stable peace, and among other things, exacted the vengeance due for the slaughter of his father and of so many knights and lords, who have been slain of late (il quale, per quello si ha dipoi, undique he pur cossi come se dice electo novo Rei da, Principi et populi in Londres et per le ultime lettere se hay, sua Signoria havea acceptato lo sceptro et bachetta Regale et tutte le altre ceremonie excepto la untione et la corona, de le quale se he suxpeso fin a tanto chel habii anullato l’altro Rei el spianato in bon pacifico la Insula et lo Regno et inter cetera fatto le debite unte de la occisione del Patre et tanti cavalieri et Signori che furono trucidati questi di).
From what they say, the Earl of Warwick recently left London with from twelve to thirteen thousand men to meet the new King Edward, who was in the country collecting men in thousands to go and fight with the king and queen, some say of his own accord, others, because he must. As is usual in common and great matters, opinions vary in accordance with men’s passions. Those who support the claims of Edward and Warwick say that the chances in favour of Edward are great, both on account of the great lordship which he has in the island and in Ireland, and owing to the cruel wrongs done to him by the queen’s side, as well as through Warwick and London, which is entirely inclined to side with the new king and Warwick, and as it is very rich and the most wealthy city of Christendom, this enormously increases the chances of the side that it favours. To these must be added the good opinion of the temper and moderation of Edward and Warwick. Some, on the other hand, say that the queen is exceedingly prudent, and by remaining on the defensive, as they say she is well content to do, she will bring things into subjection and will tear to pieces these attacks of the people, who, when they perceive that they are not on the road to peace, will easily be induced to change sides, such being the very nature of the people, especially when free, and never to let things go so far that they cannot turn. But, however this may be, as I have written before to your Excellency, York, through having been long and ardent is reduced to a few moves, and must of necessity move soon one way or the other (chi fa buona la ragione de Edoardo et Varruich, dice cossi che li favori de Edoardo sonno grandi si per la signoria grande, chel ha in la insula et in Irlanda si per le injurie che li ha fatto crudelmente la Regina, si etiam per Varruich et Londres che he tutta inclinata in le parte del ditto rei novo Edoardo et Varruich; la quale per essere richissima et la piu opulenta cita de’ Christiani, rende le parte unde ella inclina multo favoribile. Alche etiam se adjunge la buona opinione che he del temperamento et moderatione de dicti Signori Edoardo e Varruich. Chi, volta carta dice che la Regina e prudentissima et stando su la diffesa cum contento assay come se dice che ha, redura le cose al sugeto et straquera questi impeti de populi quali, quando vederanno non esser sul cammino del pacifico facilmente veneranno a prendere altro partito, cum cio sia che la propria natura de li populi maximi libere he di non lassiarsi mai tanto amalar che non possino dar una volta. Ma sia la cosa come si vogli, come per altre nostre scripsi a vestra eccelenza, lo Jorch, per esser stato longo e fervente he redutto a pochi scacchi et bisogna se metti in breve a bona parte o a l’altra).
It would be, most gracious lord, something beyond belief if anyone should recount what we have seen there of the inhumanity and cruelty shown in these disputes, and we may put the number at thousands of those who have perished amid this great fury, so that neither age, rank nor lordship saves any one from the sword. Quite recently, in London itself, there was a burgess who went to the Mayor, who is the magistrate of the city, whereby they formed a process against a prisoner from mere suspicion, and, without waiting for any trial or judicial sentence, they had him beheaded, and carried the head by the hair to set it above the gate, just as savages do. This was told me by a cavalier, a person of credit, who was present at the time, with many other incredible acts of ferocity; so that unless God sets his hand thereto, it is thought that there will be many acts of barbarity, whoever conquers. May God select the best.The legate, as I reported to your Excellency, has departed thence, and was in extreme danger from one side and the other. They say the reason was because he promised Warwick to go into the camp and excommunicate the enemy, and give the benediction to the followers of Warwick, but seeing the bad weather, and the queen’s power, and not feeling well, he did not go. At this Warwick took offence, and so he departed, and when he was already on board ship men came to the district to look for him, and so he came away from thence; thus he perceived that he had fled just in time, and he is very glad of it. I have not seen him yet; if he is at Bruges I hope to see him this Easter tide. I will advise your Excellency of anything else that I happen to hear.
Brussels, the 27th 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.
Ongoing rumours about the fate of King Henry VI
The Milanese are again quite dismissive of things that they have heard from England in relation to King Henry VI. Noted as being possibly ‘words of common fanatics, such as they have at present in that island‘ the inference is that little of what is being heard from London is to be trusted. Whether this is a reflection on their awareness of deliberate falsehoods being spread, or of it being gossip borne out of the chaos of the times, is hard to establish. What is clear though, is that there was sustained rumour about the whereabouts of King Henry VI, of his possible death, and of his resignation of the Crown in favour of his son.
Previous references to the false story of King Henry’s abdication
This rumour was noted in previous letters held within the Milanese archives. On 9 March in a letter recounting the 2nd Battle of St. Albans it was suggested that King Henry had abdicated. This was expanded upon in a letter dated 15 March which stated that there were rumours that the King had abdicated in favour of Prince Edward, and then taken poison provided by Queen Margaret.
Image details
Queen Margaret of Anjou and King Henry VI in the ‘Talbot Shrewsbury Book’: Royal MS 15 E VI, f. 2v