1-272-888 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Letter from Edward IV to Francis II, Duke of Brittany, 9th January 1471. Letter written from St Pol, praying Francis to assist Edward in the recovery of his kingdom and to give credence on his behalf to his uncle, Jacques de Luxembourg. The letter, in a secretary's hand, with autograph signature, was written after Edward's flight from England, 3rd October 1470, on the coalition between Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, and the Lancastrians, and during his stay at the Court of Charles, Duke of Burgundy, at St Pol. He sailed from Flushing on his return to England on 11th March 1471, and entered London on 11th April. Three days later the battle of Barnet was faught and and Warwick was defeated and slain. From the third series of Facsimiles of royal, historical, literary and other autographs in the Department of Manuscripts, British Museum: Series I-V, (London, 1899).