Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester (1390-1447) was the most important patron of Italian Renaissance humanism in England during the fifteenth century. This study reconstructs the network of patronage between Gloucester, his Italian middlemen, and several Italian humanists. Analysing their motives for establishing contacts with each other, it considers the literary interests of these men within the political and social context and argues that the early transmission of humanism to England was closely linked with the promotion of political, dynastic and socio-economic interests. This integrative...