Battle of Losecoat Field Rutland United Kingdom

Welles starts gathering armed forces at his base in Lincolnshire, ready for a show of arms against the King.

The unrest in Lincolnshire prompts the King to act, and he starts gathering men for his army on March 4.

The news of the King's intention to march to Lincolnshire quickly spreads panic among people there.

Due to Welles' deliberate misinterpretation, rumors are quickly spread that the King i coming to try the previously pardoned rebels from Edgecote, and that he will "hang and draw a great number" of them.

With the encouragement of Warwick and Clarence, Sir Robert Welles sets himself up as a "great captain" of the people of Lincolnshire.

Summons are sent on March 4 to all the surrounding estates requesting every able man to join him in the resisting of the King.

The King hears on the 7th that the rebels are marching towards Stamford with an army of one hundred thousand men, having recruited many men from the local counties, especially from Yorkshire.

The King later receives letters from Clarence and Warwick stating they are marching North with all their men to support the King.

The King then unsuspectingly issues commissions of array that include Warwick's name, authorizing him to raise his own army of professional soldiers.

Edward then receives news that the rebels have changed course for Leicester, as have Warwick and Clarence, no doubt leaving the King with a good idea of their intentions.

Sir Robert Welles receives a letter from the King telling him to disband his rebel army, or his father (Lord Welles, previously taken prisoner by Edward) will be executed.

Welles quickly turns back with his army to Stamford.

Edward's confidence grows when Welles fails to rendezvous with Warwick and his experienced forces.

Edward's scouts inform him that the rebel army is some five miles from Stamford, arrayed for battle beside the Great North Road to the north of Tickencote Warren near Empingham in Rutland.

Edward positions his men in a battle line to the north of Welles' army, and then, in the space separating the two forces, has Lord Welles executed in view of both armies.

This action sets off the rebels (currently numbering thirty thousand), advancing with cries of á Warwick and á Clarence.

A single barrage of cannonballs is fired, then Edward had his men charge towards the enemy.

Before the leaders of this attack can even come to blows with the rebel front line the battle is over.

The rebels break and flee rather than face the King's highly trained men.

Both captains, Sir Robert Welles and his commander of foot Richard Warren, are captured during the rout and a week later on March 19 are executed.

Welles confesses his treason, and names Warwick and Clarence as the primary instigators of the rebellion.

Documents are also found proving the complicity of Warwick and Clarence, who, as declared traitors, are forced to flee to France, where his former enemy, Margaret of Anjou, wife of the deposed Henry VI, is already in exile.