Page "Battle of Stoke Field" Paragraph 5

Lincoln fled the English court on 19 March 1487 and went to the court of Mechelen ( Malines ) and his aunt, Margaret, Duchess of Burgundy.

Margaret provided financial and military support in the form of 2000 German mercenaries, under the commander, Martin Schwartz.

Lincoln was joined by a number of rebel English Lords at Mechelen, in particular Richard III's loyal supporter, Lord Lovell, Sir Richard Harleston, the former governor of Jersey and Thomas David, a captain of the English garrison at Calais.