Talk:Francis Lovell, 1st Viscount Lovell

Francis Lovell and the Battle of Bosworth

Did Francis Lovell fight in the Battle of Bosworth? I think he did.

I have taken the liberty and removed the following note from the article, but would like to give the author or whoever is of the same opinion the chance to discuss this question here.

It is not recorded that Lovel fought for Richard III at Bosworth, the timetable does not permit him to be there, as he was in Southampton guarding the port and the waters. There was insufficient time for him to get to Bosworth to fight in the battle.

True, no chronicle reports his presence at Bosworth, but he was reported to have been killed in the battle, so it seems most likely that he was present and escaped. (Rosemary Horrox argues this is the case and to be honest, if it's good enough for Rosemary Horrox, it's good enough for me.)

I also have severe difficulties with the satement that Lovell was in Southampton guarding the port and the waters. According to whom? I would really like to know this. R. Horrox in the ODNB writes that he was 'sent to guard the south coast', but, alas!, there is no specific reference for this either. The only mention I have found so far is that Lovell was sent with various others to Southampton to "take the muster at any convenient place near Southampton of John Grey, Lord of Powes, knight, and 1,000 archers of his retinue to go to Brittany", (CPR, 1477-85, p. 547).

Even if Francis Lovell was sent to guard the coast in June, it seems unlikely that he stayed there for any extended period of time. He was, after all, the chamberlain and this duty meant that he had to be in constant attendance to the king.

I would appreciate any thoughts or information you have about this question.

Ascelin Goel (talk) 14:42, 18 November 2008 (UTC)