(The 'dogge' here refers to a Lovell family heraldic symbol.)[9]
In June 1485 Lovell was appointed to guard the south coast to prevent the landing of Henry Tudor.[10] However, Henry Tudor landed near Milford Haven avoiding the stronger defenses of the English south coast. While no chronicle account of the battle mentions Lovell, it seems certain that he fought for Richard at the Battle of Bosworth Field (22 August 1485). Two reports written in the immediate aftermath of the battle list him as among the fallen.[11] After the battle Lovell fled to sanctuary at Colchester. From there, he escaped the following year to organise a revolt in Yorkshire that attempted to seize Henry VII. After the dismal failure of this plot, Lovell first joined fellow 'rebels' at Furness Falls and later fled to Margaret of York in Flanders.[12]
As a chief leader of the Yorkist party, Lovell took a prominent part in Lambert Simnel’s enterprise. With John de la Pole, Earl of Lincoln, he accompanied the pretender to Ireland and fought for him at the Battle of Stoke Field on 16 June 1487. He was seen escaping from the battle and seems to have eventually fled to Scotland, where on 19 June 1488 James IV issued a safe conduct to him.[13] There is no further information about Lovell's fate.
Francis Bacon relates that according to one report he lived long after in a cave or vault (History of Henry VII, p. 37, ed. Joseph Rawson Lumby). More than 200 years later, in 1708, the skeleton of a man was found in a secret chamber in the family mansion at Minster Lovell in Oxfordshire and it was supposed that Lovell had hidden himself there and died of starvation.[14] While this story is very picturesque, it seems unlikely to be true. Francis Lovell had hardly spent any time at Minster Lovell and would not have a faithful servant there who would hide him for years. Additionally, the manor had been granted to Jasper Tudor, Henry Tudor's uncle,[15] and was therefore hardly an appropriate hiding place for Francis Lovell.
Francis Lovell's wife, Anne Fitzhugh was granted an annuity of £20 in 1489.[16] She was still alive in 1495, the date of her death is not known.[17]
The question of whether or not Francis Lovell was present at the battle of Bosworth is discussed under 'discussion'.