It took King Edward IV slightly more than a year to return to full power, after his capture at the Battle of Edgecote Moor. Once again the Earl of Warwick found himself in a similar position to that he had know before Edgecote, unable to influence, or even exercise any control over the King. Warwick still intended to place the King’s brother, George Duke of Clarence (who also happened to be Warwick’s son-in-law) on the throne. Then, Warwick was quite sure the country would be run the way he wanted.

Warwick’s second cousin, Sir Robert Welles turned to him for help in 1470, when his family fell foul of the King. Warwick judged the time was ripe for another coup, to kill or remove Edward from the throne.

Welles’ started gathering armed forces at his base in Lincolnshire, ready for a show of arms against the King. The unrest in Lincolnshire prompted the King to act, and he started recruiting men for his army on the 4^th of March. The news of the King’s intention to march to Lincolnshire quickly spread panic amongst the common people. Due to Welles’ voluntary misinterpretation, rumors were quickly spread that the King was coming to try the formally pardoned rebels from Edgecote, and that he would ‘hang and draw a great number’ of them. With the encouragement of Warwick and Clarence, Sir Robert Welles set himself up as a ‘great captain’ of the people of Lincolnshire. On the 4 March summons were sent to all the surrounding estates requesting every able man to join him in the resisting of the king. On the 7th the King heard that the rebels were marching towards Stamford with an army of one hundred thousand men, having recruited many men from the local shires, especially from Yorkshire. The King later received letters from Clarence and Warwick stating they were marching North to join him with all their men. The King then unsuspectingly issued commissions of array, which included Warwick's name, initialing him to raise his own army of professional soldiers. Edward then received the new that the rebels had changed course for Leicester, as had Warwick and Clarence, no doubt leaving the King with a good idea of their intentions.

Sir Robert Welles received a letter from the King telling him to disband his rebel army, or his father (a prisoner in Edward’s camp) would be executed. Welles quickly turned back with his army to Stamford. Edward’s confidence grew when Welles failed to rendezvous with Warwick and his experienced forces.

On 12 March, Edward's scouts informed him that the rebel army was some five miles from Stamford, arrayed for battle at a place called Empingham. Edward quickly positioned his men in a battle line opposite that of Welles, and then in the space separating the two armies had Welles’ father executed in view of all. This action set the rebels (currently numbering thirty thousand) off advancing with cries of ‘a’Warwick’ and ‘a’Clarence'. A single barrage of canon balls was fired and then Edward had his men charge towards the enemy. Before the leaders of this attack could even come to blows with the rebel front line it was over. The rebels broke and fled rather than face the Kings trained soldiers. Lots of Welles’ men were wearing jackets displaying Warwick’s and Clarence’s livery. Not wanting to be caught wearing such incriminating evidence by pursuing troops, many of the men discarded their garments, thus the battle was christened ‘Losecote’.

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