John, earl of Lincoln, son of John de la Pole, duke
of Suffolk, and of Elizabeth, eldest sister to Edward IV., was engaged
to take part in the conspiracy. This nobleman, who possessed capacity
and courage, had entertained very aspiring views; and his ambition was
encouraged by the known intentions of his uncle Richard, who had formed
a design, in case he himself should die without issue, of declaring
Lincoln successor to the crown. The king's jealousy against all eminent
persons of the York party, and his rigor towards Warwick, had further
struck Lincoln with apprehensions, and made him resolve to seek
for safety in the most dangerous counsels. Having fixed a secret
correspondence with Sir Thomas Broughton, a man of great interest in
Lancashire, he retired to Flanders, where Lovel had arrived a little
before him; and he lived during some time in the court of his aunt the
duchess of Burgundy, by whom he had been invited over.

Margaret, widow of Charles the Bold, duke of Burgundy, not having any
children of her own, attached herself with an entire friendship to her
daughter-in-law, married to Maximilian, archduke of Austria; and after
the death of that princess, she persevered in her affection to Philip
and Margaret, her children, and occupied herself in the care of their
education and of their persons. By her virtuous conduct and demeanor
she had acquired great authority among the Flemings and lived with much
dignity, as well as economy, upon that ample dowry which she inherited
from her husband. The resentments of this princess were no less warm
than her friendships; and that spirit of faction, which it is so
difficult for a social and sanguine temper to guard against, had taken
strong possession of her heart, and intrenched somewhat on the probity
which shone forth in the other parts of her character. Hearing of the
malignant jealousy entertained by Henry against her family, and
his oppression of all its partisans, she was moved with the highest
indignation; and she determined to make him repent of that enmity to
which so many of her friends, without any reason or necessity, had
fallen victims.

{1487.} After consulting with Lincoln and Lovel she hired a body of two
thousand veteran Germans, under the command of Martin Swart, a brave
and experienced officer; [*] and sent them over, together with these two
noblemen, to join Simnel in Ireland. The countenance given by persons
of such high rank, and the accession of thi