, most ancient, and most illustrious in England.
The personal qualities also of these two earls, especially of Warwick
enhanced the splendor of their nobility, and increased then influence
over the people. This latter nobleman commonly known, from the
subsequent events, by the appellation of the "king-maker," had
distinguished himself by his gallantry in the field, by the hospitality
of his table, by Ore magnificence, and still more by the generosity, of
his expense, and by the spirited and bold manner which attended him in
all his actions. The undesigning frankness and openness of his character
rendered his conquest over men's affections the more certain and
infallible: his presents were regarded as sure testimonials of esteem
and friendship; and his professions as the over-flowings of his genuine
sentiments. No less than thirty thousand persons are said to have
daily lived at his board In the different manors and castles which he
possessed in England: the military men, allured by his munificence and
hospitality, as well as by his bravery, were zealously attached to his
interests: the people in general bore him an unlimited affection: his
numerous retainers were more devoted to his will than to the prince
or to the laws: and he was the greatest, as well as the last, of those
mighty barons who formerly overawed the crown, and rendered the people
incapable of any regular system of civil government.

But the duke of York, besides the family of Nevil, had many other
partisans among the great nobility. Courtney, earl of Devonshire,
descended from a very noble family of that name in France, was attached
to his interests: Moubray, duke of Norfolk, had, from his hereditary
hatred to the family of Lancaster, embraced the same party: and the
discontents which universally prevailed among the people, rendered
every combination of the great the more dangerous to the established
government.

Though the people were never willing to grant the supplies necessary for
keeping possession of the conquered provinces in France, they repined
extremely at the loss of these boasted acquisitions; and fancied,
because a sudden irruption could make conquests, that, without steady
counsels and a uniform expense, it was possible to maintain them. The
voluntary cession of Maine to the queen's uncle, had made them suspect
treachery in the loss of Normandy and Guienne. They still considered
Margaret as a French woman, and a latent enemy of the kingdom