The judgement of his councillors was one with that of the king.
Vere was no mere royal favourite; he was a great noble and of ancient lineage.

Michael de la Pole was a man of large fortune and an old servant of the Crown; he had taken part in the war for thirty years, and had been admiral and captain of Calais.

But neither were men to counsel the young king wisely in his effort to obtain independence at once of Parliament and of the great nobles.

His first aim had been to break the pressure of the royal house itself, and in his encounter with John of Gaunt he had proved successful.

But the departure of the Duke of Lancaster only called to the front his brother and his son.