His incapacity as a general added to the resentment at his recall of the Duke of York, a recall which had been marked as a disgrace by the despatch of Richard into an honourable banishment as lieutenant of Ireland.

But it was this very recall which proved most helpful to York.

Had he remained in France he could hardly have averted the loss of Normandy, though he might have delayed it.

As it was the shame of its loss fell upon Somerset, while the general hatred of the Beauforts and the growing contempt of the king whom they ruled expressed itself in a sudden rush of popular favour towards the man whom his disgrace had marked out as the object of their ill-will.

From this moment the hopes of a better and a stronger government centred themselves in the Duke of York.