He could raise armies at his call from his own earldoms.

Six hundred liveried retainers followed him to Parliament.
Thousands of dependants feasted in his courtyard.

But few men were really further from the feudal ideal.

Active and ruthless warrior as he was, his enemies denied to the Earl the gift of personal daring.

In war he showed himself more general than soldier, and in spite of a series of victories his genius was not so much military as diplomatic.