The war party, who formed the bulk of it, went hotly with the king; the merchants, who were its most powerful support, leaned to a close connexion with the master of Flanders and the Lower Rhine.

The danger of his position drove Warwick further and further from his old standing ground; he clung for aid to Lewis; he became the French king's pensioner and dependent.

At the French court he was looked upon already as a partizan of the House of Lancaster.

Edward dexterously seized on the rumour to cut him off more completely from his old party.

He called on him to confront his accusers; and though Warwick purged himself of the charge, the stigma remained.