354 A BRIEF SURVEY OF HUMAN HISTORY

tween landlords and workers culminating in the Peasants'
Revolt (1381). But the war with France dragged on inter-
mittently. Henry V (1413-22) had less reason but more en-
thusiasm for its prosecution. He began with the siege of
Harfleur and soon won the celebrated victory of Agincourt
(1415). "No battle was ever more fatal to France/* Other
triumphs followed, but it was a short-lived glory. Henry V
was succeeded by his only son Henry VI (1422-61). With-
out the capacity of his father this prince nevertheless pursued
his ambitions in France. The most celebrated event of this
denouement of the Hundred Years' War was the heroic epi-
sode of Joan of Arc, the maid who saved Orleans (1429),
and got the Dauphin crowned at Rheims, but was the next
year caught by the English and burnt by them as a witch.
" We are lost—we have burnt a saint," declared an English
soldier who witnessed the burning. He was really prophetic
of the fate of the English in France. They were expelled
from Normandy in 1450, and three years later from all but
Calais.

The Wars of the Roses followed in the wake of the French
wars. They were fought between two rival families, the
Houses of Lancaster and York, for the throne of England
(1455-85). This civil struggle was the "swan song" of feu-
dalism in England. It brought that country under the Grand
Monarchy of the Tudors (1485-1603). They ruled despotic-
ally and yet retained their popularity. For want of space
we must treat of the epoch as a whole and not the rulers
individually. It was a glorious age both for England and the
rest of Europe, though " other men laboured, and the English
entered into their labours."

Henry VII, founder of the family, restored order at home,
forged dynastic links with other ruling families, and nego-
tiated commercial treaties. Henry VIII, the much married