CHAPTER VI
THE END OF THE MIDDLE AGES; RICHARD II TO RICHARD III, 1377–1485
The fifteenth century, a miserable time.As we go on in English history each period seems to have a character of its own. The twelfth century, in spite of Stephen's reign, is hopeful; the thirteenth is glorious, rich and fairly peaceful. In the fourteenth begins a decline, of which it is difficult to explain all the causes; both men and classes have begun to snarl at each other. In the fifteenth, the period now before us, they are going to bite each other; the century seems to be a failure all round.
The old society breaking up.The nation at large was by no means rotten; but men's sense of right and wrong had been corrupted by the French and Scottish wars. Too much fighting is as bad for men as too little. Also they were losing their faith in the Church, which had ceased to be the protector of the poor and thought mainly of keeping its enormous riches safe. Men were soon to lose their faith in the Crown as well, and even in the Law. In a rude state of society, when the barons were again becoming too rich and too powerful, and the Crown becoming too poor and too weak, the excellent system of government by Parliament, and even the excellent law courts, were of very little use; the barons used both for their own ends, and they kept armed men to enforce their views.
The quarrelsome earls and barons.In those days armies were only raised for particular campaigns, and, when peace came, were disbanded and the soldiers, who had perhaps been fighting for
