- - - Chapter 10 - - -
- The Times: 1399-1485 -
This period, which begins with the reign of the usurper King,
Henry IV, is dominated by war: the last half of the 100 year war
with France, which, with the help of Joan of Arc, took all English
land on the continent except the port of Calais, and the War of
the Roses over the throne in England. The ongoing border fights
with Wales and Scotland were fought by England's feudal army. But
for fighting in France, the king paid barons and earls to raise
their own fighting forces. When they returned to England, they
fought to put their candidate on its throne, which had been
unsteady since its usurpation by Henry IV. All the great houses
kept bands of armed retainers. These retainers were given land or
pay or both as well as liveries [uniforms or badges] bearing the
family crest. In the system of "livery and maintenance", if the
retainer was harassed by the law or by enemies, the lord protected
him. The liveries became the badges of the factions engaged in the
War of the Roses. And the white rose was worn by the supporters of
the house of York, and the red rose by supporters of the house of
Lancaster for the Crown. Great lords fought each other for
property and made forcible entries usurping private property.
Shakespeare's histories deal with this era.
In both wars, the musket was used as well as the longbow.
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