regular meetings of Parliament was the easiest way to ask for their approval and
to deal with other government business. In 1295, Edward convened what has
become known as the Model Parliament. It followed the format of de Montfort’s
assembly with nobles, clergy, knights, and burgesses.
The first meetings divided the assembly into three groups: (1) nobility and
knights, (2) clergy, and (3) burgesses. By the 1300s, however, the knights and
burgesses found they had similar concerns and formed a single group. From then
on, Parliament was divided into the House of Lords, which included highranking clergy as well as nobles, and the House of Commons, made up of knights
and burgesses.
The Hundred Years’ War
The Hundred Years’ War was actually a series of conflicts between France and
England that occurred between the 1330s and the 1450s. The English claimed
large pieces of French territory and the French throne itself. Later, rivalry over the
wool trade in Flanders added to the problems between the two kingdoms.
Another reason for the war was French support for Scotland against the English,
who were attempting to subjugate Scotland.
Over the years, England at times won additional territory in France and at
other times lost it. Several peace treaties were negotiated and signed, only to be
discarded when a new monarch took the throne in either country. The conflict
finally ended in 1453, when the English lost all their territory in France, except
the port of Calais.
Teaching Idea
Shakespeare’s Henry V is set during
the Hundred Years‘ War. It contains
several famous speeches by King
Henry V that can be extracted from
the larger play and read aloud for students. The king’s speech before
Harfleur in act 3, scene 1—”Once
more unto the breach, dear friends,
once more!”—is an inspirational
speech delivered before renewing an
attack on a French city. A second
speech delivered by Henry before
Harfleur in act 3, scene 3—”How yet
resolves the governor of the
town?”—is essentially a threat. It
details the horrible things the English
will do to the French if they do not
surrender, and gives a taste of the
ugliness of medieval warfare. Finally,
there is the famous inspirational
speech before the battle of Agincourt,
in act 4, scene 3, in which Henry
chides those who wish the English
had more troops: “What’s he that
wishes so?”
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