ces in France; but
retained possession more by the extreme weakness of Charles, than by the
strength of their own garrisons or the force of their armies. Nothing,
indeed, can be more surprising than the feeble efforts made, during the
course of several years, by these two potent nations against each other
while the one struggled for independence, and the other aspired to a
total conquest of its rival. The general want of industry, commerce, and
police in that age, had rendered all the European nations, and France
and England no less than the others, unfit for bearing the burdens of
war, when it was prolonged beyond one season; and the continuance of
hostilities had, long ere this time, exhausted the force and patience of
both kingdoms. Scarcely could the appearance of an army be brought
into the field on either side; and all the operations consisted in
the surprisal of places, in the rencounter of detached parties, and in
incursions upon the open country; which were performed by small bodies,
assembled on a sudden from the neighboring garrisons. In this method
of conducting the war, the French king had much the advantage: the
affections of the people were entirely on his side: intelligence was
early brought him of the state and motions of the enemy: the inhabitants
were ready to join in any attempts against the garrisons: and thus
ground was continually, though slowly, gained upon the English. The
duke of York, who was a prince of abilities, struggled against these
difficulties during the course of five years; and being assisted by
the valor of Lord Talbot, soon after created earl of Shrewsbury, he
performed actions which acquired him honor, but merit not the attention
of posterity. It would have been well, had this feeble war, in sparing
the blood of the people, prevented likewise all other oppressions; and
had the fury of men, which reason and justice cannot restrain, thus
happily received a check from their impotence and inability. But the
French and English, though they exerted such small force, were, however,
stretching beyond their resources, which were still smaller; and the
troops, destitute of pay, were obliged to subsist by plundering and
oppressing the country, both of friends and enemies. The fields in all
the north of France, which was the seat of war, were laid waste and left
uncultivated.[*]

* Grafton, p 562.

{1440.} The cities were gradually depopulated, not by the blood spilt
in battle, but by