ABSTRACT
The political storm with which the reign of Edward III. ended, and the social troubles of the early years of Richard II. were obviously interwoven with the after-effects of the disastrous struggle with France. By introducing the principle of a paid army, Edward I. had revolutionised the whole financial and social basis of English government. Edward was not the man to yield without a struggle, but later in the same year he had to suffer defeat in a struggle with Parliament. Edward's conception of Parliament was that of a useful machine for making Europe in general, and France in particular, believe that he had the nation behind him. After the Black Death greater opportunities arose for the acquisition of property, as the fear of death turned some men's minds towards religion, it was recorded that in London the property of many rich citizens had fallen into the hands of Holy Church.
