Thus the great powers struggled with one another, and neither could get the upper hand. France, inherently the weaker by sea, had yet once more succeeded in dealing a sharp blow at England which was naturally the stronger on that element. On the other side, the power which, by reason of its experience and organisation was the stronger on land, nevertheless at a decisive moment was forced to give way before the other party which had hitherto been the weaker. Still no peace was possible between them. Their antagonism had in it something that was of import for all times.

The one of these two great political bodies represented the combined Germanic and Romance monarchy in its fullest unity of development. In the provinces of the French kingdom the old institutions of the estates were not absolutely destroyed, but had been made subservient to the crown. Religion and culture, war and state, external and internal affairs, alike showed a unity in which one will was dominant—a will which at the same time was in harmony with the ideas of the nation. In this absolute subordination of all lay the unity and strength of the French monarchy. It was a despotism willingly obeyed.

In England, on the contrary, the authority of the highest power was closely attached to the will of Parliament, without which it would not have been obeyed, and which was also only carried on by means of continual opposition and party strife.