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368 RISE OF THE CONTINENTALFIRST PERIOD.FROM HENRY VII. TO ELIZABETH, 14S4 1558.Even duringthe middle ages, England had taken a veryactive partin the affairs of the continent, by her wars withFrance, and her endeavours to conquer that kingdorn. Themarriage of Isabella, daughter of Philip the Handsome, withEdward II., a marriagein so many respects unfortunate,had laid the foundation of these contests, since Edward III.,the offspringof this union, hisgrounded claims to the Frenchthrone, in opposition to those of the house of Valois, uponhis maternal descent. A series of wars ensued, which for along time were as fortunate for England, as their consequences in the middle of the 15th century were fatal. Thepoliticalinterest which connected England with the continent, was therefore at this period only one of conquest, Intimes when the principles by which politicswere directedwere as yet coarse and unrefined, and when the love of conquest was the sole spring of action, such plans were possible,although even then there were evident indications, that alasting subjection of France to England was nothing but adream. Since the year 1450, the English had been excluded from France, but the bare title of king of France wasnot all which Englandretained, Political ideas, so deeplyrooted as these were, are not easily got rid of; and the result shows, that they were active in England throughout thewhole of this period, since every opportunity was eagerlyseized, which held out the least chance of carrying them intoexecution. Brittany was at that time under the rule of itsown dukes, in whom, as they were almost constantly embroiled with the kings of France, England found allies withinFrance itself; and had not this positionof affairs been altered, by the extinction of the male line (1488) and thesubsequent union of the heiress Anna with Charles VIII.,the consequences of it would probably have been longfelt.Besides, whilst Calais remained in the hands of the English,it was imagined that they^ossessed as it were the gate ofFrance, by which they might enter as often as they thought fit.But even in the reign of Henry VII. ,England obtainedby family connexion an interest in the continent. Arthur,son of Henry VIL, married Catharine, daughter of Ferdi-