first look at the whole course of British history to see
how it was that France and England ever became such deadly
rivals. It is quite wrong to suppose that the French and
British were always enemies, though they have often been
called 'historic' and 'hereditary' foes, as if they never
could make friends at all. As a matter of fact, they have
had many more centuries of peace than of war; and ever
since the battle of Waterloo, in 1815, they have been
growing friendlier year by year. But this happy state of
affairs is chiefly because, as we now say, their 'vital
interests no longer clash'; that is, they do not both
desire the same thing so keenly that they have to fight
for it.

Their vital interests do not clash now. But they did
clash twice in the course of their history. The first
time was when both governments wished to rule the same
parts of the land of France. The second time was when
they both wished to rule the same parts of the oversea
world. Each time there was a long series of wars, which
went on inevitably until one side had completely driven
its rival from the field.

The first long series of wars took place chiefly in the
fourteenth century and is known to history as the Hundred
Years' War. England held, and was determined to hold,
certain parts of France. France was determined never to
rest till she had won them for herself. Whatever other
things the two nations were supposed to be fighting about,
this was always the one cause of strife that never changed