The Burgundian chronicler Philippe de Commines thought the English a choleric, earthy, and volatile people, who nevertheless made good, brave soldiers. In fact he regarded their warlike inclinations as one of the chief causes of the Wars of the Roses. If they could not fight the French, he believed, they fought each other.
Philippe de Commines, a chronicler from Burgundy, observed the English as spirited and impulsive individuals. He noted their exceptional bravery and capability as soldiers, which he viewed as a defining characteristic of their nature. Commines attributed the intense internal conflicts of the Wars of the Roses to this warlike disposition, suggesting that when the English did not have external enemies like the French to contend with, they turned their aggression inward, leading to civil strife.
Alison Weir's book, "The Wars of the Roses," provides an in-depth exploration of this historical period, reflecting on how the inherent qualities of the English people contributed to their turbulent political landscape. The struggle for power among rival factions is portrayed as a direct result of their martial traits, further complicating their social and political dynamics during this tumultuous time.
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