The plight of the medieval peasant was oppressive and unenviable. Historically, not even slaves, ancient or modern, were subjected to the rigors demanded of the serf. His only chance of escape was to flee with his family to a nearby city where he could hopefully find work. If the serf was not located and returned to the manor within a year and a day, he and his family were then considered legally free. As the Middle Ages drew to a close, several important changes occurred in Western society that benefited the serf. A significant increase in the number and size of cities improved the serf's opportunity to escape and increased his chances of success. A decrease in the population of Europe made the serf a more expensive and sought-after labor commodity. Finally, the rise of the national monarchies, which corresponded to the waning...