Before the Battle of Agincourt (1415), morale in the English line was extremely low. The English looked upon the overwhelming force of heavily armoured, highly skilled French knights and saw victory was implausible.
King Henry, rising to the occasion, spoke words of encouragement that rallied the English troops and carried them to a victory. By force of will King Henry turned likely defeat into victory.
A leader can create victory by the mere force of words.
That said, here is the speech from Henry V:
Enter the KING
WESTMORELAND. O that we now had here
But one ten thousand of those men in England
That do no work to-day!
KING. What's he that wishes so?
My cousin Westmoreland? No, my fair cousin;
If we are mark'd to die, we are enow
To do our country loss; and if to live,
The fewer men, the greater share of honour.
God's will! I pray thee, wish not one man more.
By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,
Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;
It yearns me not if men my garments wear;
Such outward things dwell not in my desires.
But if it be a sin to covet honour,
I am the most offending soul alive.
No, faith, my coz, wish not a man from England.
God's peace! I would not lose so great an honour
As one man more methinks would share from me
For the best hope I have. O, do not wish one more!
Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host,
That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart; his passport shall be made,
And crowns for convoy put into his purse;
We would not die in that man's company
That fears his fellowship to die with us.
This day is call'd the feast of Crispian.
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam'd,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian.'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispian's day.'
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember, with advantages,
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words-
Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester-
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.
3 comments:
So who is King Henry? Dion??? Or King Bob??? Or King Michael???
If the election fell ten days later, on October 25th, the post would have had more meaning (the 25th is St. Crispian's Day).
That being said, a number of Henry V's key people met their end during the battle, including the Earl of Suffolk and the Duke of York.
A few clips for those not inclined to read Shakespeare:
Branagh:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAvmLDkAgAM
Olivier:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9fa3HFR02E
Well recent documents can now confirm that the English numbered some 10,000 and the French 11-12,000. After the battle theminstrels sang about the victory and enlarged the French forces. (-the same as the media today) It was to Herny V`s advantage and was encouraged by the English.
Shakespear then made up a wonderful play and the audiences flocked to watch the Brave underdogs beat the French.
Its a shame that its not all true.
As for the battle being the first conquest for bow and arrows I dont thnk anyone should mention it to Owen Glendower -Prince of Scotland when he defeated the English and captured Sir Henry Mortimer some 10 years before Agincourt
Bryan.
valiantknights.com
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