Saint Crispins day

On a cool misty autumn day 604 years ago a small English army knelt in prayer on Saint Crispin's day, awaiting the outcome of the heralds parley.

 For several weeks the English army had been on the move, harassed by the French, now it was time for a stand near the village of Azincourt. The French western army had finally caught up with them. 

Soon violent battle would begin and flower of French Nobility would be laying dead upon the plowed fields. One of the greatest victories of the 100 years war would be over, and a period of English dominance would begin. 

Words made famous by Shakespeare's play Henry V. 

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 Crispin'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.

I hope very soon to make a pilgrimage to the new museum at Azincourt. I was lucky enough to have visited London tower for the 600th anniversary and seen the grand Perry display, then attended Henry V at the Barbican. 

The image above I use on my blog header and sums up that early morning.

Cheers

Matt