James Baquet

We’re back once again in the Hundred Years’ War (1337-1453), when the English were contesting the kingship of France with the putative French heirs. In 1429, we met Joan of Arc, the “Maid of Orleans” (1412-1431), who inspired the French to a great victory at the siege of Orleans.

That battle was a much-needed win. Earlier in the century, in 1415, the English had soundly beaten the French at the Battle of Agincourt on the 25th of October — Saint Crispin’s Day, which led to one of the greatest speeches in the works of William Shakespeare.

Henry V (in the play of the same name), leader of the vastly outnumbered English army, stirred his men to victory, ending his speech with these words: “We shall be remembered — we few, we happy few, we band of brothers; for he today that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother… gentlemen in England now a-bed shall think themselves accursed they were not here, and hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks that fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.”

Of course, this is literature. But whatever was said before the Battle of Agincourt — and Henry is known to have made a speech of some sort — it worked, because history records that the English were victorious even though they numbered between 6,000 and 9,000 — perhaps five out of six of them archers — and the French had between 12,000 and 36,000, about 10,000 of them mounted knights, and many more infantry and archers.

The French knights were so eager for battle that they placed themselves in the forefront of the army. But they were fighting on a freshly plowed field, and it had rained the night before; some, in heavy armor, sank to their knees in mud.

The English, meanwhile, relied on their archers. Firing longbows, they were easily able to bring down the horses of mounted knights at a distance, and to penetrate their armor closer up. One French witness described “a terrifying hail of arrow shot.”

The English found themselves in the strange position of having more French prisoners than English soldiers. Seeing the remaining French start to regroup, Henry ordered the slaughter of the prisoners, to prevent seeing the victory turned into a defeat. The morality of his action is still debated today.

Vocabulary:

Which word above means:

1. damned

2. like rain, but hard

3. excited

4. supposed

5. sleeping

6. prepared for planting

7. ethical nature

8. men who shoot arrows

9. be wounded or killed

10. fighting for