The Podcast of the Lotus Eaters - PREVIEW： Epochs #214

00:00:00.000 Let me go back now to reading from Ian Morgan

00:00:16.480 Who gives us the most detail

00:00:17.820 All about that day

00:00:18.960 And then we'll sort of round up

00:00:20.660 So Friday the 25th of October 1415

00:00:23.260 The feast of St Crispian and St Crispian

00:00:25.580 Mortimer says quote

00:00:26.600 It is unlikely that Henry slept

00:00:28.220 At the best of times he needed very little rest

00:00:30.540 In the hours before dawn

00:00:31.900 He probably stayed in his house in Maisoncel

00:00:34.560 Discussing the battle ahead with members of his council

00:00:37.020 Hearing reports of the attack of the Count of Richemont

00:00:39.960 And waiting for the return of the scouts

00:00:41.880 He had sent to spy out the land during the night

00:00:44.340 Before dawn wearing his armour

00:00:46.000 He attended his first mass of the day

00:00:48.120 Sung by the priests of the royal chapel

00:00:50.120 He heard two more masses

00:00:51.580 Then rose from his knees

00:00:53.160 And lifted his helmet and spurs

00:00:54.920 He ordered an esquire to take ten men at arms

00:00:58.000 And twenty archers

00:00:59.220 And to guard the houses of the baggage wagons

00:01:01.740 Which would remain in Maisoncel

00:01:03.820 They would also guard the high status pages

00:01:06.240 And the army and the sick who could not fight

00:01:08.800 Outside it was growing light

00:01:10.280 It was time for the army to move out

00:01:12.260 Henry called for his horse

00:01:13.880 A small white one

00:01:15.000 And rode with his counsellors through the mud

00:01:17.080 In the village towards the battlefield

00:01:18.460 The sodden remains of the overnight bonfires

00:01:20.860 Were around them

00:01:21.580 Captains were raising and ordering the men

00:01:23.700 Who had sheltered in the tents and in the barns

00:01:26.000 And in the gardens and orchards

00:01:27.540 Henry instructed his trumpeteers to remain quiet

00:01:30.620 He did not want the French to hear the English

00:01:32.880 Nor to break the solemn air about the camp

00:01:35.220 Just as the English had passed the night in disciplined silence

00:01:38.680 So now they grouped together to face the French without a sound

00:01:42.040 Further up the field

00:01:43.120 About three quarters of a mile away

00:01:44.820 The French were also deploying their men

00:01:46.640 Like the English

00:01:47.600 Few of them had slept

00:01:48.820 Some of the English soldiers

00:01:50.240 Had heard them talking and shouting through the night

00:01:52.540 As they reorganised themselves in the rain

00:01:54.660 Many were soaked and tired

00:01:56.180 Some remarked that their horses had not neighed all night

00:01:59.440 As if sensing some calamity would befall them

00:02:02.040 But the lords who were drier were far more positive

00:02:05.080 They had succeeded in trapping the King of England

00:02:07.700 Tomorrow they would lead him and the Dukes of York and Gloucester

00:02:11.120 To Paris and Rouen as prisoners of the King of France

00:02:14.040 In arranging their forces

00:02:15.240 The French seemed largely to have ignored the royal plan

00:02:18.280 Drawn up at Rouen a few days earlier

00:02:20.340 They had stated that the Duke of Bourbon

00:02:22.520 The Marshal of France, Boussicot

00:02:24.400 And Gaillard Dauphin

00:02:26.040 Were to lead the vanguard

00:02:27.320 And the main battle was to be led by the Duke of Orléans

00:02:30.280 With the Dukes of Brittany and Anonçon

00:02:32.400 And the Constable d'Albrecht

00:02:34.040 The third battle, the rearguard

00:02:35.720 Was to be led by the Duke of Bar

00:02:37.880 And the Counts of Nevers, Charlois and Voudemont

00:02:41.100 Thus the original plan was for three battles

00:02:43.780 Plus the two wings and the special cavalry

00:02:46.400 To be led by the sentient of Hainan

00:02:48.480 The plan had to be adapted to a certain extent

00:02:51.200 As the Duke of Brittany

00:02:52.600 The Count of Charlois

00:02:54.000 And Tanegaya de Castel

00:02:55.740 Had not yet arrived

00:02:56.860 But also there were lords

00:02:58.540 Who were ardent for glory

00:03:00.060 And did not want to be in the rearguard

00:03:02.160 Those at the front, in the vanguard

00:03:04.280 Would see all the best action

00:03:05.920 And capture all the most valuable prisoners

00:03:07.880 Whoever managed to seize the King of England

00:03:10.160 Will not only become famous

00:03:11.700 But very wealthy

00:03:12.760 Subsequently, many of those in the rearguard

00:03:15.140 And main battle

00:03:16.140 Asked to be in the vanguard

00:03:17.660 Most of them got their way

00:03:19.140 In hindsight, too many of them got their way

00:03:21.180 It seems

00:03:21.560 The result was that the French

00:03:23.080 Started arranging themselves

00:03:24.380 In just two proper battles

00:03:26.120 One huge vanguard

00:03:27.520 Of about 4,800 to 5,000 men-at-arms

00:03:30.320 And the main battle

00:03:31.600 As it was termed

00:03:32.840 Consisting of about 3,000 men-at-arms

00:03:35.040 600 men-at-arms gathered on each wing

00:03:37.920 With their backs against the woods

00:03:39.460 On each side

00:03:40.200 There may also have been men-at-arms

00:03:42.440 In the rearguard

00:03:43.420 But if so

00:03:44.080 There were no more than 600 of them

00:03:46.000 Some sources claim

00:03:47.280 They were crossbowmen in the vanguard

00:03:49.020 But other chroniclers indicate

00:03:50.700 That the French lords' eagerness

00:03:52.760 To take prisoners

00:03:53.660 Meant that they placed their archers

00:03:55.300 In the rearguard

00:03:56.060 Just ahead of the infantry and pages

00:03:57.920 Who were with the wagons and baggage

00:03:59.880 One source expressly notes

00:04:01.600 That the 4,000 crossbowmen

00:04:03.240 Who were originally intended

00:04:04.360 To be at the front

00:04:05.360 To begin the battle

00:04:06.380 Were given permission to depart

00:04:08.360 By the lords

00:04:09.620 And they would not be needed

00:04:11.080 Presumably they took up

00:04:12.540 Their position in the rear

00:04:13.560 The author of the guester notes

00:04:15.440 That they shot from the back

00:04:16.640 And wings of the French army

00:04:17.940 And their bolts did little damage

00:04:19.960 Not long after dawn

00:04:21.340 The French were ready

00:04:22.460 So many men were in the vanguard

00:04:24.420 That the lines stretched

00:04:25.840 Right across the field

00:04:26.780 And into the woods

00:04:27.680 On both the Agincourt

00:04:29.060 And Tramacourt sides

00:04:30.320 As a result

00:04:31.280 The 600 men-at-arms

00:04:32.740 On each wing

00:04:33.420 Had to stand forward

00:04:34.620 Of the vanguard

00:04:35.360 So already

00:04:36.320 Immediately

00:04:37.040 There's just simply

00:04:37.820 Not enough room

00:04:38.600 For the whole French army

00:04:40.100 It's too packed

00:04:41.540 Mortimer goes on

00:04:42.540 In order to make

00:04:43.420 Their lances more rigid

00:04:44.460 And easier to wield

00:04:45.920 In a relatively confined space

00:04:47.840 They were told

00:04:48.820 To cut the narrow end

00:04:49.980 Of the wooden lance

00:04:50.900 And fix the steel head back

00:04:52.520 On the sturdiest

00:04:53.380 Shortened shaft

00:04:54.200 The lack of room

00:04:55.160 May also have led

00:04:55.960 To the decision

00:04:56.700 To send the crossbowmen

00:04:58.040 To the back of the army

00:04:58.980 They could not help

00:05:00.220 But be charged down

00:05:01.260 By the French knights

00:05:02.040 If they were at the front

00:05:03.040 Besides

00:05:03.660 The French decided

00:05:04.540 They would not need

00:05:05.460 Their crossbowmen

00:05:06.160 To break up the English formation

00:05:07.520 They would do that

00:05:08.680 With the heavy cavalry

00:05:09.560 As the Rouen plan

00:05:11.160 Had instructed

00:05:11.880 So here we told

00:05:12.780 There are a fair amount

00:05:13.760 Of cavalry

00:05:14.220 Now one of the other

00:05:15.240 Historians we read

00:05:16.360 A moment ago

00:05:16.820 Said there was

00:05:17.340 Almost none

00:05:18.400 Or if there were any

00:05:19.460 They were sort of

00:05:19.940 On the flanks

00:05:20.560 So you see

00:05:21.560 Different historians

00:05:22.420 Imagine what went down

00:05:24.480 A bit differently

00:05:25.500 Because the original accounts

00:05:27.220 Are a bit conflicting

00:05:28.660 But they don't all

00:05:29.560 Perfectly marry up

00:05:30.620 And line up

00:05:31.300 To paint one single

00:05:32.980 Clear picture

00:05:33.960 Mortimer continues

00:05:35.260 To what extent

00:05:36.200 These decisions

00:05:36.920 Were those of

00:05:37.660 The Duke of Orléans

00:05:38.540 Who was still a month

00:05:39.560 Short of his 21st birthday

00:05:41.040 Is unclear

00:05:41.940 One has to presume

00:05:43.280 That he listened

00:05:44.120 To the advice

00:05:44.780 Of the experienced

00:05:45.580 Military men

00:05:46.340 Like Bouchico

00:05:47.320 And Albert

00:05:48.000 And weighed it up

00:05:49.100 Against the advice

00:05:49.880 Of the other royal dukes

00:05:51.220 Bourbon and Bar

00:05:52.640 But this generalship

00:05:53.880 By advisory committee

00:05:55.000 Was bound to lead

00:05:56.360 To difficulties

00:05:56.940 It was probably the reason

00:05:58.480 Why so many men

00:05:59.340 Went into the vanguard

00:06:00.380 The young Duke of Orléans

00:06:01.600 No doubt thought

00:06:02.340 That he should

00:06:02.920 Take a leading position

00:06:04.280 In the vanguard

00:06:05.000 And so positioned himself

00:06:06.500 At the front

00:06:07.060 Rather than in the main battle

00:06:08.760 This was after all

00:06:09.980 An opportunity

00:06:10.700 For him to demonstrate

00:06:11.820 To the absent Duke of Burgundy

00:06:13.760 That he and the Armagnacs

00:06:15.620 Would uphold the honour of France

00:06:17.160 Having thus broken

00:06:18.300 The plan set at Rouen

00:06:19.580 It was difficult

00:06:20.480 To prevent the other

00:06:21.360 Important lords

00:06:22.220 From taking their places

00:06:23.340 In the vanguard too

00:06:24.380 If they so wished

00:06:25.600 This was a great mistake

00:06:26.880 For it resulted in

00:06:28.080 The crossbowmen

00:06:28.740 Being crowded out

00:06:29.800 And sent to the back

00:06:30.580 Of the army

00:06:31.100 Where they proved ineffective

00:06:32.640 Such errors indicate

00:06:34.400 That there was no real generalship

00:06:35.920 In the French army

00:06:36.700 There was only politics

00:06:38.080 Again terrible way

00:06:39.240 To do battle

00:06:39.960 Endless examples

00:06:41.100 In history

00:06:41.880 Of where politics

00:06:43.380 Got in the way

00:06:44.200 Of decent tactics

00:06:45.340 Or just common sense

00:06:46.720 Even

00:06:47.020 More so again

00:06:47.700 This advisory committee

00:06:48.980 Form of generalship

00:06:49.980 Led to other problems

00:06:51.420 For example

00:06:52.160 When exactly

00:06:52.800 Should the fight begin

00:06:53.740 Although the Count

00:06:55.140 Of Richemont

00:06:56.020 Had arrived

00:06:56.720 With his Breton troops

00:06:58.080 His brother

00:06:58.900 The Duke of Brittany

00:06:59.760 Had not

00:07:00.260 Everyone expected

00:07:01.320 That Brittany

00:07:01.960 Would arrive shortly

00:07:02.860 Not knowing

00:07:03.980 That he had no intention

00:07:05.020 Of turning up at all

00:07:05.940 In the meantime

00:07:07.060 His absence

00:07:07.880 Raised the question

00:07:08.600 Of whether the French

00:07:09.480 Should attack straight away

00:07:10.540 Or wait

00:07:11.280 The same question

00:07:12.320 Had been discussed

00:07:13.060 The previous day

00:07:13.840 When the two sides

00:07:14.920 Had first faced each other

00:07:16.080 The Duke of Bourbon

00:07:17.200 And other courtiers

00:07:18.260 Were all then

00:07:19.300 For attacking immediately

00:07:20.520 The experienced military men

00:07:22.140 Most notably

00:07:23.020 The constable

00:07:23.680 And the marshal

00:07:24.320 Were more wary

00:07:25.540 And inclined to wait

00:07:26.580 For the rest of the army

00:07:27.620 This was wise counsel

00:07:29.060 For the Seigneur de Longhi

00:07:30.800 Was still 18 miles away

00:07:32.620 With the 600 men at arms

00:07:34.600 Of the Duke of Anjou

00:07:35.660 As for the Duke of Brabant

00:07:37.240 He was still at Long

00:07:38.400 30 miles away

00:07:39.680 To be exact

00:07:40.560 At prime

00:07:41.240 About 7 o'clock

00:07:42.320 In the morning

00:07:42.820 He was attending mass

00:07:44.180 At the moment

00:07:45.160 He took holy communion

00:07:46.260 One Robert Jewell

00:07:47.760 Hurried into the chapel

00:07:49.040 To tell him

00:07:49.840 That the battle

00:07:50.420 With the English

00:07:51.320 Would take place

00:07:52.200 Before midday

00:07:52.940 Immediately

00:07:53.780 The Duke told his companions

00:07:55.500 To mark their clothes

00:07:56.820 With the white cross

00:07:57.620 And set out to fight

00:07:58.840 Another fainting

00:07:59.740 That arose

00:08:00.280 From the lack

00:08:00.720 Of generalship

00:08:01.380 Was the choice

00:08:02.120 Of battleground

00:08:02.800 The French might

00:08:03.700 Have succeeded

00:08:04.240 In cutting off

00:08:04.900 The English advance

00:08:05.680 To Calais

00:08:06.240 But in doing so

00:08:07.420 They had placed

00:08:08.220 Themselves in a narrow

00:08:09.160 Confined space

00:08:10.020 Between two woods

00:08:10.960 And with ground

00:08:11.900 Sloping away

00:08:12.600 On either side

00:08:13.420 Moreover

00:08:14.080 They were encamped

00:08:15.160 In a ploughed field

00:08:16.240 That had turned

00:08:17.060 Into a quagmire

00:08:18.060 As a result

00:08:18.720 Of the recent heavy rain

00:08:19.980 The conditions

00:08:20.920 Were going to get worse

00:08:21.940 With thousands of horses

00:08:23.200 Churning up the ground

00:08:24.160 The ground between

00:08:25.120 The two armies

00:08:25.840 Was no firmer

00:08:26.660 And dangerous

00:08:27.620 For galloping horses

00:08:28.760 Orléans did not

00:08:30.060 Have the experience

00:08:30.840 To order a change

00:08:31.680 Of location

00:08:32.220 And no one else

00:08:33.380 Had the authority

00:08:34.080 To suggest they move

00:08:35.360 No doubt

00:08:36.320 Some lords

00:08:36.960 Said that it would

00:08:37.880 Be dishonourable

00:08:38.640 To back away

00:08:39.320 In order to find

00:08:40.080 Better ground

00:08:40.700 Especially when they

00:08:41.760 Had six times

00:08:42.420 As many men at arms

00:08:43.400 As the English

00:08:44.380 And remember

00:08:44.940 Ian Mortimer said

00:08:45.600 It was probably only

00:08:46.160 Two to one

00:08:47.140 A few pages ago

00:08:48.540 And now he's saying

00:08:49.520 At least in terms

00:08:50.140 Of men at arms

00:08:50.860 It's six to one

00:08:51.800 Okay

00:08:52.300 He carries on saying

00:08:53.240 Those aware

00:08:54.000 Of the danger

00:08:54.520 Might have found it

00:08:55.280 Difficult

00:08:55.700 To suggest a better

00:08:56.780 Place to do baton

00:08:57.660 But the experienced

00:08:58.820 Military men

00:08:59.520 Could suggest

00:09:00.260 Nothing but waiting

00:09:01.100 The English were

00:09:02.100 Dispirited and hungry

00:09:03.040 And they relied

00:09:03.980 On being attacked

00:09:05.100 I.e. responding

00:09:06.180 To a French advance

00:09:07.260 The French could

00:09:08.220 Continue to starve

00:09:09.080 Them in the field

00:09:09.800 They had time

00:09:10.680 On their side

00:09:11.280 The French had time

00:09:12.260 On their side

00:09:12.680 That is

00:09:13.020 As Henry rode out

00:09:14.520 Of Maisoncel

00:09:15.480 On his small

00:09:16.420 White horse

00:09:16.980 And looked across

00:09:17.760 The field

00:09:18.140 Towards the French lions

00:09:19.160 He saw the undulations

00:09:20.520 Of the terrain

00:09:21.380 And realised how

00:09:22.480 The ground fell away

00:09:23.500 To the trees

00:09:24.460 On either side

00:09:25.340 There was scope

00:09:26.140 There for arranging

00:09:26.960 An ambush

00:09:27.540 To distract

00:09:28.480 The charging

00:09:29.380 French cavalry

00:09:30.080 His scouts

00:09:31.020 Would have informed

00:09:31.740 Him how soft

00:09:32.580 The ground was

00:09:33.220 And how slippery

00:09:34.080 But now he would

00:09:35.300 Have seen

00:09:35.740 The churned up mud

00:09:36.680 For himself

00:09:37.200 He also would have

00:09:38.340 Seen the lines

00:09:38.920 Of the French vanguard

00:09:39.880 Forming up ahead of him

00:09:41.200 Their spears

00:09:42.100 Like a forest

00:09:42.820 Quote

00:09:43.220 And the wings

00:09:44.240 Of mounted cavalry

00:09:45.180 Extended towards him

00:09:46.640 The task facing him

00:09:47.900 Must have seemed daunting

00:09:49.040 The English army

00:09:50.380 The English army

00:09:50.400 Began to form up

00:09:51.200 In the same three battles

00:09:52.380 As they had marched

00:09:53.440 From Harfleur

00:09:54.120 The vanguard

00:09:54.960 Under the Duke of York

00:09:55.960 Took the right hand side

00:09:57.140 Of the field

00:09:57.660 The Tramacor side

00:09:58.800 Henry himself

00:09:59.760 Would lead the main battle

00:10:01.000 Which formed up

00:10:01.820 In the centre

00:10:02.320 And on the left hand side

00:10:03.680 Of the field

00:10:04.180 The Agincor side

00:10:05.340 The rear guard

00:10:06.200 Formed up

00:10:06.800 Under the command

00:10:07.660 Of the old but experienced

00:10:09.020 Sir Thomas Lord Camoy

00:10:10.620 The archers hammered

00:10:11.720 Their sharpened wooden stakes

00:10:12.920 Into the ground

00:10:13.520 Before them

00:10:14.100 And presumably

00:10:14.960 Resharpened the points

00:10:16.220 Hoping thereby

00:10:17.120 To prevent a direct onslaught

00:10:18.640 Of the French cavalry

00:10:19.480 On their flanks

00:10:20.660 Were thorn bushes

00:10:21.560 And hedges

00:10:22.220 And directly in front of them

00:10:23.640 Was a small depression

00:10:24.700 In the ground

00:10:25.360 Meaning that anyone

00:10:26.500 Riding against them

00:10:27.580 Would have a short

00:10:28.460 But decidedly uphill struggle

00:10:29.900 At the end

00:10:30.520 Before hitting the sharpened stakes

00:10:32.460 This position was defensible

00:10:34.080 And the best

00:10:35.260 To withstand a French charge

00:10:36.740 As the hour

00:10:37.500 Approached prime

00:10:38.400 By seven o'clock

00:10:39.900 In the morning again

00:10:40.660 The last arrangements

00:10:41.860 Were made

00:10:42.460 To bring the army

00:10:43.420 Into a state of readiness

00:10:44.460 The archers were ordered

00:10:45.920 To replace their bow strings

00:10:47.320 Lest the ones

00:10:48.560 They currently have

00:10:49.500 Are wet

00:10:50.380 On the right flank

00:10:51.400 Henry sent an esquire

00:10:52.800 With 200 archers

00:10:54.040 To skirt around

00:10:54.920 The bushes and hedges

00:10:55.840 And to hide in the woods

00:10:57.140 On the tramacore side

00:10:58.260 On the left flank

00:10:59.520 He sent a group of men-at-arms

00:11:01.000 To conceal themselves

00:11:01.840 In the woods

00:11:02.360 On the Agincourt side

00:11:03.440 Those archers

00:11:04.340 In the battle centre

00:11:05.240 Were placed to the sides of it

00:11:06.900 Into wedge

00:11:08.080 Or triangular formations

00:11:09.400 Close to the archers

00:11:10.680 On the wings

00:11:11.220 This served

00:11:12.140 To create a tapering corridor

00:11:13.900 Through which any French troops

00:11:15.380 Would have to charge directly

00:11:16.920 To reach Henry

00:11:17.660 They would not be able

00:11:19.000 To sweep across the field

00:11:20.000 Towards him

00:11:20.660 Or come at the main battle

00:11:22.060 From an angle

00:11:22.760 Due to the stakes

00:11:23.940 As well as the archers

00:11:25.240 Themselves

00:11:25.800 So yeah

00:11:26.580 Very much funnelling

00:11:27.760 The French

00:11:28.640 Towards the middle

00:11:29.440 Where they want to go anyway

00:11:31.280 Because that's where the king is

00:11:32.620 Their main priors

00:11:33.940 So Henry's sort of

00:11:34.980 Doing everything right

00:11:35.840 His battle craft

00:11:37.280 His set up

00:11:38.880 Is very very good

00:11:40.200 Almost perfect

00:11:41.140 Mortimer goes on

00:11:41.980 This was important

00:11:42.980 As Henry knew

00:11:44.200 That the prime objective

00:11:45.360 Of the French

00:11:46.060 Was to capture or kill him

00:11:47.480 He had experienced

00:11:48.620 A similar situation

00:11:49.480 When fighting at Shrewsbury

00:11:50.800 In 1403

00:11:51.940 On that occasion

00:11:52.980 Henry's father

00:11:53.720 Had employed the tactic

00:11:55.100 Of having two men at arms

00:11:56.580 Clothed in royal armour

00:11:57.700 So that the enemy

00:11:58.720 Could not tell

00:11:59.380 Which man was actually the king

00:12:00.740 Guillaume Gruelle's

00:12:02.200 Chronicle of the life

00:12:03.240 Of the Count of Richemont

00:12:04.300 Asserts that Henry

00:12:05.560 Employed the same tactic

00:12:06.980 At Agincourt

00:12:07.720 This was probably

00:12:08.640 An unfounded assertion

00:12:10.120 Based on a later malicious attempt

00:12:12.520 To detract from

00:12:13.580 Henry's military reputation

00:12:14.860 Nevertheless

00:12:15.620 The idea it emboldens

00:12:17.600 That the person of the king

00:12:18.780 Was all important

00:12:19.520 To the outcome of the battle

00:12:20.600 Was undoubtedly true

00:12:22.060 Hence at the centre

00:12:23.320 Of the main battle

00:12:24.160 Was a concentrated mass

00:12:25.660 Of men at arms

00:12:26.420 Around the king

00:12:27.100 Here also were placed

00:12:28.480 Henry's five banners

00:12:29.540 Representing the Trinity

00:12:31.060 The Virgin

00:12:31.780 St George

00:12:32.740 St Edward the Confessor

00:12:34.120 And of course

00:12:34.880 The Royal Arms of England

00:12:36.300 And the banners of the lords

00:12:38.040 Whose retinues were present

00:12:39.500 There are many speeches

00:12:40.660 Recorded for Henry

00:12:41.440 At this point

00:12:42.040 One chronicle

00:12:43.220 The Brute

00:12:44.040 Has him asking

00:12:45.000 What time it was

00:12:45.860 On being told

00:12:46.780 That it was prime

00:12:47.620 He stated that

00:12:48.600 It was a good time

00:12:49.420 To be about to fight battle

00:12:51.020 On behalf of England

00:12:51.980 For many people in England

00:12:53.460 Would be at prayer

00:12:54.400 At that hour

00:12:55.140 Several other chronicles

00:12:56.720 Echo this

00:12:57.380 One has Sir Walter Hungerford's

00:12:59.120 Line about wishing

00:13:00.260 For more men

00:13:00.940 Together with Henry's

00:13:02.500 Maccabean response

00:13:03.780 Attributing the outcome

00:13:05.140 To God alone

00:13:05.940 Thomas Elham's chronicle

00:13:07.500 Has the king

00:13:08.320 Recalling the victories

00:13:09.580 Of Edward III

00:13:10.400 And his eldest son

00:13:11.460 The Black Prince

00:13:12.180 Which had been won

00:13:13.300 With fewer men

00:13:14.500 Thomas Walsingham

00:13:15.500 Gave Henry patriotic lines

00:13:17.100 Culled from the Roman poet Lucian

00:13:19.160 All the English writers

00:13:20.480 Writing long after the event

00:13:21.980 Felt obliged to give Henry

00:13:23.500 Suitably patriotic

00:13:24.800 Stirring words

00:13:25.660 Proving him

00:13:26.820 An inspiring leader

00:13:28.040 Even though

00:13:28.720 Any precise recollection

00:13:29.980 So long after

00:13:30.780 Such a tumultuous event

00:13:32.400 Would have been impossible

00:13:33.480 Even for those

00:13:34.620 Who had been present

00:13:35.340 Well maybe

00:13:36.200 Maybe not

00:13:36.820 Having said this

00:13:37.760 It is worth noting

00:13:38.800 That Lefebvre

00:13:39.540 Who was present

00:13:40.320 In the English army

00:13:41.260 Noted that Henry

00:13:42.400 Went along the battle line

00:13:43.580 Making many speeches

00:13:44.580 Not just one

00:13:45.360 According to him

00:13:46.420 Henry told the archers

00:13:47.680 How they could fight

00:13:48.620 Secure in their knowledge

00:13:49.720 That the war

00:13:50.620 Was a just one

00:13:51.400 And that the throne of France

00:13:52.840 Was his rightful inheritance

00:13:54.000 And that they had all

00:13:55.340 Been born in England

00:13:56.180 Where their mothers

00:13:57.200 Fathers

00:13:57.720 Wives

00:13:58.180 And children

00:13:59.000 Now were

00:13:59.920 At this very moment

00:14:00.880 And that

00:14:01.600 Quote

00:14:01.980 The French

00:14:02.660 Had boasted

00:14:03.360 That if any

00:14:03.940 English archers

00:14:04.640 Were captured

00:14:05.200 They would cut off

00:14:06.220 The three fingers

00:14:07.080 Of their right hand

00:14:08.060 So that neither man

00:14:09.500 Nor horse

00:14:10.240 Would ever again

00:14:11.080 Be killed by their arrows

00:14:12.220 While Lefebvre's account

00:14:13.800 Of Henry's speech

00:14:14.660 Has a ring of truth

00:14:16.040 And has a claim

00:14:17.100 Of authenticity

00:14:17.740 It is difficult to know

00:14:19.360 What to make

00:14:19.920 Of the speeches

00:14:20.660 Attributed to him

00:14:22.180 By the other French writers

00:14:23.280 For example

00:14:24.260 Juvenal d'Urcine's

00:14:26.120 Version of Henry's speech

00:14:27.460 Has him outlining

00:14:28.720 His claim

00:14:29.360 To the throne of France

00:14:30.720 And that it had fallen to him

00:14:32.300 To make good that claim

00:14:33.540 By conquest

00:14:34.260 And he's apparently

00:14:35.320 Supposed to have said

00:14:36.100 He had not come

00:14:36.980 As a mortal enemy

00:14:37.840 For he had not consented

00:14:39.360 To burning

00:14:39.920 Ravaging

00:14:40.540 Violating

00:14:41.560 Nor raping girls

00:14:42.420 And women

00:14:42.840 As they

00:14:43.560 The French

00:14:44.020 Had done

00:14:44.480 At Soissons

00:14:45.280 But he wished

00:14:46.160 To conquer gently

00:14:46.980 All that belonged to him

00:14:48.100 Not to cause any destruction

00:14:49.600 At all

00:14:50.040 Back to Mortimer

00:14:50.960 Who says

00:14:51.400 Quite how one could

00:14:52.700 Conquer gently

00:14:53.660 Is an interesting question

00:14:55.080 But more importantly

00:14:56.140 The reference

00:14:56.840 To the attack

00:14:57.740 On Soissons

00:14:58.480 In 1414

00:14:59.400 When a victorious

00:15:00.420 French army

00:15:01.040 Had killed large numbers

00:15:02.060 Of Burgundians

00:15:02.840 And raped many women

00:15:04.100 French women

00:15:04.700 Including nuns

00:15:05.960 Shows that

00:15:06.900 D'Urcine's main reasons

00:15:08.500 For making this point

00:15:09.500 Was a moral one

00:15:10.580 And not simply

00:15:11.440 A historical reflection

00:15:12.600 It was part of the tide

00:15:14.240 Of the French accusations

00:15:15.340 And blame

00:15:16.060 That immediately followed

00:15:17.260 The battle

00:15:17.720 He went on to stress

00:15:19.100 How Henry ordered his men

00:15:20.580 To lay aside

00:15:21.320 Their personal animosities

00:15:22.780 And embrace each other

00:15:24.000 Implying that the French

00:15:25.120 Themselves

00:15:25.680 Should have done this

00:15:26.660 And promised his men

00:15:27.760 The full value

00:15:28.660 Of any prisoners

00:15:29.380 They took

00:15:29.880 He even went so far

00:15:31.280 As to claim

00:15:31.820 That Henry promised

00:15:32.880 That all those

00:15:33.500 Fighting there

00:15:34.200 That day

00:15:34.980 Would henceforth

00:15:35.900 Enjoy the same privileges

00:15:37.100 As noblemen

00:15:37.920 The fact is

00:15:38.780 That most of the

00:15:39.620 Englishmen present

00:15:40.360 Would not have heard

00:15:41.380 The king's speeches

00:15:42.220 Only those near enough

00:15:43.740 As he rode up and down

00:15:44.960 The battle lines

00:15:45.680 But the importance

00:15:46.600 Of Henry's speech making

00:15:47.700 Was not so much

00:15:48.780 That he was heard

00:15:49.500 By his men

00:15:50.120 As that he was seen

00:15:51.160 By them

00:15:51.600 Just to know

00:15:52.380 That he was there

00:15:53.000 Was an inspiration

00:15:53.820 To many

00:15:54.320 His appearance

00:15:55.260 Was noted

00:15:55.780 By most of the

00:15:56.480 Chronicles

00:15:56.960 One described him

00:15:58.000 As

00:15:58.300 Quote

00:15:58.740 Clad in safe

00:15:59.780 And very bright

00:16:00.460 Armour

00:16:01.040 He wore on his

00:16:01.800 Head a splendid

00:16:02.460 Helmet

00:16:02.880 With a large

00:16:03.700 Crest

00:16:04.060 Which still

00:16:04.660 Survives today

00:16:05.420 Actually

00:16:05.700 And encompassed

00:16:06.680 With a crown

00:16:07.140 Of gold

00:16:07.620 And jewels

00:16:08.240 And on his

00:16:09.120 Body

00:16:09.420 A surcoat

00:16:10.100 With the arms

00:16:10.680 Of England

00:16:11.080 And France

00:16:11.680 From which

00:16:12.560 A celestial

00:16:13.160 Splendour

00:16:13.760 Gleamed

00:16:14.140 On the one

00:16:14.720 Side

00:16:15.060 From three

00:16:15.840 Golden flowers

00:16:16.740 Planted

00:16:17.500 In an azure

00:16:18.480 Field

00:16:18.920 On the other

00:16:20.000 From three

00:16:20.860 Golden leopards

00:16:21.740 Supported

00:16:22.540 In a ruby

00:16:23.220 Field

00:16:23.540 Sitting on a

00:16:24.500 Noble horse

00:16:25.160 As white as

00:16:25.720 Snow

00:16:25.980 Having also

00:16:27.060 Horses in

00:16:27.880 Waiting

00:16:28.240 Royally decorated

00:16:29.560 With the richest

00:16:30.260 Trappings

00:16:30.760 His army

00:16:31.680 Were much

00:16:32.160 Inspired

00:16:32.760 To martial

00:16:33.300 Deeds

00:16:33.760 End quote

00:16:34.440 Mortimer

00:16:34.760 Continues

00:16:35.240 The king's

00:16:35.780 Appearance

00:16:36.240 Was thus

00:16:36.800 Of importance

00:16:37.320 To both

00:16:37.800 Sides

00:16:38.220 For the

00:16:38.780 English

00:16:39.060 It was

00:16:39.480 Important

00:16:39.820 To know

00:16:40.280 He was

00:16:40.840 Sharing

00:16:41.080 Their danger

00:16:41.660 And in

00:16:42.260 Control

00:16:42.540 Of the

00:16:42.840 Army

00:16:43.120 For the

00:16:43.680 French

00:16:43.960 The dazzling

00:16:44.620 Spectacle

00:16:45.080 Of him

00:16:45.560 In his

00:16:45.940 Surcoat

00:16:46.380 Armour

00:16:47.080 And crowned

00:16:47.640 Helmet

00:16:47.960 Was the

00:16:48.580 Bait

00:16:48.840 That would

00:16:49.240 Draw them

00:16:49.800 Charging

00:16:50.280 Down the

00:16:50.660 Corridor

00:16:51.060 Of stakes

00:16:51.500 And archers

00:16:52.220 Henry

00:16:52.680 Was impatient

00:16:53.360 Waiting

00:16:53.880 For the

00:16:54.180 French

00:16:54.380 To attack

00:16:54.900 They had

00:16:55.520 Made no

00:16:55.980 Move

00:16:56.360 For an

00:16:56.760 Hour

00:16:57.000 At least

00:16:57.440 A small

00:16:58.080 Number

00:16:58.340 Of men

00:16:58.620 At arms

00:16:59.060 Had ridden

00:16:59.460 Out from

00:16:59.800 The French

00:17:00.140 Lines

00:17:00.500 And had

00:17:01.060 Approached

00:17:01.400 The English

00:17:01.780 Army

00:17:02.080 At a

00:17:02.380 Gallop

00:17:02.720 But these

00:17:03.260 Had been

00:17:03.540 Warned

00:17:03.860 Off

00:17:04.060 With a

00:17:04.360 Volley

00:17:04.560 Of

00:17:04.700 Arrows

00:17:05.120 At

00:17:05.560 Henry's

00:17:05.920 Orders

00:17:06.320 Now more

00:17:07.080 Riders

00:17:07.440 Were approaching

00:17:08.160 Heralds

00:17:09.000 The English

00:17:09.620 Army

00:17:09.940 Were jittery

00:17:10.600 The time

00:17:11.160 For negotiation

00:17:11.880 Had passed

00:17:12.520 Still

00:17:13.200 If negotiators

00:17:14.220 Were seen

00:17:14.880 To be

00:17:15.180 Pursuing

00:17:15.620 A dialogue

00:17:16.340 Henry

00:17:16.860 Had to be

00:17:17.280 Seen

00:17:17.480 To listen

00:17:17.840 To them

00:17:18.200 The

00:17:18.640 Chroniclers

00:17:19.180 Writing

00:17:19.520 About

00:17:19.840 These

00:17:20.080 Negotiations

00:17:20.840 At a

00:17:21.220 Later

00:17:21.400 Date

00:17:21.760 Concealed

00:17:22.520 The terms

00:17:23.060 Under layers

00:17:23.880 Of post-battle

00:17:24.780 Propaganda

00:17:25.460 Some French

00:17:26.400 Writers

00:17:26.680 Claimed

00:17:27.080 That Henry

00:17:27.800 Had previously

00:17:28.420 Sent his

00:17:28.920 Heralds

00:17:29.360 To the

00:17:29.820 French

00:17:30.060 Army

00:17:30.420 Asking

00:17:31.040 For safe

00:17:31.500 Passage

00:17:31.900 To Calais

00:17:32.420 Offering

00:17:33.240 To cede

00:17:33.720 Harfleur

00:17:34.300 And the

00:17:34.880 Castles

00:17:35.340 Below Calais

00:17:36.120 To restore

00:17:36.940 The prisoners

00:17:37.460 He had

00:17:37.920 Taken

00:17:38.360 And to

00:17:38.900 Pay

00:17:39.020 100,000

00:17:39.720 Crowns

00:17:40.240 In recompense

00:17:40.960 Obviously

00:17:41.840 None of the

00:17:42.340 English writers

00:17:42.960 Mentioned

00:17:43.320 Such a

00:17:43.780 Shameful

00:17:44.160 Request

00:17:44.620 In

00:17:45.040 Shakespeare

00:17:45.440 They have

00:17:45.900 The French

00:17:46.420 Herald

00:17:46.760 A good

00:17:48.600 Couple of

00:17:49.000 Times

00:17:49.280 Coming to

00:17:49.780 Henry

00:17:50.060 Asking

00:17:51.060 Whether he

00:17:51.440 Wants to

00:17:51.720 Just surrender

00:17:52.280 Before there's

00:17:52.880 Bloodshed

00:17:53.400 And you know

00:17:54.340 Shakespeare

00:17:54.760 Gives Henry

00:17:55.780 Great lines

00:17:56.700 Saying no

00:17:57.280 The only thing

00:17:58.020 The French

00:17:58.400 Will be able

00:17:58.760 To take

00:17:59.160 Off of me

00:17:59.720 Are my

00:18:00.540 Bones

00:18:00.980 Are my

00:18:01.460 Joints

00:18:01.920 You know

00:18:02.680 Come and

00:18:03.180 Get it

00:18:03.520 Bring it

00:18:03.980 On

00:18:04.180 Now I'm

00:18:04.480 Not surrendering

00:18:05.080 And don't

00:18:06.060 Come back to

00:18:06.460 Me again

00:18:06.740 Asking to

00:18:07.360 Because it's

00:18:08.480 On

00:18:08.720 You're the

00:18:09.300 Ones

00:18:09.540 Who have

00:18:09.840 Forced this

00:18:10.360 If you

00:18:10.700 Want to

00:18:10.960 Let me

00:18:11.420 Just go

00:18:11.800 To Calais

00:18:12.320 I'll

00:18:12.520 Just go

00:18:12.760 To Calais

00:18:13.240 But you're

00:18:13.880 Not letting

00:18:14.280 Me do

00:18:14.580 That

00:18:14.800 So it's

00:18:15.360 On

00:18:15.540 I'm not

00:18:16.060 Going to

00:18:16.260 Give in

00:18:16.920 Come all

00:18:17.380 This way

00:18:17.800 It's one

00:18:18.440 Thing Henry

00:18:18.900 V doesn't

00:18:19.540 Do

00:18:19.860 It's

00:18:20.480 Surrender

00:18:20.880 Again

00:18:50.180 And that's

00:18:50.480 In the

00:18:50.720 Shakespeare

00:18:51.040 Play

00:18:51.420 And a lot

00:18:52.040 Of the

00:18:52.260 Histories

00:18:52.600 All the

00:18:53.360 Histories

00:18:53.620 Really

00:18:53.940 Mention this

00:18:55.240 That there's

00:18:56.140 Still negotiations

00:18:57.400 Going on

00:18:58.340 Late into

00:18:59.300 The morning

00:18:59.780 Basically the

00:19:00.860 French keep

00:19:01.460 Asking Henry

00:19:02.380 Surrender

00:19:03.400 And Henry

00:19:04.400 Keeps refusing

00:19:05.260 To

00:19:05.640 But we'll

00:19:06.180 Continue the

00:19:06.980 Story here

00:19:07.500 Saying

00:19:07.800 The

00:19:08.260 Chroniclers

00:19:08.800 Writing about

00:19:09.580 These negotiations

00:19:10.360 At a later

00:19:10.860 Date

00:19:11.140 Concealed the

00:19:12.000 Terms

00:19:12.480 Under layers

00:19:13.100 Of post-battle

00:19:13.960 Propaganda

00:19:14.580 Some French

00:19:15.500 Writers

00:19:15.800 Claimed that

00:19:16.260 Henry

00:19:16.520 Had previously

00:19:17.520 Sent his

00:19:18.060 Heralds

00:19:18.520 To the

00:19:18.760 French army

00:19:19.260 Asking for

00:19:20.000 A safe

00:19:20.320 Passage

00:19:20.680 To Calais

00:19:21.200 Offering to

00:19:22.120 See

00:19:22.320 Trofleur

00:19:22.940 And the

00:19:23.440 Castles

00:19:23.820 Below Calais

00:19:24.560 To restore

00:19:25.320 The prisoners

00:19:25.880 He had

00:19:26.340 Taken

00:19:26.760 And to

00:19:27.280 Pay

00:19:27.440 100,000

00:19:28.240 Crowns

00:19:28.800 In

00:19:28.940 Recompense

00:19:29.560 Obviously

00:19:30.380 Obviously

00:19:30.420 None

00:19:30.680 Of the

00:19:30.900 English

00:19:31.180 Writers

00:19:31.520 Mentioned

00:19:32.040 Such a

00:19:32.320 Shameful

00:19:32.680 Request

00:19:33.100 Once again

00:19:33.700 That's

00:19:33.920 Something to

00:19:34.300 Mention

00:19:34.480 Both sides

00:19:36.240 After the

00:19:36.760 Fact

00:19:37.040 Did

00:19:37.640 Propagandise

00:19:38.680 This thing

00:19:39.300 Right

00:19:39.840 There's no

00:19:40.540 Doubt that

00:19:40.940 It's a

00:19:41.400 Significant

00:19:41.940 Very very

00:19:42.560 Significant

00:19:43.160 English victory

00:19:44.300 But still

00:19:45.460 You would

00:19:46.200 Play it up

00:19:46.900 Still you

00:19:47.900 Would

00:19:48.160 Exaggerate it

00:19:49.260 A bit

00:19:49.660 For political

00:19:50.760 Reasons

00:19:51.240 If not

00:19:51.860 Just for

00:19:52.280 Straight up

00:19:53.180 Glory

00:19:53.660 And the

00:19:54.520 French

00:19:54.880 Of course

00:19:55.420 Obviously

00:19:55.880 Are going to

00:19:56.540 Want to try

00:19:57.140 And downplay

00:19:58.080 It as much

00:19:58.620 As possible

00:19:59.100 Okay

00:19:59.560 Negotiations

00:20:00.360 Of some

00:20:01.280 Description

00:20:01.760 Did take

00:20:02.300 Place

00:20:02.640 However

00:20:03.140 It appears

00:20:03.780 Most likely

00:20:04.340 That the

00:20:04.700 French sent

00:20:05.240 Negotiators

00:20:05.800 To Henry

00:20:06.260 They may

00:20:06.940 Have offered

00:20:07.400 Him safe

00:20:07.820 Passage

00:20:08.220 To Calais

00:20:08.760 In return

00:20:09.520 For significant

00:20:10.300 Concessions

00:20:11.060 Including his

00:20:12.060 Renunciation

00:20:12.740 Of the

00:20:13.500 Throne of

00:20:14.000 France

00:20:14.440 Which he

00:20:15.220 Was never

00:20:16.060 Going to

00:20:16.320 Do

00:20:16.480 That's the

00:20:16.860 Whole point

00:20:17.380 Of this

00:20:17.700 Thing

00:20:17.940 Is to

00:20:18.380 Press his

00:20:18.760 Claim

00:20:19.060 But the

00:20:19.620 French

00:20:19.880 Were not

00:20:20.320 Serious

00:20:20.820 They were

00:20:21.460 Playing

00:20:21.720 For time

00:20:22.240 Again

00:20:22.780 Henry

00:20:23.020 Wants to

00:20:23.440 Do it

00:20:23.840 As quickly

00:20:24.260 As possible

00:20:24.760 Wants the

00:20:25.460 Battle

00:20:25.640 To start

00:20:26.140 As quickly

00:20:26.920 As possible

00:20:27.340 And the

00:20:27.640 French

00:20:27.940 Wants to

00:20:28.800 Drag it

00:20:29.120 Out

00:20:29.320 It's in

00:20:29.700 Their interest

00:20:30.340 The longer

00:20:31.040 It takes

00:20:31.640 The more

00:20:32.060 Men they're

00:20:32.440 Going to

00:20:32.580 Have

00:20:32.800 Because more

00:20:33.380 Frenchmen

00:20:33.980 Are streaming

00:20:35.080 In every

00:20:35.920 Moment

00:20:36.220 Almost

00:20:36.600 Among the

00:20:37.260 Negotiators

00:20:38.080 Were Gaillard

00:20:39.040 Dauphin

00:20:39.540 And Jacques

00:20:40.560 Deheli

00:20:41.000 When their

00:20:41.760 Terms had been

00:20:42.400 Formerly

00:20:42.780 Presented to

00:20:43.340 The English

00:20:43.700 Council

00:20:44.100 And dismissed

00:20:44.760 The heralds

00:20:45.680 Were told

00:20:46.000 To depart

00:20:46.600 It would

00:20:47.180 Appear

00:20:47.620 That Deheli

00:20:48.360 Then offered

00:20:49.280 To fight

00:20:49.700 A personal

00:20:50.280 Jewel

00:20:50.760 With anyone

00:20:51.380 In the

00:20:51.760 English army

00:20:52.380 Who claimed

00:20:53.120 He had

00:20:53.500 Escaped

00:20:53.860 His custody

00:20:54.460 In England

00:20:55.640 Against the

00:20:56.000 Laws of

00:20:56.360 Chivalry

00:20:56.820 Jewels

00:20:57.460 Before a

00:20:58.020 Battle

00:20:58.260 Were not

00:20:58.660 Uncommon

00:20:59.140 It was a

00:20:59.840 Chance for

00:21:00.260 A man-at-arms

00:21:00.880 To win

00:21:01.260 Great prestige

00:21:02.080 Fighting in

00:21:02.900 Front of

00:21:03.160 A large

00:21:03.500 Crowd of

00:21:03.920 Soldiers

00:21:04.380 But on

00:21:04.980 This occasion

00:21:05.500 It was

00:21:06.100 Just another

00:21:06.640 Delaying

00:21:07.120 Tactic

00:21:07.580 The troops

00:21:08.340 Were anxious

00:21:09.020 By now

00:21:09.820 It was

00:21:10.040 Probably

00:21:10.380 Just past

00:21:11.080 Nine o'clock

00:21:11.620 In the morning

00:21:12.200 And they

00:21:12.920 Had been

00:21:13.260 Standing still

00:21:14.080 In their

00:21:14.420 Battle formations

00:21:15.160 For the

00:21:15.920 Best part

00:21:16.380 Of three

00:21:16.800 Hours

00:21:17.260 So Henry

00:21:18.420 Tersely

00:21:18.880 Denied

00:21:19.380 His

00:21:19.800 Jewel

00:21:20.140 And told

00:21:20.860 Him

00:21:21.100 That he

00:21:21.480 Could

00:21:21.680 Expect

00:21:22.000 To be

00:21:22.260 Prisoner

00:21:22.640 Of the

00:21:25.640 Nations

00:21:25.680 Were taking

00:21:26.060 Place

00:21:26.460 The French

00:21:27.100 Were also

00:21:27.560 Growing

00:21:27.920 Restless

00:21:28.480 Some men

00:21:29.340 Received

00:21:29.840 The honour

00:21:30.340 Of knighthood

00:21:31.060 It was said

00:21:31.820 That five hundred

00:21:32.520 French knights

00:21:33.160 Were dubbed

00:21:33.620 Before the battle

00:21:34.400 One of them

00:21:35.220 Was Philip

00:21:35.700 Count of

00:21:36.160 Nevers

00:21:36.540 Who was

00:21:37.280 Knighted

00:21:37.760 By a

00:21:38.140 Bouchico

00:21:38.620 Eighteen

00:21:39.300 Men in

00:21:39.720 The company

00:21:40.180 Of the

00:21:40.640 Seigneur

00:21:41.000 De Croix

00:21:41.540 Swore an

00:21:42.340 Oath

00:21:42.500 That when

00:21:43.140 The two

00:21:43.480 Sides

00:21:43.780 Came

00:21:44.060 Together

00:21:44.440 They would

00:21:45.260 Either

00:21:45.520 Knock

00:21:45.760 The crown

00:21:46.100 Of Henry's

00:21:46.660 Head

00:21:46.960 Or they

00:21:47.520 Would die

00:21:47.860 Trying

00:21:48.340 For Henry

00:21:49.140 The time

00:21:49.640 Wasting

00:21:49.980 Was a cause

00:21:50.700 Of concern

00:21:51.320 His men

00:21:51.940 Were eager

00:21:52.300 To get

00:21:52.580 The fight

00:21:55.640 The guestor

00:21:56.260 Sitting on

00:21:57.160 A horse

00:21:57.580 At the back

00:21:58.040 Of the army

00:21:58.620 Thought the

00:21:59.560 French were

00:21:59.960 Trying to

00:22:00.440 Defeat the

00:22:00.900 English

00:22:01.200 Through hunger

00:22:01.880 Others in

00:22:02.940 The ranks

00:22:03.360 Could not

00:22:03.780 Understand the

00:22:04.460 Reluctance

00:22:04.940 Of the

00:22:05.180 French

00:22:05.420 To do

00:22:05.760 Battle

00:22:06.100 Considering

00:22:06.880 They had

00:22:07.360 So many

00:22:07.800 Men at

00:22:08.100 Arms

00:22:08.560 What were

00:22:09.140 They doing

00:22:09.600 Perhaps

00:22:10.340 This was

00:22:10.740 Where the

00:22:11.200 Rumour

00:22:11.500 That the

00:22:11.800 French

00:22:12.080 Were playing

00:22:12.540 Dice

00:22:12.920 For the

00:22:13.280 Honour

00:22:13.620 Of imprisoning

00:22:14.440 The great

00:22:14.820 Lords of

00:22:15.180 England

00:22:15.440 Came

00:22:15.760 From

00:22:16.060 Whatever

00:22:16.740 The cause

00:22:17.260 The tension

00:22:18.120 Was threatening

00:22:18.820 To break

00:22:19.280 The discipline

00:22:19.780 Of the

00:22:20.140 Army

00:22:20.500 Henry

00:22:21.180 Therefore

00:22:21.680 Put the

00:22:22.240 Question

00:22:22.540 To his

00:22:22.880 Council

00:22:23.300 What if

00:22:24.120 The English

00:22:24.600 Were to

00:22:25.140 Do the

00:22:25.420 Unthinkable

00:22:26.080 And attack

00:22:26.960 This strategy

00:22:27.840 Sounds entirely

00:22:28.620 Logical

00:22:29.140 But it was

00:22:30.140 Counterintuitive

00:22:30.880 To the

00:22:31.260 English

00:22:31.540 Military

00:22:31.960 Mind

00:22:32.380 Of 1415

00:22:33.420 The textbook

00:22:34.300 Longbow

00:22:34.780 Victory

00:22:35.140 Was achieved

00:22:35.980 By having

00:22:36.420 Archers

00:22:36.820 On the

00:22:37.080 Flanks

00:22:37.460 In a

00:22:37.980 Defensive

00:22:38.380 Position

00:22:38.840 Just as

00:22:39.580 Henry

00:22:39.800 Had arranged

00:22:40.260 Them

00:22:40.480 And shooting

00:22:41.180 At the

00:22:41.500 Charging

00:22:41.880 Enemy

00:22:42.180 As they

00:22:42.660 Approached

00:22:43.160 That had

00:22:43.940 Been the

00:22:44.240 Secret

00:22:44.500 Of the

00:22:44.940 First

00:22:45.280 Mass

00:22:45.620 Longbow

00:22:46.040 Victory

00:22:46.440 At

00:22:47.140 Duplin

00:22:47.620 Moor

00:22:47.920 In

00:22:48.080 1332

00:22:48.940 And

00:22:49.640 Edward

00:22:49.880 III

00:22:50.240 Had perfected

00:22:50.960 The strategy

00:22:51.500 At

00:22:52.000 Hallidon

00:22:52.460 Hill

00:22:52.660 In 1333

00:22:53.640 And

00:22:54.260 Cressy

00:22:54.640 In 1346

00:22:55.640 Henry

00:22:56.200 Was simply

00:22:56.720 Following

00:22:57.080 A technique

00:22:57.720 That had

00:22:58.080 Been tested

00:22:58.540 Over the

00:22:59.040 Last 80

00:22:59.580 Years

00:23:00.020 But to

00:23:00.640 Attack

00:23:01.200 With

00:23:01.760 Mass

00:23:02.000 Longbows

00:23:02.560 Was unusual

00:23:03.540 Henry

00:23:04.180 Would have

00:23:04.580 Known

00:23:04.860 It could

00:23:05.220 Be done

00:23:05.660 On a

00:23:05.980 Relatively

00:23:06.320 Small

00:23:06.660 Scale

00:23:07.040 He

00:23:07.460 Himself

00:23:07.800 Had probably

00:23:08.260 Used the

00:23:08.860 Tactic

00:23:09.160 In

00:23:09.360 Wales

00:23:09.700 And

00:23:10.240 And

00:23:10.260 The

00:23:10.380 Late

00:23:10.580 Earl

00:23:10.840 Of

00:23:40.840 accurately and fast and advancing quickly in formation were incompatible. The situation was

00:23:46.640 best summed up by one English chronicler in the following passage. The king, considering that a

00:23:51.360 great part of the short day was already passed and firmly believing that the French were not

00:23:55.520 inclined to move from their position, consulted the most experienced officers of his army whether

00:24:00.640 he should advance with his troops in the order in which they stood towards the enemy that was

00:24:05.100 refusing to come towards him. Having fully considered the circumstances of such an important

00:24:09.480 matter, they wisely decided that the king should march with his army towards the enemy and attack

00:24:14.240 them in the name of God, for they considered that the English army, very much wearied with hunger,

00:24:19.080 illness and marching, was not likely to obtain any refreshment in the enemy's country and that the

00:24:24.180 longer they remained there the more they would suffer from weakness and exhaustion, whereas the

00:24:28.180 enemy, being among friends, could easily obtain whatever they needed and as a result of the delay

00:24:33.360 accumulated new and greater strength by the arrival of fresh troops. Therefore the king's advisors

00:24:38.240 finally concluded that further delay was damaging to the English but advantageous to the French.

00:24:44.000 The king considered it would be difficult and dangerous to leave his position, yet to avoid

00:24:48.260 greater dangers, with the greatest of courage, he set his army an example of how they could march

00:24:53.740 towards the enemy, preserving their current formation. He commanded that his own chaplains and all the

00:24:59.360 priests of the army should start to pray and that the heralds should attend only to their own

00:25:04.240 duties and not take up arms, end quote. Mortimer continues. This account is convincing. Henry was

00:25:10.900 frightened to leave his position but he did so anyway. We have noted that Henry was extremely cautious

00:25:16.480 in his strategic moves to this point. He demonstrated a high degree of caution in his choice of landing

00:25:22.280 place at Harfleur. He was very cautious in his attacks on the walls of that town, preferring to blast at

00:25:28.060 them rather than risk sustained assaults. After leaving Harfleur, he did not attack any other town

00:25:32.900 and avoided confrontation wherever he could, at Blanchequay and after leaving Perron. So for him

00:25:38.300 now to be reluctant to give up his defensive position was entirely in character and understandable.

00:25:44.220 That he did so, and gave the order to advance banners, was a mark of outstanding courage.

00:25:49.460 It proved to be the single most important decision of his life.

00:25:52.560 Yeah, it does seem to be, doesn't it, that when you look at the battle as a whole,

00:25:56.920 that everything Henry did kind of worked perfectly. And this is part of it. It's still the opening

00:26:02.860 gambit, isn't it, really, of the battle. But it seems like it was something he needed to do.

00:26:07.620 In hindsight, it was probably the perfect thing to do. Okay, Ian Mortimer continues.

00:26:12.560 One struggles to imagine what went through the minds of the English archers when the word went

00:26:17.180 round to advance. They, the few, hungry and fatigued, were going to advance against this seeming

00:26:23.400 mass of French men-at-arms, their social and military superiors. In order for their bows to

00:26:28.500 work effectively, they would certainly need to be within 200 yards of the enemy, and preferably less

00:26:33.940 than half of that to shoot accurately. A charging mounted man-at-arms could cover a distance of 100

00:26:39.480 yards in 10 seconds, so the archers could be charged down before they came within effective

00:26:44.720 killing range. The one advantage they had was that they could shoot rapidly. Crossbowmen in such a

00:26:50.060 situation would have been helpless, because they could not shoot quickly enough, but archers could

00:26:54.960 lose a dozen or more arrows a minute. Against a thousand charging knights on horseback, each

00:27:00.160 weighing half a ton and travelling at 600 yards per minute, 20 miles per hour, this was crucial,

00:27:05.760 for only by bringing down enough horses could they slow the charge. The question was, could the English

00:27:11.440 archers get close enough to bring down enough horses? When the order was given to prepare for the

00:27:15.920 banners to advance, the English were terrified but ready. All the men-at-arms had dismounted and were

00:27:21.480 ready to run in their armour. Some of the archers were preparing to take their stakes with them,

00:27:26.140 others just knew that they had to advance quickly and decided to leave their stakes behind. Others

00:27:30.920 were probably too scared to know what they should do. Many men were praying, many were bending down and

00:27:36.440 putting a small piece of earth into their mouths, preparing for the moment of their death and the

00:27:40.780 last judgement. We hope you enjoyed that video and if you did, please head over to lotusseeters.com

00:27:45.780 for the full unabridged video.

The Podcast of the Lotus Eaters - June 08, 2025

PREVIEW： Epochs #214 ｜ Henry V： Part IX

Episode Stats

Length

Words per Minute

Word Count

Sentence Count

Misogynist Sentences

Hate Speech Sentences

Summary

Transcript