Medieval Histories Special Issue: Agincourt 1415 -2015 Guide to exhibitions, events and books 2015 September - No. 19 We few, we happy few, we band of brothers.... What’s he that wishes so? And rouse him at the name of Crispian. My cousin, Westmoreland? No, my fair He that shall live this day, and see old age, cousin; Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours, If we are mark’d to die, we are enow And say “To-morrow is Saint Crispian.” To do our country loss; and if to live, Then will he strip his sleeve and show his The fewer men, the greater share of honour. scars, God’s will! I pray thee, wish not one man And say “These wounds I had on Crispin’s more. day.” By Jove, I am not covetous for gold, Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot, Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost; But he’ll remember, with advantages, It yearns me not if men my garments wear; What feats he did that day. Then shall our Such outward things dwell not in my de- names, sires. Familiar in his mouth as household words- But if it be a sin to covet honour, Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter, I am the most offending soul alive. Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Glouces- No, faith, my coz, wish not a man from Eng- ter- land. God’s peace! I would not lose so great an rememb’red. honour ThisBe in story their shallflowing the cups good freshly man teach his son; As one man more methinks would share And Crispin Crispian shall ne’er go by, from me From this day to the ending of the world, For the best hope I have. O, do not wish one But we in it shall be remembered- more! We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through For he to-day that sheds his blood with me my host, Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile, This day shall gentle his condition; Let him depart; his passport shall be made, And gentlemen in England now-a-bed AndThat crowns he which for hath convoy no stomach put into tohis this purse; fight, Shall think themselves accurs’d they were We would not die in that man’s company not here, That fears his fellowship to die with us. And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any This day is call’d the feast of Crispian. speaks He that outlives this day, and comes safe That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s home, day. Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam’d, William Shakespeare: Henry V Medieval Histories Medieval Histories Aps © Photo (frontpage): - read about new exhibitions, Paradisstien 5 Path towards the Museum-centre books, research and much more DK2840 Holte at Azincourt in France © Paul Denmark Hermans. Editor-in-chief: Karen Schous- Photos are to the best of our ability boe www.medievalhistories.com either published by permission or 2015: September No. 19 [email protected] under the Creative Commons At- ISBN 978-87-92858-26-9 +45 24 23 36 10 tribution licenses 2 Agincourt 1415 -2015 The battle at Agincourt in Nord-Pas-de Calais in 1415 is famous for the heroic fight between the outnumbered English archers and the French iron-clad chivalry. This October England and France commemorates the battle with memorial services, exhibitions and books The battle of Agincourt in 1415 had an favoured subject for military historians as well as re-enactors. October 2015 sets the scene for multiple commemorations and Itenormous was a battle significance: between an outnumbered events celebrating the 600-year anniver- and cornered English army and a huge sary. French force. Nevertheless, the underdog, Henry V and his army won the day. This Agincourt 600 win was not least due to the brilliant de- To coordinate the initiatives an English an ployment of the famous English archers English registered charity - Agincourt 600 wielding their longbows against the heav- ily armoured French cavalry. However, the prominent English partners. The aim has been- was “tospecifically promote set international up by a number friendship of role as did - perhaps - the stupidity of the and understanding and advance knowl- military strategy also played a significant French. Hence the battle of Agincourt is a edge and commemoration of the battle”. 3 Included in this program are a service of 1415 campaign? commemoration in Westminster Ab- • What did John Mowbray, Earl Marshal, bey, exhibitions, academic conferences, a take with him on the campaign? concert of French and English 15th cen- tury music, a one-man-show, guided walks Commemorative Publication through the city of London and fundraising events of diverse character. A calendar “Agincourt 600” is also responsible for the lists the all the events. major commemorative publication, which will be at sale this week. Introductionary readings Agincourt 600 At the website it is possible to read a num- Triumph,Brilliance and Controversy Six ber of interesting introductions to the Hundred Years on battle and its historical context: Ed by Robert McCall and Professor Anne • Are there eyewitness accounts of the CurryThe official commemorative publication battle of Agincourt? Published by Arthur Moore 2015 • Did Henry V Found the Royal Navy? • D-Day 1415: Can we know the size of Table of contens: Henry V’s Fleet in 1415? • How did the city of London celebrate • Introduction by Dr. Sinclair Roberts Henry’s return? • The Battle of Agincourt By Professor • Can we follow Henry’s route today? Anne Curry, Southampton University • How did the city of London react to • Henry V’s Strategy in 1415 by Stepehn news of the battle? Cooper • How many French prisoners survived • On the trail of Henry V, by Peter the massacre which took place at the Hoskins battle of Agincourt? • Agincourt 1415 – a graphic Novel by • What was the Hundred Years’ War? Kevin Gill • What horses did the king have person- • The death of Edward, Duke of York by ally for the expedition? Michael Jones • Where was Agincourt fought? • The First Biographer of Henry V by • How did the city of London fund Henry Geoffrey Hilton V’s expedition of 1415? • The Agincourt Campaign week by week • Did Henry V Fear the Scots? by Dan Spencer • What equipment was supplied to mem- bers of the royal household for the 4 Agincourt in the Royal Armoury To commemorate the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Agincourt there will be a Royal Armouries’ special exhibition in the White Tower at the Tower of London. The Battle of Agincourt will reveal the mov- of the high-ranking prisoners from the bat- ing story of the road to battle, the events tle were kept; one of whom was Charles, of 25 October 1415, and the aftermath; Duke of Orleans. Visitors will be able to exploring the popular myths, reality and listen to the poignant tales of the French legacy of this extraordinary battle. prisoners in the aftermath of battle. The exhibition brings together rare and - Visit ing medieval arms and armour, art, music, sculptureiconic objects and formanuscripts the first time, from includ the Royal The Battle of Agincourt Armouries’ own collection and leading Eu- Royal Armouries at the Tower of London ropean institutions. The exhibition includes 23.10.2015 – 31.01.2016 spectacular illuminated manuscripts from the British Library and the Lambeth Palace as well as French loans including the spec- tacular jeweled ring of John the Fearless, regent of france, which has been lent by the Charles d’Orlean in the Tower of London. An illumi- Louvre. The ring is a very delicate object nated folio from a manuscript of poems written by showing what is believed to be a precise Charles during his imprisonment. Charles (139?- portrait of the duke, who, as a brother of 1465) was kept prisoner for 25 years (1415-1440) following his capture at the battle of Agincourt. the king of France, played an important role Royal MS. 16 F.ii, f. 73r © British Library in the events at the beginning of the 15th century. As part of the museum’s commemoration of the 600th anniversary of the battle of Agin- court, the Royal Armouries commissioned a bespoke diorama of the battle with David Marshall, model maker of MMDioramas, along with the Perry brothers of Perry Min- iatures. The diorama was carefully made ac- cording to measure and clay collected from of the quagmire, in which numerous French men-at-armsthe battlefield are was said molded to have into been the stuck,model killed or just plain suffocated to death. In itself the Tower is an important venue to visit as this was where – initially – some 6 Highlights in the Tower One of the more accurate images of a knight kitted Ring with a portrait of Jean sans Peur (John the out for the battle comes from an unlikely source, Fearless). Although he did not fight personally at a sculpture of St George from St Albans Cathedral, Agincourt the Duke of Burgundy, who was a broth- depicted head to toe in authentic contemporary ar- er of the French king played a significant role in mour. the events in 1415. © Louvre 8 For the Boys... We - of a certain age - all remember the the main points of action during the day, major highlight of the museums of our the ambitious detailed model has taken childhood: the dioramas. Before youtube over two years to complete and features this was - apart from immersions into books - the closest we might get to time- Into the ground has even been molded a travel.