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which, if we may believe his solemn declaration, CHAP. had been made for the sole purpose of sparing the blood of men, who had no personal interest in their quarrel. The heralds, who had delivered their message under considerable apprehensions, received a present of one hundred crowns, and returned impressed with a deep veneration for the character of the king.32

The English continued their march leisurely and in good order towards Blangi. The deep and rapid stream of the Ternois intersected the road but a detachment arrived in time to secure the bridge, which the French were preparing to demolish: and the whole army crossed without any molestation. In a short time the duke of York discovered several large masses of the enemy marching in the direction of Azincourt and Henry, having reconnoitred them from an eminence, gave orders to form in line of battle. The men remained in their ranks till it was dark but as no enemy approached, they broke up in the evening, and advanced in silence by a white road which lay before them. Fortunately it led to Maisoncelles, a large village, where they found better food, and more comfortable accommodations than they had known. for some weeks.33

32 Monstrel. i. 226. Liv. 14. Elmh. 55.

33 Elmh. 56. Monstrel. i. 227. From the notices in this writer may be drawn the following journal of the king's march.-Oct. 6. He left Harfleur (Otterburn says it was the 9th).-12. Was disap

The Eng-
Maison-

lish at

celles.

Oct. 4.

CHAP.

I..

HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

It was with difficulty that the constable had checked the impetuosity of his followers, who now amounted, at the lowest calculation, to one hundred thousand cavalry. But he knew, that in the fatal battles of Creci and Poitiers, the French had been the assailants, and he determined on the present occasion to leave that dangerous honour to the English. To him delay could bring only new accessions of forcé : to them it was pregnant with famine and inevitable destruction. On this account he had selected a strong position in the fields in front of the village of Azincourt, through which it was necessary for the king of England to cut his way, unless he would consent to yield himself prisoner. His mareschals had allotted their stations to the different divisions of the army: and each lord had planted his banner on the spot which he intended to occupy during the battle. The night was cold, dark, and rainy but numerous fires illumined the horizon; and bursts of laughter and merriment were repeatedly heard from the French lines. The men collected round their banners; spent their time in revel

pointed at Blanchetaque, and slept at Arrames.-13. Slept at Bailleul.-14. Repulsed at Pont St. Remy, and slept at Hangest.-15. Repulsed at Ponteau de Mer, and slept at Bones.-16. Slept at Herbonnieres.-17. Slept at Wauvillers.-18. Slept at Bainvillers.— 19. Crossed the Somme at Voyenne and Bethencourt. Slept at Monchy la Gauche.-22. Marched by Encre, and slept at Forceville. -23. Marched by Lucheu, and slept at Bouvieres.-24. Passed through Blangi to Maisoncelles..

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ling and debate; discussed the probable events CHAP. of the next day; and fixed the ransom of the English king and his barons. No one suspected the possibility of a defeat: and yet they could not be ignorant that they lay in the vicinity of the field of Creci.34

battle.

To the English it was a night of hope and Prepara fear, of suspense and anxiety. They had been tions for wasted with disease, broken with fatigue, and weakened by the many privations which must attend the march of an army through a hostile country, and in the presence of a superior force. But they were supported by the spirit and confidence of their gallant leader, and by the proud recollection of the victories won in similar circumstances by their fathers. As men, however, who had staked their lives on the issue of the approaching battle, they spent the intervening moments in making their wills, and in attending to the exercises of religion. The king himself took little repose. He visited the different quarters of the army; sent, as soon as the moon arose, officers to examine the ground; arranged the operations of the next day; ordered bands of music to play in succession during the night; and before sunrise summoned the men to attend

at matins and mass. From prayer he led them Oct. 23. into the field, and arrayed them after his usual manner in three divisions and two wings; but

34 Monstrel. i. 227.

CHAP.

J.

so near to each other, that they seemed to form
but one body. The archers, on whom he rested
his principal hope, were placed in advance of the
men at arms. Their well earned reputation in
former battles, and their savage appearance on
the present day, struck terror into their ene-
mies. Many had stripped themselves naked:
the others had bared their arms and breasts,
that they might exercise their limbs with more
ease and execution. Beside his bow and arrows,
his battle-axe or sword, each bore on his shoul-
der a long stake sharpened at both extremities,
which he was instructed to fix obliquely before
him in the ground, and thus oppose a rampart
of pikes to the charge of the French cavalry.
The king himself appeared on a grey palfrey,
followed by a train of led horses ornamented
with the most gorgeous trappings. His helmet
was of polished steel, surmounted with a crown
sparkling with jewels; and on his surcoat were
emblazoned in gold the arms of England and
France.35
As he rode from banner to banner,
cheering and exhorting the men, he chanced to
hear an officer express a wish to his comrade
that some of the good knights, who were sitting
idle in England, might by a miracle be trans-
ported to the field of battle, "No," exclaimed
Henry, "I would not have a single man more.
"If God give us the victory, it will be plain that

35 Tres flores aurei et tres leopardi aureri. Elmh, 61.

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66

66

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we owe it to his goodness. If he do not, the CHAP.. fewer we are, the less will be the loss to our country. But fight with your usual courage, "and God and the justice of our cause will pro"tect us. Before night the pride of our ene"mies shall be humbled in the dust; and the "greater part of that multitude shall be stretched on the field, or captives in our power.

66

"36

Azincourt.

The French were drawn up in the same order, Battle of but with this fearful disparity in point of number, that while the English files were but four, theirs were thirty men deep. The constable himself commanded the first division: the dukes of Bar and Alençon the second: the earls of Marle and Falconberg the third. The distance between the two armies scarcely exceeded a quarter of a mile: but the ground was wet and spongy; and D'Albret, faithful to his plan, ordered his men to sit down near their banners, and await in patience the advance of the enemy. Their inactivity disconcerted the king, who expected to be attacked. He improved the opportunity, however, to order a plentiful refreshment to be distributed through the ranks, while two detach

36 Liv. 16. Elmh. 60, 61.

37 Livius and Elmham observe that in the French lines were placed a number of military engines or cannons, to cast stones into the midst of the English (Liv. 19. Elm 62). According to Livius the French were to the English as something more than seven to one. Monstrelet (i. 228) makes them as six to one. I suspect that in Elmham, where he mentions the files, we should read xxx instead of xx, as we do in Livius. A contemporary writer estimates the enemy at 100,000. Apud Raynald. v. 473.

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