A History of the British Army, Vol. 1: First Part—to the Close of the Seven Years' WarFortescue, J. W. (John William), Sir
History
A History of the British Army, Vol. 1: First Part—to the Close of the Seven Years' War
Fortescue, J. W. (John William), Sir
Great Britain -- History, Military; Great Britain. Army -- History
To attempt to follow the later campaigns of Henry the Fifth in
France would be alike tedious and unprofitable. To the last he
stuck to the principles of the Black Prince, but his military
talents ripened year after year, and while he lived France
trembled under his sword. Finally, torn to pieces by the strife of
Burgundian and Armagnac, France by the Treaty of Troyes surrendered
her kingship into his hand. The contempt of the English for their
enemy was such that the men once assaulted and captured a town
without orders. But in the very next year came a reverse that boded
ominously for the future. The Duke of Clarence was defeated at
Beaugé, less by the French than by a body of Scottish auxiliaries,
who had been sent to their assistance under the Earl of Buchan.
Henry had hoped that the Scots would not fight against him, and
ordered them henceforth to be treated as rebels, but it was to no
purpose. The reader should take note of this fateful year 1421,
for it marks the permanent entrance of the Scots into the service
of France, a fact full of import for both countries. Moreover, he
will in due time see a regiment, still called the Royal Scots,
withdrawn from the French army to become the first of the English
Line.
[Sidenote: 1422.]
The return of King Henry to France after Beaugé soon re-established
the ascendency of the English arms; and then, while still in the
prime of life, he sickened even in the midst of his operations and
died. He was but thirty-four years of age, a great administrator,
a great captain, and above all a grand disciplinarian. Yet he was
no brutal martinet; nay, when once he had cast his wild days behind
him he never even swore. "Impossible," or "It must be done," was
the most that he said. But "he was so feared by his princes and
captains that none dared to disobey his orders, however nearly
related to him, and the principal cause was that if any one
transgressed his orders he punished him at once without favour or
mercy."[30] He and the army that fought with him at Agincourt are
the true precursors of Craufurd and the Light Division. His body,
borne with mournful pomp from the castle of Vincennes, still rests
among us in Westminster Abbey, and above it still hang his saddle,
his shield blazoned with the lilies of France, and the helmet,
deeply dinted by two sword-cuts, which he wore at Agincourt. Not
for three centuries was another soldier to rise up in England of
equal fame with the Black Prince, John Hawkwood, and King Harry the
Fifth.
AUTHORITIES.--For the life of Hawkwood see Temple Leader's _Sir
John Hawkwood_. For the campaign of Agincourt, _Gesta Henrici
Quinti_ and Monstrelet's Chronicles are the chief authorities,
while Sir Harris Nicholas's _Agincourt_ furnishes a quantity
of supplementary information. Other authorities will be found
enumerated in Köhler, who is always the best guide in respect of
military operations.
CHAPTER V
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account