Description of Henry V – page 2
A flattering description of the character and virtues of Henry V written by a 16th century official and based on contemporary 15th century accounts.
King Henry V was admired by 16th century monarchs, like Henry VIII, as well as commentators, who saw him as the ideal monarch to emulate. This text formed part of a late 16th century draft treatise on military strategy, tactics and leadership.
See page one of this document.
Catalogue reference: SP 9/36 ff. 6-7
Translation
and eythor determined them himself / or committed them to other wismen to end / he slept very litle and that by reason of bodily labor; and then no smale noies could ava / – ike him, for when soldiers sang or any other noies was made he then slept soundly / his courage was so constant and his heart / so imutable as he cast away all fear, and / dread from him was banished: if anye / alamine wear made by his enymyes he / would be the first man in armore, and forwardest at all times: In time of warre he / gat knoledge not only what his enymyes / did; but what they sayed and intended soe / that all thinges to him wear knowan; and of his devises few persons before the thing / was at the point to be don[n]e should be made / priuie; he had such knolledge in ordering / and guiding an armye, and such a grace in / encourageinge his people, as so all waryes / gat the victorye; he had such witt such / prudence and pollitye as he never enterp / – prised any thing before he had fully debat / – ed it; and forseen all maine chauces that mig/ – hte fall oute; and having concluded them / he w[i]th all diligence and courage set them / forwarde: marrvell it is to hear how / he being a prince of Riches did continually / abstaine fro[m] larschariouse living and / blinde avarice yea and in time of losse / he was noe more sadde then in time /
of victory, which constancy few men have / what pollycye he had for finding sudden / remedyes for present mischefes and what prak / tice he used in saving himself and his people / in sudden destresses, is almost increadable / no man could be more gentle, liberall nor / more free in giveing rewardes, to all persones / according to their desartes: he was mornfall / to offenders, charitable to the needy, indifferent / to all men, faithfull to his frendes and fierce / to his enymyes, toward god most devoute, / toward men moderat, and to his Relme a father / noe Emperor in magnanimitie him exelled: / nor potentate more pitiful; nor bountifulle / nor prince tooke lesse of his subiects and never / King of England that conquered men: / he was of stature more, then the common sorte / of body leane, well lir[n]ned and strongly made / a face manlye, some what long necke, black haire; stoute of stomacke, ellogquent of tung / in martiall affaires a very doctor; and in al chivalry a very paragon: finis / the end / His sone henry the VI th cleaue contrarye.