Account of Agincourt – page 1
A brief narrative of the battle of Agincourt most likely copied from the 16th century chronicle written by Raphael Holinshed. The account formed part of a late 16th century draft treatise on military strategy, tactics and leadership that drew on various examples and knowledge from medieval and antiquarian sources.
Catalogue reference: SP 9/36
See page two and page three of this account.
Translation
King Hen(ry) Vth Battaill of Agencourt
The English Battail and the French
Being both sett in a redines to fight ye battail
The constable of France encouraged
his Frenchmen with an eloquent oratie
valliantly to fight for ye honor of France
King Henry yr fifte likewise did sooe
Now King Henry had placed 200 arch-
ers privilely in a lon medow neer
unto ye forward of the French army
but yet separate wth a great dich: and
they whar commanded to keep close till
they had a token given them to shoote.
Besides his vantgard was led by ye duk
Of Yorke & all they wear archers:
The Battail or midlegard was led by
The kinge, all of armed billmen:
The Duke of Exeter led ye rereward
And they were mixte Billmen & archers
The horsemen like wings went on eth-
er side the battail: yet ye kings battels
being weake in comparison of ye French
he feared lest ye Frenchmen would com-
passe him a boute hath therfor caused
stakes bound wt iron sharp at both
endes of ye length of v or vi foote to
be pitche before the archers to ye ende
that if the Barbed horses ran rashly on
them they might be gored in thir belys
and appointed certain persons to remov
the stakes as occation should serv ye archers