Yesterday's post speculated on why the Judges in Miami are talking. We neglected to remember that Thursday is St. Crispin's day celebrating King Henry V victory at the battle of Agincourt. That is most likely what our judges were chatting about.
In Azincourt, in the North of France, the armies of England (Henry V) and France (Charles VI) faced off. France had the numerically superior force (the surviving lines of the day had France -6) but their King Charles VI was on injured reserve (he was psychotic) and France was led by Constable Charles d' Albret. The battle took place during the 100 Years War (and Biden thought Afghanistan was too long!) and featured the widespread use of English Longbow shooters.
There is a lot of history associated with the battle and the war. We do not have enough room here, but suffice to say King Henry V invaded France with a claim to the throne, but in reality to settle a score and have the French recognize certain English claims set out in the Treaty of Bretigny (which is probably what our judges were chatting about yesterday). Henry V wanted land and 1.6 million Crowns (an early cryptocurrency of sorts). The French, and this is before the #metoo movement, offered King Charles' VI daughter Catherine's hand in marriage to King Henry V and 600,000 Crowns. Henry said "no dice" and took his army to France, landing on August 13, 1415.
As September ended, the "battle season" was also ending, but Henry V surprised the French by not wintering at the English stronghold at Calais, and crossing the Somme and heading north. By the night of October 24 the English army had marched over 250 miles in 20 days. They were hungry, sick, and facing a superior French Army.
Thus on the night of October 24, 1415, King Henry V gathered his troops, and as told by Shakespeare, gave this speech:
If we are mark’d to die, we are enow
To do our country loss; and if to live,
The fewer men, the greater share of honour.
...
That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart; his passport shall be made
And crowns for convoy put into his purse:
We would not die in that man’s company
That fears his fellowship to die with us.
This day is called the feast of Crispian:
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when the day is named,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say ‘To-morrow is Saint Crispian:’
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars.
And say ‘These wounds I had on Crispin’s day.’
Old men forget: yet all shall be forgot,
But he’ll remember with advantages
What feats he did that day: then shall our names.
...
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne’er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remember’d;
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.
And so Henry V led his band of brothers and defeated the English and forever more we remember him and his band of brothers on this day. Those Happy Few.
6 comments:
Rumpole, today I am recommending for the well dressed gentleman lawyer on zoom a nice dark pinstripe suit, a crisp white shirt, and a simple blue tie, with- and this makes the ensemble- some yellow threads. I'd like to see some nice black well shinned Allen Edmonds, and a classic dark black sock. For the adventurous, a baby powder blue kerchif in the suit jacket pocket.
Tomorrow, dress down Friday, we will be looking at the well dressed gentleman's closet and his range of blazers with some gray wool slacks, or for a fun dress down Friday, some crisply ironed chinos.
Remember, The clothes make the man and the man makes the lawyer.
Love St Crispin's day. Love it
Brilliant victory. The French overcommitted to their flanking maneuovers and were decimated by the English longbows who picked them off one by one.
Shakespeare was at least honest enough to note how the glorious victory was short-lived and squandered.
Thus far, with rough and all-unable pen,
Our bending author hath pursued the story,
In little room confining mighty men,
Mangling by starts the full course of their glory.
Small time, but in that small most greatly lived
This star of England: Fortune made his sword;
By which the world's best garden be achieved,
And of it left his son imperial lord.
Henry the Sixth, in infant bands crown'd King
Of France and England, did this king succeed;
Whose state so many had the managing,
That they lost France and made his England bleed:
Which oft our stage hath shown; and, for their sake,
In your fair minds let this acceptance take.
Favorite moment of zoom court was a well-respected judge berating a man for lying down on camera. His lawyer, waiting for the tirade to end, calmly told the judge, "Your honor my client has just received a chemotherapy session."
Isn't this post about 10 days too early?
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