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.