Today marks the anniversary of the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, a pivotal victory by King Henry V of England in his claim to the throne of France. In much of northern Europe, including England, October 25th was celebrated as the feast day of St. Crispin and Crispinian, two brothers martyred at Soissons in the 3rd century. This feast day inspired one of Shakespeare’s most famous speeches from Henry V, known as the St. Crispin’s Day Speech:
“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.”
(Henry V, Act IV, Scene 3)
The Clergy’s Role and Prayers at Agincourt
Several historical accounts of the Battle of Agincourt survive, one of which is found in the Henrici Quinti Angliae Regis Gesta, an anonymous work written by one of the priest chaplains who accompanied Henry’s army. Priests were strictly forbidden from participating in combat, but they played a crucial spiritual role. The following passage from the Gesta describes the prayers that the clergy offered right before the battle commenced:
Latin Text: “Sed et tunc quidem et quamdiu duravit praeliorum adversitas, ego qui scribo, insedens equum inter evectiones ad dorsum praelii et alii qui intererant sacerdotes humiliavimus animas nostras coram Deo, et recordati (lectionem) quam eo tempore legebat ecclesia diximus in cordibus nostris, ‘Memento nostri Domine! Congregati sunt inimici nostri et gloriantur in virtute sua. Contere fortitudinem illorum et disperde illos, ut cognoscant quod non est alius qui pugnet pro nobis nisi tu, Deus noster!’ …”
Translation: “But then indeed, and as long as the contest of the battle lasted, I who write, sitting on a horse among the riders at the back of the battle, and the other priests who were present, humbled our souls before God. Remembering the Scripture which the Church was reading at that time (lessons from the books of Maccabees, read in the Divine Office in October), we said in our hearts, ‘Remember us, o Lord! Our enemies are gathered in their might; break their strength and scatter them, that they may know that there is none other to fight for us, but Thou, our God!’”
Legacy of the Battle of Agincourt
The Battle of Agincourt, depicted in many historical records and literature, remains a defining moment in English and French history. It is immortalized not only in accounts like the Henrici Quinti Angliae Regis Gesta, but also in Shakespeare’s enduring works. The spiritual involvement of the clergy, as seen through the eyes of an anonymous chaplain, highlights the profound reliance on faith during times of conflict.
