1414. firft, and by Hugh Capet, as Heir to the Lady Lingard, Daughter to Charlemain; fo King Lewis, called the Saint And befide, that this Exclufion is contrary to the Word of God, which alloweth Women to fucceed in their Father's Inheritance, Numb. xxvii.

King Henry now fends a Summons, and Demand in the first Place of his Dutchies of Normandy, Aquitain, Guyon, and Anjou; to which the Dauphin of France in Derifion fent him for a Present a Tun of Paris Tennis- Ralls; but the King returned for Answer, that he fhould fhortly fend him London Balls, which fhould fhake Paris Walls. Whilst the English were making Provifion against the French, Sir Robert Humfreville gave the Scots a confiderable Defeat, which the French understanding, with alfo the great Preparations that Henry of England was making against them, they fent over Ambaffadours, who at Winchester made offer of Money and fome Territories; alfo the Princefs Katharine to be given in Marri age to King Henry, fo that he would conclude a Peace; but it was answered, That without the Delivery of the other Dominions belonging to the King's Progenitors, no Pacification was to be made. And when the Ambaffadours had had their Answer given them, the King fent Antilop his Purfuivant at Arms unto Charles King of France with Letters of Defiance; next he made Queen Joan his Mother-inLaw, Regent of the Realm, then drew his Forces to Southampton, commanding his Followers there to attend him on fuch a Day.

The King of France, on the other Part, makes all the Preparations he could to defend himself, and to of fend the King of England. To Grey, a Privy Counfeller; Scroop,

Lord Treafurer; and the Earl of Cambridge, Son of Edmund, Duke of York; he fent, 'tis faid, a Million of Gold to betray King Henry into his Hands, or elfe to murther him; but their Treafon being difcovered, they received the juft Reward of Traytors.

On the 7th of Auguft, 1414, the King of England with 1500 Sail took to the Seas, attended with Thirty Thoufand Soldiers, befides Gunners, Engineers, Artificers, and Labourers, a great Number. And the 15th Day of the fame Month he catt Anchor in the Mouth of the Seyne, about three Miles from Harfleur; where landing his Men, he fell devoutly on his Knees, defiring God's Affiftance to the gaining of his Right. Then made Procla mation, That on Pain of Death, Churches, Church-men, Women, and Children, fhould be fpared from Violence. And after due Encouragement to his Followers, he made Harfleur the firft Effay of his Fortunes in France, it being a Port con veniently feated upon the Mouth of the River Seyne, and a fafe Entrance into his intended Conquest, as well for the landing of Men, as to hin der the Paffage unto Roan and Paris, both which received Traffick by the fame River.

This Town of Harfleur was fur rendred to King Henry, Septembe 22, into which when he firft en tred, he paffed along the Street barefooted, until he came to the Church of St. Martin, where with great Devotion he gave most hum ble Thanks unto Almighty God for that his firft atchieved Enter prize. When the King had conti nued at Harfleur about fourtee Days, he marched 2000 Horf and 13,000 Foot, thro' Caux a Eu, towards Calais; in whic March the French ufed all the

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Endeavours to endamage him; for befides many Skirmishes, they broke down the Bridges where he was to pafs, plafhed the Woods, intrenched the Ways, ftuck Stakes in the Fords, and in Places of Advantage laid Store of Soldiers to impede his Paffage, conveyed all Victuals out of the Countries through which he fhould go; and at Blanchetague, where he had purposed to have paffed over the River Soame, there the French had fortified against him; for which Cause he marched by Worms, with Intent to have paffed the River at Port le Remy; but finding that alfo guarded, he kept along the River to Hargeft; the French Army marching on the other Side. Therefore he ftill marched on by the River Side, till he came to Bathen Court, where he got over his feeble and wearied Army, proceeding on his March till he came to Azin, or Agincourt, which was upon O. 14, where the French, in a Field of Advantage purpofely chofen, had pitched their Banner Royal, with an infinite Hoft, exceeding the English fix Times in Number, fome fay ten Times. King Henry now feeing himfelf fo far engaged, and many of his Men fick of the Flux, 'tis faid, he offered the Surrender of Harfleur, and what elfe he had won, and to make Satisfaction for the Harm done in France, fo as he might have Liberty fafely to depart from Calais: To which the Conftable and Marshal of France were willing; but the young Princes and Nobles refufed all Conditions of Peace. And affuring themselves of Victory, they beforehand difpofed of the English PriConers, prepared a Chariot for the captive King, divided the Prey, commanded the Belis to be rung, in the adjacent Cities and Towns, and Thanks to be given to God that

had delivered the Enemy into fuch 1414. a Place of Advantage; fent to King Henry to know what Ranfom he would give; fent for King Charles and the Dauphin to come in their Perfons to Battle, that fo they might have the Honour of the Victory. And fo bold were the French upon their Numbers and great Strength, that they spent the Night before the Battle in Feafts, Triumphs, and Sports; but the English more wifely in preparing themfelves for the Fight. When Morning was come, the French took the Field, preffing who fhould be foremoft to this eafy (as they thought) Conqueft. Against whom (their greatest Strength confifting in Horfe) King Henry commanded Two Hundred ftrong Bowmen to lodge in a low Meadow, where a deep Ditch full of Water might help to fecure them from the Horse, and the Bufhes cover them from Sight; having Stakes alfo prepared, and flrod with Iron at both Ends, which they were appointed to ftick flope-wife in the Ground, and to remove them upon Occafion to guard them from the Horfe. This done, King Henry ranged his Hoft, difpofing it into three Battles, placing his Bowmen on both Sides the Main, where the King rode himfelf richly accoutred, before whom the Royal Standard was born, and many other Banners in warlike Order. Both Sides being in Readinefs, they a while ftood facing one another. But the King of England refolving to break his Way through his Enemies to Calais, or elfe to die, with a chearful Countenance, and Words full of Courage, he animated his Followers to put forth their utmoft Powers, that After - Ages might know what the Lance, the Ax, the Sword, and the Bow could do in the Hands of the Valiant ;

1414. and that whofoever defired Riches, Honours, and Rewards, here they were to be had. Which Words ended, his Army fell proftrate on the Ground, and committed themfelves to God, every Man taking into his Mouth a Piece of Earth, in Remembrance of his own Mortality, or in lieu of the Sacrament: And then rifing up, the King, with chearful Countenance, commanded his Standard to advance forward, faying, Because our injurious Enemies do attempt to shut up our Way, let us fet upon them in the most Gloricus Trinity, and in the best Hour of the whole Year. Sir Thomas Erping ham, an old experienced Soldier, with a Warder in his Hand, led the Way; who, when he faw Time, threw his Warder up into the Air, whereat the whole Army gave a great Shout. The French kept ftill their own Ground, which the undaunted English perceiving, they advanced towards them, giving another Shout; when immediately the Archers laid in the Meadows, darkned the Air with a Shower of Arrows, and the English Army fell on with admirable Courage, the molt of them also for Nimbleness being but half cloathed, without Hat, and bare leg'd; fo behaving themfelves, that the French Van Guard was inftantly diftreffed, and difordered into fuch a confufed Prefs, that they were not able to use their Weapons at any Advantage.

Wings, which effayed to charge up. on the English, were broken, and forced back for Safety to their main Battle, where they bred both Fear and Confufion. And thofe French Troops which purfued the Archers (who gave back as if forced to fly) came on with their Horfes on the Spur, upon the Jaws of Deftruction; for falling by Multitudes on thofe goring Stakes (left by the Archers

on purpose) they were miferably o verthrown and panched to Death; the English ftill on all Hands hotly purfuing their Advantages. Against whom the Duke of Brabant advanced (hoping by his Example to encourage other) furiously breaking into the English Army, wherein manfully fighting he was flain. With the like Refolution Duke Alanzın preffed into the English Battalion where King Henry fought, and there had flain Humphrey Duke of Glouces ter, had not the King come in to his Refcue, between whom and Alanzen was a hard Contest, Alanzon giving the King a flight Wound, and the King at length ftriking him down to the Ground, whom the Soldiers, in the Heat of Fight, then flew, contrary to the King's Command. The French Rear-Guard feeing the Dif after of their Van and main Battle, to fave themfelves ran away, leav ing the English no more Work to do. The Number of Prifoners taken by the English here was very great. But King Henry perceiving fresh Troops of the King of Sicily's to appear in the Field, and the fame ftrong enough, without any new rallied Forces, to encounter with his wearied Soldiers; to the End therefore that he might not have at once Prifoners to guard, and an Enemy to fight, contrary to his generous Nature, he commanded that every Man fhould kill his Prisoner, which was immediately done, certain princi pal Men excepted. Then by his He ralds he commanded thote Troops either forthwith to come and fight with him, elfe to depart the Field either of which if they delayed, he would revenge upon them without Mercy; whereupon they quitted the Field. When the Fight was over, and the Field won, King Henry fell down upon his Knees, and commanded his Army to do the fame,