History of the Battle of Agincourt

• Harris Nicholas, History of the Battle of Agincourt, and of the expedition of Henry the Fifth into France in 1415; to which is added the Roll of the men at arms in the English army. XVI + 404 + 106 (= 510) pp. London, Johnson & Co., 1833. Retrieved on 2019-11-14.

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An apology for the publication of a History of the Battle of Agincourt could scarcely be prefixed to it without conveying a tacit but severe reflection on the literary taste of the age, for if there be a subject that ought in an eminent degree to excite attention, it is a detailed account of an event which is identified with the military renown of this country. The late Bishop Nicholson truly observed in his “Historical Library,” that Henry the Fifth’s “single victory at Agincourt might have afforded matter for more volumes than have been written on his whole reign.” Since that opinion was expressed, numerous historical documents of the first importance have been brought to light; and, as will be seen by the following pages, many of them present highly valuable information respecting Henry’s first invasion of France. But even if no other data had been found, Bishop Nicholson’s remark would not be less just, for a concentration of all recorded facts relative to that expedition was a desideratum which could only be supplied by a writer making it the sole object of his attention. Dr. Lingard, and Mr. Sharon Turner, have done as much as could be expected in illustration of it, but no one can be ignorant of the difference between writing a history of a particular event, and the Herculean task of examining and relating every material transaction in the annals of this country, from the time of the Romans. The general historian of England can do little more than give a correct outline of the principal affairs; but it is the duty of a writer whose object is confined to one event, to introduce into his work every thing by which it can be illustrated. Individual conduct, letters, and all the usual materials for biography possess strong claims to his attention, and require to be woven, either entire or in parts into his narrative. It is only from such materials, from a critical examination of his authorities, and from a careful investigation of dates, distances, and minute facts, that he can hope to arrive at just conclusions, to reconcile conflicting testimony, or from the mass, sometimes of prejudiced, often of ignorant Chroniclers, to compose a true and consistent statement.

The cause which produced this work as well as the plan upon which it has been written, will be briefly explained.

A research among the MSS. in the British Museum accidentally discovered a list of the Peers, Knights, and Men-at-Arms, who were present at Agincourt. From the interest which it possessed for their descendants, and still more from its containing data for estimating the amount of the English army on that occasion, it was printed and a few pages were intended to be prefixed to it containing a description of the Battle, so as to make a small tract; but it appeared that a history of that victory which would be at all deserving of the appellation, would form an ordinary sized volume. The original idea was therefore abandoned; and it was resolved to collect all which had been said by contemporary writers of both countries on the subject, together with an account of the preparations for the expedition, from the public records.

In the execution of this task, the plan of former historical works has been slightly deviated from; for instead of merely citing the authorities for each assertion, the authorities themselves are translated and given at length; to which the author has prefixed his own narrative, deduced from such contemporary statements as were consistent with each other and with truth.

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