Henry V – Trouble at home, put right! Now to France for the crown to fight!

In December 1414, with the insurrection of the Lollards dealt with, Henry might have muttered:

‘Oldcastle, Oldcastle, what an irritating old rascal!

To have me captured and toppled, he made a dash!

Where is he now? Just a mere pile of smouldering ash!’

Sir John Oldcastle’s final moments.

The appalling stench of roasted human flesh, was to give way to the irresistible aroma of seasonal delicacies, as the king sat down to Christmas dinner. The chase for Oldcastle had been a long and arduous undertaking, allowing ample time to build up a substantial appetite. So a merry Twelve days of Christmas it was for king and courtiers alike.

France – The Hundred Years War.

As the new year of 1415 dawned with domestic challenges thwarted, Oldcastle now safely reduced to a pile of ashes, Henry’s attention was drawn to France. With every movement of his bodily fibre, the message was:

‘Oh France! Oh France! Oh France!

I must away to there, with my charger, shield and trusty lance!

Through Calais, Gascony, Guienne, Poitou and Ponthieu, I will lead a deadly dance!’

Henry decided that it was high time to reclaim those parts of France that he believed were rightly his. To this endeavour the king applied his qualities of granite-like self-discipline, a resolute determination to see things through and a talent for military organisation.

Preparations for war.

As soon as he became king, Henry initiated a major rearmament programme. He took steps to increase the production of bows and arrows. He already had a plentiful supply of skilled archers, as since the 13th century it had been mandatory for every male to possess a bow and to practise using it.

Soon, forges all over England were busy producing weapons such as lances, pole axes and swords. Iron workers were also working at full capacity, fashioning the relatively new invention, the cannon. This piece of modern technology was often as dangerous to its operatives as it was to those at whom it was directed.

A medieval cannon.

These early artillery soldiers were highly paid, but operating a cannon was a tricky business, particularly in the heat of battle. Many of them lost life or limbs as the cannon balls often exploded before they left the barrels. When the enemy saw this, roaring with derisive laughter, they would cry:

‘Of your own fiery medicine you are now getting a taste!

Next time, handle your cannon with more caution and rather less haste!’

To France.

With preparations complete, Henry sailed for France, landing near the port of Harfleur in Normandy on August 14th 1415. Henry, with his force of 11,000 men, immediately besieged Harfleur which lay on the north side of the Seine estuary. However, the marshy terrain was home to fever-laden insects, who gleefully attached themselves to the visitors and many men fell ill with dysentery.

‘King Henry sayeth to the commander of Harfleur, hand over to me your gate keys!

Whilst the English soldiers were attacked by the river Seine’s diseased fleas!’

Others caught the disease from eating a surfeit of under ripe fruit!

This prevented them from entering the town to insult, revel and loot!’

The English may have lost as many as 2,000 men to the disease. The besieged citizens within Harfleur suffered every bit as badly. The garrison held out valiantly, but eventually surrendered on September 22nd. Henry then expelled a large section of the population in order to make room for English settlers. Like Calais, Henry intended Harfleur to become a small piece of England in the large land mass of France. The port would serve as a launching pad for further conquest.