Henry V: The Background, Strategies, Tactics and Battlefield Experiences of the Greatest Commanders of History Paperback Read Online Free PDF Page A

retinue - generally categorized
    as men-at-arms or archers. These captains could range from the great magnates
    of England, such as the royal dukes, his brothers, who would bring hundreds
    of men with them in their retinues, to much smaller groups and even
    individuals themselves. Indeed, the Agincourt force is unusual for the
    period in terms of the sheer number of indentures issued, with at least
    320 individuals recorded. For Thomas, Duke of Clarence's expedition to France
    in 1412 there had only been three major retinues - that of Clarence himself,
    the Duke of York and the Earl of Dorset.
    The balance of the forces assembled had also changed. Earlier in the
    Hundred Years War the standard retinue had been fairly equally balanced
    between men-at-arms and archers, but by the time of the Agincourt
    campaign this balance had shifted dramatically, so that there were now
    some three archers for every single man-at-arms. This may have been due
    to an appreciation of the combat power of English and Welsh archery on
    the battlefield, something that Henry must have personally appreciated
    following his experiences at the battle of Shrewsbury, but it might also have
    to do with the fact that Henry was short of funds, and archers were cheaper
    to hire than men-at-arms. Although Henry's chancellor, Henry Beaufort,
    had announced his intentions in the parliament of December 1414 and
    asked for (and been granted) a double subsidy, only half of this was due in
    February 1415 with the other half in February 1416. The king therefore made
    up the shortfall through loans from the city of London and numerous other
    sources, giving his personal jewels as security.
    In all, the army assembled at Southampton consisted of some 12,000 men,
    out of which perhaps 3,000 would have been men-at-arms. On top of this
    there would have been numerous non-combatants accompanying the army

    as servants, miners, carpenters and other support roles. Leading this host
    were the peers of England. Although their feudal obligations had drifted away
    over time, it is clear that Henry felt he should be accompanied by the
    aristocracy of England and, with the exception of some of the marcher lords
    who were to guard the Scottish border and watch the Welsh, they responded,
    with some 26 peers providing over 5,000 men for the campaign.
    One final embassy from the French came over, meeting Henry just outside
    Winchester on 1 July 1415. This last set of negotiations went the same way as
    the others with some substantive discussions over the royal marriage, but the
    territorial concessions that Henry required were not forthcoming and the
    French went away empty handed. On 6 July Henry formally declared war on
    Charles VI, having left his kingdom in the care of his middle brother, John,
    Duke of Bedford, made his will, and dealt with an attempted aristocratic coup
    d'etat (see pp.52-53). His armada set sail for France on Sunday 11 August with
    Henry's Trinite Royale leading the way. Although three ships caught fire and
    burnt to the water line, swans - one of Henry V's personal devices - were seen
    swimming after the fleet as they passed the Isle of Wight - a good omen for
    the operation to come.
    The siege of Harfleur
    Henry's destination was the Seine Estuary and, more specifically, the town of
    Harfleur. This fortified port was described by the Burgundian chronicler
    Enguerran Monstrelet as 'the key to the sea of all Normandy', and as such it
    made an ideal target for Henry, controlling the traffic down the river Seine
    giving access to Rouen some 65km (40 miles) up river, and Paris 130km
    (80 miles) beyond that.
    Henry's fleet arrived some 5km (3 miles) away from Harfleur on the
    afternoon of 13 August and, having summoned a council aboard his
    flagship, he gave orders that no one was to land before him on pain of
    death. Henry went ashore early on the 14th and the disembarkation of the
    English army took a further three days during which time Henry issued
    Sailing for