Hall's Crispin's Day Speech
Zach Davis
Shakespeare’s King Henry V is the motivational speaker to end all motivational speakers. He’s at his very best in Act Four, Scene Three, the morning of the Battle of Agincourt. In the famous Crispin’s Day speech, he inspires his tired, sick men to an astonishing victory over a much larger French army.
We know other English monarchs have delivered rousing orations. But do we know what might actually have been said on that October morning at Agincourt, October 25, 1415? In his 1548 history, Edward Hall gives us a sense by presenting the speeches of the rival commanders at Agincourt.
In a very likely fabricated moment, Hall has the French Constable address his men. The Constable tells them their victory is guaranteed, that the English are too cold and hungry to put up much fight. "Therfore nowe, it is no mastery to vanquishe and ouerthrowe them, beyng both wery & weake." Sensing this isn’t enough, he says, "But imagyn that thei wer lusty, strong and couragious, and then ponder wisely the cause of their comyng hither." He trots out the usual scary stories about enemy soldiers committing murder and rape. Then he changes gears and begins describing the wonderful loot his soldiers can expect to take from their fallen foes. He concludes: "And of this thyng you be sure, that fly they cannot, and to yelde to our fight, of necessitie they shalbe compelled. Therfore good felowes take courage to you, the victory is yours, the gaine is yours & the honor is yours without great laboure or much losse" (Fol. Xlviii r.).
One feels that, while he seems to have an admirable grasp of human nature, he has not fully realized the job of oration is to make humans want to be better than what they suspect themselves to be. His soldiers are not likely to take pride in killing the weak. Nor does it seem likely they will work hard once told their victory will come easily. And while money is always a high priority, it does not exercise the same hold on the imagination as fame or honor. One has a chance to earn money each day at work; the chance for eternal reputation is rare and worth striving for.
Hall’s Henry, on the other hand, dwells on positive sentiments like "ioy," emphasizes God’s compassion, and marvels at how well everything is turning out. He says "almighty God … hath appoincted a place so mete and apt for our purpose as we our selues could nether haue deuised nor wished" (Fol. Xlviii v.). He makes sure his men hear they are "in the right, whiche euer of God is fauored." He develops several strategies to cope with the discouraging imbalance in the French and English forces: "if you be victors and ouercome your enemies, your strength and vertue shalbe spred and dispersed through the whole world: if you ouerpressed with so great a multitude shal happe to be slaine or taken, yet neither reproache can be to you ascribed … victory is the gift of God and consisteth not in the puissaunce of men" (Fol. Xlix r.). In other words: You’re an eternal hero if you win, and it’s not your fault if you lose.
The interesting thing is that, in spite of the superficial differences, Henry is using the same trick as the Constable. He’s offering his men the chance of victory and reward without much work, since ultimately God is the one calling the shots. But the reward Henry is offering is one of glory, not gold. He is ennobling his men. The best the Constable can do is enrich them.
In his speech, Henry establishes two relationships that the Constable neglects. First, he reminds his men they are beloved of God. It makes them feel favored and protected. It helps them go into battle cheerful and optimistic. Second, he reminds his men their reputations will grow based on their deeds. They have the chance to fight their way into the top ranks of renowned warriors.
It is probably true that, once battle commences, the soldiers listening to these speeches will be most concerned with surviving and snagging any loot they can get their hands on. The Constable acknowledges this base desire. What Henry says makes his men want to be better than that. He creates in them instead a desire to deserve God’s love and future minstrels’ praises. Maybe, in the chilly October morning, wishes like that were enough to make the difference.
We know other English monarchs have delivered rousing orations. But do we know what might actually have been said on that October morning at Agincourt, October 25, 1415? In his 1548 history, Edward Hall gives us a sense by presenting the speeches of the rival commanders at Agincourt.
In a very likely fabricated moment, Hall has the French Constable address his men. The Constable tells them their victory is guaranteed, that the English are too cold and hungry to put up much fight. "Therfore nowe, it is no mastery to vanquishe and ouerthrowe them, beyng both wery & weake." Sensing this isn’t enough, he says, "But imagyn that thei wer lusty, strong and couragious, and then ponder wisely the cause of their comyng hither." He trots out the usual scary stories about enemy soldiers committing murder and rape. Then he changes gears and begins describing the wonderful loot his soldiers can expect to take from their fallen foes. He concludes: "And of this thyng you be sure, that fly they cannot, and to yelde to our fight, of necessitie they shalbe compelled. Therfore good felowes take courage to you, the victory is yours, the gaine is yours & the honor is yours without great laboure or much losse" (Fol. Xlviii r.).
One feels that, while he seems to have an admirable grasp of human nature, he has not fully realized the job of oration is to make humans want to be better than what they suspect themselves to be. His soldiers are not likely to take pride in killing the weak. Nor does it seem likely they will work hard once told their victory will come easily. And while money is always a high priority, it does not exercise the same hold on the imagination as fame or honor. One has a chance to earn money each day at work; the chance for eternal reputation is rare and worth striving for.
Hall’s Henry, on the other hand, dwells on positive sentiments like "ioy," emphasizes God’s compassion, and marvels at how well everything is turning out. He says "almighty God … hath appoincted a place so mete and apt for our purpose as we our selues could nether haue deuised nor wished" (Fol. Xlviii v.). He makes sure his men hear they are "in the right, whiche euer of God is fauored." He develops several strategies to cope with the discouraging imbalance in the French and English forces: "if you be victors and ouercome your enemies, your strength and vertue shalbe spred and dispersed through the whole world: if you ouerpressed with so great a multitude shal happe to be slaine or taken, yet neither reproache can be to you ascribed … victory is the gift of God and consisteth not in the puissaunce of men" (Fol. Xlix r.). In other words: You’re an eternal hero if you win, and it’s not your fault if you lose.
The interesting thing is that, in spite of the superficial differences, Henry is using the same trick as the Constable. He’s offering his men the chance of victory and reward without much work, since ultimately God is the one calling the shots. But the reward Henry is offering is one of glory, not gold. He is ennobling his men. The best the Constable can do is enrich them.
In his speech, Henry establishes two relationships that the Constable neglects. First, he reminds his men they are beloved of God. It makes them feel favored and protected. It helps them go into battle cheerful and optimistic. Second, he reminds his men their reputations will grow based on their deeds. They have the chance to fight their way into the top ranks of renowned warriors.
It is probably true that, once battle commences, the soldiers listening to these speeches will be most concerned with surviving and snagging any loot they can get their hands on. The Constable acknowledges this base desire. What Henry says makes his men want to be better than that. He creates in them instead a desire to deserve God’s love and future minstrels’ praises. Maybe, in the chilly October morning, wishes like that were enough to make the difference.