Toward heaven, to pardon blood; and I have built
Two chantries, where the sad and solemn priests

Sing still for Richard's soul. More will I do :
Though all that I can do is nothing worth;
Since that my penitence comes after all,
Imploring pardon."

The reinterment of the body of Richard II., "with all funeral dignity suitable to his estate," is mentioned by Holinshed.*

In the next scene, which again takes us to the French camp, where the over-confident commanders continued their boastful anticipations of victory over the half-famished English, the poet has introduced a circumstance very natural in itself;—

"Constable. Hark! how our steeds for present service neigh!"

But it is curious that one of the narratives, written by a person present with the English army, says that

"On that night, of all the host of France, scarcely a horse was heard to neigh. I know it for a truth, from Messire John, the bastard of Varoin, Lord of Forestel, for he was in that army on the part of the French, and I was in the other on the part of the English."†

*Hol. 62. Otterb. 274.

+ St. Remy, in Nicolas, 103 and 249.

VOL. I.

K

Returning to the English camp, Shakspeare introduces Bedford, Exeter, and Westmoreland among the commanders present; though Bedford had been left as Regent in England, and Exeter was in command at Harfleur. Westmoreland was at his post as Warden of the Scottish marches; * to him, therefore, is improperly ascribed the wish for more men from England, which Shakspeare found in Holinshed. Contemporaries say, that it was uttered by Sir Walter Hungerford.†

"It is said that as the king heard one of the host utter his wish to another, thus:- I would to God there were with us now so many good soldiers as are at this hour within England!' He answered, 'I would not wish a man more here than I have! We are, indeed, in comparison with the enemies, but a few; but if God of his clemency do favour us and our just cause (as I trust he will), we shall speed well enough. But let no man ascribe victory to our own strength and might, but only to God's assistance, to whom I have no doubt we shall worthily have cause to give thanks therefore. And if so be that for our offences' sakes we shall be delivered into the hands of our enemies, the less number we be, the less damage shall the realm of England sustain; but if we should fight in trust of multitude of men, and so get the victory (our minds being

* Nicolas, P. 342.

+ The first Lord Hungerford. Nicolas, 241.

prone to pride), we should thereupon, peradventure, ascribe the victory not so much to the gift of God as to our own puissance, and thereby provoke his high indignation and displeasure against us; and, if the enemy get the upper hand, then should our realm and country suffer more damage, and stand in further danger. But, be you of good comfort, and show yourselves valiant. God and our just quarrel shall defend us, and deliver these, our proud adversaries, with all the multitude of them which you see (or, at the least, the most of them), into our hands.'"*

This passage, which is found nearly word for word in Elmham,† produced a well-known speech from King Henry.

What's he that wishes so?

My cousin Westmoreland? No, my fair cousin :
If we are mark'd to die, we are enough

To do our country loss; and, if to live,

The fewer men, the greater share of honour.

God's will! I pray thee, wish not one man more.
By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,

Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost:

It yearns me not if men my garments wear;
Such outward things dwell not in my desires:
But, if it be a sin to covet honour,

I am the most offending soul alive.

No 'faith, my coz, wish not a man from England;

* Hol. 80.

† P. 61; and see Nicolas, 242.

God's peace ! I would not lose so great an honour,
As one man more, methinks, would share from me,
For the best hope I have. O do not wish one more :
Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through the host,
That he, which hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart; his passport shall be made,
And crowns for convoy put into his purse:
We would not die in that man's company,
That fears his fellowship to die with us."

What follows should, perhaps, have been uttered after the battle; but I will not curtail this speech, which is one of those by which English youth were, in the days of Shakspeare's more exclusive ascendancy, excited to warlike feelings.

"This day is call'd the feast of Crispian :

He that outlives this day and comes safe home
Will stand a tip-toe when this day is named,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his friends,
And say-to-morrow is St. Crispian :

Then will he strip his sleeve, and show his scars,
And say, these wounds I had on Crispin's day.

Old men forget, yet shall not all forget,

But they'll remember such advantages,

What feats they did that day. Then shall our names, Familiar in their mouth as household words

Henry the King, Bedford and Exeter,

Warwick and Talbot,† Salisbury and Gloster,
Be in their flowing cups freshly remember'd.
This story shall the good man teach his son,
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
But we in it shall be remember'd.

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers:
For he, to-day, that sheds his blood with me,
Shall be my brother, be he ne'er so vile;
This day shall gentle his condition.

And gentlemen in England, now a-bed,

Shall think themselves accursed they were not here; And hold their manhoods cheap, while any speaks, That fought with us upon St. Crispin's day."

Johnson, after observing upon this speech, that Henry prays like a Christian, and swears like a heathen, reflects morally that—

We are apt to promise to ourselves a more lasting memory than the changing state of human things admits. This prediction is not verified; the feast of Crispin passes by without any mention of Agincourt.

* I have already said that Bedford and Exeter were not at Agincourt, neither was Warwick, having gone home on sick leave from Harfleur.

† I presume that this was Gilbert Lord Talbot, uncle of the first Earl of Shrewsbury; but it may have been Sir William Talbot. See Nicolas, p. 40, 127-8.

I am told by Sir Harris Nicolas, that at Stroud, near Rochester, there is an old public-house with the sign of St. Crispin and Crispianus.