Something for the weekend. Agincourt Carol. Tomorrow is the 600th anniversary of the battle of Agincourt. You can always tell what is important to the population of a pre-literate society such as England in the 15th century by their songs. Henry V and his underdog victory against the French were immensely popular with the balladeers of the day and they were instrumental in keeping that victory as a valued part of English history as the years rolled by.
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- Owre Kynge went forth to Normandy
- With grace and myght of chyvalry
- Ther God for hym wrought mervelusly;
- Wherefore Englonde may call and cry
- Chorus
- Deo gratias!
- Deo gratias Anglia redde pro victoria!
- He sette sege, forsothe to say,
- To Harflu towne with ryal aray;
- That toune he wan and made afray
- That Fraunce shal rewe tyl domesday.
- Chorus
- Then went hym forth, owre king comely,
- In Agincourt feld he faught manly;
- Throw grace of God most marvelsuly,
- He had both feld and victory.
- Chorus
- Ther lordys, erles and barone
- Were slayne and taken and that full soon,
- Ans summe were broght into Lundone
- With joye and blisse and gret renone.
- Chorus
- Almighty God he keep owre kynge,
- His peple, and alle his well-wyllynge,
- And give them grace wythoute endyng;
- Then may we call and savely syng:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QU7kGaDLW9U
This could sound real cool if the balladeers were first treated to an ample supply of pub-juice.