1Henry’s brothers and sisters were (1) Thomas, Duke of Clarence, born 1389, killed at BaugÉ in Anjou, March 22nd, 1421; (2) John, Duke of Bedford, born 1390, died Regent of France at Rouen, September 14th, 1435; (3) Humphrey, born 1391, died, it was commonly supposed by foul means, early in 1447; (4) Blanche, married to Louis, son of Rupert, King of the Romans; (5) Philippa, married to Eric the Thirteenth, King of Denmark.

2I have to express my special obligations to a pamphlet by Mr. F. Solly-Flood, Q.C., reprinted from the Transactions of the Royal Historical Society. It bears the title of The Story of Prince Henry of Monmouth and Chief-Justice Gascoign, but it discusses fully the whole question of Henry’s character in early life. I am also greatly indebted to the able account of Henry’s campaigns which is to be found in Mr. H.R. Clinton’s From CrÉcy to Assye. Finally I must thank the Provost of Queen’s College, Oxford, for his courtesy in communicating to me some interesting information about Henry’s supposed residence at Oxford, and Major ServantÉ, R.M., for his courtesy in guiding me on a visit which I paid to the field of Agincourt.

3I cannot feel satisfied with Mr. F. Solly-Flood’s explanation that, owing to the Prince’s frequent absences at Calais, his attendance at the Council had been intermittent, and his salary had fallen into arrear. A thousand marks is a large sum, more than a Councillor’s salary for many years could amount to.

4The request seems reasonable enough—viz., that no boat or barge travelling on a river, out of which a person might accidentally fall and so be drowned, should be taken as a deodand, i.e. forfeited to the lord of the manor or the Crown as being a cause or instrument of death.

5Edward’s claim had to encounter the difficulty that, according to its argument, the French crown could not pass to a female (for in that case it would have gone to Joan, Queen of Navarre, the daughter of Louis the Tenth, Charles’s eldest brother), but could pass through a female—that is, through his mother Isabella to himself.

6The demand in money amounted in all to more than a million pounds in the currency of the time. It should be multiplied by fifteen to convert it into present value. The sum would have been considered large, had it not been dwarfed by the enormous ransom exacted from France within the last few years.

7These were taxes on capital, the tenth being payable in town, the fifteenth in the country. But the sum actually levied was not the literal tenth or fifteenth of the property taxed. Burdensome as the imposts certainly were, these payments would have passed all endurance. From before the middle of the fourteenth century these taxes had been commuted for fixed sums. So much was levied from each township or manor.

8This Richard was the Duke of York who was killed after the battle of Wakefield, and whose son was Edward the Fourth.

9A story is told to the effect that on one occasion he passed the place which had been arranged for his quarters. He would not return. He was in his war-coat, and could not go back without displeasing God. The anecdote seems characteristic of the man, and, indeed, to suit the temper which had suggested the march to Calais.

10Contemporary estimates of their numbers vary very much. Monstrelet, who probably drew his information from French sources, puts them at one hundred and fifty thousand. Elsewhere he says that they were more than six times the number of the English. The latter, however, could not have numbered as many as twenty-five or even twenty thousand. There would be a tendency, of course, after the battle to diminish and to exaggerate the numbers engaged. It is certain that the French superiority was very great. More it is impossible to say.

11Charles the Sixth had twelve children, whom it will be convenient to enumerate:—(1) Charles, died in infancy; (2) Charles, died 1400, at the age of nine; (3) Louis, died December 1415—though “stout of body, and skilful in arms,” he had refused to fight at Agincourt; (4) John, died August 1417; (5) Charles, afterwards Charles the Seventh, the “Dauphin” mentioned in the text; (6) Philip, died in infancy; (7) Isabella, second wife of Richard the Second of England, afterwards married to the Duke of Orleans, who was murdered 1407 at the instigation of the Duke of Burgundy; (8) Jane, died in infancy; (9) Mary, took the veil; (10) Jane, married to the Duke of Britanny; (11) Michelle, married to Philip, Count of Charolois, eldest son of the Duke of Burgundy; (12) Katherine, born October 17th, 1400.