History of the Battle of Agincourt: The Expedition of Henry the Fifth into France in 1415

Making History. The Home of 99p/99c History Books.. In 1414, Henry the Fifth swore over the body of his late father to assert that claim to the crown of France, which his great-grandfather, urged with such confidence and success.. This is the story of that assertion and Henry's attempt to gain the kingdom of France by blade of sword and arrows of his longbowmen.. Compiled in 1833, this history of the famous battle of 1415 is told through contemporary chroniclers on both the English and French sides.. After briefly describing the grounds upon which Henry pretended to justify his invasion of France, an account is given of the preparations for it, by levying men and materiel as well as by raising the necessary funds.. "The general historian of England," writes the author Sir Harris Nicolas to justify his method, "can do little more than give a correct outline of the principal affairs; but it is the duty of a writer whose object is confined to one event, to introduce into his work every thing by which it can be illustrated. Individual conduct, letters, and all the usual materials for biography possess strong claims to his attention, and require to be woven, either entire or in parts into his narrative. It is only from such materials, from a critical examination of his authorities, and from a careful investigation of dates, distances, and minute facts, that he can hope to arrive at just conclusions, to reconcile conflicting testimony, or from the mass, sometimes of prejudiced, often of ignorant Chroniclers, to compose a true and consistent statement.". Sir Harris Nicolas is brilliantly thorough account of one of the most famous battles of English history.. Sir Harris Nicolas (1799-1848) was a lawyer, nobleman and antiquary who worked at the British Museum. His most important work concerns the medals of honour awarded to members of the British Empire.