ing him upon his discovery of the plot.(768)

(M406)

A few days later (12th August) he sailed for France and landed near
Harfleur, to which town he laid siege. It offered, however, a stubborn
defence, and it was not until the 18th September that the town
surrendered. On the 22nd Henry sent a long account of the siege and
capture to the mayor and citizens of London, bidding them render humble
thanks to Almighty God for this mercy, and expressing a hope of further
success in the near future.(769)

(M407) (M408)

Early in October the king caused proclamation to be made in the City, that
all and singular knights, esquires and valets who were willing to go with
him to Normandy, should present themselves to his uncle Henry, Bishop of
Winchester and Treasurer of England, who would pay them their wages. By
the same proclamation merchants, victuallers and handicraft-men were
invited to take up their residence in the recently captured town of
Harfleur, where houses would be assigned to them, and where they should
enjoy the same privileges and franchises to which they had always been
accustomed.(770)

(M409) (M410)

The battle of Agincourt was fought on the 25th October, and news of the
joyous victory arrived in England on or before the 28th, on which day--the
Feast of St. Simon and St. Jude--Nicholas Wotton, the recently elected
mayor, was sworn into office at the Guildhall according to custom. On the
following day, therefore, the mayor, aldermen and a large number of the
commonalty made a solemn pilgrimage on foot to Westminster, where they
first made devout thanksgiving for the victory that had been won, and then
proceeded to present the new mayor before the Barons of the Exchequer.
Care is taken in the City records to explain that the procession went on
this occasion on foot, simply and solely for the purpose of marking their
humble thanks to the Almighty and his Saints, and more especially to
Edward the Confessor, who lay interred at Westminster, for the joyful news
which so unexpectedly had arrived. The journey on foot was not to be drawn
into precedent when others succeeded to the mayoralty, nor supplant the
riding in state which had been customary on such occasions.(771) The
reception given to the king by the Londoners on his return from France,
was of so brilliant and varied a character, that one chronicler declares
that a description of it would require a special treatise.(772) On the
16th November he landed at D