ngry;
but they loved the king, and for his sake, and for the sake of their
country, they were brave in spite of hunger and cold. Though they were
in a strange country and many times outnumbered by their foes, they kept
up a brave heart as Englishmen have done, thank God, many's the good
time, all the world over. So few were they that the Earl of Westmoreland
said, just before the battle,--

"Oh, that we now had here
But one ten thousand of those men in England
That do no work to-day!"

The king came in just as he was saying this, and said--

"No, if we are marked to die, we are enough for our country to lose. If
we are to live, the fewer there are of us the greater share of honour. I
do not covet gold or feasting, or fine garments, but honour I do covet.
Wish not another man from England. I would not lose the honour of this
fight by sharing it with more men than are here, and if any among our
soldiers has no desire to fight, let him go. He shall have a passport
and money to take him away. I should be ashamed to die in such a man's
company. We need not wish for men from England. It is the men in England
who will envy us when they hear of the great crown of honour and glory
that we have won this day. This is Saint Crispin's day. Every man who
fights on this day will remember it and be honoured to the last hour of
his life. Crispin's day shall ne'er go by from this day to the ending of
the world,

But we in it shall be remembered,
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.
And gentlemen in England now abed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhood cheap while any speaks
That fought with us upon St. Crispin's day."

Lord Salisbury came in as the king was saying this. "The French are in
battle order," he said, "and ready to charge upon our men."

"All things are ready," said the king quietly, "if our minds are ready."

"Perish the man whose mind is backward now," said Westmoreland.

"You wish no more for men from England then," said the king smiling.

And Westmoreland, inspired with courage and confidence by the king's
brave speech, answered--"I would to God, my king, that you and I alone
without more help might fight this battle out to-day."

"Why, now you have unwished five thousand m