St Peter’s Church at sunset on the eve of Agincourt Day
Archery historian and story-teller Veronica-Mae Soar has composed a very special poem to mark the occasion, that she will read at our event tomorrow:
Wapley. 25th October 2015
Why stand these men beside this ancient tomb?
Their faces solemn and their heads bowed down,
While words from Shakespeare echo in the gloom.
By tomb caparisoned in cloth of red
In honour of Sir John, who served his king,
They stand in silent tribute to the dead.
At Wapley in old Glo’ster’s famous shire.
As we in solemn process gather here,
The bell tolls from St Peter’s ancient spire
People of every age and every sort
From every place, upon St Crispin’s day,
Are come to think and speak of Agincourt.
How on this day 600 years ago
Upon a foreign field, with beating hearts,
King Henry and his army met the foe.
The doughty archers let their arrows fly;
From sturdy bows of yew their shafts were sent
So thick, ‘tis said, they seemed to dark the sky
The royal banner waved above the fray,
In Codrington’s brave hands it fluttered forth;
And many a noble deed was done that day.
O may we not forget as years go by
Warwick and Bedford, Talbot and their kin
Fighting for Henry ‘neath a leaden sky
The choral voices rise to heav’n once more,
Our children hear this tale of yesteryear,
As we muse on the deeds at Azincourt
© Veronica-Mae Soar 2015
s the website of the Wapley Agincourt 600 event which was held on Sunday 25 October 2015 at St Peter’s Church, Wapley, South Gloucestershire.
wapleyagincourt 