Agincourt - 25 October

Centurions,

 

I'm indebted to centurions Mike of Texas and James of Wisconsin this day. 

 

About two months ago Mike put me on to the movie Henry V in response to a post of James. I bought the movie, which is  Shakespeare's the Life of King Henry V   and read the history of the Battle of Agincourt and was simply overwhelmed (see footage of Henry's speech here  , and praise  here, ). Today James wrote to friends and reminded us that tomorrow commemorates the Battle of Argincourt - and more.

 

In closing his letter, Mike had used a Latin phrase that I did not know.. but seemed to recognize. It came from a man at the end of the movie singing the Latin hymn Non Nobis  , and in my prayer book, Psalm 115 is labeled in Latin, Non nobis, Domine.... Not unto us, O Lord...

 

After discovering the results of the miraculous victory, Shakespeare has Henry V to say

 

"Do we all holy rites;
Let there be sung 'Non nobis' and 'Te Deum;'
The dead with charity enclosed in clay:
And then to Calais; and to England then:
Where ne'er from France arrived more happy men.
"--

 The actual words to this hymn are:

 

Non nobis Domine non nobis,

     Sed Nomini tuo da gloriam

     Sed Nomini tuo da gloriam.....

 

We know that Non Nobis did not exist as a hymn in Henry's day. There is speculation that the hymn was written for this play (See more here.) What is more important perhaps from a literary and scriptural perspective is the link between the documented Agincourt victory and the inspiration for the hymn... perhaps Psalm 113 where the phrase is seen in verse 9 was the inspiration-the defeat of Egypt at the Red Sea.  What is for certain is that Shakespeare intended to portray Henry as giving credit to God for the Victory, as did many our our centurions of old, including Constantine.

 

"And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by, From this day to the ending of the world, But we in it shall be remember'd; We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he to-day that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother"

[Shakespear's Henry V]

 

 I suggest we pause today and remember Agincourt. We might also contemplate our current struggle, or remember miraculous victories of the past, or perhaps watch the movie Henry V,  read through Shakespeare's play, reflect on an old veteran's thoughts ,  sing Psalm 113 or Psalm 115, or to read  Kipling's Non Nobis - ,

 

But for certain we all should give the Glory to God.

Sed Nomini tuo da gloriam

 

msc

 

--
"Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another" [St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans 14:19]

IN HOC SIGNO VINCES - TIME DEUM ET OPERARE IUSTITIAM
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