Our king went forth to Normandy

Our king went forth to Normandy. English, 15th-century, author unknown. This is known as the ‘Agincourt hymn’. It was written to celebrate the campaign of Henry V in France, culminating in the victory at Agincourt on St Crispin’s Day (25 October) 1415. It had stanzas in English, beginning as above, and ‘Burdens’ or refrains in Latin, beginning ‘Deo gracias, Anglia, redde pro victoria’. Burden I begins, and Burden II ends each stanza, as follows: Deo gracias, Anglia, redde pro Victoria Our king went forth to Normandy With grace and might of chivalry; There God for him wrought marv’lously Wherefore Englond may call and cry: Deo gracias. Deo gracias, Anglia, redde pro Victoria (X 3) This...