[MR] Wikipedia: Battle of the Herrings

[Garth Groff via Atlantia]

Noble Friends,

No, nothing like the Cod Wars between England and Iceland. The Battle of 
the Herrings, fought on this day in 1429, was a high-casualty fight 
between English archers and French/Scottish forces during the Hundred 
Years War. An English caravan carrying pickled herring and other 
supplies, captained by Sir John Fastolf, had been drawn into a defensive 
circle. Against orders, the small Scottish force charged against the 
wagons and were decimated by English archery. The English then 
counter-attacked, and drove off the disorganized French survivors. 
Nearly the entire Scottish force was killed. They were the last part of 
the official Scottish army fighting in France, though independent 
Scottish companies and mercenaries continued to fight beside the French. 
The Battle of the Herrings was a small and insignificant battle, but it 
continues to live on partly because of its odd name: 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Herrings .

Sir John Fastolf was an interesting figure. He was a noble and largely 
successful second-tier commander during the Hundred Years War, and later 
was the patron of the famous Paston family, leaving them Caister Castle 
(or lawyer John Paston forged Fastolf's will). He is sometimes said to 
be the inspiration for Shakespeare's character Falstaff, and gets a bad 
rap because of his association with this buffoonish character. Compare 
this biography of Fastolf at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Fastolf  
with Shakespeare's character at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falstaff .

Yours Aye,


Lord Mungo Napier, That Crazy Scot