Crispin and Crispianus

[steepholm]

How did Henry V happen to know that 25th October was St Crispin's day?

Crispin and Crispinian have never been major saints, but they did have a personal connection to Shakespeare, for they are (among other things) the patron saints of glovemakers, which was of course the profession of Shakespeare's father. As a good Catholic, no doubt John Shakespeare kept the feast. 25th October was important to Will as the feast of Crispin long before he knew it as the date of Agincourt.

"This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered."

Is it fanciful to hear in these lines a little batsqueak of recusant defiance? A sly filial tribute?

This speculation brought to you courtesy of 3am insomnia.

Comments

[tree_and_leaf]

Crispin was also important enough to make it into the BCP calendar (he doesn't rate a collect, so not of the first rank of importance, but he is nonetheless there). I think it's possible that he was less obscure in Shakespeare's day than he is now.