Footnote 651
Enguerrand de Monstrelet: "And the reason for this name
[Battle of the Herrings] was because a great portion of the
English wagons were loaded with herrings and other Lenten
food." (For the original language, see: "Chronique d'Enguerran de Monstrelet: en deux livres, avec pièces justificatives: 1400-1444", Vol. IV, p. 313).
Lent, the forty days before Easter, was a time of fasting
during which meat was forbidden, although fish was allowed
for soldiers in the field. Salt-herring, a common staple in
15th century France, was chosen as the fish of choice in
this case.
Copyright © 2003, Allen Williamson. All rights reserved.