[Cronos]

you are correct about the common foot soldiers (and Henry's most effective weapon, the Welsh long-bow men)

I distrust Shakespeare's version of the events -- it's good literature but bad history. He wrote at a time when the concept of a nation was full-blown while during the Plantagenet wars the concept of the nation was not so distinct.

[katana]

Historical plays, movies, etc. are almost never even modestly accurate history and most examples are far worse than Henry V. Braveheart for some reason comes immediately to mind.

Writers take famous names and elements of stories, throw in a dash of popular sentiment and their own prejudice, and voila! Historical drama. Shakespeare knew his audience (including a certain Tudor queen) and just did his best to please them. And his best was very good (drama).