And so really, was this the propaganda of the day? What's going on?

Well, the propaganda of the day is Shakespeare describes the manufacturing of propaganda.

I mentioned at one point rumor painted with tongues.

He's actually from Henry IV Part 2, but the function of rumor painted with tongues is to tell lies.

Now, the narrator in the Henry, Henry V play is there to issue the patriotic propaganda, and it's immediately contradicted by what happens on the stage.

For instance, at one point with the, "And down goes all before them at Harfleur." Well, no, down doesn't go all before them.

It's actually a negotiated surrender after a period of time.

How on earth did you get a Harley-Davidson into here, [laughs] please?