Crispin and Crispinian of Soissons

Tradition makes them brothers, come from Rome to evangelise Gaul around 285 and settled at Soissons, where they made shoes by day and preached in the evening, asking nothing of anyone. Denounced under Maximian, they were tortured and beheaded. None of this is attested before the sixth century, and historians hold their passion to be late; what is certain is the reach of their cult. Guilds of shoemakers and tanners took them as patrons across Europe, carried their banner and kept 25 October as a holiday — "Saint Crispin" meant both the feast day and the cobbler's kit of tools. Shakespeare makes that day the day of Agincourt, in Henry V's speech.