Biography of Thomas Erpingham 1355-1428

1399 Coronation of Henry IV

1400 Epiphany Rising

1415 Siege of Harfleur

1415 Battle of Agincourt

Around 1355 Thomas Erpingham was born to Thomas Erpingham of Erpingham in Norfolk in Erpingham, Norfolk.

In 1372 Thomas Erpingham (age 17) served under William Ufford 2nd Earl Suffolk (age 34) and was with Ufford in France in 1373.

Around 1380 Thomas Erpingham (age 25) was knighted by John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster (age 39).

In 1380 Thomas Erpingham (age 25) joined John of Gaunt's (age 39) service as an Esquire.

In 1399 Thomas Erpingham (age 44) was appointed Lord Chamberlain of the Household.

Coronation of Henry IV

On 13 Oct 1399 King Henry IV of England (age 32) was crowned IV King England at Westminster Abbey [Map] by Archbishop Thomas Fitzalan aka Arundel (age 46).

Bishop Robert Braybrooke carried the sacraments and said mass. Duke Lancaster and Earl of Leicester Merged with the Crown.

The future King Henry V of England (age 13) carried the Sword Curtana. Thomas Beauchamp 12th Earl Warwick (age 61) and/or John Beaufort 1st Marquess Somerset and Dorset (age 26) carried a sword wrapped in red and bound with golden straps symbolising two-fold mercy. Henry Percy 1st Earl of Northumberland (age 57) carried the Lancaster Sword.

Thomas Percy 1st Earl of Worcester (age 56) carried the Steward's baton. Thomas Erpingham (age 44) carried a Sword.

Edmund Stafford 5th Earl Stafford (age 21) was appointed Knight of the Bath. John Lancaster 1st Duke Bedford (age 10), John Arundell (age 33) and Richard Beauchamp 13th Earl Warwick (age 17) were knighted.

Archbishop Richard Scrope (age 49) attended.

Earl Derby and Earl Lancaster merged with the Crown.

Epiphany Rising

On 12 Jan 1400 Thomas Blount (age 48) was hanged at Oxford, Oxfordshire [Map] by Thomas Erpingham (age 45).

Around 1401 Thomas Erpingham (age 46) was appointed 103rd Knight of the Garter by King Henry IV of England (age 33).

Siege of Harfleur

Chronicle of Gregory 1403-1419. 16 Aug 1415. and the xvj day of the same monythe he londyd at Kytkawys, and the Satyrday he leyde sege unto the towne of Arflewe, and that was the Satyrday nexte aftyr of the Assompsyon of oure Lady; and the sege contynuyd unto the Sonday nexte be fore the feste of Synt Mychelle, on the whiche Sonday the towne of Arflewe was delyveryd uppe to the kyng, that was xxij day of Septembre. But hit ys to wyte that the Tewysday before, that ys to saye the xvj day of the same monythe, at xij of the clocke whytheynne nyght, the lordys that were the capytaynys and governowrys of the towne, that ys to wete the Lorde Gawcorte14, the Lorde Tutvyle, and moo othyr lordys, sende owte herodys of armys unto the Duke of Clarens (age 26), prayng hym at the reverens of God that he wolde of hys hyghe lordeschippe that he wolde graunte them lyve and leve for to trete whythe what personys that the kyng wolde a-sygne unto hem; and the kyng at the reverens of God and at hyre requeste he assygnyde the Duke of Exceter [Note. Unclear as to who this is? Possibly Thomas Beaufort 1st Duke Exeter (age 38) who was created Duke the following year?], the Lorde Fehewe, and Syr Thomas Erpyngham (age 60), to hyre whatt they wolde say and desyre. And they desyryd that the kyng wolde nought warre on them fro that oure of mydnyght unto the Sonday nexte aftyr the feste of Synt Mychell, and but hyt were rescwyd by batayle by that day by the Frenysche kyng or by the Dolfynne, ellys at that daye to delyver the towne unto the kynge, and they to have hyr lyvys and hyr goodys. Ande the kyng sende hem worde yf that they wolde delivery the towne on the morne aftyr, be the oure of mydnyght a bove sayde, with owte any condyscyon, he wolde accepte hyt, and in non othyr wyse he bade hem for to trete. Ande yette the Fraynysche lordys prayde our lordys that they wolde fochesave to be-seche the kynge at the reverens of God and of oure Lady that he wolde graunte them respyte fro the same Twysday at nyght unto the Sonday nexte aftyr tylle one owre aftyr none; and in the mayne tyme the lordys that were captaynys of the towne to come to the kynge whithe xxiiij knyghtys and squyers with hem, of the moste suffycyent men whithe in the towne, and they to be sworne on Goddys body opynly before alle the pepylle. But yf15 hit soo were that the Fraynysche kynge or the Dolfynne rescwyde hem by that Sonday by the owre of none, othyr ellys a-non aftyr none, they for to delyvery the towne to the kyng and alle hyr bodys and goodys to don whythe hem what so hem evyr lyste, whythe16 any condiscyon. Whythe that the kynge sufferde hem to sende unto Frauns viij personys owte of the towne lettyng hym wytte in what plytte that they stode yn, and the kyng grauntyd hem; and uppe the Wanysday by [th]e mone the lordys come owte, and xxij knyghtys and squyers whythe hem; and thenne come the prosessyon solempny and stately, whithe xxiiij copys of clothe of golde by-fore Goddys body, whythe many worschipfulle lordys, knyhtis, and squyers, and othyr multytude of pepylle from [th]e kyngys tente, solempny and stately as evyr was done suche a thyng be-for tyme. But the kyng was nott here present. And the Franysche lordys made thare hyr othys a-pon the sacrament; and, the othys done, the Fraynysche lordys were brought unto the kyngys tente, and there they dynyd in the kyngys halle, but in alle thys tyme they sawe nought the kynge. And whanne that they hadde etyn they departyd and delyveryd to sartayne for to kepe yn ostage tylle the Sonday on none, as hyt was a cordyment i-made before tyme whenne that they toke hyr othys. And the Sonday at the same owre a-signyd the kyng hadde a tente phyght a-pone a hylle be-fore the towne, and there he sate in his estate, ryally, and alle hys lordys aboute hym. And thenne come the Fraynysche lordys, with lxiiij whythe hem of the moste suffycyentt men that were whythe yn the towne, to the kyngys owne propyr person, and delyveryd uppe the keyes of the towne and hyr boodys and hyr goodys to the kynges grace, whithe owte any condyscyon. And thys was the xxij day of Septembre, the yere of our Lorde Ml cccc xv.

Note 14. Sawcortein our MS. by a misreading; Gawcourte in Vit.

Note 15. But if, i. e. unless.

Note 16. whythe. withoute, Vit.

Battle of Agincourt

On 25 Oct 1415 King Henry V of England (age 29) defeated the French army at the Battle of Agincourt. King Henry V of England (age 29) commanded the Main Battle. Thomas Camoys 1st Baron Camoys (age 64) commanded the Rearguard.

Richard de Vere 11th Earl of Oxford (age 30) commanded. Humphrey Lancaster 1st Duke Gloucester (age 25) was wounded, and was protected by his brother King Henry V of England (age 29).

Edward York 2nd Duke of York 1st Duke Albemarle (age 42), commander of the Vanguard, was killed; the most senior English casualty. Duke Albemarle aka Aumale, Earl of Rutland and Earl Cork extinct. Richard Plantagenet 3rd Duke York (age 4) inherited his estates including Conisbrough Castle [Map].

John Fortescue (age 35), Dafydd Gam Brecon (age 35) and Edward Burnell (age 44) and Roger Vaughan of Bredwardine (age 38) were killed.

Michael de la Pole 3rd Earl Suffolk (age 21) was killed. His brother William "Jackanapes" de la Pole 1st Duke of Suffolk (age 19) succeeded 4th Earl Suffolk.

The English included: Louis Robbessart (age 25), Richard Beauchamp 13th Earl Warwick (age 33), William Botreaux 3rd Baron Botreaux (age 26), William Bourchier 1st Count Eu (age 41), John Cornwall 1st Baron Fanhope 1st Baron Milbroke (age 51), Edward Courtenay (age 30), Ralph Cromwell 3rd Baron Cromwell (age 12), Thomas Dutton (age 19), Edmund Ferrers 6th Baron Ferrers of Chartley (age 29), Roger Fiennes (age 31), Henry Fitzhugh 3rd Baron Fitzhugh (age 57), John Grey (age 28), John Grey 1st Earl Tankerville (age 31), William Harrington (age 42) as the King's Standard Bearer, Walter Hungerford 1st Baron Hungerford (age 37), Piers Legh (age 26) (wounded), Alfred Longford, Thomas Montagu 1st Count Perche 4th Earl Salisbury (age 27), Thomas Morley 6th Baron Marshal 5th Baron Morley (age 22), John Rodney, Richard Scrope 3rd Baron Scrope of Bolton (age 22), Robert Strelley (age 18), James Tuchet 5th Baron Audley, 2nd Baron Tuchet (age 17), Robert Umfraville (age 52), Thomas West 2nd Baron West (age 35), Robert Willoughby 6th Baron Willoughby (age 30). Thomas Erpingham (age 60) commanded the archers. Thomas Rempston (age 26) was present. Thomas Strickland (age 48) carried the Banner of St George.

Thomas Tunstall (age 57) was killed.

The Welsh included: William ap Thomas "Blue Knight of Gwent" Herbert (age 35), Walter Sais (age 95), Roger Vaughan (age 70) and his son Roger Vaughan (age 5). Owen Tudor (age 15) is believed to have been present as a squire.

The French army suffered significant casualties. Charles Albret (age 46), Philip Valois II Count Nevers (age 26), John of Bar (age 35), Jacques Chatillon (age 48), David Rambures (age 51) and his three sons: Jean Rambures, Hugues Rambures, Philippe Rambures, Waleran Luxemburg (age 60) and Hector de Chartres were killed.

Charles Valois Duke Orléans (age 20) was captured by Richard Waller (age 20) for which he was knighted on the battlefield by King Henry V of England (age 29).

John Bourbon I Duke Bourbon (age 34) and Charles Artois Count Eu (age 21) were captured.

Robert of Bar Count Soissons Count Marle (age 25) was killed. His daughter Jeanne of Bar Countess Soissons succeeded Countess Soissons 1367.

Edward of Bar III Duke of Bar (age 38) was killed. His brother Cardinal Louis of Bar (age 38) succeeded I Duke Bar.

John Valois I Duke Alençon was killed. His son John Valois II Duke Alençon (age 6) succeeded II Duke Alençon.

Frederick Metz I Count Vaudémont (age 47) was killed. His son Antoine Count of Vaudémont (age 15) succeeded Count Vaudémont.

Anthony Valois Duke Brabant (age 31) was killed. His son John Valois IV Duke Brabant (age 12) succeeded IV Duke Brabant. Jacqueline Wittelsbach Duchess Brabant and Gloucester (age 14) by marriage Duchess Brabant.

Jean II Le Maingre "Boucicaut" (age 49) was captured.

Georges de La Trémoille (age 33) was captured.

On 27 Jun 1428 Thomas Erpingham (age 73) died without issue.