Thomas Erpingham

Sir Thomas Erpingham was an English knight, immortalised as a character in the play "Henry V" by William Shakespeare, as an officer in the King Henry's army. For a while Sir Thomas Erpingham supported John Wycliffe's then heretical campaign for the promotion of the English rendition of the Holy Bible, but is best remembered for his military service.

Erpingham’s career as a soldier

Erpingham’s career as a soldier led him to serve in France during the Hundred Years War, in Spain, in Scotland against the Scots, in Prussia and The Holy Land, and spanned nearly 50 years. Beginning with his invasion of Aquitaine under the Black Prince in 1368, concluding with his decisive role at Agincourt, his military career was linked with the Lancastrian Dynasty.

Thomas joined John of Gaunt's service in 1380 as an esquire, and was knighted by him. He followed Gaunt to Spain in pursuit of the throne of Castile. After becoming a retainer of Gaunt's, Erpingham served in the Scottish campaign of 1385, against the Duke of Brittany at the relief of Brest in 1385, he fought again in Spain in 1386. Erpingham went thus from Aquitaine in 1368 with his father, and the Black Prince, to Scotland in 1385 and also in 1400.

After 10 years he joined Henry Bolingbroke, then simply Earl of Derby, and John of Gaunt's son, on his crusade to Lithuania to fight with the Teutonic Knights in an attempt to convert the Lithuanians to Christianity, accompanying the same on the crusade to Prussia in 1391 and on through the Holy Land.

In 1392 he accompanied Henry on a journey from Prussia to Jerusalem, where it is thought he obtained the Chasuble, now in the possession of the Victoria and Albert Museum, during his return through Italy.

Erpingham accompanied John, Duke of Lancaster, to Spain, in 1399, and was in all of the wars of King Henry IV and King Henry V. Erpingham further demonstrated his loyalty by accompanying Bolingbroke into exile in 1398, entrusting his lands and property to Sir Robert Berney, but when John of Gaunt died in 1399, King Richard II seized the Erpingham estates.

His considerable service to John of Gaunt and Henry Bolingbroke, on the field, and in exile contributed significantly to the establishment of the House of Lancaster upon the English throne.

Upon his return to England in July 1399, landing at Ravenspur with but a few hundred men, with Henry Bolingbroke, he was responsible for the arrest of the Bishop Despenser. He then ambushed King Richard II, taking him to the Tower of London, and was one of the Commissioners who accepted Richard's signed resignation as King.

He was appointed Constable of Dover Castle and Warden of the Cinque Ports on 30 September, 1399 (dated by the parliamentary returns for the Cinque Ports he made in reply to the writ dated 30th of September), thus becoming effectively the guardian of the English Channel, which was threatened by invasion from the French King, but he set off on yet another Scottish campaign in 1400, and in 1401 was made a Knight of the Garter, and later a member of the Privy Council, Lord Marshall of England. Sir Thomas Erpingham was next at the siege of Rouen in 1401.

"Erpingham’s appointment to the posts of warden of the Cinque Ports and constable of Dover Castle as well as his elevation to the Order of the Garter were made both as reflections of his martial prowess as well as in recognition of his loyalty to the House of Lancaster."

Erpingham village

Erpingham village and parish is situated four miles to the north of Aylsham, and gives its name to the adjoining Hundred, which was held by the family of Sir Thomas Erpingham for many generations.

The construction of the church of St. Mary in Erpingham was begun by Sir Thomas Erpingham, and finished by Lord Bardolph.

Erpingham's last resting place

Sir Thomas Erpingham was a significant benefactor to the city of Norwich, where in 1420 he had built the cathedral gate which bears his name, opposite the west door of the Cathedral leading into Cathedral Close.

A kneeling statue of Sir Thomas Erpingham is found in a niche in the center of the tall flint-faced gable of the Erpingham Gate at Norwich Cathedral, where he is buried on the north side of the presbytery.

Family

Sir Thomas Erpingham, Knight of the Garter (KG): (born 1357; died 1428) was the father of Sir Thomas Erpingham having married Joan Clopton of Wickhambrook, and is buried on the north side of the presbytery at Norwich Cathedral, Norfolk.

It would appear that Joan, the sister of Sir William Clopton had a sister also named Joan who after 1404 married Thomas Erpingham. Erpingham also sired a daughter, by one of these wives who was naturally named Joan (or Juliana), who married Sir William Philip of Dennington.

It is evident he wed twice because a window opposite his chantry once displayed him and his two wives, and the Church records state he is buried with both of his wives.