Sir Thomas de Swinburne (1357-1412)

by Zhao Luyang 赵鲁阳 (See Chinese translation)

Sir Thomas de Swinburne (see alternative names) was one of England’s most important military commanders under Richard II (r. 1377-1399). Born as the first son of Sir Robert Swinburne and his wife Agnes Felton, Sir Thomas held a number of posts, first in the north of England and then in France. He was also a major figure in the defence of Gascony against the French Crown. He was knighted in 1380, and became joint keeper of the strategically important castle of Roxburgh with Sir Richard Tempest (ca. 1356-1427/8) about five years later. In 1385, both Sir Thomas and Sir Richard served in the army of Richard II under the command of Henry, Earl of Northumberland. In 1386, Sir Thomas was put in sole command at Roxburgh.

In 1390, Sir Thomas became bailiff of the duke of York's lordship of Tynedale, and warden of Guînes castle, Pas de Calais, a post he held until 1393. In 1391, he married his wife Elizabeth, widow of Sir Thomas Trivet, a former knight of the chamber and a soldier and admiral of distinction. This marriage strengthened his connection to the court of Richard II. In the summer of 1392 he appointed a relative to manage his lands in the north and went on pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

Returning to England in 1393, he was elected to Parliament in that year. He was given the prestigious post of captain of Calais the following year until 1395. In 1397, he became keeper of Hammes castle, post that was confirmed by Henry IV (r. 1399-1413) on 30th October 1399.

Between 1403 and 1410 he served as an envoy to France three times, as well as to Flanders, and Castile. In 1403 he attempted to negotiate a treaty for a truce with the French and the Flemish, but by September 1404 communication with the French had broken off and the effort was unsuccessful. In 1405, his military experience was brought to bear on the problems of Guyenne. He became mayor of Bordeaux with a force of 50 men-at-arms and 100 archers, and had an illustrious career in that position from 1405 to 1411. The defence of Gascony turned out to be his most challenging assignment, especially when in autumn and winter of 1406/07 the duke of Orleans launched a powerful offensive attack. Thereafter, Sir Thomas petitioned Henry IV’s Council about the perilous state of Gascony. He described in particular the urgent need to prevent the loss to the French of the great fortress at Fronsac. He became captain of Fronsac castle in Gironde from 1409 to his death in 1412 in London.

Sir Thomas's account of his journey to the Holy Land, the Itinerarium in terram sanctam domini Thomae de Swynburne: Casteööamo Ghisensis et postea Burdigalensis mahores, written by Thomas Brygg, who accompanied him on this journey. The date when it was written is not recorded. However, since the title calls Sir Thomas the mayor of Bordeaux, it must have been published after 1405. Thomas Brygg included a daily itinerary replete with details of travel expenses, transportation, guides, fees, imposts, tips and foods. The account mentions the crocodiles, elephants and giraffes that the pilgrims saw, in addition to the usual list of holy places mentioned in other Latin texts. It can hardly be called a narrative, as it is very succinct.

While on his pilgrimage, Sir Thomas travelled from Venice to Egypt on the ship of the German and Czech knights Hans de Hoske and Snutt de Setau. There, he visited Alexandria and Cairo. His travel account displays considerable interest in the pyramids and the fauna. From Egypt he pursued his journey overland to the Holy Land with longer layovers in Sinai and Jerusalem. For aid in navigation, Sir Thomas hired local guides and travelled through the Sinai desert on camels. In Sinai, he visited Saint Catherine’s Monastery. Leaving Jerusalem on the 17th of December 1392, he reached Damascus on Christmas Day. On January 3rd 1393, he left Damascus for Beirut, where he stayed at least until the 15th of January 1393. From Beirut, he sailed to Rhodes and thence home to England. The last paragraph of the work lists Sir Thomas’s expenses during the pilgrimage.