THE CAREER OF SIR THOMAS TRIVET (1330-88)

The Monk of Westminster is the only chronicler to record Trivet's involvement in an obscure incident in 1385. A heated council meeting took place in March of that year, during which, William Courtenay (the Archishop of Canterbury) broached the subject of a rumour that Richard was planning to have Gaunt secretly murdered. The King was naturally furious at the accusation, leaping 'to his feet with a volley of threats against him'.¹ Later that day, Courtenay was conducted (under the protection of the Earl of Buckingham) to a meeting with the King on the Thames between Westminster and Lambeth palace. The Westminster Chronicler records that the subject was broached again, and an argument ensued during which Richard drew his sword with the intention of running the Archbishop through. However, he was restrained by Buckingham, Sir John Devereux and Sir Thomas Trivet. Trivet's presence at the meeting is not explained, but his proximity to the King is certainly intriguing and suggests that he had a certain pre-eminence at court by this time. Perhaps the Appellants disgust at his influence at court in 1388 was well-founded. The Westminster Chronicler goes onto say that Richard was so angry with the three that had manhandled him, 'that in their fear they jumped from his barge into the Archbishop's boat. It was therfore in discord that on this occasion they parted company with the King'.² This passing remark shows that Trivet did not always enjoy a fruitful relationship with his monarch. The period between 1385 and 1388 could be considered the pinnacle of his career but this did not protect him from occasional royal displeasure. Nevertheless, the seriousness of the situation could not have been that great, since on the 5th November 1385. Trivet enjoyed a royal grant of £100 yearly 'of the issues and profits of the stannary, (i.e. tin mine) of Cornwall'.³ Was this a grant in recognition of the King's 'friendship' with this Somerset knight?

Trivet's gowing prominence at court was coupled with the growth of his military career.

He was made Admiral for the West on the 22nd February 1386 at the same time as Sir Philip D’arcy was made Admiral tbr the North, replacing Sir John Raddington and Sir Thomas Percy respectively.⁴ As Admirals, Trivet and D’arcy held vital posts in the defence of England against foreign invasion. Among their duties, they were expected to protect English shipping in home waters, as well as conduct the occasional raid on French (and their allies') shipping. In such a high profile appointment, the admirals were vunerable to criticism. As Roskell points out, 'the supersession of the latter pair (i.e. D’arcy and Trivet)

by the Earl of Arundel soon after the parliament of 1386, hardly suggests that they were considered to have been highly satisfactory’.⁵ However, during the spring and summer of 1386, the admirals had to contend with conditions outside their control. There was a certain lack of shipping available to them.⁶ In April I386, a number of ships were commandeered to transport the newly appointed Lieutenant of Ireland, Sir John Stanley, to Ireland. In March 1386, all ships over 60 tons were ordered to sail to London to repel a suspected French invasion. The remaining ships exempt from this order were used by Gaunt to

1 Hector and Harvey, Westminster Ckronicle. p.117

2 lbid.

3 CCR1385-9,p.61

4 J.S.Roskell, The Impeachment of Michael de la Pole, Earl of Suffolk, in 1386 in the context of the reign of Richard II, (1984),p69

5 IBID.

6 IBID. pp.69-70