John Oldcastle Oldcastle, mainly based on "The Actes and Monuments" of John Foxe, who in his turn followed the "Briefe Chronycle" of John Bale, first published in 1544. For notes on Oldcastle's early career, consult James Hamilton Wylie, "History of England under Henry IV". For literary history see the Introductions to Richard James's "Iter Lancastrense" (Chetham Society, 1845) and to Grosart's edition of the "Poems of Richard James" (1880). See also W. Barske, "Oldcastle-Falstaff in der englischen Literatur bis zu Shakespeare" ("Palaestra", 1. Berlin, 1905). John Oldcastle Sir John Oldcastle (died 14 December 1417) was an English Lollard leader. Being a friend
John Oldcastle convicted as a heretic. King Henry V was still anxious to find a way of escape for his old comrade, and granted a respite of forty days. Before that time had expired, Oldcastle escaped from the Tower by the help of one William Fisher, a parchmentmaker of Smithfield. Oldcastle now put himself at the head of a widespread Lollard conspiracy, which assumed a definite political character. The plan was to seize the King and his brothers during a Twelfth-night mumming at Eltham, and establish some sort of commonwealth. Oldcastle was to be Regent, the king, nobility and clergy placed under