Richard Hathwaye a counterblast to the negative depiction of the title character in the original versions of William Shakespeare's plays "Henry IV (Part 1)" and "Henry IV (Part 2)". Objections from descendants of the historical John Oldcastle, a Protestant martyr, appears to have been responsible both for the writing of the corrective "Oldcastle" play and the alteration of Oldcastle to Sir John Falstaff in later versions of the "Henry IV" plays. Known plays by Hathwaye, either singly or in conjunction with others, include: For the Admiral's Men, 1598-1602: For Worcester's Men, 1602-1603: For the Admiral's Men, 1603: Richard Hathwaye Richard Hathwaye (fl.
Religious views of William Shakespeare Shakespeare's portrayal; the story of Oldcastle was a popular one and telling the tale from the "Papist" perspective (while acknowledging that perhaps this was a perspective with which Shakespeare already had some affinity) was an effective and familiar way to bring it to his audience. A direct explanation, however, comes from the facts of the story in the contemporary accounts of the period; Prince Henry had left his dear friend Oldcastle to his fate after he had failed to persuade the stubborn old knight to recant when he was imprisoned for lollardry. Archdeacon Richard Davies, a 17th-century Anglican cleric, wrote