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.
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