The New International Encyclopædia/Oldcastle, John
OLDCASTLE,  (?-1417). An English
nobleman, who suffered death as a Lollard. He
was born about the time of the accession of Richard
II. (1377), probably in the Manor of Almeley,
near Weobley, Western Herefordshire. He acquired
the title of Lord Cobham by marriage (1409), and
later signalized himself by the ardor of his
attachment to the doctrines of Wiclif. He took part
in the presentation of a remonstrance to the
English Commons on the subject of the corruptions
of the Church. At his own expense he had
the work of Wiclif transcribed and widely
disseminated among the people, and paid a large
body of preachers to propagate the views of the
reformer throughout the country. During the

reign of Henry IV. (1399-1413) he commanded
an English army in France, and forced the Duke
of Orleans to raise the siege of Paris; but in the
first year of the reign of Henry V. (1413) he
was accused of heresy and was imprisoned in
the Tower, whence after some time he escaped
and concealed himself in Wales. A bill of
attainder was passed against him and 1000 marks
set upon his head. After four years' hiding he
was captured, brought to London, and, being
reckoned a traitor as well as a heretic, he was
hanged and his body consumed as it hung in
chains over a fire, December 14, 1417. He is
said to have been the original of Shakespeare's
Falstaff, as he was believed to have been in his
youth the boon companion of Henry V. in his
early days. Consult his Life by Gilpin (London,
1765), Gaspey (ib., 1843). Brown (ib., 1848),
and in Maurice's English Popular Leaders (ib.,
1872).