John Oldcastle facts for kids

Sir John Oldcastle (died 14 December 1417) was an important English leader of the Lollard movement. From 1409 to 1413, he was known as Baron Cobham because of his wife's title.

Oldcastle was a friend of King Henry V. This friendship helped him avoid being punished for his religious beliefs for a long time. However, he was eventually found guilty of heresy (beliefs different from the official church). He escaped from the Tower of London and then led a rebellion against the King. He was later captured and executed in London. Oldcastle's story inspired the famous character John Falstaff in William Shakespeare's plays. Falstaff was originally named John Oldcastle.

Who Was John Oldcastle?

Oldcastle's exact birth date is not known. Historians believe he was born around 1370. His parents were Richard and Isabel Oldcastle. They lived in Almeley, Herefordshire. His grandfather, also named John Oldcastle, was a Member of Parliament for Herefordshire. This was during the later years of King Richard II's rule.

Oldcastle's Early Career

Oldcastle is first mentioned in official records in 1400. He was involved in a legal case about a church in Almeley. He also served as a knight in a military trip to Scotland. This was under Lord Grey of Codnor.

In the following years, Oldcastle held important military roles. He fought in the Welsh campaigns for King Henry IV of England. These campaigns were against Owain Glyndŵr. Oldcastle was a captain at Builth Castle and later at Kidwelly.

Oldcastle represented Herefordshire in Parliament in 1404. He was also a justice of the peace, helping to keep law and order. From 1406 to 1407, he was the High Sheriff of Herefordshire. This was a senior law enforcement role.

Marriage and Status

In 1408, Oldcastle married Joan. She was the wealthy heir of the Cobham family. This was his third marriage and her fourth. This marriage greatly improved his wealth and social standing. The Cobhams were a very important family in Kent.

Through this marriage, Oldcastle gained many estates. These included lands in Kent, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, and Wiltshire. He also gained Cooling Castle. From 1409 until 1413, he was called to Parliament as Lord Cobham.

At some point, Oldcastle became a trusted soldier for Henry, Prince of Wales. This prince later became King Henry V. King Henry V saw Sir John as one of his most reliable fighters. In 1411, Oldcastle was part of an expedition to France. This trip helped the Burgundians in a civil war.

Oldcastle's Religious Beliefs

The Lollard movement had many followers in Herefordshire. Oldcastle himself adopted Lollard ideas before 1410. The Lollards were a religious group who wanted to reform the church. They believed the Bible should be available to everyone. They also questioned some church practices.

In March 1413, Oldcastle was accused of heresy. This means his beliefs were different from the official church teachings. This happened shortly before King Henry IV died.

Conflict with the King

Oldcastle's friendship with the new King Henry V protected him for a while. But then, clear evidence was found in one of Oldcastle's books. This book was found in a shop in London. The matter was brought to the King. King Henry V wanted to talk to Oldcastle himself first. Oldcastle told the King he would give up all his worldly possessions. But he would not change his religious beliefs.

Oldcastle then fled from Windsor Castle to his own castle in Cooling. King Henry finally agreed to let the church prosecute him. Oldcastle refused to appear before the archbishop's court many times. He only appeared after a special order from the King. This happened on 23 September 1413.

Oldcastle explained his beliefs to the court. He said he believed in the sacraments (holy rituals) and the need to confess sins to God. But he disagreed with the church's official teachings on sacraments. He also did not believe priests were needed for confession and forgiveness. He also said that using Christian art to help prayer was a great sin. On 25 September, Oldcastle was found guilty of heresy. He was sentenced to be burned.

Escape and Rebellion

King Henry V still wanted to save his old friend. He ordered a 40-day delay. He hoped Oldcastle would change his mind. But before this time was up, Oldcastle escaped from the Tower of London. He was helped by a Lollard named William Fisher.

Oldcastle then became the leader of a large Lollard plot. Even though Lollards often preached peace, this group planned to use violence. They wanted to change the government. They even considered a civil war. Their plan was to capture the King and his brothers. This would happen during a holiday celebration at Eltham. They wanted to set up a new government. Oldcastle would be in charge. The King, nobles, and clergy would be imprisoned. The church's religious groups would be closed down. Their property would be given to the Lollards.

King Henry was warned about Oldcastle's plans. He had spies within the Lollard group. So, the King moved to London. On 10 January, the Lollard army gathered in St Giles's Fields. But the King's forces were much larger. The Lollards were easily defeated.

Oldcastle escaped into Herefordshire. He avoided capture for almost four years. He is thought to have been involved in the Southampton Plot in July 1415. This plot caused some unrest in the Welsh border areas. After this plot failed, he went into hiding again.

Capture and Execution

Illustration of the burning of John Oldcastle, 1870

In November 1417, Oldcastle's hiding place was finally found. He was captured by Edward Charleton, 5th Baron Cherleton. Some historians believe he was caught in the Olchon Valley in Herefordshire. This was near the Black Mountains, Wales. It was not far from the village of Oldcastle itself. He was said to be hiding with Lollard friends at a farm in Wales.

Four of Baron Cherleton's tenants were key in his capture. Two of them were Ieuan and Sir Gruffudd Vychan. Oldcastle was badly wounded before he was taken. He was brought to London in a horse-litter. The reward for his capture was given to Baron Cherleton. However, Cherleton died before receiving it. A part of the reward was paid to his widow in 1422.

On 14 December, Oldcastle was officially condemned. This was based on his earlier conviction. That same day, he was hanged in St Giles's Fields. He was then burned along with the gallows. It is not fully clear if he was burned alive for heresy. Or if he was first hanged for treason.

Oldcastle in Literature

Oldcastle's religious views and his early friendship with King Henry V caused a lasting scandal. In an old play called The Famous Victories of Henry V, Oldcastle is shown as the Prince's close friend. When Shakespeare adapted this play into Henry IV, Part 1, Oldcastle was still in it.

However, when the play was printed in 1598, his name was changed to Falstaff. This was because of objections from one of Oldcastle's powerful descendants. This person was the Queen's official censor of plays. Falstaff was based on Sir John Fastolf.

Shakespeare's Falstaff is a very different character. He is shown as a drunken, overweight, and pleasure-loving knight. But he is still called "my old lad of the Castle." In Henry IV, Part 2, an epilogue says that Falstaff is not meant to be Oldcastle. It states, "Falstaff shall die of a sweat... for Oldcastle died a martyr, and this is not the man." In 1599, another play called Sir John Oldcastle showed Oldcastle in a much more positive way.