John Oldcastle

“ Truth, nevertheless, must be our object. Truth is a treasure of intrinsic value, and will retain its worth after the adventitious and forced estimate put upon party views and popular representations shall have passed away.
Sir John Oldcastle, who derived the title of Lord Cobham from his wife, was a man of great military talents and prowess, and at the same time a man of piety and zeal for the general good. ”

“ The doings of Falstaff and Prince Hal in their highway robbery exploits on Gad's Hill are classic farce, with elements of probability, although Sir John Fastolf, the original Falstaff, was introduced by Shakespeare without the slightest warranty: the real Sir John having been no dissolute, cowardly old man, but a brave and stern soldier, who had warred nobly for King and country for forty years.
The point of view from which the gentlemen highwaymen regarded themselves is admirably set forth in the play of Sir John Oldcastle, produced in 1600. ”

“ Fastolf, Sir John, a distinguished soldier of Henry V.'s reign, who with Sir John Oldcastle shares the doubtful honour of being the prototype of Shakespeare's Falstaff, but unlike the dramatist's creation was a courageous soldier, and won distinction at Agincourt and at the “Battle of the Herrings”; after engaging with less success in the struggle against Joan of Arc, he returned to England and spent his closing years in honoured retirement at Norfolk, his birthplace ”

“ DOLL. I am as true to thee as the stone is in the wall; and thou knowest well enough, sir John, I was in as good doing, when I came to thee, as any wench need to be; and therefore thou hast tried me, that thou hast: by God’s body, I will not be kept as I have been, that I will not.
PRIEST. Doll, if this blade hold, there’s not a peddlar walks with a pack, but thou shalt as boldly choose of his wares, as with thy ready money in a Merchant’s shop. We’ll have as good silver as the King coins any. ”

“ SIR JOHN.
Wilt thou do so much for me, when I shall have occasion?
KING.
Yes, faith will I, so it be for no murther.
SIR JOHN. Nay, I am a pitiful thief; all the hurt I do a man, I take but his purse; I’ll kill no man. ”

“ Footnote 224: "It is a great deal more than strange," he added, "to see the beastliness of the people, to see how earnestly they be bent in this their most devilish enterprise, and will by no means be persuaded the contrary but that it is for the commonweal of all the realm."—Cheyne to the Council: MS. Mary, Domestic, vol. iii. (Back to Main Text)
Footnote 225: Cowling Castle, a place already famous in English Reforming history as the residence of Sir John Oldcastle. ”

“ Renewal of the French War
The failure of the rising only increased the rigour of the law. Magistrates were directed to arrest all heretics and hand them over to the bishops; a conviction of heresy was made to entail forfeiture of blood and estate; and the execution of thirty-nine prominent Lollards as traitors gave terrible earnest of the king's resolve to suppress their sect. Oldcastle escaped, and for four years longer strove to rouse revolt after revolt. He was at last captured on the Welsh border and burned as a heretic ”

“ SIR JOHN. I must make you find some before we part. If you have no money, you shall have war: as many sound dry blows as your skin can carry.
KING.
Is that the plain truth?
SIR JOHN. Sirra, no more ado; come, come, give me the money you have. Dispatch, I cannot stand all day.
KING. Well, if thou wilt needs have it, there tis: just the proverb, one thief robs another. Where the devil are all my old thieves, that were wont to keep this walk? Falstaff, the villain, is so fat, he cannot get on’s horse, but me thinks Poines and Peto should be stirring here about. ”

“ BUTLER.
Here, sir, here.
HARPOOLE.
Here, slave, I drink to thee.
SUMNER.
I thank you, sir.
HARPOOLE. Now if thou findst thy stomach well—because thou shalt see my Lord keep’s meat in’s house—if thou wilt go in, thou shalt have a piece of beef to the break fast.
SUMNER. No, I am very well, good Master serving-man, I thank you; very well sir.
HARPOOLE. I am glad on’t. Then be walking towards Rochester to keep your stomach warm; and Sumner, if I may know you disturb a good wench within this Diocese ”

“ LORD WARDEN.
Good my Lord Bishop, pacify your wrath
Against the Lady.
BISHOP.
Then let her confess
Where Old-castle her husband is concealed.
LORD WARDEN.
I dare engage mine honor and my life,
Poor gentlewoman, she is ignorant
And innocent of all his practises,
If any evil by him be practised.
BISHOP.
If, my Lord Warden? nay, then I charge you,
That all the cinque Ports, whereof you are chief,
Be laid forthwith, that he escape us not.
Shew him his highness’ warrant, Master Shrieve.
LORD WARDEN.
I am sorry for the noble gentleman—
[Enter Old-castle and Harpoole.] ”

“ HARPOOLE. Be of good cheer, my Lord: if they be foes, we’ll scramble shrewdly with them: if they be friends, they are welcome. One of them (my Lord Warden) is your friend; but me thinks my lady weeps; I like not that.
CROAMER. Sir John Old-castle, Lord Cobham, in the King’s majesty’s name, I arrest ye of high treason. ”

“ DOLL. Faith, sir John, I might have gone to service again; old master Harpoole told me he would provide me a mistress.
SIR JOHN. Peace, Doll, peace. Come, mad wench, I’ll make thee an honest woman; we’ll into Lancashire to our friends: the troth is, I’ll marry thee. We want but a little money to buy us a horse, and to spend by the way; the next sheep that comes shall lose his fleece, we’ll have these crowns, wench, I warrant thee.
[Enter the Irish man with his master slain.]
Stay, who comes here? some Irish villain, me thinks, that has slain a man, and draws him out of the way to rifle him. ”

“ SIR JOHN.
All’s gone but that.
HUNTINGTON.
What? half a broken angel?
SIR JOHN.
Why sir, tis gold.
KING.
Yea, and I’ll cover it.
SIR JOHN.
The devil do ye good on’t, I am blind, ye have blown me up.
KING.
Nay, tarry, priest; ye shall not leave us yet.
Do not these pieces fit each other well?
SIR JOHN.
What if they do?
KING.
Thereby begins a tale:
There was a thief, in face much like Sir John—
But twas not he, that thief was all in green—
Met me last day at Black Heath, near the park,
With him a woman. ”

“ To hear what news is stirring in these brawls.
[Enter sir John and Doll.]
SIR JOHN.
Stand, true-man! says a thief.
KING.
Stand, thief! says a true man. How if a thief?
SIR JOHN.
Stand, thief, too.
KING. Then, thief or true-man, I see I must stand. I see, how soever the world wags, the trade of thieving yet will never down. What art thou?
SIR JOHN.
A good fellow.
KING.
So am I too. I see thou dost know me.
SIR JOHN. If thou be a good fellow, play the good fellow’s part: deliver thy purse without more ado. ”

“ Oldcastle's biographers have usually represented him as an old man of nearly sixty years of age at his death, and have placed his birth with some confidence in 1360 (Archæologia Cambrensis, 4th ser. viii. 125; Gaspey, i. 49) . But the evidence available points to a considerable over-statement. Bale confused him with John, third lord Cobham [q. v.] ”

“ Yes, marry, do I; Sir John Old-castle, Lord Cobham.
HARPOOLE. I am glad thou knowest him yet: and, sirra, dost not thou know, that the lord Cobham is a brave lord, that keeps good beef and beer in his house, and every day feeds a hundred poor people at’s gate, and keeps a hundred tall fellows? ”

“ I confess that I am a frail man, flesh and blood as other are: but, set my imperfections aside, by this light, ye have not a taller man, nor a truer subject to the Crown and State, than Sir John of Wrotham. ”

“ SIR JOHN. Because he was the chief warden of our company. It’s pity that e’er he should have been a King; he was so brave a thief. But, sirra, wilt remember my pardon if need be?
KING.
Yes, faith, will I.
SIR JOHN. Wilt thou? well then, because thou shalt go safe—for thou mayest hap (being so early) be met with again before thou come to Southwark—if any man, when he should bid thee good morrow, bid thee stand, say thou but Sir John, and he will let thee pass. ”

“ MURLEY. Mary, God dild ye, dainty my dear! but upon occasion, sir Roger Acton, doth not the King know of it, and gather his power against us?
ACTON.
No, he’s secure at Eltham.
MURLEY.
What do the Clergy?
ACTON.
Fear extremely, yet prepare no force.
MURLEY. In and out, to and fro, Bully my boikin, we shall carry the world afore us! I vow by my worship, when I am knighted, we’ll take the King napping, if he stand on their part. ”

“ In Ficket field, unless they be repulsed.
KING.
So near our presence? Dare they be so bold?
And will proud war, and eager thirst of blood,
Whom we had thought to entertain far off,
Press forth upon us in our native bounds?
Must we be forced to hansell our sharp blades
In England here, which we prepared for France?
Well, a God’s name be it! What’s their number, say,
Or who’s the chief commander of this rout?
HUNTINGTON.
Their number is not known, as yet, my Lord,
But tis reported Sir John Old-castle
Is the chief man on whom they do depend.
KING.
How, the Lord Cobham? ”

“ CARRIER.
Come, Kate Owdham, thou and Ise trimly dizard.
[Exeunt.]
ACT V. SCENE VIII. A wood near St. Albans. [Enter sir John Old-castle, and his Lady disguised.]
COBHAM.
Come, Madam, happily escaped; here let us sit.
This place is far remote from any path,
And here awhile our weary limbs may rest,
To take refreshing, free from the pursuit
Of envious Rochester.
LADY COBHAM.
But where, my Lord,
Shall we find rest for our disquiet minds?
There dwell untamed thoughts that hardly stop,
To such abasement of disdained rags. ”

“ Madox's History of the Exchequer, ii. p. 373.
[382] Vol. ii. p. 399.
[383] These Arms actually appear in Edmondson's Body of Heraldry, annexed to the name of Brandon, viz. the Arms of Arragon with a difference, and the Arms of Brabant in a Canton.
[384] Act ii. sc. 1.
[385] Vol. ii. p. 163.
[386] The Hangman was known by the name of Gregory in the year 1642, as we learn from the Mercurius Aulicus, p. 553.
[387] History of London, vol. II. p. 74.
[388] Rapin. See also Bale's Life and Trial of Sir John Oldcastle. St. Giles's was then an independent Village, and is still called St. ”

“ BISHOP.
Sir, then we crave your furtherance herein.
BUTLER.
The best I can, my Lord of Rochester.
BISHOP.
Nay, pray ye take it; trust me but you shall.
SIR JOHN.
—Were ye all thee upon New Market heath,
You should not need strain curtsey who should ha’t;
Sir John would quickly rid ye of that care.
SUFFOLK.
The King is coming. Fear ye not, my Lord;
The very first thing I will break with him
Shall be about your matter.
[Enter King Henry and Huntington in talk.]
KING.
My Lord of Suffolk,
Was it not said the Clergy did refuse
To lend us money toward our wars in France? ”

“ Sir John Old-castle? what if he come not?
BOURNE.
Yet our action stands.
Sir Roger Acton may supply his place.
MURLEY.
True, Master Bourne, but who shall make me knight?
BEVERLY.
He that hath power to be our General.
ACTON.
Talk not of trifles; come, let’s away.
Our friends of London long till it be day.
[Exeunt.]
ACT III. SCENE III. A high road in Kent. [Enter sir John of Wrotham and Doll.]
DOLL.
By my troth, thou art as jealous a man as lives.
PRIEST. Canst thou blame me, Doll? thou art my lands, my goods, my jewels, my wealth, my purse. None walks within xl. ”

“ Drag them to death, which iustly they deserue, they leade them away.
And France shall dearely buy this villany,
So soone as we set footing on her breast,
God haue the praise for our deliuerance,
And next, our thankes (Lord Cobham) is to thee,
True perfect mirror of nobilitie.exeunt.
Enter the hoste, sir Iohn Old-castle, and Harpoole. ”

“ SIR JOHN. Avant, you rascal! Go, sirra, be walking. Come, Doll, the devil laughs, when one thief robs another: come, mad wench, we’ll to saint Albans, and revel in our bower; hey, my brave girl.
DOLL.
O thou art old sir John when all’s done, yfaith.
[Exeunt.]
ACT V. SCENE III. St. Albans. The entrance of a carrier’s inn. [Enter the host of the Bell with the Irish man.]
IRISHMAN. Be me tro, mester, is pore Irisman, is want ludging, is have no money, is starve and cold: good mester, give her some meat; is famise and tie. ”

“ Bish.A friend of yours.
Lieften.My lord of Rochester, your honor's welcome.
Bish.Sir heres my warrant from the Counsell,
For conference with sir Iohn Old-castle,
Vpon some matter of great consequence.
Lieften.Ho, sir Iohn.
Harp.Who calls there?
Lieften.Harpoole, tel Sir Iohn, that my lord of Rochester comes from the counsell to conferre with him.
Harp.I will sir.
Lief.I thinke you may as safe without suspition,
As any man in England as I heare,
For it was you most labor'd his commitment. ”

“ Enter Watch. FIRST WATCH.
First beset the house, before you begin the search.
SECOND WATCH.
Content; every man take a several place.
[Here is heard a great noise within. Keep, keep, strike him down there, down with him] ]
[Enter Constable with the Irish man in Harpoole’s apparel.]
CONSTABLE. Come, you villainous heretic, confess where your master is.
IRISHMAN.
Vat mester?
MAYOR. Vat mester, you counterfeit rebel? this shall not serve your turn.
IRISHMAN.
Be sent Patrick I ha no mester.
CONSTABLE. Where’s the lord Cobham, sir John Old-castle, that lately is escaped out of the Tower? ”

“ Sir John the Parson of Wrotham, and Doll his Concubine.
The Duke of Suffolk.
The Earl of Huntington.
The Earl of Cambridge.
Lord Scroop and Lord Grey.
Chartres the French Agent.
Sir Roger Acton.
Sir Richard Lee.
M. Bourn, M. Beverly, and Murley the Brewer of Dunstable, rebels.
M. Butler, Gentleman of the Privy Chamber.
Lady Cobham and Lady Powis.
Cromer, Sheriff of Kent.
Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports.
Lieutenant of the Tower.
The Mayor, Constable, and Gaoler of S. Albans.
A Kentish Constable and an Ale-man.
Soldiers and old men begging. ”