Oldcastle, Sir John

views updated May 23 2018

Oldcastle, Sir John (1377–1417) English leader of the Lollards. He fought in the army under Henry IV and earned the respect and friendship of the future Henry V. A fervent supporter of the teachings of John Wycliffe, he was a leader of the Lollards and was condemned as a heretic in 1413. He escaped to lead an unsuccessful Lollard rising but was eventually captured and executed.

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