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Falstaff
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ne of William Shakespeare's most memorable characters is Falstaff, the
companion of the youthful Prince Hal in his days of riotous living before
becoming Henry V of England. However, Shakespeare didn't tell about Falstaff's
later conversion to Christ and execution as a follower of Wycliffe.
The real Falstaff was Sir John Oldcastle of Cowling Castle. Once converted,
Sir John made copies of Wycliffe's writings. He circulated them throughout
the countryside and protected any Lollards (Wycliffe's followers) who
were forbidden to preach...and the king protected Sir John. However, a
plot was reported against the clergy, the king, and the royal family.
Some under torture said that Sir John was their ringleader. Sir John was
put on trial by the ecclesiastical court.
When the sentence of death was read out, Sir John said, "It is well,
though you condemn my body, you can do no harm to my soul by the grace
of my eternal God." He was burned to death over a slow fire, the first
martyr for Christ among the English nobility. (c. 1225-1274)
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