Henry's youth had been wild and dissolute, but the weight of the crown
sobered him. He cast off poor old "Jack Falstaff"[1] (S282) and his
other roistering companions, and began his new duties in earnest.
[1] Shakespeare's "Henry IV," Part II, Act V, scene v, beginning, "I
know thee not, old man."
Sir John Oldcastle, or Lord Cobham, was at this time the most
influential man among the Lollards (SS255, 283). He was brought to
trial and convicted of heresy. The penalty was death; but the King
granted him a respite, in the hope that he might recant, and Oldcastle
managed to escape from prison (1414).
Immediately after, a conspiracy was detected among the Lollards for
seizing the government, destroying the chief monasteries in and about
London, and raising Oldcastle to power. Henry attacked the rebels
unawares, killed many, and took a large number of prisoners, who were
executed on a double charge of heresy and treason. Several years
afterwards Oldcastle was burned as a heretic.