Author Description

Shakespeare's change of name from Oldcastle to Falstaff for Prince Hal's monstrous companion in "Henry IV Part I" has long been a controversial scholarly puzzle. In investigating Oldcastle's reputation as a Protestant martyr and his presentation on the Elizabethan stage the authors explore the web of religious propaganda, political infighting and family honour which lies behind Shakespeare's second thoughts. They also reappraise the anonymous "The Famous Victories of Henry V", a major Shakespearian source and robust version of the young Henry V's misspent youth and triumph at Agincourt, and the collaborative "Sir John Oldcastle, Part I", written in refutation of Shakespeare's scandalous interpretation of the puritan "saint", providing modern critical editions of both plays. Also printed here are extracts from John Weever's poem on Oldcastle, "The Mirror of Martyrs" and source material from Bale, Stow, Holinshed and Foxes "Book of Martyrs". This collection of material provides the reader with the opportunity to place Shakespeare's Henry plays within their specific historic and dramatic context and at the same time makes available two intriguing stage texts which have been unduly neglected.