WILLIAM FROME

In January 1414 a revolt was led by Sir John Oldcastle, a former friend of King Henry V, but whose Lollard convictions had set him against Henry and the Catholic church as a heretic.

The Oldcastle revolt was due to take place on the night of 9th/10th January 1414. The plan was to seize the king and also to take London.

In the midst of the rebellion was William Frome, a webster (weaver) from Sileby, and one of its ringleaders. Frome was to be met by the band of conspirators at 'le Wrastleyre on the hope' Inn at St. Giles Fields, London on the 9th January. Here, he aimed to give the rebels their treasonous instructions. However, Henry had spies in the camp and knew of the movements and small size of the opposition. Due to this, the rebellion was crushed following a decisive battle on St. Giles's Fields in London. William was never heard of again and it is assumed that he had been executed along with the other rebels.

If the rebellion had been successful then history may have taken a different path. Without Henry V in place, Agincourt and the victories in France may not have become such an impressive and important reality.