GASCOIGNE (Sir William), chief justice of the court of king's bench under Henry IV. A most learned and upright judge: who, being insulted on the bench by the then prince of Wales, afterwards Henry V. with equal intrepidity and coolness committed the prince to prison; and by this seasonable fortitude, laid the foundation of the future glory of that great monarch, who, from this event, dated his reformation from the licentiousness of his youth. It is not well authenticated that the prince struck Sir William,
as recorded by Shakespeare; but all authors agree, Gascoigne that he interrupted the course of justice, to screen a lewd servant. Sir William died in 1413.