(Sir John), a valiant and renowned English officer, a knight banneret and of the garter, who served in France under Henry IV. V. and VI. was descended from an ancient family in Norfolk, and was born about the year 1377. He was as much distinguished for his virtue at home as for his valour abroad; and became no less amiable in his private, than he had been admirable in his public character. He died in 1459, upwards of 80 years of age, as we learn from his noted contemporary William Caxton the first English printer. By an unaccountable mistake it has been asserted, that Shakespeare's Falstaff was drawn to ridicule this great man; and this has made judicious biographers more studious to preserve his reputation.