Sir John, commonly called "The good Lord Cobham," was born in the fourteenth century, during the reign of Edward III. He obtained his peerage by marrying the heiress of Lord Cobham, who had distinguished himself during the reign of Richard II. for his opposition to the tyranny of that monarch. He commanded an English army in France during the reign of Henry IV. where he displayed great military skill. Oldcastle had, from the outset of his career, set himself with great patriotism and independence to oppose the political and ecclesiastical corruptions of his time. Being a man of fine natural talents, and having a passionate thirst for knowledge, he turned his attention to the doctrines of John Wycliffe; and after examining them with great care, declared his adherence to the cause of the reformers. He collected and transcribed the works of Wycliffe for circula- Oldcastle tion among the people, and sent preachers of reform into various parts of the country. The cause made great progress, and the growth of heresy was attributed to this nobleman's influence. Henry V. had a partiality for the good lord, and tried to reclaim him by exhortation.

"Next to God," said his lordship, "I profess obedience to my king; but as to the spiritual dominion of the Pope, I could never see upon what foundation it was claimed, nor can I pay him any obedience." The king turned away in displeasure, and left the heretic to the tender mercies of the Church. Escaping from the tower where he had been imprisoned as a heretic, he sought refuge in Wales. In 1414 the clergy got up a report of an imaginary conspiracy of the Lollards, with Lord Cobham at their head, for the destruction of the king. A bill of attainder was passed against him; 1000 merks were set upon his head; and perpetual exemption from taxes was promised to any town that should secure him. After an exile of four years in Wales he was at length seized, carried to London, and executed in St Giles' Field in the most cruel and barbarous manner. Johan Bale tells us in his Breve Chronicle of the examination and death of this nobleman: "Than was he hanged up there by the myddle in chenges of yron, and so consumed a lyve in the fyre, praysynghe the name of God so longe as his lyfe lasted" (p. 96). Thus died in 1418 one of the ablest and most brilliant men of his day, who, according to his biographers, was qualified to shine alike in the cabinet, the field, and the court. As a writer Lord Cobham is known by a piece entitled Tielce Conclusions Addressed to the Parliament of England. He thus stands distinguished as the first martyr and the first author among the nobility of England. (See Lives of Wycliffe and his Disciples, by William Gilpin, 1765.) Capgrave, in his Chronicle of England (edited by the Rev. F. C. Hingston, London, 1858), gives a tolerably minute account of the career of Oldcastle; but with a strong prejudice against him and all Lollards. The priestly chronicler remarks of his lordship: "A strong man in bataile he was, but a grete heretik, and a gret ennuye to the Church" (p. 304).

a market-town of Ireland, county of Meath, 20 miles N.W. of Trim, and 52 N.W. of Dublin. It has three churches, a market-house, savings-bank, dispensary, school, and poorhouse. There are here lime-quarries, and extensive flour-mills; and an active trade is carried on in yarn. Pop. 1072.