OLDCASTLE, Sir JOHN, once popularly known as the "good lord Cobham," whose claim to distinction is that he was the first author and the first martyr among the Eng lish nobility, was born in the reign of Edward III.; the exact year is not known. lie acquired the title of lord Cobham by marriage, and signalized himself by the ardor of his attachment to the doctrines of Wycliffe. At that time there was a party among the English nobles and gentry sincerely, and even strongly desirous of ecclesiastical reform —the leader of which was " old John or Gaunt—time-honored Lancaster." Oldcastle was active in the same cause, and took part in the presentation of a remonstrance to the English commons on the subject of the corruptions of the church. At his own expense ,lie got the works of Wycliffe transcribed, and widely disseminated among the people. and paid a large body of preachers to propagate the views of the reformer throughout the country. During the reign of Henry IV. lie commanded an English army in France,
and forced the duke of Orleans to raise the siege of Paris: but in the reign of Henry V. he was accused of heresy, and having, in a disputation with his sovereign, declared that " as sure as God's word is true, the pope is the great Antichrist foretold in Holy Writ," he was thrown into the Tower, whence, after some time, he escaped, and concealed him self in Wales. A bill, of attainder was passed against him, and 1000 marks set upon his head. After four years' hiding he was captured, brought to London, and—being reck oned a traitor as well as a heretic—he was up in chains alive upon a gallows, and fire being put under him, was burned to death, Dec., 1417. Oldcastle wrote Tweiw' Con eNsions addressed to the Parliament of England, several monkish rhymes against " fieshlye livers" among the clergy, religious discourses, etc.—Sce Life of Oldcastle, by Gilpin.