Missionan/ Labors. — The work of converting the na- tives of Old Calabar to Christianity was begun in 1846 by the United Presbjterian Church of Scotland, and has continued under its control. The first mission stations were Creek Town, Duke Town, and Old Town. At the beginning of the mission-work provision was made for the education of the natives, and schools were opened in large numbers, and they were well patronized. The language of the country, which had never been system- atized, was given a more permanent form, and soon a Bible in that tongue gave general circulation to the Christian's Gospel. At present there are eight stations, and native workers are employed in large numbers in many places besides at these stations. See Grundemann, Missions- Atlas, No. 1; Newcomb, Cyclop, oj' Missio?ts, s. V. ; Aikman, Cyclop, of Christian Missions, p. 206, 207.
Oldcastle, Sir .John {Lord Cobham), called '• the good," was the first martyr and the first author among the nobility of England. He was born in the l-lth cen- tury, in the reign of Edward III, and married to the heiress of lord Cobham, by whom he obtained that title. He gained military distinction in the French wars under Henry IV and V, and was a domestic and a favored at- tendant of the latter sovereign. Lord Cobham was a man of extensive talents, qualified for the cabinet or the field, of ready wit in conversation, and of great learning. He examined the writings of Wicklilfe as a philosopher, and in the course of his study became a convert to the doctrines of that Reformer, and thereupon most zealous- 1}' labored for the propagation of the new opinions. He not only collected and transcribed the works of WickliflFe, but also maintained preachers of that persuasion, and in every sense of the word became a leader of the Ante- Reformers. In the convocation assembled during the first year of the reign of Henry V, the principal subject of debate was the growth of heresy. Thomas Arundel, a prelate equally remarkable for zeal and bigotry, was at that time archbishop of Canterbury. Lord Cobham being considered the head of the M'icklifiites, it was presumed that if his destruction could be effected it would strike a salutary terror into his adherents ; but as he was known to be in favor with tlie king, and also highly popular, it was deemed prudent to dissemble for a while. Tlie archbishop, therefore, contented liimself, for the present, by requesting his majesty to send com- missioners to Oxford to inquire into the growth of heresy, with wliich the king complied. The commis- sioners having made inquiry, reported to the archbishop, who informed the convocation that the increase of her-
esy was especially owing to lord Cobham, who encour- aged scholars from Oxford and other places to propagate heretical opinions throughout the country-. The arch- bishop, accomiianied by a large body of the clergy, waited upon Henry, and having laid before him the of- fence of lord Cobham, begged, in all humility and chai'- ity, that his majesty would sujftr them, for Christ's sake, to jntt him to death. To this meek and humane request the king replied that he thought such violence more de- structive of truth than of error; that he himself woidd reason with lord Cobham ; and, if that should prove ineffectual, he would leave him to the censure of the Church. Henry, having sent for lord Cobham, en- deavored to persuade him to retract his errors; but to the reasoning and exhortation of the king he returned the following answer : " I ever was a dutiful subject to your majesty, and I hope ever shall be. Next to God, I profess obedience to my king. But as for the spirit- ual dominion of the pope, I never could see on what foundation it is claimed, nor can I paj' him any obedi- ence. As sure as God's Word is true, to me it is fully evident tliat he is the great Antichrist foretold in Holy Writ." This answer so exceedingly displeased the king that he gave the archbishop leave to proceed against lord Cobham with the utmost extremity; or, as Bayle says, " according to the devilish decrees which they call the laws of the Holy Church." On September 11, the day fixed for his appearance, the primate and his associates sat in consistory; lord Cobham not ap- pearing, the archbishop excommunicated him, and called in the civil power to assist him, agreeably to the late- enacted law. Conceiving himself to be now in dan- ger, Cobham drew up a confession of his faith, which he presented to the king, who coldly ordered it to be given to the archbishop. Being again cited to apjiear before the archbishop, and refusing compliance, he was committed to the Tower, from which he escaped into Wales. The clergy then got up a report of a pretended conspiracy of the Lollards, headed by lord Cobham, whereon a bill of attainder was passed against him. a price of 1000 marks set upon his head, and exemption from taxes was promised to any person who should se- cure him. At the expiration of four years he was taken, and without much form of trial executed in the most barbarous manner : he was hung in chains on a gallows in St. Giles's Fields, London, and a fire kindled under him, by which he was roasted to death, in December, 1417. He wrote Twelve Conclusions addressed to tlie Parliament of England; he also edited the works of Wickliffe, and was the author of several religious tracts and discourses. See Bayle, A brcfe Chronycle concern- ynge the Examynacyon and Death of the blessed martyr of Christ, sur Johan OWecas/e// (reprinted 1729) ; Gilpin, Lives of Latimer, Wickliffe, etc.; Fox, Acts and Monu- ments ; Walpole, Royal and Noble A uthors ; Milner, Church History, vol. iv, ch. i ; Engl. Cyclop, s. v. ; Jones, Religious Biography, s. v.; Milman, History Lat. Chi-is- tianity (see Index) ; British Quarterly, April, 1874. See also Loi.i.AiiDS.