JOBST  , or Jonocus (c . 1350–1411),

margrave of Moravia, was a son of John Henry of Luxemburg, margrave of Moravia, and grandson of John, the blind king of Bohemia . He became margrave of Moravia on his father's death in 1375, and his clever and unscrupulous character enabled him to amass a considerable amount of wealth,- while his ambition led him into constant quarrels with his brother Procop, his cousins, ,the German king Wenceslaus and Sigismund, margrave of Brandenburg, and others . By taking advantage of their difficulties he won consider-able power, and the record of his life is one of warfare and treachery, followed by broken promises and transitory reconciliations . In 1385 and 1388 he purchased Brandenburg from Sigismund, and the duchy of Luxemburg from Wenceslaus; and in 1397 he also became possessed of upper and lower Lusatia . For some time he had entertained hopes of the German throne and had negotiated with Wenceslaus and others to this end . When, however, King Rupert died in 1410 he maintained at first that there was no vacancy, as Wenceslaus, who had been deposed in 1400, was still king; but changing his attitude, he was chosen German king at Frankfort on the 1st of October 1410 in opposition to Sigismund, who had been elected a few days previously . Jobst however was never crowned, and his death on the 17th of January 1411 prevented hostilities between the rival kings . See F . M . Pelzel, Lebensgeschichte des romischen and bohmischen Konigs Wenceslaus (1788–1790); J . Heidemann, Die Mark Brandenburg unter Jobst von 11Mfahren (1881); J .

Aschbach, Geschichte Kaiser Sigmunds (1838–1845); F . Palacky, Geschichte von Bohmen, iii . (1864–1874) ; and T . Lindner, Geschichte des Deutschen Reiches vom Ende des 14 Jahrhunderts bis zur

Reformation, i . (1875–188o) . JOB'S TEARS, in botany, the popular name for Coix Lachryma-Jobi, a species of grass, of the tribe maydeae, which also includes the maize (see GRASSES) . The seeds, or properly fruits, are contained singly in a stony involucre or bract, which does not open until the enclosed seed germinates . The young involucre surrounds the female flower and the stalk supporting the spike of male flowers, and when ripe has the appearance of bluish-white porcelain . Being shaped somewhat like a large drop of fluid, the form has suggested the name . The fruits are esculent, but the involucres are the part chiefly used, for making necklaces and other ornaments . The plant is a native of India, but is now widely spread throughout the tropical zone . It grows in marshy places; and is cultivated in China, the fruit having a supposed value as a diuretic and anti-phthisic .

It was cultivated by John

Gerard, author of the famous Herball, at the end of the 16th century as a tender annual .