244
NOTES AND QUERIES. [io* s. n. SEPT. 24, im.
Pp. 190-91 :
Letter from the Rev. Mr. N[ewton]. Dated Olney, Aug. 8, 1772.
MADAM, When you receive this, I shall have fulfilled my promise, of returning the papers you were pleased to entrust me with, as likewise Master
M[aitland]'s letters for Mrs. M[ada]n I was
much affected with reading Master M.'s letters. What remarkable instances of the power and sovereignty of divine grace, will be found amongst
your family ! You will likewise receive a written
copy of Mr. CJpwperJs two narratives, which I beg the favour of you to return to me at your own time. I need not tell you that I highly prize it. Indeed, I account it the most valuable book in my study, and could not part with it out of my house, but to persons who are so nearly interested in their relation
Pp. 191-2 :
Letter from the same. Olney, Nov. 4, 1772.
If you please, you may, at your leisure, send
the narratives directed for me Two* such
instances [of what the Lord can do] and in your own family, are, as you say, well suited to strengthen your faith and hope ; but that they really do so, is a proof that He is with you of a truth. For, if we are left to ourselves, unbelief can withstand the force of the strongest evidence. Pp. 204-5.
Hymn "by Mr. W. C. of Olney. Light shining out of darkness. ' God moves in a mysterious way.' " Verse 5 ends : The bud may have a bitter taste, But wait to smell the flower.
P. 209.
Hymn "by Mr. W. C. of Olney, 1773: "Tis my happiness below.'" Verse 2, 1. 7, " Trials lay me at His feet." Pp. 211-13.
Letter from John Newton, Aug., 1773, ending with Cowper's hymn "Hear what God, the Lord, hath spoken." Verse 1, 1. 2, " O my people, weak and few." Verse 3, 1. 5, 44 shining o'er you." JOHN E. B. MAYOK. Cambridge.
(To be continued.)
NORTHBURGH FAMILY.
MR. C. L. KINGSFORD in the 'D.N.B.'
suggests that Michael de Northburgh, Bishop
of London (1354-61), may have been a nephew
or much younger brother of Roger North-
burgh, Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry
(1322-59), his reason apparently for the
suggestion being that during the episcopate
of the latter the former was presented to and
held a number of prebends at Lichfield. He
also mentions four other members of the
No doubt William and John Cowper,
family, whose names he gives as Peter,
Richard, Roger, and William, who occur
among the prebendaries of Lichfield during
the same period (see Le Neve's * Fasti,' i.
591-628). He further suggests that the family
may have come from Norbury, a place in
Staffordshire, and not very far removed from
Lichfield. Is there any other evidence in
support of this suggested family relationship,
or in support of this Norbury being the place
of origin of the family ?
We have a mention of a William de North - burgo (sic) as early as 2 Edward I. (1274). He was one of the King's Justices, and on 27 October had issued to him and another a commission to try a plea at Lincoln (' Cal. Pat. Rolls,' Edw. L, vol. i. 1272-81, p. 71 ; Pat. 2 Edw. L, m. 2d). In the 'Calendar' just referred to many references are to be found to him. (In the index to this volume his name is given as Walter.) Foss says
"that he is only mentioned as one of the Justices appointed in 3 Ed. I., 1275, to take assizes beyond the Trent, and in 6 & 7 Ed. I. as a Justice Itinerant in several counties, and again in that character at Lancaster in 23 Ed. I., but apparently in reference to a plea of earlier date (' Abb. Rot. Grig.,' i. 92)."
See 'The Judges of England, 1066-1870. This plea of earlier date may be one heard before him in 3 Edward I. (1275), 'when he appears to have been appointed to take the Assize of Novel Disseisin touching a tenant at Middleton in Lancashire (Trans. Lome, and Ches. Ant. Soc., 1899, vol. xvii. p. 35). The reference given in the Transactions here referred to for the letters patent is 3 Edward I., 35d. In the ' Calendar,' however, there is only one patent given with this reference, and it does not relate to North- burgh.
The name is variously spelt Northburgh, Northburgo, Nortburgo, Norbury, Northbury, and Northbrook.
In 1334 there is mention of a Northburgh Castle in Ireland, at that time in the king's hands by reason of the minority of the heir of William de Burgo, Earl of Ulster, tenant- in-chief ('Cal. Pat, Rolls,' Edw. III., vol. ii. 1330-4, p. 546 j Pat. 8 Edw. III., ^ p. 1, m. 15) ; but I am unaware of anything to connect the family with this castle. It may, however, be worth noticing that in 1331, when Michael de Northburgh, Bishop of London, was going beyond the seas, he has letters patent nominating a John de Burgh one of his attorneys (' Cal. Pat. Rolls/ Edw. III., vol. ii. 1330-4, p. 180; Pat. 3 Edw. III., p. 2, m. 12). He may or may not have been connected with William de Burgo mentioned above.
