Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 41.djvu/146

 made by the archbishop, the abbot triumphed, and the rebellious monks received a nominal punishment.

Part of the question of exemption from episcopal visitation was in 1205 referred to Rome. The astute lawyer Marleberge and the abbot met there in March 1205, and they agreed to act together; but Marleberge went in fear of his life because of the abbot's plots against him. The bishop had been accorded jurisdiction over the abbey pending the decision from Rome, and he excommunicated Norris when he and the convent closed their gates against him. But the papal decision in favour of the convent's exemption left the abbot free on his return to continue his old courses. In 1206 the convent was visited by the legate; complaint was then made of Norris's misconduct, but the inquiry which followed was partial. He next attempted to expel the ringleaders of the rebellious monks; but thirty monks elected to join them, and in an armed encounter the abbot's party was defeated, and Norris had to submit to his own monks. Still for six years more the abbey continued to suffer at his hands, and not till 1213 did Marleberge tell the whole story of the abbot's iniquities to the legate Pandulph. Full inquiry was made, and charges of robbery and neglect of the convent, of simony, homicide, and notorious unchastity were established. The abbot was on 22 Nov. 1213 ordered to resign and restore the conventual property. After five days the convent petitioned the legate that he should be made prior of Penwortham, and he held this office five months, when the legate deprived him of it on account of his excesses. He proceeded to Rome, and strove to win back the abbacy, without success. On returning to England he tried in vain to make friends with the Bishop of Worcester and the legate Gualo in 1216. He sought to get money from the convent, and rather than that he should become one of the vagabond monks (gyrovagii) condemned by St. Benedict, the legate Pandulph in 1218 restored the priory of Penwortham to him. He died on 19 July 1223. His enemy Marleberge admits that he was courageous, and adds that his flow of words gave him the appearance of learning. Not only the monks of Christchurch (Ep. Cant. p. 253), and chief among them Gervase the historian, but also Alan of Tewkesbury, Giraldus Cambrensis, and Thomas de Marleberge, all agree in condemning his vices. 

NORRIS, SYLVESTER, D.D. (1572–1630), catholic controversialist, born in Somerset in 1572, was educated in the English College at Rheims, where he arrived on 24 March 1584–5. He received minor orders there in 1590, entered the English College at Rome for his higher course of studies on 23 Oct. 1592, was ordained priest, and left for the English mission in May 1596. Being apprehended after the discovery of the gunpowder plot, he was committed prisoner to Bridewell, whence, on 1 Dec. 1605, he addressed a letter to the Earl of Salisbury, in consequence of which he was released, and sent into banishment with forty-six other priests. Arriving at Douay on 24 July 1606, he proceeded direct to Rome, where he was admitted into the Society of Jesus. Previously to this he had been created D.D. After being professor of theology and sacred scripture in several jesuit colleges on the continent he returned to England, and was professed of the four vows on 6 Dec. 1618. While engaged on the mission he frequently passed under the name of Smith. In 1621 he was superior of the Hampshire district, and he died in it on 16 March 1629–30. He was a very learned man and a noted preacher.

His works are: 1. ‘An Antidote or Soveraigne Remedie against the Pestiferous Writings of all English Sectaries. And in particuler against D. Whitaker, D. Fvlke, D. Bilson, D. Reynolds, D. Sparkes, and D. Field, the chiefe vpholders, some of Protestancy, some of Puritanisme. … By S. N. Doctour of Diuinity,’ 3 parts [St. Omer], 1615, 4to, pp. 322. The second part, pp. 247, appeared in 1619; and the third part, entitled ‘The Guide of Faith,’ pp. 229, in 1621, with an appendix, pp. 107, ‘conteyning a Catalogue of the visible and perpetuall Succession of the Catholique Professours of the Roman Church … togeather with a Counter-Catalogue discouering the interruption of Hereticall Sectes.’ The first two parts were reprinted (probably at St. Omer) in 1622, 4to, pp. 307, under the title of ‘An Antidote, or Treatise of Thirty Controversies.’ 2. ‘The Pseudo Scripturist,’ 2 pts. 1623, 4to. Dodd asserts that Norris was the author of ‘A Treatise proving the Scriptures not to be the sole judge of Controversies,’ 1623, 4to; but this is probably the same work as the ‘Pseudo Scripturist.’ 3. ‘A trve report of the Priuate Colloquy betweene M. Smith, aliâs Norrice, and M. Walker. Held in the presence of two Worthy Knights, and of a few other Gentlemen, some Protestants. With a briefe Confutation of the false and adulterated summe, which M. Walker, Pastour of S. Iohn Euangelist in Watling-streete, hath diuulged of the