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  of Norwell Overhall first by a John de Northwell, and then by another William de Northwell, and several Northwells appear as benefactors of Southwell Cathedral. A William de Northwell wrote, according to Pits (p. 857), ‘Quasdam historias de rebus Anglicis,’ of which no copy seems known.

 NORTHWOLD, HUGH (d. 1254), bishop of Ely, took his name from his birthplace, Northwold in Norfolk. He was a monk and eventually abbot of the great Benedictine abbey of Bury St. Edmunds. On the death of Abbot Sampson, 30 Dec. 1211, King John had claimed to nominate the abbot, and, seizing the property of the abbey, retained it for a year and a half. At last, in July 1213, he requested the conventual body, ‘according to the custom of England,’ to send him ‘certain discreet persons, of whom one should be chosen.’ Disregarding the king's mandate, the monks deputed seven of their body to select an abbot, binding themselves by oath to accept their choice. By them Hugh of Northwold—‘vir miræ simplicitatis et mansuetudinis’—who had gained general goodwill by a combination of gentleness and firmness, was unanimously chosen. John was indignant, and refused to confirm the election. He had his own adherents in the body. Hugh was not equally acceptable to all, and a fierce struggle arose between the two parties.

A long series of complications ensued. John remaining obstinate in spite of Archbishop Langton's intercession, Northwold referred the matter to Nicholas, the papal legate, who had recently arrived in England to remove the interdict. But Nicholas came to no decision, and Northwold sent a messenger to Pope Innocent, invoking his aid. Robert of Graveley, the sacrist, who headed the royalist party among the monks, sent a counter embassy, and Innocent (18 May 1214) commissioned three English ecclesiastics to inquire into the election, and confirm it if found valid. The papal delegates—the abbot of Warden, the prior of Dunstable, and the dean of Salisbury—met in the chapter-house at Bury. On the question coming to the vote the monks were almost equally divided—thirty-two for, and thirty against the election. The commission adjourned till 26 July, when three representatives of each party met at St. Albans and confirmed the election. After sending a humble request to the king that he would signify his consent to the choice or state his reasons for withholding it, Northwold started for Poitou to plead his cause in person. John received him courteously, and desired him to return to Bury, where he promised to meet him. This he did early in November. The monks were summoned into the chapter-house, and a large majority declared in favour of the election. Robert the sacrist, however, and his adherents continued so determined in their opposition that, after much wrangling and repeated adjournments, the king's agents recommended Northwold to resign the abbacy in the interests of peace. Northwold refused, and the question was again submitted to the delegates, who met at Reading 12 Jan. 1215, and again at Bury 12 Feb. The sacrist did all he could to obstruct the proceedings, but judgment was given in Northwold's favour on 10 March, and the sacrist and the party of opposition consented to receive the kiss of peace.

The royal assent had yet to be obtained. Northwold met the king at his hunting-lodge in Sherwood Forest, but, though graciously received, he could obtain nothing beyond fair words. John's trusted councillor, William Brewer [q. v.], advised him to renew his appeal to the king and barons at Oxford. Great interest was made for him there; but though John had in the previous January granted free election to the church, it was made evident that his assent would not be given without a substantial bribe. This Northwold indignantly refused to give, and he returned on 17 April to Bury. It was now clear that he must take the matter into his own hands, and, by the advice of Archbishop Langton, he received the abbatial benediction from Benedict, bishop of Rochester, at Halling on 17 May 1215. John continuing to temporise, the archbishop and the barons advised Northwold to press for the royal assent till he gave way.

The crisis of John's reign was now growing imminent. Ten days before the signing of Magna Charta Northwold reached Windsor. He was, as usual, received with gracious speeches, and directed to meet the king at Runnymede, where, 10 June 1215, after long discussion and negotiation, he was admitted to favour, and invited to the royal table. The next day he swore fealty, and did homage for the temporalities of the abbey. He pro-