Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 41.djvu/220

 the realms of bliss. Then follows (f. 80 b) the ‘opusculum sive revelacio gloriosa’ of the soul of a Carthusian monk who had attained to glory by his devotion to the Virgin and by his regular observance of the rule of his order. The tract ends f. 95 b.

 NORTON, JOHN (d. 1534), soldier, was eldest son of Reginald Norton of Sheldwich, by Catherine, daughter of Richard Dryland. He was a brave and adventurous captain, and on 11 July 1511 sailed with Sir Edward Poynings and fifteen hundred men from Sandwich, going into the Low Countries to aid Margaret of Savoy against the Duke of Guelders. In Guelderland they ‘conquered a little towne or twayne,’ but failed to take Venloo. According to Hall, Norton distinguished himself in this expedition. Henry VIII soon recalled the little force, and Margaret gave all the men before they returned coats of colours which combined her livery with that of Henry. Young Charles (afterwards the Emperor Charles V) knighted several of the captains, and among them Norton. They reached Calais on their homeward journey on 25 Nov. 1511. In 1522 Norton was sheriff of Kent, and in 1514 sheriff of Yorkshire. He held the office of knight of the body to Henry VIII. He went to France in 1514, and again in 1532. In 1532 he was a commissioner to protect the coast, and in 1525 he took part in the great funeral of Sir Thomas Lovell. In 1526 the king gave him a lease of lands in the Isle of Thanet. He was often in the commission of the peace. He died 8 Feb. 1533–4, and was buried in the Northwood chancel of Milton Church in Kent (‘Letters and Papers, Henry VIII,’ v. 812, seems misdated).

Norton married one of the two coheiresses of Roger de Northwood of Northwood in Milton, and left a son John, who was knighted on 22 Feb. 1546–7, was present at Henry VIII's funeral, and in 1551 went on an embassy to France. He married Alice, daughter of Edward Cobb of Cobb's Place, Kent, and left a son Thomas (, Knights, p. 94;, Memorials, i. 9, 507, ii. 328; , Kent Geneal. p. 158). Sir John also left a daughter Frideswide, who married William, son of Sir John Fyneux [q. v.], lord chief justice.

 NORTON, JOHN (d. 1612), printer. [See under, 1527–1593.]

NORTON, JOHN (1606–1663), divine, born at Bishop Stortford, Hertfordshire, on 9 May 1606, was son of William Norton, and came of ‘honourable ancestors.’ He was educated under Alexander Strange, forty-six years vicar of Buntingford, and ‘could betimes write good Latin with a more than common elegancy and invention’ (, Magnalia, pt. iii. p. 32). At fourteen he entered Peterhouse, Cambridge, but, after graduating B.A. 1627, ‘the ruin of his father's estate’ compelled him to leave the university. He became tutor in the Stortford grammar school, and was appointed curate there. The preaching of Jeremiah Dyke [q. v.] of Epping roused in him strong puritanic feeling. His dislike of ceremonies prevented his acceptance of a benefice offered by his uncle, and of a fellowship pressed upon him by Dr. Sibbes [q. v.], master of Catharine Hall. He was chaplain for a time to Sir William Masham of Oates, High Laver, Essex, who afterwards wrote to Governor Endecott (29 March 1636) ‘his abilyties are more than ordinary, and will be acceptable and profitable to your churches.’ He preached wherever opportunity offered until silenced for nonconformity, when he determined to go to America.

In 1634 Norton married a ‘gentlewoman of good estate and good esteem,’ and soon afterwards (in September) set sail with her from Harwich for New England. In October 1635 they landed at Plymouth, New England, and Norton preached through the winter. He was soon ‘called’ to Ipswich, although not formally ordained ‘teacher,’ i.e. lecturer, until 20 Oct. 1638. His coadjutor was Nathaniel Ward [q. v.] until February 1637; Nathaniel Rogers [see under ] succeeded Ward on 5 Nov. 1639. Two hundred acres of land were voted to Norton. In 1644 he was appointed by the New England divines to draw up an answer to the questions on church government sent by William Apollonius, pastor of Middleburg, Holland, to the ministers of London. This work (finished in 1645), ‘Responsio ad totam quæstionum syllogen,’ London, 1648, was the first Latin book composed in the colonies. It was praised by Goodwin, Nye, Professor Hornbeck of Leyden, and others. Fuller in his ‘Church History’ says no book was ‘more informative to me of those opinions.’ The ‘Introductory Epistle’ is by John Cotton (1585–1652), formerly vicar of Boston, Lincolnshire, and then pastor of the first church in Boston, Massachusetts. Nor-