WILLIAM OF NEWBURGH: English historian; b. at Bridlington (37 m. n.e. of York) between Dec. 26, 1135, and Dec. 25, 1136; d. at Newburgh (near Coxwold, 16 m. n. of York) after May, 1198. He was educated as an Augustinian oblate at Newburgh, where he ultimately became canon and spent his life. He was the author of a commentary on the Song of Solomon (preserved in manuscript at Cam bridge), three sermons (ed. with the following by T. Hearne, Oxford, 1719), and especially of Historia rerum Anglicarum (ed. T. Hearne, 3 vols., Oxford, 1719; H. C. Hamilton, for the English Historical Society, 2 vols., London, 1856; and R. Howlett, in Chronicles of the Reigns of Stephen, Henry 11., and Richard 1., i. 1-408, ii. 409-583, in Rolls Series, 2 vols., London, 1884-85; Eng. transl. by J. Steven son, in Church Historians of England, vol. iv., part 2, 297-672, London, 1856). The latter work, which has established William's fame as the first critical historian of Europe, was begun.probably in 1196. It depends for its material upon Simeon of Durham, Henry of Huntingdon, and other earlier chroniclers, but displays excellence of judgment, good taste, and force and elegance of style. The period covered is 1066-1198. While the work is not exact either in dates or in statements of fact, it is noteworthy as being philosophical, and especially as so leading in criticism as to warrant Freeman's calling the author the "father of historical criticism." This last char acteristic is exemplified by the criticism of Geoffry of Monmouth.

(H. Böhmer.)

Bibliography: Consult the prolegomena or prefaces to the editions named above, particularly that of Howlett; T. Wright, Biographia Britannica literaraa, ii. 407-410, London, 1846; DNB, lxi. 360-363 (excellent); Gross, Sources, p. 298; Potthast, Wegweiser, p. 559; KL, xii. 1613-14.

WILLIAM OF NORWICH: According to tradition, the victim of a ritual murder committed by Jews; b. probably at Haveringland (9 m. n. of Norwich), Norfolk, Feb. 2, 1132 or 1133; murdered in Norwich Mar., 1144. When eight years old, he was apprenticed to a skinner at Norwich who came in frequent commercial relations wi-th-local Jews. According to tradition, the child was enticed away Mar. 20, 1144 (the Monday in Holy Week) by a man alleging himself to be the cook of the archdeacon of Norwich, was seen to enter the house of a Jew, and was there murdered, the body being kept in the house, despite the fact that it was Passover tide, until Good Friday, when it was hung by stealth on a tree near the city. The corpse was found on Easter Eve, and was buried the following Monday without religious rites. On Tuesday it was identified, and a priest of the city accused the Jews of the murder. The belief of both clergy and laity was long divided on the question, but ultimately, through the influence of William Turbe, who became

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bishop of Norwich in 1146, the fact of the child's martyrdom became an established belief. His body was translated to the monastery cemetery, and finally to the cathedral, where . it ultimately had a special altar, forming a center of pilgrimage until the middle of the fifteenth century.

The traditions connected with William of Norwich, considerably amplified in course of time, are particularly interesting as being, whatever their true basis may be, the earliest known instance of the blood accusation against the Jews for ritual murder.

Bibliography: The one authority is Thomas of Monmouth, The Life and Miracles of St. William of Norwich, ed. with transl. by A. Jessopp and M. R. James, Cambridge, 1896 (compiled by a monk of Norwich, 1172-73; it is valuable otherwise for the light it throws on English religious life n those times). Consult also J. Jacobs, Jews of Angevin England, pp. 19-21, 256-258, London, 1893; DNB, Ixi. 354-355; JE, xii. 524.