The record below is taken from Annals of Worcester Priory. It refers
to Thomas de Blundeville (died 1226), Bishop of Norwich, which
individual is called "nepos" to Sir Hubert de Burgh (died 1243), Earl
of Kent:
Annals of Worcester sub A.D. 1226 -
"T[homas] nepos Huberti de Burgo consecratur in episcopum Norwicensem
Dominica proxima ante Natale Domini [20 December].") [Reference:
Luard, ed., Annales Monastici, 4 (Rolls Series 36) (1869): 419].
The historian Diana Greenway provides the following details regarding
the life of Bishop Thomas de Blundeville, from which we learn that he
was king's clerk before being elevated to the bishopric of Norwich in
1226:
King's clerk (cf. Patent Rolls, 1225-32 p. 27). Lic. el. gr. 27 Oct.
1226 (ibid. p. 69). (fn.
5 Nov., temps. 21 Nov. (Pat. R. 1225-32 pp. 89, 92). Ordained priest
19 Dec. (ann. Dover fo. 26r), consecrated bishop 20 Dec. 1226 (ibid.;
Ann. Waverley, p. 302; cf. Acta S. Langton no. 96). (fn. 1) Professed
obedience, n.d. (Woodruff, Professions p. 173). He died 16 August 1236
(Chron. Bury p. 9; Chron. Maj. 111 378). (fn. 2) Commem. 16 Aug.
(Norwich obits. I p. 8, II fo. 6v, III p. 5v; Canterbury obits. II fo.
38r, III fo. 211r). [Reference: Diana E. Greenway, Fasti Ecclesiae
Anglicanae 1066-1300 2 (1971): 55-58].
Elsewhere, the noted historian, Nicholas Vincent, in his excellent
work, Peter des Roches: An Alien in English Politics, 1205-1238
(published in 1996), also mentions Bishop Thomas de Blundeville, who he
identifies as the nephew of Earl Hubert de Burgh. In footnote 4 on
page 261, Mr. Vincent provides the following information:
"For Thomas and his kinship to Hubert, see Annales Monastici, i
(Tewkesbury), pg. 69; Acta of the Legate Guala, 1216-1218, no. 49. He
witnesses at least one of Hubert's charters before election to Nowich;
Bodl. ms. Rawlinson B336 (St. Radegund's cartulary), pp. 170-1."
As best I can tell, Mr. Vincent appears to have missed the reference to
Bishop Thomas de Blundeville in the Annals of Worcester Priory which
I've quoted earlier above.
Given that the Latin word "nepos" can mean either nephew or near
kinsman in this time period, I ask if Thomas de Blundeville was nephew
or near kinsman to Earl Hubert de Burgh?
Best always, Douglas Richardson, Salt Lake City, Utah
Website: http://www.royalancestry.net