_Osbernus filius Herfasti_ (Vol. viii., p. 515.).--In reply to the Query of
MR. SANSOM, "Whether Osborn de Crespon, the brother of the Duchess of
Normandy, had a brother of the same name?" I beg to reply that there
appears to be distinct evidence that he had; for in a grant of lands by
Richard II., Duke of Normandy, who died in 1026, to the monks of St.
Michael, there are, along with the signatures of his son Richard and
several other witnesses, those of _Osbernus frater Comitissae_, and
_Osbernus filius Arfast_ (_Lobineau_, tom. ii. p. 97.). One of those may
probably have become Abbot of S. Evroult. No doubt MR. SANSOM is well aware
that one of the same family was Osborn, Bishop of Exeter. He was a son of
Osborn de Crespon, and brother of the Earl of Hereford, premier peer of
England. In 1066 he forbad the monks to be buried in the cloisters of their
monasteries; but they resisted his injunction, and, on an appeal to the
Pope, obtained a decision against him (_Mabillon_). For an eulogium on him
see Godwin, _De presul. Angl_. He died in 1104, and was buried in the
cathedral at Exeter.
I would observe that the ancient orthography of the name is Osbern, which
was continued for many centuries, and may even now be seen in Maidwell
Church, Northamptonshire, on the monument of Lady Gorges, the daughter of
Sir John Osbern, who died in 1633.