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diff --git a/37780.txt b/37780.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bc8b35f --- /dev/null +++ b/37780.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9190 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Chronicle of Jocelin of Brakelond: A +Picture of Monastic Life in the Days of Abbot Samson, by Jocelin de +Brakelond, Edited by Sir Ernest Clarke + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Chronicle of Jocelin of Brakelond: A Picture of Monastic Life in the Days of Abbot Samson + + +Author: Jocelin de Brakelond + +Editor: Sir Ernest Clarke + +Release Date: October 17, 2011 [eBook #37780] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHRONICLE OF JOCELIN OF +BRAKELOND: A PICTURE OF MONASTIC LIFE IN THE DAYS OF ABBOT SAMSON*** + + +E-text prepared by Juliet Sutherland, Chris Pinfield, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 37780-h.htm or 37780-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/37780/37780-h/37780-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/37780/37780-h.zip) + + +Transcriber's note: + + Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). + + Text enclosed by equal sings is in bold face (=bold=). + + Characters following a carat are superscrpted (example: + MCCC.LXXVII^o). + + Small capitals are rendered in upper case. + + + + + +[Illustration: frontispiece] + + +THE CHRONICLE OF JOCELIN +OF BRAKELOND: A PICTURE +OF MONASTIC LIFE IN THE +DAYS OF ABBOT SAMSON. + +Newly Edited by + +SIR ERNEST CLARKE M.A. F.S.A. + +[Illustration: +_Seal of Abbot Samson. +(Slightly enlarged. The length of the +original is 3-1/2 inches._)] + +THE CHRONICLE OF +JOCELIN OF BRAKELOND: +A PICTURE OF +MONASTIC LIFE IN +THE DAYS OF ABBOT +SAMSON + +Newly Edited by + +SIR ERNEST CLARKE + + + + + + + +Alexander Moring +The De La More Press +298 Regent Street London W 1903 + + + +"A VERITABLE MONK OF BURY ST. EDMUND'S: WORTH LISTENING TO, IF BY +CHANCE MADE VISIBLE AND AUDIBLE. HERE HE IS; AND IN HIS HAND A +MAGICAL SPECULUM, MUCH GONE TO RUST, INDEED, YET IN FRAGMENTS STILL +CLEAR; WHEREIN THE MARVELLOUS IMAGE OF HIS EXISTENCE DOES STILL +SHADOW ITSELF, THOUGH FITFULLY, AND AS WITH AN INTERMITTENT LIGHT." + + _Carlyle: Past and Present._ Chapter 1. + + + + +LIST OF CONTENTS + + + SEAL OF ABBOT SAMSON. _Frontispiece_ + + _EDITOR'S PREFACE._ + + Page + Samson and his arch-eulogist--The Chronicle--Previous + Editions of the Chronicle--The Chronicler--The Central + Figure of the Chronicle--Samson in Subordinate + Offices--Samson as Abbot--Relations with Church and + State--Samson as an Author--Samson's + Masterfulness--Samson as an Administrator--Epilogue xv.-xliii. + + CHAPTER I. + + _BURY ABBEY UNDER ABBOT HUGH._ + + The last years of Abbot Hugh--The monastery under a load of + debt, and in the hands of Jew money-lenders--Inquiry by + the Royal almoner--Caustic comment by Samson, master of + the novices--Exemption obtained by Hugh from visitation + by the Legate--Jocelin's reflection thereon--The Convent + debt--Entertainment of strangers--Samson in various + offices, but disliked by the Abbot--Accident to Hugh at + Canterbury--His death--His house despoiled by his + servants 1-11 + + CHAPTER II. + + _THE MONKS DISCUSS THE VACANCY._ + + Wardens of the Abbey appointed by the King--Culpable + Weakness of the Prior--William the sacrist--Activity of + Samson as subsacrist--Jealousy of him--The Wardens stop + further building operations--Much discussion by the + monks as to the qualifications needed in the new + Abbot--Samson silently notes all that is said--Jocelin's + indiscretion in blurting out his private opinion 12-23 + + CHAPTER III. + + _THE CHOICE OF A NEW ABBOT._ + + Henry II. orders the Prior and twelve delegates from the + Abbey to attend him to make choice of a new + Abbot--Selection of the twelve--Six electors appointed + to choose three names to be given under seal to the + delegates--The journey to the Court--Gossip and telling + of dreams amongst the monks left behind--The delegates + before the King at Bishop's Waltham--The sealed paper + opened--Samson eventually selected--Approval of the + King, and his comment on Samson's demeanour 24-35 + + CHAPTER IV. + + _SAMSON'S INSTALLATION._ + + Reception of the news at the Monastery--Samson blessed by + the Bishop of Winchester--He journeys to Bury, and is + welcomed by the Convent on Palm Sunday--His address in + the chapter-house--Answer of Wimer the Sheriff--Jocelin + made Abbot's Chaplain--New Seal struck with mitre graven + thereon--Samson sets his household in order--General + Court summoned--Demand of aid from his knights 36-42 + + CHAPTER V. + + _THE NEW ABBOT'S REFORMS._ + + Prepares an estate book--Buildings and repairs--Enclosure + of parks--Hunting and dogs--Land + improvements--Management of manors--General + survey--Makes a kalendar--New regulations made in + Chapter--Amount of the convent debts and their + discharge--Dismissal of William the sacrist--Samson + visits all the Abbey manors--His anxieties about the + debts--His skill and energy in managing the + estates--Appointed judge in ecclesiastical + courts--Jocelin's excuse for Samson's fondness for + betaking himself to his manors--The Abbot's complaint at + the burden of his charge--His dream as a child--His + control of temper--Order for production of convent + seals--Thirty-three given up, all retained by the Abbot, + except the prior's--Entertainment of guests 43-59 + +CHAPTER VI. + +_SAMSON'S PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS._ + + His personal appearance--His temperance and + diligence--Abhors liars, drunkards and talkative + folk--His eloquence--Preaches to the people in the + Norfolk dialect--Management of his household--Strict + regulation of expenses--Appoints none but fit persons to + office--His treatment of his relatives--Gratitude for + past kindnesses--Provides free lodgings for poor + scholars--Expulsion of Jews from Bury--Purchase of the + Manor of Mildenhall--Giving up of King Henry II.'s cup + and its restoration--Samson's generosity--The Woolpit + living--Samson recounts his visit to Rome in his early + days, and his adventures 60-75 + + CHAPTER VII. + + _THE ABBOT AS PEER OF PARLIAMENT._ + + Dispute with Archbishop of Canterbury as to jurisdiction + over manor of Eleigh--Quarrel with the Bishop of Ely, + the Chancellor--Samson wishes to take the cross: the + King refuses permission--Goes to siege of Windsor in + martial array--Visits Richard I. in + Germany--Excommunication by him of a company of + roystering young knights--Embassies to Rome--The claim + of the Earl of Clare to carry the Standard of St. Edmund + in battle--Adam of Cockfield's inheritance--Herbert the + dean and his windmill--Jocelin's New Year's gift--The + Abbot's struggle with his rebellious knights 76-100 + + CHAPTER VIII. + + _THE CASE OF HENRY OF ESSEX._ + + Excesses of Henry of Essex--His cowardice in Wales--The + wager of battle on the island near Reading--Henry's + vision--His recovery and repentance 101-105 + + CHAPTER IX. + + _TROUBLES WITHOUT._ + + The Bishop of Ely outwitted as to timber asked for by + him--Dispute as to town bailiffs--Murmurings of the + monks--Toll-right dispute with London merchants--Dues of + the burgesses--Samson grants a charter to the town 106-117 + + CHAPTER X. + + _TROUBLES WITHIN._ + + Inefficient cellarers--New arrangements criticised--The + Archbishop of Canterbury claims authority to visit the + Abbey as legate--Samson's successful appeal to the Pope 118-127 + + CHAPTER XI. + + _SAMSON'S CONTESTS WITH KNIGHTS, + MONKS AND TOWNSMEN._ + + King Richard's levies--The abbot's difficulties in making + his knights comply--Goes to Normandy and arranges + matters with the King--Samson's generosity to the + abbey--He takes the cellarer's department into his own + hands--Consequent discontent--Hamo Blund's will, and + Samson's comments thereon--Riots in the + churchyard--Rioters reduced to submission 128-141 + + CHAPTER XII. + + _THE CARES OF OFFICE._ + + Restoration of the Coventry monks--Samson's hospitality at + Oxford--His endowment of the Bury schools--Abbey + improvements--The Abbot withstands King Richard over the + wardship of Nesta of Cockfield--The King appeased by a + present of horses and dogs 142-149 + + CHAPTER XIII. + + _THE CUSTOMS OF THE TOWNSHIP._ + + Old oppressive customs changed or abrogated by Samson--The + Cellarer's difficulties in collecting _rep silver_--The + hard case of Ketel--The Cellarer's dues--Lakenheath + eels--Samson's reforms and his critics 150-161 + + CHAPTER XIV. + + _THE SHRINE OF ST. EDMUND._ + + Fire around the shrine--The shrine unhurt--Vain attempts to + hush up the scandal--Samson dreams of St. Edmund + despoiled--The saint's body uncovered--Samson and + certain of the monks view the sacred relic 162-177 + + CHAPTER XV. + + _THE MONASTERY IN REVOLT._ + + Death of King Richard--King John visits the Abbey--Samson + supports Ralph the porter against the monks--He + withdraws from the convent--Disturbances in his + absence--The monks submit--Reconciliation--Marshalling + of the Knights--Further troubles about the manors and + cellary 178-189 + + CHAPTER XVI. + + _ELECTION OF A NEW PRIOR._ + + Death of Robert the Prior--Herbert the chaplain and Hermer + the sub-prior candidates for the post--Through the + Abbot's influence Herbert is elected--Jocelin + moralizes--The gibes of the unlearned 190-199 + + CHAPTER XVII. + + _THE ABBOT'S FOIBLES._ + + Samson's faults--The dam at Babwell--Trouble with the Ely + monks--The Abbot summoned over sea to the King--Sets his + house in order--His unfulfilled promises--The story + breaks off 200-211 + + APPENDICES. + + I. SAMSON AS AN AUTHOR 215-221 + + II. NOTES TO TEXT OF CHRONICLE 222-256 + + III. TABLE OF CHIEF DATES IN THE HISTORY OF + THE ABBEY OF ST. EDMUNDSBURY, A.D. + 870 TO 1903 257-278 + + _GENERAL INDEX_ 279-285 + + +PREFACE + +=Samson and his Arch-Eulogist.=--Abbot Samson of St. Edmundsbury and +his biographer, Jocelin of Brakelond, undoubtedly owe such immortality +as they possess to their introduction to the world at large by Thomas +Carlyle. Learned historians and commentators of the past had made use +of the dry facts of the Chronicle for their disquisitions and +treatises; but none had recognized the human interest of Jocelin's +narrative until the Sage of Chelsea seized upon it as evidence of that +theory of Hero Worship on which he loved to insist. + +The whole of the seventeen chapters of Book II. of "Past and Present," +published in 1843, are devoted to a study of Abbot Samson, and the +lessons which Carlyle thought "our own poor century" could learn from +him. + +From that day to this, Samson has been more or less a household word; +and, as John Richard Green says in his "Stray Studies" (1876), "In the +wandering gossipy pages of Jocelin of Brakelond the life of the +twelfth century, so far as it could penetrate abbey walls, still glows +distinct for us round the figure of the shrewd, practical, kindly, +imperious abbot who looks out, a little travestied perhaps, from the +pages of Mr. Carlyle." + +=The Chronicle.=--Mr. Green further says:--"By a rare accident the +figure of the silent, industrious Norfolk monk, who at the close of +Henry the Second's reign suddenly found himself ruler of the +wealthiest, if not the greatest, of English abbeys, starts out +distinct from the dim canvas of the annals of his house. Annals indeed +in any strict sense St. Edmund's has none; no national chronicle was +ever penned in its scriptorium such as that which flings lustre round +its rival, St. Albans; nor is even a record of its purely monastic +life preserved such as that which gives a local and ecclesiastical +interest to its rival of Glastonbury. One book alone the abbey has +given us, but that one book is worth a thousand chronicles." + +The original manuscript of the Chronicle occupies 43 folios (121-163) +of a thick quarto volume on vellum once in the library of Bury Abbey, +afterwards in the hands of the family of Bacon of Redgrave, then +belonging to Bishop Stillingfleet of Worcester, and now preserved in +the British Museum amongst the Harleian Manuscripts. The contents of +this _Liber Albus_ (Harl. MS. 1005) are very varied; and a complete +list of the 144 items in it which relate to the Abbey will be found on +pp. 122-4 of the 1821 Edition of the _Monasticon_. (Another copy of +the Chronicle was in the Cottonian MS. Vitellius DXV., burnt in the +fire of 1731.) Three facsimiles of portions of the MS. are given in +the Camden Society's Edition of the Latin text (to be presently +referred to), and the writing is there ascribed to the end of the 13th +or beginning of the 14th century. + +=Previous Editions of the Chronicle.=--In the year 1840, John Gage +Rokewode, F.R.S. (1786-1842), Director of the Society of Antiquaries, +brought out for the Camden Society a thin quarto book in the familiar +green cover, which he entitled "Chronica Jocelini de Brakelonda de +rebus gestis Samsonis Abbatis Monasterii Sancti Edmundi." It was this +book that attracted the attention of Carlyle, with the results already +stated. Rokewode was a scion of the distinguished family of Gage of +Hengrave, near Bury, and took the additional name of Rokewode on +inheriting in 1838 the estates of the Rookwood family. He was a very +learned genealogist, and the author of a History of Hengrave and of +the Hundred of Thingoe. His observations on Suffolk families and +topography are therefore to be relied upon, though subsequent +investigation has corrected some of his notes on historical matters. + +Rokewode's text was in the original Latin; but to meet the popular +demand for the Chronicle caused by Carlyle's published appreciation of +it in "Past and Present" (1843), a translation into English was made +by Thomas Edlyne Tomlins (1804-1872), and was published in 1844 by +Whitaker & Co. in the "Popular Library of Modern Authors," under the +title of "Monastic and Social Life in the Twelfth Century." + +Mr. T. E. Tomlins was a nephew of the better known Sir Thomas Edlyne +Tomlins (1762-1841), assistant counsel to the Treasury, who wrote "The +Law of Wills" and other well-known text-books. The younger Thomas was +an attorney, and also wrote on legal subjects. Tomlins' translation of +Jocelin was issued in the somewhat forbidding form of a tall +paper-covered book of 64 pages of double columns of small type, +without any break from start to finish: the few notes at the end being +mostly on legal points, and none of them of great merit. + +It does not appear that Mr. Tomlins had any special knowledge of his +subject; and, as a consequence, his translation contained a quantity +of errors, both of omission and commission. His book has been used as +the ground-work for the present edition, but the alterations made in +the text have been so numerous and important as to be practically +equivalent to a new translation altogether. The three Appendices +(pages 215-278) are wholly new. + +The task of rendering the Latin text into satisfactory and accurate +English has been made easier by the publication in 1890-6 of Mr. +Thomas Arnold's three volumes of "Memorials of St. Edmund's Abbey" +(No. 96 of the Rolls Series). "Tom" Arnold (1823-1900) was the second +son of Arnold of Rugby and the younger brother of Matthew Arnold; and +he undertook a quantity of work for the Rolls Series, not all of which +he was able to carry through with the completeness that he desired. +Especially with regard to the Annals of St. Edmundsbury there was a +quantity of material that he could not deal with in the leisure at his +command. But so far as concerns the Chronicle of Jocelin (which +occupies 228 pages of his Volume I.), his edition of the original +Latin text was carefully revised and annotated. + +=The Chronicler.=--Of Jocelin of Brakelond very little is certainly +known beyond what he himself tells us in the Chronicle. There are two +streets in Bury St. Edmunds known as the Long and Short Brackland or +Braklond, and probably Jocelin took his name from his place of birth. +In the text of the Chronicle, however, and in other 13th century +documents in which his name is recorded, he appears simply as Jocelin. +He tells us he took the habit in 1173, "the year when the Flemings +were taken captive without the town" (page 1); and that he then came +under the care of Samson, at that time master of the novices, who told +him some of his own experiences by way of warning against interference +with the constituted authorities (6). + +At the time of Samson's election as Abbot, in 1182, Jocelin was +prior's chaplain, but within four months he was made abbot's chaplain, +"noting many things and committing them to memory" (39): for which all +students of English history are eternally grateful to him. In his +capacity as Samson's chaplain, Jocelin was "constantly with him by day +and night for six years, and had the opportunity of becoming fully +conversant with the worthiness of his life and the wisdom of his rule" +(56). + +Jocelin evidently starts at first with an admiration for Samson's +vigorous and independent regime (see especially pages 52-3); but later +on his faith in his master seems to have been a little shaken, and +Samson's action in practically "jockeying" his favourite Herbert into +the office of prior takes Jocelin's breath away. The eventful meeting +of the chapter over, he sits down stupefied in the porch of the guest +chamber (he being then hospitarius), and reflects on the situation +(198). He cannot approve, moreover, Samson's action with regard to +John Ruffus and Adam the Infirmarer, where he more than hints at the +Abbot's acceptance of a bribe (200). The banking up by Samson of the +fishpond at Babwell, thus flooding the pastures and gardens of others, +he describes as "another stain of evil doing" (201): the Abbot's +passionate retort that "his fish pond was not to be spoilt on account +of our meadows," obviously offending Jocelin's sense of the +proprieties. He demurs, moreover, to the willingness of certain of the +monks to strip even the shrine of St. Edmund himself to obtain an +exemption of the Abbey from episcopal visitation, pointing out that +there might come a time when the convent might need the control of a +bishop, archbishop, or legate, over a tyrannous or spendthrift abbot +(7). + +It is perhaps for these reasons that we find Jocelin, at a date after +Samson's death, on the side of the party of caution and moderation in +the disputes over the election of a new abbot. The author, whoever he +was, of the interpolated narrative in the Chronicle relating to Henry +of Essex (101 _et seq._) refers to "Master Jocelin our almoner, a man +of exalted piety, powerful in word and in deed"; and there can hardly +be any doubt that this was our Jocelin. In the highly complicated +story (printed in Mr. Arnold's second volume) of the preliminaries to +the final approval by King John of Samson's successor, Abbot Hugh II., +Jocelin the almoner took the side of Robert of Gravelee, the sacrist, +who advocated the adoption of the plan followed when the previous +vacancy occurred, of submitting to the king names from whom he could +make a selection (as indeed John had asked might be done by letter +dated 25 July, 1213), instead of asking him, as they did, to confirm +an election already made. Jocelin, in a speech delivered in the +chapter-house, seems indeed to have been the first to start the view +that the convent had made a mistake, and that it ought to put itself +right with the king. He again insisted on this at a second debate in +December, 1213, and took a prominent part in the subsequent +discussions, his name being recorded in the division list of June, +1214, when 30 voted on his side, and 32 for adherence to the claims of +the Abbey. + +The three delegates, the Abbot of Wardon, the Prior of Dunstable, and +the Dean of Salisbury, who had been appointed by the Pope on May 18, +1214, to inquire into the Bury election, held the last but one of +their numerous sittings on February 12, 1215, at which Jocelin was +present. At last the delegates announced on March 10 their judgment +confirming the election, which, with considerable trouble, they +persuaded the sacrist and his party to accept, and to exchange with +the new abbot the kiss of peace. + +When, on April 24, 1215, the abbot elect, unsuccessful in obtaining +John's favour, and refusing to bribe the king, though advised to do so +by the courtiers, appointed certain officials to the custody of Abbey +manors, he took the advice, amongst other high officers, of Jocelin +the almoner; and this is the last we hear of our Chronicler. + +Jocelin himself mentions (23) that he had written a book on the many +signs and wonders in connection with the martyrdom by the Jews of the +boy Robert, who was buried in the Abbey Church; but this work is not +known to be extant. The inaccurate Bale also ascribes to him the +authorship of the tract _Super Electione Hugonis_ (also in the Liber +Albus), from which the above facts as to Jocelin's later life have +been gleaned. But there is no authority for this; and, as Mr. Arnold +points out (i. lix.), the style of that work is different from the +Chronicle. + +Whatever criticisms one might be tempted to pass on Carlyle's +appreciation of Samson, there need be no dissentient voice to his +summing up of Jocelin's character:-- + + An ingenious and ingenuous, a cheery-hearted, innocent, yet withal + shrewd, noticing, quick-witted man; and from under his monk's cowl + has looked out on the narrow section of the world in a really human + manner.... The man is of patient, peaceable, loving, clear-smiling + nature; open for this or that.... Also he has a pleasant wit, and + loves a timely joke, though in mild, subdued manner. A learned, grown + man, yet with the heart as of a good child. + +=The Central Figure of the Chronicle.=--Whatever his other merits, +Jocelin's strong point was certainly not chronological sequence. With +the assistance of the Table of Dates printed on pages 261-267, the +reader will, it is hoped, get some useful sort of idea of the busy +life of Abbot Samson, both within and without the walls of the +monastery, whilst it was under his vigorous rule; and as to his +personal characteristics, virtues and foibles, they are writ large in +almost every chapter of the Chronicle. + +He was obviously of humble origin, and his dialect was that of his +native county of Norfolk (62). He seems to have lost his father early, +for we read of his conferring, soon after he became Abbot, a benefice +upon the son of a man of lowly station who had been kind to him in his +youth and looked after his interests (66). As a child of nine, he had +been taken by his mother to a pilgrimage to St. Edmund, after a dream +which presaged his future service under that saint (56). When he was a +poor clerk, William, the schoolmaster of Diss, had given him free +admission to his school: a favour which he requited by giving Walter, +son of William, the living of Chevington (67). Similarly, he helped +those of his kinsmen who had recognized him when he was a poor clerk, +provided they were worthy; but with those who had then held aloof from +him he wished to have no dealings (66). + +At some early date Samson went to Paris to study, a friend who then +supported him there by the proceeds of the sale of holy water +receiving afterwards a benefice from him (66). Just as he did not +forget the friends who had helped him in his early struggles so he +remembered past kindnesses shown to him when he was a poor monk and +out of favour with the authorities. When Hugh, his predecessor, +clapped him into irons, Hugh's cupbearer Elias brought him some wine +to quench his prison thirst (67); and when he needed a night's lodging +on his return from Durham on the business of the Abbey, a resident at +Risby gave him the shelter which a neighbour refused (68). Neither +favour was forgotten when Elias and William of Risby came before him +as landlord. + +By 1160 Samson was back from abroad as master of the schools at Bury, +though he did not become a professed monk till 1166. Meanwhile he had +been sent on an errand to Rome, with reference to the church at +Woolpit, in which his native wit showed itself (73, 74). He seems to +have been successful in his mission, getting from Pope Alexander III. +a reversion for the monastery of the Woolpit living; but, perhaps +because he returned too late to prevent Geoffrey Ridel being appointed +by the king (74), Abbot Hugh banished him, on his return, to Castle +Acre. Here he remained in exile a long time (74), and he was sent +there again after he had become a cloister monk, and had spoken up +"for the good of our Church" in opposition to the Abbot (6). + +=Samson in Subordinate Offices.=--Much as Hugh disliked Samson, he +seems to have been a little afraid of him; and, to reconcile matters, +he made Samson subsacrist. "Often accused," says Jocelin, "he was +transferred from one office to another, being successively guest +master, pittance master, third prior, and again subsacrist" (9). But +he could not be induced to fawn on and flatter the Abbot, as other +officials did; and Hugh declared that "he had never seen a man whom he +could not bend to his will, except Samson the subsacrist" (10). + +When at length Hugh's trying dispensation came to an end, through his +horse accident at Canterbury in 1180, Samson was, as subsacrist, busy +with new building operations for the Church (14). His superior +officer, the bibulous William Wiardel, the sacrist, was jealous of +him, and persuaded the wardens of the Abbey to stop any further +expense for works during the vacancy (15). But Samson knew some things +to William's financial and moral discredit, on which he was later able +to base the sacrist's dismissal from office (46-7). + +The gossip amongst the monks as to which of the brethren should fill +Hugh's place is admirably told by Jocelin (Chap. ii.). Whilst the rest +were babbling at blood-letting season, Samson the subsacrist sat +smiling but saying nothing (21). The receipt of Henry II.'s order or +permission to make choice of a new Abbot put the monastery in a +flutter; and the selection of the deputation to wait upon the King, +and their interview with their liege lord, is most naively described +in chapter iii. The secret ballot at Bury for three names was a +surprise to the higher officials (31), and they did what they could to +diminish Samson's chances. But after some fencing the Bishop of +Winchester asked the deputation point blank whom they wanted, and the +answer was--Samson: "no one gainsaying this" (34). + +=Samson as Abbot.=--And so the once oppressed and obscure monk +returned to Bury the absolute ruler of the foundation, with the king's +remark in his ears when he noted, with apparent admiration at Bishop's +Waltham, how Samson comported himself in the royal presence: "By the +eyes of God, this Abbot elect thinks himself worthy to govern an +abbey!" (35). So indeed he did, setting to work at once after his +ceremonial installation (37) to institute reforms of all sorts. As +Carlyle says, and his words must suffice in this place:-- + + How Abbot Samson, giving his new subjects seriatim the kiss of + fatherhood in the St. Edmundsbury chapter-house, proceeded with + cautious energy to set about reforming their disjointed, distracted + way of life; how he managed with his Fifty rough Milites (Feudal + Knights), with his lazy farmers, remiss refractory monks, with Pope's + Legates, Viscounts, Bishops, Kings; how on all sides he laid about + him like a man, and putting consequence on premiss, and everywhere + the saddle on the right horse, struggled incessantly to educe organic + method out of lazily fermenting wreck,--the careful reader will + discern, not without true interest, in these pages of Jocelin + Boswell. + +To tell the story of all this would be to paraphrase the Chronicle; +and the reader is therefore referred to the List of Contents for +instances of the Abbot's capacity and resourcefulness in dealing with +the complicated interests under his control. + +But there is one aspect of his busy life to which allusion may perhaps +here be made, as showing the influence and importance of the Abbot of +St. Edmundsbury outside the monastery walls. + +=Relations with Church and State.=--Samson's abbacy extended over +the pontificates of five Popes and the reigns of three Kings, by all +of whom his strength of character and wisdom of counsel seem to have +been appreciated. Pope Lucius III., who had succeeded, in 1181, +Alexander III., to whom Samson had twenty years before paid a visit on +behalf of the Abbey (72), appointed the new abbot a judge in the +ecclesiastical courts within seven months of his election (51). Urban +III. granted Samson in 1187-8, the privilege of giving the episcopal +benediction (84) and other concessions. Celestine III. placed him in +1197 on the commission for restoring the expelled monks at Coventry +(142); and Innocent III. granted on December 1, 1198, without +hesitation, on Samson's application, an exemption of Bury Abbey from +episcopal visitation even by a legate unless he were a legate _a +latere_ (124). + +King Henry II., who had apparently formed a favourable opinion of +Samson from his demeanour on his election (35), practically decided in +his favour on February 11, 1187, in his dispute with Archbishop Hubert +concerning his abbatial jurisdiction over Monk's Eleigh, where a case +of homicide had occurred (78). In the same year, the king at Clarendon +favourably considered Samson's petition with reference to the immunity +of Bury Abbey from certain taxes (96). Having taken the Cross on +January 21, 1188, Henry II. came to Bury within a month to pay a +pilgrimage to St. Edmund, when Samson endeavoured, without success, to +obtain the king's permission to do likewise (81). + +In the next year Henry died at Chinon (July 6, 1189), and Samson had +to deal with a new sovereign: at whose coronation on September 3, +1189, he was present. One of Richard's earliest acts was the sale of +offices, crown rights, crown property, and royal favours to fill his +military chest; saying indeed that he would sell London if he could +find a purchaser. Amongst the bargains of this sort was the sale to +Samson of the manor of Mildenhall for 1,000 marks, after the astute +abbot had offered him half that amount (70). The queen-mother was +entitled by custom of the realm to 100 marks as a perquisite in +connection with this transaction, and took in lieu thereof a gold cup +which had been given to the abbey by Henry II. This same cup came back +to Bury in exchange for 100 marks (71), when the 70,000 marks required +to ransom King Richard was being raised in England (147). + +When the news of Richard's capture reached England, Samson rose in his +place in the King's Council to express his readiness to seek the king +in Germany, either in disguise or any other way: "by reason whereof," +says Jocelin, "he obtained great approbation" (81). Later on he did go +to Germany, "and visited the king with many gifts" (82). + +Towards the end of Richard's reign, in 1198, Samson tried to avoid +sending four of his knights to Normandy, in obedience to the King's +orders, and went to see him, with the result that Richard accepted +four mercenaries, and afterwards a hundred pounds to discharge the +obligation (128-30). He brought back with him on this occasion for the +adornment of the abbey church a golden cross and a valuable copy of +the Gospels (130); and Jocelin records that so often as he returned +from beyond sea on his numerous visits abroad, he brought back with +him some offering for the church (131), besides making gifts to it on +other occasions. + +In 1198 a serious quarrel took place between Richard and Samson over +the wardship of Nesta of Cockfield, the daughter of a family whose +tenure of lands from the Abbey is recorded with wearisome iteration in +the Chronicle. Samson would not give way, despite the threats of the +King, which he "very wisely passed over without notice," and in the +end Richard yielded with a good grace, asking the abbot if he would +send him some of his dogs. The abbot of course complied, and added +some horses and other valuable gifts, in exchange for which Richard +sent him a ring given to him by the new Pope, Innocent III. (147-9). + +Just as Samson had "obtained the favour and grace of King Richard by +gifts and money, so that he had good reason to believe that he could +succeed in all his undertakings, the King died, and the abbot lost all +his labour and outlay" (178). It became therefore necessary to +propitiate Richard's successor. King John made an early pilgrimage to +St. Edmund, but left in bad odour with the monastery, which had spent +much money on his entertainment, but had only received in return +thirteenpence offered by the king at the shrine of the Saint on the +day of his departure, besides a silken cloth borrowed for the occasion +from the sacrist and never paid for (178). John must, however, have +thought highly of the abbot to summon him over sea in 1203 to confer +with him as to the Pope's letter concerning the dispensation of +Crusaders from their vows (207). + +=Samson as an Author.=--Once when Jocelin asked why he had been +sighing so heavily and was so wakeful at nights, Samson confided to +him how greatly he felt the burden of his charge; and on another +occasion said that if he had known what it involved, he would, rather +than be abbot and lord, have preferred to be keeper of the books, "for +this office he had ever desired above all others" (55). + +Jocelin hints a polite incredulity; but there are evidences that +Samson was fond of books, and was indeed an author. There is a small +volume, Titus A viii. in the Cottonian collection, which includes in +its contents a work in two books, entitled _De Miraculis Sancti +Aedmundi_. From a number of marginal notes, of even date with the +fourteenth century text, and which ascribe to Samson, amongst other +writers, the authorship of various passages in the great legendary +life of St. Edmund in the Bodleian Library (MS. 240), Mr. Arnold +arrived at the conclusion that "the writer of the work was +unquestionably Abbot Samson." For the evidence the reader is referred +to Appendix I. (pages 215-21); but it would appear that the work was +written before the date when he became abbot, and perhaps before he +had been appointed to any one of the numerous offices in the monastery +to which he was from time to time transferred by the capricious Hugh +(9). + +Whenever any new event was recorded in his patron saint's honour, +Samson caused it to be recorded: hence at his desire the episode of +Henry of Essex, whom St. Edmund had "confounded in the very hour of +battle" (102), was reduced to writing at Reading, and interpolated by +some other monk in Jocelin's chronicle. + +=Samson's Masterfulness.=--Samson, like his prototype of Scripture, +was a "strong man," and as such he came into constant conflict with +those who sought to try conclusions with him, usually to their own +regret. From instances innumerable, the following may be selected as +typical. At his very first general court of his knights, Thomas of +Hastings tried to press the claim of his nephew Henry--a minor--to the +hereditary stewardship of the Abbey; but Samson said he would consider +the matter when Henry could perform the duties (41). Richard, Earl of +Clare, demanded his guerdon of five shillings for the office of +Standard-bearer of St. Edmund. Samson retorted that the payment of the +money would not inconvenience the Abbey; but there were two other +claimants for the post, and Richard must settle first with them. The +Earl said he would confer with Roger Bigot his kinsman, "and so the +matter was put off even to this day" (86). + +Geoffrey Ridel, the Bishop of Ely, sent a blundering messenger to the +abbot to ask for timber from woods at Elmswell, meaning Elmsett. +Samson assented to the request for Elmswell, and meanwhile sent his +foresters to Elmsett and cut down a great quantity of oaks, branding +them as the property of the Abbey. The bishop overwhelmed his stupid +servant with reproaches, and sent him back to explain. But it was too +late, "and the bishop, if he wanted timber, had to get it elsewhere" +(107). + +Herbert the dean erected a windmill upon the Haberdon, and tried to +brazen it out with Samson. But the abbot bade him begone, and told him +that before he had come to his house, he should hear what had befallen +his mill. Whereupon the trembling dean had the mill pulled down +himself, so that when the servants of the sacrist came to the spot, +they found their work already done for them (90). + +In the domestic quarrel with his monks over the case of Ralph, the +gate porter, who had been punished by Robert the prior with the assent +of all the monastery, Samson upset the proceedings on his return from +London, and, after a violent struggle, got his own way (179-83). + +There is a pleasing affectation of impartiality in the case of another +Herbert, the junior candidate for the office of Prior, on the +much-worried Robert's death in 1200. The monks were conscious that +Samson "would seek the advice of each with great show of formality," +but that the affair would end as he had all along intended (193). On +the day of election the Precentor was egged on by one of the elder +brethren in an audible aside to nominate Herbert. Samson behaved as if +this was a new light to him, but offered no objection to receive +Herbert if the convent willed. And so, after a protestation of his +unworthiness, Herbert was elected (196); and Jocelin tried, after +these bare-faced proceedings, to recover his equanimity in the porch +of the guest-chamber (197). + +=Samson as an Administrator.=--Samson seems to have been something +of a financial genius; he certainly freed the monastery from debt, and +brought its internal affairs and its landed estates from chaos into +order. He was undoubtedly more of an administrator than an +ecclesiastic. He obviously enjoyed his ceremonial duties as +Commissioner for the King or for the Pope. He went to the siege of +Windsor in 1193 in martial array, though Jocelin is constrained to +admit that he was "more remarkable there for counsel than for piety" +(82). He appeared to be in his highest spirits when he went to +Coventry in January, 1198, to help to restore the monks there who had +been ejected by their somewhat truculent Bishop, Hugh de Nonant. +Samson gave magnificent entertainments at Oxford, where the Commission +sat, and "never in his life did he seem so joyful as at that time" +(143). + +He was fond, too, of country life, spending much time at his manors of +Melford and elsewhere, "enclosing many parks, which he replenished +with beasts of chase, and keeping a huntsman with dogs," though +Jocelin is careful to add that he "never saw him take part in the +sport" (43). With some of these dogs Samson appeased Richard's wrath +when he flouted the king as to a disputed wardship (149). One of the +complaints against him by those who chafed under his rule was that he +was fond of betaking himself to his manors, and Jocelin's excuse for +him is that "the abbot is more in spirits and in good humour elsewhere +than at home" (53). Jocelin took him to task over this, but had a text +from Ecclesiasticus hurled at his head, which induced him to "hold his +peace henceforth" (54). + +With broader outlook than his obedientiaries, Samson recognized the +necessity of granting greater freedom to the inhabitants of the town +of Bury, and, despite the grumbling of his monks, he gave the +burgesses a Charter in 1194 (116). The resentment against him in the +monastery ran so high in 1199 that he professed to be afraid of his +life (182). Though matters were then patched up, the old feeling of +indignation against his concessions to the townsfolk endured, and an +occasion for manifesting it arose when, early in 1203, Samson was +summoned by King John to advise him on a brief sent by the Pope as to +the dispensation of certain Crusaders from their vows. To the +undisguised astonishment of Jocelin, Samson sought the advice of the +monastery, "a thing he heretofore had seldom done" (207); but he was +boldly asked what he proposed to do to get back the lost privileges of +the Abbey (210). He was then "weakened by infirmity of body, humbled, +and (as was not his wont) timid" (207); and it must be remembered that +he was by this time not far short of seventy years of age. He spoke +the monks fair, promised redress, and "that upon his return he would +co-operate with us in everything, and make just order and disposition, +and render to each what was justly his" (211). + +Jocelin hints by a quotation from Ovid that there was some +apprehension that this promise would remain unfulfilled: and then in +Carlyle's words-- + + Jocelin's Boswellian narrative, suddenly shorn through by the + scissors of Destiny, ends. Impenetrable Time-curtains rush down. + Monks, Abbot, Hero-Worship, Government, Obedience, Coeur de Lion, + and St. Edmund's Shrine, vanish like Mirza's vision; and there is + nothing left but a mutilated black ruin amid green botanic expanses. + +=Epilogue.=--As to what happened to Samson after he returned from +the visit to his sovereign, we have no information whatever from any +known source. Perhaps when he had reached the allotted span of life, +he came to feel that the time had arrived to take things more easily, +and to be less inelastic in his governance of the Abbey. The last nine +years of his chequered life are an absolute blank so far as the +available records are concerned, if we except his execution of certain +formal documents included in the Suffolk Feet of Fines. But when at +last, at the ripe age of 77, he died on the 30th December, 1211, at +twilight (_inter lupum et canem_), on the night of the feast of St. +Thomas the Martyr, a tenderer feeling towards him obviously existed +amongst his monks. + +The compiler of the _Annales Sancti Edmundi_ (who from the last phrase +but one would seem to have been a contemporary) thus records his +decease:-- + + On the sixth day of Christmas, at St. Edmund's, died Samson, of pious + memory, the venerable abbot of this place. Who, after he had for + thirty years prosperously ruled the Abbey committed to him, and had + freed it from a load of debt,--had enriched it with privileges, + liberties, possessions, and spacious buildings, and had restored the + worship of the church, both internally and externally, in the most + ample manner, bidding his last farewell to his sons, by whom the + blessed man deserved to be blessed for evermore, while they all were + standing by, and gazing with awe at a death which was a cause for + admiration, not for regret (_non miserabilem sed mirabilem_), in the + fourth year of the interdict rested in peace (Arnold, ii. 19, 20). + +"In the fourth year of the Interdict": there is a significance in +these words not perhaps immediately apparent. During the last few +years of Samson's life, public worship in his beloved abbey was +stopped; the altars were stripped, and the church doors closed, in +view of the interdict hurled at the recalcitrant John by the Pope in +March, 1208. More trying than this to the feelings of the age was the +requirement that the dead should be buried in silence and in +unconsecrated ground. So Samson was laid by his sorrowing monks in the +bosom of mother earth "in pratello," where he remained until after the +Interdict was removed in July, 1214. The writer of the _Electio +Hugonis_ records, in barbarous Latin (Arnold, ii. 85), that on August +9 of that year the sacrist raised the question as to the proper +interment of Samson "of venerable memory." The prior (Herbert), the +cantor and Master Thomas of Walsingham, with other high officials, +thought Samson ought, for greater honour, to be buried in the Abbey +church. The sacrist--William of Gravelee, of whose uncompromising +character we have had a glimpse before--was alone in resisting this, +saying that so long as he had any power in the matter, neither Samson +nor any one else should be buried in the church. As the sacrist was +the responsible official this objection could apparently not be got +over, and so on August 12, 1214, the remains of Samson were exhumed, +and reburied in the chapter-house, which in the days of his life had +resounded to that eloquence of which Jocelin speaks (62). + +What happened to the chapter house after the suppression of the Abbey +in 1539 is not known; but it seems probable that when the lead of its +roof was stripped off, it was left to crumble to decay by itself, for +some recent excavations in the winter of 1902-3 brought to light +quantities of beautifully worked stone, granite and marble columns, +and fragments of stained glass. + +On New Year's Day of this year five stone coffins, each with a +skeleton within, and a sixth skeleton (uncoffined) were found under +the floor of the chapter-house in the exact positions in which a MS. +of circa 1425, now preserved at Douai, records the burial places of +Samson, two of his predecessors, and three of his successors as +Abbots; and there can be no reasonable doubt therefore that those who, +like myself, were privileged to be associated with these excavations, +have gazed upon the mortal remains of one of the grandest and most +picturesque figures of Angevin times. + + * * * * * + +I am indebted to many friends for hints and suggestions in the +preparation of the Notes in Appendix II., especially to Lord Francis +Hervey, Dr. Montague R. James, and Mr. Francis Ford, all three of whom +have intimate personal knowledge of Bury St. Edmunds and its history. +In addition, Dr. James has been good enough to critically compare the +English text of the Chronicle with the Latin original, and has made +many valuable improvements, for which my especial thanks are due to +him. Mr. R. W. Chambers, M.A., Librarian of University College, has +also given me much assistance in the revision of the text in the +compilation of the Index. + + 13A, HANOVER SQUARE, W. + _May_, 1903. + + + And to procede ferthere in this mater, + Yf ye list aduertise in your mynde, + An exaumplaire and a meror cler, + In this story ye shal now seen and fynde. + So as I kan, in soth I will nat spare + But heer in ordre reherse by wrytyng, + Folwyng myn auctours in euery maner thyng, + As in substance vpon the lettre in deede, + To do plesance to them that shal it reede. + + JOHN LYDGATE. + + (_Harleian MS._ 2278: _lines_ 417-20, 426-30.) + + + + +CHAPTER I + +BURY ABBEY UNDER ABBOT HUGH + + +That which I have heard and seen have I taken in hand to write, which +in our days has come to pass in the Church of St. Edmund, from the +year when the Flemings were taken captive without the town, at which +time I took upon me the religious habit, being the same year wherein +prior Hugh was deposed, and Robert made prior in his stead: and I have +mingled in my narration some evil deeds by way of warning, and some +good by way of profit. + +Now, at that time, Hugh the abbot was old, and his eyes were somewhat +dim. A pious and kind man was he, a good and religious monk, yet not +wise or far-sighted in worldly affairs; one who relied too much on his +officers, and put faith in them, rather taking counsel of others than +abiding by his own judgment. + +To be sure, the Rule and the religious life, and all pertaining +thereto were healthy enough in the cloister, but outdoor affairs were +badly managed; inasmuch as every one serving under a simple and +already aged lord did what he would, not what he should. + +The townships of the abbot and all the hundreds were set to farm, the +forests were destroyed, the manor houses threatened to fall, +everything daily got worse and worse. One resource only the abbot had, +and that was to take up moneys on interest, so that thereby he might +be able in some measure to keep up the dignity of his house. There +befel not a term of Easter or St. Michael, for eight years before his +decease, but that one or two hundred pounds at least increased in +principal debt; the securities were always renewed, and the interest +which accrued was converted into principal. + +This laxity descended from the head to the members, from the superior +to the subjects. Hence it came to pass that every official of the +house had a seal of his own, and bound himself in debt at his own +pleasure, to Jews as well as to Christians. Oftentimes silken copes +and golden cruetts, and other ornaments of the church, were pledged +without the knowledge of the convent. I myself saw a security passed +to William Fitz Isabel for one thousand and forty pounds, but I never +could learn the consideration or the cause. I also saw another +security passed to Isaac, the son of Rabbi Joce, for four hundred +pounds, but I know not wherefore. I also saw a third security passed +to Benedict, the Jew of Norwich, for eight hundred and eighty pounds; +and this was the origin of that debt. + +Our parlour was destroyed, and it was given in charge to William the +sacrist, will he, nill he, that he should restore it. He privily +borrowed from Benedict the Jew forty marks at interest, and gave him a +security sealed with a certain seal, which used to hang at the shrine +of St. Edmund, wherewith the gilds and letters of fraternity were wont +to be sealed: a seal which later on, but alas! too late, was broken by +order of the convent. Now, when this debt had increased to one hundred +pounds, the Jew came bearing a letter from our lord the King, touching +the debt of the sacrist; and then it was that all that had been secret +from the abbot and convent was laid bare. + +The abbot waxed exceedingly wroth, and wished to depose the sacrist, +alleging that he possessed a privilege of our lord the pope, giving +him power of deposing William, his sacrist, whensoever it pleased him. +Howbeit, some one went to the abbot, and excusing the sacrist, so +wheedled the abbot that he permitted a security to be passed to +Benedict the Jew for four hundred pounds, payable at the end of four +years, namely, for one hundred pounds, which had then already accrued +for interest, and also for another hundred pounds, which the same Jew +had advanced to the sacrist for the use of the abbot. And the sacrist +in full chapter undertook for the whole of that debt to be paid, and a +deed was drawn up and sealed with the conventual seal: the abbot +dissimulating, and not affixing his own seal, as if that debt was no +concern of his. + +But at the end of the four years, there were no means of discharging +the debt; and then a fresh deed was executed for eight hundred and +eighty pounds, payable at set terms, at the rate of eighty pounds a +year. Moreover, the same Jew had many other securities of smaller +account, and one which was for fourteen years; so this debt alone came +to one thousand and two hundred pounds, besides the interest that had +accrued. + +Now R., the almoner of our lord the King, coming to us, signified to +the abbot that such and such information had reached the King +concerning such and such debts. Thereupon, after consultation had +between the prior and a few others, the almoner was conducted into the +chapter house, where all of us being seated, and holding our peace, +the abbot said, "Look you, here is the King's almoner, our and your +lord and friend, who, moved by the love of God and of St. Edmund, has +intimated to us that the King has heard something wrong of us and you, +and particularly that the affairs of the church, both internally and +externally, are being badly managed; and therefore I desire and +command that, upon your vow of obedience, ye state and explain openly +how things really are." Hereupon the prior, standing up and speaking +as one for all, said that the church was in good order, that the Rule +was strictly and religiously observed indoors, and that matters out of +doors were carefully and discreetly conducted, save some slight debt, +in which ourselves, like our neighbours, were involved; but that, in +fact, there was no debt which could embarrass us. The almoner, hearing +this, said he was rejoiced that he had heard the testimony of the +convent concerning this matter: meaning, what the prior had said. + +The very same words the prior upon another occasion used, as did +Master Geoffry of Constantine, speaking on behalf of and excusing the +abbot, when Richard the archbishop, in virtue of his office as legate, +visited our chapter, before we had such exemption as we now enjoy. + +I myself, who was at that time a novice, on a convenient occasion, +talked these things over with the master who instructed me in the +Rule, and to whose care I was committed,--namely, Master Samson, who +afterwards became abbot. "What is this," I said, "that I hear? How can +you hold your tongue while you see and hear such things, you who are a +cloistered monk, and desire not offices, and fear God more than man?" +But he answering, said, "My son, the newly burnt child dreads the +fire; so it is with me and many others. Hugh, the prior, has been +lately deprived of his office and sent into exile; Dennis and Hugh and +Roger of Hengham have but lately returned home from exile. Even I, in +like manner, was imprisoned, and afterwards sent to Acre, because we +spoke for the good of our church, in opposition to the abbot. This is +the hour of darkness; this is the time when flatterers rule and are +believed, and their might is strengthened, and we can do nothing +against it; these things must be borne with for a time. 'Let the Lord +look upon it and judge.'" + +Now a rumour reached Abbot Hugh that Richard, Archbishop of +Canterbury, proposed coming to make a visitation of our church by +virtue of his authority as legate; and thereupon the abbot, after +consultation, sent to Rome and sought a privilege of exemption from +the power of the aforesaid legate. On the messenger's return from Rome +there was not wherewith to discharge what he had promised to our lord +the pope and the cardinals, except, indeed, under the special +circumstances of the case, the cross which was over the high altar, +the little image of the Virgin, and the St. John (which images +archbishop Stigand had adorned with a vast quantity of gold and +silver, and had given to St. Edmund). + +There were certain of our convent who, being on terms of intimacy with +the abbot, said that the shrine of St. Edmund itself ought to be +stripped, as the means of obtaining such a privilege. But these +persons did not consider the great peril that the possession of such a +privilege might entail; for if there should hereafter be any abbot of +ours who chose to waste the possessions of the church, and to despoil +his convent, then there would be no one to whom the convent could +complain touching the wrongs done by an abbot, as he would have no +reason to fear a bishop, archbishop, or legate, and his impunity would +lend him the courage to transgress. + +In these days the cellarer, as well as other officials, borrowed +moneys at interest from Jurnet the Jew (without apprising the +convent), upon a security sealed with the above-mentioned seal. Now, +when that debt had mounted up to sixty pounds, the convent was +summoned to pay the cellarer's debt. The cellarer was deposed, +although he said it was hard to deal thus with him, stating that for +three years he had entertained in the guest-house by the abbot's +orders, whether the abbot were in residence or not, all the guests +which the abbot ought himself to entertain, according to the rule of +the abbey. + +Master Dennis was made cellarer in his stead, and by his +circumspection and good management he reduced the debt of sixty pounds +to thirty pounds; towards which debt we applied those thirty marks +which Benedict of Blakenham gave to the convent for holding the manors +of Nowton and Whepsted. But the securities of the Jew have remained +with the Jew even to this day, wherein are contained the twenty-six +pounds of principal and interest of the cellarer's debt. + +Now, on the third day after Master Dennis became cellarer, three +knights with their esquires were received in the guest-house that they +might there be refreshed, the abbot then being at home, and abiding in +his inner chamber; all which, when this great-souled Achilles had +heard, not willing to pay toll in his own domain, as the others had +done, he rose up and took the key of the cellar, and taking with him +those knights to the abbot's hall, and approaching the abbot, said, +"My lord, you well know that the rule of the abbey is, that knights +and lay folk should be entertained in your hall, if the abbot be at +home. I neither will nor can receive those guests whom it belongs to +you to entertain; else take back the keys of your cellar, and appoint +some other cellarer at your good pleasure." The abbot hearing this, +nill he, will he, entertained those knights, and ever afterwards +entertained knights and lay folk according to the ancient rule, and so +they are still received when the abbot is at home. + +Once upon a time, Abbot Hugh, wishing to conciliate Master Samson, +appointed him sub-sacrist; and he, often accused, was often +transferred from one office to another. At one time he was appointed +guest-master, at another time pittance-master, at another time third +prior, and again sub-sacrist; and many were then his enemies who +afterwards flattered him. But he, not acting as the other officials +did, never could be induced to turn flatterer; whereupon the abbot +said that he had never seen a man whom he could not bend to his will, +except Samson the sub-sacrist. + +In the twenty-third year of his abbacy, Abbot Hugh bethought him that +he would go to St. Thomas for the purpose of performing his devotions. +He had nearly got to the end of his journey, on the morrow of the +nativity of the Blessed Mary, when, near Rochester, he most unhappily +fell from his horse, so that his knee-pan was put out and lodged in +the ham of his knee. The physicians came about him, and sorely +tormented him, but they healed him not. He was brought back to us in a +horse-litter, and received with great attention, as was most fitting. +What more? His leg mortified, and the disorder mounted to his heart. +The pain brought on a tertian fever, and on the fourth fit he expired, +and rendered his soul to God on the morrow of St. Brice. + +Ere he was dead, everything was snatched away by his servants, so that +nothing at all remained in the abbot's house except the stools and the +tables, which could not be carried away. There was hardly left for the +abbot his coverlet and two quilts, old and torn, which some, who had +taken away the good ones, had placed in their stead. There was not +even a single article of a penny's worth that could be distributed +among the poor for the good of his soul. + +The sacrist said it was not his business to have attended to this, +alleging that he had furnished the expenditure of the abbot and his +household for one whole month, because neither the firmars who held +the vills would pay anything before the appointed time, nor would +creditors advance anything, seeing that he was sick even unto death. + +Luckily, the farmer of Palgrave furnished us with fifty shillings to +be distributed among the poor, by reason that he entered upon the farm +of Palgrave on that same day. But those very fifty shillings were +afterwards again refunded to the King's bailiffs, who demanded the +whole farm-rent for the King's use. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE MONKS DISCUSS THE VACANCY + + +Hugh the abbot being buried, it was ordered in chapter that some one +should give intelligence to Ranulf de Glanville, the justiciar of +England, of the death of the abbot. Master Samson and Master R. +Ruffus, our monks, quickly went beyond seas, to report the same fact +to our lord the King, and obtained letters that those possessions and +rents of the monastery, which were distinct from those of the abbot, +should be wholly in the hands of the prior and convent, and that the +remainder of the abbey should be in the hands of the King. The +wardship of the abbey was committed to Robert of Cockfield and Robert +of Flamville, the steward, who forthwith put by gage and safe pledges +all those servants and relatives of the abbot to whom the abbot had, +after the commencement of his illness, given anything, or who had +taken anything away belonging to the abbot, and also the abbot's +chaplain (a monk of the house), whom the prior bailed. Entering into +our vestiary, they caused all the ornaments of the church to be noted +down in an inventory. + +During the vacancy in the abbacy, the prior, above all things, studied +to keep peace in the convent, and to preserve the honour of the church +in entertaining guests, being desirous of irritating no one, of not +provoking anybody to anger; in fact, of keeping all persons and things +in quietude. He nevertheless winked at some acts in our officials +which needed reformation, and especially in the sacrist, as if he +cared not how that officer dealt with the sacristy. Yet during the +vacancy, the sacrist neither satisfied any debt nor erected any +building, but the oblations and incomings were foolishly frittered +away. + +Wherefore the prior, who was the head of the convent, seemed by the +greater part to be highly censurable, and was said to be remiss; and +this thing our brethren called to mind among themselves, when it came +to the point of making choice of an abbot. + +Our cellarer entertained all guests, of whatsoever condition they +were, at the expense of the convent. William the sacrist, on his part, +gave and spent as he chose, kind man! giving alike what he should and +should not; "blinding the eyes of all with gifts." + +Samson the sub-sacrist, being master over the workmen, did his best +that no breach, chink, crack or flaw should be left unrepaired so far +as he was able; whereby he acquired great favour with the convent, and +especially with the cloister monks. In those days our choir was +erected by Samson's exertion; and he arranged the order of the +paintings, and composed elegiac verses for them. He also made a great +draught of stone and sand for building the great tower of the church. +Being asked whence he procured the money for his work, he answered +that certain of the burgesses had privily given him moneys for +building and completing the tower. + +Nevertheless, certain of our brethren said that Warin, a monk of our +house and keeper of the shrine, together with Samson the sub-sacrist, +had conspired to remove some portion of the offerings to the shrine, +in order that they might disburse the same for the necessary purposes +of the church, and in particular for the building of the tower; being +the more ready to believe this when they saw that the offerings were +expended for extraordinary purposes by others, who, to speak plainly, +stole them. And these before-named two men, in order to remove from +themselves the suspicion of any such pious theft, made a certain +hollow trunk, with a hole in the middle or at the top, and fastened +with an iron lock. This they caused to be set up in the great church, +near the door without the choir, where the common people usually pass, +so that persons should put their contributions therein for the +building of the tower. + +Now William the sacrist had a jealousy of his companion Samson, as had +many others who took part with the same William, Christians as well as +Jews; the Jews, I say, to whom the sacrist was said to be father and +protector, whose protection they indeed enjoyed, having free ingress +and egress, and going all over the monastery, rambling about the +altars and by the shrine while high mass was being celebrated. +Moreover, their moneys were kept safe in our treasury, under the care +of the sacrist, and, what was still more improper, their wives with +their little ones were lodged in our pittancy in time of war. His +enemies or opponents having, therefore, consulted together how they +might suddenly overcome Samson, they conferred with Robert of +Cockfield and his colleague, who were wardens of the abbey, and +persuaded them to this--that they should, on behalf of the King, +forbid any one to erect any fabric or building so long as the abbacy +was vacant; but that, on the other hand, the moneys from the offerings +should be collected, and kept for the purpose of discharging some +debt. + +And thus was Samson beguiled, and his "strength departed from him," +nor could he from thenceforth labour as he had desired. Indeed, his +opponents were able to delay, but not annul, his purpose; for having +regained his strength, and "pulled down the two pillars," that is, +having removed the two wardens of the abbey, upon whom the malice of +others relied, the Lord gave him, in process of time, the means of +fulfilling his desire of building the aforesaid tower, and of +finishing it even as he wished. And so it was, as if it had been said +to him from above, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou +hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many +things." + +During the time that the abbacy was vacant we oftentimes, as was our +duty, besought God and the holy martyr St. Edmund that they would +vouchsafe to us and our church a meet shepherd, thrice every week +singing the seven penitential psalms prostrate in the choir, after +going forth from chapter. There were some amongst us who, had it been +known who was to be abbot, would not have prayed so devoutly. + +As concerned the choice of an abbot, assuming the King gave us free +election, divers men spoke in divers ways--some publicly, some +privately; and "so many men, so many opinions." + +One said of another, "That brother is a good monk, a likely person; he +is well conversant with the Rule and custom of the house; although he +may not be so perfect a philosopher as certain others, he would make a +very good abbot. Abbot Ording was not a learned man, and yet he was a +good abbot, and governed this house wisely: we read, too, in the +fable, that it had been better for the frogs to have chosen a log for +a king, upon whom they might rely, than a serpent, who venomously +hissed, and after his hisses devoured his subjects." + +Another would answer, "How may this be? How can an unlearned man +deliver a sermon in chapter, or to the people on festivals? How can he +who does not understand the Scriptures attain the knowledge of +'binding and loosing'? seeing that the cure of souls is the art of +arts and science of sciences. God forbid that a dumb image should be +set up in the Church of St. Edmund, where many learned and studious +men are well known to be." + +Also said one of another, "That brother is a good clerk, eloquent and +careful, strict in the Rule; he has much loved the convent, and has +undergone many hardships in respect of the possessions of the church: +he is worthy to be made abbot." Another answered, "From good clerks, +Good Lord, deliver us: that it may please Thee to preserve us from the +barrators of Norfolk, we beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord." +Moreover, one said of another, "That brother is a good manager, which +is proved from his department, and from the offices which he has well +served, and by the buildings and reparations which he has performed. +He is able to travail for and defend the house, and is, moreover, +something of a clerk, although 'much learning has not made him mad': +he is worthy to be made abbot." Another answered, "God forbid that a +man who can neither read nor chant, nor perform Divine service--a +wicked and unjust man, and a grinder of the faces of the poor--should +be abbot." + +Also said one of another, "That brother is a kind man, affable and +amiable, peaceful and well-regulated, open-hearted and liberal, a +learned man and an eloquent, a proper man enough in looks and +deportment, and beloved by many, indoors as well as out; and such a +man might, with God's permission, become abbot to the great honour of +the church." The other answered, "It is no honour, but rather a +burden, to have a man who is too nice in his meat and drink; who +thinks it a virtue to sleep long; who is expert in spending much, and +yet gets little; who is snoring when others are awake; who always is +desirous to be in plenty, nor yet cares for the debts which increase +from day to day, nor considers the means of discharging expenses; +hating anxiety and trouble; caring for nought so long as one day comes +and another goes; a man cherishing and fostering flatterers and liars; +a man who is one thing in name and another in deed. From such a +prelate defend us, O Lord!" + +Also said a certain one of his fellow, "That man is almost wiser than +all of us put together, both in secular and ecclesiastical matters; a +wonderful counsellor, strict in rule, learned and eloquent, and of +proper stature; such a prelate would do honour to our church." + +The other answered, "True, if he were of known and approved +reputation. His character is questionable; report may lie, or it may +not. And although the man you mean is wise, of lowly carriage in +chapter, devout in psalmody, strict in the cloister whilst he is in +the cloister, yet it is mere outward show with him. What if he do +excel in any office? He is too scornful, lightly esteems the monks, is +closely intimate with secular persons; and should he be angry, +scarcely returns an answer with a good grace to any brother, or to one +even asking a question of him." + +I heard in like manner one brother disparaged by some, because he was +slow of speech; of whom it was said that he had paste or malt in his +mouth when he was called upon to speak. And as for myself, being at +that time a youth, "I understood as a youth, I spoke as a youth;" and +said I never could consent that any one should be made abbot unless he +knew somewhat of dialectics, and knew how to discern truth from +falsehood. Again, a certain person, who in his own eyes seemed very +wise, said, "May the almighty Lord bestow on us a foolish and simple +shepherd, so that it should be the more needful for him to get help +from us!" + +I heard in like manner a certain studious and learned man, and +honourable by the nobility of his family, disparaged by some of our +seniors merely for this reason--because he was a novice. The +novices, on the other hand, said of the elders, that old men were +valetudinarians, by no means fit to govern a monastery. And thus many +persons spoke many things, "and each was fully persuaded in his own +mind." + +I observed Samson the sub-sacrist as he was sitting along with the +others at blood-letting season (at which time monks are wont to reveal +to each other the secrets of the heart, and to talk over matters with +each other). I saw him, I say, sitting along with the others, smiling +and saying nothing, but noting the words of each, and after a lapse of +twenty years calling to mind some of the before-written opinions. In +whose hearing I used to reply to these critics, that if we were to put +off the choice of an abbot until we found one who was above +disparagement or fault, we never should find such a one, for no one +alive is without fault, and "no estate is in all respects blessed." + +Upon one particular occasion I was unable to restrain myself but must +needs blurt out my own private opinion, thinking that I spoke to +trusty ears. I then said that a certain person who formerly had a +great regard for me, and had conferred many benefits upon me, was +unworthy of the abbacy, and that another was more worthy; in fact, I +named one for whom I had less regard. + +I spoke according to my own conscience, rather considering the common +weal of the church than my own advancement; and what I said was true, +as the sequel proved. And, behold, one of the sons of Belial disclosed +my saying to my friend and benefactor; for which reason, even to this +day, never could I since, neither by entreaty nor good offices, regain +his goodwill to the full. "What I have said I have said." "And the +word once spoken flies without recall." + +One thing remains, that I take heed to my ways for the future; and if +I should live so long as to see the abbacy vacant, I shall consider +carefully what, to whom, and when I speak on such a matter, lest I +either offend God by lying, or man by speaking unreasonably. I shall +then advise (should I last so long), that we choose not too good a +monk, nor yet an over-wise clerk, neither one too simple nor too weak; +lest, if he be over wise in his own conceit, he may be too confident +in his own judgment, and contemn others; or, if he be too boorish, he +may become a byword to others; I know that it has been said, "In the +middle you will be safest," also that "Blessed are they who hold a +middle course." + +Perhaps, after all, it may be the best course to hold my peace +altogether, and say in my heart, "He that is able to receive it, let +him receive it." + +The abbacy being vacant, Augustine, the Archbishop of Norway, took up +his abode with us, in the house of the abbot, receiving by the King's +precept ten shillings a day from the revenues of the abbey. He was of +considerable assistance in obtaining for us our free election, bearing +witness of what was well, and publicly declaring before the King what +he had seen and heard. + +At that time the holy child Robert suffered martyrdom, and was buried +in our church; and many signs and wonders were wrought among the +people, as we have elsewhere written. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE CHOICE OF A NEW ABBOT + + +One year and three months having elapsed since the death of Abbot +Hugh, the King commanded by his letters that our prior and twelve of +the convent, in whose mouth the judgment of our body might agree, +should appear on a certain day before him, to make choice of an abbot. +On the morrow, after the receipt of the letters, we all of us met in +chapter for the purpose of discussing so important a matter. In the +first place the letters of our lord the King were read to the convent; +next we besought and charged the prior, at the peril of his soul, that +he would, according to his conscience, name twelve who were to +accompany him, from whose life and conversation it might be depended +upon that they would not swerve from the right; who, acceding to our +charge, by the dictation of the Holy Ghost named six from one side and +six from the other side of the choir, and without gainsaying satisfied +us on this point. From the right-hand choir were named--Geoffrey of +Fordham, Benedict, Master Dennis, Master Samson the sub-sacrist, Hugh +the third prior, and Master Hermer, at that time a novice; from the +left-hand side--William the sacrist, Andrew, Peter de Broc, Roger the +cellarer, Master Ambrose, Master Walter the physician. + +But one said, "What shall be done if these thirteen cannot agree +before our lord the King in the choice of an abbot?" A certain one +answered that that would be to us and to our church a perpetual shame. +Therefore, many were desirous that the choice should be made at home +before the rest departed, so that by this forecast there should be no +disagreement in the presence of the King. But that seemed a foolish +and inconsistent thing to do, without the King's assent; for as yet it +was by no means a settled thing that we should be able to obtain a +free election from the King. + +Then said Samson the sub-sacrist, speaking by the spirit of God, "Let +there be a middle course, so that from either side peril may be +avoided. Let four confessors be chosen from the convent, together with +two of the senior priors of the convent, men of good reputation, who, +in the presence of the holy relics, shall lay their hands upon the +Gospels, and choose amongst themselves three men of the convent most +fit for this office, according to the rule of St. Benedict, and put +their names into writing. Let them close up that writing with a seal, +and so being closed up, let it be committed to us who are about to go +to the court. When we shall have come before the King, and it shall +appear that we are to have a free election, then, and not till then, +shall the seal be broken, and so shall we be sure as to the three who +are to be nominated before the King. And let it be agreed amongst us, +that in case our lord the King shall not grant to us one of ourselves, +then the seal shall be brought back intact, and delivered to the six +under oath, so that this secret of theirs shall remain for ever +concealed, at the peril of their souls." In this counsel we all +acquiesced, and four confessors were then named; namely, Eustace, +Gilbert of Alveth, Hugh the third prior, Anthony, and two other old +men, Thurstan and Ruald. Which being done, we went forth chanting +"Verba mea," and the aforesaid six remained behind, having the rule of +St. Benedict in their hands; and they fulfilled that business as it +had been pre-ordained. + +Now, whilst these six were treating of their matter, we were thinking +differently of different candidates, all of us taking it for granted +that Samson would be one of the three, considering his travails and +perils of death in his journey to Rome for the advancement of our +church, and how he was badly treated and put in irons and imprisoned +by Hugh the abbot, merely for speaking for the common weal; for he +could not be induced to flatter, although he might be forced to hold +his tongue. + +After some delay, the convent being summoned returned to chapter; and +the old men said they had done as they were commanded. Then the prior +asked, "How shall it be if our lord the King will not receive any of +those three who are nominated in the writing?" And it was answered +that whomsoever our lord the King should be willing to accept should +be adopted, provided he were a professed monk of our house. It was +further added, that if those thirteen brethren should see anything +that ought to be amended by another writing, they should so amend it +by common assent or counsel. + +Samson the sub-sacrist, sitting at the feet of the prior, said, "It +will be profitable for the church if we all swear by the word of truth +that upon whomsoever the lot of election shall fall, he should treat +the convent according to reason, nor change the chief officers without +the assent of the convent, nor surcharge the sacrist, nor admit any +one to be a monk without assent of the convent." And to this we all of +us assented, holding up our right hands in token of assent. It was, +moreover, provided, that if our lord the King should desire to make a +stranger our abbot, such person should not be adopted by the thirteen, +unless upon counsel of the brethren remaining at home. + +Upon the morrow, therefore, those thirteen took their way to court. +Last of all was Samson, the purveyor of their charges, because he was +sub-sacrist, carrying about his neck a little box, in which were +contained the letters of the convent--as if he alone was the servant +of them all--and without an esquire, bearing his frock in his arms, +and going out of the court, he followed his fellows at a distance. + +In their journey to the court, the brethren conversing all together, +Samson said that it would be well if they all swore that whosoever +should be made abbot should restore the churches of the lordships +belonging to the convent to the purposes of hospitality; whereto all +agreed, save the prior, who said, "We have sworn enough already; you +may so restrict the abbot that is to be, that I shall not care to +obtain the abbacy." Upon this occasion they swore not at all, and it +was well they did so, for had they sworn to this, the oath would not +have been observed. + +On the very day that the thirteen departed we were all sitting +together in the cloister, when William of Hastings, one of our +brethren, said, "I know that we shall have one of our convent to be +abbot." And being asked how he came to be so certain of this, he +replied, that he had beheld in a dream a prophet clothed in white, +standing before the gates of the monastery, and that he asked him, in +the name of God, whether we should have an abbot of our own. And the +prophet answered, "You shall have one of your own body, but he shall +rage among you as a wolf"; of which dream the interpretation followed +in part, because the future abbot cared more to be feared than loved, +as many were accustomed to say. + +There also sat along with us another brother, Edmund by name, who +asserted that Samson was about to be abbot, and told a vision he had +seen the previous night. He said he beheld in his dream Roger the +cellarer and Hugh the third prior, standing before the altar, and +Samson in the midst, taller by the shoulders upward, wrapt round with +a long gown down to his feet, looped over his shoulders, and standing +as a champion ready to do battle. And, as it seemed to him in his +dream, St. Edmund arose from his shrine, and, as if sickly, showed his +feet and legs bare. When some one approached and desired to cover the +feet of the saint, the saint said, "Approach me not; behold, he shall +veil my feet," pointing with his finger towards Samson. This is the +interpretation of the dream: By his seeming to be a champion is +signified that the future abbot should always be in travail; at one +time moving a controversy against the Archbishop of Canterbury, +concerning pleas of the Crown, at another time against the knights of +St. Edmund, to compel them to pay their escuages in full; at another +time with the burgesses for standing in the market; at another time +with the sokemen for the suits of the hundreds; even as a champion who +willeth by fighting to overcome his adversaries that he may be able to +gain the rights and liberties of his church. And he veiled the feet of +the holy martyr when he perfectly completed the towers of the church, +commenced a hundred years before. + +Such dreams as these did our brethren dream, which were immediately +published throughout the cloister, afterwards through the court lodge, +so that before the evening it was a matter of common talk amongst the +townsfolk, they saying this man and that man are elected, and one of +them will be abbot. + +At last the prior and the twelve that were with him, after many +fatigues and delays, stood before the King at Waltham, the manor of +the Bishop of Winchester, upon the second Sunday in Lent. The King +graciously received them; and, saying that he wished to act in +accordance with the will of God and the honour of our church, +commanded the brethren by prolocutors--namely, Richard the Bishop of +Winchester, and Geoffrey the chancellor, afterwards Archbishop of +York--that they should nominate three members of our convent. + +The prior and brethren retiring as if to confer thereupon, drew forth +the sealed writing and opened it, and found the names written in this +order--Samson, sub-sacrista; Roger, celerarius; Hugo, tercius prior. +Hereupon those brethren who were of higher standing blushed with +shame; they also marvelled that this same Hugh should be at once +elector and elected. But, inasmuch as they could not alter what was +done, by mutual arrangement they changed the order of the names; first +naming Hugh, because he was third prior; secondly, Roger the cellarer; +thirdly, Samson, thus literally making the last first and the first +last. + +The King, first inquiring whether they were born in his realm, and in +whose lordship, said he knew them not, directing that with those +three, some other three of the convent should be nominated. This being +assented to, William the sacrist said, "Our prior ought to be +nominated because he is our head," which was directly allowed. The +prior said, "William the sacrist is a good man"; the like was said of +Dennis, and that was settled. These being nominated before the King +without any delay, the King marvelled, saying, "These men have been +speedy in their work; God is with them." + +Next the King commanded that, for the honour of his kingdom, they +should name three persons of other houses. On hearing this, the +brethren were afraid, suspecting some craft. At last, upon conference, +it was resolved that they should name three, but upon this +understanding, that they would not receive any one of those three, +unless by assent of the convent at home. And they named these +three--Master Nicholas of Waringford, afterwards (for a season) Abbot +of Malmesbury; Bertrand, Prior of St. Faith's, afterwards Abbot of +Chertsey; and Master H. of St. Neot's, a monk of Bec, a man highly +religious, and very circumspect in spiritual as well as temporal +affairs. + +This being done, the King thanked them, and ordered that three should +be struck off of the nine; and forthwith the three strangers were +struck off, namely, the Prior of St. Faith's, afterwards Abbot of +Chertsey, Nicholas, a monk of St. Albans, afterwards Abbot of +Malmesbury, and the Prior of St. Neot's. William the sacrist +voluntarily retired, two of the five were struck out by command of the +King, and, ultimately, one out of the remaining three. There then +remained but two, the prior and Samson. + +Then at length the before-named prolocutors of our lord the King were +called to the council of the brethren: and Dennis, speaking as one for +all, began by commending the persons of the prior and Samson, saying, +that each of them was learned, each was good, each was of meritorious +life and good character. But always in the corner of his discourse he +gave prominence to Samson, multiplying words in his praise, saying +that he was a man strict in life, severe in reforming excesses, and +ready to work hard; heedful, moreover, in secular matters, and +approved in various offices. The Bishop of Winchester replied, "We see +what it is you wish to say; from your address we gather that your +prior seems to you to have been somewhat remiss, and that, in fact, +you wish to have him who is called Samson." Dennis answered, "Either +of them is good, but, by God's help, we desire to have the best." To +whom the bishop, "Of two good men the better should be chosen. Speak +out at once; is it your wish to have Samson?" Whereupon several, in +fact the majority, answered clearly, "We do wish Samson." No one +gainsaid this, though some studiously held their peace, being fearful +of offending either one or the other. + +Samson was then named to the King, and after a brief consultation with +those about him, the King called all in, and said, "You present to me +Samson--I know him not; had you presented to me your prior, I should +have accepted him, because I know and am well acquainted with him; but +now I will do as you desire me. Take heed to yourselves; by the very +eyes of God, if you have done ill, I shall call you to severe +account." And he inquired of the prior, whether he assented to this +choice and agreed thereto; who replied that he was well content it +should be so, and that Samson was worthy of a much greater dignity. + +Then the elect, falling down at the King's feet and kissing them, +hastily arose, and forthwith went towards the altar, erect in gait, +and with unmoved countenance, singing "Miserere mei Deus," together +with his brethren. + +The King, observing this, said to the bystanders, "By the eyes of God, +this abbot-elect thinks himself worthy to govern an abbey!" + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +SAMSON'S INSTALLATION + + +Now when the news of the election arrived at the monastery, it +gladdened all the cloister monks and some of the officers also, but +only a few. "It is well," many said, "because it is well." Others +said, "Not so; verily we are all deceived." The elect, before he +returned to us, received his benediction from my lord of Winchester, +who, at the same time, placing the mitre on the head of the abbot, and +the ring on his finger, said, "This is the dignity of the abbots of +St. Edmund; my experience long since taught me this." The abbot, +therefore, keeping three monks with him, despatched the others +homewards, sending word by them of his intended arrival on Palm +Sunday, and giving charge to certain of them to provide the things +necessary for his day of festival. + +As he returned homewards, a multitude of new relations came about him +offering to serve him, but he answered all of them that he was content +with the servants of the prior, nor could he retain others until he +had obtained the assent of the convent. Nevertheless, he retained one +knight who was well spoken and learned in the law, not so much upon +the score of relationship, but on account of his usefulness, he being +well practised in secular suits. + +This knight he took, while he was fresh to the work, as an assessor in +secular controversies; for he was a new abbot, and inexperienced in +such concerns, as he himself was free to declare: indeed, before he +received the abbacy, he had never been present where gage and safe +pledge had been given. + +With the accustomed honours, and with a procession, was he received by +his convent on Palm Sunday. The abbot's reception was in this wise: +overnight he lay at Kentford, and we, at the proper moment, went forth +from the chapter-house to meet him with great solemnity, up to the +gate of the cemetery, with ringing of bells inside the choir and +without. He himself was surrounded by a multitude of men, and when he +espied the fraternity, he dismounted from his horse outside the +threshold of the gate. Causing his shoes to be taken off, he was +received barefooted within the door, and conducted on each side by the +prior and sacrist. + +We chanted the responses "Benedictus Dominus," in the office of the +Trinity, and then "Martyri adhuc," in the office of St. Edmund, +leading the abbot up to the high altar. This being finished, the +organs and bells were silenced, and the prayer, "Omnipotens sempiterne +Deus miserere huic," was said by the prior over the abbot, who was +prostrate. An offering was then made by the abbot, and kissing the +shrine, he returned into the choir. There Samson the precentor took +him by the hand and led him to the abbot's throne at the west end; +where, the abbot still standing, the precentor straight-way began, "Te +Deum laudamus," and whilst this was being sung, the abbot was kissed +by the prior and the whole convent in order. This done, the abbot +proceeded to the chapter-house, the whole convent following him, with +many others. + +"Benedicite" having been said, in the first place he gave thanks to +the convent that they had chosen him--who was, he said, the least of +them all--to be their lord and shepherd, not on account of his own +merits, but solely by the will of God. And beseeching them briefly +that they would pray for him, he addressed his discourse to the clerks +and knights, requiring them that they should assist him with their +advice according to the burden of the charge entrusted to him. And +Wimer the sheriff, answering for them all, said, "We are ready to +stand by you in counsel and assistance on every occasion, as we did by +our dear lord whom God has called to his glory, and to the glory of +the holy martyr St. Edmund." And then were the charters of the King +concerning the gift of the abbacy produced and read in full audience. +Lastly, after a prayer by the abbot himself, that God might guide him +according to his Divine grace, and "Amen" being responded by all, he +retired to his chamber, spending his day of festival with more than a +thousand dinner guests with great rejoicing. + +While these things were taking place I was the prior's chaplain, and +within four months was made the abbot's chaplain, noting many things, +and committing them to memory. On the morrow of his feast the abbot +called to him the prior and some few besides, as if seeking advice +from others, though he himself knew what he would do. He said that a +new seal should be made with a mitred effigy of him, although his +predecessors had not the like; but for a time he used the seal of our +prior, subscribing at the end of all letters, that he had no seal of +his own and therefore he used for the time that of the prior. + +Afterwards, setting his household in order, he appointed divers +servants to various duties, saying that he had decided to have +twenty-six horses in his courtyard, and that a child must first creep +and then stand upright and walk. He enjoined this to his servants +beyond all things, that they should take heed that in his new state he +be not dishonoured by a lack of meat and drink, but rather that they +in all things should anxiously provide for the hospitality of the +house. In ordering and appointing these and all other things, he fully +relied upon God's providence and his own understanding, and judged it +beneath him to require counsel at another's hand as if he were not +able to look after his own affairs. + +The monks marvelled, the knights were discontented, accusing him of +arrogance, and, in some measure censuring him at the King's court, +saying that he refused to govern according to the advice of his own +freemen. As for him, he removed from his own private counsel the heads +of the abbey, lay as well as clerical; indeed, all those without whose +advice and assistance the abbey, as it seemed, could not be governed. +By reason of this circumstance, Ranulf de Glanville, Justiciary of +England, at first held him in distrust, and was less gracious to him +than was fitting, until it was made clear, by good evidence, that the +abbot had been acting with due caution and prudence in respect of +indoor as well as external matters. + +A general court having been summoned, all the barons, knights and +freemen appeared to do homage on the fourth day of Easter; when, +behold, Thomas of Hastings, with a great multitude of knights, came +introducing Henry his nephew, not yet a knight, claiming the +stewardship with its perquisites, according to the tenor of his +charter. To whom the abbot replied, "I do not refuse Henry his right, +nor do I wish so to do. If he were competent to serve me in his own +person, I would assign him necessaries for ten men and eight horses in +my own court-lodge, according to the tenor of his charter. If you +present to me a steward, his deputy, who is competent and able to +perform the duty, I will receive him in the same manner as my +predecessor retained him at the time of his decease, namely, with four +horses and their appurtenances. And if this does not content you, I +shall carry the plaint before the King or his chief justice." Hereupon +the business was deferred. + +Ultimately there was presented to him a simple and foolish steward, +Gilbert by name, of whom, before he received him into his household, +he spoke to his friends as follows: "If there be a default in the +administration of the King's justice through the unskilfulness of the +steward, he will be in mercy of the King, and not I, for this, that he +claims the office by hereditary right; and therefore I had much rather +receive him for the present than a sharper witted man to deceive me. +By God's assistance I trust I shall be my own steward." + + * * * * * + +After receipt of the homages, the abbot sued for an aid from the +knights, who promised each twenty shillings; but immediately they took +counsel together and withheld twelve pounds in respect of twelve +knights, alleging that those twelve ought to assist the other forty in +keeping their castle-guards, and for their escuages, as well as in +respect of the abbot's aid. The abbot, hearing this, waxed wroth, and +said to his intimate friends that if he lived long enough he would +give them turn for turn and wrong for wrong. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE NEW ABBOT'S REFORMS + + +After these things the abbot caused inquisition to be made throughout +each manor, concerning the annual quit rents from the freemen, and the +names of the labourers and their tenements, and the services due from +each; and he reduced all into writing. Likewise he repaired those old +halls and unroofed houses round which hovered kites and crows. He +built new chapels, and likewise inner chambers and upper stories in +many places where there never had been any dwelling-house at all, but +only barns. He also enclosed many parks, which he replenished with +beasts of chase, keeping a huntsman with dogs; and, upon the visit of +any person of quality, sat with his monks in some walk of the wood, +and sometimes saw the coursing of the dogs; but I never saw him take +part in the sport. + +He cleared much land, and brought it into tillage, in all things +looking forward to the benefit likely to accrue to the abbey; but I +wish he had been equally careful in assigning the manors of the +convent. Nevertheless, he, for a time, kept our manors of Bradfield +and Rougham in hand, making up the deficiencies of the rents by the +expenditure of forty pounds. These he afterwards reassigned to us when +he heard that dissatisfaction was expressed in the convent, on account +of his keeping our manors in his own hand. Likewise in managing these +manors, as well as in all other matters, he appointed keepers who were +far more careful than their predecessors--some monks, some laymen, to +look after us and our lands more carefully. + +He also held the eight hundreds in his own hand, and, after the death +of Robert of Cockfield, he took in hand the hundred of Cosford, all +which he committed to the keeping of those servants who were of his +own table; referring matters of greater moment to his own decision, +and deciding by means of others upon matters of lesser import--indeed, +wringing everything to his own profit. + +Moreover, by his command, a general survey was made throughout the +hundreds of the leets and suits, of hidages and foddercorn, of +hen-rents, and of other dues and rents and issues, which, for the +greater part, had ever been concealed by the farmers. He reduced it +all to writing, so that within four years from the time of his +election, there was not one who could defraud him of the rents of the +abbey to the value of a single penny, whereas he himself had not +received from his predecessors any writing touching the management of +the abbey, except one small schedule, wherein were the names of the +knights of St. Edmund and the names of the manors, and what rent was +due on each farm. This book he called his kalendar, wherein also were +entered the debts he had satisfied; and this same book he almost daily +perused, as if in the same he were beholding the face of his honesty +in a glass. + +The first day that he held a chapter, he confirmed to us, under his +new seal, sixty shillings from Southrey, which his predecessors had +unjustly received from Edmund, surnamed the golden monk, for the +liberty of holding the same vill to farm all the days of his life. He +also proposed, as a general rule, that from thenceforth no one should +pledge the ornaments of the church without the assent of the convent, +as had been the custom heretofore, nor that any charter should be +sealed with the convent seal, unless in chapter in the presence of the +convent. He appointed Hugh as sub-sacrist, ordering that William the +sacrist should not have anything to do with the sacristy, either in +the matter of receipt or disbursement, unless by his consent. After +this, but not on the same day, he transferred the former keepers of +the offerings to other offices; lastly, he deposed the same William: +wherefore those who liked William said, "Behold the abbot! Lo, here is +the wolf of whom it was dreamed! See how he rages!" + +And some of them would have entered into a conspiracy against the +abbot. When this was disclosed to him, he, not caring to be altogether +silent, nor yet to disquiet the convent, entered the chapter-house on +the morrow, and pulled out a little bag full of cancelled deeds, the +seals yet hanging thereto, consisting of the securities, partly of his +predecessor, partly of the prior, partly of the sacrist, partly of the +chamberlain, and other officials, whereof the total was three thousand +and fifty-two pounds and one mark without alloy, besides the interest +that had accrued thereupon, the amount of which could never be +ascertained. All these he had arranged for within one year after his +election, and within twelve years entirely discharged. "Behold," said +he, "the good management of William, our sacrist; look at the +multitude of securities signed with his seal, whereby he has pledged +silken copes, dalmatics, censers of silver and books ornamented with +gold, without the knowledge of the convent, all which I have redeemed +and have restored to you." + +He likewise added many other things, showing why he had deposed the +said William: howbeit he suppressed the real cause, not wishing to put +him to open shame. And when he put Samson the precentor in his place, +a person approved by us, and above all objection, everything was quiet +again. Furthermore, the abbot commanded that the houses of the sacrist +in the cemetery should be entirely plucked up, as though they were not +worthy to stand upon the earth, by reason of the frequent +wine-bibbings, and certain other acts not to be named, which he, with +grief and indignation, had witnessed while he was sub-sacrist. So +completely did he obliterate the whole that, within a year, upon the +spot where a noble dwelling had stood, we saw beans growing, and where +casks of wine had lain, nettles abounding. + +After the end of Easter, the abbot went over every one of his and our +manors, as well as over those we had confirmed to the farmers in fee, +requiring from all of them aid and acknowledgment, according to the +law of the land. Thus every day he was increasing in secular +knowledge, and was turning his attention to the learning and method of +ordering outdoor affairs. Now when he had come to Warkton, where he +slept at night, there came to him a voice saying, "Samson, arise up +quickly"; and, again, "Get up without delay." Getting up astonished, +he looked around him, and perceived a light in a necessary house, +namely, a candle ready to fall down upon the straw, which Reiner the +monk had carelessly left there. When the abbot had put it out, going +through the house, he perceived the door (which was the sole entrance) +so fastened that it could only be opened by a key--likewise the +windows fastened: so that if a fire had arisen, he, and all with him, +who slept upon that floor, had surely perished, for there was no place +whence they might get out or escape. + +At that time, wheresoever the abbot went, there came about him Jews as +well as Christians, demanding debts, and worrying and importuning him +so that he could not sleep. Thereupon he became pale and thin, and was +constantly repeating, "My heart will never rest until I know the +extent of my debts." The feast of St. Michael being come, he took all +his manors into his own hand, with but small store of live or dead +stock; he freely forgave Walter of Hatfield nineteen pounds arrears, +that he might absolutely take back four manors which Hugh the abbot +had confirmed to him, namely, Hargrave and Saxham and Chevington and +Stapleford; Harlow, indeed, the abbot deferred to take to himself on +the present occasion. + +Once on a time, as we passed through the forest in returning from +London, I inquired in the hearing of my lord abbot, from an old woman +passing by, whose was this wood, and of what town, who was the lord, +and who was the keeper? She answered that the wood belonged to the +abbot of St. Edmund, as part of the town of Harlow, and that the name +of the keeper was Arnald. When I inquired further, how Arnald +conducted himself towards the men of the town, she answered, that he +was a devil incarnate, an enemy of God, and one to flay the poor +alive; but now, she added, he is afraid of the new abbot of St. +Edmund, whom he believes to be prudent and vigilant, and therefore he +treats the men gently. On hearing this, the abbot was delighted, and +deferred taking to the manor for a season. + +At that time there came unexpectedly the news of the death of the wife +of Herlewin of Rungton, who had a charter to hold the same town for +her life; and the abbot said, "Yesterday, I would have given sixty +marks to have freed the manor from this incumbrance, but now God has +freed it." And as he was going thither without delay, that he might +take that town into his own hand, and on the morrow was going to +Tillener, a part of that manor, there came a certain knight offering +thirty marks for the tenure of that carucate of land, with the +appurtenances, by the old rent-service, to wit, four pounds, whereto +the abbot could not agree; and he had therefrom in that year +twenty-five pounds, and the second year twenty pounds. + +These and such like things induced him to hold everything in his own +keeping; as it is written elsewhere, "Caesar was all in all." In the +first place, far from being inert, he commenced building barns and +byres, above all things solicitous to dress the land for tillage, and +watchful in preserving the woods, in respect whereof, either in giving +or diminishing, he confessed himself to be a very miser. There was but +one manor, and that was Thorpe, which by his charter he confirmed to +one of English birth, a villein, whose honesty he trusted the more, as +he was a good husbandman, and could not speak French. + +Scarcely seven months had elapsed since his election, when, behold! +there were presented to him the letters of our lord the Pope, +appointing him a judge to determine causes, for the execution of which +he was incompetent and inexperienced, although he was thoroughly +imbued with liberal arts and divinity, as befitted a man of learning, +a literate man, educated in the schools and a master in them, known +and approved in his own province. Wherefore he invited two clerks, +learned in the law, and associated them to himself. Of their advice he +availed himself in ecclesiastical matters, employing himself upon the +decrees and decretal epistles, when an opportunity offered; so that +within a short time, as well by references to books as by the handling +of causes, he became reputed a discreet judge, proceeding in every +suit according to form of law; so a certain person said, "Cursed be +the court of this abbot, where neither gold nor silver can help me to +confound my adversary." + +In process of time, becoming somewhat practised in secular causes, and +taught by an inborn commonsense, he became of so subtle a wit that all +marvelled; indeed, by Osbert Fitz-Hervey, the under-sheriff, it was +said, "This abbot is a wrangler; if he goes on as he has begun, he +will outwit us all, many as we be." Now the abbot becoming an expert +man in causes of this description, was made a justice errant, but yet +he preserved himself from error and corruption. But "envy aims at the +highest." When his men made their plaints to him in the court of St. +Edmund, because he was unwilling to give hasty judgment, or to +"believe every spirit," but preferred to proceed in due course of law, +well knowing that the merits of causes are developed by the +allegations of the parties, it was said of him that he would not do +justice to any complainant, unless by the intervention of money given +or promised. + +Because his aspect was acute and penetrating, with a Cato-like +countenance, rarely smiling, it was said that he inclined to severity +rather than kindness. In receiving amerciaments for any forfeiture, it +was said that "Mercy rejoices against judgment"; for as it seemed to +many, when it became an affair of receiving money, he seldom remitted +what by law he was entitled to take. + +In like manner as he advanced in wisdom, so did he advance in +thoughtful care, in respect of keeping and acquiring property, and in +creditably regulating his expenses. But even here many backbiters took +their ground, saying that he resorted to the sacristy at his own +pleasure, sparing his own purse, letting his corn lie by for a dear +season, and taking to his manors in other sort than his predecessors +did, charging the cellarer with the entertainment of those guests he +himself was bound to receive; so that by this craft it might be said +that the abbot was careful and well stocked at the end of the year; +while, on the other hand, the convent and officials were to be +accounted careless and improvident. In reply to these back-bitings, I +used to observe, that if he took anything from the sacrist, he turned +it to the good account of the church, and this none of these +slanderers could deny. And in good truth, greater and more numerous +works were carried out by the help of the offerings to the sacristy +within fifteen years after his election than in the forty years before +it. + +To the other objections, that the abbot was fond of betaking himself +to his manors, I was wont to answer, and did excuse him, saying, "The +reason is because the abbot is more in spirits and in good humour +elsewhere than at home." And this was true enough, whether it were by +reason of the frequency of suitors who came about him, or from the +tale-bearers, wherefore it frequently happened that by the appearance +of severity in his face he lost much favour and grace in the eyes of +his guests, notwithstanding they fared well in eating and drinking. I +noticed this, and took an opportunity, when I was with him in private, +to say, "There are two things in which I am much surprised at you." +When he had inquired what these things might be, "One is that in spite +of your position you still encourage the doctrine of the school of +Melun, which says that from a false premiss no conclusion can follow, +and other idle sayings." + +To which, when he had said his say, I added, "The other indeed is, +that when you are at home you do not exhibit the same gracious +demeanour you do when elsewhere, nor do you mix in society with those +brethren who have a strong regard for you, and have chosen you for +their lord; but contrariwise, you seldom associate with them, nor do +you, as they say, make yourself on sociable terms with them." Hearing +this, he changed countenance, and hanging down his head, said, "You +are a simpleton, and speak foolishly; you ought to know what Solomon +says--'Hast thou many daughters: show not thyself cheerful toward +them.'" I indeed held my peace from thenceforth, setting a watch on my +mouth. + +On another occasion I said, "My lord, I heard you this night after +matins wakeful and sighing heavily, contrary to your usual wont." He +answered, "No wonder; you are partaker of my good things, in meat and +drink, in riding abroad, and such like, but you have little need to +care concerning the conduct of the house and household of the saints, +and arduous business of the pastoral care which harasses me and makes +my spirit to groan and be heavy." Whereto I, lifting up my hands to +heaven, made answer, "From such anxiety, almighty and most merciful +Lord, deliver me!" + +I have heard the abbot say, that if he could have been as he was +before he became a monk, and could have had five or six marks of +income wherewith he could have been supported in the schools, he never +would have been monk or abbot. On another occasion he said with an +oath, that if he could have foreseen what and how great a charge it +had been to govern the abbey, he would rather than abbot and lord have +been master of the almonry, and keeper of the books, for this office +he said he had ever desired above all others. Yet who would credit +this? Scarcely myself; and not even myself, except that being +constantly with him by day and night for six years, I had had the +opportunity of becoming fully conversant with the worthiness of his +life and the wisdom of his rule. + +He once related to me, that when he was a child of nine years old, he +dreamed that he was standing before the gates of the cemetery of the +church of St. Edmund, and that the devil, with outspread arms, would +have seized him, had not St. Edmund, standing by, taken him in his +arms; whereupon he screamed whilst dreaming in his sleep, "St. Edmund, +save me!" and thus calling upon him whose name he had never heard, he +awoke. His mother was alarmed at such an outcry, but having heard the +dream, took him to St. Edmund for the purpose of praying there; and +when they had come to the gate of the cemetery he said, "See, mother, +this is the place, this is the very same gate which I saw in my dream +when the devil was about to seize me"; and he knew the place as well, +to use his own words, as if he had seen it before with his natural +eyes. The abbot himself interpreted this dream thus: By the devil were +signified the pleasures of this mortal state, which would fain have +drawn him away; but St. Edmund threw his arms around him when he made +him a monk. + +Once when he was told that certain of the convent grumbled at some act +of his, he said to me as I sat by him, "Good God! there is need enough +that I should remember that dream wherein it was dreamed of me, before +I was made abbot, that I was to rage among them as a wolf. True it is +that above all earthly things I dread lest the convent behave in such +a way that I shall be compelled so to rage. But even so it is, when +they say or do anything against my will, I bring to mind that dream of +theirs, and although I do rage in my own soul, growling and gnashing +my teeth in secret, I do violence to myself lest I should actually +rage in word or deed," and "My hidden grief chokes me and my heart +surges within me." + +Although by nature he was quick to wrath, and easily kindled to anger, +yet with a great struggle he mostly restrained his temper in view of +the dignity he held. Concerning which he sometimes used to boast, +"This and that I saw, this and that I heard, yet I held my peace." The +abbot once said, seated in chapter, certain words by which he seemed +to eagerly desire the good-will of the monastery. "I do not wish," he +said, "that any one should come to me to accuse another, unless he is +willing to say the same openly. If any one does otherwise, I will +publicly proclaim the name of the accuser. I wish also that every +cloister monk shall have free access to me, that he may speak to me, +whenever he chooses, concerning all things necessary to him." This he +said, because our leaders in the days of Abbot Hugh, wishing that +nothing should be done in the monastery except through them, had +decreed that no cloister monk should speak with the abbot unless he +had first told the abbot's chaplain what he wished to speak about. + +On a certain day he made an order in chapter, that every one who had a +seal of his own should give it up to him, and so it was accordingly +done, and there were found three-and-thirty seals. He himself +explained the reason of this order, forbidding that any official +should incur any debt above twenty shillings without the assent of the +prior and convent, as had been the custom heretofore. To the prior and +to the sacrist, indeed, he returned their seals, but kept the rest +himself. + +At another time he ordered to be delivered up to him all the keys of +the chests, cupboards, and hanapers, strictly enjoining that +thenceforth none presume to have a chest or anything locked up, unless +by special permission, or otherwise possess anything beyond what the +rule allows. Notwithstanding this he gave general licence to every one +of us to have money to the amount of two shillings, if so much +happened to have been given to us by way of charity; so that it might +be expended upon poor relations, or for purposes of piety. + +On another occasion the abbot said, that he was desirous of adhering +to our ancient custom respecting the entertainment of guests; that is, +when the abbot is at home, he is to receive all guests of whatsoever +condition they may be, except religious and priests of secular habit, +and except their men who present themselves at the gate of the court +in the name of their masters; but if the abbot be not at home, then +all guests of whatsoever condition are to be received by the cellarer +up to thirteen horses. But if a layman or clerk shall come with more +than thirteen horses, they shall be entertained by the servants of the +abbot, either within the court-lodge, or without, at the expense of +the abbot. All religious men, even bishops if they happen to be monks, +are to be charged upon the cellary and at the expense of the convent, +unless the abbot will do any one special honour, and entertain him in +his own hall at his own expense. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +SAMSON'S PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS + + +The abbot Samson was of middle stature, nearly bald, having a face +neither round nor yet long, a prominent nose, thick lips, clear and +very piercing eyes, ears of the nicest sense of hearing, arched +eyebrows, often shaved; and he soon became hoarse from a short +exposure to cold. On the day of his election he was forty and seven +years old, and had been a monk seventeen years. He had then a few grey +hairs in a reddish beard, and a very few in a black and somewhat curly +head of hair. But within fourteen years after his election it became +as white as snow. + +He was a man remarkably temperate, never slothful, of strong +constitution, and willing to ride or walk till old age gained upon him +and moderated such inclination. On hearing the news of the Cross being +taken, and the loss of Jerusalem, he began to use under garments of +horsehair and a horsehair shirt, and to abstain from flesh and flesh +meats. Nevertheless, he desired that meats should be placed before him +at table for the increase of the alms dish. Sweet milk, honey and such +like sweet things he ate with greater appetite than other food. + +He abhorred liars, drunkards and talkative folk; for virtue ever is +consistent with itself and rejects contraries. He also much condemned +persons given to murmur at their meat or drink, and particularly monks +who were dissatisfied therewith, himself adhering to the uniform +course he had practised when a monk. He had likewise this virtue in +himself, that he never changed the mess set before him. + +Once when I, then a novice, happened to be serving in the refectory, I +wished to prove if this were true, and I thought I would place before +him a mess which would have displeased any other than him, in a very +black and broken dish. But when he looked at it, he was as one that +saw it not. Some delay took place, and I felt sorry that I had so +done; and snatching away the dish, I changed the mess and the dish for +a better, and brought it to him; but this substitution he took in ill +part, and was angry with me for it. + +An eloquent man was he, both in French and Latin, but intent more on +the substance and method of what was to be said than on the style of +words. He could read English books most admirably, and was wont to +preach to the people in English, but in the dialect of Norfolk, where +he was born and bred; and so he caused a pulpit to be set up in the +church for the ease of the hearers, and for the ornament of the +church. The abbot also seemed to prefer an active life to one of +contemplation, and rather commended good officials than good monks. He +very seldom approved of any one on account of his literary +acquirements, unless he also possessed sufficient knowledge of secular +matters; and whenever he chanced to hear that any prelate had resigned +his pastoral care and become an anchorite, he did not praise him for +it. He never applauded men of too compliant a disposition, saying, "He +who endeavours to please all, ought to please none." + +In the first year of his being abbot, he appeared to hate all +flatterers, and especially among the monks; but in process of time it +seemed that he heard them more readily, and was more familiar with +them. It once happened that a certain brother of ours, skilled in this +art, had bent the knee before him, and under the pretence of giving +advice, had poured the oil of flattery into his ears. I, standing +apart, smiled. The brother having departed, I was called and asked why +I had smiled. I answered, "The world is full of flatterers." And the +abbot replied, "My son, it is long that I have known flatterers; I +cannot, therefore, avoid hearing them. There are many things to be +passed over and taken no notice of, if the peace of the convent is to +be preserved. I will hear what they have to say, but they shall not +deceive me if I can help it, as they did my predecessor, who trusted +so unadvisedly to their counsel that for a long time before his death +he had nothing for himself or his household to eat, unless it were +obtained on trust from creditors; nor was there anything to be +distributed among the poor on the day of his burial, unless it were +the fifty shillings which were received from Richard the farmer, of +Palgrave, which very fifty shillings the same Richard on another +occasion had to pay to the King's bailiffs, who demanded the entire +farm-rent for the King's use." With this saying I was comforted. His +study, indeed, was to have a well-regulated house, and enough +wherewith to keep his household, so managing that the usual allowance +for a week, which his predecessor could not make last for five days, +sufficed him for eight, nine or even ten days, if so be that he was at +his manors without any extraordinary arrival of guests. Every week, +indeed, he audited the expenses of the house, not by deputy, but in +his own person, which his predecessor had never been wont to do. + +For the first seven years he had only four courses in his house, +afterwards only three, except presents and game from his parks, or +fish from his ponds. And if at any time he retained any one in his +house at the request of a great man, or of a particular friend, or +messengers, or minstrels, or any person of that description, by taking +the opportunity of going beyond sea or travelling afar off, he +prudently disencumbered himself of such hangers-on. + +The monks with whom the abbot had been the most intimate, and whom he +liked best before he became abbot, he seldom promoted to offices +merely for old acquaintance' sake, unless they were fit persons. +Wherefore certain of our brethren who had been favourable to his +election as abbot, said that he cared less for those who had liked him +before he became abbot than was proper, and particularly that those +were most favoured by him who both openly and in secret had spoken +evil of him, nay, had even publicly called him, in the hearing of +many, a passionate unsociable man, a proud fellow, and Norfolk +barrator. But on the other hand, as after he had received the abbacy +he exhibited no indiscreet partiality for his old friends, so he +refrained from showing anything like hatred or dislike to many others +according to their deserts, returning frequently good for evil, and +doing good to them that persecuted him. + +He had this way also, which I have never observed in any other man, +that he had an affectionate regard for many to whom he seldom or never +showed a countenance of love; according to the common proverb which +says, "Where love is, there is the regard of love." And another thing +I wondered at in him was, that he knowingly suffered loss in his +temporal matters from his own servants, and confessed that he winked +at them; but this I believe to have been the reason, that he might +watch a convenient opportunity when the matter could be advisedly +remedied, or that by passing over these matters without notice, he +might avoid a greater loss. + +He loved his kinsmen indifferently, but not less tenderly than others, +for he had not, or assumed not to have, any relative within the third +degree. I have heard him state that he had relations who were noble +and gentle, whom he never would in any wise recognize as relations; +for, as he said, they would be more a burden than an honour to him, if +they should happen to find out their relationship. But he always +acknowledged those as kinsmen who had treated him as such when he was +a poor monk. Some of these relations (that is, those whom he found +useful and suitable) he appointed to various offices in his own house, +others he made keepers of manors. But those whom he found unworthy, he +irrevocably dismissed from his presence. + +A certain man of lowly station, who had managed his patrimony +faithfully, and had served him devotedly in his youth, he looked upon +as his dearest kinsman, and gave to his son, who was a clerk, the +first church that fell vacant after he came to the charge of the +abbey, and also advanced all the other sons of this man. + +He invited to him a certain chaplain who had maintained him in the +schools of Paris by the sale of holy water, and bestowed upon him an +ecclesiastical benefice sufficient for his maintenance by way of +vicarage. He granted to a certain servant of his predecessor food and +clothing all the days of his life, he being the very man who put the +fetters upon him at his lord's command when he was cast into prison. +To the son of Elias, the cupbearer of Hugh the abbot, when he came to +do homage for his father's land, he said, in full court, "I have for +these seven years deferred taking your homage for the land which the +abbot Hugh gave your father, because that gift was to the damage of +the manor of Elmswell. Now I am overcome when I call to my mind what +your father did for me when I was in fetters, for he sent to me a +portion of the very wine whereof his lord had been drinking, and bade +me be strong in God." To Master Walter, the son of Master William of +Diss, suing at his grace for the vicarage of the church of Chevington, +he replied, "Your father was master of the schools, and at the time +when I was a poor clerk he granted me freely and in charity an +entrance to his school, and the means of learning; now I, for the sake +of God, do grant you what you ask." + +He addressed two knights of Risby, William and Norman, at the time +when they were adjudged to be in his mercy, publicly in this wise: +"When I was a cloister monk, sent to Durham upon business of our +church, and thence returning through Risby, being benighted, I sought +a night's lodging from Norman, and I received a blank refusal; but +going to the house of William, and seeking shelter, I was honourably +entertained by him. Now, therefore, those twenty shillings, which are +'the mercy,' I will without mercy exact from Norman; but contrariwise, +to William I give thanks, and the amerciament of twenty shillings that +is due from him I do with pleasure remit." + +A certain young girl, seeking her food from door to door, complained +to the abbot that one of the sons of Richard, the son of Drogo, had +forced her; and at length, by the suggestion of the abbot, for the +sake of peace, she took one mark in satisfaction. The abbot, moreover, +took from the same Richard four marks for licence to agree; but all +those five marks he ordered forthwith to be given to a certain +chapman, upon the condition that he should take this poor woman to +wife. + +In the town of St. Edmund, the abbot purchased stone houses, and +assigned them for the use of the schools, so that thereby the poor +clerks should be for ever free from house-rent, towards payment +whereof all the scholars, whether rich or poor, were compelled twice +in the year to subscribe a penny or a halfpenny. + +The recovery of the manor of Mildenhall for one thousand and one +hundred marks of silver, and the expulsion of the Jews from the town +of St. Edmund, and the founding of the new hospital at Babwell, are +proofs of great virtue. + +The lord abbot sought from the King letters enjoining that the Jews +should be driven away from the town of St. Edmund, he stating that +whatsoever is within the town of St. Edmund, or within the banlieue +thereof, of right belongs to St. Edmund: therefore the Jews ought to +become the men of St. Edmund, otherwise they should be expelled from +the town. Licence was accordingly given that he might put them forth, +saving, nevertheless, that they had all their chattels and the value +of their houses and lands. And when they were expelled, and with an +armed force conducted to divers towns, the abbot gave order that all +those that from henceforth should harbour or entertain Jews in the +town of St. Edmund should be solemnly excommunicated in every church +and at every altar. Howbeit it was afterwards conceded by the King's +justices that if the Jews should come to the great pleas of the abbot +to demand their debts from their debtors, on such occasion they might +for two days and two nights lodge within the town, and on the third +day be permitted to depart freely. + +The abbot offered King Richard five hundred marks for the manor of +Mildenhall, stating that the manor was worthy sixty and ten pounds by +the year, and for so much had been recorded in the great roll of +Winchester. And when he had conceived hopes of success in his +application, the matter rested till the morrow. In the meanwhile there +came a certain person to the King, telling him that this manor was +well worth yearly a hundred pounds. On the morrow, therefore, when the +abbot urged his suit, the King said, "It is of no avail my lord abbot, +what you ask me; you shall either give a thousand marks, or you shall +not have the manor." And whereas the Queen Eleanor, according to the +custom of the realm, ought to have one hundred marks where the King +receives a thousand, she took of us a great gold cup of the value of a +hundred marks, and gave us back the same cup for the soul of her lord, +King Henry, who first gave the same cup to St. Edmund. On another +occasion, when the treasure of our church was carried to London for +the ransom of King Richard, the same Queen redeemed that cup for one +hundred marks, and restored it to us, taking in return our charter +from us as an evidence of our most solemn promise, that we should +never again alienate that cup from our church upon any occasion +whatever. + +Now, when all this money, which was got together with great +difficulty, had been paid, the abbot held a chapter, and said he ought +to have some portion of the great advantage derivable from so valuable +a manor. And the convent answered that it was just, and "Let it be +according to your wish." The abbot replied that he could well claim +the half part as his own right, demonstrating that he had paid towards +this purchase more than four hundred marks, with much inconvenience to +himself. But he said that he would be content with a certain allotment +of that manor called Icklingham, which was most freely granted him by +the convent. When the abbot heard this, he said, "And I do accept this +part of the land to my own use, but not that I intend to keep the same +in my own hand, or that I shall give it to my relations, but for the +good of my soul and for all your souls in common, I give the same to +the new hospital at Babwell, for the relief of the poor, and the +maintenance of hospitality." As he said, so it was done, and +afterwards confirmed by the King's Charter. + +These and all other like things worthy to be written down and lauded +for ever did the abbot Samson. But he said he had done nothing, unless +he could have our church dedicated in his lifetime; which done, he +said he wished to die. For the solemnization of this act, he said he +was ready to pay two thousand marks of silver, so that the King should +be present, and the affair be completed with the reverence it +demanded. + +The abbot was informed that the church of Woolpit was vacant, Walter +of Coutances being chosen to the bishopric of Lincoln. He presently +convened the prior and great part of the convent, and taking up his +story thus began: "You well know what trouble I had in respect of the +church of Woolpit; and in order that it should be obtained for your +exclusive use I journeyed to Rome at your instance, in the time of the +schism between Pope Alexander and Octavian. I passed through Italy at +that time when all clerks bearing letters of our lord the Pope +Alexander were taken. Some were imprisoned, some hanged, and some, +with nose and lips cut off, sent forward to the pope, to his shame and +confusion. I, however, pretended to be Scotch; and putting on the garb +of a Scotchman, and the gesture of one, I often brandished my staff, +in the way they use that weapon called a gaveloc, at those who mocked +me, using threatening language, after the manner of the Scotch. To +those that met and questioned me as to who I was, I answered nothing, +but, 'Ride ride Rome, turne Cantwereberei.' This did I to conceal +myself and my errand, and that I should get to Rome safer in the guise +of a Scotchman. + +"Having obtained letters from the pope, even as I wished, on my return +I passed by a certain castle, as my way led me from the city; and +behold the officers thereof came about me, laying hold upon me, and +saying, 'This vagabond who makes himself out to be a Scotchman is +either a spy or bears letters from the false pope Alexander.' And +while they examined my ragged clothes, and my boots, and my breeches, +and even the old shoes which I carried over my shoulders, after the +fashion of the Scotch, I thrust my hand into the little wallet which I +carried, wherein was contained the letter of our lord the pope, placed +under a little cup I had for drinking. The Lord God and St. Edmund so +permitting, I drew out both the letter and the cup together, so that +extending my arm aloft, I held the letter underneath the cup. They +could see the cup plain enough, but they did not see the letter; and +so I got clear out of their hands, in the name of the Lord. Whatever +money I had about me they took away; therefore I had to beg from door +to door, without any payment, until I arrived in England. + +"But hearing that this church had been given to Geoffrey Ridel, my +soul was heavy, because I had laboured in vain. Coming, therefore, +home, I crept under the shrine of St. Edmund, fearing lest the abbot +should seize and imprison me, although I deserved no punishment; nor +was there a monk who durst speak to me, or a layman who durst bring me +food except by stealth. At last, upon consideration, the abbot sent me +to Acre in exile, and there I remained a long time. + +"These and innumerable other things have I endured on account of this +church of Woolpit, but, blessed be God, who works all things together, +behold! this very church, for which I have borne so many sufferings is +given into my hand, and now I have the power of presenting it to +whomsoever I will, because it is vacant. And now I restore it to the +convent, and I assign to its exclusive use, the ancient custom or +pension of ten marks, which you have lost for upwards of sixty years. +I had much rather have given it to you entire, could I have done so; +but I know that the Bishop of Norwich might gainsay this; or even if +he did grant it, he would make it an occasion to claim to himself such +subjection and obedience from you as it is not advisable or expedient +you should acknowledge. Therefore let us do that which by law we may; +that is, put a clerk in as vicar, who shall account to the bishop for +the spiritualities, and to yourselves for ten marks. I propose, if you +all agree, that this vicarage be given to some kinsman of Roger de +Hengham, a monk, and one of your brethren who was joined with me in +that expedition to Rome, and was exposed to the same perils as myself, +and in respect of the very same matter." + + * * * * * + +This said, we all rose and gave thanks; and Hugh, a clerk, brother of +the said Roger, was nominated to the aforesaid church, saving to us +our pension of ten marks. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE ABBOT AS PEER OF PARLIAMENT + + +In that manor of the monks of Canterbury which is called Eleigh, and +is within the hundred of the abbot, a case of homicide occurred; but +the men of the archbishop would not permit that those manslayers +should stand their trial in the court of St. Edmund. Thereupon the +abbot made his plaint to King Henry, stating that Baldwin the +archbishop was claiming for himself the liberties of our church, under +authority of a new charter, which the King had given to the church of +Canterbury after the death of St. Thomas. The King hereupon made +answer, that he had never made any grant in derogation of the rights +of our church, nor did he wish to take away from St. Edmund anything +that had ever belonged to him. + +On this intelligence, the abbot said to his most intimate advisers, +"It is the better counsel that the archbishop should have to complain +of me than I of the archbishop. I will put myself in seisin of this +liberty, and afterwards will defend myself thereupon by the help of +St. Edmund, whose right our charters testify it to be." Therefore +suddenly and at daybreak, by the assistance of Robert of Cockfield, +there were dispatched about fourscore men to the town of Eleigh, who +took by surprise those three manslayers, and led them bound to St. +Edmund, and cast them into the body of the gaol there. + +Now, the archbishop complaining of this, Ranulf de Glanville, the +justiciary, commanded that those men be put by gage and pledges to +stand their trial in that court wherein they ought to stand trial; and +the abbot was summoned to come before the King's court to answer +touching the violence and injury which he was said to have done to the +archbishop. The abbot thereupon offered himself several times without +any essoin. + +At length, upon Ash Wednesday, they stood before the King in the +chapter house of Canterbury, and the charters of the King on one side +and the other were read in court. And our lord the King said: "These +charters are of the same age, and emanate from the same King, Edward. +I know not what I can say, unless it be that these charters contradict +each other." To whom the abbot said: "Whatever observations may apply +to the charters, we are seised, and hitherto have been; and of this I +am willing to put myself upon the verdict of the two counties of +Norfolk and Suffolk, if they do allow this to be the case." + +But Archbishop Baldwin, having first conferred with his advisers, said +that the men of Norfolk and Suffolk greatly loved St. Edmund, and that +great part of those counties was under the control of the abbot, and +therefore he was unwilling to stand by their decision. The King at +this waxed wroth, and in indignation got up, and in departing said, +"He that is able to receive it, let him receive it." And so the matter +was put off, and the case is yet undecided. + +However, I observed that some of the men of the monks of Canterbury +were wounded even to death by the country folk of the town of Milden, +which is situate in the hundred of St. Edmund; and because they knew +that the prosecutor ought to make suit to the jurisdiction wherein the +culprit is, they chose to be silent and to put up with it, rather than +make complaint thereupon to the abbot or his bailiffs, because in no +wise would they come into the court of St. Edmund to plead there. + +After this the men of Eleigh set up a certain cucking-stool, whereat +justice was to be done in respect of deceits in the measuring of bread +or corn; whereof the abbot complained to the Lord Bishop of Ely, then +justiciary and chancellor. But he was anything but desirous to hear +the abbot, because it was said that he was smelling after the +archbishopric, which at that time was vacant. Some time afterwards, +when he had come on a visitation, being entertained as legate, before +he departed he made a speech at the shrine of the holy martyr. The +abbot, seizing the opportunity, said to all present, "My lord bishop, +the liberty which the monks of Canterbury claim for themselves is the +right of St. Edmund, whose body is here present; and because you do +not choose to render me assistance to protect the privileges of his +church, I place that plaint between him and you. Let him from +henceforth get justice done to himself." The chancellor deigned not to +answer a single word; but within a year from that time was driven from +England, and experienced divine vengeance. + +Now when the same chancellor, on his return from Germany, had arrived +at Ipswich, and rested the night at Hitcham, news was brought that he +wished to take St. Edmund in his way, and would hear mass with us on +the morrow. The abbot, therefore, gave strict injunctions that the +offices of the church should not be celebrated so long as the +chancellor was present in the church; for he said he had heard at +London that the Bishop of London had pronounced in the presence of six +bishops that the Chancellor was excommunicate, and had left England +excommunicate, particularly for the violence he committed upon the +Archbishop of York at Dover. + +Therefore when the chancellor came to us on the morrow, he found no +one, neither clerk nor monk, who would sing a mass. Indeed, not only +the priest standing at the first mass, and beginning the canon of the +mass, but the other priests standing before the altars, ceased, +remaining with unmoved lips until a messenger came, saying that he had +departed from the church. The chancellor put up with it at the time, +but did many injuries to the abbot, until at length, by the +intervention of friends, both parties returned to the kiss of peace. + +When King Henry had taken the Cross, and had come to us within a month +afterwards to pay his devotions, the abbot privily made for himself a +cross of linen cloth, and holding in one hand the cross and a needle +and thread, he requested licence from the King to take upon himself +the cross. But this privilege was denied him, upon the suggestion of +John, Bishop of Norwich, who said that it was not expedient for the +country, or indeed safe for the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, that +the Bishop of Norwich and the Abbot of St. Edmund should be both away +at the same time. + +When the news came to London of the capture of King Richard and his +imprisonment in Germany, and the barons met to take counsel thereupon, +the abbot started up before them all, saying that he was quite ready +to seek his lord the King, either in disguise or any other way, until +he had discovered where he was, and had gained certain intelligence of +him; by reason whereof he obtained great approbation. + +When the chancellor, the Bishop of Ely, filled the office of legate, +and in that capacity was holding a council at London, he proposed +certain decrees against the black monks, taking notice of their +wandering to St. Thomas and St. Edmund, on the excuse of pilgrimage, +and inveighed against abbots, restricting them in the number of their +horses. Abbot Samson replied, "We do not admit any decree against that +rule of St. Benedict which allows the abbots the free and absolute +government of their monks. I keep the barony of St. Edmund and his +kingdom; nor are thirteen horses sufficient for me as they may be for +some abbots, unless I have more to enable me to execute the King's +justice." + +Whilst there was war throughout England, during the captivity of King +Richard, the abbot, with his whole convent, solemnly excommunicated +all movers of the war and disturbers of the public peace, not fearing +the Earl John, the King's brother, nor any other, so that he was +styled the "stout-hearted abbot." After this he went to the siege of +Windsor, where he appeared in armour with certain other abbots of +England, having his own standard, and retaining many knights at heavy +charges, being more remarkable there for his counsel than for his +piety. But we cloister folk thought this act rather perilous, fearing +lest in consequence some future abbot might be compelled to attend in +person upon any warlike expedition. On the conclusion of a truce he +went into Germany, and there visited the King with many gifts. + +After the return of King Richard to England, licence was granted for +holding tournaments; for which purpose many knights met between +Thetford and St. Edmund. The abbot forbade them; but they, resisting, +fulfilled their desire. On another occasion there came twenty-four +young men with their followers, sons of noblemen, to have their +revenge at the aforesaid place; which being done, they returned into +the town to put up there. The abbot hearing of this, ordered the gates +to be locked, and all of them to be kept within. The next day was the +vigil of Peter and Paul the apostles. Therefore, having passed their +word and promising that they would not go forth without permission, +they all dined with the abbot on that day. After dinner, when the +abbot retired to his chamber, they all arose and began to carol and +sing, sending into the town for wine, drinking and then shouting, +depriving the abbot and convent of their sleep, and doing everything +in scorn of the abbot. They spent the day until the evening in this +manner; and refused to desist, even when the abbot commanded them. But +when evening was come, they broke open the gates of the town and went +forth by force. The abbot, indeed, solemnly excommunicated all of +them, yet not without first consulting Archbishop Hubert, at that time +justiciary; and many of them came, promising amendment and seeking +absolution. + +The abbot often sent his messengers to Rome, by no means empty-handed. +The first he sent, immediately after he was consecrated, obtained in +general terms all the liberties and privileges which had been granted +of yore to his predecessors, even in the time of the schism. Next he +obtained, first among the abbots of England, that he might be able to +give episcopal benediction solemnly, wheresoever he might happen to +be, and this he obtained for himself and for his successors. +Afterwards he obtained a general exemption for himself and his +successors, from all Archbishops of Canterbury, which Abbot Hugh had +only acquired for himself personally. In these confirmations Abbot +Samson caused to be inserted many new privileges for the greater +liberty and security of our church. + +There once came a certain clerk to the abbot, bearing letters of +request for procuring a benefice. And the abbot, drawing forth from +his desk seven apostolic writings, with the leaden seals hanging to +them, made answer: "Look at these apostolic writings, whereby divers +popes require that certain benefices should be given to divers clerks. +When I shall have quieted those who have come before you, I will give +you your rent; for he who first cometh to the mill ought first to have +his grist." + +There was a general court summoned for the hundred of Risbridge, to +hear the plaint and trial of the Earl of Clare, at Witham. He, indeed, +accompanied by many barons and knights, including the Earl Alberic and +many others, stated that his bailiffs had given him to understand that +they were accustomed to receive yearly for his use five shillings from +the hundred and the bailiffs of the hundred, and that this was now +unjustly detained; and he alleged that the land of Alfric, the son of +Withgar, who had in ancient time been lord of that hundred, had been +granted to his predecessors at the conquest of England. But the abbot, +taking thought for his own interest, without stirring from his place, +answered, "It is a strange thing, my lord earl; your case fails you. +King Edward the Confessor gave, and by his charter confirmed, to St. +Edmund, this entire hundred; and of those five shillings there is no +mention made therein. You must tell us for what service, or for what +reason, you demand those five shillings." And the earl, after advising +with his attendants, replied that it was his office to carry the +standard of St. Edmund in battle, and for that cause the five +shillings were due to him. The abbot answered, "Of a truth it seems a +mean thing that such a man as the Earl of Clare, should receive such a +petty gift for such a service. To the Abbot of St. Edmund, it is but a +slight grievance to give five shillings. The Earl Roger Bigot holds +himself as seised, and asserts that he is seised, of the office of +bearing the standard of St. Edmund; indeed, he actually did bear it +when the earl of Leicester was taken and the Flemings destroyed. +Thomas of Mendham also claims this as his right. When, therefore, you +shall have proved against these your right, I will with great pleasure +pay you the five shillings you now seek to recover of me." The earl +upon this said that he would talk the matter over with the Earl Roger, +his kinsman, and so the matter was put off even to this day. + +On the death of Robert of Cockfield, there came Adam, his son, and +with him many of his relations, the Earl Roger Bigot, and many other +great men, and made suit to the abbot for the tenements of the +aforesaid Adam, and especially for the half hundred of Cosford, to be +held by the annual payment of one hundred shillings, just as if it had +been his hereditary right; indeed, they all said that his father and +his grandfather had held it for fourscore years past and more. + +When the abbot got an opportunity of speaking, putting his two fingers +up to his two eyes, he said, "May I be deprived of these eyes on that +day, nay, in that hour, wherein I grant to any one a hundred to be +held in hereditary right, unless indeed the King, who is able to take +away from me the abbey and my life with it, should force me to do so." + +Explaining to them the reason of that saying, he averred, "If any one +were to hold a hundred as an inheritance, and he should make forfeit +to the King in any wise, so that he ought to lose his inheritance, +forthwith will the Sheriff of Suffolk and the King's bailiffs have +seisin of the hundred, and exercise their own power within our +liberties; and if they should have the ward of the hundred, the +liberty of the eight hundreds and a half will be endangered." + +And then addressing himself to Adam, he said, "If you, who claim an +inheritance in this hundred, should take to wife any free woman who +should hold but one acre of land of the King in chief; the King, after +your death, would possess himself of all that your tenement, together +with the wardship of your son, if he be under age; and thus the King's +bailiffs would enter upon the hundred of St. Edmund, to the prejudice +of the abbot. Besides all this, your father acknowledged to me that he +claimed nothing by right of inheritance in the hundred; but because +his service was satisfactory to me, I permitted him to hold it all the +days of his life, according as he deserved of me." + +Upon the abbot saying thus much, money was offered; but he could not +be persuaded by words or money. At last it was settled between them +thus: Adam disclaimed the right which he had by word of mouth claimed +in the hundred, and the abbot confirmed to him all his other lands; +but touching our town of Cockfield, no mention was made of that, nor +indeed is it believed that he had a charter thereof; Semer and Groton +he was to hold for the term of his life. + +Herbert the dean erected a windmill upon Haberdon. When the abbot +heard of this, his anger was so kindled that he would scarcely eat or +utter a single word. On the morrow, after hearing mass, he commanded +the sacrist, that without delay he should send his carpenters thither +and overturn it altogether, and carefully put by the wooden materials +in safe keeping. + +The dean, hearing this, came to him saying that he was able in law to +do this upon his own frank fee, and that the benefit of the wind ought +not to be denied to any one. He further said that he only wanted to +grind his own corn there, and nobody else's, lest it should be +imagined that he did this to the damage of the neighbouring mills. The +abbot, his anger not yet appeased, answered, "I give you as many +thanks as if you had cut off both my feet; by the mouth of God I will +not eat bread until that building be plucked down. You are an old man, +and you should have known that it is not lawful even for the King or +his justiciary to alter or appoint a single thing within the banlieue, +without the permission of the abbot and convent; and why have you +presumed to do such a thing? Nor is this without prejudice to my +mills, as you assert, because the burgesses will run to you and grind +their corn at their pleasure, nor can I by law turn them away, because +they are freemen. Nor would I endure that the mill of our cellarer, +lately set up, should stand, except that it was erected before I was +abbot. Begone," he said, "begone; before you have come to your house, +you shall hear what has befallen your mill." + +But the dean being afraid before the face of the abbot, by the counsel +of his son, Master Stephen, forestalled the servants of the sacrist, +and without delay caused that very mill which had been erected by his +own servants to be overthrown. So that when the servants of the +sacrist came thither, they found nothing to be pulled down. + +The abbot was sued in respect of the advowson of certain churches, and +gained the case. Certain others he also retained, although his right +thereto was challenged, viz., the church of Westley, of Meringthorp, +of Brettenham, of Wendling, of Pakenham, of Nowton, of Bradfield in +Norfolk, the moiety of the church of Boxford, the church of Scaldwell, +and the church of Endgate. All these, although the right was +challenged by others, he retained, and he restored to his own right of +patronage three portions of the church of Dickleburgh, and brought +back the tenements belonging to those shares to the frank fee of the +church, saving the service which was due therefrom to the manor of +Tivetshall. But the church of Boxford being void, when an inquest was +summoned thereupon, there came five knights tempting the abbot, and +inquiring what it was they ought to swear. + +The abbot would neither give nor promise to them anything, but said, +"When the oath shall be administered, declare the right according to +your consciences." They, indeed, being discontented, departed, and by +their inquest took away from him the advowson of that church, namely, +the last presentation. Nevertheless, he ultimately recovered it after +many charges, and for a fine of ten marks. + +The abbot also retained the church of Honington. This had not become +vacant, but the right was challenged in the time of Durand of +Hostesley, although he produced as evidence of his right the charter +of William, Bishop of Norwich, wherein it was specified that Robert of +Valognes, his father-in-law, had given that church to Ernald Lovell. + +The moiety of the church of Hopton being void, a controversy arose +thereupon between the abbot and Robert of Elm; and a day of hearing +being appointed at Hopton, after much altercation, the abbot being +guided by I know not what sudden impulse, said to the aforesaid +Robert, "Do you but swear that this is your right, and I will allow +that it shall be so." And since that knight refused to swear, it was +by the consent of each party, referred to the oath of sixteen lawful +men of the hundred, who swore that this belonged to the abbot as his +right. Gilbert Fitz-Ralph and Robert of Cockfield, lords of that fee, +were there present and consenting thereto. + +Thereupon, Master Jordan de Ros, who had the charter of abbot Hugh, as +well as the charter of the aforesaid Robert, starting forward, urged +that whichever of them succeeded in proving his claim to the church, +he (Jordan) might hold the parsonage, that he was parson of the whole +church, and that the clerk last deceased had been his vicar, rendering +him a yearly payment for that moiety. In proof thereof he produced the +charter of Walchelin the archdeacon. + +The abbot, greatly moved and angry with him, never received him in a +friendly manner, until the said Jordan, in a chapter of the monks at +Thetford, at the abbot's instance, resigned into the hands of the +bishop there present that very moiety, without any reservation or +expectation of afterwards recovering the same, before a great +multitude of clerks. This done, the abbot said, "My lord bishop, I am +engaged by promise to bestow the rent upon some one your clerk; and I +now give this moiety of this church to whomsoever of your clerks you +will." Then the bishop requested that in a friendly manner it should +be given to the same Master Jordan; and so upon the presentation of +the abbot, Jordan got it back again. + +Afterwards a controversy arose between the abbot and the same Jordan, +touching the land of Herard in Harlow, whether it were the frank fee +of the church or not. And when there was summoned a jury of twelve +knights to make inquest in the king's court, the inquest was taken in +the court of the abbot at Harlow, by the licence of Ranulf de +Glanville, and the recognitors swore that they never knew that land at +any time to have been separated from the church, but nevertheless that +land owed such service to the abbot as that to which the land of +Eustace, and certain other lands of laymen in the same town were +subject. At length it was agreed between them thus: Master Jordan in +full court acknowledged that land to be lay fee, and that he claimed +nothing therein, unless by the abbot's grace. He will therefore hold +that land all the days of his life, rendering yearly to the abbot +twelve pence for all services. + +Since, according to the custom of the English, many persons gave many +presents to the abbot, as being their head, upon the day of the +Circumcision of our Lord, I, Jocelin, thought to myself, What can I +give? And I began to reduce into writing all those churches which are +in the gift of the abbot, as well of our manors as of his, and the +reasonable values of the same, upon the same principle that they could +be fairly set to farm, at a time when corn is at its ordinary standard +price. And, therefore, upon the commencement of a new year, I gave to +the abbot that schedule, as a gift to him, which he received very +gratefully. + +I, indeed, because I then was pleasing in his sight, thought in my +heart, that I should hint to him that some one church should be given +to the convent, and assigned for the purposes of hospitality, just as +he had wished when he was a poor cloister monk: for this same thing he +himself had, before his election, suggested the brethren should swear, +that upon whomsoever the lot should fall, that man should do it. But +while I thought upon these things, I remembered that some one +previously had said the very same thing, and that I had heard the +abbot reply, that he could not dismember the barony; in other words, +that he ought not to diminish the liberty and dignity which abbot Hugh +and others his predecessors had had, of giving away churches, which +after all scarcely brought any gain or profit to the convent. On +considering this, I held my peace. + +The writing I have alluded to was the following:-- + + "These are the churches of the manors and socages of the ABBOT: The + church of Melford is worth forty pounds; Chevington, ten marks; + Saxham, twelve marks; Hargrave, five marks; Brettenham, five marks; + Boxford, one hundred shillings; Fornham Magna, one hundred shillings; + Stow, one hundred shillings; Honington, five marks; Elmswell, three + marks; Cotton, twelve marks; Brocford, five marks; Palgrave, ten + marks; Great Horningsherth, five marks; Kingston, four marks; Harlow, + nineteen marks; Stapleford, three marks; Tivetshall, one hundred + shillings; Worlingworth cum Bedingfield, twenty marks; Soham, six + marks; the moiety of the church of Wortham, one hundred shillings; + Rungton, twenty marks; Thorp, six marks; Woolpit, over and above the + pension, one hundred shillings; Rushbrook, five marks; the moiety of + the church of Hopton, sixty shillings; Rickinghall, six marks; three + parts of the church of Dickleburgh, each part being worth thirty + shillings and upwards; the moiety of the church of Gislingham, four + marks; Icklingham, six marks. Concerning the church of Mildenhall, + which is worth forty marks, and of the moiety of the church of + Wetherden, what shall I say? Wendling, one hundred shillings; the + church of Len, ten marks; the church of Scaldwell, five marks; the + church of Warkton ... + + "These are the churches of the manors belonging to the CONVENT: + Mildenhall, Barton, and Horningsherth, twenty-five marks, besides the + pension; Rougham, fifteen marks, besides the pension; Bradfield, five + marks; Pakenham, thirty marks; Southrey, one hundred shillings; + Risby, twenty marks; Nowton, four marks; Whepstead, fourteen marks; + Fornham St. Genevieve, fifteen marks; Herringswell, nine marks; + Fornham St. Martin, three marks; Ingham, ten marks; Lackford, one + hundred shillings; Elveden, ten marks; Cockfield, twenty marks; + Semer-Semer, twelve marks; Groton, five marks; the moiety of the + church of Fressingfield, fourteen marks; Beccles, twenty marks; Broc, + fifteen marks; Hinderclay, ten marks; Warkton, ten marks; Scaldwell, + five marks; Westley, five marks; the church in Norwich, two marks, + over and above the payment of herrings; and two churches in + Colchester, three marks, over and above the pension of four + shillings; Chelsworth, one hundred shillings; Meringthorp, four + marks; the moiety of the church of Bradfield in Norfolk, three marks; + staffacres and fouracres, and the third part of the tithes of the + lordships of Wrabness, six marks." + +The two counties of Norfolk and Suffolk were put in the "mercy" of the +King by the justices in eyre for some default, and fifty marks were +put upon Norfolk, and thirty upon Suffolk. And when a certain portion +of that common amerciament was assessed upon the lands of St. Edmund, +and was sharply demanded, the abbot, without any delay, went to our +lord the King. We found him at Clarendon; and when the charter of King +Edward, which discharges all the lands of St. Edmund from all gelds +and scots, had been shown to him, the King commanded by his writ that +six knights of the county of Norfolk and six of Suffolk should be +summoned to consider before the barons of the exchequer, whether the +lordships of St. Edmund ought to be quit from common amerciament. To +save trouble and expense, only six knights were chosen, and these for +the reason that they had lands in either county; namely, Hubert of +Briseword, W. Fitz-Hervey, and William of Francheville, and three +others, who went to London with us, and on behalf of the two counties +gave their verdict in favour of the liberty of our church. And +thereupon the justices then sitting enrolled their verdict. + +The abbot Samson entered into a contest with his knights--himself +against all, and all of them against him. He had stated to them that +they ought to perform the service of fifty individual knights in +escuages, in aids, and the like, because, as they themselves said, +they held so many knights' fees. The point in dispute was, why ten of +those fifty knights were to be without performing service, or by what +reason or by whose authority the forty should receive the help of +those ten knights. But they all answered with one voice, that such had +ever been the custom, that is to say, that ten of them should assist +the other forty, and that they could not thereupon--nor ought they +thereupon--to answer, nor yet to implead. + +When they were summoned in the King's court to answer hereupon, some, +by arrangement, excused themselves from appearing, the others +cunningly appeared, saying that they ought not to answer without their +peers. On another occasion, those presented themselves who had first +absented themselves, saying in like manner, that they ought not to +answer without their peers who were joined with them in the same +plaint. And when they had several times thus mocked the abbot, and had +involved him in great and grievous expenses, the abbot complained of +this to Hubert, the archbishop, then justiciary, who replied in open +court that each knight ought to plead singly, and in respect of his +own tenure, and said straight out that the abbot was clever enough and +able enough to prove the rights of his church against all and every +one of them. Then the earl, Roger Bigot, first of all freely confessed +that, in law, he owed to his superior lord the abbot his service of +three entire knights' fees, in reliefs as well as in escuages and +aids; but, so far as concerned his performing castle-guard at the +castle of Norwich, he said nothing. + +Next came two of these knights, then three, and again more, until +nearly all of them had come, and, by the earl's example, acknowledged +the same service. Because such acknowledgment thereupon made in the +court of St. Edmund was not sufficient in law, the abbot took all of +them to London at his own charges, with the wives and women who were +inherited of the lands so held, that they should make the +acknowledgment in the King's court, and they all received separate +charters of the concord thus made. Alberic de Vere and William of +Hastings and two others were in the King's service beyond sea when +this was done, and therefore the plaint concerning them was stayed. +Alberic de Vere was the last who held out against the abbot; but as it +was, the abbot seized and sold his cattle, wherefore it behoved him to +come into court, and answer, as did his fellows. Taking advice upon +it, he at length acknowledged to the abbot and St. Edmund their right. + +The knights, therefore, being all defeated, a great profit would have +accrued to the abbot from this victory unless he had been inclined to +spare some of them; for so often as twenty shillings are charged upon +a fee, there will remain twelve pounds to the abbot, and if more or +less are assessed, more or less will remain over as a surplus to him, +according to the strict apportionment. Also the abbot was wont, as +were his predecessors, at the end of every twenty weeks to give seven +shillings for the guard of the castle of Norwich out of his own purse, +for default of three knights, whose fees Roger Bigot holds of St. +Edmund. Each of the knights of four constabularies used to give +twenty-eight pence when they entered to perform their guards, and one +penny to the marshal who collected those pence; and they were +accustomed to give twenty-eight pence and no more, because the ten +knights of the fifth constabulary ought to assist the other forty, so +that whereas they ought to have given three shillings entire, they +only gave twenty-nine pence, and he whose duty it was to enter to +perform his guard service at the end of four months, entered at the +end of twenty weeks. But at the present time all the knights give the +full three shillings, and there remains to the abbot the surplus which +accrues beyond twenty-nine pence, from whence he can re-imburse +himself of the aforesaid seven shillings. It is apparent what force +had the words of the abbot which he spoke the first day, when he took +the homage of his knights, as aforesaid, when all the knights promised +him twenty shillings, and immediately revoked what they had said, +refusing to give him more than forty pounds in one sum, alleging that +ten knights ought to assist the other forty in aids and castle-guards, +and all such like services. + +There is certain land in Tivetshall of the abbot's fee, which used to +pay to the watchmen of the castle of Norwich waite-fee, that is, +twenty shillings per annum, payable five shillings on each of the four +Ember fasts. This is an ancient customary payment which the abbot +would well wish to do away with if he could, but considering his +inability to do so, he has up to now held his peace and closed his +eyes to it. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE CASE OF HENRY OF ESSEX + + +[For the purpose of diffusing the knowledge of the blessed King and +martyr, we have annexed this, we hope not irrelevantly, to the +foregoing. Not that I who am so insignificant a person, and of +scarcely any account, should set it forth with a historical title; but +insomuch as Master Jocelin, our almoner, a man of exalted piety, +powerful in word and deed, did so begin it at the request and desire +of his superior, I may look upon it as my own work, because, according +to the precept of Seneca, whatever has been well said by another, I +may without presumption ascribe to myself. + +When the abbot came to Reading, and we with him, we were suitably +entertained by the monks of that place, among whom we met Henry of +Essex, a professed monk, who, having obtained an opportunity of +speaking with the abbot, related to him and ourselves as we all sat +together, how he was vanquished in duel, and how and for what reason +St. Edmund had confounded him in the very hour of battle. I therefore +reduced his tale into writing by the command of the lord abbot, and +wrote it in these words. + +As it is impossible for us to shun evil unless it be apparent, we have +thought it worthy to commit to historical record the acts and excesses +of Henry of Essex, as a warning and not for imitation. The warnings +that can be enforced by anecdotes are useful and beneficial. The +aforesaid Henry, therefore, while in prosperity was in high esteem +amongst the great men of the realm, a man of much account, of noble +birth, conspicuous by deeds of arms, the king's standard-bearer, and +feared by all on account of his power. His neighbours endowed the +church of St. Edmund, the King and martyr, with possessions and rents; +but he not only shut his eyes to this fact, but also by force and by +injuries, with violence and evil speaking, wrongfully withheld an +annual rent of five shillings, and converted it to his own use. Nay, +indeed, in process of time, when a cause touching the rape of a +certain damsel was prosecuted in the court of St. Edmund, the said +Henry came thither, protesting and alleging that the same plaint by +law ought to be decided in his court, in view of the birthplace of the +same damsel, who was born within his lordship of Lailand; and by +reason of this pretext he presumed to harass the court of St. Edmund +with journeys and innumerable expenses for a long space of time. + +In the meantime, in these and such like acts, fortune, smiling upon +his desires, suddenly brought in upon him the cause of perpetual +sorrow, and, under the appearance of a joyful beginning, she contrived +for him a joyless end; for she is wont to smile that she may +afterwards rage, to flatter that she may deceive, to raise up that she +may cast down. All at once, there rose up against him Robert of +Montfort, his kinsman and equal in birth and power, impeaching and +accusing him before the princes of the land, of treason against the +King. For he asserted that Henry, in the war with the Welsh, in the +difficult pass of Coleshill, had traitorously thrown down the standard +of our lord the King, and had with a loud voice proclaimed his death, +and so turned to flight those who were hastening to his assistance. In +point of fact, the aforesaid Henry of Essex did believe that the +famous King Henry the Second, who had been intercepted by the +stratagems of the Welsh, had been killed; and this would indeed have +been the case, if Roger Earl of Clare, illustrious (clarus) by reason +of birth, and more illustrious by deeds of valour, had not come up in +good time with his Clare men, and raised the standard of our lord the +King, to the encouragement and heartening of the whole army. Henry, +indeed, strenuously opposed the aforesaid Robert in a speech, and +absolutely denied the accusation, so that after a short lapse of time +it came to a trial by battle. And they came to Reading to fight in a +certain island hard by the abbey; and thither also came a multitude to +see what issue the matter would take. + +Now it came to pass, while Robert of Montfort thundered upon him +manfully with hard and frequent strokes, and a bold onset had promised +the fruit of victory, Henry, his strength a little failing him, +glanced round on all sides, and lo! on the border of the land and +water he saw the glorious King and martyr, Edmund, armed, and as if +hovering in the air, looking towards him with a severe countenance, +shaking his head with threats of anger and indignation. He also saw +with him another knight, Gilbert of Cereville, not only in appearance +inferior, but less in stature from the shoulders, direct his eyes upon +him as if angry and wrathful. This man, by the order of the same +Henry, had been afflicted with chains and torments, and had closed his +days in prison at the instance and on the accusation of Henry's wife; +who, turning her own wickedness upon an innocent person, stated that +she could not endure the solicitations of Gilbert to unlawful love. +Therefore, Henry, on sight of these apparitions, became anxious and +fear-stricken, and remembered that old crime brings new shame. +Becoming wholly desperate, and changing reason into violence, he +assumed the part of one who attacked, not one who was on the +defensive; who, while he struck fiercely, was more fiercely struck; +and while he manfully fought, was more manfully attacked in his turn. +In short, he fell vanquished. + +As he was believed to be dead, upon the petition of the great men of +England, his kinsmen, it was permitted that the monks of that place +should give his body the rites of sepulture. Nevertheless, he +afterwards recovered, and now with restored health, he has wiped out +the blot upon his previous life under the regular habit, and in his +endeavour to cleanse the long week of his dissolute life by at least +one purifying sabbath, has so cultivated the studies of the virtues, +as to bring forth the fruit of happiness.] + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +TROUBLES WITHOUT + + +Geoffrey Ridel, Bishop of Ely, sought from the abbot some timber for +the purpose of constructing certain great buildings at Glemsford. This +request the abbot granted, but against his will, not daring to offend +him. Now the abbot making some stay at Melford, there came a certain +clerk of the bishop, asking on behalf of his lord, that the promised +timber might be taken at Elmswell; and he made a mistake in the word, +saying Elmswell when he should have said Elmsett, which is the name of +a certain wood at Melford. And the abbot was astonished at the +request, for such timber was not to be found at Elmswell. + +Now when Richard the forester of the same town had heard of this, he +secretly informed the abbot that the bishop had the previous week sent +his carpenters to spy out the wood of Elmsett, and had chosen the best +timber trees in the whole wood, and placed his marks thereon. On +hearing this, the abbot directly discovered that the messenger of the +bishop had made an error in his request, and answered that he would +willingly do as the bishop pleased. + +On the morrow, upon the departure of the messenger, immediately after +he had heard mass, the abbot went into the before-named wood with his +carpenters, and caused to be branded with his mark not only all the +oaks previously marked, but more than a hundred others, for the use of +St. Edmund, and for the steeple of the great tower, commanding that +they should be felled as quickly as possible. When the bishop, by the +answer of his messenger, understood that the aforesaid timber might be +taken at Elmswell, he sent back the same messenger (whom he +overwhelmed with many hard words) to the abbot, in order that he might +correct the word which he had mistaken, by saying Elmsett, not +Elmswell. But before he had come to the abbot, all the trees which the +bishop desired and his carpenters had marked were felled. So the +bishop, if he wanted timber, had to get other timber elsewhere. As for +myself, when I witnessed this affair, I laughed, and said in my heart, +"Thus art is deceived by art." + +On the death of Abbot Hugh, the wardens of the abbey desired to depose +the bailiffs of the town of St. Edmund, and to appoint new bailiffs of +their own authority, saying that this appertained to the King, in +whose hand the abbey then was. But we, complaining thereof, sent our +messengers to lord Ranulf de Glanville, then justiciary. He answered, +that he well knew that forty pounds a year ought to be paid from the +town to our sacrist, specially for the lights of the church; and he +said that Abbot Hugh, of his own will, and in his privy chamber, +without the consent of the convent, had granted the bailiwick as often +as he chose, and unto whom he chose, saving the forty pounds payable +to the altar. And therefore it was not to be wondered at if the King's +bailiffs required this same thing on the King's behalf. Speaking in +bitter language, he called all our monks fools for having permitted +our abbot to do such things, not considering that the chief duty of +monks is to hold their peace, and pass over with closed eyes the +excesses of their prelates; nor yet considering that they are called +barrators if they, whether it be right or wrong, contravene their +superiors in anything; and, further, that sometimes we are accused of +treason and are condemned to prison and to exile. Wherefore it seems +to myself and others the better counsel to die as confessors rather +than as martyrs. + +On the return of our messenger home, and on his relating what he had +seen and heard, we, as being unwilling and, as it were, under +compulsion, resolved, so far as we were able, that the old bailiffs of +the town should be deposed, as well with the common consent of the +convent, as by the keepers of the abbey. Samson, then sub-sacrist, was +very reluctant to join in this proposition. However, when Samson was +made abbot, he, calling to remembrance the wrong done to the abbey, on +the morrow after the Easter following his election, caused to be +assembled in our chapter-house the knights and clerks, and a number of +the burgesses, and then in the presence of them all, said that the +town belonged to the convent and to the altar, namely, to find tapers +for the church; and that he was desirous of renewing the ancient +custom, so that in the presence of the convent, and with the consent +of all, some measure should be taken concerning the bailiwick of the +town, and of such like matters which appertained to the convent. + +At that time were nominated two burgesses, Godfrey and Nicholas, to be +bailiffs; and a discussion taking place from whose hand they should +receive the horn, which is called the moot-horn, at last they took it +from the hands of the prior, who, next to the abbot, is head over the +affairs of the convent. + +Now these two bailiffs kept their bailiwick in peace many years, until +they were said to be remiss in keeping the King's justice. On the +abbot's suggestion that greater security should be given to the +convent upon this point, they were removed, and Hugh the sacrist took +the town into his own keeping, appointing new officers, who were to +answer to him concerning the bailiwick. In process of time, I know not +how, new bailiffs were subsequently appointed, and that elsewhere than +in chapter, and without the concurrence of the church; wherefore a +like or perhaps greater peril is to be apprehended after the decease +of Abbot Samson than even was after the death of Abbot Hugh. + +One of our brethren, too, fully relying upon the regard and friendship +of the abbot, upon a fit opportunity and with propriety and decency, +talked over the matter with him, asserting that dissatisfaction was +expressed in the convent. But the abbot upon hearing this was silent +for a long time, as if he was somewhat disturbed. At length he is +reported to have said, "Am not I, even I, the abbot? Does it not +belong to me alone to make order concerning the affairs of the church +committed to my care, provided only that I should act with wisdom and +according to God's will? If there should be default in the +administration of the King's justice in this town, I shall be +challenged for it; I shall be summoned; upon myself alone will rest +the burden of the journey, and the expenses, and the defence of the +town and its appurtenances; I alone shall be deemed a fool, not the +prior, not the sacrist, nor yet the convent, but myself, who am and +ought to be their head. Through me and my counsel, with God's +assistance, will the town be securely preserved to the best of my +ability, and safe also will be those forty pounds payable annually to +the altar. Let the brethren grumble, let them slander me, let them say +amongst themselves what they will, I am still their father and their +abbot; so long as I live 'I will not give my glory to another.'" This +said, that monk departed, and reported these answers to us. + +I for my part marvelled at such sayings, and argued with myself in +various ways. At length I was compelled to remain in a state of doubt, +inasmuch as the rule of law says and teaches, that all things should +be under the governance of the abbot. + +The merchants of London claimed to be quit of toll at the fair of St. +Edmund. Nevertheless many paid it, unwillingly indeed, and under +compulsion; whereof a great tumult and commotion was made among the +citizens in London at their hustings. They came in a body and informed +Abbot Samson that they were entitled to be quit of toll throughout all +England, by authority of the charter which they had from King Henry +the Second. The abbot answered that were it necessary, he was well +able to vouch the King to warrant that he had never granted them any +charter to the prejudice of our church, or to the prejudice of the +liberties of St. Edmund, to whom St. Edward had granted and confirmed +toll and theam and all regalities before the conquest of England; and +that King Henry had done no more than give to the Londoners an +exemption from toll throughout his own lordships, and in places where +he was able to grant it; but so far as concerned the town of St. +Edmund he was not able so to do, for it was not his to dispose of. The +Londoners, hearing this, ordered by common council that none of them +should go to the fair of St. Edmund. For two years they kept away, +whereby our fair sustained great loss, and the offering of the sacrist +was much diminished. At last, upon the mediation of the Bishop of +London and many others, it was settled between us and them that they +should come to the fair, and that some of them should pay toll, but +that it should be forthwith returned to them, that by such a +colourable act the privilege on both sides should be preserved. + +But in process of time, when the abbot had made agreement with his +knights, and as it were slept in tranquillity, behold again "the +Philistines be upon thee, Samson!" Lo! the Londoners, with one voice, +were threatening that they would lay level with the earth the stone +houses which the abbot had built that very year, or that they would +take distress by a hundredfold from the men of St. Edmund, unless the +abbot forthwith redressed the wrong done them by the bailiffs of the +town of St. Edmund, who had taken fifteen pence from the carts of the +citizens of London, who in their way from Yarmouth, laden with +herrings, had made passage through our demesnes. Furthermore, the +citizens of London said that they were quit of toll in every market, +and on every occasion, and in every place throughout all England, from +the time when Rome was first founded, and that London was founded at +the very same time. Also, that they ought to have such an exemption +throughout all England, as well by reason of its being a privileged +city, which was of old time the metropolis and head of the kingdom, as +by reason of its antiquity. The abbot asked that the matter might be +deferred until the return of our lord the King to England, that he +might consult with him upon this; and having taken advice of the +lawyers, he replevied to the claimants those fifteen pence, without +prejudice to the question of each party's right. + +In the tenth year of the abbacy of Abbot Samson, by the common counsel +of our chapter, we complained to the abbot in his own hall, stating +that the rents and issues of all the good towns and boroughs of +England were increasing and augmenting, to the profit of the +possessors, and the well-thriving of their lords, all except this our +town, which had long yielded forty pounds, and had never gone beyond +that sum; and that the burgesses of the town were the cause of this +thing. For they held so large and so many standings in the +market-place, of shops and sheds and stalls, without the assent of the +convent, indeed from the sole gift of the bailiffs of the town, who in +old time were but yearly renters, and, as it were, ministers of the +sacrist, and were removable at his good pleasure. The burgesses, being +summoned, made answer that they were under the jurisdiction of the +King's courts, nor would they make answer in derogation of the +immunity of the town and their charters, in respect of the tenements +which they and their fathers had holden well and peaceably for one +year and a day without claim. They also said the old custom had been +that the bailiffs should, without the interference of the convent, +dispose of the places of the shops and sheds in the market-place, in +consideration of a certain rent payable yearly to the bailiwick. But +we, gainsaying this, were desirous that the abbot should disseise them +of tenements for which they had no warranty. + +Now the abbot coming to our council, as if he were one of us, said to +us in private, that he was willing enough to do us right, according to +the best of his ability, but that he, nevertheless, was bound to +proceed in due course of law; nor could he, without the judgment of a +court, disseise his free men of their lands or rents, which they had +held for many years, were it justly or unjustly. If he should do this, +he said, he should fall into the King's mercy by the assize of the +realm. Therefore, the burgesses, taking counsel together, offered to +the convent a rent of one hundred shillings for the sake of peace; and +that they should hold their tenements as they had been wont to do. But +we, on the other hand, were by no means willing to grant this, rather +desiring to put that plaint in respite, hoping, perhaps, in the time +of another abbot, to recover all, or change the place of the fair; and +so the affair was deferred for many years. + +When the abbot had returned from Germany, the burgesses offered him +sixty marks, and sued for his confirmation of the liberties of the +town, under the same form of words as Anselm, and Ording, and Hugh had +confirmed them; all which the abbot graciously accorded. +Notwithstanding our murmuring and grumbling, a charter was accordingly +made to them in the terms of his promise; and because it would have +been a shame and confusion to him if he had not been able to fulfil +his promise, we were not willing to contradict him, or provoke him to +anger. + +The burgesses, indeed, from the period when they had the charter of +Abbot Samson and the convent, became more confident that they, at +least in the time of Abbot Samson, would not lose their tenements or +their franchises; so that never afterwards, as they did before, were +they willing to pay or offer the before-named rent of one hundred +shillings. At length, however, the abbot giving attention to this +matter, discoursed with the burgesses hereupon, saying that unless +they made their peace with the convent, he should forbid their +erecting their booths at the fair of St. Edmund. + +They, on the other hand, answered that they were willing to give every +year a silken cope, or some other ornament, to the value of one +hundred shillings, as they had before promised to do; but +nevertheless, upon this condition, that they were to be for ever quit +of the tithes of their profits, which the sacrist sharply demanded of +them. The abbot and the sacrist both refused this, and therefore the +plaint was again put in respite. + +In point of fact, we have from that time to the present lost those +hundred shillings, according to the old saying, "He that will not when +he may, when he will he shall have nay." + + + + +CHAPTER X + +TROUBLES WITHIN + + +The cellarers quickly succeeded each other, and every one of them at +the year's end became involved in a great debt. There were given to +the cellarer, in aid, twenty pounds out of Mildenhall, but this did +not suffice. After that, fifty pounds were assigned to the cellarer +each year from the same manor; and yet the cellarer used to say that +this was not enough. The abbot, therefore, being anxious to provide +for his security from loss and comfort, as well as for our own, +knowing that in all our wants we must have recourse to him as to the +father of the monastery, associated with the cellarer a certain clerk +of his own table, by name Ranulf, so that he might assist him both as +a witness and companion in the expenses and receipts. And lo! many of +us speak many things, murmurings thicken, falsehoods are invented, +scandals are interwoven with scandals, nor is there a corner in the +house which does not resound with venomous hissing. + +One says to another, "What is this that is done? Who ever saw the +like? There never was such an insult offered to the convent before. +Behold! the abbot has set a clerk over a monk; see, he has made a +clerk a master and keeper over the cellarer, as if he could do no good +without him. The abbot thinks but lightly of his monks; he suspects +his monks; he consults clerks; he loves clerks. 'How is the gold +become dim! How is the fine gold changed!'" Also one friend says to +another, "We are become a reproach to our neighbours. All of us monks +are either reckoned faithless or improvident; the clerk is believed, +the monk is not. The abbot had rather trust the clerk than the monk. +Now is this clerk a whit more faithful or wise than a monk would be?" + +And again, one friend would say to another, "Are not the cellarer and +sub-cellarer, or can they not be, as faithful as the sacrist or the +chamberlain? The consequence is, that this abbot or his successor will +put a clerk along with the sacrist, a clerk with the chamberlain, a +clerk with the sub-sacrists to collect the offerings at the shrine, +and so on with all the officials, wherefore we shall be a +laughing-stock and derision to the whole people." + +I, hearing these things, was accustomed to answer, "If I, for my part, +were cellarer, I had rather that a clerk were a witness for me in all +my transactions; for if I did well he would bear witness of the good. +If, again, I had, at the end of the year, become laden with debt, I +should be able to gain credence and to be excused by the testimony of +that clerk." + +I heard, indeed, one of our brethren, a man truly discreet and +learned, say something upon this subject which struck myself and +others very much. "It is not," he said, "to be wondered at, should the +lord abbot interpose his exertions in the safe conduct of our affairs, +especially as he wisely manages that portion of the abbey which +belongs to him, and is discreet in the disposing of his own house, it +being his part to supply our wants in case of our carelessness or +inability to do so. But there is one thing," he added, "which will +prove dangerous after the death of the abbot Samson, such as has never +come to pass in our days or in our lives. Of a surety the King's +bailiffs will come, and will possess themselves of the abbey, I mean +the barony which belongs to the abbot, as was done in the past after +the deaths of other Abbots. As after the death of Abbot Hugh, the +King's bailiffs likewise desired to appoint new bailiffs in the town +of St. Edmund, alleging as their warrant that Abbot Hugh had done +this, in the same way the King's bailiffs will, in process of time, +appoint their clerk to keep the cellary, in order that everything +shall be done therein by him, and under his discretion. And then we +shall be told that they are entitled to act in this manner because +Abbot Samson did so. Thus they will have the power of intermixing and +confusing all the concerns and rents of the abbot and of the convent; +all which, indeed, Abbot Robert, of good memory, had, with due +consideration, distinguished in account, and had separated one from +the other." + +When I heard these and such like expressions from a man of great +thought and foresight, I was astonished, and held my peace, not +wishing either to condemn the lord abbot, or to excuse him. + +Hubert Walter, the Archbishop of Canterbury and legate of the +apostolic see, and Justiciary of England, after he had visited many +churches, and had by right of his legation made many changes and +alterations, was on his way home from his natural mother, who lived at +Dereham and was then dying. He sent two of his clerks over to us, +bearing the sealed letters of their lord, wherein it was contained +that we should give credit to what they should say and do. These men +inquired of the abbot and convent whether we were willing to receive +their lord, the legate, who was on his way to us, in such wise as a +legate ought to be received, and, in fact, is received by other +churches. If we were agreed to this, he would shortly come to us, for +the purpose of making order concerning the matters and affairs of our +church according to God's will; but if we were not agreed, those two +clerks could more fully communicate to us their lord's behest. +Thereupon the abbot called together most of the convent, and we came +to the decision that we would give a gracious answer to the clerks +thus sent to us, saying that we were willing to receive their lord as +legate with all honour and reverence, and to send together with them +our own messengers, who, on our part, should communicate the same to +the lord legate. + +Our intention was that, in the same way as we had done to the Bishop +of Ely and other legates, we would show him all possible honour, with +a procession and ringing of bells, and would receive him with the +usual solemnities, until it should come to the point, perhaps, of his +holding a visitation in chapter. If he were to proceed in doing this, +then all of us were to oppose him might and main to his face, +appealing to Rome, and standing upon our charters. And the lord abbot +said, "If at this present time the legate will come to us, we will do +as is aforesaid, but if indeed he shall defer his arrival to us for a +time, we will consult the lord Pope, and inquire what force the +privileges of our church ought to have, as being those which have been +obtained from him and his predecessors, against the archbishop who has +now obtained power from the apostolic see over all the privileged +churches of England." Such was our determination. + +When the archbishop had heard that we were willing to receive him as +legate, he received our messengers graciously and with giving of +thanks. And he became favourable and kindly disposed towards the lord +abbot in all his concerns, and for certain pressing causes deferred +his visit to us for a time. Therefore, without the least delay, the +abbot sent to the Pope the same letters which the legate had sent to +him and the convent, wherein it was contained that he was about to +come to us by authority of his legation, and by the authority of the +Pope, and, moreover, that to him was given power over all the exempt +churches of England, notwithstanding the letters of exemption obtained +by the church of York or any other. + +The abbot's messenger expediting the matter, our lord the Pope wrote +to the lord of Canterbury, asserting that our church, as his spiritual +daughter, ought not to be accountable to any legate, unless he were a +legate of our lord the Pope sent _a latere_, and enjoined him that he +should not stretch forth his hand against us; and our lord the Pope +added as from himself a prohibition against his exercising +jurisdiction over any other exempt church. Our messenger returned to +us, and this was kept a secret for many days. Nevertheless, the same +was intimated to the lord of Canterbury by some of his adherents at +the court of our lord the Pope. + +When, at the end of the year, the legate made his visitation through +Norfolk and Suffolk, and had first arrived at Colchester, the legate +sent his messenger to the abbot, privately letting him thereby know +that he (the legate) had heard say that the abbot had obtained letters +contravening his legation, and requesting that he, in a friendly way, +would send him those letters. And it was done accordingly, for the +abbot had two counterparts of these letters. The abbot, indeed, did +not pay a visit to the legate, either by himself or by proxy, so long +as he was in the diocese of Norwich, lest it should be thought that he +wished to make fine with the legate for his entertainment, as other +monks and canons had done. The legate, disconcerted and angry and +fearing to be shut out if he came to us, passed by Norwich, by Acre +and by Dereham to Ely, on his way to London. + +The abbot meeting the legate within the month, between Waltham and +London, on the King's highway, the legate censured him for having +refused to meet him, as being justiciary of our lord the King whilst +he was in that country. The abbot answered that he had not travelled +as justiciary, but as legate, making visitation in every church; and +alleged the reason of the time of year, and that the passion of our +Lord was nigh at hand, and that it behoved him to be concerned with +Divine services and cloister duties. + +When the abbot had opposed words to words, and objections to +objections, and could neither be bent nor intimidated by threatening +language, the legate replied with scorn that he well knew him to be a +keen wrangler, and that he was a better clerk than he, the legate, +was. The abbot, therefore, not timidly passing by matters inexpedient +to allude to, nor yet arrogantly speaking upon matters that were to be +discussed, in the hearing of many persons made answer that he was a +man who would never suffer the privileges of his church to be shaken +either for want of learning or money, even if it should come to pass +that he lost his life, or was condemned to perpetual banishment. +However, these and other altercations being brought to a close, the +legate began to flush in the face, upon the abbot lowering his tone +and beseeching him that he would deal more gently with the church of +St. Edmund, by reason of his native soil, for he was native born of +St. Edmund, and had been his fosterling. And, indeed, he had reason to +blush, because he had so unadvisedly outpoured the venom which he had +bred within him. + +On the morrow it was communicated to the Archbishop of Canterbury, +that the lord Archbishop of York was about to come as legate into +England, and that he had suggested many evil things to the Pope +concerning him, stating that he had oppressed the churches of England +by reason of his visitation to the extent of thirty thousand marks, +which he had received from them. The legate, therefore, sent his +clerks to the abbot, begging him that he would, with the other abbots, +write to our lord the Pope and justify him. + +This the abbot willingly did, and thereby offered his testimony that +the lord of Canterbury had not been to our church, nor had he +oppressed any other church, speaking according to his conscience. And +when the abbot had delivered those letters to the messengers of the +archbishop, he said before us all that he did not fear, even if it +were the archbishop's wish to deal deceitfully with those letters. The +clerks answered on the peril of their souls, that their lord did not +contemplate any subtle dealings, but only wished to be justified. And +so the archbishop and the abbot were made friends. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +SAMSON'S CONTESTS WITH KNIGHTS, MONKS AND TOWNSMEN + + +King Richard commanded all the bishops and abbots of England that for +every nine knights of their baronies they should make a tenth knight, +and that without delay those knights should go to him in Normandy, +with horses and arms, in aid against the King of France. Wherefore it +behoved the abbot to account to him for sending four knights. And when +he had caused to be summoned all his knights, and had conferred with +them thereon, they made answer that their fees, which they had holden +of St. Edmund, were not liable to this charge, neither had they or +their fathers ever gone out of England, although they had, on some +occasions, paid escuage by the King's writ. + +The abbot was indeed in a strait; on one hand observing that hereby +the liberty of his knights was in peril, on the other hand +apprehending that he might lose the seisin of his barony for default +in the King's service, as indeed had befallen the Bishop of London and +many English barons. So he forthwith went beyond seas to the King; and +though fatigued with many troubles and expenses, and very many +presents which he gave the King, in the first instance he could make +no agreement with the King by money. For the King said that he did not +want either silver or gold, but that he instantly required four +knights; whereupon the abbot obtained four mercenaries. When the King +had got these, he sent them to the Castle of Eu, and the abbot paid +them thirty-six marks down for their expenses for forty days. + +Now on the morrow, there came certain of the King's attendants, and +recommended the abbot to carefully look to what he was about, stating +that the war might possibly last a whole year or more, and that the +expenses of the knights would consequently increase and multiply, to +the endless damage of him and his church. They therefore advised him +that before he left the court he should make fine with the King, so +that he might be quit in respect of the service of the aforesaid +knights after the forty days were passed. The abbot, having adopted +this good counsel, gave to the King one hundred pounds for such a +quittance. Thus being in favour with his sovereign, he returned to +England, bringing with him the King's writ, commanding that his +knights should be distrained by their fees to render him that King's +service which he had got performed for them. + +The knights, being summoned, alleged their poverty and manifold +grievances, and prevailed upon their lord to accept two marks upon +every shield. The abbot, indeed, not forgetting that he had that same +year burdened them much, and had impleaded them to make them render +their escuage individually, was desirous of conciliating their esteem, +and in good part accepted what they with a good grace offered. + +At that time, although the abbot had been put to great expenses beyond +sea, yet he did not return home to this church empty-handed; for he +brought with him a golden cross, and a most valuable copy of the +Gospels, of the value of fourscore marks. On another occasion when he +returned from beyond seas, sitting in chapter, he said that if he had +been cellarer or chamberlain he would have made some purchase which +would have been serviceable to his office; and since he was abbot, he +ought to purchase something that should beseem him as abbot. After +saying this, he offered to the convent a valuable chasuble, and a +mitre interwoven with gold, and sandals with silken buskins, and the +head of a crozier of silver and well wrought. In like manner, so often +as he returned from beyond sea, he brought along with him some +ornament or other. + +In the year of grace one thousand one hundred and ninety-seven, +certain innovations and alterations took place in our church, which +ought not to be passed over in silence. Insomuch as his ancient rents +were not sufficient for our cellarer, Abbot Samson ordered that fifty +pounds from Mildenhall should be given by way of increase to the +cellarer yearly by the hands of the prior, not all at one time, but by +monthly instalments, so that he should have something every month to +expend, and that it should not all be disbursed at one time of the +year. + +And so it was done for one year. But the cellarer with his fellows +complained of this, saying that if he had that money in hand, he would +provide himself and preserve a sufficient stock. The abbot, although +unwillingly, granted his petition. Now, on the commencement of the +month of August, the cellarer had already spent all, and, moreover, +was in debt twenty pounds, and a debt of fifty pounds was about to +fall due before Michaelmas. + +Hearing of this, the abbot was wroth, and thus spoke in chapter: "I +have often and often threatened that I will take the cellarership into +my own hands on account of your default and improvidence, for all of +you keep incumbering yourselves with heavy debts. I put my own clerk +with your cellarer as a witness, and in order that matters should be +more advisedly managed; but there is neither clerk nor monk who dares +to inform me of the real cause of debt. It is nevertheless said that +excess of feasting in the prior's house, by the assent of the prior +and cellarer, and superfluous expenses in the guest-house by the +carelessness of the hospitaller, are the cause of all this. You see," +he continued, "what a great debt is now pressing; give me your advice, +and tell me how this matter can be amended." + +Many of the cloister folk hearing this, and half smiling, took what +was said in very good part, saying privily, "All that the abbot says +is true enough." The prior cast the blame upon the cellarer, the +cellarer in his turn upon the hospitaller; each one justified himself. +We all of us well knew the truth of the matter, but we held our +tongues, for we were afraid. On the morrow came the abbot, and said +again to the convent: "Give me your opinion as to the means whereby +your cellar can be better and more economically managed." But there +was no one who answered, except one, who said that there was no +superfluity at all in the refectory which could occasion such a debt +or pressure. On the third day the abbot spoke the same words, and one +answered, "That advice ought to proceed from yourself, as from our +head." + +Then the abbot said, "As you will not state your opinion, and as you +are incapable of managing your house for yourselves, the management of +the monastery rests solely upon myself as father and supreme keeper. I +take," he said, "into my own hand your cellar and the charge of the +guests, and the stewardship of everything indoors and out of doors." +So saying he deposed the cellarer and hospitaller, and put in their +stead two other monks, under the style of sub-cellarer and +hospitaller, associating with them Master G., a clerk of his own +table, without whose assent nothing could be done, either in respect +of meat or drink, or in regard to disbursements or receipts. + +The old purveyors were removed from their buying in the market, and +provisions were bought by the clerk of the abbot, and all deficiencies +were supplied out of the abbot's purse. The guests that ought to be +entertained were received, and the honourable were honoured; the +officials and monks, all of them alike, took their meals in the +refectory, and on all sides superfluous charges were retrenched. +However, some of the cloister monks said among themselves, "Seven, ay +seven there were who devoured our substance, of whose devourings if +any one did speak, he was accounted guilty of treason." Another would +say, stretching forth his hands to heaven, "Blessed be God, who hath +imparted this resolution to the abbot to correct such excesses"; and +very many of them said that it was well done. Others would say, "Not +so," they considering that such reform was an abatement of respect; +and they styled the prudence of the abbot the ferocity of a wolf. +Verily, they were again beginning to call their old dreams to mind, +that the future abbot was to rage as a wolf. + +The knights marvelled and the townsfolk marvelled at the things that +came to pass, and some one of the common folk said, "It is a strange +thing that so many monks and learned men should permit their +possessions and rents to be confused and mingled with the possessions +of the abbot; especially as they have been always accustomed to be +kept distinct and apart from each other. It is strange also that they +take no heed of the peril that may befall them after the death of the +abbot if our lord the King should find them in such a condition." + +Another person said that the abbot was the only one amongst them who +acted wisely in the governing of external affairs, and that he ought +to govern the whole who has the knowledge requisite to govern the +whole. And there was one who said, "If there had been but one wise +monk in such a large convent, who knew how to govern the house, the +abbot would not have done as he has." And so we became a +laughing-stock and a scoff to our neighbours. + +About this time it came to pass that the anniversary obit of abbot +Robert was to be sung in chapter, and it was ordered that a _placebo_ +and _dirige_ should be sung more solemnly than ordinarily, namely, +with tolling of the great bells, as upon the anniversaries of abbots +Ording and Hugh, on account of the noble act of the aforesaid abbot +Robert, who made the division between our possessions and rents, and +the rents of the abbot. This solemnity, indeed, was performed by the +advice of certain persons, so that thus at least the heart of the lord +abbot might thus be stirred up to do what was right. There was also +one who thought that this was done as a reproach to the abbot, who, it +was said, was desirous of confusing and mingling together our and his +possessions and rents, insomuch as he had seized the cellarership into +his own hands. The abbot, however, hearing the unwonted noise of the +bells, and well knowing and observing that it was done against all +usage, discreetly ignored the reason of its being done, and solemnly +chanted the mass. + +Indeed, on the next Michaelmas day, desiring to appease the murmurings +of certain persons, he appointed him who had been formerly +sub-cellarer to be cellarer, and he ordered some other man to be named +sub-cellarer; the aforesaid clerk, nevertheless, remaining with them, +and managing all things as before. But when that clerk began to exceed +the bounds of temperance, saying, "I am Bu," meaning the cellarer, +when he had exceeded the bounds of temperance in drinking, and without +the knowledge of the abbot was holding the court of the cellarer, +taking gages and pledges, and receiving the annual rents, disbursing +them by his own hand, he was called by the people the chief cellarer. + +It was his habit to stroll about the court followed by a crowd of +debtors, rich and poor, and of suitors of all ranks preferring various +complaints, as if he were the master and high steward. On one such +occasion, one of our officers happened to be standing in the court, +and, upon seeing this, for confusion and shame, he wept outright, +considering that this was a disgrace to our church, pondering upon the +peril consequent thereon, and realizing that a clerk was preferred to +a monk, to the prejudice of the whole convent. + +Therefore some one, who shall be nameless, undertook, through a third +party, that these things should be intimated to the abbot in a proper +and reasonable manner; and he was given to understand that this +species of arrogance in the clerk, which was committed to the disgrace +and dishonour of the society, was very likely to breed a great +disturbance and dissension in the convent. The abbot certainly did, +when he heard of this, forthwith summon the cellarer and the aforesaid +clerk before him, and gave orders that thenceforth the cellarer should +consider himself as cellarer in receiving moneys, in holding pleas, +and in all other things, save that the aforesaid clerk should assist +him, not as an equal, but as a witness and adviser. + +Hamo Blund, one of the wealthier men of this town, on his death-bed +could hardly be persuaded to make a will. At last he did, but disposed +of only three marks, and this in the hearing of no one, except his +brother, wife and chaplain. The abbot, ascertaining this after the +man's decease, called those three persons before him, and sharply +rebuked them, especially upon this point, that the brother (who was +his heir) and his wife would not suffer any one else to approach the +sick man, they desiring to take all. The abbot said in audience, "I +was his bishop, and had the charge of his soul; let not the folly of +his priest and confessor turn to my peril. Insomuch as I could not +advise the sick man when alive, I being absent, what concerns my +conscience I shall now perform, late though it be. I therefore command +that all his debts and his moveable chattels, which are worth, as it +is said, two hundred marks, be reduced into a writing, and that one +portion be given to the heir, and another to the wife, and the third +to his poor kinsfolk and other poor persons. As to the horse which was +led before the coffin of the deceased, and was offered to St. Edmund, +I order that it be sent back and returned; for it does not beseem our +church to be defiled with the gift of him who died intestate, and whom +common report accuses of being habitually wont to put out his money to +interest. By the face of God, if such a thing came to pass of any one +again in my days, he shall not be buried in the churchyard!" On his +saying these things, the others departed greatly disconcerted. + +On the morrow of the Nativity of our Lord, there took place in the +churchyard meetings, wrestlings, and matches, between the servants of +the abbot and the burgesses of the town; and from words they came to +blows, from cuffs to wounds and to the shedding of blood. The abbot, +hearing of this, called to him privately certain of those who were +present at the sight, but yet stood afar off, and ordered that the +names of the evil-doers should be set down in writing. All these he +caused to be summoned, that they should stand before him on the morrow +of St. Thomas the archbishop, in the chapel of St. Denis, to answer +therefor. Nor did he, in the meantime, invite to his own table any one +of the burgesses, as he had been wont to do, on the first five days of +Christmas. + +On the day appointed, having taken the oaths from sixteen lawful men, +and having heard their evidence, the abbot said, "It is manifest that +these evil-doers have incurred the penalties of the canon _latae +sententiae_; but because both parties are laymen, and do not understand +what a crime it is to commit such a sacrilege as this, I shall by name +and publicly excommunicate them, in order that others may be deterred +from doing the like: and that in no wise there be any diminution of +justice, I shall first begin with my own domestics and servants." And +it was done accordingly, we putting on our robes and lighting the +candles. So they all went forth from the church, and being advised so +to do, they all stripped themselves, and altogether naked, except +their drawers, they prostrated themselves before the door of the +church. + +When the assessors of the abbot had come, monks as well as clerks, and +informed him, with tears in their eyes, that more than a hundred men +were lying down thus naked, the abbot wept. Nevertheless, making a +show of legal severity both in word and countenance and concealing the +pity he felt, he desired to be persuaded by his counsellors that the +penitents should be absolved, knowing that mercy is exalted over +judgment, and that the church receives all penitents. Thereupon, they +being all sharply whipped and absolved, they swore all of them that +they would abide by the judgment of the church for sacrilege +committed. + +On the morrow, penance was assigned to them, according to the +appointment of the canons; and thus the abbot restored all of them to +unity of concord, uttering terrible threats to all those who by word +or deed should furnish matter of discord. + +Further, he publicly forbade meetings and shows to be had in the +churchyard; and so all things being brought to a state of peace, the +burgesses feasted on the following days with their lord the abbot, +with great joy. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE CARES OF OFFICE + + +A commission of our lord the Pope had been directed to Hubert, +Archbishop of Canterbury, and to the lord Bishop of Lincoln, and to +Samson, Abbot of St. Edmund, touching the reformation of the church of +Coventry, and the restoration of the monks thereto, without any +revision of their case. The parties being summoned to Oxford, the +judges received letters of request from our lord the King, that this +business should be respited. + +The archbishop and the bishop, seeming to know nothing, were silent, +as if seeking the favour of the clerks. The abbot was the only one who +spoke out, and he did so as a monk for the monks of Coventry, publicly +advocating and defending their cause. And by his means it was so far +proceeded with on that day, that a certain simple seisin was made to +one of the monks of Coventry by delivery of one book. But corporate +institution was deferred for a time, that so in some degree the abbot +might obey the request of our lord the King. + +At that time he entertained in his inn fourteen monks of Coventry who +had appeared there; and when the monks were sitting at the table on +one side of the house, and the masters of the schools who had been +summoned thither on the other, the abbot was applauded as noble and +liberal in his expenses. Never in all his life did he seem so joyful +as at that time, for the reverence he bore towards reform of monastic +rule. The feast of St. Hilary being now at hand, the abbot journeyed +on to Coventry in high spirits, neither was he overcome by fatigue or +charges, for he said, that even if he had to be carried in a +horse-litter, he would not remain behind. On his arrival at Coventry, +where for five days he was waiting for the archbishop, he kept with +him all the afore-named monks, with their servants, in most honourable +fashion, until a new prior was created, and the monks had been +formally inducted. "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear," for it +is an act worthy to be had in remembrance. + +After this the abbot Samson and Robert of Scales came to an agreement +concerning the moiety of the advowson of the church of Wetherden, and +the same Robert acknowledged it to be the right of St. Edmund and the +abbot. Thereupon the abbot, without any previous understanding taking +place, and without any promise previously made, gave that moiety which +belonged to him to Master Roger of Scales, brother of the same knight, +upon this condition, that he should pay by the hand of our sacrist an +annual pension of three marks to that master of the schools who should +teach in the town of St. Edmund. This the abbot did, being induced +thereto by motives of remarkable generosity; in order that as he had +formerly purchased stone houses for the use of the schools, that poor +clerks should be free from house rent, so now from thenceforth they +might be freed from all demand of moneys which the master of the +school demanded by custom for his teaching. And so, by God's will, and +during the abbot's life, the entire moiety of the aforesaid church, +which is worth, as it is said, one hundred shillings, was appropriated +to such purposes. + +Now the abbot, after that he had built in his vills throughout the +abbacy many and various edifices, and had taken up his quarters at his +manor houses oftener and more frequently than with us at home, at +length, as if returning to himself, and as if making good better, said +that he would stay more at home than he had been used to do; and would +now erect some buildings within the court for necessary purposes, +having regard to internals and externals, and as if he was aware that +"the presence of the master is the profit of the field." Therefore he +gave directions that the stables and offices in the court lodge and +round about the same, formerly covered with reeds, should be newly +roofed, and covered with tiles, under the supervision of Hugh the +sacrist, so that thus all fear and risk of fire might be prevented. + +And now, behold the acceptable time, the day of desire, whereof I +write not but with great joy, myself having the care of the guests. +Lo! at the command of the abbot the court lodge resounds with spades +and masons' tools, for pulling down the guest-house; and now it is +almost all levelled. Of the rebuilding, let the Most High take +thought! The abbot built for himself a new larder in the court lodge, +and gave to the convent the old larder (which was situated, in a very +slovenly fashion, under the dorter) for the accommodation of the +chamberlain. The chapels of St. Andrew and St. Katherine and St. Faith +were newly covered with lead; many repairs were also made, both inside +the church and without. If you do not believe, open your eyes and see. +Also in his time our almonry, which previously was of wood and out of +repair, was built in stone; whereto a certain brother of ours, Walter +the physician, at that time almoner, contributed much of what he had +acquired by his practice of physic. + +The abbot also observing that the silver retable of the high altar, +and many other precious ornaments, had been alienated for the purpose +of the recovery of Mildenhall and the ransom of King Richard, was not +desirous of replacing that table or such-like matters, which upon a +similar occasion were liable to be torn away and misappropriated. He +therefore turned his attention to the making of a most valuable +cresting for the shrine of the glorious martyr Edmund, that his +ornament might be set in a place whence it could by no possibility be +abstracted, and whereon no human being would dare to put forth his +hand. + +For indeed, when King Richard was captive in Germany, there was no +treasure in England that had not either to be given up or redeemed; +yet the shrine of St. Edmund remained untouched. However, the question +was raised before the justices of the exchequer, whether the shrine of +St. Edmund should not, at least in part, be stripped for the ransom of +King Richard. But the abbot standing up, answered, "Know ye of a +surety, that this never shall be done by me, nor is there a man who +can compel me to consent to it. But I will open the doors of the +church: let him enter who will, let him approach who dare." Each of +the justices replied with oaths, "I will not venture to approach it." +"Nor will I." "St. Edmund grievously punishes those who are far off as +well as those who are near at hand; how much more will he inflict +vengeance upon those who take away his vesture!" + +Upon this neither was the shrine despoiled, nor redemption paid. +Therefore passing by other things, the abbot carefully and advisedly +turned his mind towards the making of a cresting for the shrine. And +now the plates of gold and silver resound between the hammer and the +anvil, and "the carpenters wield their tools." + +Adam of Cockfield dying, left for his heir a daughter of three months +old; and the abbot gave the wardship of his fee to whom he would. Now +King Richard, being solicited by some of his courtiers, anxiously +sought for the wardship and the child for the benefit of one of his +servants; at one time by letters, at another time by messengers. + +But the abbot answered that he had given the ward away, and had +confirmed his gift by his charter. Sending his own messenger to the +King, he did all he could, by entreaty and good offices, to mitigate +his wrath. And the King made answer, with great indignation, that he +would avenge himself upon that proud abbot who had thwarted him, were +it not for reverence of St. Edmund, whom he feared. When the messenger +returned, the abbot very wisely passed over the King's threats without +notice, and said, "Let the King send, if he will, and seize the ward; +he has the strength and power of doing his will, indeed of taking away +the whole of the abbacy. I shall never be bent to his will in this +matter, nor by me shall this ever be done. For the thing that is most +to be apprehended is, lest such things be made a precedent to the +prejudice of my successors. On this business I will never give the +King money. Let the Most High look to it. Whatever may befall, I will +patiently bear." + +Whilst, therefore, many were saying and believing that the King was +exasperated against the abbot, lo! the King wrote in a friendly way to +the abbot, and requested that he would give him some of his dogs. The +abbot, not unmindful of that saying of the wise man-- + + Gifts, believe me, influence both men and gods, + By the offer of gifts Jove himself is appeased-- + +sent the dogs as the King requested, and moreover, added some horses +and other valuable gifts. The King graciously accepted them, and in +public most highly commended the honesty and fidelity of the abbot. + +He also sent to the abbot by his messengers, as a token of intimacy +and affection, a ring of great price, which our lord the Pope, +Innocent the Third, of his great grace had given him, being indeed the +very first gift that had been offered after his consecration. Also, by +his writ, the King rendered him many thanks for the presents the abbot +had sent him. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE CUSTOMS OF THE TOWNSHIP + + +Many persons marvelled at the changes in the customs that took place +by the order or permission of the lord abbot Samson. From the time +when the town of St. Edmund received the name and liberty of a +borough, the men of every house used to give to the cellarer one penny +in the beginning of August, to reap our corn, which annual payment was +called rep-silver. Before the town became free, all of them used to +reap as serfs; the dwellings of knights and chaplains, and of the +servants of the court lodge being alone exempt from this payment. In +process of time, the cellarer spared certain of the most wealthy of +the town, demanding nothing from them. The other burgesses, seeing +this, used openly to say that no one who had a dwelling house of his +own was liable to pay this penny, but only those who rented houses +from others. + +Afterwards, they all in common sought this exemption, conferring +thereon with the lord abbot, and offering an annual rent as a +composition of this demand. The abbot, indeed, considering the +undignified way in which the cellarer used to go through the town to +collect rep-silver, and the manner in which he used to take distresses +in the houses of the poor, sometimes taking trivets, sometimes doors, +and sometimes other utensils, and how the old women came out with +their distaffs, threatening and abusing the cellarer and his men, +ordered that twenty shillings should be given every year to the +cellarer at the next portman-moot, at the hand of the bailiff before +August, by the burgesses, who were to pay the rent to discharge this. +And it was done accordingly, and confirmed by our charter, there being +given to them another quittance from a certain customary payment, +which is called sorpeni, in consideration of four shillings, payable +at the same term. For the cellarer was accustomed to receive one penny +by the year for every cow belonging to the men of the town for their +dung and pasture (unless perchance they happened to be the cows of the +chaplains or of the servants at the court lodge). These cows he used +to impound, and had great trouble in the matter. + +Afterwards, indeed, when the abbot made mention of this in the +chapter, the convent was very angry, and took it in ill part, so much +so that Benedict the sub-prior in the chapter, answering for all, +said, "That man, abbot Ording, who lies there, would not have done +such a thing for five hundred marks of silver." The abbot, although he +himself felt angry, put off the matter for a time. + +There arose also a great contention between Roger the cellarer and +Hugh the sacrist concerning the appurtenances of their offices, so +that the sacrist would not lend to the cellarer the prison of the town +for the purpose of detaining therein the thieves who were taken in the +cellarer's jurisdiction. The cellarer was thereby oftentimes harassed, +and because the thieves escaped he was reprimanded for default of +justice. + +Now it came to pass that one holding as a free tenant of the cellarer, +dwelling without the gate, by name Ketel, was charged with theft, and +being vanquished in a trial by battle, was hanged. The convent was +grieved by the offensive words of the burgesses, who said that if that +man had only dwelt within the borough, it would not have come to the +ordeal, but that he would have acquitted himself by the oaths of his +neighbours, as is the privilege of those who dwell within the borough. +Therefore the abbot and the more reasonable part of the convent seeing +this, and bearing in mind that the men without the borough as well as +those within are ours, and ought all of them in like manner to enjoy +the same liberty within the jurisdiction, except the villeins of +Hardwick and their like, deliberately took thought with themselves how +this could be done. + +Thereupon the abbot, being desirous of limiting the offices of the +sacristy and the cellary by certain articles, and of quieting all +contentions, commanded, as if taking the part of the sacrist, that the +servants of the town bailiff and the servants of the cellarer should +together enter upon the fee of the cellarer for the purpose of seizing +thieves and malefactors, and that the bailiff should have half the +profit for their imprisonment and safe keeping and for his pains +therein; and that the court of the cellarer should go to the +portman-moot, and judge the prisoners in common. It was also ordered +that the men of the cellarer should come to the toll-house with the +others, and there renew their pledges, and should be inscribed upon +the bailiff's roll, and should there give the bailiff that penny which +is called borth-selver, whereof the cellarer was to have one half +part; but at this time the cellarer receives nothing at all from this. +The intent of all this was, that every one should enjoy equal +privilege. Nevertheless, the burgesses at this time say, that the +dwellers in the outskirts ought not to be quit of toll in market, +unless they belong to the merchant's guild. Moreover, the bailiff (the +abbot conniving at the matter) now claims for himself the fines and +forfeitures accruing from the fee of the cellarer. + +The ancient customs of the cellarer, which we have seen, were these: +The cellarer had his messuage and barns near Scurun's well, at which +place he was accustomed to exercise his jurisdiction upon robbers, and +hold his court for all pleas and plaints. Also at that place he was +accustomed to put his men in pledge, and to enroll them and to renew +their pledges every year, and to take such profit therefor as the +bailiff of the town was to take at the portman-moot. This messuage, +with the adjacent garden, now in the occupation of the infirmarer, was +the mansion of Beodric, who was of old time the lord of this town, and +after whom also the town came to be called Beodricsworth. His demesne +lands are now in the demesne of the cellarer, and that which is now +called averland was the land of his rustics. And the total amount of +the holding of himself and his churls was thirty times thirty acres of +land, which are still the fields of this town. + +The service thereof, when the town was made free, was divided into two +parts, so that the sacrist or town bailiff was to receive a free +annual payment, namely, for each acre twopence. The cellarer was to +have the ploughings and other services, namely, the ploughing of one +rood for each acre, without meals (which custom is still observed), +and was to have the folds wherein all the men of the town, except the +steward, who has his own fold, are bound to put their sheep (which +custom also is still observed); and was to have aver-peni, namely, for +each thirty acres twopence (which custom was done away with before the +decease of abbot Hugh, when Gilbert of Elveden was cellarer). + +Furthermore, the men of the town were wont upon the order of the +cellarer to go to Lakenheath, and bring back a day's catch of eels +from Southrey. They often, indeed, used to return empty-handed, so +they had their trouble without any profit to the cellarer. It was +therefore settled between them that each thirty acres, from +thenceforth, should pay one penny by the year, and the men were to +remain at home. But, in fact, at this time, those lands are subdivided +into so many parts, that it can hardly be ascertained by whom that +annual payment is to be made; so that I have seen the cellarer, in one +year, receive twenty-seven pence, but now he can hardly get tenpence +halfpenny. + +The cellarer was also wont to exercise authority over the ways without +the town, so that it was not lawful for any one to dig for chalk or +clay without his licence. He also was accustomed to summon the fullers +of the town, that they should furnish cloth for his salt. Otherwise he +would prohibit them the use of the waters, and would seize the webs he +found there; which customs are still observed. Also, whosoever bought +corn, or indeed anything from the cellarer, was accustomed to be quit +from toll at the gate of the town when he went homewards, wherefore +the cellarer sold his produce dearer; which usage is still observed. +Also, the cellarer is accustomed to take toll of flax at the time of +its carrying, namely, one truss from each load. Also, the cellarer +alone ought, or at least used to have, a free bull in the fields of +the town; now many persons have bulls. + +Also, when any one surrendered his burgage land in alms to the +convent, and this was assigned to the cellarer, or other official, +that land used, thenceforth, to be quit of haggovele, and most +especially so to the cellarer, on account of the dignity of his +office, for he is the second father in the monastery, or even as a +matter of reverence to the convent, for the estate of those who +procure our provisions ought to be favourable. But the abbot says that +usage is unjust, because the sacrist loses his service. Further, the +cellarer was accustomed to warrant to the servants of the court lodge, +that they should be quit of scot and tallage; but now it is not so, +for the burgesses say that the servants of the court lodge ought to be +quit only so far as they are servants, but not when they hold burgage +in the town, and when they or their wives publicly buy and sell in the +market. + +Also, the cellarer was used freely to take all the dunghills in the +street, for his own use, unless it were before the doors of those who +were holding averland; for to them only was it allowable to collect +dung, and to keep it. This custom gradually lapsed in the time of +abbot Hugh until Dennis and Roger of Hingham became cellarers. Being +desirous of reviving the ancient custom, they took the cars of the +burgesses laden with dung, and made them unload; but a multitude of +the burgesses resisting, and being too strong for them, every one in +his own tenement now collects his dung in a heap, and the poor sell +theirs when and to whom they choose. + +The cellarer was also wont to have this privilege in the market of +this town, that he and his purveyors should have pre-emption of all +the provisions for the use of the convent, if the abbot were not at +home. Also, that the purveyors of the abbot, or cellarer, whichever of +them first came into the market, should buy first, either the latter +without the former, or the former without the latter. But if both were +present, then preference was to be given to the abbot. Also, in the +season when herrings were sold, the purveyors of the abbot should +always buy a hundred herrings at a halfpenny less than other people, +and likewise the cellarer and his purveyors. Also, if a load of fish +or other provisions should come first into the court lodge, or into +the market, and that load should not have been discharged from the +horse or from the cart, the cellarer or his purveyors might buy the +whole and take it home with them without paying toll. But the abbot +Samson commanded his purveyors that they should give preference to the +cellarer and his men, because, as he himself said, he had much rather +himself go without than his convent. Therefore the purveyors, "in +honour preferring one another," if they find there is any one thing to +be bought which is not enough for both parties, buy it between them, +and divide it, share and share alike, and so between the head and the +members, and the father and the sons, there remains an agreement in +disagreement. + +The poet has said, "Envy aims at the highest," and it is for this +reason that I repeat these words, that when some one was perusing this +narrative, and while he was reading of so many good acts, he called me +a flatterer of the abbot, and a seeker of favour and grace, saying +that I had silently suppressed some things which ought not to have +been passed by. + +When I inquired which and what sort of acts they might be, he +answered, "Do you not see how the abbot grants away, at his own good +pleasure, the escheats of land belonging to the demesnes of the +convent, and the female heirs of lands, and the widows, as well within +the town of St. Edmund as without? Also, do you not see how the abbot +draws to himself the plaints and pleas of those who demand by the +King's writ lands which are of the fee of the convent, and especially +those plaints from which profit arises; and those from which no gain +ensues, he turns over to the cellarer or sacrist, or other officials?" +Whereto I answered, as I believe the fact to be, perhaps rightly, +perhaps wrongly, and said that every lord of a fee whereto there is +homage, ought by right to have an escheat whenever it shall have +fallen within the fee in respect whereof he has received homage. By +parity of reason, there is due to him general aid of the burgesses, +and also the wardships of boys, and the gifts of widows and girls, in +those fees in respect whereof he has received homage; for all these +things seem to belong to the abbot alone, unless by chance the abbey +shall be vacant. + +Moreover, in the town of St. Edmund a special custom has place, by +reason of its being a borough, that the next in blood shall have the +wardship of a boy with an inheritance, until the years of discretion. +Furthermore, I thus answered him concerning the plaints and pleas, +that I had never seen the abbot usurp jurisdiction that belonged to +us, unless in default of our administering justice; but nevertheless, +he had on some occasions taken money, in order that by the +intervention of his authority plaints and pleas should attain their +final determination. Also, I have sometimes seen pleas which belonged +to us decided in the court of the abbot, because there was not any in +the commencement of the suit who would, on the part of the convent, +assert jurisdiction. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE SHRINE OF ST. EDMUND + + +In the year of grace one thousand one hundred and ninety-eight, the +glorious martyr Edmund was pleased to strike terror into our convent, +and to instruct us that his body should be kept more reverently and +diligently than it had hitherto been. + +There was a wooden platform between the shrine and the high altar, +whereon stood two tapers, which the keepers of the shrine used to +renew and stick together, by placing one candle upon the stump of +another in a slovenly manner. Under this platform there were many +things irreverently huddled together, such as flax and thread and wax, +and various utensils. In fact, whatever was used by the keepers of the +shrine was put there, for there was a door with iron gratings. + +Now, when these keepers of the shrine were fast asleep, on the night +of St. Etheldreda, part of a candle that had been renewed, and was +still burning, fell, as we conjecture, upon the aforesaid platform +covered with rags. Consequently, all that was near, above or below, +began to burn rapidly, so much so that the iron gratings were at a +white heat. And lo! the wrath of the Lord was kindled, but not without +mercy, according to that saying, "In wrath remember mercy"; for just +then the clock struck before the hour of matins, and the master of the +vestry getting up, observed and noticed the fire. He ran at once, and, +striking the gong as if for a dead person, cried at the top of his +voice that the shrine was consumed by fire. + +We then, all running thither, found the fire raging wonderfully, and +encircling the whole shrine, and almost reaching the woodwork of the +church. Our young men, running for water, some to the well, some to +the clock, some with their hoods, not without great labour, +extinguished the force of the fire, and also stripped some of the +altars upon the first alarm. And when cold water was poured upon the +front of the shrine, the stones fell, and were reduced almost to +powder. Moreover, the nails by which the plates of silver were affixed +to the shrine started from the wood, which had been burnt underneath +to the thickness of my finger, and the plates of silver were left +dangling one from the other without nails. However, the golden image +of the Majesty in front of the shrine, together with some of the +stonework, remained firm and untouched, and brighter after the fire +than it was before, for it was all of gold. + +It so happened, by the will of the Highest, that at that time the +great beam which used to be over the altar had been removed, in order +to be adorned with new carving. It also happened that the cross, the +small image of St. Mary and St. John, the chest with the shirt of St. +Edmund, and the reliquaries and other shrines which used to hang from +the same beam, and other holy things which also stood upon the beam, +had every one of them been previously taken away. Otherwise all these +would have been burnt, as we believe, even as a painted cloth was +burnt which hung in the place of this beam. But what would it have +been had the church been curtained? + +When, therefore, we had assured ourselves that the fire had in no +place penetrated the shrine, by carefully inspecting the chinks and +crannies, if there were any, and had perceived that all was cold, our +grief in a great measure abated: but all at once some of our brethren +cried out with a great wailing, that the cup of St. Edmund had been +burnt. When many of us were searching here and there for the stones +and plates among the coals and cinders, they drew forth the cup +entirely uninjured, lying in the middle of the great charred timbers, +which were then put out, and found the same wrapped up in a linen +cloth, half burnt. But the oaken box in which the cup was usually +placed had been burnt to ashes, and only the iron bands and iron lock +were found. When we saw this miracle, we all wept for joy. + +Now, as we observed that the greater part of the front of the shrine +was stripped off, and abhorring the disgraceful circumstances of the +fire, after a general consultation we sent for a goldsmith, and caused +the metal plates to be joined together and fixed to the shrine without +the least delay, to avoid the scandal of the matter. We also caused +all traces of the fire to be covered over with wax or in some other +way. But the Evangelist testifies that "there is nothing covered which +shall not be revealed": for some pilgrims came very early in the +morning to make their offerings, who could have perceived nothing of +the sort. Nevertheless, certain of them, peering about, inquired where +was the fire that they had just heard had been about the shrine. And +since it could not be entirely concealed, it was answered to these +inquirers that a candle had fallen down and that three napkins had +been burnt, and that by the heat of the fire some of the stonework in +front of the shrine had been destroyed. Yet for all this there went +forth a lying rumour, that the head of the saint had been burnt. Some +indeed contented themselves with saying that the hair only was singed; +but afterwards, the truth being known, "the mouth of them that spake +lies was stopped." + +All these things came to pass by God's providence, in order that the +places round about the shrine of His saint should be more decently +kept, and that the purpose of the lord abbot should be sooner and +without delay carried into execution; which was, that the shrine +itself, together with the body of the holy martyr, should be placed +with greater security, and with more pomp, in a more dignified +position. For before this aforesaid mishap occurred, the cresting of +the shrine was half finished, and the marble blocks whereon the shrine +was to be elevated and was to rest, were for the most part ready and +polished. + +The abbot, who at this time was absent, was exceedingly grieved at +these reports; and he on his return home, going into the +chapter-house, declared that these and the like, nay, much greater +perils might befall us for our sins, more especially for our grumbling +about our meat and drink; in a certain measure turning the blame upon +the whole body of the convent, rather than upon the avarice and +carelessness of the keepers of the shrine. To the intent that he might +induce us to abstain from our pittances for at least one year, and to +apply, for at least a year, the rents of the pittancy, for the purpose +of repairing the front of the shrine with pure gold, he himself first +showed us an example of liberality by giving all the treasure of gold +he possessed, namely, fifteen golden rings, worth, as it was believed, +sixty marks, in our presence, towards the reparation of the shrine. + +We, on the other hand, all agreed to give our pittancy for such +purpose; but our resolution was afterwards altered, by the sacrist +saying that St. Edmund could very well repair his shrine without such +assistance. + +At this time there came a man of great account, but who he was I know +not, that related to the abbot a vision he had seen, whereat he +himself was much moved. Indeed, he related the same in full chapter, +with a very bitter speech. "It is indeed true," he said, "that a +certain great man has seen a vision, to wit, that he saw the holy +martyr St. Edmund lie outside his shrine, and with groans say that he +was despoiled of his clothes, and was wasted away by hunger and +thirst; and that his churchyard and the courts of his church were +negligently kept." + +This dream the abbot expounded to us all publicly, laying the blame +upon us, in this fashion: "St. Edmund alleges that he is naked, +because you defraud the naked poor of your old clothes, and because +you give with reluctance what you are bound to give them, and it is +the same with your meat and drink. Moreover, the idleness and +negligence of the sacrist and his associates, are apparent from the +recent misfortune by fire which has taken place between the shrine and +the altar." On hearing this the convent was very sorrowful; and after +chapter several of the brethren met together, and interpreted the +dream after this fashion: "We," said they, "are the naked members of +St. Edmund, and the convent is his naked body; for we are despoiled of +our ancient customs and privileges. The abbot has everything, the +chamberlainship, the sacristy, the cellary; while we perish of hunger +and thirst, because we have not our victuals, save by the clerk of the +abbot and by his ministration. If the keepers of the shrine have been +negligent, let the abbot lay it to his own charge, for it was he who +appointed such careless fellows." + +In such wise spoke many in the convent. But when this interpretation +of the dream was communicated to the abbot, in the forest of Harlow, +on his way from London, he was very wroth, and was troubled in mind, +and made answer: "They will wrest that dream against me, will they? By +the face of God! so soon as I reach home I will restore to them the +customs that they say are theirs. I will withdraw my clerk from the +cellary, and will leave them to themselves; and I shall see the fruits +of their wisdom at the end of the year. This year I have been residing +at home, and I have caused their cellary to be managed without +incurring debt; and this is the way in which they render me thanks." + +On the abbot's return home, having it in purpose to translate the +blessed martyr, he humbled himself before God and man, meditating +within himself how he might reform himself, and make himself at peace +with all men, especially with his own convent. Therefore, sitting in +chapter, he commanded that a cellarer and sub-cellarer should be +chosen by our common assent, and withdrew his own clerk, saying, that +whatsoever he had done he had done it for our advantage, as he called +God and his saints to witness, and justified himself in various ways. + +"Hear, O Heaven!" the things that I speak; "give ear, O earth!" to +what Abbot Samson did. The feast of St. Edmund now approaching, the +marble blocks were polished, and everything made ready for the +elevation of the shrine. The feast day having therefore been kept on a +Friday, a three days' fast was proclaimed on the following Sunday to +the people, and the occasion of the fast was publicly explained. The +abbot also announced to the convent that they should prepare +themselves for transferring the shrine, and placing it upon the high +altar, until the masons' work was finished; and he appointed the time +and the manner for doing this work. + +When we had that night come to matins, there stood the great shrine +upon the altar, empty within, adorned with white doeskins above, +below, and round about, which were fixed to the wood by silver nails; +but one panel stood below, by a column of the church, and the sacred +body still lay in its accustomed place. Lauds having been sung, we all +proceeded to take our disciplines. This being performed, the lord +abbot and those with him vested themselves in albs; and approaching +reverently, as it was fit they should, they hastened to uncover the +coffin. + +First there was an outer cloth of linen, overwrapping the coffin and +all. This was found tied on the upper side with strings of its own. +Within this was a cloth of silk, and then another linen cloth, and +then a third. And so at last the coffin was uncovered, standing upon a +tray of wood, that the bottom of it might not be injured by the stone. + +Affixed to the outside, over the breast of the martyr, lay an angel of +gold, about the length of a man's foot, holding in one hand a golden +sword and in the other a banner. Underneath it, there was a hole in +the lid of the coffin, where the ancient custodians of the martyr had +been wont to lay their hands, for the purpose of touching the sacred +body. And over the figure of the angel was this verse inscribed:-- + +"Martiris ecce zoma servat Michaelis agalma." + +("_Behold the martyr's body St. Michael's image keeps._") + +At the two heads of the coffin were iron rings, as there used to be on +Danish chests. + +So, raising up the coffin with the body, they carried it to the altar, +and I lent thereto my sinful hand to help in carrying it, although the +abbot had strictly commanded that no one should approach unless he was +called. The coffin was placed within the shrine, and the panel was put +thereon and fastened down. + +Now we all began to think that the abbot would exhibit the coffin to +the people on the octave of the feast, and would replace the sacred +body before all of us. But we were sadly deceived, as the sequel will +show; for on Wednesday, while the convent was singing compline, the +abbot spoke with the sacrist and Walter the physician, and it was +resolved that twelve brethren should be appointed who were strong +enough to carry the panels of the shrine, and skilful in fixing and +unfixing them. + +The abbot then said that it had been the object of his prayers to see +his patron saint, and that he wished to join with him the sacrist and +Walter the physician when he looked upon him; and there were also +nominated the abbot's two chaplains, the two keepers of the shrine, +and the two keepers of the vestry, with six others, Hugh the sacrist, +Walter the physician, Augustine, William of Diss, Robert and Richard. +The convent being all asleep, these twelve vested themselves in albs, +and drawing the coffin out of the shrine, carried and placed it upon a +table near where the shrine used to be, and commenced unfastening the +lid, which was joined and fixed to the coffin with sixteen very long +iron nails. When, with considerable difficulty, they had performed +this, all were ordered to go further away, except the two forenamed +associates. + +Now the coffin was so filled with the sacred body, both in length and +width, that even a needle could hardly be put between the head and the +wood or between the feet and the wood. The head lay united to the +body, somewhat raised by a small pillow. The abbot, looking +attentively, next found a silk cloth veiling the whole body, and then +a linen cloth of wondrous whiteness, and upon the head a small linen +cloth, and after that another small and very fine silken cloth, as if +it had been the veil of some nun. Lastly, they discovered the body, +wound round with a linen cloth, and then it was that all the +lineaments of the saint's body were laid open to view. + +At this point the abbot stopped, saying he durst not proceed further, +or view the holy body naked. Taking the head between his hands, he +sighed and spoke thus: "Glorious martyr, St. Edmund, blessed be the +hour wherein thou wast born! Glorious martyr, turn not my boldness to +my perdition, for that I, miserable sinner, do touch thee, for thou +knowest my devotion and my intention!" And proceeding, he touched the +eyes and the nose, which was very massive and prominent. Then he +touched the breast and arms, and raising the left arm, he touched the +fingers, and placed his own fingers between the fingers of the saint. +Proceeding further, he found the feet standing stiff up, like the feet +of a man who had died that day, and he touched the toes, and in +touching counted them. + +It was then proposed that the other brethren should be called forward, +in order that they might see these wonders; and six, being thus +called, approached, and also six other brethren with them, who had +stolen in without the abbot's assent, and saw the saint's body, +namely, Walter of St. Alban's, Hugh the infirmarer, Gilbert the +brother of the prior, Richard of Hingham, Jocell the cellarer, and +Thurstan the little, who alone put forth his hand, and touched the +feet and knees of the saint. And the Most High so ordering it, that +there might be abundance of witnesses, one of our brethren, John of +Diss, sitting upon the roof of the church with the servants of the +vestry, saw all these things plainly enough. + +All this being done, the lid was fastened down on the coffin with the +same, and with the same number of nails, and in like manner as before, +the martyr being covered up with the same cloths and in the same order +as he was when first discovered. Finally, the coffin was placed in the +accustomed place, and there was put upon the coffin, near to the +angel, a certain silken bag, wherein was deposited a schedule written +in English, containing certain salutations of Ailwin the monk, as is +believed, which schedule was found close by the golden angel when the +coffin was uncovered. By the abbot's order, there was forthwith +written another short memorandum, also deposited in the same bag, in +the following form of words: "In the year of the incarnation of our +Lord, 1198, the abbot Samson, upon the impulse of devotion, saw and +touched the body of St. Edmund on the night after the feast of St. +Catherine, these being witnesses." And thereto were subscribed the +names of the eighteen monks. + +The brethren also wound the whole coffin up in a suitable linen cloth, +and over the same placed a new and most valuable silken cloth, which +Hubert, Archbishop of Canterbury, had offered at the shrine that very +year, and they placed lengthwise a certain linen cloth doubled under +it and next to the stone, to prevent the coffin or the tray whereon it +stood from being injured by the stone. Afterwards the panels were +brought forth, and properly joined together on the shrine. + +When the convent assembled to sing matins, and understood what had +been done, all who had not seen these things were very sorrowful, +saying among themselves, "We have been sadly deceived." However, after +matins had been sung, the abbot called the convent to the high altar, +and briefly recounting what had been done, alleged that he ought not +to call--and could not call--all of them to be present on such an +occasion. Hearing this, with tears we sang "Te Deum laudamus," and +hastened to ring the bells in the choir. + +On the fourth day after, the abbot deposed the keepers of the shrine +and the keeper of St. Botolph, appointing new ones, and establishing +rules, so that the holy places should be more carefully and diligently +kept. He also caused the great altar, which heretofore was hollow, and +wherein many things were irreverently stowed away, and that space +which was between the shrine and the altar, to be made solid with +stone and cement, so that no danger from fire could arise by the +negligence of the keepers, as had been already the case; according to +the saying of the wise man, who said, + +"Happy is he who learns caution from the danger of others." + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE MONASTERY IN REVOLT + + +Now when the abbot had obtained the favour and grace of King Richard +by gifts and money, so that he had good reason to believe that he +could succeed according to his desire in all his undertakings, the +King died, and the abbot lost his labour and outlay. However, King +John, immediately after his coronation, setting aside all other +affairs, came down to St. Edmund, drawn thither by his vow and by +devotion. We, indeed, believed that he was come to make offering of +some great matter; but all he offered was one silken cloth, which his +servants had borrowed from our sacrist, and to this day have not paid +for. He availed himself of the hospitality of St. Edmund, which was +attended with enormous expense, and upon his departure bestowed +nothing at all, either of honour or profit, upon the saint, save +thirteen pence sterling, which he offered at his mass on the day of +his departure. + +About that time some of our officials made complaint, stating in our +chapter that Ralph the porter, our servant, maintained causes and +actions against them to the damage of the church and to the prejudice +of the convent. It was ordered by the prior, with the assent of us +all, that he should be punished according to the custom whereby our +servants are usually punished, that is, by the withholding of their +stipends. It was therefore ordered that the cellarer should withhold +from him, not the corody which of right belonged to his office +according to the tenour of his charter, but certain additions and +perquisites which the cellarer and sub-cellarer allowed him without +knowledge of the convent at large. Now the aforesaid Ralph, +accompanied by certain of the abbot's table, complained to the abbot +on his return from London, that the prior and convent had disseised +him of his corody, whereof he was seised when the abbot had first come +to the abbacy. They also stated to the abbot that this act was done +without his sanction, and to his dishonour, and unreasonably, without +his advice, and without investigation. The abbot indeed believed him, +and, in other wise than was either fitting or customary, became +excited. He instantly justified Ralph, and affirmed that he was +innocent. Coming into chapter and complaining thereof, he said that +what had been done was to his prejudice and without his consent. And +it was answered by one of us, the others all joining him, that this +was done by the prior, and with the assent of the whole convent. + +The abbot was confused at this, saying, "I have nourished and brought +up children, and they have rebelled against me." Not overlooking this +(as he ought to have done) for the sake of peace to the many, but +rather exhibiting his power with a resolution not to be over-mastered, +he openly gave command to the cellarer that he should restore to +Ralph, fully and wholly, all that had been taken from him, and that he +should drink nothing but water till he had restored everything. But +Jocell the cellarer, hearing this, chose for that day to drink water, +rather than restore the corody to Ralph against the will of the +convent. When this came to the abbot's knowledge on the morrow, he +forbade both meat and drink to the cellarer until he restored all. +With these words the abbot immediately departed from the town, and +stayed away for eight days. + +On the same day on which the abbot had departed, the cellarer arose in +chapter, and exhibiting the precept of the abbot, and holding his keys +in his hand, said that he had rather be deposed from his office than +do anything in opposition to the convent. And then there began a great +tumult in the convent, such as I had never before seen; and they said +that the precept of the abbot was not to be obeyed. But the seniors +and more prudent men of the convent, discreetly holding their tongues, +upon being urged gave it as their opinion that the abbot was to be +obeyed in everything, except in things manifestly against God's +pleasure; and intimated that we must bear with this scandalous +behaviour for a time for the sake of peace, lest worse should befall. +Now when the prior had begun to sing "Verba mea" for all deceased, as +is the rule, the novices withstood him, and with them nearly the half +of the convent; and raising their voices, they all cried out in +answer, and opposed it. Nevertheless, the senior part of the convent +prevailed, although they were few as compared with the rest. + +The abbot, although absent, yet by his messengers terrified some by +threats. Some others he drew over to him by fair words; and the more +influential men of the convent, as though they were afraid even of his +garment, he caused to secede from the counsel of the generality, that +that gospel should be fulfilled which says, "Every kingdom divided +against itself is brought to desolation." Moreover, the abbot said +that he would by no means come amongst us, by reason of the +conspiracies and oaths which, as he said, we had made against him, +that we should kill him with our knives. However, returning home, and +sitting in his inner chamber, he gave orders to one of our brethren +whom he vehemently suspected, that he should come to him; and because +he would not come, fearing to be taken and bound, he was +excommunicated; and the whole day after he was put into fetters, +remaining till morning in the infirmary. Three others the abbot also +included in a lighter sentence, in order that the others might fear. + +On the morrow it was resolved that the abbot should be sent for, and +that we should humble ourselves before him, both in word and +demeanour, so that his anger might be appeased; and it was done +accordingly. He, on the other hand, answering meekly enough, but +always alleging his own rectitude, laid the blame upon us. Yet when he +saw that we were willing to be overcome, was himself fairly overcome. +Bursting into tears, he swore that he had never grieved for any one +thing as he had upon the present occasion, as well on his own account +as on our account also, and more especially for the scandal, the evil +report which had already gone abroad concerning our dissension, to the +effect that the monks of St. Edmund wished to kill their abbot. + +And when the abbot had told us how he went away on purpose till his +anger had cooled, repeating this saying of the philosopher, "I would +have taken vengeance upon thee had I not been angry," he arose, +weeping, and embraced all and every one of us with the kiss of peace. +He wept, and we also wept. The brethren who had been excommunicated +were immediately absolved; and thus "the tempest ceased, and there was +a great calm." Yet for all this the abbot gave private orders that the +accustomed corody should be given without stint to Ralph the porter, +as heretofore; to which matter, however, we shut our eyes, being at +last made to understand that there is no lord who will not bear rule, +and that battle is perilous which is undertaken against the stronger, +and is begun against the more powerful party. + +In the year of grace one thousand two hundred a marshalling took place +of the knights of St. Edmund and of their fees, whereof their +ancestors had been infeoffed. + + Alberic de Vere holds five knights' fees and a half: namely, in + Loddon and in Brome, one knight's fee; in Mendham and Preston, one + knight's fee; in Rede, one knight's fee; and in Cockfield, half a + knight's fee; and in Livermere, two knights' fees. + + William of Hastings holds five knights' fees: to wit, in Lidgate, and + in Blunham and in Harling, three knights' fees; and in Tibenham and + in Gissing, two. + + The Earl Roger holds three knights' fees in Norton and Brisingham. + + Robert Fitz Roger holds one knight's fee in Marlesford. + + Alexander of Kirkby holds one knight's fee in Kirkby. + + Roger of Eu holds two knights' fees, in Mickfield and in Topscroft. + + Arnald of Charneles and his co-parceners, one knight's fee, in + Oakley, and in Quiddenham, and in Thurston, and Stuston. + + Osbert of Wachesham, one knight's fee in Marlingford and in Wortham. + + William of Tostock, one knight's fee in Randestune. + + Gilbert Fitz Ralph, three knights' fees: namely, in Thelnetham and in + Hepworth, one knight's fee; in Reydon (in Blithing) and in Gissing, + one knight's fee; and in Saxham, one knight's fee. + + Ralph of Buckenham, half a knight's fee in Buckenham. + + William of Bardwell, two knights' fees in Barningham, and in + Bardwell, and in Hunston, and in Stanton. + + Robert of Langtoft holds three knights' fees, in Stow, and in + Ashfield, and in Troston, and in Little Waltham in Essex. + + Adam of Cockfield, two knights' fees: namely, in Lavenham, and in + Onehouse, one knight's fee; and in Lelesey. + + Robert Fitz Walter, one knight's fee, in Great Fakenham and in + Sapiston. + + William Blund, one knight's fee in Thorp (in Blackbourn). + + Gilbert of Peche, two knights' fees: namely, in Waude and in Gedding, + one knight's fee; in Felsham, and in Euston, and in Groton, one + knight's fee. + + Gilbert of St. Clare, two knights' fees, in Bradfield and in + Wattisfield. + + Geoffrey of Whelnetham and Gilbert of Manston, one knight's fee, in + Whelnetham and in Manston. + + Hubert of Ansty, half a knight's fee in Briddinghoe. + + Gervase of Rothing, one knight's fee, in Chipley and in Rothing. + + Robert of Halsted, one knight's fee in Halsted, and half a knight's + fee in Brockley. + + Reginald of Brockley, one knight's fee in Brockley. + + Simon of Patteshall, half a knight's fee in Whatfield. + + Peter Fitz Alan, half a knight's fee in Brockley. + + Ralph of Presseni, half a knight's fee in Stanningfield. + + Richard of Ickworth, two knights' fees, in Ickworth and in Wangford. + + Robert of Horning, half a knight's fee in Horning. + + Walter of Saxham, one knight's fee, in Ashfield and in Saxham. + + William of Wordwell, half a knight's fee in Whelnetham. + + Norman of Risby, half a knight's fee in Risby. + + Peter of Livermere and Alan of Flempton, one knight's fee in + Livermere and Ampton. + + Roger of Morieux, one knight's fee in Thorpe. + + Hugh of Eleigh, in Eleigh, and in Preston, and in Bradfield, two + knights' fees. + + Stephen of Brockdish, one fourth part of a knight's fee in Brockdish. + + Adam of Barningham, one fourth part of a knight's fee in Barningham. + + William of Wordwell, in Little Livermere and in Wordwell, one fourth + part of a knight's fee. + + The total is fifty-two fees and one-half and one quarter. + +Now Geoffrey Ruffus, one of our monks, although he deported himself +in somewhat too secular a manner, yet was a useful person to us in +the keeping of the four manors of Barton, Pakenham, Rougham, and +Bradfield, where there had often been heretofore a deficiency in the +farms. But the abbot, although hearing of the evil report of his +continence, yet winked at it for a long time, most likely because +Geoffrey seemed to be serviceable to the community. At length, when +the truth was known, the abbot suddenly made a seizure of his chests, +put them in the vestry, and caused all the stock of the different +manors to be kept most closely, and remanded Geoffrey to the +cloister. There was found much gold and silver, to the value of two +hundred marks, the whole of which the abbot said was to be laid by +for the purpose of making the front of the shrine of St. Edmund. + +On the feast of St. Michael it was decreed in chapter that two +brethren, not one alone, should succeed to the keepership of the +manors, whereof one was Roger of Hingham, who promised before us all +that he was willing and able to undertake the charge of the manors +and cellary together. The abbot gave his assent thereto, but the +convent was reluctant. And Jocell, who had well and carefully managed +his office, and for two years had been in charge of the cellary +without incurring debt, as other cellarers had used to do, was +deposed from the cellary and was made sub-cellarer. But at the end of +the year, Roger, on rendering account of his receipts and outgoings, +affirmed that he had received sixty marks from the stock of the +manors to supply the deficiency of the cellarer. Therefore, upon +counsel being taken, it was resolved that Jocell should be restored +to the cellary; and Mildenhall and Chebenhall and Southwold were +granted to him. The other manors were committed to Roger and Albin, +and were divided from the cellary, lest the manors should be ruined +by the cellary, or the cellary be ruined by the manors. + +Adam of Cockfield being dead, the abbot could have had three hundred +marks for the wardship of the only daughter of the same Adam; but +because the grandfather of the damsel had taken her away privily, and +inasmuch as the abbot was not able to obtain seisin of the damsel, +unless by the aid of the archbishop, the abbot granted that wardship +to Hubert, Archbishop of Canterbury, for the consideration of one +hundred pounds. The archbishop, for five hundred marks, granted to +Thomas de Burgh, the brother of the King's chamberlain, that same +wardship; and the damsel was delivered to him, with her rights, by +the hand of the abbot. Thomas, therefore, at once required the seisin +of these manors, which we had in our hands after the death of +Adam--Cockfield, Semer, and Groton--we believing that we had power to +retain all of them in our demesne, or at least two of them, Semer and +Groton; both because Robert of Cockfield, being on his deathbed, had +publicly affirmed that he could claim nothing by right of inheritance +in these two manors, and also because Adam, his son, had re-assigned +to us those two manors in full court, and had made his charter +thereof, wherein it was contained that he holds those two manors by +the permission of the convent during his life only. + +Thomas, therefore, suing a writ of recognition thereof, caused the +knights to be summoned, that they should come to be sworn before the +King at Tewkesbury. Our charter read in public had no force, for the +whole court was against us. The oath being administered, the knights +said that they knew nothing about our charters, or of any private +agreements; but this they said they did believe, that Adam and his +father and his grandfather, for a hundred years back, had holden the +manors in fee-farm, one after the other, on the days of their +respective deaths. Thus we were disseised by the judgment of the +court, after much trouble and many charges expended, saving +nevertheless our ancient fee-farm rents payable annually. + +The lord abbot seemed to be "misled by a certain appearance of +right," because, forsooth, the Scripture saith, "I will not give my +glory to another." The abbot of Cluny coming to us, and received by +us in such wise as he ought, our abbot would not give place, either +in chapter or in the procession on Sunday, but he must needs sit and +stand in the middle between the abbot of Cluny and the abbot of +Chertsey. Wherefore divers thought different things, and many +expressed their feelings in various ways. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE ELECTION OF A NEW PRIOR + + +Robert the prior was at this time in a dying state; but while he was +yet alive many opinions were uttered as to appointing a new prior. +Some one, therefore, related to us, that the abbot sitting in the +choir, and steadfastly beholding all the brethren from the first to +the last, found no one upon whom his spirit might rest to make him +prior, save Herbert his chaplain. By these and similar acts the will +of the abbot was made apparent to most of us. One of us hearing this, +answered that it was not to be believed; asserting "that the abbot, a +diligent and prudent man, to such a man, a youth and almost beardless +novice of twelve years, who had only become a cloister monk four +years ago, not approved in the cure of souls, nor in doctrinal +learning--to such a one," said he, "he will never give the priorate." + +Now, when the prior died, the abbot was staying in London; and a +certain person said, "A month has scarcely elapsed since the abbot +made Herbert the chaplain, sub-sacrist, and when he committed that +office to him, in the chapel of St. Nicasius, he promised that if he +could, by any means, make him prior, he would use his utmost +exertions on his behalf." Some one hearing of this, who was desirous +of making himself agreeable to the abbot and the future prior, most +urgently solicited many of us, seniors and juniors alike, that when +the opportunity presented itself they would nominate Herbert, at +least with some others, for prior. He affirmed that by this means +they would gratify the abbot, for such indeed was his desire. + +There certainly were many of us, as well of the seniors as the +juniors, who asserted that the same Herbert was an amiable and +affable man, and worthy of much honour. Also, there were some--few in +number, indeed, but whose advice was more respected, and who belonged +to the wiser part of the convent--who were desirous of promoting +Master Hermer the sub-prior to be prior, as being an experienced, +learned and eloquent man, skilful and expert in the cure of souls, +who at that time had governed the cloister for fourteen years in good +discipline, an approved sub-prior, and well known. This man, I say, +they were desirous of preferring, according to that saying of the +wise man, "believe an experienced master." + +But the greater number of us secretly grumbled in opposition, saying +that he was a passionate, impatient, restless, fussy and fretful man, +a litigious person, and a disturber of peace, deriding him, and +saying, "The discretion of a man deferreth his anger, and it is his +glory to pass over a transgression." Also, another one said, "This +one thing, as being a scandal, is to be much guarded against, namely, +that if the sub-prior be removed, henceforward learned clerks will +not deign to take on them the religious habit in our house, if it +should happen that any dumb image be set up, and a wooden log be +preferred in such a convent as ours." And the same brother added +somewhat more, saying that a person to be prior of our convent, +should be such a one that if any question of great importance arose +in the abbot's absence concerning ecclesiastical or secular affairs, +it might be referred to the prior, as being the highest and most +discreet person. + +A certain one of our brethren, hearing these and such like things, +said, "What good is it that ye multiply so many and such sayings? +When the abbot comes home, he will do as he pleases about it. Perhaps +he may seek the advice of each of us singly, and with great show of +formality; but in the end, by allegations and by plausible reasonings +and circumlocutions, he will at last come down to the fulfilment of +his own desire; and the affair will end as he has all along +intended." + +The abbot, therefore, having returned, and sitting in chapter, set +forth to us amply and eloquently enough what sort of man ought to be +appointed prior. John the third prior answered, in the presence of us +all, that the sub-prior was a worthy and fit person. But the greater +number immediately opposed, saying, "A man of peace, let a man of +peace be given us." Two of us, therefore, replied to them, saying +that a person should be appointed who knew how to direct the souls of +men, and to distinguish "between leprosy and leprosy," which saying +gave great offence, for it seemed to favour the part of the +sub-prior. But the abbot hearing this uproar, said that he would +after chapter hear what each had to say, and so proceed advisedly in +the business, and upon the morrow would dispatch it as he thought +fit. + +In the meantime some one said that the abbot would go through this +formality in order that the sub-prior should be cautiously shelved +from the office of prior, as if it had been done by the advice of the +convent, not by the desire of the abbot; and so he, the abbot, would +be held excused, and by this policy the mouth of them that speak lies +should be stopped. + +On the morrow the abbot, as he sat in chapter, wept sorely, saying +that he had passed the whole night without sleep, for sheer anxiety +and apprehension that he might chance to nominate one who was +displeasing to God. He swore upon peril of his soul that he would +nominate four of us who, according to his opinion, were most +serviceable and fit, so that we should choose one from those four. +Therefore the abbot, in the first place, named the sacrist, whom he +well knew to be infirm and insufficient, as the sacrist himself +testified with an oath. Forthwith, in the presence of all, he named +John the third prior, his cousin, and Maurice his chaplain, and the +before-named Herbert, all indeed young men, of about forty years old +or under, and all of them of moderate learning, and, so far as +respects the cure of souls, rather requiring to be taught than +learned therein, nevertheless apt to learn. + +These three the abbot nominated and preferred, passing over the +sub-prior, and passing by many others of the seniors and elders, +experienced and learned men, some who had formerly been masters of +the schools, as well as all others. The abbot dwelt long in speaking +of and commending the person of John in many respects; but, +nevertheless, on the other side, alleged that the great number of his +relations in this province would lie heavy on his neck if he were +prior. + +Now, when the abbot was about to allege the same thing concerning +Maurice (and he could with reason do it), so that in a roundabout way +he should come to make mention of Herbert, his discourse was +interrupted by one of the elders of the convent saying, "Master +precentor, you have the first voice; name Master Herbert." "He is a +good man," said he. On hearing the name of Herbert, the abbot stopped +speaking, and turning to the precentor, said, "I have no objection to +receive Herbert if you will." On this saying, the whole convent cried +out, "He is a good man; he is a good and amiable man"; and this same +thing also many of the elders testified. Immediately hereupon the +precentor and some one in alliance with him, and two others on the +other side, arose with all haste, and put Herbert in the midst. + +Herbert, indeed, at first humbly begged to be excused, saying that he +was insufficient to fill such a dignity, and particularly, as he +said, he was not of such perfect knowledge that he should know how to +make a sermon in chapter in such manner as would become a prior. Most +of those who witnessed this were amazed, and for very confusion +struck dumb. However, the abbot said in answer many things to +re-assure him, and as it were in disparagement of learned men, saying +that he could well remember and con over the sermons of others, just +as others did; and began to condemn rhetorical flourishes, and +pompous words, and choice sentences, saying that in many churches the +sermon in convent is delivered in French, or rather in English, for +moral edification, not for literary ostentation. + +After this had been said, the new prior advanced to the feet of the +abbot and kissed them. The abbot received him with tears, and with +his own hand placed him in the prior's seat, and commanded all that +they should pay him the reverence and obedience due to him as prior. + +The chapter being over, I being hospitaller, sat in the porch of the +guest-hall, stupefied, and revolving in my mind the things I had +heard and seen; and I began to consider closely for what cause and +for what particular merits such a man should be advanced to so high a +dignity. And I began to reflect that the man was of comely stature +and of striking appearance; handsome and pleasant looking; always +cheerful; of a smiling countenance, be it early or late; kind to all; +a man calm in his bearing, and grave in his gait; polite in speech, +possessing a sweet voice in chanting, and expressive in reading; +young, strong, of a healthy body, and always in readiness to undergo +travail for the needs of the church; skilful in conforming himself to +every circumstance of place or time, either with ecclesiastics, +clerks or seculars; liberal and social, and gentle in reproof; not +spiteful, not suspicious, not covetous, not tiresome, not slothful; +sober and fluent of tongue in the French idiom, as being a Norman by +birth; a man of moderate understanding, who, if "too much learning +should make him mad," might be said to be a perfectly accomplished +man. + +When I regarded these things I said in my mind, such a man would +become very popular, but "there is nothing every way blessed," and I +wept for joy, saying that "God hath visited his people; as the Lord +pleased, so it hath been done." But of a sudden another thought +occurred to me: "Be cautious in your praise of a new man, for honours +alter manners, or rather they show them. Wait and see who and what +sort of men will be his counsellors, and to whom he will give ear, +for each thing naturally draws to its like. The event will prove his +doings, and therefore be sparing in your praises." + +On the same day certain unlearned brethren, as well officials as +cloister-folk, came together, and "whetted their tongues like a sword +that they might shoot privily at" the learned, repeating the words of +the abbot, which he had that day spoken, as it were to the prejudice +of the learned. Thus they said to one another, "Now let our +philosophers take to their philosophies: now is it manifest what +their philosophies are worth. So often have our good clerks declined +in the cloister that they are now declined. So much have they +sermonized in chapter that all are driven away. So much have they +spoken of discerning between leprosy and leprosy that as lepers they +are all put out. So often have they declined _musa_, _musae_, that +all of them are reckoned musards" (drivellers). These and such like +things certain uttered in ridicule and scandal of others, justifying +their own ignorance: they condemned the knowledge of polite learning, +and disparaged learned men, being very merry, and expecting great +things, which, in all probability, will never come to pass, for "Hope +of good is often deceived in its expectation." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE ABBOT'S FOIBLES + + +The wise man hath said, "No one is in every respect perfect"; nor was +the abbot Samson. For this reason let me say this, that according to +my judgment the abbot was not to be commended when he caused a deed +to be made and ordered the same to be delivered to a certain servant +of his, for him to have the sergeanty of John Ruffus, after the +decease of the same John. Ten marks, as it was said, "did blind the +eyes of the wise." Wherefore, upon Master Dennis, the monk, saying +that such an act was unheard of, the abbot replied: "I shall not +cease from doing as I like a whit the more for you than I would for +that youngster." The abbot also did the like thing in respect of the +sergeanty of Adam the infirmarer, upon payment of one hundred +shillings. Of such an act it may be said, "A little leaven leaveneth +the whole lump." + +There is, also, another stain of evil doing, which I trust in the +Lord he will wash away with tears, in order that a single excess may +not disfigure the sum total of so many good deeds. He built up the +bank of the fish-pond at Babwell so high, for the service of a new +mill, that by the keeping back of the water there is not a man, rich +or poor, who has land near the water, from the gate of the town to +Eastgate, but has lost his garden and his orchards. The pasture of +the cellarer, upon the other side of the bank, is spoilt. The arable +land, also, of the neighbouring folk has been much deteriorated. The +meadow of the cellarer is ruined, the orchard of the infirmarer has +been flooded by the great flow of water, and all the neighbouring +folk are complaining thereof. Once, indeed, the cellarer argued with +him in full chapter, upon this excessive damage; but he, quickly +moved to anger, made answer, that his fish-pond was not to be spoilt +on account of our meadows. + +The Dean of London writes thus in his chronicles: "King Henry the +Second, having conferred with the archbishop and bishops concerning +the vacant abbacies, so far observed the rule of the canons in +appointing abbots, that it was the custom to appoint them upon votes +solicited from other houses; thinking, perhaps, that if pastors were +set up in every place from their own body," a previously contracted +familiarity would afford impunity to vice, and old acquaintanceship +would give indulgence to wickedness, and thereby too great remissness +would obtain in cloisters. Another has said: "It does not seem fit +that a pastor should be elected from his own house, but rather from +some other house; because, if he is taken from elsewhere he will +always believe, according to the greatness of the monastery which he +has undertaken to rule, that many are good men and true, whose advice +he will seek if he is a good man, and whose honesty he will fear if +he is a bad one. But a servant of the house, better knowing the +ignorance, inability and incompetence of every one, will the more +carelessly serve therein, mixing square with round." + +The monks of Ramsey followed this line of reasoning; for in those +days, when they were able to choose one of their own body, on two +occasions they chose an abbot from other houses. + +In the year of grace one thousand two hundred and one there came to +us the abbot of Flay, and through his preaching caused the open +buying and selling which took place in the market on Sundays to be +done away with, and it was ordained that the market should be held on +the Monday. The like the abbot brought to pass in many cities and +boroughs of England. + +In the same year the monks of Ely set up a market at Lakenheath, +having the permission, as well as the charter, of the King. Now, we +in the first place, dealing peaceably with our friends and +neighbours, sent our messengers to the chapter of Ely, and, first of +all, to the lord Bishop of Ely, letters of request that he should +forbear his intentions; adding that we could, in a friendly way, for +the sake of peace and preserving our mutual regard, pay the fifteen +marks that were given as a fine for obtaining the King's charter. Why +make a long story of it? They would not give way, and then upon all +sides arose threatening speeches, and "spears threatening spears." + +We therefore procured a writ of inquest to ascertain whether that +market was established to our prejudice, and to the damage of the +market of the town of St. Edmund. The oath was made, and it was +testified that this had been done to our damage. Of all which, when +the King was informed, he caused it to be inquired, by his registrar, +what sort of charter he had granted to the monks of Ely; and it was +made to appear that he had given to them the aforesaid market, under +such conditions that it should not be to the injury of the +neighbouring markets. The King, therefore, forty marks being offered, +granted us his charter that from thenceforward there should be no +market within the liberty of St. Edmund, unless by the assent of the +abbot. And he wrote to Geoffrey Fitz-Peter, his justiciary, that the +market of Lakenheath should be abolished. The justiciary wrote the +same to the sheriff of Suffolk. + +The sheriff, being well aware that he could not enter upon the +liberties of St. Edmund, or exercise any authority there, gave it in +charge to the abbot, by his writ, that this should be performed +according to the form of the royal command. The steward of the +hundred, therefore, coming thither upon the market day, with the +witnessing of freemen, in the King's name openly prohibited that +market, showing the letters of the King and the sheriff; but being +treated with great abuse and violence, he departed, without having +accomplished his object. + +The abbot, on the other hand, deferring this matter for awhile, being +at London, and consulting the learned thereupon, commanded his +bailiffs, that taking with them the men of St. Edmund with horse and +arms, they should abolish the market, and that they should bring +along with them in custody the buyers and sellers therein, if they +should find any. So at dead of night, there went forth nearly six +hundred men well armed, proceeding towards Lakenheath. But when the +scouts gave intelligence of their arrival, all who were in the market +ran hither and thither, and not one of them could be found. + +Now, the prior of Ely on that same night had come thither, with his +bailiffs, expecting the arrival of our men, in order that, to the +best of his ability, he might defend the buyers and sellers; but he +would not stir out of his inn. When our bailiffs had required from +him gage and pledge to stand trial in the court of St. Edmund for the +wrong committed by him, and he had refused, upon consultation, they +overturned the butchers' shambles and the tables of the stalls in the +market, and carried them away with them. Moreover, they led away with +them all the cattle, "all sheep and oxen; yea, and the beasts of the +field," and set off towards Icklingham. The bailiffs of the prior +following them made suit for their cattle, by replevin within fifteen +days: and their suit was allowed. Within the fifteen days there came +a writ, whereby the abbot was summoned to come before the court of +exchequer to answer for such act, and that the cattle taken should in +the meantime be delivered up without charge. For the Bishop of Ely, +who was an eloquent and well-spoken man, in his own person had made +complaint thereof to the justiciary and the nobles of England, saying +that a most unheard-of piece of arrogance had been committed in the +land of St. Etheldreda in time of peace; wherefore many were highly +indignant with the abbot. + +In the meanwhile another cause of disagreement arose between the +bishop and the abbot. A certain young man of Glemsford had been +summoned to the court of St. Edmund, for a breach of the King's +peace, and had been sought for a long while. At length the steward of +the bishop brought forth that young man in the county court, claiming +the jurisdiction of the court of St. Etheldreda, and exhibiting the +charters and privileges of his lord; but our bailiffs, claiming the +jurisdiction of the plaint and the seisin of such liberty, could not +be heard. The county court, indeed, put that plaint in respite until +the justices in eyre should arrive, wherefore St. Edmund was ousted +of his jurisdiction. The abbot, on hearing this, proposed to go over +to the King; but because he was sick, he decided to defer the matter +till the Purification. + +And, behold! on St. Agnes day there came the King's messenger, +bearing the writ of our lord the Pope, wherein it was contained, that +the bishop of Ely and the abbot of St. Edmund should make inquisition +concerning Geoffrey Fitz-Peter and William de Stutville, and certain +other lords of England who had taken the cross, for whom the King +required discharge, alleging their personal infirmity, and the +necessity for their advice in the government of his kingdom. The same +messenger also brought letters from our lord the King, commanding +that he, upon the sight thereof, should come to him to confer upon +the message of our lord the Pope. The abbot was troubled in his mind, +and said, "I am straitened on every side; I must either offend God or +the King: by the very God, whatsoever may be the consequence to me, I +will not wittingly lie." + +Therefore, returning home with all speed, somewhat weakened by +infirmity of body and humbled, and (as was not his wont) timid, by +the intervention of the prior, he sought advice of us (a thing he +heretofore had seldom done), as to what course he was to pursue in +respect of the liberties of the church which were in jeopardy, and +whence the money was to come if he took his journey, and to whom the +keeping of the abbey was to be committed, and what should be done for +his poor servants who had a long time served him. And the answer was, +that he might go, and that he was at liberty to take up at interest +sufficient money, to be payable out of our sacristy and from our +pittances, and from our other rents at his pleasure; and that he +should give the abbey in charge to the prior, and some other clerk +whom he had enriched, and who could, in the interval, live upon his +own means, that thereby a saving might take place in the expenses of +the abbot, and that he might give to each of his servants money +proportioned to his length of service. + +He, hearing such counsel, was pleased therewith, and so it was done. +The abbot, therefore, coming into chapter the day before he took his +departure, caused to be brought with him all his books, and these he +presented to the church and convent, and commended our counsel which +we had signified to him through the prior. + +In the meantime we heard certain persons murmuring, saying that the +abbot is careful and solicitous for the liberties of his own barony, +but he keeps silence respecting the liberties of the convent which we +have lost in his time; namely, concerning the lost court and +liberties of the cellarer, and the liberty of the sacrist, as regards +the appointment of the bailiffs of the town by the convent. +Therefore, the Lord raised up the spirit of three brethren of but +indifferent knowledge, who, having got many others to join them, +conferred with the prior thereupon, in order that he should speak +with the abbot respecting these matters. On our behalf the prior was +to ask him, at his departure, to provide for the security of his +church in respect of those liberties. On hearing this, the abbot +answered that no more was to be said upon the subject, swearing that +so long as he lived he would be the master; but towards evening he +talked more mildly thereupon with the prior. + +On the morrow, indeed, sitting in chapter, as he was about to depart +and ask licence so to do, he said he had satisfied all his servants, +and had made his will just as if he was now to die; and beginning to +speak concerning those liberties, he justified himself, saying that +he had changed the ancient customs in order that there should not be +a default in the administration of the King's justice, and threw the +blame upon the sacrist, and said that if Durand, the town bailiff, +who was now sick, should die, the sacrist might hold the bailiwick in +his own hand, and present a bailiff to the chapter for approval, as +the custom had been of old, so nevertheless that this be done with +the assent of the abbot; but the gifts and offerings to be made +yearly by the bailiff he would in no wise remit. + +Now, when we asked him what was to be done in respect of the +cellarer's court which was lost, and especially of the halfpence +which the cellarer was accustomed to receive for renewing pledges, he +became angry, and asked us in his turn by what authority we demanded +the exercise of regal jurisdiction, and those things which appertain +to regalities. + +To this it was replied that we had possessed it from the foundation +of the church, and even three years after he had come to the abbacy, +and this liberty of renewing pledges we possessed in every one of our +manors. We stated that we ought not to lose our right in +consideration of a hundred shillings, which he received privately +from the town bailiff every year; and we boldly required of him to +give us such seisin thereof as we had had even in his time. + +The abbot, being as it were at a loss for an answer, and willing +enough to leave us all in peace and to depart quietly, ordered that +those halfpence and the other matters which the cellarer demanded +should be sequestrated until his return; and he promised that upon +his return he would co-operate with us in everything, and make just +order and disposition, and render to each what was justly his. On his +saying this, all was quiet again; but the calm was not very great, +for + + "In promises any man may wealthy be." + + + FINIS. + + + APPENDICES: + + PAGE + + I _SAMSON AS AN AUTHOR_ 215 + + II _NOTES TO THE TEXT OF THE CHRONICLE_ 222 + + III _TABLE OF CHIEF DATES IN THE HISTORY + OF THE ABBEY OF ST. EDMUNDSBURY_ + (A.D. 870 _to_ 1903) 257 + + + + +APPENDIX I + +SAMSON AS AN AUTHOR. + + +Samson having been generally looked upon as a man of action rather +than as a man of letters, it seems desirable to consider at greater +length than is possible in the general Introduction, his claims to be +regarded as a literary character. + +In the Bodleian Library at Oxford is a huge codex of 898 pages (MS. +240) in a script of the 14th century. This once belonged to Bury +Abbey, as at the beginning is the note "Liber monachorum Sancti +Edmundi, in quo continetur secunda pars Historia auree, quam scribi +fecit dominus Rogerus de Huntedoun sumptibus graciarum suarum anno +domini MCCC.LXXVII^o." Over the title is written on the margin +"Thomas Prise possidet," and in another hand "Io. Anglicus erat +author." + +There is considerable difficulty in assigning the exact authorship of +this work: but that it was compiled at Bury is certain, and it was no +doubt added to as new materials turned up or were deemed worthy of +admission, especially such as were connected with St. Edmundsbury. Dr. +Carl Horstman has published in the preface to Vol. I. of his _Nova +Legenda Anglie_ (Oxf. Univ. Press, 1901) a summary of the contents of +this book which throws much new light on its _provenance_. It is, as +he says, "the depository of documents of Bury Abbey, and not the work +of one individual; but the joint work, the common concern of the +monastery, for a whole generation." + +The MS. contains only the second part of the Historia aurea, and with +an abbreviated text; and this is followed by a collection of +miscellanies, lives of saints, poetry and documents of all sorts. Dr. +Horstman prints in his second volume the lives of several saints, +scattered through the last half of the codex. + +The only one of these lives that need concern us is that of St. +Edmund, which is very long and detailed, and occupies 116 printed +pages. This is followed almost immediately by a chapter De modo +meditandi vel contemplandi (including St. Edmund's prayer, "Gratias +tibi ago"), and later by a compilation on monastic discipline for the +novices of Bury Abbey. + +This Life of St. Edmund is by far the most complete extant. It is +described as "Vita et passio cum miraculis sancti Edmundi regis et +martiris, excerpta de cronicis et diuersis historiis seu legendis, de +eodem breuiter et sub compendio compilata." It is doubtless the +"Prolixa vita" from which was compiled the "abbreviata vita" included +in Abbot Curteys' Register (now at the British Museum), and printed in +Archdeacon Battely's book of 1745 (pp. 25, 149). In the margins are +given the authorities from which it is compiled, and amongst these +are, in addition to the chronicles of Blythburgh, Ely, Hoveden, Hulme, +Huntingdon, Malmesbury, Marianus, Norwich, Sarum, Waringford, and +Westminster, the writers specially identified with Bury Abbey:--Abbo +of Fleury, Herman the Archdeacon, Galfridus de Fontibus, Osbert of +Clare, Jocelin of Brakelond (from whom are taken the incidents +described in chapters viii. and xiv. of this book), and--Samson. + +There are in all eighteen sections of the Life for which Samson is +quoted as the authority. On eight occasions the word "Sampson" appears +in the margin; "Sampson abbas," eight times; "Sampson abbas sancti +Edmundi," once; "Ex libro de miraculis eius Sampson," once (the first +occasion when the name appears); and "Ex libro primo miraculorum +Sampson abb." once (the seventh occasion). + +Before considering Samson's share in the collection of materials +relative to the history of St. Edmund, a few words must be said about +the earlier writers on the subject. + +The first contributor to the tangle of legends and miracles connected +with St. Edmund and his shrine was ABBO, of Fleury, a great monastery +on the Loire above Orleans, founded in the 7th century. A native of +Orleans, Abbo was sent early to the monastic school at Fleury, where +he mastered five of the seven arts, viz., grammar, arithmetic, +dialectic, astronomy and music. (Migne's _Patrologia_, vol. 139.) A +deputation coming to Fleury from the monks of Ramsey Abbey, asking +that a man of learning might be sent to them, Abbo was selected for +the office, and he remained two years in England, when he was +recalled. He died from a spear-thrust in November, 1004. Whilst in +England (circa 985) he heard from Archbishop Dunstan the story of St. +Edmund's death, as related to Dunstan when a youth by an old man who +said he was armour-bearer to St. Edmund on the day of his death (20th +November, 870). At the entreaty of the monks of Ramsey, Abbo put this +story into writing, prefacing it with a dedicatory epistle to Dunstan +in which he says that the work is sent to the Archbishop because every +part of it, except the last miracle, is related on his authority. + +Abbo being "composition master" to the student monks at Ramsey, he +wrote, as Mr. Arnold says (I. xiv.), "with that freedom with which men +whose information is scanty, and their imagination strong, are not +sorry to enjoy." Lord Francis Hervey, in a masterly analysis of the +facts and fictions of St. Edmund's life in his Notes to Robert Reyce's +_Breviary of Suffolk_ (1902), thus sums the matter with great truth: +"Abbo's treatise, with its declamatory flourishes and classical tags, +is for historical purposes all but worthless." + +The copies extant of Abbo's _Passio_ are numerous. (For List, see +Hardy's Catalogue, vol. i, p. 526.) At least four of them (two in the +Cottonian collection, one at the Bodleian, and one at Lambeth) +belonged to Bury Abbey, the earliest being Tiberius B. ii., which has +on fol. 1_a_ the words "Liber feretrariorum S. Edmundi in quo +continentur uita passio et miracula S. Edmundi." It is a beautiful MS. +of the end of the eleventh or beginning of the twelfth century; "and +the gold enrichment is sometimes splendid" (Arnold I. lxv.), though +the illumination is unfinished. The other Cottonian MS. (Titus A. +viii.) is of the thirteenth century, and has on fol. 65 the words +"Liber monachorum S. Edmundi." (Both these books will be referred to +later.) + +The next writer on the subject was HERMAN THE ARCHDEACON, who, at +the end of the eleventh century, wrote a treatise _De Miraculis Sancti +Eadmundi_. + +Herman was Archdeacon to Bishop Arfast of Thetford, at the time when +the latter first endeavoured to establish his see at Bury; but later +he must have become a monk of St. Edmund, and he manifests in his +narrative enthusiastic devotion to the monastery. In the prologue he +explains that he compiled his work at the request of Abbot Baldwin +"felicis memoriae" (died 1097), partly from oral tradition, partly from +an old and almost undecipherable manuscript "exarata calamo cujusdam +difficillimo, et, ut ita dicam, adamantino." Mr. Arnold has printed +the text of Herman on pp. 26-92 of his vol. I. from the Cottonian +volume Tiberius B. ii. above referred to, which is composed of Abbo's +_Passio_ and Herman's _Miracula_. + +A third writer was GALFRIDUS DE FONTIBUS, who wrote in the days of +Abbot Ording (1146-1156) a short tract, _De Infantia Sancti Eadmundi_, +of which only one MS. is known (in the Cambridge University Library). +Further additions to the legends and miracles were made by OSBERT of +CLARE, prior of Westminster, who flourished between 1108 and 1140, +but whose writings are not now separately extant, though extracts from +them appear in the manuscripts of other authors. + +It would seem that working upon all these records, and doubtless +others which have not descended to us, Samson, at the period of his +life when he was still a subordinate officer of Bury Abbey, set about +compiling a treatise of his own. His prologue indicates that he was +moved to narrate the glorious miracles of the glorious king and martyr +St. Edmund by the orders of his superiors and the exhortations of his +fellow monks. His work seems, however, to have been mainly that of a +compiler and editor, though the prologue, described by Mr. Arnold (I., +liii.) as "written in a massive and manly style," was doubtless of his +own composition. The work appears after Abbo's _Passio_ in the +Cottonian MS. Titus A. viii., and consists of two books, Liber I. +containing sixteen chapters, and Liber II. twenty-one chapters. All +but four of the chapters in the first book refer to narratives that +had been told before by Herman, and Samson "has merely re-written +them, adding no new facts, but greatly improving the style." The +second book contains another prologue, followed by a prefatory letter; +and a hand of the fourteenth or early fifteenth century has written in +the Cottonian MS. "Osberti de Clara prioris Westmonasterii" in the +margin of the prologue, and "Incipit epistola Osberti prioris +Westmonasterii missa con. S. Edmundi de miraculis ejusdem" in the +margin at the beginning of the letter. + +Mr. Arnold speaks of the "inflated diction and fantastical mystical +interpretations" of this (second) prologue and prefatory letter, and +says that "Samson seems simply to have annexed them while making up +his own work." As, however, some of the narratives in this second book +are ascribed to Samson himself in the Bodleian MS. 240, whilst others +in the same book are ascribed to Osbert, it is manifest that some +confusion had arisen in the interval as to the respective shares of +responsibility for the narratives. But this need not prevent us from +accepting Samson as at least the compiler and editor of the work _De +Miraculis Sancti Edmundi_ referred to on page xxxiv. of the +Introduction, and printed in full on pp. 107-208 of Mr. Arnold's first +volume. + +If it be the case, as Mr. Arnold thinks (and there seems no reason +against the ascription) that the Prologue of Book I. was Samson's own +composition, it will doubtless be of interest that it should be +reproduced here as a specimen of his literary style; and a translation +of it is therefore subjoined, which follows the structure of the +original as closely as possible:-- + +"When we see the deeds of many earthly men extolled in brilliant +writings, which those skilled in letters have handed down to the +memory of posterity, it is to be wondered that we do not blush that +the great works of God, which, through His servants, have been brought +into being almost in this our very age, should through our sloth be +blotted out, and through our silence be condemned. And although those +secular historians, in the pride of their eloquence, have said very +much about small affairs, and have gained the favour and tickled the +ears of their audience by the sweetness of their speech, yet Christian +simplicity and Catholic plainness, innocent of the leaven of +superstition, are rightly preferred to them all. Indeed, the greatest +faith is to be placed in the account of those who do not wish, and do +not know how, to colour what they have heard, or, by the grace of +their words, to twist matters into one tortuous path after another. + +"In saying this we do not impudently speak to the discredit (be that +far from us) of Churchmen who, by the divine inspiration, endowed with +wonderful eloquence, have with their words, sweeter than honey and the +honeycomb, adorned the deeds of our honoured ancestors, as it were a +golden tablet ornamented with most brilliant pearls. But verily those +are to be confuted who are carried headlong by a damnable presumption +to that with which erudition has nought to do, and to which the grace +of the Holy Spirit imparts nought. + +"But we (whom the apostle warns lest we should despise the riches of +the goodness of God, and whom he exhorts not to receive His grace in +vain) with a truthful, albeit an unpolished style, at the command of +superior authority and by the exhortation of brotherly love, have +undertaken to tell of the glorious miracles of the glorious king and +martyr Edmund: since, indeed, it appears impious that we should allow +the lantern, which God lighted and placed upon a candlestick, to be +obscured through our sloth, or should hide it negligently under the +bushel of oblivion. For to this purpose is it placed upon a +candlestick, that it may give light to all who are in the house." + +In which matter the victorious champion of God, Edmund, illuminating +the borders, not only of Britain, but also of foreign lands with the +glory of his miracles, gives frequent token of his merit towards God. + + "On behalf of whose merits, Omnipotent God, we pray + That Thou in Thy clemency wouldst purge our inmost heart, + And wouldst infuse the gift which the fostering spirit bestows, + Opening the tongues of speechless babes and making them eloquent, + That we may be able worthily to tell the praises of the martyr, + His famous acts, his virtues and his triumphs." + + + + +APPENDIX II + +NOTES TO THE TEXT OF THE CHRONICLE. + + [_The full titles of the works of reference quoted in the pages of + this Appendix as "Arnold," "Battely," "James," "Rokewode," will be + found on pages 276 and 277 of Appendix III_]. + + +CHAPTER I. + +1, 4. _The year when the Flemings were taken captive._ On the 17th +October, 1173, Richard de Lucy, the chief justiciary of King Henry +II., defeated at Fornham St. Genevieve, near Bury St. Edmunds, the +rebel Robert de Beaumont, Earl of Leicester, who had landed from +Flanders at Walton in Suffolk on the 29th September, 1173, at the head +of a force of Flemings. The chroniclers speak of large numbers of the +foreign mercenaries as being killed at the battle of Fornham. The Earl +and Countess of Leicester were captured, and imprisoned at Falaise +till 1174. For an interesting description of the battle, with many +references to the chronicles, see Miss Kate Norgate's _England under +the Angevin Kings_, II. 150-1. + +1, 10. _Hugh the Abbot._ Hugh, Prior of Westminster, succeeded Ording +as 9th Abbot of St. Edmundsbury in 1157. Gervase records his being +blessed by Archbishop Theobald at Colchester, and his vowing to him +canonical obedience. But a bull obtained at great cost from Pope +Alexander III. in 1172 (see p. 7) made the abbey immediately subject +to Rome. Some details of the occurrences during his abbacy are given +in Battely, pp. 78-82. + +1, 11. Genesis xxvii. 1. + +2, 21. _Debt ... to Jews._ Whilst the Jews were legally simply +chattels of the king, they were at this time "practically masters of +the worldly interests of a large number of his Christian subjects, and +of a large portion of the wealth of his realm" (Norgate's _Angevin +Kings_, II. 487). There are many instances besides that of St. +Edmundsbury of ecclesiastical property and furniture being pledged to +the Jews, _e.g._ the sacred vessels and jewels of Lincoln Minster were +in pledge to Aaron, a rich Jew of that city, for seven years or more +before Geoffrey, bishop-elect, redeemed them in 1173. + +3, 6. _Benedict the Jew._ In 1171 "Benedict the Jew, son of Deodate, +was fined xx^li for taking certain sacred vestments in pawn." (Pipe +Rolls, Norf. and Suff. 17 Hen. II.) Other fines on Jews are recorded +by Rokewode (pp. 106-7). + +3, 9. _William the sacrist._ From the _Gesta Sacristarum_ (Arnold II. +291) we learn of this officer, who was once Samson's superior, +afterwards a rival candidate for the abbacy, and finally Samson's +subordinate, "Huic [Schuch] successit Willelmus cognomento Wiardel; +qui non sine causa a domino Samsone abbate amotus fuit ab +administratione." His evil deeds recorded by Jocelin appear therefore +to have been remembered. + +6, 1. _Richard the Archbishop._ Richard was a Norman by birth and of +humble parentage; and was prior of Dover when the question of filling +up the primacy was discussed 2-1/2 years after Becket's murder on 29th +December, 1170. There was a disputed election, but Robert, by the +Court influence, won the day over Odo, Prior of Canterbury; and +eventually his election was confirmed by Pope Alexander III. on 2nd +April, 1174. Immediately after his enthronisation (5th October, 1174) +Richard held a legatine visitation of his province; and as he rode +with a great train, his visits were specially grievous to the +religious houses that had to receive him. + +6, 19. _Sent to Acre._ Castleacre, Westacre, and Southacre, in +Norfolk, are all described in Domesday book as "Acra." There were two +Priories, one at Castleacre, the other at Westacre; but the former was +the more famous of the two. As it was a Cluniac institution, and as +the Cluniacs were a kind of stricter Benedictines, it seems most +probable that it was to Castleacre that Samson was sent as a +punishment. Apparently this was his second banishment there; for he +speaks here to Jocelin (then a novice, and who joined the monastery in +1173) as though of recent events. (As to his first imprisonment after +his return from Rome about 1161, see page 74 and note on p. 237.) The +Priory of Castleacre was founded about 1084 by William de Warrenne, +created by the Conqueror Earl of Surrey, and the progenitor of that +famous sixth Earl who fought Baliol and Wallace in Scotland, and who, +when called upon by the King's Commissioners to produce the title by +which he held his possessions, drew his sword and laid it on the +table. Some remarkably beautiful ruins of the Priory, particularly of +its west front and the Prior's Lodge, have happily escaped the ravages +of the village builders, who for centuries used the ruins as a stone +quarry. + +6, 24. Exodus v. 21. + +7, 4. _authority as legate._ Mr. Rokewode goes at length (pp. 107-8) +into the documents relative to the claim of the monks of St. Edmund to +exemption under Royal authority from ordinary episcopal jurisdiction. +The Bull of 1172 which they obtained from Pope Alexander III. exempted +them from the jurisdiction of any other ecclesiastical authority than +the Pontiff or his _legatus a latere_. Shortly afterwards the +Monastery was exempted from the personal interference of Archbishop +Richard as legate _a latere_. + +8, 5. _Jurnet the Jew._ Rokewode quotes (pp. 108-9) from the Pipe +Rolls of Henry II. the following: In 23 Henry II., Jurnet the Jew of +Norwich was amerced in MM marcs; and he stood amerced, in the 31st +year of the same king, in MMMMMDXXV marcs and a half, for which debt +the whole body of Jews were chargeable: and they were to have Jurnet's +effects and chattels to enable them to pay it. He gave King Richard +MDCCC marcs that he might reside in England with the King's good +will. + +10, 23. _morrow of St. Brice._ November 15, 1180. Hugh was buried in +the Chapter House nearest the door, sixth and last of the six abbots +buried there, as recorded in a MS. at Douai circa 1425. The other five +were:--Ording (1146-1156), Samson (1182-1211), Richard of Insula +(1229-1234), Henry of Rushbrook (1234-1248), Edmund of Walpole +(1248-1257). The lidless coffins of these five, with skeletons within, +were discovered January 1, 1903. The coffin of Hugh had disappeared, +but bones which may have been his were found buried at the spot. + + +CHAPTER II. + +12, 3. _Ranulf de Glanville._ The famous author of the oldest of our +legal classics, the "Treatise on the Laws and Customs of England," was +of Suffolk stock, and was born at Stratford St. Andrew, Saxmundham. He +succeeded Richard Lucy as chief justiciary of England, and +thenceforward he was the king's right-hand man (Richard of Devizes +called him the "King's eye"). At the moment of Abbot Hugh's death +Henry II. was in France (he kept that Christmas at Le Mans), so the +monks appreciated the importance of letting Glanville as justiciary +know at once the fact of the vacancy. Glanville took the cross, and +died at the siege of Acre in 1180. + +12, 11. _wardship of the Abbey._ The accounts rendered by the wardens +during the abbatial vacancy have been fortunately preserved in the +returns which Wimer, the Sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk, made to the +Exchequer for the 27 and 28 Henry II. Mr. Rokewode gives the actual +text of them (pp. 110-1). The rental of the Abbot from Michaelmas, +1180, to Michaelmas, 1181, was L326 12_s._ 4_d._: out of which L56 +13_s._ 4_d._ was paid for corrodies, including L21 for Abbot Hugh's +expenses for the six weeks before his death, and L35 for the +Archbishop of Trontheim. + +14, 2. Deuteronomy xvi. 19. + +14, 9. _paintings._ For an interesting discussion as to these +paintings, and the subjects of them, see _James_, pp. 130 _et seq._ + +14, 11. _building the great tower._ Samson's work as subsacrist in +connection with this tower is thus described by James, page 119: +"Samson finished one storey in the great tower at the west end. This +was a western tower occupying a position similar to that of the +western tower at Ely, immediately over the central western door." It +was _not_ this tower (as stated by Rokewode, page 111) that fell down +on 23 Sept., 1210, but the central tower (see James, pp. 121-203). + +16, 7. Judges xvi. 19. + +16, 11. Judges xvi. 29. + +16, 18. Matthew xxv. 21. + +17, 7. Quot homines tot sententiae. Terence, _Phormio_, Act. 2, Sc. 3, +14. + +17, 12. _Abbot Ording._ In the dedication to Abbot Ording of the +_Liber de Infantia Sancti Eadmundi_ by Galfridus de Fontibus, Ording +is said (Arnold, i. 93) to have been "watchful in attendance on the +King from his boyhood." Apparently this King was Stephen (born about +1097), as Henry II., his successor, was not born until 1133. At that +time Ording would have been on duty at Bury: for he was already Prior +in 1136, when Anselm, then Abbot, was nominated for the Bishopric of +London. Ording was appointed in 1138 Abbot in Anselm's place; but as +the latter failed to get his nomination to the See of London confirmed +by the Pope, he came back to Bury. Ording therefore, "sive volens sive +nolens" had to return to his duties as Prior; but when Anselm died in +1148, Ording was re-elected Abbot, and held office till he died in +1156. As to his place of burial, see note to p. 152, l. 5, on p. 247. + +17, 23. Matthew xvi. 19. + +18, 9. _Barrators of Norfolk._ Barrator==an incitor to lawsuits (from +O. Fr. _bareter_, to deceive, cheat). The men of Norfolk were noted +for their litigious propensities (cf. Tusser's rhyming autobiography: +"Norfolk wiles, so full of guiles"). Fuller in his _Worthies_ says: +"Whereas _pedibus ambulando_ is accounted but a vexatious suit in +other countries, here (where men are said to study law as following +the plough-tail) some would persuade us that they will enter an action +for their neighbour's horse but looking over their hedge." An Act was +passed in 1455 (33 Hen. VI. cap. 7) to check the litigiousness of "the +City of Norwich, and the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk." + +18, 17. Acts xxvi. 24, 25. + +20, 13. 1 Corinthians xiii. 11. + +21, 4. Romans xvi. 5. + +21, 6. _Blood-letting season_ (tempore minutionis). At stated times of +the year there was a general blood-letting among the monks; and in the +same _Liber Albus_ in which Jocelin's chronicle appears is a set of +Regulations _De Minutis Sanguine_ (fol. 193). Amongst the servants in +the infirmary of Bury Monastery was _Minutor, cum garcione_ (_id._ +fol. 44). The effects of the minutio were supposed to last three days, +during which the monk did not go to matins. + +21, 17. Nihil est ab omni parte beatum. Horace, _Od._ i. 16. + +22, 8. John xix. 22. + +22, 9. Et semel emissum volat irrevocable verbum. Horace i. _Ep._ 18. +71. + +22, 23. Medio tutissimus ibis. Ovid, _Metamorphoses_ ii. 137. + +23, 1. Matthew xix. 12. + +23, 3. _Archbishop of Norway._ In 1180 Eystein (Augustinus) Archbishop +of Trontheim, refusing to crown Sverrir, a successful rebel, who had +defeated Magnus, King of Norway, was driven into exile and came to +England. (William de Newburgh, iii. 16.) Rokewode (p. 113) shows from +the accounts of the Wardens of the Abbey during the vacancy, that the +corrodies allowed to the Archbishop amounted in all to L94 10s. + +23, 11. _Holy child Robert._ Nothing is known of the circumstances of +this boy's death at the hands of the Jews, on 10th June, 1181, or of +Jocelin's account of it (line 16), beyond the reference made by Bale +in his list of Jocelin's writings to _Vita Roberti Martyris_. + +23, 13. Acts v. 12. + + +CHAPTER III + +25, 12. Jeremiah xxiii. 40. + +25, 21. Cf. 1 Corinthians xii. 3. + +26, 23. _Verba Mea._ The 5th Psalm in the Vulgate begins with these +words. + +31, 9. _Waltham._ The interview with Henry II. took place at Bishop's +Waltham, in Hampshire, on the 21st February, 1182. + +31, 15. _Geoffrey the Chancellor._ Geoffrey was a natural son of Henry +II.--it is generally stated as by Fair Rosamond, though this is now +discredited by the facts adduced in the _Dict. Nat. Biog._ He was +successively Bishop of Lincoln (1173), Chancellor (1182), Archbishop +of York (1191), and after a violent quarrel with King John, fled the +country in 1207, dying in Normandy in 1212. + +32, 5. Matthew xix. 30; Mark x. 31. + +34, 23. _By the very eyes of God_: "per veros oculos Dei!" This was a +favourite oath of Henry II. In a contemporary metrical life of St. +Thomas of Canterbury, the King is more than once made to exclaim "Par +les oilz Dieu" (Rokewode, p. 115). William II. used to swear by "the +holy Face of Lucca"; John by "the teeth of God" (Ramsay, _Angevin +Empire_ (1903), p. 414). + +35, 7. _Miserere mei Deus._ Psalm li. + + +CHAPTER IV + +37, 24. _Threshold of the gate._ Samson alighted at what is now known +as the "Norman Tower." + +38, 4. _Martyri adhuc._ Rokewode gives on page 115 the text (with the +musical notes) of this response, the words of which are: "Martyri +adhuc palpitanti, sed Christum confitenti, jussit Inguar caput +auferri: sicque Edmundus martyrium consummavit, et ad Deum exultans +vadit." In a MS. (Digby 109) now at the Bodleian Library (which +contains also a copy of Abbo's _Passio_) this response comes after the +5th lesson of the office of St. Edmund. + +39, 23. John vi. 6. + +39, 24. _New seal._ A representation of this seal is given as the +Frontispiece. It is taken from an instrument in the Archives of +Canterbury Cathedral, dated 6 November, 1200, being an award in a +dispute between the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Canons of +Lambeth, referred by Pope Innocent III. to Hugh, Bishop of Lincoln +(for whom Roger, Dean of Lincoln, was substituted), Eustace, Bishop of +Ely, and Abbot Samson. + +The seal represents Abbot Samson, vested in amice, alb, tunic, +dalmatic, chasuble, rationale, and mitre. He holds a crozier in his +right hand and a closed book in his left. The mitre is unusually large +for the date. The inscription is broken, but in full reads thus: +"Sigillum Samsonis Dei Gratia Abbatis Sancti Eadmundi." The +counterseal (much smaller) displays the lamb bearing a cross, with the +words round the circumference, "Secretum Samsonis Abbatis." + +41, 9. _Thomas of Hastings._ Apparently the object of Thomas in +introducing thus early his nephew, Henry of Hastings, to the notice of +Samson, was to secure a recognition by the new Abbot of the claims of +his family to the hereditary stewardship of the Liberty of St. Edmund. +By Charter of William I., Lidgate in Suffolk, and Blunham in +Bedfordshire (where the church is dedicated to St. Edmund), were given +to one Ralph to hold in fee of the Abbot of St. Edmund by the service +of Dapifer or Steward. Later, between 1115 and 1119, Abbot Albold +granted the lands, with the office held by Ralph, to Maurice of +Windsor and his heirs, and this grant was confirmed by King Stephen. +Maurice was succeeded by Ralph of Hastings, his nephew, and Ralph by +William of Hastings, his nephew; and Henry, on whose behalf the claim +of the stewardship was made to Samson, was William's son and heir. The +Abbot admitted that his right was indisputable (the original Charters +of William I., Abbot Albold, Stephen, and Henry II. [two] are quoted +by Rokewode, pp. 118-120). But Samson's point seems to have been that +Henry was too young to give personal service as Steward, and therefore +"the business was deferred." Rokewode observes (p. 117): "Henry +continued a minor in 1188, his office being then filled by Robert of +Flamville, who held it at the time of his being one of the Wardens of +the Abbey during the vacancy" (see p. 12). In Reece's _Breviary of +Suffolk_ (1902) John of Hastings is given as Lord of the Manor of +Lidgate in 1315. + + +CHAPTER V + +43, 11. _Enclosed many parks._ At the Abbot's manor at Melford was an +old deer park of very ancient foundation. It was called Elmsett or +Aelmsethe, or the Great Park, and consisted chiefly of open wood. It +was in olden times termed "Magnus Boscus Domini," and in the surveys +of Edward I. and Henry VI. it is reckoned both as park and wood, the +wood part being in the latter survey 217a. 2r. 34p. The whole was +impaled round and stored with deer. (Parker's _Melford_, pp. 310-11). + +43, 12. _beasts of chase._ The "Beasts of the Chase" in Angevin days +were the buck, doe and fox: the "Beasts of the Forest" were the hart, +hind and hare: and the "Beasts and Fowls of the Warren" were the hare, +rabbit ("coney"), pheasant and partridge. The fox was coupled with the +wolf in Canute's Forest Law, No. 27, as "neither forest beasts nor +game." When the fox was made a Beast of the Chase cannot be +ascertained with any precision. The same Law No. 27, protected "hares, +rabbits and roedeer"; the last are not mentioned in later times. In +addition to the animals above named, the otter was hunted--_vide_ +Patent Rolls of Henry III. of 1221. The badger, polecat or wild cat +(_catus_) and marten are specified as beasts which receivers of royal +licences might hunt "with their own hounds" in the twelfth and +thirteenth centuries. There appears to be no such charter or licence +granting leave to hunt "the King's great game" (deer): on the +contrary, deer are often specially reserved. + +43, 12. _Keeping a huntsman with dogs._ The St. Edmund breed of dogs +seems to have been celebrated, as Richard I., when there was a +difference between him and Samson as to the wardship of Nesta of +Cockfield, wrote to the Abbot in a friendly way, and asked him for +some of his dogs (page 148). The hunting dog of old times was probably +a light sort of mastiff. Sometimes a breed was more celebrated for +speed or for strength or for courage, as in the case of the hounds +bred by the abbots of Bury. In the course of time the slighter +varieties developed into the greyhound, and the thicker into the +mastiff of modern times. Canute's Forest Law 31 forbade possession of +"the dog which the English call greihounds" to the lower classes. +Henry II.'s Assize of the Forest, given at Woodstock 1184, forbids +(Clause 2) any one entering a royal forest with bow, arrows, dogs or +greyhounds, save with special warrant. Clause 14 requires the lawing +of mastiffs. + +The Wardrobe Account of Edward I. for 1299-1300, records payment for +maintenance of twelve "_fox dogs_." These were used to kill foxes in +coverts previously netted round, so were not, probably, "running +hounds." On April 11, 1279, Edward I. wrote to Charles of Salerno +promising to send the harriers asked for by the latter: which seems to +indicate that the English harrier had a high reputation at that +period. + +43, 16. _take part in the sport._ Strutt, in his _Sports and +Pastimes_, observes:--"By the game laws of Canute, the dignified +clergy were permitted to hunt in the forests belonging to the Crown; +and their prerogatives were not abrogated by the Normans. Henry II., +displeased at the power and ambition of the ecclesiastics, endeavoured +to render these grants of none effect by putting in force (1157) the +canon law, which strictly forbade the clergy to spend their time in +hunting and hawking." Henry III.'s First Charter of 1217 gave leave to +an archbishop, bishop, earl or baron to take two deer while passing +through a forest "by view of the forester"; or in the absence of that +official the sportsman was to blow a horn on killing. + +44, 14. _The Eight Hundreds._ These eight hundreds of Thingoe, +Thedwastre, Blackbourn, Bradbourn, Bradmere, Lackford, Risbridge and +Babergh, with the half hundred of Cosford (see line 18) constituted +the Liberty of St. Edmund, as to which see note on page 238. + +44, 15. _Robert of Cockfield._ See note to pp. 86, l. 18, on page 241, +and cf. pages 254-6. + +44, 24. _Hidages, foddercorn, hen-rents._ Hidage was a tax upon every +hide of land; foddercorn an ancient feudal right that the lord should +be provided with fodder for his horses; hen-rents were a common +reservation upon inferior tenures. + +45, 11. _Kalendar._ A transcript of this kalendar, which, as stated in +the text (p. 45, l. 2) was completed by 1186, is now in the possession +of Prince Frederick Dhuleep Singh. In the _History of the Hundred of +Thingoe_ (1838) an extract from it relating to that Hundred is given +on pp. xii.-xvii. + +46, 1. _Hugh the subsacrist._ Jocelin says that Samson appointed Hugh +subsacrist to William Wiardel, and shortly after (p. 47) made Samson +the precentor sacrist. But this arrangement was probably short-lived, +for the _Gesta Sacristarum_ (Arnold, ii. 290) says Hugh succeeded +William as sacrist, and gives a lengthy list of the works he carried +out in the church. In 1198, when the body of St. Edmund was examined, +Hugh was present, and is described as sacrist (see p. 172). + +50, 16. Omnia Caesar erat. Lucan, _Pharsalia_, iii. 108. + +52, 5. Summa petit livor. Ovid, _Remedia Amoris_, 369. + +52, 8. 1 John iv. 1. + +52, 18. James ii. 13. + +54, 9. _School of Melun_ (Meludinensium). John of Salisbury calls a +scholar of Melun "Meludensis." Peter Abelard opened there, early in +the twelfth century, a celebrated school for teaching Dialectic. + +54, 23. Ecclesiasticus vii. 24. + +57, 14. Strangulat inclusus dolor atque exaestuat intus. Ovid, +_Tristia_, v. i. 63. + + +CHAPTER VI + +62, 7. _Pulpit._ This pulpit, from which Samson preached in his native +dialect of Norfolk, was one of the works of Hugo the sacrist (Arnold, +ii. 291). + +65, 3. _Norfolk Barrator._ See note to p. 18, line 9 (pages 226-7). + +66, 21. _Sale of holy water._ Ducange cites the acts of a synod of +Exeter in 1287, that from ancient times the profits arising from the +distribution of holy water had been set apart to maintain poor clerks +in schools. + +68, 23. _Schools._ Samson is usually credited with having founded a +town school in connection with the monastery. This may very likely +have been the case, but I have found no direct evidence of it. It +seems from this passage that at any rate he provided free lodgings for +poor scholars, and from p. 144 that he endowed the mastership of the +schools with half the tithes of Wetherden. There is a street at Bury +St. Edmunds, just outside the precincts of the monastery, known as +School Hall Street. + +69, 3. _Manor of Mildenhall._ Edward the Confessor gave Mildenhall to +St. Edmund's, but when Domesday Book was compiled it was in the hands +of the Crown, being then worth L70. Amongst the Crown lands sold by +Richard I. immediately after his accession was this manor, purchased, +according to Jocelin, for 1,100 marks, of which 1,000 marks apparently +went to the King, and 100 marks to Queen Eleanor (see p. 71, l. 3). +See also note to p. 72, l. 4, on page 235. + +69, 5. _Expulsion of the Jews._ Arnold (i. 249) expresses the opinion +that, "under the circumstances, this must have been the most humane +course in the interests of the Jews themselves. All large English +towns at this time were imperfectly policed, and the temper of the +populace savage and uncertain. A riot having once been set on foot, +the only hope of safety for the Jews was in taking refuge in some +royal castle. There was no castle at Bury; to the Abbot alone could +the survivors [from the massacre in 1190] look for protection; and +Samson knew that he had not sufficient force at his command to ensure +it to them." + +69, 6. _New hospital at Babwell._ The ruins of this hospital, +dedicated to the Saviour, still exist in Northgate, beyond the railway +arch. It was originally founded for a warden, twelve chaplains, six +clerks, twelve poor gentlemen, and twelve poor women, and was the +subject of numerous Charters, which will be found fully described in +Chapter II. of the late Sir Wm. Parker's _History of Long Melford_ +(1873). In the Feet of Fines for Suffolk, 1 John (1199), there are +references to two deeds entered into by "Walter, Master of the +Hospital of the Blessed Saviour outside the northern gate of St. +Edmund's." The Master of the Hospital had his manor at Melford and +held his courts: which manor remains to the present day, as the _Manor +of the Monks in Melford_. It was at St. Saviour's Hospital that +Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, put up when he was arrested, in +February, 1447, by Henry VI., who was in the town for the Parliament +which met in the refectory of Bury Abbey. + +70, 9. _Great roll of Winchester._ Domesday Book: the returns forming +the basis of which were transmitted to a board sitting at Winchester, +by whom they were arranged in order and placed upon record (Lingard, +i. 249). + +70, 19. _Custom of the realm._ This custom is described by Blackstone +(_Commentaries_ [1844 ed.] i. 229) as an ancient perquisite called +queen-gold or aurum reginae, due, in the proportion of 10 per cent., +from every person making a voluntary offering to the King. + +71, 1. _Ransom of King Richard._ Richard wrote to his mother from +Haguenau on the 19th April, 1193, a letter notifying the 70,000 marks +demanded for his ransom by the German Emperor Henry VI. To meet this, +the monasteries of England handed over all their gold and silver to +royal commissioners, and amongst the treasure delivered up by St. +Edmund's was the golden chalice given to the Abbey by Henry II. Queen +Eleanor's release of it is printed in the _Monasticon_ (1821 ed.), +iii. 154 (see also p. 146 of the _Chronicle_). + +71, 19. _Icklingham._ This appears to be the transaction referred to +in a Charter of 1200, granted by Samson (confirmed by King John 15th +March, 1200):--"We further give and grant to the said Hospital of St. +Saviour, for the maintenance of the poor folk, L12 in money from our +town of Icklingham, to be annually received through our sacrist." The +signatures to this Charter (given in Parker's _Melford_, p. 9) are +interesting. They include "Herbert, the prior," "Hermer, the +sub-prior" (see chapter xvi. of this book), and "Jocelin, the almoner" +(our Chronicler). + +72, 4. _confirmed by the King's Charter._ Richard I. signed at Chateau +Galliard on 18th July, 1198, two charters (1) confirming to Abbot +Samson the manor and advowson of Mildenhall; (2) placing the manor, +except Icklingham, at the disposal of the sacrist on certain +conditions. At the accession of King John, Samson gave the King L200 +for a confirmation of the first Charter, and especially of Mildenhall +(cf. Rokewode, pp. 124-5). + +72, 15. _Walter of Coutances._ The Church at Woolpit was the first +piece of preferment of this famous Archbishop. Walter apparently +succeeded, at Woolpit, Geoffrey Ridel, made Bishop of Ely in 1173 (see +note on page 237). Rokewode says (p. 126): "Henry II. obtained from +Hugh, Abbot of St. Edmund's, in free alms, the Church of Woolpit for +his clerk, Walter de Coutances, and in consideration thereof, by +charter dated at Winchester, granted that after the decease of Walter +or his resignation, the Church should be appropriated to the use of +the sick monks" (_Reg. Nigr._ fol. 104 v.). Walter obtained several +other appointments, but seems from the text to have retained the +Church at Woolpit till 1183, when he was consecrated Bishop of +Lincoln. Next year (1184) he was elected Archbishop of Rouen. He took +a prominent part in the troubles of the reigns of Richard I. and John, +and died at Rouen on 16th November, 1207. + +72, 22. _Pope Alexander and Octavian._ Alexander III., elected Pope on +7 September, 1159, was obliged to leave Italy in 1162, on account of +the power of the Anti-Pope Octavian, and did not return until the +decease of the latter in 1164. Samson's journey to Rome was, +therefore, between 1159 and 1162, before he became a professed monk. + +73, 3. _Pretended to be Scotch._ Mr. Arnold gives as the reason for +this that "the Scottish kingdom at this time naturally sided with +Octavian, England being in favour of Alexander" (I. xliii.). It has +been suggested that "simulavi me esse Scottum" in the text means that +Samson pretended to be an _Irishman_, the name Scotus having +originally signified Irish, only acquiring its present meaning with +the immigration of the Scots from the North of Ireland into Argyll, +and their growth into a powerful nation. Bromton, speaking of Ireland, +says:--"Dicta est eciam aliquando Scotia a Scotis eam inhabitantibus, +priusquam ad aliam Scotiam Britannicam devenerunt; unde in +Martirologio legitur: Tali die apud Scotiam natalis Sanctae Brigidae: +quod est, apud Hiberniam" (see Twysden, _Historiae Anglicanae Scriptores +X_, London 1652: vol. I., col. 1072, l. 11). When therefore this +passage was written (the fourteenth century) it is clear that the +usage of Scot as meaning Irishman was not understood, and was regarded +as needing explanation. Samson's contemporary, Ralph de Diceto, +following the account of Henry of Huntingdon, twice explains that the +Scots came from Ireland (ed. Stubbs 1876, I. 10; II. 34). This +explanation again implies that by the middle and end of the twelfth +century the word had come to mean exclusively "Scotsman." The same +opinion is expressed by Burton: "It is not safe to count that the word +Scot must mean a native of present Scotland, when the period dealt +with is earlier than the middle of the twelfth century" (_History of +Scotland_, 1873, I. 207). In that part of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle +which was compiled during the reign of King Alfred, Scot regularly +means Irishman. In A.D. 903 the death is noted of Virgil, abbot of +the Scots, i.e. Irish: but this appears to be the last instance of the +use of the word in the Chronicle in that sense. Between the years 924 +and 1138 the word Scot occurs fourteen and Scotland twenty-six times +in the Chronicle, always with the modern significance. + +73, 6. _Gaveloc._ Javelin, a word of Celtic origin, but not +specifically Scotch. Matthew Paris speaks of it in 1256 as a Frisian +weapon: "Frisiones cum jaculis quae vulgariter gavelocos appellant." +(Chr. Maj. ed. Luard. v. 550.) In the Romance of Percival by Chrestien +de Troyes, is the couplet, "Et il, qui bien lancier savoit, De +gaverlos que il avoit." (Ed. Potvin, Tome I. lines 1309-10. Mons, +1866). + +73, 10. _Ride, Ride Rome, turn Cantwereberi_, This is written in +English by Jocelin; and its meaning seems to be "I am riding towards +Rome, turning from Canterbury." Arnold (I. xliii.) says, "If he had +meant to say 'returning to Canterbury,' he would at once have been +taken for an English adherent of Alexander." + +74, 12. _Geoffrey Ridel._ This presentation appears to have been made +(c. 1161) by Henry II., perhaps during Samson's journey abroad. In +1163 Geoffrey became Archdeacon of Canterbury in succession to Thomas +a Becket, appointed Archbishop, and for the next eight years was in +violent opposition to his primate, who called him "our arch-devil," +and excommunicated him. On May 1, 1173, Geoffrey was chosen Bishop of +Ely, and died at Winchester, 27 July, 1189. As Geoffrey from the +chronicles seems to have been of a masterful and contumacious spirit, +it must have given Abbot Samson peculiar satisfaction to have got the +better of him over the timber referred to on page 106. + +74, 19. _Acre._ This was Samson's first imprisonment at Castleacre +(circ. 1161, before he became a monk). His second imprisonment +probably took place about 1173, as on page 6 he speaks of it to +Jocelin, then a novice, as something quite recent. As to Castleacre, +see note on pages 223-4. + + +CHAPTER VII. + +77, 23. _Charters of the King._ This dispute with the monks of +Canterbury, heard before King Henry II. on the 11th February, 1187, +raised the whole question of the Liberty of St. Edmund, a matter +respecting which the Bury monastery was extremely tenacious. A +marginal note in the original MS. of the Chronicle, against the +puzzled phrase of the King (see page 78, lines 1-3), says: "Our +Charter speaks of the time of King Edward, and of the time of his +mother, Queen Emma, who had eight and a half hundreds as a marriage +portion before the time of King Edward, besides Mildenhall." According +to the _Anglo-Saxon Chronicle_, the Confessor, after his coronation in +1043, seized the possessions of his mother, "because she was formerly +very hard on the King her son, and did less for him than he wished +before he was King, and also since." The Franchise having thus come +into the Confessor's hands, was granted to the Abbots and Monks of +Bury shortly after his accession. Under a Charter of King Edmund +granted about 945, and Charters of Canute and Hardicanute, the +jurisdiction of Bury Abbey had been restricted to the town, and the +circuit indicated by the four crosses placed at the distance of a mile +from the extremities of the town: but by the Confessor's Charter, it +was enlarged to a district extending over about two-fifths of the +whole county of Suffolk. (For names of the 8-1/2 hundreds included in +the Liberty see note on page 232, 14.) + +Edward the Confessor paid a visit to the shrine of St. Edmund in 1044, +and when he had come within a mile of it, dismounted from his horse +and accomplished the rest of the journey on foot. Herman the +archdeacon, who wrote about half a century later, is the first to +relate this fact, and also the grant by the King to the abbey of the +8-1/2 hundreds: "Qua tunc suffragatorem reditibus imperialibus +honorat, centurias quas Anglice hundrez vocant, octo et semis sibi +circum-circa se donat, regiamque mansionem nomine Mildenhall his +adauget" (Arnold, I. 48). The original grant of Edward the Confessor +gave the abbey jura regalia in wide loose general terms. Later, +Charters became gradually more explicit as to the extent of +jurisdiction (civil and criminal) conferred. Later still, the Royal +justices in eyre supervened. The institution of the circuits and +assizes had to be fitted into the exempt jurisdiction: so the Liberty +had its own assizes, etc., but outside the interior special and +inviolable circuit of the bannaleuca or limits of St. Edmundsbury +itself. + +Lord Francis Hervey, who has made a special study of the subject, +gives hope on page 250 of his notes to the _Breviary of Suffolk_ +(1902), of his undertaking "a detailed examination of the history and +incidents of the great Liberty of St. Edmund, which remained in the +hands of its monastic rulers till the day when Abbot Reeve surrendered +his Abbey to Henry VIII., November 4, 1539." + +78, 15. Matthew xix. 12. + +78, 16. _the matter was put off._ This dispute between Bury and +Canterbury was not, as a matter of fact, ultimately composed till over +200 years later. Amongst Dr. Yates' manuscript materials for the never +completed Part II. of his _History of Bury_ is a memorandum (now +amongst the Egerton MSS. in the British Museum) in the following +words:-- + +"The Letters Patent of King Henry 4th the 25th Nov. 1408 confirm and +ratify an Indenture of three parts between the Archbishop of +Canterbury, the Prior of Christ Church, Canterbury, and the Abbot of +Bury St. Edmund's, by which it is determined that the parishes of +Hadleygh et Illeygh being within the eight hundreds and an half called +the Liberty or Franchise of St. Edmund should be subject to the +Abbot's Seneschallus, or High Steward of the Franchise, and that the +return of the writs of the Seneschal's Great Court with the rolls +fines and other rights and privileges should be regarded in those +parishes in the same manner as in the other parts of the Liberty. An +exemption on the part of the Archbishop having been claimed, this +indenture terminated a dispute that had been above 160 years [cf. +Arnold, III. 188] in agitation. During this dispute it was agreed that +the Sheriff of Suffolk should act till its termination as Seneschal of +these Parishes. A patent was addressed to the Sheriff of Suffolk dated +27th November in the same year, commanding him no longer to intromit +within the Franchise of St. Edmund, but to preserve inviolate the +Liberties and immunities of the Abbot and Monastery.--_Registrum +Rubrum in Collect, Burien._: 317 _to_ 328 _inclusive._" + +78, 16. Et adhuc sub judice lis est. Horace, _Arte Poet._, 78. + +79, 6. _Bishop of Ely._ This was William of Longchamp (d. 1197), once +described by Henry II. as a "son of two traitors." He fled the kingdom +in 1191 on his fall from power, came to England in 1192, but was not +permitted to proceed further than Canterbury, and crossed the seas +again. In 1193 he returned, bearing letters from the Emperor, and met +the Regency at St. Albans. It was on this occasion that he passed +through St. Edmundsbury, as recorded on page 80. In Normandy, at the +instigation of the Archbishop of Rouen, he had been everywhere +received as an excommunicated person (cf. Rokewode, page 127). + +79, 10. _Archbishopric vacant._ Archbishop Baldwin died at Acre, in +November, 1190; his successor Reginald, Bishop of Bath, was elected in +December, 1191, and died after a few days. Hubert Walter, with whom +Samson afterwards came into conflict, was elected Archbishop in May, +1192 (see note on page 245). + +80, 12. _Archbishop of York._ This was Geoffrey, the half-brother of +Richard I., to whom he had sworn that he would not return to England +without the King's leave. Having returned, he was, on his landing at +Dover in September, 1191, arrested by Longchamp's orders, and thrown +into prison. + +80, 24. _King Henry had taken the Cross._ At the interview of Henry +II. with Philip of France, between Trie and Gisors, the two Kings took +the cross upon the Feast of St Agnes, 21 January, 1188. + +82, 8. _War throughout England._ After John's return from France in +1193, the country was in a state of general warfare; and Windsor was +besieged by the Regency with the King's other castles. + +82, 16. _His own standard._ See note to p. 85, l. 25, below. + +83, 1. _Licence for holding tournaments._ This was little more than a +device for raising money. In 1194 Richard ordered tournaments to be +held, in order to practise the knights in warfare. No one could joust +at a tournament without a licence; and the price of the licence varied +with the rank of the holder. + +85, 12. _Withgar._ This great thane, who is styled in the Cartulary of +Abbot John of Northwold "the famous Earl," had the custody for Queen +Emma, mother of Edward the Confessor, of the franchise of the eight +hundreds and a half which subsequently constituted the Liberty of St. +Edmund (see notes on pages 232 and 238). Mr. Rokewode says (p. 129): +"The honour of Clare was composed chiefly of the great possessions in +Suffolk and Essex of Alfric, son of Withgar or Wisgar (_Liber +Domesday_)." + +85, 25. _Standard of St. Edmund._ In the famous Harleian MS. 2278, the +original book containing the metrical life of St. Edmund by John +Lydgate, presented to Henry VI. by Bury Abbey after his visit to the +monastery in 1433, there is a pictorial representation of this +Standard. It depicts Adam and Eve on either side of the Tree of +Knowledge, and the devil with a human face and a serpent's body curled +round the tree. Above the tree is a lamb and a cross, with crescents +in the background. The counterseal of Abbot Samson also has the lamb +and cross (see page 229). + +86, 6. _Earl Roger Bigot._ This Earl was son of Hugh, the rebellious +baron. It appears from the text that the Standard of St. Edmund was +carried by him into the fight at the battle of Fornham, in October, +1173 (see p. 1). + +86, 18. _Robert of Cockfield._ References to members of this family of +Cockfield, or Cokefield, appear often in the _Chronicle_. The dispute +as to rights which arose on Robert's death is told again in greater +detail at the end of the _Chronicle_, by William of Diss (see pp. +254-6), and the dispute as to the wardship of the daughter of Adam, +son of Robert, on pages 187-8. Nothing here arises except Samson's +denial of Adam's right of hereditary tenure, in which he was +successful. + +87, 16. _Eight and a half hundreds._ See notes to p. 44, l. 14, and p. +77, l. 23, on the Liberty of St. Edmund (pp. 232, 238). + +88, 16. _Haberdon._ This is a field (still called by the same name) in +the south-east corner of the town, with remains of earthworks. It was +held in monastic times of the sacrist by the singular tenure, that the +tenant should find a white bull as often as a gentlewoman should visit +the shrine of St. Edmund "to make the oblation of the said white +bull," with a view to secure a favourable answer to her prayers for +offspring. On these occasions the bull was led from his pasture on the +Haberdon through the principal streets of the town in procession to +the Church of St. Edmund. + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +101-105. The whole of this Chapter is obviously an interpolation in +the Chronicle by some monk other than Jocelin himself. The story of +Henry of Essex is included in the long and elaborate "vita et passio +cum miraculis Sancti Edmundi" prepared in the fourteenth century in +the monastery at Bury, and now preserved in the Bodleian Library (MS. +240); and at the end of this transcript the compiler adds, "Cuius +narracionem Jocelinus audiens, in scriptis redegit" (_Nova Legenda +Anglie_, ed. Horstman, 1901, II. 637). It is apparent from the opening +phrase of the text (p. 105) that Jocelin, who most probably went to +Reading in the train of the Abbot, commenced to set down the story at +the bidding of Samson, but left its completion to some other monk of +inferior degree. Perhaps this was William of Diss, who added at the +end of the Chronicle (see pages 254-6) a declaration as to the lands +of Robert of Cockfield. + +101, 10. _precept of Seneca._ Mr. Arnold says: "Many things resembling +this sentiment occur in the 109th Epistle of Seneca; but probably the +passage is somewhere else in his works." + +103, 18. _thrown down the standard._ Henry of Essex's act of cowardice +took place in 1157, during an expedition into Flintshire, when the +Welsh made a sudden attack. His dropping the standard brought King +Henry II. and the Royal army into great peril (Gervase, i. 165, Rolls +ed.). + +104, 1. _Roger Earl of Clare._ There seems to be an attempt at +punning, at this point, by the monk who wrote the original story in +Latin: "Rogerus comes Clarensis, clarus genere et militari clarior +exercitis, cum suis Clarensibus maturius occurrisset." + +104, 9. _trial of battle._ This fight between Henry of Essex and +Robert de Montfort took place in 1163 (Ralph de Diceto, _Ymag. Hist_. +i. 310, Rolls ed.), on an eyot in the Thames, and is still +traditionally remembered at Reading. + + +CHAPTER IX + +106, 6. _stay at Melford._ The manor of Melford was given to the +monastery in the time of Leofstan (second Abbot) by Earl Alfric, the +son of Withgar (Parker's _History of Long Melford_, p. 1). At Long +Melford, 13 miles south of Bury, was a country house belonging to the +Abbots of Bury; and at the present Melford Hall there are said to be +still some relics of this occupancy. After Samson died, in 1211, there +was a dispute that lasted a considerable time as to the validity of +the election of Hugo, his successor; and the Papal Legate, Nicholas, +Bishop of Tusculum, who tried vainly to compose it, stayed for some +time at Melford (Arnold, ii. 46). Abbot Simon of Luton died at his +manor of Melford in April, 1279. + +108, 8, 13. _forty pounds a year from the town._ Battely prints +(_App._ xvii. 149) a letter from Pope Eugenius III. (no date) +addressed to Helyas, the sacrist (Ording's nephew), confirming +Ording's instructions as to the rents of the town being applied to the +service of the Altar. + +112, 8. _Charter from King Henry the Second._ "All the men of London +shall be quit and free, and all their goods throughout England, and +the ports of the sea, of and from all toll and passage and lestage and +all other customs" (Charter Henry I.). "All the citizens of London +shall be quit from toll and lastage throughout all England and the +ports of the sea" (Charter of Henry II.--confirmed by Charter of +Richard I., 23 April, 1194, and by Charter of John, 17 June, 1199). +(Birch's _Historical Charters of the City of London_, 1887, pp. 3, 5.) + +112, 15. _theam_ (Lat. themus, team). The right of compelling a person +in whose hands stolen property was found to say from whom he received +it (Glossary in Stubbs's _Select Charters_). + +113, 10. Judges xvi. 9. + +116, 15. _A charter was made._ The text of this Charter of 1194, +granted by Samson to the Burgesses, will be found in Battely (_App._ +xxii. 155-6) and in the _Monasticon_, iii. 153. It confirms to the +town all the customs and liberties which it had in the times of Henry +II. and his predecessors; and it declares that with regard to watch +and ward and the custody of the gates, the ancient custom is that the +town shall furnish eight watchmen night by night, all the year round, +two for each ward, and a larger number at Christmas and on St. +Edmund's Day [20 November]; also that the town should find four +gatekeepers for the four gates, the fifth or eastern gate being in the +custody of the Abbot. Nothing is said in the Charter about the +appointment of the portreeves; but the right of burgesses to sue and +be sued in their own borough-court (portmanne-mot), instead of going +outside the borough to the hundred-mot or the shire-mot, is insisted +upon. "What is evidently assumed is that the portreeve is the Abbot's +servant, and administers justice in the Abbot's name" (Arnold, II. +xxxix.). + + +CHAPTER X + +119, 10. Lamentations iv. i. + +121, 12. _Abbot Robert._ This was Robert II. (fourth Abbot), a monk of +Westminster, elected by the convent in 1102, but not confirmed by +Henry I. until 1107. He died shortly afterwards, on the 16th +September, 1107, and, after an interregnum of seven years, Albold, +Prior of St. Nicasius, at Meaux, succeeded him in the abbacy. Robert +was buried in the Infirmary Chapel (Douai MS.). For his character and +labours, see MS. quoted in Arnold, i. 356. + +121, 20. _Hubert Walter._ Hubert's father, Harvey Walter, was +descended from Hubert, the first Norman settler, who received at the +Conquest grants of land in Norfolk and Suffolk. Hubert is said to have +been born at West Dereham, in Norfolk (Tanner, _Not. Monast. Norfolk_, +xxi.), where lived, as will be seen from the text (p. 121, l. 25), his +mother Matilda de Valognes (whose sister Bertha married Ranulf de +Glanville). He was brought up in Glanville's household, and was so +much in his confidence that he was afterwards said to have "shared +with him in the government of England." In 1186 he became Dean of +York, and in 1189 Bishop of Salisbury. In 1190 he went to the Holy +Land, returning in 1193, in which year he was elected Archbishop of +Canterbury and appointed justiciary. Richard's departure over sea in +1194 left him virtual ruler of England for the next few years. He died +in 1205; and in March, 1890, a tomb opened in Canterbury Cathedral was +found to contain his remains. + +124, 6. _The Pope wrote._ This letter of Innocent III. was dated 1st +December, 1198, and was addressed (not to the Archbishop but) to the +Abbot and convent of St. Edmund (_Migne's Patrologia_, vol. ccxiv., +No. 457 of the Regesta). + + +CHAPTER XI + +134, 13. Tendens ad sidera palmas. Virgil, _Aen._ i. 93. + +135, 18. _Anniversary obit of the Abbot Robert._ According to the +_Liber Albus_, fol. 35, the anniversary of Abbot Robert was "xvi Kal. +Octobris" (16th September). The anniversaries of Ording and Hugh, +mentioned in line 20, were 31st January and the 16th November. + +139, 20. _Chapel of St. Denis._ This chapel was at the west end of the +church, probably north of the great western tower, with a chapel +dedicated to St. Faith above it. Abbot Baldwin, who commenced the +erection of the basilica, was a monk of St. Denis; hence, no doubt, +the dedication of a chapel to that saint. + + +CHAPTER XII + +142, 5. _Church of Coventry._ Hugh de Nonant (d. 1198), Bishop of +Lichfield and Coventry, had a violent dislike to all monks, and, +whenever he could, put secular canons in their place. He had turned +out the monks at Coventry, and Pope Celestine III. appointed in 1197 a +Commission, on which Samson sat, for restoring these expelled monks. +The monks were re-inducted by Archbishop Hubert Walter on 18th +January, 1198. + +144, 1. _Church of Wetherden._ This deed is recorded in the Feet of +Fines for Suffolk, 9 Richard I., No. 49. + +144, 9. _master of the schools._ A perpetual pension of three marcs, +payable from the tithes of Wetherden to "the master of the school at +St. Edmund," was granted in 1198 by John, Bishop of Norwich, at the +request of Samson (_Curtey's Register_, Brit. Mus. fol. 119). + +145, 24. _Chapel of St. Andrew._ According to the _Gesta Sacristarum_ +(Arnold, ii. 291) the Chapel of St. Andrew was for the most part built +and finished by the sacrist Hugo under Samson, and seems to have been +then connected with the infirmary (iii. 87). Later on it was removed +into the cemetery of the monks (iii. 187). + +145, 25. _Chapels of St. Katherine and St. Faith._ Two chapels at the +west end; St. Katherine to the south, over the chapel of St. John, St. +Faith to the north, over the chapel of St. Denis. + +147, 19. Tractant fabrilia fabri. Horace, _Ep._ ii. i. 116. + +147, 20. _Adam of Cockfield._ This was the claimant whose case is +reported on pp. 86-8, and again (by William of Diss) on pp. 254-6. An +elaborate pedigree of the Cockfield family is given by Rokewode on pp. +140-8 of his book. His daughter's name was Nesta, and, as stated at p. +187, l. 24, she became, on her father's death in 1198, the ward and +wife of Thomas de Burgh, brother of Hubert the chamberlain, who was +afterwards justiciary and Earl of Kent. Nesta married three times, and +died about 1248. + +149, 3. Munera (crede mihi) capiunt hominesque deosque; Placatur donis +Jupiter ipse datis. Ovid, _Arte Amandi_, iii. 653. + + +CHAPTER XIII + +151, 13. _Portman-moot._ Borough court. Written in English in the +original Chronicle ("portmane-mot.") + +151, 18. _Sorpeni._ Payment for grass for a cow. + +152, 5. _Ording who lies there._ Ording (d. 1156) was one of six +abbots who were buried in the Chapter House, and whose names are +recorded in the MS., circa 1425, discovered by Dr. Montagu James at +Douai (_James_, p. 180). The original chapter house of the monastery +was built by Godefridus, the sacrist, about 1107. There was a fire +which destroyed all the convent buildings, and Helyas, the sacrist, +Ording's nephew, "reformavit ad plenum" the chapter house. His uncle +was the first Abbot buried there. Ording's place of sepulture was +nearest to the east end or dais. Hugo and Samson, Ording's successors, +were also buried in Helyas's chapter house: Samson being, according to +the Douai MS. "sepultus in capitulo sedus ad pedes Ric. Abb. sub +lapidibus marmoreis ut suprascriptum est de Abb. Ordingo." About 1220 +Richard of Newport, then sacrist, "vetus capitulum destruxit, et novum +a fundamentis construxit." (Arnold, II. 293.) Afterwards Richard of +Insula (1229-34), Henry of Rushbrook (1234-46), and Edmund of Walpole +(1248-56) were also buried in the chapter house. Its dimensions, +according to William of Worcester's measurements in 1479, were 60 +paces by 20. In the course of some recent excavations (1902-3) the +coffins of five of the above Abbots, and much worked stone and marble, +have been found on the site of this chapter house. + +152, 19. _tenant of the cellarer, by name Ketel_. As Ketel dwelt +"without the gate," he was, being "of the cellarer's fee," subject to +the "judicial duel" which William I. had introduced; whereas the +argument of his fellow-burgesses seems to have been that if he had +dwelt within the borough he would have been tried and acquitted or +condemned by the "oaths of his neighbours"--the compurgators out of +whom our jury system grew. The monks recognized that the time had come +when the franchise of the town should be extended to the rural +possessions of the Abbey, and all brought under a common jurisdiction. + +153, 6. _within the jurisdiction._ "Infra bannamleucam," defined by +Ducange as a certain territory by the boundaries of which the +jurisdiction and immunities of any place, whether a town or monastery, +were limited. _Bannum_ is here used in the sense of jurisdiction; and +the amount of territory so enfranchised was usually reckoned as a +league either way, hence banna leuca or banlieue. The exempt +jurisdiction of Bury Abbey was limited to the circuit of a mile within +four crosses. + +153, 6. _Villeins of Hardwick._ The Latin word is _lancettos_, serfs +holding by base services. In one of the cartularies of St. Edmund, the +"Lancetti de Hardwick" were to cleanse the latrines of the monastery. + +154, 23. _Beodricsworth._ This is the ancient name of Bury St. +Edmunds. Mr. Arnold says (I. iv.) the name of Beodric "seems to mean +'a table chieftain,' _comp._ beod. geneat, a table companion. But +there is some countenance in the MSS. for Beadricsworth, which would +come from beadu-rica, one mighty in war." Seynt Edmunds Biri is first +substituted for Beodricsworth in Charters from Edward the Confessor to +the Monastery (cf. page 260 and Battely, _App._ ix. 134). + +155, 14. _Aver-peni._ The money paid by the tenant in commutation of +the service (avera) of performing any work for his lord by horse or +ox, or by carriage with either. + +155, 20. _Eels from Southrey._ Aelgiva, Queen of Canute, gave to the +Monastery yearly four thousand eels, with her gifts which pertained +thereto at Lakenheath. The manor of Southrey, in Norfolk, with three +fisheries, was appropriated to the cellarer (Rokewode, p. 151). + +157, 2. _haggovele._ Probably head-tax or hearth-tax. + +159, 2. Romans xii. 10. + +159, 9. Summa petit livor. Ovid, _Rem. Amoris_, 369. + + +CHAPTER XIV + +163, 8. Habakkuk iii. 2. + +164, 11. _Chest with the shirt of St. Edmund._ Archdeacon Herman, in +his treatise _De Miraculis Sancto Eadmundi_ (Arnold, i. 26 _et seq._), +describes how Leofstan (2nd Abbot) decided to open the coffin +containing St. Edmund's body and examine the remains. The body was +found covered with a vestment stained with blood and pierced with +arrows. This was taken off and the body wrapped in a linen sheet. In +the continuation of Herman's work, ascribed to Samson himself, there +is an account of another Herman, a monk of Bury, and a popular +preacher, who displayed irreverently certain relics of St. Edmund. He +took the shirt out of its casket, and unfolded it for the people to +kiss. Tolinus the sacrist commented severely on the occurrence, and on +the third day at sunset Herman died. The "feretrum cum camisia S. +Edmundi" was amongst the relics carried in procession round the Church +on Christmas Day, Palm Sunday, Easter Day, and probably other high +festivals (Rituale, Harl. MS. 297, cent, xiv., quoted by _James_, p. +183). + +165, 1. _Cup of St. Edmund._ To drinking from this cup various +miracles are ascribed: a rich lady cured after long suffering from +fever; a Dunwich man with dropsy; a girl afflicted with a great +swelling, who drinks from the cup thrice in the name of the Trinity; a +Cluniac monk of St. Saviour's, Southwark, named Gervasius, whose story +is told in great detail in Samson's _De Miraculis_ (Arnold, i. 202-3). +It is said that an indulgence _toties quoties_ was granted to pilgrims +who drank from this cup "in the worshippe of God and Saint Edmund," +hence its name of "Pardon Bowl"; but I have not found the original +authority for this. + +165, 19. Luke xii. 2. + +166, 9. Psalm lxiii. 11. + +170, 4. Isaiah i. 2. + +171, 18. _verse inscribed._ In the _Cronica Burienis_ (Arnold, iii. 8) +this verse is given in a slightly different form--"Martyris ecce zoma +Michaelis servet agalma," the writer adding, "Agalma, id est, sacra +receptacula divinitatis." "Zoma" is probably the Greek word "soma," +body. But it has also been translated "garment," and Carlyle's version +of the inscription (_Past and Present_, ch. xvi.) is, "This is the +Martyr's garment, which Michael's Image guards." Lord Francis Hervey, +in his edition (1902) of Recce's _Breviary of Suffolk_, says, "Having +regard to the fondness of the mediaeval versifiers for rhyme, I feel +tempted to suggest that the word may have been 'salma,' a word of +unknown origin, which in Italian means corpse.... The verse in +question was most probably not home made, and was not clearly +intelligible to the monks themselves." + +171, 21. _iron rings._ This phrase is somewhat obscure: "annuli ferrei +sicut solebat fieri in cista Norensi." Ducange gives "Norrensis" as an +occasional equivalent for Northmannus, hence Mr. Arnold suggests for +cista Norensis "a Norwegian chest" (i. 311). + +175, 10. _Ailwin the monk._ Ailwin, also written Egelwin, was keeper +of the shrine of St. Edmund before the foundation of the Abbey. In +view of the invasion of England by the Danish chief Turchil, Ailwin +fled, in 1010, from Beodricsworth to London with the body of St. +Edmund, returning 1014. In 1050 Ailwin, then a very aged man, was +invited by Abbot Leofstan to come from Hulme to Bury to identify the +body of the Saint. + +176, 18. _Keeper of St. Botolph._ There was a chapel (probably on the +south side of the presbytery) dedicated to St. Botolph, in which was +the shrine with the relics of that Saint. + +177, 3. Felix, quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum. Erasmus, _Adagia_. + + +CHAPTER XV + +178, 6. _King John ... came down to St. Edmund._ John paid several +visits to Bury Abbey during Samson's abbacy: once in 1199, immediately +after his coronation, when he made the miserable offering described by +Jocelin on p. 178; a second time in 1201, when returning from +Northumberland; a third time in 1203, when, according to Rokewode (p. +154), "he made a pilgrimage to St. Edmund's, at the feast of St. +Thomas the Apostle, and gave the convent ten marcs annually, payable +from the exchequer, for the repairs of the shrine of St. Edmund, in +consideration of the monks giving back to the King, for his life, a +sapphire and ruby, which he had offered to the Saint, and which were +to revert to the convent." In connection with the disputed question of +the nomination of Samson's successor (which lasted for over two +years), John came to Bury on November 4, 1114, and meeting the monks +in the chapter house, made them a speech as to his own rights in the +matter, which is recorded in Arnold, II. xv. and 95-6. + +180, 7. Isaiah i. 2. + +182, 3. Matthew xii. 25. + +183, 9. In te vindicassem nisi iratus fuissem. Cic. _Tusc._ iv. 36. + +183, 14. Mark iv. 39. + +187, 20. _seisin of the damsel._ There was another claimant for the +wardship of Nesta of Cockfield, not here mentioned, viz., King Richard +I., who (see pp. 148-9) was defied by Samson, but was appeased by a +present of some horses, dogs, and other valuable gifts. "Here you may +see what misery followeth the tenure by Knight's service: if the +tenant dieth, leaving his heir within age, how the poor child may be +tossed and tumbled, chopped and changed, bought and sold like a jade +in Smithfield, and what is more, married to whom it pleaseth his +guardian, whereof ensue many evils" (Rastell: _Terms of the Lawes of +this Realm_, ed. 1579, fol. 98). + +189, 6. Decipi quadam specie recti. Horace, _De Arte Poetica_, 25. + +189, 8. Isaiah xlii. 8. + +189, 9. _Abbot of Cluny._ This was Hugh, Abbot of Reading from 1180 to +1199, when he was appointed Abbot of Cluny. Much information about him +may be found in Dr. J. B. Hurry's admirable _History of Reading +Abbey_, 1901, whence the following note as to precedence is taken: +"Sir Henry Englefield (_Archaeologia_, vol. vi. p. 61) states that the +Abbot of Reading took precedence after the Abbots of Glastonbury and +St. Albans. But it is probable that no such definite order was +observed.... In the Articles of Faith under Convocation, 28 Henry +VIII., the following is the order of signatures--St. Albans, +Westminster, St. Edmunds Bury, Glastonbury, Reading." + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +190, 6. Numbers xi. 26. + +191, 1. _When the Prior died._ Mr. Rokewode assigns Robert's death to +1200, perhaps because the narrative of the election of his successor +follows in the Chronicle the account of the visit to the monastery of +Hugh, Abbot of Cluny. + +192, 9. Proverbs xix. 11. + +193, 19. Deut. xvii. 8. + +196, 19. _[Herbert] the new prior._ This election seems to have taken +place in 1200. After Samson's death in 1211, Herbert had a great deal +of anxiety arising out of King John's refusal to accept the choice of +Hugh II. (then Prior of Westminster and afterwards Bishop of Ely) as +Abbot; and the narrative of the _Electio Hugonis_ takes up 102 pages +of Mr. Arnold's vol. ii. Herbert died in September, 1220, and was +succeeded as Prior by Richard of Insula (afterwards 12th Abbot). + +197, 20. Acts xxvi. 24. + +197, 23. Nihil omne parte beatum. Hor. _Odes_, i. 16. + +198, 7. Exitus acta probabit. Ovid, _Heroides_, ii. 85. + +198, 11. Psalm lxiv. 3. + +199, 5. Fallitur augurio spes bona saepe suo. Ovid, _Heroides_, xvii. +234. + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +200, 8. Deut. xvi. 19. + +200, 16. Galatians v. 9. + +201, 20. _Dean of London._ This quotation from the _Ymagines +Historiarum_ of Ralph de Diceto, Dean of St. Paul's, who died about +1202, is interesting, as showing that apparently a manuscript copy of +that work was in the possession of Bury Abbey shortly after its +compilation. Diceto has often been identified with Diss in Norfolk: +and there are evidences that William of Diss had a good deal to do +with Jocelin's Chronicle (cf. pages 242, 254). Bishop Stubbs thinks +that Diceto is "an artificial name, adopted by its bearer as the Latin +name of a place with which he was associated," and this he suggests +may be one of three places in Maine. + +202, 16. Mutans quadrata rotundis. Hor. _Ep._ i. 1, 100. + +203, 16. Pila minantia pilis. _Lucan_, 1, 7. + +204, 13. _By his writ._ The same difficulty as to jurisdiction that +arose in the case of Monk's Eleigh with Christ Church, Canterbury (see +chapter vii. and notes to p. 77, l. 23, and p. 78, l. 16) occurred +with the Bishop of Ely; and it lasted an equally long time. In the +_Excerpta Cantabrigiensia_ (Arnold, III. 188) is a long account of a +"Contentio inter monasterium S. Edmundi et episcopum Eliensum" (Univ. +Lib. Ff. 2, 29) respecting the return to writs affecting places within +the Liberty of St. Edmund. The Bishop claimed that when a writ came +down to the Sheriff of Suffolk referring to a place which, though +within the liberty of St. Edmund, belonged to the see of Ely, it was +the duty of the sheriff to send that writ for execution, not to the +abbot, but to the bishop; and the abbot claimed that the ancient +jurisdiction of St. Edmund would thus be infringed. Since the liberty +of St. Edmund comprised eight and a half hundreds in the county of +Suffolk, within which hundreds the see of Ely possessed many manors, +it is obvious that if the charge and execution of writs affecting +these manors were withheld from the abbot and given to the bishop, the +jurisdiction of St. Edmund would be to that extent impaired and +restricted. The Contentio begins with a reference to the King's +decision just given (1408) in favour of Bury against the Canterbury +monks (see note on page 239), and goes on to describe the efforts made +by Abbot Cratfield to stop the encroachments of Bishop Fordham of Ely, +with whom he proposes a meeting, from which the bishop excuses +himself. The controversy dragged on, with many adjournments and +delays, all of which the (Bury) writer lays to the charge of the other +side: nor was it concluded at the date (1426 or 1427) when the tract +was written (Arnold, III. xviii.-xix.). + +205, 20. Psalm viii. 8. + +207, 7. _Geoffrey Fitz-Peter and William de Stutville._ These were +important officials, whom John could ill spare. Geoffrey Fitz-Peter, +Earl of Essex (died 1213) was justiciar, having been appointed by +Richard I. to this high office in 1198, on the resignation of +Archbishop Hubert Walter. He was confirmed in his appointment by John, +who disliked him, but used him for his own ends. William de Stutville +had been appointed sheriff of the county of York in 1201, and died in +1203. + +209, 20. _made his will just as if he was now to die._ The Royal +summons to Court was dated 1203, as the brief of Innocent III. is +printed in Migne's _Patrologia_, vol. 214, and is dated 21 January, +1203. Samson lived nearly nine years afterwards; but as to the facts +of his latest years we know practically nothing. As to his death and +burial, see Preface, pages xl.-xlii. + +211, 9. Pollicitis dives quilibet esse potest. Ovid., _De Arte +Amandi_, 1. 444. + +211. At the foot of fol. 163 of the _Liber Albus_, from which +Jocelin's Chronicle is taken, is a memorandum by William of Diss, +which, as it has been printed both by Rokewode and Arnold, is +translated below, though it is not by Jocelin. It is merely an +expansion of the story told by Jocelin himself on pp. 86-8. Adam of +Cockfield wanted to claim his father's lands by hereditary right; but +William of Diss gives the evidence against this claim. The succession +was: Lenmere, Adam the first (married Adeliza), Robert (died 1191), +Adam the claimant (died 1198), who married Rohesia, and had a daughter +Nesta, over whose wardship there was the dispute recorded on page 187. + +"Robert of Cockfield acknowledged to my lord abbot Samson, in the +presence of many persons--Master W. of Banham, brother W. of Diss, +chaplains, William of Breiton, and many others--that he had no +hereditary right in the vills of Groton and Semere. For in the days of +King Stephen, when the peace was disturbed, the monks of St. Edmund, +with the consent of the abbot, granted the aforesaid two vills to Adam +of Cockfield, his father, to be held all the days of his life: Semere +for the annual payment of one hundred shillings, and Groton by the +payment of an annual rent, because Adam could defend the aforesaid +towns against the holders of the neighbouring castles, W. of Milden +and W. of Ambli, in that he had a castle of his own near to the +aforesaid manors, namely, the castle of Lelesey. + +"After the death of the aforesaid Adam, they granted the said manors +to Robert of Cockfield, son of Adam, at a double rate for Semere, that +is an annual rent of ten pounds, so long as the lords abbots and the +convent wish. But he never had a charter for it, not even to the end +of his life. He had good charters for all the tenements which he held +of St. Edmund by hereditary right, which charters I, William, known as +William of Diss, at that time chaplain, read, in the hearing of many, +in the presence of the aforesaid abbot: that is for the lands of +Lelesey, which Ulfric of Lelesey held of St. Edmund in the same +township; the charter of the abbot and convent concerning the socages +of Rougham, which Mistress Rohesia of Cockfield, once wife of Adam the +younger, brought as her dowry; for the lands also which Lenmere, his +ancestor, held in the town of Cockfield by hereditary right, and which +in the time of King Stephen, with the consent of Anselm, abbot of St. +Edmund, were changed into half a knight's fee, although at first they +had been socages of St. Edmund. + +"He had also charters of the abbot and convent of St. Edmund, for the +lands which are in the town of St. Edmund; for the land, that is to +say, of Hemfrid Criketot, where the houses of Mistress Adeliza were +once situated. They have also a hereditary charter for a great +messuage, under a payment of twelve pence, where the hall of Adam the +first, of Cockfield, was of old situate, with a wooden tower seven +times twenty feet in height. It was confirmed to them as hereditary +right by the charter of the abbot and convent, in which charter are +specified the length and breadth of that place and messuage, to be +held by a payment of two shillings. They also hold a hereditary +charter for the lands which Robert of Cockfield, son of Odo of +Cockfield, now holds in Barton. But they have no charter for the +township of Cockfield, that is, for the portion which pertains to the +food of the monks of St. Edmund. + +"Then there was one brief of King Henry I., in which he commands Abbot +Anselm to allow Adam of Cockfield the first to hold in peace the farm +of Cockfield, and others, as long as he pays rents in full; and that +brief was sealed only of one part, representing the royal +form--against the form of all royal briefs. + +"But Robert of Cockfield claimed, in the presence of the lord abbot +and the aforesaid, that he believed Cockfield to be his hereditary +right on account of his long tenure: because his grandfather, Lenmere, +held that manor for a long time before his death, and Adam the first, +his son, for the term of his life, and he, Robert, all his +life--well-nigh sixty years; but they never had a charter of the abbot +or the convent of St. Edmund for the aforesaid land." + + + + +APPENDIX III + + TABLE OF CHIEF DATES IN THE HISTORY OF THE ABBEY OF + ST. EDMUNDSBURY, from A.D. 870 to 1903. + + +[_Editor's Note._--I had originally contemplated printing only the +dates included in Section II. of this Table, but at the suggestion of +the general Editor of the series, I have extended it backwards and +forwards so as to give a rapid _apercu_ of the history of Bury Abbey +from its earliest beginnings up to the present date. The Table may +have a use other than for readers of _Jocelin's Chronicle_, as it +brings to a focus a mass of chronological information now scattered +over a great variety of books. + +For unfortunately there does not exist at present any adequate history +of Bury Abbey, one of the most ancient, flourishing and important of +the Benedictine institutions in England. There are adequate +materials--at any rate for some of the periods of its existence--in +the copious manuscripts relating to Bury (many of them formerly +belonging to the monastery) now on the shelves of our public libraries +and in private hands; and it seems a pity that no one has the courage +to undertake a task which, though formidable, has been successfully +accomplished in the case of other foundations of less fame. + +The names of some of the principal works that may usefully be +consulted by students of the history of the Abbey will be found on pp. +276 and 277 at the end of the Table.--E. C.]. + + +SECTION I + +_BEFORE THE DAYS OF ABBOT SAMSON_ + + 870 Nov. 20. Martyrdom of St. Edmund. His head is cut off by the + Danes and hidden in a wood "in silvam cui vocabulam est + Haglesdun" (_Abbo_, writing 100 years after). [Domesday book + (1086) records the existence in Wilford Hundred of a place + called Halgestou.] The head being found, is miraculously + rejoined to the body, which is buried "in villula Suthtuna + [Sutton] dicta, de prope loco martyrizationis" (_Herman_, + writing 200 years after). + + 903 (or later). Relics of St. Edmund removed from the place of + burial to Beodricsworth--afterwards called Bury St. Edmunds. + The early authorities differ as to this date. Herman says + the translation took place in the reign of Athelstan + (925-941): the compiler of the Bodl. MS. 240 says A.D. 900 + or 906 (_Nov. Leg. Angl._ II. 590); the Curteys Register + (Part I. f. 211) says A.D. 903. + + 937 (_circa_). According to Abbo, Dunstan, then a youth, hears the + story of St. Edmund's death from an old man who said he was + the King's standard bearer. + + 945 Bishop Theodred (II) of Elmham opens St. Edmund's coffin, + finds the body "whole and incorrupt," and places it in a new + wooden "loculus" (Abbo). + + 945 Charter of King Edmund II (son of Edmund the Elder) granting + lands round Beodricsworth to the clerks (_monasterii + familia_) who were then guarding St. Edmund's shrine. (Text + in Arnold II. 340-1.) _p._ 238. + + 985 (_circa_). Dunstan, the Archbishop, tells the story of St. + Edmund's martyrdom to others, and Abbo recounts it in his + _Passio Sancti Eadmundi_. (Text in Arnold I. 3-25.) + _p._ 217. + + 1010 Egelwin, or Ailwin, takes the body of the Saint from + Beodricsworth to London. _p._ 175. + + 1013 Return of Egelwin, with body of St. Edmund, to Beodricsworth. + + 1014 February. Death of King Sweyn (according to the chroniclers, + at the hands of St. Edmund). + + 1020 At the instance of Aelfwin, Bishop of Elmham, the clerks in + charge of St. Edmund's shrine are removed, and twenty monks, + headed by Uvius, prior of Hulme, installed at Beodricsworth. + + 1020 Uvius consecrated 1st abbot of Bury by the Bishop of London. + + 1020 New stone church (to replace the wooden one containing St. + Edmund's body) commenced by order of Canute, in expiation of + the sacrilegious behaviour of his father Sweyn towards the + saint. + + 1028 Charter of Canute granting "fundus" or farm at Beodricsworth + to be for ever in possession of monks, who were to be free + from episcopal jurisdiction. (Text in Arnold II. 340-1). + + 1032 Oct. 18. Consecration of the new stone church by Egelnoth, + Archbishop of Canterbury. + + 1035 Charter granted to the Abbey by Hardicanute, imposing a fine + of "thirty talents of gold" on any one found guilty of + infringing the Abbey's franchises. (For privileges granted, + see Bodl. MS. 240, printed in _Nova Legenda Anglie_ II. + 607.) + + 1038 Oct. Body of the Saint removed to King Canute's new church. + + 1044 Visit of Edward the Confessor to Bury. _p._ 236. + + 1044 The Confessor grants to Bury abbey jurisdiction over 8-1/2 + hundreds in Suffolk, and the manor of Mildenhall, with + freedom to choose their abbot. _p._ 238. + + 1044 Death of Uvius (remains in Infirmary Chapel). Leofstan + appointed 2nd abbot. + + 1065 Death of Leofstan (remains placed in shrine at foot of St. + Edmund). Baldwin of St. Denis (physician to Edward the + Confessor) appointed 3rd abbot. + + 1065 Mint established at Bury under grant of Edward the Confessor, + in which Beodricsworth is called (apparently for the first + time) St. Edmundsbury. "Ic kithe ihu that Ic habbe unnen + Baldewine Abbot one munetere with innen Seynt Edmunds Biri" + (Battely, p. 134). _p._ 248. + + 1071 Abbot Baldwin at Rome: receives from Pope Alexander II a + precious altar of porphyry, with special privileges. + + 1071 Oct. 27. Bull of Pope Alexander II, taking the monks of St. + Edmund under the special protection of the Holy See, and + forbidding that a bishop's see should ever be established at + Beodricsworth. (Text in Arnold I. 344.) + + 1081 May 31. Charter of William the Conqueror deciding against the + claim of Arfast, Bishop of Thetford, to transfer his see to + Bury, and granting exemption from episcopal jurisdiction. + (Text in Arnold I. 347.) + + 1086 Domesday Book returns show that the annual value of the Town + "ubi quiescit humatus S. Eadmundus rex et martyr gloriosus" + was double that of its value under Edward the Confessor, and + a larger number of persons were maintained. + + 1095 Apr. 29. Translation of St. Edmund's body to new and + magnificent basilica built by Baldwin and his sacrists + Thurstan and Tolinus. + + 1097 Death of Baldwin: buried in the Abbey church, east of the + choir altar. + + 1098 (_circa_). Herman the Archdeacon compiles his book, _De + Miraculis Sancti Eadmundi_. _p._ 218. + + 1100 Henry I gives abbacy to Robert, son of Hugh Lupus, Earl of + Chester. Robert (I) deposed 1102. + + 1101 Attempts of Herbert de Losinga, Bishop of Norwich, to fix his + see at Bury; finally disposed of 1102. + + 1102 Robert II, a monk of Westminster, elected 5th abbot. Scheme + for Abbey church enlarged. Godefridus the sacrist a man "of + almost gigantic stature, great in body but greater still in + mind." _p._ 247. + + 1107 Aug. 15. Robert II consecrated by St. Anselm. Dies soon after, + 16 Sept.; buried in Infirmary Chapel. + + 1114 After seven years' interregnum, Albold, prior of St. Nicasius + at Meaux, elected 6th abbot: died 1119; buried in Infirmary + Chapel. + + 1120 Charter of Henry I confirming the Charters of Canute and + Edward the Confessor. + + 1121 Anselm, nephew of St. Anselm, elected 7th abbot. In his days + the Norman tower of the Abbey was built. + + 1132 Henry I pays a pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Edmund. + + 1135 (_circa_). St. James' Church built by Abbot Anselm, instead of + making a pilgrimage to St. James of Compostella. Church + consecrated by William Corbeil, Archbishop of Canterbury. + + + SECTION II + + _DURING ABBOT SAMSON'S LIFETIME_ (1135-1211) + + 1135 SAMSON born at Tottington, near Thetford. + + 1144 Samson taken by his mother on a pilgrimage to St. Edmund. + _p._ 56. + + 1146 Death of Anselm: buried in Infirmary Chapel. + + 1146 Ording, Prior of St. Edmund, appointed 8th abbot. + + 1150 Fire, which destroys the conventual buildings--Abbot's palace, + refectory, dormitory, the old infirmary, and the + chapter-house. Rebuilt by Helyas the sacrist, Ording's + nephew. _p._ 247. + + 1150 (circa). Galfridus de Fontibus writes the tract _De Infantia + Sancti Eadmundi_, dedicated to Ording. _p._ 218. + + 1153 Eustace, eldest son of King Stephen, plunders some of the + lands of the monastery. Dies at Bury. + + 1156 Jan. 31. Death of Ording: buried in chapter-house. _p._ 247. + + 1156 Hugh, Prior of Westminster, elected 9th abbot. Receives + benediction at Colchester from Archbishop of Canterbury. + + 1157 Battle of Coleshill: Cowardice of Henry of Essex. + _pp._ 103, 243. + + 1160 (_circa_). Samson returns from Paris, and made _magister + scholarum_ or schoolmaster. _p._ 66. + + 1160 (_circa_). Samson's visit to Rome. _pp._ 72, 236. + + 1161 Jan. 12. Bull of Alexander II, confirming the Abbot and monks + of Bury in all their rights and privileges, authorizing + appropriation of certain manors to special purposes, etc. + Future abbots to be freely elected. In important matters + there is to be an appeal to the Holy See. (Text in Arnold + III. 78-80.) + + 1161 May 22. Brief obtained from Pope Alexander III, confirming the + right of the Abbey to the revenues of Woolpit. _p._ 74. + + 1163 Abbot Hugh at the Council of Tours, where he usurps the seat + of the Abbot of St. Albans. + + 1163 Wager of battle between Henry of Essex and Robert de Montfort + at Reading. _pp._ 104-5. + + 1166 Samson takes monastic orders. _p._ 60. + + 1172 Apr. 7. Bull of Pope Alexander III, dated at Tusculum, + exempting the Abbey from the visitation of the Archbishop of + the Province as _legatus natus_ of the apostolic see (_Cf._ + Rokewode, p. 107). _p._ 7. + + 1173 Jocelin of Brakelond becomes Monk of St. Edmund. _p._ 1. + + 1173 Hugh the Prior deposed: succeeded by Robert. _p._ 1. + + 1173 October 17. Battle of Fornham. _pp._ 1, 86, 221. + + 1175 (_circa_). Samson master of the novices. _p._ 6. + + 1180 (_ante_). Samson compiles the work _De Miraculis Sancti + Eadmundi_. (See Appendix I.) _pp._ 215-21. + + 1180 Sept. 9. Abbot Hugh's accident near Rochester. _p._ 10. + + 1180 Nov. 15. Death of Abbot Hugh I. _pp._ 10, 225. + + 1180-2 Samson subsacrist and master of the workmen. Rebuilds choir of + Abbey Church, and makes preparations for building the great + tower. _p._ 14. + + 1181 June 10. Martyrdom of the boy Robert by the Jews. _p._ 23. + + 1181 Aug. 9. Arrival at Abbey of Archbishop of Trontheim on a + visit. _p._ 23. + + 1182 Feb. 21. Appointment of Samson as Abbot at Bishop's Waltham, + with Henry II's approval. _p._ 31. + + 1182 Feb. 28. Samson receives the blessing of the Bishop of + Winchester, at Merewell. _p._ 36. + + 1182 Mar. 21. (Palm Sunday). Samson is solemnly received at St. + Edmunds. _p._ 37. + + 1182 Mar. 29. Samson calls a meeting of the convent, the Knights + and certain burgesses as to the election of bailiffs. + _p._ 109. + + 1182 Mar. 31. Samson sends messengers to Rome for confirmation of + the Abbey's privileges. _p._ 84. + + 1182 Apr. 1. Barons, Knights and freemen summoned to do homage. + _p._ 41. + + 1182 Samson appointed a judge in the ecclesiastical courts, by Pope + Lucius III. _p._ 51. + + 1182 Contests as to town rights and dues. _p._ 108. + + 1183 Samson restores the Church of Woolpit to the monastery. + _p._ 72. + + 1184-5 Samson founds St. Saviour's Hospital, at Babwell. _p._ 69. + + 1186 Kalendar or general survey of Abbey estates completed. + _pp._ 44-5. + + 1187 Victory over Archbishop Baldwin as to jurisdiction in case of + homicide at Monks Eleigh. _p._ 76. + + 1187 Jan. 21. Samson obtains from Pope Urban III the privilege of + giving the episcopal benediction. _p._ 84. + + 1187 Feb. 11. Dispute as to jurisdiction, between Samson and the + Monks of Canterbury, brought before Henry II in + chapter-house at Canterbury. _pp._ 77, 238. + + 1187 Sept. 29. Loss of Jerusalem: Samson's grief. _p._ 60. + + 1187 Samson waits upon Henry II at Clarendon, to obtain a + recognition of the immunity of the Abbey from certain taxes. + _p._ 96. + + 1188 Jan. 20. General exemption granted by the Pope to Samson and + his successors from the authority of the Archbishop of + Canterbury. _p._ 84. + + 1188 Jan. 21. Henry II takes the Cross between Trie and Gisors. + _p._ 80. + + 1188 Feb. Henry II at Bury. Samson refused permission to accompany + the King to the Crusades. _p._ 81. + + 1189 Sept. 3. Richard I crowned at Westminster; Abbot Samson + present. + + 1189 Sept. Purchase of the manor of Mildenhall from Richard I. + _p._ 70. + + 1189 Nov. Samson appointed one of the arbitrators to settle the + dispute between Archbishop Baldwin and the Monks of Christ + Church at Canterbury. + + 1190 March 18. Massacre of 57 Jews at Bury. _p._ 69. + + 1190 Oct. Conflict as to monastic discipline, at the Council of + Westminster, between Samson and the Bishop of Ely. _p._ 81. + + 1191 Death of Robert of Cockfield. _pp._ 86, 255. + + 1191 Samson's quarrel with William Longchamp, Bishop of Ely. + _p._ 79. + + 1191 Sept.-Oct. Excommunication of Longchamp, and his flight from + England. _pp._ 79, 240. + + 1192 Complaints of the monks to the abbot concerning the Abbey + revenues. _p._ 114. + + 1193 Return of Longchamp. Samson refuses to celebrate Mass before + him. _p._ 80. + + 1193 Collection of money for the ransom of King Richard. + _pp._ 71, 234. + + 1193 Samson excommunicates the disturbers of the peace, and appears + in arms before Windsor. _p._ 82. + + 1193 Samson visits Richard I in his German prison "with many + gifts." _p._ 82. + + 1194 Feb. 4. King Richard released from captivity. + + 1194 Mch. 12. Lands at Sandwich after an absence of 4-1/4 years; + pays, before the end of the month, thanksgiving visits to + (1) Canterbury (2) St. Edmundsbury. + + 1194 June 28. Samson's contest with turbulent young knights, who + hold a Tournament without his authorization. _p._ 83. + + 1194 Samson grants a Charter to the town. _pp._ 116, 244. + + 1194 Abbey debts entirely discharged. _p._ 46. + + 1196 Samson's contest with his fifty knights concerning their dues: + the abbot victorious. _pp._ 97-9. + + 1196 Samson takes the cellarer's department into his own hands. + _p._ 131 _et seq._ + + 1197 Commission of Pope Celestine III for the restoration of the + Monks of Coventry. _pp._ 142, 246. + + 1198 Jan. 14. Samson at Coventry in high spirits. _p._ 143. + + 1198 Jan. 18. Coventry Monks re-inducted by the Archbishop. + _p._ 143. + + 1198 Samson charges moiety of Wetherden in favour of schools at + Bury. _p._ 144. + + 1198 (_circa_). Archbishop Hubert Walter proposes to visit the + Abbey of Bury. _p._ 122. + + 1198 Dispute between King Richard and Samson as to the wardship of + Nesta of Cockfield. _pp._ 147-9. + + 1198 Samson goes to Normandy to settle with King Richard as to the + four knights demanded from the Abbey for the war against the + King of France. _p._ 129. + + 1198 July 18. Richard I confirms by Charters the Manor of + Mildenhall to the Abbey. _pp._ 70-2, 235. + + 1198 Oct. 17. Fire in the Abbey: shrine of St. Edmund in danger. + _p._ 162. + + 1198 Nov. 23. Shrine transferred to high altar. _p._ 170. + + 1198 Nov. 26. Samson views St. Edmund's body. _p._ 173. + + 1198 Dec. 1. Letter of Pope Innocent III exempting the Abbey from + the visitation even of a legate, unless he were a legate _a + latere_. _pp._ 124, 245. + + 1199 Reconciliation between Hubert Walter, Archbishop of + Canterbury, and Samson. _p._ 127. + + 1199 April 6. Death of King Richard I. + + 1199 May 27. King John crowned at Westminster. _p._ 178. + + 1199 King John visits Bury. _p._ 178. + + 1199 Violent quarrels between Samson and his monks: he withdraws + from the Abbey for a week: reconciliation effected. + _pp._ 179-83. + + 1200 Mar. 15. Ratification by King John of Charter granted by + Samson to St. Saviour's Hospital at Babwell. _p._ 72. + + 1200 Nov. 6. Samson one of three arbitrators in dispute between + Archbp. of Canterbury and Canons of Lambeth. _p._ 229. + + 1200 List drawn up of knights of St. Edmund. _pp._ 183-6. + + 1200 Hugh, Abbot of Cluny, visits Bury. _p._ 189. + + 1200 Death of Prior Robert: Herbert succeeds him. _p._ 191. + + 1201 Eustace, Abbot of Flay, preaches at Bury. _p._ 202. + + 1201 Sept. Samson appointed one of three Commissioners sent by + the Pope to Worcester to investigate the miracles of + St. Wulfstan. + + 1202 Dispute between the monks of Ely and of Bury concerning the + market at Lakenheath. _pp._ 203, 253. + + 1202 Hugh of Northwold (afterwards abbot) admitted a monk. + + 1203 Jan. 31. Samson appointed by the Pope on a commission + concerning the dispensation of Crusaders from their vows: + and summoned over sea to advise the King on this question. + _pp._ 207-11. + + 1203 Dec. 21. John at Bury, and makes valuable offerings: but + prevails on convent to grant him for life the use of the + jewels which his mother Queen Eleanor had presented to St. + Edmund. _p._ 251. + + 1208 Mar. 24. Interdict comes into force throughout England. + + 1210 Sept. 23. Fall of central tower of Abbey Church. + + 1211 Dec. 30. Death of Samson: buried in unconsecrated ground. + _p._ xl. + + 1213 July. King John expresses a wish for the vacancy to be filled: + Hugh (II) of Northwold chosen. + + 1214 July 2. Interdict solemnly dissolved. + + 1214 Aug. 12. Samson's body exhumed and buried in the chapter-house + of Bury Abbey. _pp._ xlii., 247. + + + SECTION III + + _FROM 1214 TO DISSOLUTION IN 1539_ + + 1214 Nov. 4. King John at Bury: makes a speech in the chapter-house + asserting his rights over the election of abbot. _p._ 251. + + 1214 Nov. 20. The discontented earls and barons meet at Bury + (probably on St. Edmund's Day) "as if for prayer." + Archbishop Langton reads to them Henry I's charter: and each + swears on the high altar to make war on John unless he gives + them the liberties contained therein (_Roger of Wendover_, + vol. iii. 293-4). + + 1215 Mar. 10. Commissioners appointed by the Pope finally give + judgment in favour of Hugh's election as abbot. + + 1215 June 9. King's approval to appointment of Hugh given in + Staines meadow. + + 1215 June 15. Magna Charta signed. + + 1215-6 Louis, son of Philip II of France, invited by the barons to + help them in their struggle against John. East Anglian towns + sacked--Norwich and Lynn by the French; Cambridge, Yarmouth, + Dunwich, Ipswich and Colchester by the barons (Ramsay's + _Angevin Empire_, 1903, _p._ 497). Bury St. Edmunds a + stronghold of the king (Norgate, _John Lackland_, 1902, + _pp._ 257-8). Louis himself fighting in the south of + England. No evidence of Louis or his hordes ever being at + Bury. + + 1216 Oct. 19. Death of John at Newark. Henry III succeeds to the + throne. + + 1220 (_circa_). Richard of Newport, sacrist, destroys the old + chapter-house and rebuilds it from foundations. _p._ 247. + + 1220 Death of Herbert the prior. Richard of Insula (afterwards 12th + abbot) succeeds him. + + 1224 Abbot Hugh at the Royal camp before Bedford Castle, attended + by knights holding manors under St. Edmund. + + 1225 (_circa_). Abbot's Bridge built. + + 1229 Abbot Hugh II made Bishop of Ely: died August, 1254. Described + by Matthew Paris as "flos nigrorum monachorum." + + 1229 Nov. 20. Richard of Insula recalled from Burton and installed + as 12th abbot on St. Edmund's Day. + + 1234 Abbot Richard sent abroad on an appeal to Pope Gregory IX. + Attacked on his return with mortal illness, and dies at + Pontigny. Buried in the chapter-house at Bury, where his + skeleton was discovered on January 1, 1903, with skull sawn + through and sternum severed (evidently for embalming + purposes). _p._ 247. + + 1235 Henry of Rushbrook, prior of Bury, elected 13th abbot. + + 1235 Royal Charters granted to Abbot Henry to hold two fairs at + Bury and a market at his manor of Melford. + + 1245 Abbot Henry excused by the Pope, on account of the gout, from + attending the Council of Lyons. + + 1245 At the request of the convent, Henry III calls his newly-born + son Edmund (founder of the house of Lancaster). Text of + Royal letter in Arnold III. 28. + + 1248 July 5. Bull of Pope Innocent III (signed at Lyons) + prescribing the solemn celebration of the feast of the + translation of St. Edmund (April 29). Text in _Nov. Leg. + Angl._ (1901) II. 574. + + 1248 Death of Abbot Henry: buried in chapter-house. Edmund of + Walpole, LL.D., appointed 14th abbot. + + 1250 Henry III takes the Cross: the abbot does the same, exposing + himself to general derision (Matt. Par. v. 110). + + 1252 Simon of Luton (afterwards abbot) made prior. + + 1254 Richard of Clare, seventh Earl of Gloucester, claims St. + Edmund's manor of Mildenhall: threatened with + excommunication by the Pope. + + 1254 Aug. Death of Hugh, Bishop of Ely (Abbot of Bury, 1213-29). + + 1256 Aug. Statutes approved by Pope Alexander IV for the governance + of the Abbey of Bury, providing _inter alia_ for "two + persons watching the body of St. Edmund and two the church + treasure and clock night and day." + + 1256 Dec. 31. Abbot Edmund died: buried in the chapter-house. + _p._ 247. + + 1257 Jan. 15. Simon of Luton, prior, elected 15th abbot: cost of + confirmation by the Pope, 2,000 marks. + + 1263 Nov. Franciscan friars expelled from Bury, under a rescript + from Pope Urban IV, and compelled to migrate to Babwell. + + 1264 (Easter). Serious conflict between the monastery and the + burgesses. The abbot complains to the king: fine inflicted + on the burgesses. + + 1265 Defeat and death of Simon de Montfort. Many barons of his + party take shelter at Bury, but subsequently dislodged. + + 1267 February. Henry III summons the barons who owe military + service to the Crown to meet him at Bury. + + 1272 Sept. 1. Henry III at Bury on his way to Norwich. + + 1272 Nov. 16. Death of Henry III (Rishanger says at Bury). + + 1275 April 17. Edward I and his Queen come to St. Edmundsbury on a + pilgrimage, "as they had vowed in the Holy Land." + + 1275 July 1. Foundation stone of new Lady Chapel laid by Prior + Robert. + + 1279 April. Death of Abbot Simon at Melford: buried in the Lady + Chapel, which he had built "at the cost of himself, his + parents and his friends" (Leland, iv. 164). + + 1279 Dec. 28. John of Northwold, guest master of the abbey, + solemnly received in the Abbey Church as 16th abbot, after + having gone to Rome to be blessed by Pope Nicholas III. Cost + of his journey, 1,175 marks, his credit from abbey being + only 500 marks. + + 1281 A new division between the property of the abbot and that of + the convent, sanctioned by Edward I in consideration of + L1,000. + + 1285 Feb. 20. The King with the Queen and her three daughters make + a pilgrimage to Bury. + + 1292 April 28. The King, with his son and daughters, again at Bury, + remaining either at the abbey or the manor of Culford for + ten days. Granted charter that none of his justices should + sit within the banlieue of St. Edmund. + + 1292 Dispute between monastery and town. Royal Commission of + inquiry sent down. The burgesses to present annually an + alderman for confirmation by the abbot: the alderman to + present four persons to the sacrist as keepers of the four + gates. + + 1294 Mar. 18. Edward I again at St. Edmundsbury "with great + devotion." + + 1296 Nov. Edward I holds a Parliament at Bury to obtain an aid from + the clergy and people. Difficulties in its collection. + + 1301 Oct. 29. Death of Abbot John I: buried in the church before + the choir altar. + + 1301 Nov. 30. Edward's I's letter giving permission for a new + election. + + 1302 Jan. 2. Election of Thomas of Tottington (Samson's birthplace) + as 17th abbot. + + 1305 Further disputes between the convent and the town. The king's + justices impose fines on the aldermen and burgesses. + + 1312 Jan. 7. Death of Abbot Thomas: buried in north aisle of abbey + church (part of his memorial brass now at Hedgerley church, + Bucks). Succeeded by Richard of Draughton. + + 1326 Edward II spends Christmas at Bury. + + 1327 Great riots at Bury: the abbey plundered. The abbot seized and + carried off, and eventually deported to Diest in Brabant. + The outlying manors ravaged, and nearly the whole of the + conventual and domestic buildings burnt: loss of property + assessed at L140,000. Charter extorted by the townsmen from + the convent. (French text in Arnold III. 302-317.) + + 1330 Sept. 13. Charter of Edward III granting free warren in all + demesnes of the Abbey of St. Edmund, and a weekly market at + Melford, with an annual fair of nine days. + + 1335 Death of Abbot Richard: buried in north aisle of the church. + The sub-prior, William of Bernham, hastily elected 19th + abbot for fear of the Pope's interference. + + 1345 Jan. 24. Completion of Richard of Bury's _Philobiblon_. + + 1345 Quarrel between the abbey and Bishop Bateman of Norwich. + Morality and discipline of the abbey reported bad by + diocesan commissioners. + + 1346 The abbot appeals to the Pope, and also sues Bishop Bateman in + the King's Court, pleading the Charter of Hardicanute + (1035): the judges give sentence in the abbot's favour. + + 1346 (_circa_). Completion of abbey gateway, erected after + destruction of a previous gateway by the townspeople in the + riots of 1327. + + 1351 Presentation to the abbot of three names for selection of an + alderman to have charge of the municipal government of Bury. + Admission by the abbot of John Ewell as a matter of favour. + + 1361 Death of Abbot William: buried in Lady Chapel. Henry of + Hunstanton elected his successor, and proceeds to Avignon, + but dies of the pestilence near that city before obtaining + confirmation by the Pope. + + 1361 John of Brinkley appointed as 20th abbot by Pope Innocent VI. + + 1375 Date of last miracle recorded in Bodleian MS. 240 (Symon + Broun, nearly lost at sea, vows to St. Edmund and is saved. + _Nov. Leg. Anglie_ (1901) vol. II. _p._ 678). + + 1379 Death of John of Brinkley at Elmswell: buried in the Lady + Chapel. John of Timworth, sub-prior, elected by the monks + 21st abbot. Urban VI appoints Edmund de Bromfeld instead, + and a controversy ensues, lasting five years. + + 1381 Rebellion in East Anglia under Jack Strawe. Murder of John de + Cambridge, the prior, and Sir John Cavendish, the chief + justice. Town of Bury outlawed and fined 2,000 marks. + + 1383 Richard II and Anne of Bohemia visit Bury and remain ten days + at the monastery, at an expense of 800 marks. + + 1384 June 4. Matters having at length been arranged with the Pope, + John of Timworth's election as abbot is confirmed (died + 1389). + + 1390 William of Cratfield elected 22nd abbot. + + 1400 Oct. 1. Thomas of Arundel, Archbishop of Canterbury, visits + Bury: received as a visitor with much respect, but without a + procession. + + 1408 Nov. 25. Letters patent of King Henry IV finally deciding, in + favour of Bury Abbey, the disputed question as to the + jurisdiction of the Liberty of St. Edmund over Hadleigh and + Eleigh. _pp._ 76-8, 239. + + 1410 Catalogue of 195 Monastic Libraries (including that of Bury), + compiled by John Boston, monk of Bury. + + 1415 June 18. Death of Cratfield. William of Exeter elected 23rd + abbot. + + 1424 William Exeter causes the marble tomb of Ording (and (?) of + Samson) in the chapter-house to be renewed. _p._ 247. + + 1424-33 Building of the present St. Mary's Church on the site of an + older church in S.W. corner of the cemetery of the abbey. + + 1427 Thomas Beaufort, second son of John of Gaunt, buried in Abbey + Church (coffin discovered and re-interred 1772). + + 1429 Death of William Exeter. William Curteys or Curtis elected + 24th abbot. + + 1430 Dec. 18. Fall of Southern side of western tower. + + 1430 Dec. 30. Fall of Eastern side of western tower. Immediate + steps taken to contract for a new tower. + + 1430 Abbot Curteys builds a library for the abbey (see his + regulations for use of books in _James, pp._ 109-11). + + 1432 Ruins of tower cleared away. Rebuilding commenced: estimated + cost, 60,000 ducats of gold. + + 1433-4 Visit of Henry VI to Bury Abbey from Christmas till St. + George's Day. The monastery presents him with a + magnificently illuminated _Life of St. Edmund_, by John + Lydgate (now in Brit. Mus. Harl. MS. 2278). + + 1446 Sept. 17. Henry VI writes to Abbot Curteys to ask him to be + present at laying of foundation stone of King's College, + Cambridge, on Michaelmas Day. + + 1446 Death of Curteys. Succeeded by William Babington as 25th + abbot. + + 1447 Feb. 10. Parliament at Bury, in the Abbey refectory. Duke + Humphrey of Gloucester present, and arrested (Feb. 18) for + high treason. + + 1447 Nov. 13. Charter of Henry VI confirming the abbey privileges. + (Text in Arnold III. 357.) + + 1449 Royal Charter granted, freeing the Abbot of all aids to the + King for forty marks a year. + + 1453 Death of Abbot Babington: John Boon, or Bohun, appointed 26th + abbot. + + 1462 General pardon granted by Edward IV to the Abbot and monks, + whose sympathies had been Lancastrian. + + 1462 Nov. 17. A lost Abbey register bought by John Broughton, and + presented by him to the monastery at the instance of Abbot + Boon. + + 1465 Jan. 20. Abbey Church completely gutted by fire. (St. Edmund's + shrine said to have been saved.) Abbot Boon spends and + collects large sums for its repair and rebuilding. + + 1469 Death of Abbot Boon: buried in the Lady Chapel. Succeeded by + Robert of Ixworth as 27th abbot. + + 1474 Richard of Hengham appointed 27th abbot. + + 1479 Thomas of Rattlesden appointed 28th abbot. + + 1479 May. William of Worcester visits the Abbey and takes + measurements of the various buildings. + + 1486 Visit of Henry VII to Bury. + + 1497 William of Codenham appointed 29th abbot. + + 1513 Death of Codenham. John Reeve of Melford appointed 30th and + last abbot. + + 1532 Abbot Reeve assists at the funeral of Abbot Islip of + Westminster. + + 1533 July 21. Mary Tudor, sister of Henry VIII, buried in great + state at the Abbey (subsequently re-interred in St. Mary's + Church). + + 1535 Nov. 5. Letter from John Ap Rice to Thomas Cromwell as to the + state of morals and worship of relics at Bury Abbey and + enclosing _compertes_ of proceedings (_Compendium + Compertorum_ now at Record Office). + + 1536 Nov. 26. Grant by the Abbey to Thomas Cromwell and his son + Gregory of an annuity of L10. + + 1538 (_circa_). Visit of Leland the antiquary to Bury, in search of + ancient books and records. + + 1538 Sept. Sir John Williams, Richard Pollard, Philip Parys and + John Smyth report to Cromwell that they have been to St. + Edmundsbury, "where we founde a riche shryne which was very + comberous to deface. We have takyn in the said monastery in + golde and sylver MMMMM marks and above, over and besydes a + well and riche crosse with emereddes, as also dyvers and + sundry stones of great value, and yet we have left the + churche, abbott and convent very well ffurnesshed with plate + of sylver necessary for the same" (MS. Cotton. Cleop. E. iv. + 229). The actual amount of plate taken at 'His Majesty's + visitation' on this occasion was 1,553 oz gold plate, 6,853 + oz. gilt plate, 933 oz. parcel-gilt plate, 190 oz. white + plate. (_Monastic Treasures_, 1836). See also under Dec. 2, + 1539. + + 1539 Nov. 4. Deed of surrender of Bury Abbey signed by Abbot Reeve, + Prior Thomas Denysse of Ryngstede and 41 other monks. + + 1539 Nov. 7. Sir Richard Rich, Sir A. Wingfield, Ric. Southwell, + Wm. Petre, John Ap Rice, and T. Mildmay inform Henry VIII of + the surrender of the Abbey: they "have taken the plate and + best ornaments of the house" for the King, and have sold the + rest. They also ask whether they are "to deface the church + or other edifices of the house." The lead and the bells (if + the house be defaced) will be worth 4,500 marks. + + 1539 Dec. 2. Indent of Richard Southwell of amount of plate taken + from Bury Abbey--150 oz. gilt plate, 145 oz. parcel-gilt + plate, and 2,162 oz. white plate, besides a pair of birrall + candlesticks (handed to the King), and an ornamented mitre + (_Monastic Treasures_, 1836). [Thus, with the spoils of + 1538, 1,553 oz. gold plate (all on the first occasion), and + 10,433 oz. silver plate, were taken from the Abbey.] + + + SECTION IV + + _FROM THE DISSOLUTION TO 1903_ + + 1540 March 30. Death of ex-Abbot Reeve; buried in the + chancel of St. Mary's Church. + + 1550 The first of the thirty grammar schools founded by Edward VI + established at Bury. + + 1560 Feb. 14. Site of Monastery sold by Queen Elizabeth for L412 + 19_s._ 4_d._ to John Eyer; by him transferred to Thomas + Badby. + + 1578 Aug. 7. Queen Elizabeth at Bury. + + 1599 Over a hundred books from Bury Abbey in the hands of William + Smart, a "Postman" of Ipswich. Given by him to Pembroke + College, Cambridge. + + 1606 Apl. 3. Bury made a Borough by Charter of James I. (Borough + Motto: _Sacrarium Regis, Cunabula Legis_). + + 1634 Condition of the site of the Abbey described by William + Hawkins of Hadleigh in his "Corolla Varia." + + 1644 Publication at Toulouse of Caseneuve's "Vie de St. Edmond," + alleging that the body of the saint was at the basilica of + St. Sernin there, and had been brought over by Louis in + 1216. Caseneuve describes, misquoting Matthew Paris (II. + 663) the alleged pillage by Louis of "Toutes les eglises du + comte de Suffolk," refers to the fact that in those days + "les Chretiens faisaient gloire d'enlever par un devot + larcin les reliques des saints," and says "Il est croyable + que les Francais en firent autant de celles de St. Edmond" + (_cf._ 1216, 1256, 1901). + + 1745 Publication at Oxford by Rev. Dr. Oliver Battely of + _Antiquitates S. Edmundi Burgi ad annum MCCLXXII perductae_, + written by his uncle, Dr. John Battely (died 1708). + + 1761 Ancient gates of town pulled down by order of Corporation. + + 1772 Some excavations on site of Church, made by Mr. King, and + reported in vol. III. of Archaeologia. + + 1805 Publication of _An Illustration of the Monastic History and + Antiquities of the Town and Abbey of St. Edmund's Bury_, by + Richard Yates, D.D., F.R.S. (1769-1834). + + 1806 Site of Abbey comes into the hands of the Hervey family, the + present possessors. + + 1840 Rokewode's Edition of Latin text of _Chronicle of Jocelin of + Brakelond_, published by Camden Soc. + + 1843 Carlyle's _Past and Present_ published. + + 1843 Publication of second edition--including fragment of Part II + projected in 1805--of Yates' History of Bury (Remainder of + Yates' materials amongst Egerton MSS. in British Museum). + + 1844 T. E. Tomlins' English translation of _Jocelin's Chronicle_. + + 1850 S. Tymms' _Bury Wills_ (Camd. Soc.). + + 1865 Papers by Mr. Gordon M. Hills on antiquities of Bury St. + Edmunds in _Journal British Archaeological Association_, vol. + xxi. _pp._ 32-56 and 104-140. + + 1869 July 20. British Archaeological Association at Bury: paper on + Abbey read by Mr. Alfred W. Morant. + + 1890 Publication of J. R. Thompson's _Records of St. Edmund_ + [mostly based on Battely and the legendary chronicles]. + + 1890 Publication of vol. I. of _Memorials of St. Edmund's Abbey_ + (Rolls series), edited by T. Arnold (vol. II. published + 1892, vol. III. 1896). + + 1893 Publication of _St. Edmund King and Martyr_, by Rev. Father + Mackinlay, O.S.B. [picturesque and interesting, but + uncritical]. + + 1895 Publication of Dr. Montague R. James' two papers on (1) the + Library (2) the Church of "The Abbey of St. Edmund at Bury" + (Camb. Antiq. Soc., 8vo. Publications No. xxviii.). + + 1901 Publication of _Nova Legenda Anglie_ (Ox. Univ. Press), + containing in vol. II. the full "Vita et passio cum + miraculis sancti Edmundi," compiled at Bury in the 14th + Century (Bodl. MS. 240). + + 1901 July 25. Landing at Newhaven, for the new Roman Catholic + Cathedral of Westminster, of bones from Toulouse said to be + those of St. Edmund (_cf._ 1216, 1256, 1644.). + + 1901 Sept. 5. Letter in _The Times_ showing cause against these + bones being those of St. Edmund. + + 1901 Sept. 9. Cardinal Vaughan admits at Newcastle-on-Tyne that, in + view of facts stated, "the relics are not genuine." + + 1902 Publication of Lord Francis Hervey's _Suffolk in the XVIIth + Century_, containing in Appendix a critical study of the + legends about St. Edmund's life and martyrdom. + + 1902-3 (Winter). Excavations on site of chapter-house. + + 1903 Jan. 1. Discovery on the site of the chapter-house of five + stone coffins with skeletons, in the positions assigned in a + Bury MS. of circa 1425 (now at Douai) to the burial places + of Abbots Ording (1146-56), SAMSON (1182-1211), Richard of + Insula (1229-34), Henry of Rushbrook (1234-46), and Edmund + of Walpole (1248-56). A sixth skeleton (uncoffined) also + found in a line with these coffins to the west--doubtless + that of Abbot Hugh I (1156-80). _pp._ 225, 247. + + + + + INDEX + + + Abbo of Fleury: 217. + + Acre: 6, 74, 125, 223, 237. + + Adam, the infirmarer: 200. + + Aelmessethe, _see_ Elmsett. + + Aelmeswell, _see_ Elmswell. + + Ailwin, or Egelwin: 175, 250. + + Alberic, the earl: 85, 98, 184. + + Albold, Abbot of St. Edmund: 229, 245, 261. + + Alexander II. (Pope): 260. + + Alexander III., Pope: 72, 236. + + Alfric: 85, 241. + + Alveth, Gilbert of: 26. + + Ambli, William of: 255. + + Ambrose (monk): 25. + + Ampton: 185. + + Andrew (monk): 25. + + Anselm, Abbot of St. Edmund's, 116, 255-6, 261. + + Ansty, Hubert of: 185. + + Anthony (monk): 26. + + Arnald: 49. + + Arnold, T., Memorials of St. Edmund's Abbey, xix. and + _passim_. + + Ashfield: 184, 185. + + Augustine (monk): 172. + + Augustine, Archbp. of Trontheim: 23, 227. + + Averpenny: 155, 248. + + + Babwell: 69, 72, 201, 234. + + Baldwin, Abbot of St. Edmund: 260. + + Baldwin, Archbishop: 76-8. + + Banham, William of: 255. + + Bardwell: 184. + William of: 184. + + Barningham: 184, 185. + Adam of: 185. + + Barrator: 18, 65, 108, 226-7. + + Barton: 95, 186, 256. + + Battely, Dr. John: 276. + + Beasts of chase: 230. + + Beccles: 95. + + Bedingfield: 95. + + Benedict of Blakenham: 8. + + Benedict, the Jew: 3, 4, 223. + + Benedict, the monk: 25, sub-prior, 152. + + Beodricsworth: 154, 248, 258. + + Bigot, Roger, Earl of Norfolk: 86, 96, 98, 99, 184, 241. + + Bishop's Waltham: 31, 228. + + Blakenham, Benedict of: 8. + + Blithing: 184. + + Blood letting season: 21, 227. + + Blund, Hamo: 138. + William: 184. + + Blunham: 184, 229. + + Botolph, St.: 176, 250. + + Boxford: 90, 94. + + Bradfield: 44, 90, 95, 185, 186. + + Brakelond, _see_ Jocelin. + + Breiton, William of: 255. + + Brettenham: 90, 94. + + Briddinghoe: 185. + + Briseword, Hubert of: 96. + + Brisingham: 184. + + Broc, Peter de (monk): 25. + + Brockdish: 185. + Stephen of: 185. + + Brockford: 94, 95. + + Brockley: 185. + Reginald of: 185. + + Brome: 184. + + Buckenham: 184. + Ralph of: 184. + + Burgh, Thomas de: 187-189. + + + Canterbury (Christ Church): 77-8, 238, 239. + + Canterbury, Archbishops of:-- + Baldwin: 76-8. + Hubert Walter: 83, 98, 121-2, 125, 142-3, 175-6, 187, + 240, 245. + Richard: 6, 7, 221, 224. + + Carlyle's _Past and Present_: xv., xxiv., xxix., xl. + + Castle Acre: 6, 74, 125, 223, 237. + + Celestine III, Pope: 142, 246. + + Cellarer, jurisdiction of: 154-9. + + Cereville, Gilbert of: 104. + + Chapter House of Bury Abbey: 152, 247, 278. + + Chebenhall: 187. + + Chelsworth: 95. + + Chernelles, Arnald of: 184. + + Chertsey [Bertrand] Abbot of: 33, 189. + + Chevington: 49, 94. + + Chipley: 185. + + Clare, Richard, Earl of: 85-6. + Roger, Earl of: 104, 243. + + Clarendon: 96. + + Cluny, Hugh, Abbot of: 189, 252. + + Colchester: 95. + + Coleshill: 103. + + Constantine, Geoffry of: 5. + + Cosford Hundred: 44, 86, 232, 238. + + Cockfield, Adam (1st) of: 255. + Adam (2nd) of: 86, 147, 184, 187, 246, 254-6. + Adeliza of: 255. + Lemnere of: 255. + Nesta of: 187, 246-7, 251, 255. + Odo of: 256. + Robert of: 12, 15, 44, 77, 86, 91, 241, 255-6. + Rohesia of: 255. + + Cockfield or Cokefield, Town of: 88, 95, 184, 188, 256. + + Cotton: 94. + + Coventry, the Monks of: 142-3, 246. + + Coutances, Walter of: 72, 235. + + Criketot, Hemfrid: 256. + + Cunegestun (Kingston): 95. + + Curteys, W., Abbot: 273. + His Register: 216. + + + Dennis, cellarer of St. Edmund: 6, 8, 9, 25, 32, 33, 34, + 157, 200. + + Dereham: 121, 125. + + Diceto, Ralph de, dean of London: 201-2, 236, 253. + + Dickleburgh: 90, 95. + + Diss, John of: 174. + Walter of: 67. + William of (the elder): 67. + William of: 172, 242, 253, 254-6. + + Dissolution of Bury Abbey (1539): 274-5. + + Dogs, coursing by, 43, 231. + Presented by Samson to Richard I: 149, 231. + + Durand of Hosteley: 91. + (town bailiff): 209. + + Domesday Book: 70, 234, 260. + + Dunstan, Archbishop: 217. + + Durham: 67. + + + Edmund (monk): 29. + + Edmund, the "golden" monk: 45. + + Edward the Confessor: 233, 238, 259. + + Egelwin, or Ailwin: 175, 250. + + Eleanor, Queen, 70-71, 234. + + Eleigh, Monks: 76-77, 79, 238-9. + Combust: 185. + Hugh of: 185. + + Elias, cupbearer: 67. + + Elm, Robert of: 91. + + Elmsett: 106-7, 230. + + Elmswell: 67, 94, 106-7. + + Elveden: 95. + Gilbert of: 155. + + Ely, Bishops of:-- + William Longchamp: 79, 80-2, 240. + Geoffrey Ridel: 74, 106-7, 203-7, 237. + + Ely: 125, 203-7, 253. + + Endgate: 90. + + Essex, Henry of: 101-105, 242. + + Etheldreda, St., court of: 206. + + Eu, Castle of: 129. + Roger of: 184. + + Eustace (monk): 26. + (tenant): 93. + + Euston: 185. + + + Fair of St. Edmund: 112-3, 115-6. + + Fakenham, Great: 184. + + Felsham: 185. + + Fitz-Alan, Peter, of Brockley: 185. + + Fitz-Drogo, Richard: 68. + + Fitz-Hervey, Osbert: 51. + William: 96. + + Fitz-Isabel, William: 2. + + Fitz-Peter, Geoffrey: 204, 207, 254. + + Fitz-Ralph, Gilbert: 91, 184. + + Fitz-Roger, Robert: 184. + + Fitz-Walter, Robert: 184. + + Flamville, Robert of: 12. + + Flay, Eustace, Abbot of: 202-3. + + Flemings defeated (A.D. 1173): 1, 86, 222. + + Flempton, Alan of: 185. + + Foddercorn: 44, 232. + + Fordham, Geoffrey of: 25. + + Fornham magna: 94. + St. Genevieve: 95; + battle of: 1, 86, 222. + St. Martin: 95. + + Francheville, William of: 96. + + Fressingfield: 95. + + + Galfridus de Fontibus: 218, 226. + + Gaveloc (javelin): 73, 237. + + Gedding: 185. + + Geoffrey of Constantine: 5. + + Geoffrey Archbishop of York: 31, 80, 126, 228, 240. + (bailiff): 109. + + Germany, Samson's visit to: 82. + + Gilbert, Deputy Steward of St. Edmund: 42. + (monk): 174. + + Gislingham: 95. + + Gissing: 184. + + Glanville, Ranulf de, Justiciary of England: 12, 41, 77, + 93, 108, 225. + + Glemsford: 106, 206. + + Godfrey (bailiff): 109. + + Godefridus the sacrist: 247, 260. + + Great Fornham: 94. + + Great Horningsherth: 95. + + Green, J. R. (history) xvi. + + Groton: 88, 95, 185, 188, 255. + + + Haberdon, Bury St. Edmund's: 88, 242. + + Hadleigh: 239. + + Haggovele: 157, 249. + + Haglesdun: 258. + + Halgestou: 258. + + Halsted, Robert of: 185. + + Hamo Blund's will: 138. + + Hardwick, the villeins of (lancetti): 153, 248. + + Hargrave: 49, 94. + + Harling: 184. + + Harlow: 49, 92-3, 95, 169. + + Hastings Henry of: 41, 229. + Thomas of: 41, 229. + William of: 98, 184. + William of (monk): 29. + + Hatfield, Walter of: 49. + + Helyas the sacrist: 243, 247. + + Hemfrid, Criketot: 256. + + Hengham, _see_ Hingham. + + Hen-rents: 232. + + Henry II, King of England: 4, 12. + Approves Samson's appointment as abbot: xxviii., 31-5. + Dispute between Bury and Canterbury: 76-8, 238. + Takes the Cross: 80, 240. + Ruling at Clarendon on Samson's appeal: 96. + Battle of Coleshill: 103, 243. + Charter to Merchants of London: 112, 244. + + Henry of Essex: 101-105, 242. + + Hepworth: 184. + + Herard: 92. + + Herbert the Dean: 88-90. + + Herbert, prior of St. Edmund: xlii., 190-6, 197, 235, 252. + + Herman the Archdeacon: 218, 238, 249. + + Hermer (monk): 25 (sub-prior): 191-193, 235. + + Herringswell: 95. + + Hidages: 44, 232. + + Hinderclay: 95. + + Hingham, Hugh of: 6, 75. + Richard of: 174. + Roger of: 6, 75. + Roger of (cellarer): 157, 186-7. + + Hitcham: 80. + + Honington: 91, 94. + + Hopton: 91, 95. + + Horning, Robert of: 185. + + Horningsherth: 95. + + Hostesley, Durand of: 91. + + Hubert, Archbishop of Canterbury, _see_ Walter. + + Hugh, Abbot of St. Edmund (A.D. 1157-1180): 1, 2-9, 10, + 49, 108, 116, 135, 222, 225. + Prior of St. Edmund: 1, 6. + Third Prior of St. Edmund: 25, 26, 29, 31, 32. + The sacrist: 46, 110, 145, 152, 172, 232. + The Infirmarer: 174. + + Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester: 234, 273. + + Hundreds in Liberty of St. Edmund: 44, 77, 232, 238. + + Hunston: 184. + + + Icklingham: 71, 95, 205, 235. + + Ickworth, Richard of: 185. + + Illegh or Eleigh (Monachorum): 76-7, 79, 238-9. + (Combust): 185. + Hugh of: 185. + + Ingham: 95. + + Innocent III, Pope: 124, 149, 245. + + Interdict: xli. + + Ireland: 236. + + Isaac, the Jew: 3. + + + Jerusalem, loss of: 60. + + Jews, abbey debts to: 2-4, 15, 48, 223. + Driven from St. Edmundsbury, 69-70, 223. + + Joce, Rabbi: 3. + + Jocelin of Brakelond: xx.-xxiv., 1, 6, 23, 39, 56, 93, 101, + 145, 197-8, 200, 235, 242. + + Jocell the cellarer: 174, 186-187. + + John, King of England: 82, 228. + Comes to St. Edmundsbury: xxxiii., 178, 251, 267. + Calls for Samson's advice: xxxiii., 207, 254. + + John, third Prior: 193-5 + + Jordan de Ros: 91, 92, 93. + + Jurnet the Jew: 8, 224. + + + Kalendar, Samson's: 45, 232. + + Kentford: 37. + + Ketel, the case of: 152, 247. + + Kingston: 95. + + Kirkby: 184. + Alexander of: 184. + + Knights of St. Edmund, list of: 183-6. + + + Lackford: 95. + + Lailand: 103. + + Lakenheath: 155, 203, 205. + + Langtoft, Robert of: 184. + + Lavenham: 184. + + Lelesey: 184, 255. + + Len: 95. + + Lenmere of Cokefield: 255. + + Leofstan, Abbot of St. Edmund: 249. 259. + + Liber Albus: xvi.-ii. + + Liberty of St. Edmund: 41, 42, 44, 77, 82, 85, 87, 112, + 138, 206, 232, 238. + + Lidgate: 184, 229. + + Lincoln, Bishop of: 142. + + Little Waltham: 184. + + Livermere: 184, 185. + Peter of: 185. + + Loddon: 184. + + London, Bishop of: 113. + Dean of: 201, 253. + Merchants of: 112, 113, 243. + + Longchamp, William: 79, 80-2, 240. + + Louis, son of Philip II of France: 267, 276. + + Lovel, Ernald: 91. + + Lucius III, Pope, 51, 263. + + Lydgate, John: xliv, 241. + + + Malmesbury, Abbot of: 32-3. + + Manston: 185. + Gilbert of: 185. + + Marlesford: 184. + + Marlingford: 184. + + Maurice, chaplain of Abbot Samson, 194. + + Melford: 94, 106, 230, 243. + + Melun, School of: 54, 232. + + Mendham: 184. + Thomas of: 86. + + Merchants of London: 112-3, 243. + + Meringthorp: 90, 95. + + Mickfield: 184. + + Milden: 78. + William of: 255. + + Mildenhall: 69-71, 95, 118, 131, 146, 187, 233, 235, 238, + 259. + + Monk Eleigh: 76-7., 79, 238-9. + + Montfort, Robert of: 103-4, 243. + + Moot-horn: 110. + + Morieux, Roger of: 185. + + + Nicasius, St., chapel of: 191. + + Nicholas (bailiff): 109. + + Nonant, Hugh de, Bishop of Coventry: 142-3, 246. + + Norfolk, Roger Bigot, Earl of: 86, 96, 98, 99, 184, 241. + + Norton: 184. + + Norway, Archbp. of: 23, 227. + + Norwich, Bishops of: 75, 81, 91. + (City): 95, 98, 99, 125. + + Nova Legenda Anglie: 215-6. + + Nowton: 8, 90, 95. + + + Oakley: 184. + + Octavian, the Anti-pope: 72, 236. + + Onehouse: 184. + + Ording, Abbot of St. Edmund: 17, 116, 135, 152, 226, 243, + 247. + + Osbert of Clare: 218-9. + + Oxford, Alberic de Vere, Earl of 85, 98, 184. + + Oxford, Samson at: 142-3. + + + Pakenham 90, 95, 186. + + Palgrave: 11, 63, 94. + Richard of: 11, 63. + + Paris, schools of: 66. + + Parks enclosed by Samson: 43, 230. + + Patteshall, Simon of: 185. + + Peche, Gilbert of: 185. + + Portman-moot: 151, 153, 247. + + Presseni, Ralph of: 185. + + Preston: 184, 185. + + + "Queen Gold": 70, 234. + + Quiddenham: 184. + + + Ralph, the porter: 179. + + Ramsey, monks of: 202. + + Randestune: 184. + + Ranulf, Master: 118. + + Reading: 101, 243. + + Rede: 184. + + Reiner, the monk: 48. + + Reydon: 184. + + Richard I, King of England: + Sells Manor of Mildenhall to Bury: 69, 70, 233, 235. + His ransom: 71, 147, 234. + Licence for holding tournaments: 83, 241. + Imprisonment in Germany: 81, 82, 264-5. + Samson visits him in Germany: 82. + Demands of knights for French war: 128. + Dispute with Sampson over wardship of Nesta of Cockfield: + 148-9, 231, 251. + His death: 178, 266. + + Richard, Archbishop of Canterbury: 6, 7, 223, 224. + + Rickinghall: 95. + + Ridel, Geoffrey: 74, 106-7, 203-7, 237. + + Risbridge Hundred: 85. + + Risby: 67, 95, 185. + Norman of: 67-8, 185. + William of: 67-8. + + Robert II, Abbot of St. Edmund: 121, 135, 244-5. + Prior of St. Edmund: 1, 13, 190-1, 252. + The boy martyred by Jews: 23, 227. + + Roger Bigot, Earl of Norfolk: 86, 96, 98, 99, 184, 241. + + Roger the cellarer: 25, 29, 31, 32, 152. + + Rokewode, John Gage: xvii.-xviii. and _passim_. + + Rome, Samson's visit to: 72-4. + + Ros, Jordan de: 91, 92, 93. + + Rothing, Gervase of: 185. + + Rougham: 44, 95, 186, 255. + + Ruald (monk): 26. + + Ruffus, Geoffrey: 186. + John: 200. + R. (monk): 12. + + Rungton: 95. + Herlewin of: 49, 50. + + Rushbrook: 95. + + + Sacristy, offerings to: 53. + + St. Alban's, Nicholas of: 32-3. + Walter of (monk): 174. + + St. Andrew, Chapel of: 145, 246. + + St. Botolph, Chapel of: 176, 250. + + St. Clare, Gilbert of: 185. + + St. Denis, Chapel of: 139, 245. + + St. Edmund, King and Martyr, _passim_. + His Martyrdom: 258. + Life of (Bodl. 240): 216-21. + Cup of: 165, 249. + Miracles of: 216 _et seq._, 249. + Shirt of: 164, 249. + Shrine of: 162, 177, 249-50. + Standard of: 85, 241. + + St. Faith, Chapel of: 145, 246. + + St. Faith's, prior of: 33. + + St. Katherine, Chapel of: 145, 246. + + St. Neot's, H., prior of: 33. + + St. Nicasius, Chapel of: 191. + + St. Robert, the boy: 23. + + St. Sernin, Toulouse: 276. + + Samson, Abbot, _passim_. + As an Author: xxxiii-v., 215-21. + Sketch of his life: xxiv.-xliii. + Dates of events: 261-6. + His death and burial: xli.-ii., 247. + His Seal: _Frontispiece_, 39, 229. + + Samson, the Precentor: 38; + appointed sacrist: 47. + + Sapiston: 184. + + Saxham: 49, 94, 184, 185. + Walter of: 185. + + Scaldwell: 90, 95. + + Scales, Robert of: 143. + Roger of: 144. + + Schools at Bury: 68, 144, 233, 246. + + Scotland: 236. + + Scurun's Well: 154. + + Semer: 88, 95, 188, 255. + + Sheriff of Suffolk: 87, 204. + + Soham: 95. + + Sorpeni: 151, 247. + + Southrey: 45, 95, 155, 248. + + Southwold: 187. + + Standard of St. Edmund: 85-6, 241. + + Stanningfield: 105. + + Stanton: 184. + + Stapleford: 49, 95. + + Stephen, King of England: 226, 255. + + Stephen, son of Herbert the Dean: 89. + + Stigand, Archbishop: 7. + + Stow: 94, 184. + + Stuston: 184. + + Stutville, William of: 207, 254. + + Sutton: 258. + + + Tewkesbury: 188. + + Theam: 112, 244. + + Thelnetham: 184. + + Thetford: 83, 92. + + Thorpe: 50, 95, 184, 185. + + Thurstan (monk): 26, 174. + + Thurston: 184. + + Tibenham: 184. + + Tillener: 50. + + Tivetshall: 90, 95, 100. + + Tomlins, T., his Translation of Chronicle (1844): + xviii.-xix. + + Topscroft: 184. + + Tostock, William of: 184. + + Toulouse, St. Sernin: 276. + + Tournaments: 83, 241. + + Trontheim, Archbishop of: 23, 227. + + Troston: 184. + + + Ulfric of Lelesey: 225. + + Urban III. (Pope): 84, 263. + + Uvius, first Abbot of Bury: 259. + + + Valognes, Robert of: 91. + + Vere, Alberic de: 85, 98, 184. + + + Wachesham, Osbert of: 184. + + Walchelin, the Archdeacon: 92. + + Walter the physician: 25, 146, 172. + + Walter, Hubert, Archbishop of Canterbury: 83, 98, 121-2, + 125, 142-3, 175-6, 187, 240, 245. + + Waltham: 125. + Little: 184. + (Bishop's): 31, 228. + + Wangford: 185. + + Warin (monk): 14. + + Waringford, Nicholas of: 32. + + Warkton: 48, 95. + + Wattisfield: 185. + + Waude: 185. + + Wendling: 90, 95. + + Westley: 90, 95. + + Wetherden: 95, 144, 246. + + Whatfield: 185. + + Whelnetham: 185. + Geoffrey of: 185. + + Whepstead: 8, 95. + + William Wiardel, sacrist of St. Edmund: 3, 13, 14, 15, 25, + 32, 46-7, 223. + + William of Worcester: 247, 274. + + Wimer, the Sheriff: 25, 39, 225. + + Winchester [Richard] Bishop of: 31, 34, 36. + + Windsor, siege of: 82. + + Witham: 85. + + Withgar: 85, 241. + + Woolpit: 72, 74, 95, 235. + + Worlingworth: 95. + + Wortham: 95, 184. + + Wordwell, William of: 185. + + Wrabness: 95. + + + Yarmouth: 113. + + Yates' History of Bury, 276. + + York [Geoffrey] Archbishop of: 31, 80, 126, 228. + + + * * * * * + +Butler & Tanner, The Selwood Printing Works, Frome, and London. + + + + + * * * * * + + + + +Transcriber's note: + +Varying and archaic spelling and varying hyphenation were retained. + +Page xxxviii, "obedientaries" changed to "obedientiaries". + +Page 11, "allgeing" changed to "alleging". + +Page 241, "Jornham" changed to "Fornham". + +Page 264, "1180" changed to "1188". + +Page 269, "owes" changed to "owe". + +Other apparent printer's errors were corrected. + +Pages 221 and 230 are missing double-quotes but it is unclear where +they should be inserted. + +Page 274 records two persons being appointed as 27th abbot, in 1469 +and 1474. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHRONICLE OF JOCELIN OF +BRAKELOND: A PICTURE OF MONASTIC LIFE IN THE DAYS OF ABBOT SAMSON*** + + +******* This file should be named 37780.txt or 37780.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/7/7/8/37780 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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