rather a disgrace, for a man to be too particular as to what he eats and drinks, to think it a virtue to sleep much, to know well how to spend and to know little how to gain, to snore while others keep vigil, to wish ever to have abundance, and not to trouble when debts daily increase, or when money spent brings no return; to be one who hates anxiety and toil, caring nothing while one day passes and another dawns; to be one who loves and cherishes flatterers and liars; to be one man in word and another in deed. From such a prelate the Lord deliver us!"

And again, one said of his friend, "That man is almost wiser than all of us, both in secular and in ecclesiastical matters. He is a man skilled in counsel, strict in the Rule, learned and eloquent, and noble in stature; such a prelate would become our Church." Another answered, "That would be true, if he were a man of good and approved repute. But his character has been questioned, perhaps falsely, perhaps rightly. And though the man is wise, humble in the chapter, devoted to the singing of psalms, strict in his conduct in the cloister while he is a cloistered monk, this is only from force of habit. For if he have authority in any office, he is too scornful, holding monks of no account, and being on familar terms with secular men, and if he be angry, he will scarce say a word willingly to any brother, even in answer to a question."

I heard in truth another brother abused by some because he had an impediment in his speech, and it was said of him that he had pastry in his mouth when he should have spoken. I myself said that I would not consent that anyone should be made abbot unless he understood something of logic, and knew how to distinguish the true from the false. One, moreover, who was wise in his own eyes, said, "May Almighty God give us a foolish and stupid pastor, that he may be driven to use our help." And I heard, forsooth, that one monk, who was industrious, learned, and preëminent for his high birth, was abused by some of the older men because he was a novice. The novices said of their elders that they were invalid old men and little

capable of ruling an abbey. And so many men said many things, and every man was fully persuaded in his own mind.

45. Samson Elected Abbot 1

After much discussion a deputation of monks, led by the cellarer, Dennis, proceeded to the king's court and presented their nominations to the abbacy. The choice had narrowed down to two men, either the prior or the subsacristan, Samson.

Dennis, speaking as one for all, began to commend the persons of the prior and Samson. He said that they were both learned men, both good, both praiseworthy in their lives and of unblemished reputation. But ever at the climax of his speech he put forward Samson, multiplying words in his praise, saying that he was a man strict in his conduct, stern in correcting faults, apt for labor, prudent in temporal matters, and experienced in various positions.

Then the bishop of Winchester answered, "We know well what you would say; from your words we gather that your prior has appeared to you to be somewhat slack, and that you wish to have him who is called Samson." Dennis answered, "Both of them are good men, but we desire to have the better, if God wills." Thereupon the bishop said, "Of two good things, the greater good should be selected. Say openly, do you desire to have Samson?" And many, and they a majority, answered plainly, “We wish to have Samson," and none spoke against him. Some, however, were silent from caution, wishing to offend neither candidate.

Then Samson was nominated in the presence of the king, and when the king had consulted with his men for a while, all were summoned before him. And the king said, “You have presented to me Samson. I know him not. If you had presented your prior to me, I would have accepted him, for I have known him. But I will only do what you will. Take heed to yourselves; by the true eyes of God, if you do ill, I will exact a recompense at your hands."

1 Cronica Jocelini de Brakelonda, pp. 34-36.

Then he asked the prior if he assented to the choice and wished it, and the prior answered that he did wish it and that Samson was worthy of much greater honor. Therefore Samson was elected, and fell at the king's feet and embraced them. Then he arose quickly and hastened to the altar, with his head erect and without changing his expression, chanting the Miserere mei, Deus with the brothers.

And when the king saw this, he said to those that stood by, "By the eyes of God, this man thinks that he is worthy to rule the abbey."

46. Samson's Rule of the Monastery 1

In those days I was prior's chaplain, and within four months was made chaplain to the abbot. And I noted many things and committed them to memory. So, on the morrow of his feast, the abbot assembled the prior and some few others together, as if to seek advice from others, but he himself knew what he would do.

He said that a new seal must be made and adorned with an effigy of himself, though his predecessors had not had such a seal. For a time, however, he used the seal of our prior, writing at the end of all letters that he did so for the time being because he had no seal of his own. And afterwards he ordered his household, and transferred various officials to other posts, saying that he proposed to maintain twenty-six horses in his court, and many times he declared that "a child must first crawl, and afterwards he may stand upright and walk." And he laid this special command upon his servants, that they should take care that he might not be laid open to the charge of not providing enough food and drink, but that they should assiduously provide for the maintenance of the hospitality of the abbey.

In these matters, and in all the things which he did and determined, he trusted fully in the help of God and his own good sense, holding it to be shameful to rely upon the counsel

1 Cronica Jocelini de Brakelonda, pp. 40-41.

The

of another and thinking he was sufficient unto himself. monks marveled and the knights were angered; they blamed his pride, and often defamed him at the court of the king, saying that he would not act in accordance with the advice of his freemen. He himself put away from his privy council all the great men of the abbey, both lay and literate, men without whose advice and assistance it seemed impossible that the abbey could be ruled. For this reason Ranulf de Glanvill, justiciar of England, was at first offended with him and was less well-disposed toward him than was expedient, until he knew well from definite proofs. that the abbot acted providently and prudently, both in domestic and in external affairs.

47. Complaints against Samson's Rule 1

Many of Samson's adversaries raised objections to his rule of the monastery. They said that he received what he would from the sacristry, and spared his own money, and allowed his wheat to lie in the barns until such time as the price should be high. They said that he managed his manors in a way different from that of his predecessors. They also complained that he burdened his cellarer with guests who should rather have been received by the abbot, so that the abbot might win repute as a wise man and one who was clever and provident at the end of the year, but the monastery and its officials be thought ignorant and wasteful.

To these charges I used to answer that if he took anything from the sacristry, he employed it for the use of the Church; and that no envious persons could deny this. And, to speak the truth, more good and much greater good was done with the offerings of the sacristry during the fifteen years after Samson's election than in the forty years preceding.

To the others who objected that the abbot went often to his manors, I was wont to answer and to excuse him by saying that the abbot was happier and in better spirits anywhere

1 Cronica Jocelini de Brakelonda, pp. 54-57.

than at home. This also was the truth, whether on account of the constant complaints which came to him, or on account of those who told him rumors concerning himself. Accordingly, it often happened that his appearance was stern, and that consequently he lost much favor and grace with the guests, though he satisfied them with food and drink....

On one occasion I said to him, “Lord, I heard you this night keeping watch after matins and breathing heavily, contrary to your wont." And he answered, “It is not strange. You share my good things, food, little of the toil of providing for the house and household, of the many and arduous labors which are a pastor's care. These make me anxious and cause me to groan and to be troubled in spirit." Thereupon I raised my hands to heaven and answered, "From such great anxiety, almighty and merciful Lord, deliver me!”

I heard the abbot say that if he were in that condition in which he had been before he became a monk, and had a small income wherewith he might support himself in the schools, he would never become either monk or abbot. And on another occasion, he said that had he known beforehand what care there was, he would far rather have been almoner or librarian than abbot and lord. And he declared that he had ever longed for the post of librarian above all others. Yet who would believe such things? Not I; no, not I; but that as I lived with him day and night for six years, I know fully the merit of his life and the wisdom of his mind.

48. Appearance and Character of Abbot Samson 1

He was below the average height, almost bald; his face was neither round nor oblong; his nose was prominent and his lips thick; his eyes were clear and his glance penetrating; his hearing was excellent; his eyebrows arched, and frequently shaved; and a little cold soon made him hoarse. . . . In his

1 Cronica Jocelini de Brakelonda, pp. 62-65.