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THE CHRONICLE OF JOCELIN OF BRAKELOND: A PICTURE OF MONASTIC LIFE IN THE DAYS OF ABBOT SAMSON NEWLY EDITED BY SIR ERNEST CLARKE
LIST OF CONTENTS
SEAL OF ABBOT SAMSON.Frontispiece
EDITOR'S PREFACE.
page
Samson and his arch-eulogist—The Chronicle—Previous Editions of theChronicle—The Chronicler—The Central Figure of the Chronicle—Samsonin Subordinate Offices—Samson as Abbot—Relations with Church andState—Samson as an Author—Samson's Masterfulness—Samson as anAdministrator—Epiloguexv.-xliii.
CHAPTER I.
BURY ABBEY UNDER ABBOT HUGH.
The last years of Abbot Hugh—The monastery under a load of debt, andin the hands of Jew money-lenders—Inquiry by the Royalalmoner—Caustic comment by Samson, master of the novices—Exemptionobtained by Hugh from visitation by the Legate—Jocelin's reflectionthereon—The Convent debt—Entertainment of strangers—Samson invarious offices, but disliked by the Abbot—Accident to Hugh atCanterbury—His death—His house despoiled by his servants1-11
CHAPTER II.
THE MONKS DISCUSS THE VACANCY.
Wardens of the Abbey appointed by the King—Culpable Weakness of thePrior—William the sacrist—Activity of Samson as subsacrist—Jealousyof him—The Wardens stop further building operations—Much discussionby the monks as to the qualifications needed in the new Abbot—Samsonsilently notes all that is said—Jocelin's indiscretion in blurtingout his private opinion12-23
CHAPTER III.
THE CHOICE OF A NEW ABBOT.
Henry II. orders the Prior and twelve delegates from the Abbey toattend him to make choice of a new Abbot—Selection of the twelve—Sixelectors appointed to choose three names to be given under seal to thedelegates—The journey to the Court—Gossip and telling of dreamsamongst the monks left behind—The delegates before the King atBishop's Waltham—The sealed paper opened—Samson eventuallyselected—Approval of the King, and his comment on S