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.