The chronicle of Jocelin of Brakelond, monk of St. Edmundsbury: a picture of monastic and social life in the XIIth century

TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ix The Author's Preface xxv The Chronicle of Jocelin of Brakelond: — How abbot Hugh ruled the church of St. Edmund i How the monastery was freed from legatine visitation 6 Concerning master Dennis the cellarer 7 How abbot Hugh strove to win the favour of master Samson 9 How abbot Hugh came by his death 10 How the death of abbot Hugh was told to the king, and of those things which the servants of the king did 11 How the prior ruled the monastery, while there was no abbot 12 How the cellarer and the sacristan behaved during the vacancy 13 Concerning the conduct of Samson the sub-sacristan during the vacancy 13 How the enemies of Samson prevailed against him, but only for a time 15 How the monks disputed amongst themselves which of them should be abbot i6 How Samson the subsacristan bore himself while others discussed the vacancy 21 How the author spoke his mind too hastily 21 How the archbishop of Norway dwelt in the abbot's lodgings while the abbacy was vacant 23 Of the martyrdom of Saint Robert 23 How thirteen men were chosen, by command of the king, to elect an abbot in the presence of the king 24 How Samson suggested that the monastery should appoint men to make a secret choice of an abbot, and how this was done 25 How, on the advice of Samson, it was decided what should be done if the king would not grant freedom of election 27 How the chosen thirteen journeyed to the king 28 Of the dreams which the brothers dreamed concerning the election of a new abbot 29 How the thirteen came to the king and showed to him the names of those whom the confessors had selected 31 How the thirteen, by command of the king, chose three other names from the monastery and three strangers 33 How the list of names was reduced from nine to two 34 How Samson was elected abbot 34 How the news of the election came to the monastery, and how Samson was blessed 36 How Samson, having been made abbot, returned and was received at the monastery 37 How abbot Samson be