though that also
was great. He had to judge the people as justice Errant, to
decide in weighty arbitrations and public controversies; to
equip his _milites,_ send them duly in war-time to the King;--
strive every way that the Commonweal, in his quarter of it, take
no damage.

Once, in the confused days of Lackland's usurpation, while Coeur-
de-Lion was away, our brave Abbot took helmet himself, having
first excommunicated all that should favour Lackland; and led
his men in person to the siege of _Windleshora_, what we now call
Windsor; where Lackland had entrenched himself, the centre of
infinite confusions; some Reform Bill, then as now, being
greatly needed. There did Abbot Samson 'fight the battle of
reform,'--with other ammunition, one hopes, than 'tremendous
cheering' and such like! For these things he was called 'the
magnanimous Abbot'

He also attended duly in his place in Parliament _de arduis
regni;_ attended especially, as in _arduissimo,_ when 'the news
reached London that King Richard was a captive in Germany.' Here
'while all the barons sat to consult,' and many of them looked
blank enough, 'the Abbot started forth, _prosiliit coram
omnibus,_ in his place in Parliament, and said, That _he_ was
ready to go and seek his Lord the King, either clandestinely by
subterfuge (_in tapinagio_), or by any other method; and search
till he found him, and got certain notice of him; he for one!
By which word,' says Jocelin, 'he acquired great praise for
himself,'--unfeigned commendation from the Able Editors of
that age.

By which word;--and also by which _deed:_ for the Abbot actually
went 'with rich gifts to the King in Germany;' Usurper Lackland
being first rooted out from Windsor, and the King's peace
somewhat settled.

As to these 'rich gifts,' however, we have to note one thing: In
all England, as appeared to the Collective Wisdom, there was not
like to be treasure enough for ransoming King Richard; in which
extremity certain Lords of the Treasury, _Justiciarii ad
Scaccarium,_ suggested that St. Edmund's Shrine, covered with
thick gold, was still untouched. Could not it, in this
extremity, be peeled off, at least in part; under condition, of
course, of its being replaced, when times mended? The Abbot,
starting plumb up, _se erigens,_ answered: "Know ye for certain,
that I will in no wise do this thing; nor is there any man who
could force me to consent thereto. But I will open the door