Note 10 — Chapter IX · PREACHING

Samson, famous twelfth-century Abbot of St. Edmund’s, preached in two vernaculars, as well as in Latin. This, doubtless, and his Norfolk accent, seemed worthy of record. His command of Latin and one vernacular would hardly be mentioned. “Homo erat eloquens gallice et latine magis rationi dicendorum quam ornatui verborum innitens. Scripturam anglice scriptam legere novit elegantissime, et anglice sermonicari solebat populo, sed secundum linguam Norfolchie, ubi natus et nutritus erat; unde et pulpitum jussit fieri in ecclesia et ad utilitatem audiencium et ad decorem ecclesie.” Cronica Jocelini de Brakelonda, Camden Soc., London, 1840, page 30; “Rolls Series,” 96, vol. I, page 244.