Samson was then named to the King, and after a brief consultation with those about him, the King called all in, and said, "You present to me Samson--I know him not; had you presented to me your prior, I should have accepted him, because I know and am well acquainted with him; but now I will do as you desire me. Take heed to yourselves; by the very eyes of God, if you have done ill, I shall call you to severe account." And he inquired of the prior, whether he assented to this choice and agreed thereto; who replied that he was well content it should be so, and that Samson was worthy of a much greater dignity. Then the elect, falling down at the King's feet and kissing them, hastily arose, and forthwith went towards the altar, erect in gait, and with unmoved countenance, singing "Miserere mei Deus" together with his brethren. The King, observing this, said to the bystanders, "By the eyes of God, this abbot-elect thinks himself worthy to govern an abbey!" JOHN IN IRELAND (1185). +Source.+--_Giraldus Cambrensis_, p. 309. Bohn's Libraries. G. Bell & Sons. All things necessary for this great expedition having been prepared and made ready by the royal commands, John, the King of England's youngest son, on whom the dominion of Ireland had been lately conferred, took his journey by the coast road of South Wales towards Menevia and arrived at Pembroke. He was accompanied by a person of the highest station, Ranulf de Glanville, the King's chief privy counsellor and Justiciary of all England, who conducted him on board ship. On Wednesday, in Easter week, the breeze blowing favourably from the eastward, he embarked in the noble fleet which lay at anchor in Milford harbour, and on account of the sudden change of wind was prevented visiting the venerable church of St. David's, an unpropitious omen. Setting sail the same evening, the fleet accomplished its passage and reached the port of Waterford about noon on the day following, having on board about three hundred men-at-arms, and a large force of horse soldiers and archers. * * * * * I think it, therefore, not amiss that I should briefly state why, and from what causes, this first enterprise of the King's son did not fulfil his expectations; the success not being equal to the vast preparations for it.... I should say, then, that the first and principal cause of these mischances, was the King's not having listened to the solemn call of the patriarch Heraclius, before mentioned, and either gone himself, or at least sent one of his sons on his behalf, with ready devotion, in obedience to the commands of Christ. But instead of this, at the moment of this memorable summons, and in the very presence of the venerable envoy charged with it, he sent this son of his, with a retinue and outfit more sumptuous than profitable, not to the East, but to the West, not against the Saracens, but against Christians; for his own aggrandisement, not for the cause of Jesus Christ.