The Chronicle of the Canons Regular of Mount St. Agnes | Page 5

that lieth low doth
never suit the human complexion, nor would a place so narrow avail in
future for many men to dwell in. So they withdrew their feet prudently
therefrom and visited another mountain that was near; and their wise
leader saw that on the south side thereof was a level place fit for crops,
and he said to them that stood by: "Place your tabernacle at the foot of
this mountain--then shall ye be able to make a little garden for your

herbs and fruits on the level place toward the south. If the Lord grant
me life I will be here often with you." Having visited this place and
walked about it through God's inspiration, they returned again to the
City together, leaving the issue of the matter to the pleasure of the
Almighty. But in the same year the beloved Master Gerard, that light
and lamp of devotion that shone upon his country of Utrecht, was taken
away from this world to receive the reward of his labours, and he went
up from the vale of our lamentations to the mount of everlasting bliss.
CHAPTER II.
_Of the building of the first House on Mount St. Agnes_.
But after the passing of the Master, who must ever be held in
remembrance, the new branch of his planting ceased not to bear fruit;
moreover the heaven shed dew upon it from above, as Gerard at the end
of his life had promised, so that our land yielded increase in her season;
and the men above named continued to carry into effect the intention
which they had formed in their minds. The chief mover in this holy
work was James Wittecoep, the son of one Thomas Coep, a man who
had been a magistrate in the town of Zwolle; and he did all that in him
lay to promote the foundation of an house on the mountain for the
servants of God. Goswin Tyasen, who afterward became a Canon
Regular at Windesheim, assisted him in this business, for he, relying
upon the goodness of God, and having the ear of his fellows, was
eagerly desirous to move them to choose this place. There were others
also of like purpose, but these two were the chief men amongst them,
and they all relied upon the help of their friends, but especially upon
the co-operation of the mercy of God by Whose nod all things are
determined. Therefore they besought the heritors of Bercem and Nemel,
joint owners of the farm, to grant them a portion of the land, and the
site where now the Monastery is builded, and the owners thereof did
freely grant their request and gave them the land for the Brothers to
dwell in. When they had obtained the power to build upon the spot
pointed out to them aforetime by Master Gerard, they set in order a
small house, at the bottom of the mountain, that had been given to them
by a certain matron, and some labourers assisted them in this work.

This house was builded of logs and earth, but was only roofed in above
with common thatch. But when this poor little habitation, on an humble
site on the lower part of the mountain was builded, no man dwelt there,
because it lacked household stuff; yet certain of the Brothers whose
hearts were set on the completion of the work would visit it, and
sometimes one or two would sleep upon the straw there, in their clothes,
but for their food they either brought somewhat with them or returned
to their friends in the town.
Scarce have I known of any place or house that was begun in so great
poverty, and yet came, in despite of divers hindrances, to so great an
increase of prosperity; but Jesus our Saviour Himself began in the
deepest poverty, and His lack did make rich Holy Church. This house
therefore, poor at first, unknown and hidden, did deserve in process of
time to be more widely increased through the blessing of our Father in
Heaven, Who doth ever turn His Face toward lowly things, but doth
look from afar upon the lofty. For as wealthier persons came and
brought their goods into the common stock, the place whose beginning
was so poor, and its outward appearance so lowly, grew to be a yet
fairer vineyard of the Lord of Sabaoth. For the tillers of the farm and
the country folk of the land of Bercem and Nemel, seeing that an house
was now builded on the mountain and that devout men had come
together there to serve God in humility and simplicity, gave and
assigned to them and their successors the aforesaid place in honour of
Holy Religion, and that prayers might be offered for them and