The Chronicle of the Canons Regular of Mount St. Agnes | Page 8

rude, so that naught did minister to the lusts of the flesh, but
the needs of the body were satisfied soberly enough. They were often
compelled to eat food that was of evil savour through lack of better
victual; but constant toil and hunger made herbs and pulse to be
pleasant to the taste. Fish was given to the community seldom, and
eggs more rarely still, but yet of their goodwill the Brothers would give
these to the sick, or to strangers, if by any means they could get such
things. Wherefore one hath said, "When the reign of poverty is long,
pleasure doth endure but a little space."
On certain days the rule allowed them to eat flesh meats, but if at such
times a larger mess was set before them, yet was it not more daintily
cooked. Furthermore, certain amongst them, who while they dwelt in
the world had been taught to love a very different fare, were now
content with scanty and coarse food, doing great violence to their lusts
thereby; but yet they bore all these things patiently after that saying of
Christ, "The Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence, and the violent

take it by force." Sometimes when supper was ended scarce aught did
remain to be divided amongst them on the day following; at other times
there was lack of utensils or cooking pots, or suitable food would fail;
but God the Maker of all things, who of old did feed the people in the
wilderness, did not desert the Brothers on the Mount. So it once came
about that when they had consumed almost all their food, Gerard the
cook being anxious for the morrow, made his lack known to Father
John, saying sadly "What shall I set before them to-morrow?" But John
consoled his sadness with kindly words, and exhorted him to have faith
in the Lord, who doth not fail them that hope in Him. And when that
day had drawn on to evening, Everard of Eza, Curate of Almelo, came
unexpectedly in his chariot as if sent by God to comfort the poor. He
was received by the Brothers eagerly and reverently, and they brought
him in as if the Hospice was his own, for he loved the House and all
that dwelt therein by reason of their utter poverty and their simple
manner of life, and because their desire was to hinder none, but to
profit all men; moreover he was united to Father John by a special bond
of love. Wherefore, when he had determined to travel to Windesem, or
had business at Zwolle, he delighted to come first to the Brothers on the
Mount; and being a mighty shepherd of souls as well as a most skilful
physician, he alighted from his carriage and fed souls that were in want
thereof with the fodder of the Holy Word, and likewise cheered the
faint of heart by giving them the food they lacked. He had brought with
him fine meal, and flesh, and he gave the same to the Brothers for their
common use; and they receiving the gifts he offered were all comforted
by their better fortune, and gave thanks to God and to Everard that of
his bounty he had provided for them and succoured them in their so
great need. At another time, also, divers poor Clerks had been called
from Zwolle to help them in some work, wherefore certain of the
Brothers went down to fish in the brook Vecht, whose course is near to
the mountain. So they let down their nets in the name of Jesus, and by
the grace of God, who made all waters, there were taken of the fish
called bream a number equal to the number of their guests.
At that time Gerard Bronchorst, a Canon of Utrecht, and a great friend
to the devout, was in authority at Deventer, and he gave two cows to
our Brothers on the Mount, but forasmuch as God would prove their

patience and increase their faith, one of the cows died, though the other
one remained whole. And the wondrous goodness of God provided that
the one should give so large a yield of milk as to suffice for all the
Brothers, though they would have thought that they would scarce get
enough from two. Then was seen the fulfilment of the word of the
prophet Esaias, who saith: "It shall come to pass in that day that a man
shall nourish a young cow, and for the abundance of the milk he shall
eat butter."
At the beginning of their common life the Brothers were despised by
worldlings, and they bore patiently the derision of them that passed by;
also they were called by vile names in scorn, and suffered much evil
speaking