The Chronicle of the Canons Regular of Mount St. Agnes | Page 9

and many injuries from the envious; but the patience of the
good overcame the malice of the froward, and the freedom of their
good conscience gave them the greater joy because of the scorn that
was cast upon them. For although men that were ill-disposed would
insult these poor little ones of Christ, and blushed not to speak evil of
the innocent, yet many that feared God would praise their holy
conversation; such men assisted them with kindly deeds and help,
being moved thereto by pious reasons.
One of the community, a Lay Donate and an upright man, was
employed in feeding the cattle, and as he was driving an herd of swine
in the field he met an ancient crone, who began to abuse him and to
hurl unseemly words at him. And the devout Brother answered her
gently, saying, "Good dame, tell me my faults freely, and chide me
sternly, for I greatly lack such chastisement," but the woman hearing
this was smitten with inward remorse, and said in a changed voice:
"What should it profit me to help you to the kingdom of heaven, but
myself to hell!" for she perceived that by her chiding the Brother
earned fresh merit, but she punishment for her frowardness.
It came to pass that as two of the Brothers were at work together out of
doors, one by mischance did unwittingly hurt the other somewhat, and
he who had done the injury prayed the other to pardon him for God's
sake. But the Brother who was hurt in body was whole in heart, and
said: "Even if thou hadst slain my father I would freely pardon thee,"

and those that stood by and heard his saying were edified, and glorified
God for the gracious words that proceeded from the sufferer's mouth.
May these few things that I have told of the early deeds of our elders be
pleasing to the reader.
CHAPTER V.
_Of the consecration of the first chapel and altar at Mount St. Agnes_.
On the Vigil of the Feast of St. John the Baptist, and in the year of our
Lord 1395, was consecrated the first chapel on the Mount of St. Agnes
the Virgin, and the first altar therein was dedicated in honour of that
saint, and of the most blessed Mary Magdalene, by Hubert, the
Suffragan and Vicar-General for Pontifical Acts to our most Reverend
Father and Lord, Frederic, Bishop of Utrecht.
And after the rite of Consecration, when the Dedication Festival was at
hand, being the Sunday after the Nativity of St. John, Reyner, the
Curate of Zwolle, came and was the first to sing a Solemn Mass in the
chapel, wherein he offered the sacrifice of perpetual praise to God, for
he was friendly disposed to the Brothers, and at unity with them. So
from that day forward the Holy Mysteries of our Redemption were
celebrated there by Priests and Clerks, and on festivals, hymns to the
praise of God were sung to stir up devotion of heart.
Having made this holy beginning, the lowly band of Brothers was
kindled to a still greater love of the worship of God, but in after time,
when the new and larger church in the monastery was builded and
consecrated, the dedication of this former chapel was transferred to the
latter by licence of the Bishop, but as was more seemly, it was
dedicated first to St. Mary and afterward to St. Agnes. After this, when
nearly three years had gone by, the desire of the Brothers to build a
monastery burned fiercely within them, and the elder amongst them
especially, with their Rector, were eager to do this work and carry it
forward with all speed, for certain urgent reasons did compel them.
They saw that without monastic discipline the way of life in the House
could not continue to be ordered duly, and therefore they determined

that the habit of an holy order must be their refuge, for they were
instant to make prudent provision for themselves and those that should
come after, and to stop the mouths of them that spoke evil, because
such men did strive with the cunning of this world to disturb the lowly
and simple lives of the Brothers. Moreover, though they were still poor
and had not things suitable to their need--either proper buildings or
service books--yet did they try to begin the work, trusting in the mercy
of God and heartened by the help of good men. And one spake of them
and marvelled that men so poor should wish to build a monastery and
to take religious vows, though they had no hope of increase, but Father
John of Ummen, ever a lover of poverty, answered him, saying: "I have
always heard from holy men that poverty is