Oxford (England) -- History; University of Oxford -- History
"Humbly knocking at the door, they desired the monks for God's love
to give them entertainment for that night. The porter who came to
the door looked upon them (having dirty faces, ragged vestments,
and uncouth speech) to be a couple of jesters or counterfeits. The
Prior caused them to be brought in that they might quaff it and
show sport to the monks. But the friars said they were mistaken in
them; for they were not such kind of people, but the servants of
God, and the professors of an apostolic life. Whereupon the
expectation of the monks being thus frustrated, they vilely spurned
at them and caused them to be thrust out of the gate. But one of
the young monks had compassion on them and said to the porter: 'I
desire thee for the love thou bearest me that when the Prior and
monks are gone to rest thou wouldest conduct those poor people into
the hayloft, and there I shall administer to them food.' Which
being according to his desire performed, he carried to them bread
and drink, and remaining some time with them, bade them at length a
good night, and devoutly commended himself to their prayers.
"No sooner had he left them, solacing their raging stomachs with
refreshment, but he retired to his rest. But no sooner had sleep
seized on him, than he had a dreadful dream which troubled him
much. He saw in his sleep Christ sitting upon His throne calling
all to judgment; at length with a terrible voice He said: 'Let the
patrons of this place be called to me.' When they and their monks
appeared, came a despised poor man in the habit of a minor friar,
and stood opposite them saying to Christ these words: 'O just
Judge, the blood of the minor friars cryeth to thee, which was the
last night by those monks standing there endangered to be spilt;
for they, when they were in great fear of perishing by the fury of
hunger and wild beasts, did deny them lodging and
sustenance--those, O Lord, who have leaved all for thy sake and are
come hither to win souls for which thou dying hast redeemed--have
denied that which they would not to jesters.' These words being
delivered, Christ with a dreadful voice said to the Prior: 'Of what
order art thou?' He answered that he was of the order of S.
Benedict. Then Christ, turning to S. Benedict said, 'Is it true
that he speaks?' S. Benedict answered, 'Lord, he and his companions
are overthrowers of my religion, for I have given charge in my rule
that the Abbot's table should be free for guests, and now these
have denied those things that were but necessary for them.' Then
Christ, upon this complaint, commanded that the Prior before
mentioned should immediately be hanged on the elm-tree before the
cloister. Afterwards the sacrist and cellarer being examined did
undergo the same death also.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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