_How the Burial-ground at Mount St. Agnes was consecrated_.
In the same year, 1399, after the Feast of St. Remigius, the Prior and
Brothers of our House took counsel and aid from their friends, and busied
themselves about the consecration of the burial-ground, which ceremony
had been delayed for a long while because of the hindrances above named.
But when they knew that our Lord of Utrecht had returned from the Curia
at Rome they came to him in Wollenhoven, where he then lived, and readily
obtained their petition through the mediation of their most trusty
friends, the noble Sweder of Rechteren and the priest Henry de Ligno.
So that Bishop Frederic, our most kindly lord, delayed not to send to his
Suffragan bidding him to come with all speed and consecrate the burial-
ground on the Mount, and the Suffragan also when he had read the letter
of his Superior was found eager to perform this pious act; and he came
without delay with the messengers who had been sent to him, and on the
day after the Feast of the Eleven Thousand Virgins, and at about the hour
of Vespers, he consecrated the burial-ground that lieth within the
cloister of the monastery, the Prior, Brothers, Clerks, and servants of
our House being present at the ceremony. When the rite had been
performed duly, a gentle rain fell and watered the consecrated ground
with the dew of heaven, and all that dwelt thereabout rejoiced with great
joy, for that the place had been consecrated by the Bishop, and that the
mouths of the adversaries who strove to hinder the foundation and
progress of the monastery were evidently stopped.
So when the rite of consecration had been performed by the authority of
the Bishop, he went himself on another day to Windesem and there
consecrated the new choir and the four altars.