The monk of Eymstadt

The monk of Eymstadt

Lough Derg--Archaeology--Journal--Folklore

An account of the Dutch monk's visit to Lough Derg and his charges of usury.

William Pinkerton

Ulster journal of archaeology, vol. 4, p. 238

Ulster Archaeological Society, Belfast

1856

Digitised by Google, sponsored by University of Virginia, archived on Hathi Trust digital library

Public domain

Article

English

Journal

DD_0493

52.352970, 4.621410

"A pious monk of Eymstadt [Heemstede], in Holland, having obtained permission from his superiors to visit holy places, in the character of a religious mendicant, came to Lough Derg, and solicited entrance into the Purgatory. The prior informed him that he was out of order, that he could not obtain admission without a license from the bishop of the diocese. The monk then went to the bishop, but as he was poor, and poor-looking, the prelate's servants gave him the ‘not at home,’ and shut the door in his face. The monk, however, as we shall see, was a man of energy and perseverance ; so he waited till he saw the bishop, and then falling on his knees, solicited the license. Certainly, said the bishop, but you must first pay me a certain sum of money, my usual fee. The monk replied boldly, saying that he was a religious mendicant, that the gifts of God should not be sold for money, audaciously hinted that such a proceeding was tainted with the leprosy of Simony, and by dint of sturdy solicitation succeeded in obtaining the license. The bishop then told him that that was not all ; he must next go and obtain permission from the prince of the territory. The monk went to the prince, who, in turn, demanded his fee; but at last wearied out by the importunity of the monk, and seeing that he could not receive what the other had not to give, the prince conceded the required permission. The monk then returned to the prior, fortified with the licenses of the bishop and lord of the soil ; but was most ungraciously received. The prior could net understand how the monk could have the audacity to come there without money, when he knew that the convent was solely supported by the fees of pilgrims. The undaunted Dutchman spoke as boldly to the prior as he had to the bishop ; and at last, with a very bad grace, he was permitted to go through the prescribed ceremonies, and enter the Purgatory. In a high state of religious excitement and expectation the monk was shut up in the cave; but alas ! he did not see, hear, or feel anything during the whole twenty four hours. Some, probably, would have taken a different view of the matter, but the disappointed and enthusiastic monk, firmly believing the truth of the legends, considered that the miracle had ceased on account of its having been a source of profit."

v. ill., maps (part fold., part col.), plates. 23-26 cm.