What Do We Want To Remember? Memories in the Manuscripts of Two Dutch Monasteries: The Benedictine Abbey of Egmond and the Utrecht Charterhouse

The earliest sources relating to the Benedictine Abbey of Egmond (founded in the late tenth century) seem to be concerned only with the nobility of donors, the richness of their gifts, and with miracles (as well as, in the twelfth century, with the squandering of that wealth and the subsequent restoration of it). It was also from the twelfth century onwards that a series of historical works was produced in the monastery, texts that offered occasional glimpses of the abbey itself and its inhabitants. It is, however, doubtful whether these random glimpses, most of them practically inaccessible, contributed much to communal memory.

In the sources from the Utrecht Charterhouse (founded 1392) miracles are never mentioned. The noble and wealthy donors were not forgotten, but the more modest donors were also carefully listed and now and then there is a comment showing us something of these people as real human beings who are mentioned not only with gratitude but also with kindness and sympathy. This mindset, which was not in evidence in Egmond, was perhaps more conducive to communal memory.