Notable Chronicle of the Hirsau Abbey of the Order of Saint Benedict

MONASTERY OF HIRSAU

What prudence achieves.

...lest we fall into the same punishments that they suffered. Add to this that prudence can only be grasped by us through the experience of many things. Since the art of learning is long and life is short, no easier access is open to anyone than to him who, out of a love for truth, runs through whatever histories of past times he can find with a skillful investigation of the mind.

Abbot Blasius is commended.

Since things are so, I believe you were inspired by the divine spirit rather than a desire for vanity, excellent Blasius, distinguished Abbot of the Hirsau monastery. You do not cease to urge me with so many persistent requests, or rather so many magnificent favors, to write the history of this monastery over which you preside by God's favor. You ask me to use the papers and records you provided, along with various chronicles of our own, of which we have a great abundance. You wish for me to bring this work to light for the knowledge of posterity, the comfort of your brothers, and the immortal honor of such a great monastery.

The difficulty of writing this history.

It is a great and very difficult matter, believe me Father, to recover the series of events of your monastery, which have been shamefully neglected for over six hundred and seventy years. My task is to arrange them into one continuous work while maintaining the integrity of truth throughout.

There are two precepts of history: truth and ornament.

Among the many rules given to those who wish to write history, two must be guarded above all. One is that truth remains inviolate everywhere in the narrative. The other is that the integrity of the narrative itself, most suitably adorned with proper and elegant words, should attract readers with its own beauty. Regarding the first, I do not deny that I am both able and willing to do enough. My monastic profession itself, and indeed the Christian faith, does not permit me to be a liar.
$\s$ That lying kills the soul

Sacred Scripture bears witness to this, saying: "The mouth that lies kills the soul." original: "Os quod mentitur, occidit animam", a quote from Wisdom 1:11 in the Vulgate Bible. Since I am a lover of truth, no necessity forces me to lie. Regarding the second rule, however, I do not promise to be as obedient, unless perhaps a lukewarm will is sufficient. This will is moved by brotherly reason that neither wishes enough nor could do much even if it desired. I wanted to follow the custom of those for whom I am writing this history, who are lovers of simplicity. I was easily able to do this both for their benefit and because of my own lack of refinement, which everyone will judge for themselves.

There are three kinds of history.

There are three kinds of histories. The first is called general history. It encompasses the series of events of the whole world or of many provinces, kings, and princes. Many writers have used this style, including Titus Livy, Orosius, Bishop Eusebius Pamphili, Cornelius Tacitus, Cassiodorus, Bishop Freculphus, Vincent of Beauvais, Marianus Scotus (a monk of Fulda), Martin the Preacher Also known as Martin of Opava, a 13th-century chronicler., Archbishop Antoninus, the monk Helinand, the monk Rupert, the monk Hugh of Fleury, Giovanni Colonna, Jacobus Philippus of Bergamo, the Venetian Marcantonio Sabellico, Hartmann Schedel of Nuremberg, and many others. The second is special history. It describes the deeds of one or a few kingdoms, provinces, or nations. This style was used by the Jews Josephus and Hegesippus, Bede in his deeds of the English, Bishop Gregory of Tours, the Saxon monk Widukind of Corvey, Abbot Regino of Prüm, Bishop Otto of Freising, the aforementioned Marcantonio Sabellico in his history of the Venetians, and many others whose number is uncertain. The third kind of history is called topical or local history. It tells the story of a single city, family, or place.
Which genre he uses here.

This style was used by the monk Bede, the monk Sigebert of Gembloux, Strabo of Fulda, and several others who wrote the histories of their own monasteries. Out of love for the brothers of Hirsau, I have decided to weave this history together using this last style of writing, driven by their great affection...