Baring-Gould’s sources: Bohemian Martyrology; also that of the Norbertine Canons. Authority: — A Life written by a contemporary, a monk of Tbpl.] Hrosnata, a Bohemian noble at the court of Ottocar, king of Bohemia, had a wife whom he passionately loved, and a son, the delight of his eyes. The world smiled on Hrosnata; he was wealthy, respected by his king, happy in his family, and with a prospect of leaving his substance and title to his son. But man proposes, God disposes. The dear son fell sick and died, the mother died soon after, and Hrosnata found that all his hopes, his ambition, had turned to dust and ashes in his grasp.
In the agony of his despondency he made a vow to go to Jerusalem, and he assumed the crusaders cross Lives 0/ the Saints.
But his heart failing him, he went to Rome, and for a large sum of money, purchased a dispensation from his vow. Ccelestine, however, required him to build a monastery of Norbertines on his land, instead of going to Jerusalem. Accordingly, he chose a suitable spot, in a loop formed by the Toppel, which flows into the Egger. The place was shut in by dense woods, but was rich with grass and wild flowers, which made it charming to the eye. There was every convenience for a mill; the river abounded in fish. Soon the walls began to rise, slim pillars to be reared, the roofs to be spanned, and the merry bells to peal over wood and meadow.
Shortly after, he built a monastery in honour of S. Wenceslas at Chotiessow, and as his sister was left a widow at Cracow, and desired to retire from the world, he built her a nunnery; and then, taking the Norbertine habit, entered his foundation at Topi. But the abbot John, by no means pleased to have the founder and benefactor of the house under him, like all with mean minds, sought every opportunity of annoying and insulting him, till the intolerable treatment to which he was exposed, drove him from the house. He had recourse to his relations, and the abbot was humbled, chastised, and obliged with many apologies to receive back Hrosnata into the house. But Hrosnata had enemies. Whether they were hereditary ones of his own house, or relatives who grudged the donation of so large a portion of his goods to the Church, does not appear, but he was taken by them while inspecting the abbey property, thrown into a dungeon and murdered.
His body was recovered by the monks of Topi, and is preserved in their monastery to this day. Jnljr 14.1 5 1. Bonaventura.
