The only account of the life of Agnellus is a brief one recorded by
Thomas of Eccleston, a Friar Minor. Agnellus was born in
Pisa in 1195 of the prominent Agnelli family. In early youth he was received into the Seraphic Order by Francis himself, in 1212, during the latter's sojourn in
Pisa. On 10 September 1224 Agnellus and his party of eight
friars, landed at Dover, courtesy of the
Benedictine monks of
Fécamp Abbey, who kindly paid their way. When they arrived at
Canterbury, they were hospitably received by the
Dominicans, a mendicant order that had already arrived in
England in 1221 and established a friary in the town. On the way to
Oxford, they found shelter in a barn belonging to the Benedictines of
Abingdon Abbey, who at first mistook them for a band of ragged minstrels. At Oxford,
King Henry III gave them land on which to build a friary. Agnellus established a school for the friars at Oxford, and asked
Robert Grosseteste to serve as lector in theology to the Franciscans, a position he held from about 1229 to 1235. The English Franciscan Order subsequently played a large role in the establishment of the University of
Oxford. Agnellus became known for his humble piety and prudence. In 1233
King Henry III asked him to help arbitrate a dispute with
Richard Marshal, 3rd Earl of Pembroke that had broken out into civil war. The following year, he was part of a delegation representing the English bishops at the Roman Curia. Throughout his life, Agnellus would never allow expansion to the friars quarters, beyond what was absolutely necessary. This practice was maintained for a little more than a decade, until
Haymo of Faversham began the expansion of the English order's holdings so that they would be able to provide for themselves rather than depend on others' charity. By the time of his death, there were forty-three friaries established in the English Province. Agnellus died after a brief illness, on 7 May 1236. His remains were buried at
Oxford. ==Veneration==