wˌɛn ɪnðə mˈɪd fˈoːɹtiːnθ sˈɛntʃɚɹi plˈeɪɡ ˌɛpɪdˈɛmɪks diːpˈɑːpjʊlˌeɪɾᵻd ðə hˈɑːɹz ɹˈiːdʒən, bˈoʊθ ðə mˈaɪnɪŋ ɪnðɪ ˌʌpɚ hˈɑːɹz ænd ðɪ ˌæɡɹɪkˈʌltʃɚɹəl bˈɪznəs stæɡnˈeɪɾᵻd ænd ðɪ ˈæbi bɪɡˈæn tə dᵻklˈaɪn.
When in the mid 14th century plague epidemics depopulated the Harz region, both the mining in the Upper Harz and the agricultural business stagnated and the abbey began to decline.