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+The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Chronicle of the Canons Regular of Mount
+St. Agnes, by Thomas a Kempis, Translated by J. P. Arthur
+
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+
+
+
+Title: The Chronicle of the Canons Regular of Mount St. Agnes
+
+
+Author: Thomas a Kempis
+
+
+
+Release Date: September 26, 2005  [eBook #16759]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHRONICLE OF THE CANONS
+REGULAR OF MOUNT ST. AGNES***
+
+
+This eBook was produced by Les Bowler from the 1906 Kegan Paul, Trench,
+Trubner & Co., Ltd. edition.
+
+[Title Page: title.jpg]
+
+
+
+
+
+The Chronicles of the Canons Regular of Mount St. Agnes
+written by Thomas A Kempis.
+Translated by J. P. Arthur.
+
+
+M.
+
+
+[Dedication in Greek which cannot be reproduced].
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+TRANSLATOR'S NOTE
+
+PREFACE
+
+THE CHRONICLE OF THE CANONS REGULAR OF MOUNT ST AGNES
+
+I.      Of the first founders of the Monastery at Mount St. Agnes, and
+how Master Gerard Groote first pointed out this place to them.
+
+II.     Of the building of the first House on Mount St. Agnes.
+
+III.    Concerning the names of the first Brothers and their labours.
+
+IV.     Of the scanty food and raiment of the Brothers, and how
+wondrously God did provide for them.
+
+V.      Of the consecration of the first chapel and altar at Mount St.
+Agnes.
+
+VI.     Of the year and place in which the first four Brothers were
+invested.
+
+VII.    How the monastery was removed from Westerhof to Mount St. Agnes.
+
+VIII.   How John Kempen was chosen as the first prior of Mount St. Agnes.
+
+IX.     How the Burial-ground at Mount St. Agnes was consecrated.
+
+X.      Of the Brothers who were invested by John of Kempen, the first
+Prior.
+
+XI.     Of the death of Brother Wolfard, Priest in the Monastery of Mount
+St. Agnes.
+
+XII.    How Brother William Vorniken was chosen to be the second Prior in
+the House of Mount St. Agnes.
+
+XIII.   Of the death of Brother Nicholas Kreyenschot.
+
+XIV.    Of the consecration of our Church and of four Altars in the House
+of Mount St. Agnes.
+
+XV.     Of the death of the beloved Father John Ummen, the first Founder
+of the Monastery of Mount St. Agnes.
+
+XVI.    Of the pestilence that afflicted mankind, and how some of our
+Brothers died in this plague.
+
+XVII.   Of the death of William, son of Seger, a Priest in Hasselt.
+
+XVIII.  Of the death of our most reverend Lord Frederic, Bishop of
+Utrecht.
+
+XIX.    Of the death of Brother John Vos of Huesden, who was the second
+Prior at Windesem.
+
+XX.     How Brother Theodoric of Kleef was chosen to be the third Prior
+of the House on the Mount.
+
+XXI.    Of the death of Brother Egbert formerly Sub-Prior at the House on
+the Mount.
+
+XXII.   How our Brothers and other Religious were driven from the land by
+reason of the Interdict.
+
+XXIII.  Of the return of our Brothers from Frisia to Mount St. Agnes.
+
+XXIV.   Of the death of Brother John of Kempen, the first Prior of Mount
+St. Agnes.
+
+XXV.    How Theodoric of Kleef, third Prior of the House on the Mount
+laid down his office, and was absolved therefrom.
+
+XXVI.   How Brother Henry of Deventer was chosen to be the fourth Prior
+of the House of Mount St. Agnes.
+
+XXVII.  How Father Henry, the fourth Prior, resigned his office, and how
+Father George was chosen to be the fifth Prior.
+
+XXVIII. Of the ancient Reliquary of St. Agnes, and how it was gotten.
+
+XXIX.   Of the death of Brother Henry, son of William, the fourth Prior
+of our House.
+
+SO FAR THE CHRONICLE WAS WRITTEN BY THOMAS OF KEMPEN; THE RESIDUE THEREOF
+WAS DONE BY ANOTHER.
+
+FROM THE CHRONICLE OF OUR BROTHER THOMAS OF KEMPEN CONCERNING MATTERS NOT
+PERTAINING TO OUR HOUSE.
+
+I.       Concerning the year in which that reverend man, Florentius of
+Wevelichoven, was made Bishop of Utrecht.
+
+II.      Of the death of John Ruysbroeck, first Prior of the Groenendaal.
+
+III.     Of the death of the venerable Master Gerard Groote, a man most
+devout.
+
+IV.      Of the great eulogy passed upon Gerard by a certain doctor.
+
+V.       How, after his death, the number of the Devout and the Order of
+Regulars did increase.
+
+VI.      Of the consecration of the Church, and the investiture of the
+first Brothers in Windesem.
+
+VII.     Of the death of John de Gronde, a Priest.
+
+VIII.    Of the death of the most Reverend Florentius of Wevelichoven,
+Bishop of Utrecht.
+
+IX.      How Frederick of Blanckenhem was chosen to be Bishop.
+
+X.       How the monastery at Northorn was founded.
+
+XI.      Of the death of that most devout Priest Florentius, Vicar of the
+Church of Deventer.
+
+XII.     Of the death of Everard of Eza, a Curate in Almelo and a great
+master of physic.
+
+XIII.    Of the death of the Priest Amilius that succeeded Florentius at
+Deventer.
+
+XIV.     Of the first investiture of the Sisters of our Order in
+Diepenvene near Deventer.
+
+XV.      How the monastery in Budiken was reformed.
+
+XVI.     Of the death of Gerard Kalker, a devout Priest, and Rector of
+the House of Clerks.
+
+XVII.    Of the death of Henry of Gouda, a devout Priest, at Zwolle.
+
+XVIII.   How the Sisters in Bronope were invested.
+
+XIX.     The death of Wermbold the Priest.
+
+XX.      Of the death of John Cele, Rector of the School at Zwolle.
+
+XXI.     Concerning John Brinckerinck, a disciple of Master Gerard.
+
+XXII.    Of the death of Gisbert Dow, Rector of the Sisters at Amsterdam.
+
+XXIII.   As to the gaining of Indulgences at the stations in Rome.
+
+XXIV.    The letter of the Cardinal of Bologna.
+
+A LETTER CONCERNING THE FIRST INSTITUTION OF THE MONASTERY AT WINDESEM.
+
+
+
+
+TRANSLATOR'S NOTE
+
+
+The Chronicle of Mount St. Agnes is the only work of Thomas a Kempis of
+which no English translation has yet appeared, and even in its original
+form the book is not readily accessible to readers, since the only text
+is that published by Peter and John Beller of Antwerp in 1621.  The
+ordinary collections of the works of a Kempis do not contain the
+Chronicle, although there is no doubt as to the authenticity of the book,
+which is of considerable importance to students of the movement known as
+"The New Devotion," and to those who are interested in the Brotherhood of
+the Common Life.  The last nine pages of the Latin text have been added
+by an anonymous writer, and carry on the chronicle from the year 1471, in
+which a Kempis died, to 1477, but since this portion of the book is
+included in the first printed edition, and contains a notice of the
+author written by a contemporary member of the community, I have included
+the addition in the present translation of the Chronicle.
+
+The Mother House of the Chapter to which the Monastery of Mount St. Agnes
+belonged, was the Monastery at Windesheim, of which we have a full
+account from the pen of John Buschius, a younger contemporary of a
+Kempis.  This work is too long to be included in the present volume,
+although the Antwerp edition before mentioned puts the two Chronicles
+together; Busch's "Chronicon Windesemense" will therefore appear
+separately; but as the account of the foundation of the Mother House,
+written by William Voern, or Vorniken, supplements the information given
+by a Kempis, a translation of it is annexed to this book.  The writer was
+Prior of Mount St. Agnes before his promotion to the same office in the
+Superior House, and it was under his rule that a Kempis spent the early
+years of his priesthood, those years in which he composed the first part
+at least of the great work with which his name is associated.  William
+Vorniken also tells in outline the story of the conversion of the Low
+Countries to Christianity by Anglo-Saxon missionaries, and for all these
+reasons it has been thought that his "letter" may be of interest to
+English readers.
+
+It will be seen that the spelling of proper names is both peculiar and
+variable, but the principle observed in this translation has been to
+adopt the spelling given in the text, except in cases where variation is
+evidently the result of a printer's error, and in those instances in
+which the writer _translated_ names, _e.g_., Hertzogenbosch appears in
+the Chronicle as Buscoducis, and Gerard is called sometimes Groote,
+Groot, or Groet, and sometimes Magnus.
+
+Further accounts of the lives of some of the Brothers who are mentioned
+in this Chronicle may be found in a translation of another work of a
+Kempis published last year, and entitled "The founders of the New
+Devotion," Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co.; and the history of the
+other houses of the Chapter to which the Monastery of Mount St. Agnes
+belonged, has been treated exhaustively by Dr. J. G. R. Acquoy, "Het
+Klooster te Windesheim."  Utrecht, 1880.
+
+For the English reader the best accounts of the Brotherhood and of a
+Kempis himself, are the works of Rev. S. Kettlewell and Sir F. R. Cruise.
+The former, however, is quite unreliable as a translator, and draws
+untenable deductions from extracts whose purport he has misunderstood;
+but the latter is both accurate and interesting, being in fact the
+leading English authority on the subject which he has made his own.
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE.
+
+
+The pious desire of certain of our Brothers hath constrained me to put
+together a short chronicle concerning the beginning of our House, and the
+first foundation of our Monastery on Mount St. Agnes, that the said
+chronicle may be a comfort to them that are now alive, and a memorial for
+them that come after.  Wherefore humbly assenting to their pious desires,
+I have gathered together a few things out of many, and these I have seen
+with mine own eyes, or have heard from the Elders of our House, or else
+have gathered from the writings of others.
+
+Some of the Elders who first dwelt in this House have told us that or
+ever there was a monastery builded in this place, and before any man had
+yet come hither to serve God, there did often appear to the shepherds and
+to them that dwelt near, visions of men in white raiment who seemed to go
+in procession round the mount: and the signification and meaning hereby
+portended became clear enough afterward as time went by, when the
+monastery by God's grace begun in this place by a few Brothers and
+afterward finished with much toil came into being and a great company of
+Brothers dwelt therein--for then it was seen how the Devout Congregation
+of Canons Regular being clad in white raiment did serve God with
+devotion, singing hymns and psalms and celebrating Mass; also reciting
+the proper Canonical Hours to His praise every day, and praying for our
+benefactors, both living and dead, especially for them that are buried in
+this Monastery.
+
+
+
+
+THE CHRONICLE OF THE CANONS REGULAR OF MOUNT ST. AGNES.
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+
+_Of the first founders of the Monastery at Mount St. Agnes, and how
+Master Gerard Groote first pointed out this place to them_
+
+The House of Mount St. Agnes, which lieth outside the walls of the town
+of Zwolle, and on the eastern side thereof, had its origin and completion
+in this way.
+
+The place used to be called in the vulgar tongue Mount Nemel and lieth
+not far from Zwolle, but one may traverse the distance in the space of an
+hour.  Now there were in the State of Zwolle certain faithful men who had
+been turned wholly to God by Master Gerard Groote.  These men had builded
+them an house, in a suburb belonging to the city, near an ancient Convent
+of Beguines, and here they served God humbly and with devotion.  Amongst
+these the chief was John of Ummen, a man dedicated to God, and greatly
+beloved by Gerard; and with him there abode likewise Wychmann Rurinch,
+Reyner, son of Leo of Renen, and two or three others that were well
+disposed.  Moreover, a certain Clerk that dwelt in those parts named
+Wittecoep, had joined himself to them and lived among them devoutly.
+There was also the mother of John of Ummen, named Regeland, a widow of
+ripe age, who ministered to the necessities of these servants of God,
+giving good heed to the care of the house as a faithful Martha.  Most
+gladly would she listen to the Word of God, and, like Mary, was never
+sated with the sweetness of the Holy Scriptures that were read.
+
+When any one at meal-time read somewhat incorrectly and stammered over
+the words, this venerable woman said to him "Read no more and do not
+defile the Word of God lest harm come to holy things and they that hear
+be offended in thee.  Let another read that hath better skill thereto,
+that we may all understand and be edified."
+
+After no long time this good woman came to the end of her life on the
+Thursday in Holy Week after Mass was ended, and she was buried at Zwolle
+by her friends and the Brothers.  From that hour and day, for three whole
+days, her son John Ummen fasted from every kind of food to promote his
+mother's salvation, and he neither ate nor drank aught until the dawning
+of the day of the Lord's Passover, and yet was he as whole in body and in
+strength as if he had been well fed every day.
+
+And as these servants of God lived in poverty and at the common charge it
+came to pass that many men that were in the world, considering their holy
+life, came together to them, being eager to serve God and to leave the
+world, in the hope of an eternal gain.  Meanwhile it happened that the
+venerable Master Gerard Groote came to Zwolle about the beginning of
+Lent, and of necessity abode there certain days, since he was anxious to
+comfort his poor children, for it was his desire to refresh with the word
+of consolation those whom he had drawn to leave the world.  So a very
+great company of people came together to his preaching, and many devoutly
+submitted themselves to his counsel, for sometimes he would preach two
+sermons in one day so as to water the chosen vineyard of the Lord.  And
+if he had determined to preach after the midday meal, he would remain
+praying in the Church or walking in meditation in the churchyard, taking
+no food himself, while he awaited the return of the people.  For this
+reason they that loved his holy discourse were unwilling to stay away too
+long, but would sit them down in the churchyard or in the Church, and
+take beforehand places that were convenient and near the pulpit, so that
+at the proper hour they might the more readily hear and understand the
+Word of God.  And when Gerard had done his faithful preaching, each would
+return to his own concerns rejoicing with eager heart, and praising God
+for all the things he had heard.  And they marvelled above measure at the
+humble bearing of the Master, and were edified thereby, that he, a man of
+so great fame and knowledge, one that had friends great and famous,
+should go about the streets with so meek an aspect, and showing little
+care for his attire; for he cared not at all about worldly things, and
+sought only to gain a great usury of souls for God.  He was well
+favoured, kindly in word, and courteous to all, so that any man whatever,
+whether a stranger or born in the land, even though poor and unknown,
+might speak to him and receive from him some discourse upon the things of
+God.  The good saw this and rejoiced thereat, but the froward gnashed
+with their teeth and spake evil of Gerard.  A certain man, therefore, one
+of the great ones of the State, came near to him, and rebuked his words
+and deeds, for the man himself took more pleasure at that time in
+worldliness than in the things of God.  "Why," said he, "dost thou
+disquiet us, and bring in new customs?  Cease from this preaching, and do
+not disturb or frighten men."  But Gerard made answer with wisdom and
+constancy: "I would not willingly suffer you to go to Hell," and the man
+said again with indignation: "Let us go thither in peace," but the kindly
+and good Master replied: "I will not do so; if thou wilt not hear, there
+will be some who will gladly give ear"--but we must return to our
+history.
+
+When the most beloved Master was sojourning in Zwolle for the purpose of
+preaching the Word, some of his disciples aforementioned who dwelt
+together there came to him secretly and confessed that they desired to
+live a life further removed from that of the world, for they could not
+bear to mingle with worldlings without suffering hurt to their spiritual
+life; and they said that they would choose to dwell without the City if
+he should agree thereto.  They begged him therefore, as loving sons
+speaking to their father, to condescend to go with them some little space
+outside the City to look for a place convenient wherein to live quietly.
+Then Gerard assented to their pious prayers, and when the next day dawned
+he prepared for the journey and taking with him the brothers Wychmann,
+Reyner, Henry and James Wittecoep, he went with them towards the
+mountains of Nemel to a place that was foreordained of God, and separated
+from the multitude; for men were seldom seen to come thither or to pass
+by, and patches of thorns and nettles grew here and there upon the hills
+and valleys.  So as they went forth the wind beat against them, hut
+neither rain nor wind could stay the Master from the straight course, and
+he went on rejoicing and said pleasantly to his companions: "I will go
+before you and shield you from the wind with my cloak."  But as they drew
+near to the place, they went up to the top of an hill, and having made a
+circuit round the mountains for some little space, they at last beheld a
+valley, that was narrow and deep, upon the northern side of the mountain,
+and Gerard's disciples asked him a question, saying: "See! most beloved
+Master, how good is this place, and how private; here we may hide for the
+love of Christ, as of old the holy Eremites did hide in the mountains and
+in caves in the earth."  But this they said in simplicity of heart out of
+the fervent zeal of their devotion, and their desire for a life more
+remote from the world, for they thought there they could be hid, screened
+by the thickets of brushwood.  But the Master being most discreet and
+wise in counsel soon dissuaded them from this purpose, for a place that
+lieth low doth never suit the human complexion, nor would a place so
+narrow avail in future for many men to dwell in.  So they withdrew their
+feet prudently therefrom and visited another mountain that was near; and
+their wise leader saw that on the south side thereof was a level place
+fit for crops, and he said to them that stood by: "Place your tabernacle
+at the foot of this mountain--then shall ye be able to make a little
+garden for your herbs and fruits on the level place toward the south.  If
+the Lord grant me life I will be here often with you."  Having visited
+this place and walked about it through God's inspiration, they returned
+again to the City together, leaving the issue of the matter to the
+pleasure of the Almighty.  But in the same year the beloved Master
+Gerard, that light and lamp of devotion that shone upon his country of
+Utrecht, was taken away from this world to receive the reward of his
+labours, and he went up from the vale of our lamentations to the mount of
+everlasting bliss.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+
+_Of the building of the first House on Mount St. Agnes_.
+
+But after the passing of the Master, who must ever be held in
+remembrance, the new branch of his planting ceased not to bear fruit;
+moreover the heaven shed dew upon it from above, as Gerard at the end of
+his life had promised, so that our land yielded increase in her season;
+and the men above named continued to carry into effect the intention
+which they had formed in their minds.  The chief mover in this holy work
+was James Wittecoep, the son of one Thomas Coep, a man who had been a
+magistrate in the town of Zwolle; and he did all that in him lay to
+promote the foundation of an house on the mountain for the servants of
+God.  Goswin Tyasen, who afterward became a Canon Regular at Windesheim,
+assisted him in this business, for he, relying upon the goodness of God,
+and having the ear of his fellows, was eagerly desirous to move them to
+choose this place.  There were others also of like purpose, but these two
+were the chief men amongst them, and they all relied upon the help of
+their friends, but especially upon the co-operation of the mercy of God
+by Whose nod all things are determined.  Therefore they besought the
+heritors of Bercem and Nemel, joint owners of the farm, to grant them a
+portion of the land, and the site where now the Monastery is builded, and
+the owners thereof did freely grant their request and gave them the land
+for the Brothers to dwell in.  When they had obtained the power to build
+upon the spot pointed out to them aforetime by Master Gerard, they set in
+order a small house, at the bottom of the mountain, that had been given
+to them by a certain matron, and some labourers assisted them in this
+work.  This house was builded of logs and earth, but was only roofed in
+above with common thatch.  But when this poor little habitation, on an
+humble site on the lower part of the mountain was builded, no man dwelt
+there, because it lacked household stuff; yet certain of the Brothers
+whose hearts were set on the completion of the work would visit it, and
+sometimes one or two would sleep upon the straw there, in their clothes,
+but for their food they either brought somewhat with them or returned to
+their friends in the town.
+
+Scarce have I known of any place or house that was begun in so great
+poverty, and yet came, in despite of divers hindrances, to so great an
+increase of prosperity; but Jesus our Saviour Himself began in the
+deepest poverty, and His lack did make rich Holy Church.  This house
+therefore, poor at first, unknown and hidden, did deserve in process of
+time to be more widely increased through the blessing of our Father in
+Heaven, Who doth ever turn His Face toward lowly things, but doth look
+from afar upon the lofty.  For as wealthier persons came and brought
+their goods into the common stock, the place whose beginning was so poor,
+and its outward appearance so lowly, grew to be a yet fairer vineyard of
+the Lord of Sabaoth.  For the tillers of the farm and the country folk of
+the land of Bercem and Nemel, seeing that an house was now builded on the
+mountain and that devout men had come together there to serve God in
+humility and simplicity, gave and assigned to them and their successors
+the aforesaid place in honour of Holy Religion, and that prayers might be
+offered for them and their friends; which grant they did also confirm in
+writing to any others whom God Almighty should see fit to associate with
+them.  In regard to this holy gift and this pious request made by consent
+of the owners of the place, there was but one deed executed relating to
+the first and original foundation.  This is attested by the seals of many
+honest men, and in it is given a short description of the manner of the
+Common Life and of the wholesome rule so far as this same was applicable
+to the conditions of the Brotherhood in the early days.  These things
+were done and finished in the year of the Lord 1386 on the Friday before
+Palm Sunday, and a year and a half after the death of the aforesaid
+Master Gerard.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+
+_Concerning the names of the first Brothers and their labours_.
+
+These are the names of those first Brothers, the devout men who began to
+build the House of Mount St. Agnes and to dwell there.  First James
+Wittecoep, the chief promoter of our House and the earnest keeper thereof
+in all things.  He afterward became a Priest in Zwolle and served the
+Altar in the Hospice there, where he died after making a good confession.
+Secondly, there was John Ummen, son of Assetrin, whose mother was called
+Regeland.  He, though blind and unlettered, was yet the familiar friend
+and devout disciple of Master Gerard, and he became the first Rector of
+the House, being a good man and a comfortable.  Thirdly, there was
+Wychmann Roerinck van Hellender, a pattern of poverty and patience; he,
+putting aside his friends, who were many, became an humble hearer of
+Gerard, and was Procurator to this poor little congregation.
+
+Other upright men also were joined to these chief Brothers, being drawn
+to give up the world by the sweet savour of the reputation of this new
+and holy congregation.  Their names are worthy of the fame of a good
+memorial, for they were shining lights of holy poverty, obedience,
+continence, and daily toil.  The first was Reyner, son of Leo of Renen of
+the diocese of Utrecht, who often made pilgrimages out of his devotion;
+but afterward became converted by Gerard's preaching and gave up the
+world.  The second was Reyner the younger, a man without reproach, poor
+and accustomed to toil.  He, too, came from Renen which is in the diocese
+of Munster.  The third was called Gerard the cook, for he at the first
+was cook to the House, but afterward became the porter, a man fervent in
+deed, and devout in prayer, who was born at Deventer.  All these knew
+Gerard Groote in the flesh, and often heard him preach the Word of God
+among the people.  By these humble, simple-hearted, and devout little
+servants of Christ--these who did verily despise the world--was our House
+on mount Nemel begun, which House after that it became a Monastery was
+called Mount St. Agnes.  Moreover by little and little several devout
+clerks and lay folk from the neighbouring towns and from far off
+districts came to join these men, and they earned their daily bread by
+the labour of their hands.  For none was allowed to avoid his task, none
+might go about idly, neither did any dare to talk of worldly matters, but
+all were taught to labour for the common good, and to call often upon God
+in prayer at the appointed hours after the manner of the holy Fathers in
+Egypt: for these, too, did labour with their hands, but during the hours
+of toil they never ceased from prayer.  Likewise they had received this
+rule from Master Gerard, that none ought to be accepted save such as were
+willing to labour with their hands and take part in the Common Life.
+Wherefore the clerks were diligent in writing the books of Holy
+Scriptures, and the lay folk busied them with bodily labour and tillage.
+Some also followed the tailor's craft, others wove wool and flax; others
+again made baskets and mats, or did divers tasks for the good of the
+community at the bidding of their Superior.  Outwardly indeed they led a
+life of poverty and toil for Christ's sake, but the love of the heavenly
+life made sweet the present indigence.  If one went forth on any
+business, he would first utter some short word concerning the things of
+God, or would speak the Name of Jesus, and some other would reply with
+"Christ" or "Mary" as his devotion impelled him.  For a great while they
+lived together in this companionship, and until the time of the
+foundation of the Monastery, all alike, both Clerks and Lay folk obeyed
+their first Rector, John of Ummen, a zealous man and well skilled in
+spiritual things.  With such diligence did they follow the virtue of
+obedience that none dared even to drive in a nail, or do any little thing
+without the knowledge of the Rector or Procurator, for they received
+fraternal correction by way of warning for the least neglect, nor was
+there given any place for excuse, but every man did humbly acknowledge
+his fault, and was forward to promise amendment.  But if any were not
+ready to obey, or should cling stubbornly to what was good in his own
+eyes Father John would chide him more sternly as the manner of the fault
+and the quality of the person did demand.  Sometimes fired with yet
+greater zeal for discipline and in order to affright the other Brothers
+he would say to some that were ill content, or slow to take his Orders:
+"Lo! the door standeth open.  If any will go forth, let him go: I would
+rather have one that is obedient than many that are disobedient.  By the
+favour of God I may readily find others who will cheerfully do what ye
+refuse."   Thus by the voice of his authority he would curb the
+ill-contentment of some.  Also he used to say that unwilling and sluggish
+Brothers were false prophets who thought that naught was profitable save
+what was good in their own eyes.
+
+Once it happened that the elder Reyner was sent out with some other
+Brothers to guard the reeds, lest the cattle that passed by might chew
+and injure them.  But when the time for the midday meal came all the rest
+went in, and Reyner alone remained on watch in the fields, and afterwards
+he, too, went in to take his sustenance.  Then he was asked wherefore he
+had not come in with the others at the appointed hour, and he answered
+that he had remained outside thinking to do the more good thereby, and
+prevent danger to their stuff.  But Father John replied, "Would that the
+beasts had despoiled all our goods so that thou hadst come in with the
+rest as in duty bound.  This would have pleased me better."   Then was
+Reyner deeply penitent, and groaning he prostrated himself humbly on the
+ground asking for pardon, and saying that he would never do the like
+again.  But yet John was full of comfort and kindness to those that were
+tempted or oppressed with any weighty matter, for he had the gracious
+power of consoling all, whatever might be the cause for which they came
+to him.  Master Gerard himself often sent divers persons to be instructed
+by him in the way of God, saying to them, "Go to blind John of Ummen,
+that devout and upright man, and whatsoever he saith unto you, do it."  He
+also bore this witness about John, saying "That blind man hath better
+sight than all that are in Zwolle," meaning that though he lacked natural
+sight, yet was he illumined inwardly by the radiance of truth, and showed
+the way of eternal salvation to many that resorted to him, and gave them
+the guidance of the true light.
+
+Among these early Brothers so great was the zeal of their love that each
+strove to surpass the other in doing work that was humble; and they were
+eager in lowly service one to the other.  So while one was asleep another
+would rise up earlier than was customary and finish his work; but if any
+were somewhat slower in going forth to his labour, some other that was
+quicker would take his place, and it was often found that some task was
+finished though none knew who had done it.  By this means was charity
+shown in deed, and humility of heart was preserved, according to the
+saying, "Love to be unknown."
+
+All that dwelt in the House were stirred up by a like devotion to do
+menial tasks and fulfil humble offices.  Wherefore the clerks and weavers
+would not avoid the work in the fields, but when called thereto at
+harvest time they would go forth with the rest to gather in the sheaves
+of corn.  Following the rule of obedience, and acting for the common
+good, they made the hay, or dug the ground, or planted herbs, whenever
+such work must needs be done.  So, too, holy David doth praise them that
+fear God, and doth minister sweet words of consolation to them that
+labour well, saying: "Thou shalt eat the labour of thy hands, well is
+thee and happy shalt thou be."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+
+_Of the scanty food and raiment of the Brothers, and how wondrously God
+did provide for them_.
+
+Who can tell how poor was their food while they laboured at their daily
+toil?  Their victual was coarse, their drink ungenerous, their raiment
+simple and rude, so that naught did minister to the lusts of the flesh,
+but the needs of the body were satisfied soberly enough.  They were often
+compelled to eat food that was of evil savour through lack of better
+victual; but constant toil and hunger made herbs and pulse to be pleasant
+to the taste.  Fish was given to the community seldom, and eggs more
+rarely still, but yet of their goodwill the Brothers would give these to
+the sick, or to strangers, if by any means they could get such things.
+Wherefore one hath said, "When the reign of poverty is long, pleasure
+doth endure but a little space."
+
+On certain days the rule allowed them to eat flesh meats, but if at such
+times a larger mess was set before them, yet was it not more daintily
+cooked.  Furthermore, certain amongst them, who while they dwelt in the
+world had been taught to love a very different fare, were now content
+with scanty and coarse food, doing great violence to their lusts thereby;
+but yet they bore all these things patiently after that saying of Christ,
+"The Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by
+force."  Sometimes when supper was ended scarce aught did remain to be
+divided amongst them on the day following; at other times there was lack
+of utensils or cooking pots, or suitable food would fail; but God the
+Maker of all things, who of old did feed the people in the wilderness,
+did not desert the Brothers on the Mount.  So it once came about that
+when they had consumed almost all their food, Gerard the cook being
+anxious for the morrow, made his lack known to Father John, saying sadly
+"What shall I set before them to-morrow?"  But John consoled his sadness
+with kindly words, and exhorted him to have faith in the Lord, who doth
+not fail them that hope in Him.  And when that day had drawn on to
+evening, Everard of Eza, Curate of Almelo, came unexpectedly in his
+chariot as if sent by God to comfort the poor.  He was received by the
+Brothers eagerly and reverently, and they brought him in as if the
+Hospice was his own, for he loved the House and all that dwelt therein by
+reason of their utter poverty and their simple manner of life, and
+because their desire was to hinder none, but to profit all men; moreover
+he was united to Father John by a special bond of love.  Wherefore, when
+he had determined to travel to Windesem, or had business at Zwolle, he
+delighted to come first to the Brothers on the Mount; and being a mighty
+shepherd of souls as well as a most skilful physician, he alighted from
+his carriage and fed souls that were in want thereof with the fodder of
+the Holy Word, and likewise cheered the faint of heart by giving them the
+food they lacked.  He had brought with him fine meal, and flesh, and he
+gave the same to the Brothers for their common use; and they receiving
+the gifts he offered were all comforted by their better fortune, and gave
+thanks to God and to Everard that of his bounty he had provided for them
+and succoured them in their so great need.  At another time, also, divers
+poor Clerks had been called from Zwolle to help them in some work,
+wherefore certain of the Brothers went down to fish in the brook Vecht,
+whose course is near to the mountain.  So they let down their nets in the
+name of Jesus, and by the grace of God, who made all waters, there were
+taken of the fish called bream a number equal to the number of their
+guests.
+
+At that time Gerard Bronchorst, a Canon of Utrecht, and a great friend to
+the devout, was in authority at Deventer, and he gave two cows to our
+Brothers on the Mount, but forasmuch as God would prove their patience
+and increase their faith, one of the cows died, though the other one
+remained whole.  And the wondrous goodness of God provided that the one
+should give so large a yield of milk as to suffice for all the Brothers,
+though they would have thought that they would scarce get enough from
+two.  Then was seen the fulfilment of the word of the prophet Esaias, who
+saith: "It shall come to pass in that day that a man shall nourish a
+young cow, and for the abundance of the milk he shall eat butter."
+
+At the beginning of their common life the Brothers were despised by
+worldlings, and they bore patiently the derision of them that passed by;
+also they were called by vile names in scorn, and suffered much evil
+speaking and many injuries from the envious; but the patience of the good
+overcame the malice of the froward, and the freedom of their good
+conscience gave them the greater joy because of the scorn that was cast
+upon them.  For although men that were ill-disposed would insult these
+poor little ones of Christ, and blushed not to speak evil of the
+innocent, yet many that feared God would praise their holy conversation;
+such men assisted them with kindly deeds and help, being moved thereto by
+pious reasons.
+
+One of the community, a Lay Donate and an upright man, was employed in
+feeding the cattle, and as he was driving an herd of swine in the field
+he met an ancient crone, who began to abuse him and to hurl unseemly
+words at him.  And the devout Brother answered her gently, saying, "Good
+dame, tell me my faults freely, and chide me sternly, for I greatly lack
+such chastisement," but the woman hearing this was smitten with inward
+remorse, and said in a changed voice: "What should it profit me to help
+you to the kingdom of heaven, but myself to hell!" for she perceived that
+by her chiding the Brother earned fresh merit, but she punishment for her
+frowardness.
+
+It came to pass that as two of the Brothers were at work together out of
+doors, one by mischance did unwittingly hurt the other somewhat, and he
+who had done the injury prayed the other to pardon him for God's sake.
+But the Brother who was hurt in body was whole in heart, and said: "Even
+if thou hadst slain my father I would freely pardon thee," and those that
+stood by and heard his saying were edified, and glorified God for the
+gracious words that proceeded from the sufferer's mouth.  May these few
+things that I have told of the early deeds of our elders be pleasing to
+the reader.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+
+_Of the consecration of the first chapel and altar at Mount St. Agnes_.
+
+On the Vigil of the Feast of St. John the Baptist, and in the year of our
+Lord 1395, was consecrated the first chapel on the Mount of St. Agnes the
+Virgin, and the first altar therein was dedicated in honour of that
+saint, and of the most blessed Mary Magdalene, by Hubert, the Suffragan
+and Vicar-General for Pontifical Acts to our most Reverend Father and
+Lord, Frederic, Bishop of Utrecht.
+
+And after the rite of Consecration, when the Dedication Festival was at
+hand, being the Sunday after the Nativity of St. John, Reyner, the Curate
+of Zwolle, came and was the first to sing a Solemn Mass in the chapel,
+wherein he offered the sacrifice of perpetual praise to God, for he was
+friendly disposed to the Brothers, and at unity with them.  So from that
+day forward the Holy Mysteries of our Redemption were celebrated there by
+Priests and Clerks, and on festivals, hymns to the praise of God were
+sung to stir up devotion of heart.
+
+Having made this holy beginning, the lowly band of Brothers was kindled
+to a still greater love of the worship of God, but in after time, when
+the new and larger church in the monastery was builded and consecrated,
+the dedication of this former chapel was transferred to the latter by
+licence of the Bishop, but as was more seemly, it was dedicated first to
+St. Mary and afterward to St. Agnes.  After this, when nearly three years
+had gone by, the desire of the Brothers to build a monastery burned
+fiercely within them, and the elder amongst them especially, with their
+Rector, were eager to do this work and carry it forward with all speed,
+for certain urgent reasons did compel them.  They saw that without
+monastic discipline the way of life in the House could not continue to be
+ordered duly, and therefore they determined that the habit of an holy
+order must be their refuge, for they were instant to make prudent
+provision for themselves and those that should come after, and to stop
+the mouths of them that spoke evil, because such men did strive with the
+cunning of this world to disturb the lowly and simple lives of the
+Brothers.  Moreover, though they were still poor and had not things
+suitable to their need--either proper buildings or service books--yet did
+they try to begin the work, trusting in the mercy of God and heartened by
+the help of good men.  And one spake of them and marvelled that men so
+poor should wish to build a monastery and to take religious vows, though
+they had no hope of increase, but Father John of Ummen, ever a lover of
+poverty, answered him, saying: "I have always heard from holy men that
+poverty is good, being both the cause of all good and the means of
+increasing the same."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+
+_Of the year and place in which the first four Brothers were invested_.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1398, on the 18th day of January, being the Feast
+of St. Prisca, Virgin and Martyr, our Right Reverend Lord Frederic of
+Blanckenhem, the renowned Bishop of Utrecht, issued his license to the
+devout priests, Egbert van Lingen, and Wolfard, the son of Matthias, and
+to the other Clerks and Lay Brothers that dwelt on Mount St. Agnes, in
+Nemel, near Zwolle, for it was his desire to increase the glory of God,
+and to promote the cause of Holy Religion.  By the full authority vested
+in him he gave them leave to build a monastery for the Order of Canons
+Regular in any fit and proper place in his diocese, so that they might
+worthily and devoutly serve as the soldiers of Almighty God in the
+Regular Order, following the rule of the blessed Augustine.  So having
+obtained this licence in their favour, they chose a place in the freehold
+land that is called Westerhof, in the district of Gherner and the parish
+of Dalvessen, the curate of which parish, who was an honourable man named
+Frederic Denter, giving his assent to their purpose.  They determined to
+set their monastery here because they had found no other site that was
+fitting, although they sought anxiously elsewhere a place of habitation.
+At this time the men of Zwolle would not suffer a monastery to be builded
+upon the Mount at Nemel, though this was done in after days by the favour
+of God, but Egbert Mulart had given them this land at Westerhof.  He was
+a most upright man, and one in authority, being of gentle lineage in
+Hasselt, and he was a trusty friend and a special patron of the devout.
+Here then they builded for their first need a small chapel, which they
+let consecrate in honour of Mary, the most Blessed Mother of God, and
+also other buildings of moderate size, and they reverently called the
+place "The Garden of the Blessed Mary," in honour of Christ's gentle
+Mother.  When these things were done, the day drew nigh on which the
+Brothers of this House should be invested there.  Now on the day of the
+Lord's Annunciation, which is the solemn Feast of the Blessed Mary ever
+Virgin, Mother Church doth celebrate throughout all the world the first
+act of our Redemption.  So that when that holy day had dawned with fair
+sunshine there came the Reverend Lord Hubert, Bishop of Yppuse, and
+Suffragan to our Lord Bishop of Utrecht, for he had been summoned thither
+upon that day.  And when the waxen tapers and crosses and the other
+ornaments were ready, he there consecrated the burial ground, and the
+three altars, and then at the High Altar, which he had dedicated, he sung
+Mass with solemn music.
+
+Afterward, in his reverend presence, and in the face of a large company
+of other religious, both Clerks and Lay, Brothers who had come together
+from every quarter to keep this Festival, the first four Brothers of our
+House were invested by that reverend and devout man, John Wale, Prior of
+the Regulars in the state of Zwolle, for he had been summoned for this
+very purpose.  This number four did mystically signify the number of the
+four Evangelists, and the names of these Brothers, which are worthy to be
+cherished by them that come after, are here set down.  The first was
+Brother Egbert of Lingen, who had been chosen for the priesthood by the
+Brothers on the Mount three years before this time.
+
+The second was Brother Wolfard, son of Matthias of Medenblike, a priest
+of great age.
+
+The third was John Ummen, a Clerk who came from Campen, a kinsman of John
+of Ummen, our first founder.  The fourth was Dirk of Kleef, a Clerk who
+came from that state.  These four made their profession on the same day,
+and when the Divine Mysteries had been celebrated, and their bodies had
+been refreshed, they spent the day in spiritual rejoicing and brotherly
+love.  Brother Egbert was the Senior in standing and took the place of
+Rector of the House until a new Rector appointed by the Chapter should
+come; then he gave place to Brother Wolfard and stood humbly behind him.
+The Clerks who were not yet invested with the habit of the Order were
+these:--Wichbold, son of John of Deventer, Henry Huetinc of Deventer,
+John of Kempen, of the diocese of Cologne, Hermann of Kempen, of the same
+diocese.
+
+After Easter, when a general Chapter was held by the Fathers at Windesem,
+these were received into the Order, and their names were set down and
+written as members of the Fellowship of Houses belonging to us: the
+Fathers also provided them a suitable Rector, and after a little space
+that religious and devout Brother, Egbert Lingen, was sent to them.  He
+had been a member of the Monastery of St. Saviour, at Emsten, and for
+about a year, that is, until the coming of the new Prior, he ruled over
+the House, as will be shown hereafter.  Throughout the summer of this
+same year the Pestilence was heavy at Deventer, Zwolle, Campen, and the
+neighbouring towns and districts, so that it often happened that twenty
+or thirty men were buried in one day in the divers parishes of these
+towns.
+
+About this time and on the Feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist,
+died Reyner, Curate of Zwolle, and two priests that were his chaplains.
+He was a good man and pitiful to the poor, and ever cherished a special
+devotion to St. John the Baptist.  At this time also died many devout
+persons, both men and women.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+
+_How the monastery was removed from Westerhof to Mount St. Agnes_.
+
+In the same year of the Lord 1398, on the 26th day of the month of
+August, two days before the Festival of our Holy Father Augustine, did
+that most kindly Lord Frederic, by the grace of God, Bishop of Utrecht,
+issue a further licence.  He did ever most faithfully promote the
+interests of our House, and was our special patron, and he had compassion
+upon the Brothers who were invested a short time before at Westerhof, in
+that they were ill-content with the place, and ill-provided for there, by
+reason of divers hindrances and impediments that were not agreeable to
+the religious life.  The Bishop therefore, hearing of these hindrances
+and the true causes thereof, gave them licence to transfer themselves and
+all their goods from the aforesaid place to Mount St. Agnes, so soon as
+might be convenient, and to retain the same rights and privileges as he
+had before conferred upon them.  Thus for the second time they obtained
+his full and gracious consent to their desires, and Conrad Hengel, then
+Vice-Curate of Zwolle, likewise assented to their pious wishes.
+
+Therefore on the eve of the day of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross they
+returned to the place that they had long possessed and where the greater
+number of their friends still continued to dwell, with blind John of
+Ummen; they left, however, some few Lay Brothers at Westerhof to arrange
+their affairs.
+
+Moreover the Bishop of Utrecht had given them a licence for the
+consecration of a burial-ground for the use of the monastery that they
+should found on Mount St. Agnes.  But when Hubert, the Bishop Suffragan,
+came for this purpose and entered into Zwolle, he was not allowed to
+continue his journey to the Mount until the Magistrates had first spoken
+with the Lord Bishop of Utrecht, for they thought to dissuade him from
+his opinion.  From this cause the consecration of the burial-ground was
+delayed for the space of a year, until the return of the Bishop of
+Utrecht, for the said Bishop during the year had gone to the Curia at
+Rome, and he ordered that the cause of both parties should be put off and
+await his coming and presence on his return.  But when he had come back
+from Rome and entered his own country in safety, certain of our Brothers
+came to him and asked him once more to give permission for the
+consecration of the burial-ground, and he, yielding to the importunity of
+his friends, did freely grant their petition.  So he issued his commands
+again and ordered the consecration of this place, for he loved it and
+paid no heed to the complaints of the adversaries, since he preferred the
+honour of God and the progress of religion rather than the unjust words
+of worldlings, who, as is well-known, do often oppose the desires of good
+folk.  From that time forward he showed special love to the House on the
+Mount, and extended to it yet fuller patronage, so that one day when he
+was riding round the mountain on his way to Zwolle, he asked one of his
+companions, saying: "What is this place, and what manner of men dwell
+here?" and his Vicar answered him: "Beloved Lord, dost thou not yet know
+that place?  This is thy monastery, this is Mount St. Agnes, and the
+Brothers of the Mount dwell there."  And the Bishop made answer: "It is
+well--may God preserve them."
+
+It came to pass in this same year, 1398, in the month of September, when
+the Plague was still amongst us that a well-disposed Lay Brother named
+John, son of Faber, who was smitten with the pestilence, came from Zwolle
+to the mountain, and sought hospitality in the name of God.  And being
+received in charity, his disease grew heavy upon him, and he died on the
+Feast Day of St. Maurice the Martyr.  But after his death certain of the
+Clerks and Lay folk, being infected with the Plague, were taken from this
+life after a little while, but several others grew whole of their
+sickness, for the Lord had mercy upon them.
+
+Lastly, on the day after the Feast of St. Francis the Confessor died
+John, son of Nicolas of Campen, a Lay Brother of great age, who had been
+the gardener.
+
+On the day of the translation of our holy Father, Augustine Gerard Bou
+left this bodily life.  He was a man of great strength, who had been a
+farmer, and his native land was Holland.
+
+On the Feast of St. Calixtus, Pope and Martyr, died Hermann Restikey, a
+Clerk of the diocese of Cologne; he was born in the town of Kempen, and
+was well learned and skilled in singing and in binding books.  When he
+drew near to death he asked that a taper might be lighted quickly and
+given into his hands, and holding this above his breast he began to say
+devoutly and often to repeat: "Mary, Mother of Grace, Mother of Mercy, do
+thou protect us from the enemy and receive us in the hour of death," and
+having said this, he breathed forth his soul.
+
+On the day after the Feast of the Eleven Thousand Holy Virgins, John of
+Kempen fell asleep in the Lord; he was a devout Clerk of the diocese of
+Cologne who had just been received into the Religious Order, but he died
+or ever he could take the habit, for death was beforehand with him.  He
+was kinsman to the aforesaid Hermann, whom he had persuaded to withdraw
+from the life of the world when he was Sublector in the town of Campen.
+These greatly loved one another in life and death, they came from one
+city and province, they were of one heart in their good purpose, and
+alike steadfast therein.  This John, who continued a longer space in the
+service of God, was a man of great kindliness and sobriety, and was well
+skilled in the work of husbandry.  For at harvest time when all must
+labour more than usual he was diligent in helping therein.  And sometimes
+at night he would gather in the crops of the poor, and often wearied
+himself by this work of piety; but in this year the weather was very
+rainy, and the crops were in such danger that he gathered in those that
+grew in the watery places, and binding them into sheaves carried them on
+his own shoulders out of reach of the waters.
+
+On the Feast Day of the Saints Crispin and Crispian died Wichbold, son of
+John of Deventer, a man of good lineage.  For a long time he lived a
+devout life in Zwolle, but afterward finished his days yet more devoutly
+on the Mount.  Being an eager lover of the Scriptures he edified many by
+his holy discourse.  On the Feast Day of St. Martin the Confessor, Henry
+of Deventer fell asleep in Christ; he was a Clerk and the companion and
+fellow citizen of Wichbold, and likewise a very humble and gentle man.
+One day he was plastering the inner walls of the cells in the dormitory
+of the Brotherhood with soft mortar in company with another Clerk.  But
+it happened that as the mortar was somewhat violently dashed on to the
+wall some did come through the cracks of the battens into Henry's face
+(for he was standing on the other side of the wall) and befouled him
+greatly.  But he who had done the deed, looking to see who had been
+bespattered by the mortar, and seeing the Brother who was so greatly
+loved with his face befouled, implored his pardon in dolorous wise.  But
+Henry was rather merry than vexed, and answered: "There is no hurt done,
+be not disturbed.  I care not for it."  So gentle was he that none ever
+saw him angered or heard him complain.
+
+The day after the Feast of Brixius, Confessor and Bishop, died Hermann of
+Laer, a man of great age who came from Campen.
+
+On the Vigil of St. Thomas the Apostle, died Gerlac ten Water, a Clerk of
+the town of Kampen.  He had a deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin, and
+was still in the flower of his youth, but in this same year he left the
+world and his parents and entered the monastery with joy, and he made a
+good end to his life when came the time appointed for him to die.  These
+were buried in the Chapel of St. Agnes, which afterward became the
+Chapter House, because there was no other consecrated ground in the which
+they could be buried.  But as the space was very narrow, some were buried
+in a neighbouring spot, because it was hoped that a burial-ground would
+soon be consecrated there.
+
+But in the year 1407, in the time of William Vorniken, the second Prior,
+and after the consecration of the new chapel, the bones of some of these
+Brothers were taken up and buried again in the other burial-ground on the
+western side of the chapel, where now several Lay Brothers who knew them
+lie buried also.
+
+In the same year, on the Feast day of St. Martin, the Bishop, Brother
+Egbert Linghen, the first Rector, invested two converts; their names
+being Brother John, son of James of Hasselt, and Brother John Eme of
+Zwolle.
+
+In the year 1399, on the Feast of St. Gregory the Pope, Brother Godefried
+of Kempen, who was born in the diocese of Cologne, was invested by the
+first Rector.  He was a skilful writer and singer, and he wrote one
+missal for the High Altar, and three Antiphonaries, and likewise
+illuminated several books.  Also he painted and adorned the altars of the
+church most beautifully with the figures of saints.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+
+_How John Kempen was chosen as the first Prior of Mount St. Agnes_.
+
+In the year 1399, after Easter, John of Kempen, one of the community at
+Windesem, was chosen to be Prior of the House of Mount St. Agnes.
+
+By the help of God, he, the first Prior, did govern the affairs of the
+House, with the many poor inmates, zealously and devoutly for nine years.
+Also he added to the possessions of the monastery in laudable wise,
+providing buildings and books and other things needful.  He it was that
+ordered the building of the chief part of the church walls, and he made
+ready much timber for the finishing of the roof.  He began to plant an
+orchard on the south side of the cloister, and he set forest trees round
+it on every side.  This is that very garden that Gerard Groote, long
+before, pointed out to the Brothers that they should grow their herbs
+therein.  For a long time wheat was grown, but a great while after herbs
+were planted.
+
+In the days of the Prior, mountains and hills were made low, and hollow
+valleys were filled up: then was fulfilled to the letter that which is
+written in Esaias, a text oft spoken of by the Brothers in the midst of
+their toil: "Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill
+shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight and the rough
+ways plain" . . .
+
+It is no easy task to tell with what toil and sweat this mountainous
+place was turned into a level plane, and this sandy soil made abundantly
+fruitful.  Very heavy and long was the labour of preparing a site for the
+burial-ground and church, for here the slope was steeper than in other
+places, and extended over the whole face of the ground.  Yet by little
+and little and by labour done at divers times this hill was taken away
+and the matter thereof thrown outside the boundary wall into a deep
+valley toward the north: so that to the wonder of many scarce a trace of
+the said hill could be seen.  And the Brothers who worked by turns there
+would say to one another: "True is the word of the Lord which He spake:
+'If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed ye shall say to this
+mountain, be thou removed from hence hither and it shall be done!'  But
+since faith without works is dead, we do firmly believe that if we put
+our hand to this work in the name of the Lord, we shall quickly remove
+this mountain."  So it was done, not to this mountain only but also to
+others that stood round about the monastery when the boundaries thereof
+began to be enlarged and to be surrounded by a wall of stone.  Besides
+this Prior John set up the following needful buildings: namely, a
+Refectory for the Brothers and another for the Lay Folk, a kitchen and
+cellar, and cells for guests, also a sacristy for Divine service between
+the choir and the Chapter House.  And he himself was the first among them
+that laboured, and would carry the hod of mortar, and dig with the spade
+and throw the earth into the cart.  When he had leisure he was instant in
+reading holy books, and often worked at writing or illuminating.  He
+caused several books to be written for the choir and the library, and
+because they were poor he appointed certain Brothers to write for sale,
+as was the custom from old time.  This many of the Brothers were zealous
+to do, but others set themselves manfully to the tasks without.
+
+In the year 1399, Indulgences were granted to the people of Zwolle by the
+Apostolic See, and Pope Boniface the Ninth granted these to be gained by
+all that were truly penitent at the Church of St. Michael on the Feast of
+the Finding of the Holy Cross, and on the Feast of St. Michael.
+
+In this same year, I, Thomas of Kempen, a scholar at Deventer and a
+native of the diocese of Cologne, came to Zwolle to gain indulgences.
+Then I went on, glad at heart, to Mount St. Agnes, and was instant to be
+allowed there to abide, and I was received with mercy.  Afterward, on the
+day before the Feast of St. Barbara the Virgin, came William, son of
+Henry of Amsterdam, who also, at that time, lived at Deventer with the
+devout Clerks.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+
+_How the Burial-ground at Mount St. Agnes was consecrated_.
+
+In the same year, 1399, after the Feast of St. Remigius, the Prior and
+Brothers of our House took counsel and aid from their friends, and busied
+themselves about the consecration of the burial-ground, which ceremony
+had been delayed for a long while because of the hindrances above named.
+But when they knew that our Lord of Utrecht had returned from the Curia
+at Rome they came to him in Wollenhoven, where he then lived, and readily
+obtained their petition through the mediation of their most trusty
+friends, the noble Sweder of Rechteren and the priest Henry de Ligno.
+
+So that Bishop Frederic, our most kindly lord, delayed not to send to his
+Suffragan bidding him to come with all speed and consecrate the burial-
+ground on the Mount, and the Suffragan also when he had read the letter
+of his Superior was found eager to perform this pious act; and he came
+without delay with the messengers who had been sent to him, and on the
+day after the Feast of the Eleven Thousand Virgins, and at about the hour
+of Vespers, he consecrated the burial-ground that lieth within the
+cloister of the monastery, the Prior, Brothers, Clerks, and servants of
+our House being present at the ceremony.  When the rite had been
+performed duly, a gentle rain fell and watered the consecrated ground
+with the dew of heaven, and all that dwelt thereabout rejoiced with great
+joy, for that the place had been consecrated by the Bishop, and that the
+mouths of the adversaries who strove to hinder the foundation and
+progress of the monastery were evidently stopped.
+
+So when the rite of consecration had been performed by the authority of
+the Bishop, he went himself on another day to Windesem and there
+consecrated the new choir and the four altars.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+
+_Of the Brothers who were invested by John of Kempen, the first Prior_.
+
+In the days of this venerable man our first Prior and Father, seven
+Clerks and three Converts were invested, and the day and year of their
+investiture are written below.  Likewise he received the profession of
+Brother Godefried of Kempen who was then about twenty years of age.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1401, on the day after the Dispersion of the
+Apostles, was invested Brother John Drick of the city of Steenwyck in the
+diocese of Utrecht.  He was before a priest, and Vicar of Steenwyck, and
+after less than a year of probation he made his profession by licence of
+the Prior of the Superior House, on the birthday of St. John the Apostle;
+and he afterward was chosen Procurator.
+
+In the same year, on the Feast day of St. Brixius, Bishop and Confessor,
+was invested William, son of Henry (who was called William Coman) of
+Amsterdam in the State of Holland.  He was now twenty-three years of age
+and had lived with the devout Brothers at Deventer, but Florentius
+Radewin, before his death, sent him to Mount St. Agnes.
+
+In the same year, on the day before the Feast of St. Catherine the
+Virgin, was invested Brother Frederic, a Convert who was born in
+Groninghen in the State of Frisia, and lived for a long while on Mount
+St. Agnes with the first founders of the monastery.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1402, on the Vigil of the Nativity of Christ, was
+invested Brother Gerard, son of Tydeman, who was born in Wesep, a town in
+Holland: he wrote divers works for the use of the monastery and for sale.
+In the year of the Lord 1403, on the day of St. Pontianus the Martyr, was
+invested Conrad, a Convert; he was a tailor and was born in the Countship
+of Marck.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1405, on the Festival of the Four Crowned
+Martyrs, Brother Alardus, a priest, and John Benevolt of Groninghen were
+alike invested: Alardus was forty-six years old and a Frisian by nation;
+he had been Curate at Pilsum, which was his native place, and was a good
+and devout man.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1406, on the Feast of Corpus Christi, which fell
+in that year on the day before the Feast of St. Barnabas, two brothers
+that were Clerks, and one that was a Convert, were invested.  These were
+Thomas Hemerken of the city of Kempen in the diocese of Cologne, and own
+brother to John of Kempen the first Prior.  The father of these was
+called John and their mother Gertrude.  The other Clerk was called
+Oetbert Wilde of Zwolle, whose father's name was Henry and his mother's
+Margaret.  The Convert was Arnold Droem of Utrecht who brought great
+wealth to the monastery and was in charge of the Refectory.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+
+_Of the death of Brother Wolfard, Priest in the Monastery of Mount St.
+Agnes_.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1401, on the Feast of the Holy Martyrs John and
+Paul, Brother Wolfard, son of Matthias, died in the monastery pertaining
+to our order, which is called the House of the Blessed Virgin in the
+Wood, and lieth near Northorn.  He came from Medenblic, a town in
+Holland, and was one of the four first Brothers of our House.  He was a
+man of great stature and grave deportment, eloquent in discourse, and his
+hoary head was comely to look upon.  He took part in the labours of the
+younger Brothers, and would perform lowly tasks, such as washing the
+trenchers, digging the ground, carrying stones, or collecting wood.  It
+was his wont to come early into the choir, to be alert in watching,
+enduring in fasting, careful in celebrating the Mass, and devout in
+prayer.  Once he was asked by a Religious what he had eaten during
+Advent, and whether he had had eggs from time to time; and he made
+answer: "Blessed be God, throughout Advent I have seldom taken eggs or
+fish, but I have eaten pulse only and have kept the fast in great
+contentment."
+
+So when by the ordinance of God the end of his life was at hand, and the
+time when his good deeds should receive a better crown, he made a most
+edifying end after the manner and order following:
+
+At that time and in this year there was a notable pestilence in our House
+of the Blessed Virgin in the Wood, whereof the Prior and many Brothers
+died, and the one priest who survived, Brother John of Groninghen, a
+weakly and feeble man, was left desolate save for the presence of one
+novice, Brother Honestus.  But our Brother Wolfard, hearing of the death
+of these Brothers, and of the grief of them that were left desolate, was
+greatly moved with compassion for this House.  One day, therefore, when
+girt for labour, he said in a tone of pity to me, as I stood by him, "Who
+could deserve to have his portion with these good Brothers of Northorn,
+and to earn an end like theirs?"  For he had known divers of these
+Brothers, and the place where they dwelt, and he loved their holy
+company.  And as he was telling me many good things concerning them,
+Brother Arnold, a Convert from Northorn, entered in at the gate of our
+monastery to ask for one of our priests and when Brother Wolfard saw him
+coming he ran joyfully towards him and embraced him.  But hearing the
+cause of his coming, he said that he himself was ready to go with him if
+it were pleasing to the Prior, and his obedience should permit.  And
+Arnold, seeing his readiness to come, rejoiced thereat, and said: "Most
+beloved Brother, how good would it be that thou shouldest do so."  Then
+the Brothers were called together and considered who should be sent to
+succour those Brothers in their strait, and they determined upon Brother
+Wolfard, who was of fitting character and age, and he, being moved by
+charity, assented to their resolution.  On the next day at sunrise, he
+set forth to Northorn with Brother Arnold, being ready to lay down his
+life for the Brothers after the example of Christ, that he might save it
+everlastingly.  So he said farewell to the Brothers of Mount St. Agnes,
+who wept at his departure, and left the monastery never to return
+thither; but he knew not how soon he should be removed to a Higher Mount.
+In thus leaving the place and the Brothers he overcame his natural man
+and fulfilled the law of charity, following, in his death, the example of
+Christ.  Therefore he entered into the Monastery of Mary, Mother of
+Christ, which is in the Wood, and within a few days he there made an end
+of his life, and was buried by the Brothers of the House aforesaid.  Our
+Brother Egbert hath told me that long ago Gerard Groote had said to our
+brother: "Wolfard, thou shalt know two conversions," for in the days of
+Master Gerard, Wolfard had begun to be well disposed to the religious
+life, but afterward he was turned away to the world: yet after many
+years, by the grace of God, it came about that he was again pricked to
+the heart, and, leaving his pastoral charge, he changed his worldly life,
+and was among the first of the Brothers to take the religious habit, and
+he thus ended his life with a happy death struggle.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+
+_How Brother William Forniken was chosen to be the second Prior in the
+House of Mount St. Agnes_.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1408, on the Vigil of Ascension Day, Brother
+William Vorniken, from the Monastery at Windesem, was chosen to be Prior
+of Mount St. Agnes.  He was the second Prior of our House, which he ruled
+for seventeen years, being a lover of poverty and discipline.  After that
+he was taken away from us he was promoted to the Superior House at
+Windesem, and became Father General of all our Order.  He it was who
+looked to the roofing of the church, the making of new stalls in the
+choir, and the provision of fair vestments to be worn by priests and
+servers on festivals.  Also he enlarged the borders of the monastery, and
+surrounded the whole with a wall of stone; he built a new dwelling for
+the husbandmen and placed a byre for cattle near the gate, likewise in
+the year of his departure he began to make a mill and to build a brewery.
+In several places he planted trees of divers kinds, of which some were
+fruit trees; and he made smooth the slopes of the mountain, which for the
+most part still remained steep, and this he did by carrying away the
+sandy soil.
+
+He ordered the altars to be beautified with pictures, and good store of
+books to be written for the choir and the library.  Yet in the midst of
+all these things poverty and simplicity were dear to him, and with his
+own hand he illuminated many books.  He took divers Lay Brothers to dwell
+with him, for he saw with the eye of charity that they would earn the
+reward of eternal life by faithfully cleaving to their holy labours, and
+living the common life under obedience.  Some of these he received as
+Donates, others he invested with the habit of Converts.
+
+During the years that he was Prior he invested fourteen Clerks, whose
+names, with the days of their investiture, are written hereafter.
+
+In the year 1408, on the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel, was invested
+Brother Nicholas Creyenschot, a native of the town of Kampen, a youth in
+years but upright in character.
+
+In the year 1410, on the Feast of All Saints, two Brothers were invested
+together, namely, Wermbold, a priest of Kampen and kinsman to John of
+Ummen, and Gerard Ae of Utrecht.
+
+In the year 1411, on the Vigil of the Nativity, three Brothers were
+invested together, namely, John the son of Gerard, John Bowman, and
+Gerard son of Wolter, a Convert; all these came from Zwolle.  In the year
+1413, on the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin, was invested
+Brother John of Lent, a town one mile from Zwolle.  In the year 1418, on
+the Vigil of the Nativity, three Brothers were invested together, namely,
+Rudolph of Oetmersen in Twenthe, Otto Lyman of Goch in Geldria, and Henry
+the son of James of Zwolle.
+
+In the year 1421, on the Vigil of the Nativity, two Brothers were
+invested: namely, Henry, son of William, of Deventer, and Deric Veneman
+of Zwolle.
+
+In the year 1423, on Easter Eve, two Converts were invested, namely,
+Gerard ten Mollen of Zwolle, and Gerard Hombolt of Utrecht.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1424, on the Feast of the Annunciation of the
+Blessed Virgin Mary, these three Brothers were invested: John Lap of the
+town of Neerden in Holland, Christian Anversteghe of Campen, and Helmic
+Braem of Herderwijck in the State of Geldria.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+
+_Of the death of Brother Nicholas Kreyenschot_.
+
+In the year 1410, on the Feast of St. Barnabas the Apostle, Nicholas
+Kreyenschot died just after sunset.  He was a youth of good disposition,
+and sprang from a notable family of the town of Kampen.  He was about
+twenty-three years of age, for God dealt pitifully with him so that his
+short span of life fulfilled the task of many years, and he escaped
+longer struggles in this present life; for eight months and ten days
+after his profession he left dwelling in this present world and departed
+to the other.  The virtue of obedience shone brightly in him, as was
+seemly in a good youth.  Who should say, "Brother, come hither," and
+Nicholas would not come straightway, or "Begone," and he did not
+straightway depart?  Moreover, a good return came to the monastery
+through his means.  It happened in a time that he upset and broke a jar,
+and so grieved was he at this mischance and loss, that he wept bitterly.
+Once also he made ready a sharp rod, and came to the sub-Prior, saying:
+"I entreat thee, Father, for God's sake, to inflict a sharp discipline
+upon me, for I do often transgress, nor do I make any progress."  He was
+buried in the eastern part of the cloister near the wall of the church
+and beneath the steps of our dormitory.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+
+_Of the consecration of our Church and of four Altars in the House of
+Mount St. Agnes_.
+
+In the year 1412, on the 8th day of the month of April, being the Friday
+after Easter, our church was consecrated, being dedicated in honour of
+St. Agnes the Virgin and Martyr of Christ.  The rite was performed by
+Matthias of Biduane, the Suffragan of our Lord and Reverend Father in
+Christ, Frederic de Blanckenhem, Bishop of Utrecht.  Many religious
+persons and priests were present thereat, namely, the Prior of Windesem,
+the Prior of Belheem, Conrad Hengel and John of Haarlem, who were priests
+at Zwolle.  Many other honourable persons also, both men and women, young
+and old, men of the town and men of the country, came together to this
+dedication.  There was great joy in the hearts of all, and a general
+license to enter the monastery was given to strangers, as our statutes
+allow to be done on that day only.  So when the consecration had been
+solemnly performed, the Bishop came forward in his mitre to consecrate
+the four altars.  First he dedicated the High Altar in the Choir in
+honour of the Holy Trinity, the Blessed Mother of God, St. Agnes the
+Virgin, and the Apostles of Christ, and he sang Mass in solemn wise for
+the dedication of the church and altar.
+
+Then going out of the Choir into the northern aisle of the church, he
+dedicated the Altar in the greater chapel in honour of the Holy Cross and
+the Blessed Martyrs, and afterwards the Altar which is in the midst of
+the church on the left of the Choir in honour of the Blessed Mary ever
+Virgin, and of St. Augustine the Bishop, who is Father of our Order.
+
+Lastly, he dedicated the Altar on the south side of the Choir in honour
+of the most Blessed Mary Magdalene, St. Catherine, St. Cecilia, and the
+Eleven Thousand Virgins.
+
+This done, masses were celebrated at the several altars, and the Host of
+Salvation was offered up in all reverence to God.  But after midday, the
+Brothers being gathered together, he consecrated the burial-ground for
+the interment of the dead outside the church and on the western and
+southern side thereof.
+
+On that day he granted Indulgences for forty days to them that were there
+present, and a like grace to all the benefactors of the church and all
+that visited the altars, as was set forth clearly in the Bishop's letter
+concerning the consecration of the church.  In this same church there
+still stand the two altars that were consecrated in Westerhof at the
+first foundation of the House in that place; for these, by consent of the
+Bishop of Utrecht, were transferred to this church after the return of
+the Brothers from Westerhof.  One of these was consecrated in honour of
+St. John the Baptist and the Blessed Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul;
+this doth stand on the south side of the church.  The other was dedicated
+in honour of St. James and St. John the Apostles.
+
+The Sunday after the Feast of the Blessed Gallus the Abbot (which is in
+the month of October), was appointed to be kept in every year as the
+anniversary of the dedication of this church and the several altars
+therein; and on this day also is kept the Dedication Festival of the
+House of the Blessed Virgin in Windesem and of the Convent of Nuns at
+Diepenveen, to the glory and honour of the most Blessed Trinity.
+
+In the same year, when their General Chapter was held at Windesem, the
+venerable Fathers of the Canons Regular in Brabant came thereto, and were
+accepted and united to our Fraternity, together with the Houses belonging
+to them.
+
+In this year from the Feast of Pentecost onward the Canonical Hours were
+sung in our church after the monastic manner.
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+Of the death of the beloved Father John Ummen, the first Founder of the
+Monastery of Mount St. Agnes.
+
+In the year 1420, in the evening of the 1st day of September, the Feast
+of St. AEgidius the Abbot, died that holy and faithful servant of Christ,
+John Reghelant, formerly a most beloved disciple of Gerard Groote, whose
+discourses he used to hear.  He was born of honest parents, and for
+several years was educated in Zwolle; but while he was yet a youth he was
+diseased in the eyes, and God allowed him to fall into darkness, and he
+continued blind to the end of his life; but yet the less he could see the
+outer world, the more brightly did the grace of God illumine him
+inwardly.  His mother, whose name was Regheland, was devoted to God, and
+often went on long journeys to visit the shrines of Saints in company
+with her blind son, whom she would lead by the hand, taking him with her
+to hear sermons in church, and leading him onward to every good thing.
+
+So when the venerable Master, Gerard Groote, was preaching in Zwolle, and
+through God's inspiration was bringing compunction to many, the Lord did
+open the heart of this His servant also, and did inflame him, wherefore
+he began to love Gerard much, and often sought to be instructed by the
+doctrine of so great a man.  For this cause he left wandering about the
+world and sought to serve God in quietness, also he exhorted all that
+came to him to despise earthly desires, and take hold on that new life in
+Christ which Gerard taught by his holy manner of living.
+
+Therefore he took to him certain men that were well disposed, and with
+them he began to live the Common Life in Zwolle, but afterward they took
+up their abode upon Mount Nemel (which is now called Mount St. Agnes),
+because they wished to dwell outside the tumult of the world.  Here they
+gathered a larger company, the which he governed for many years with
+faithful devotion, assisted by divers helpers, until the monastery was
+founded, for he did not fear the many hindrances that met him.  But at
+length when the monastery was builded, and a Prior instituted in the
+canonical manner, John, being filled with brotherly love, and led by a
+yet fuller zeal for souls, took with him certain laymen of ripe age and
+began to form a new congregation in honour of the Holy Trinity, in the
+field of St. John, near Vollenhoe, which congregation, by the favour of
+God, he did enlarge greatly.  And when in the process of time the number
+of the Brothers was multiplied, he and many others took the habit of the
+Tertiaries, and he continued to his life's end to be the humble servant
+of the Brothers and their first Rector.  He was one of the first and
+original disciples of Gerard Groote, and had many spiritual discourses
+with him, for it was from Gerard that he learned the way of an holy life,
+and he submitted himself and his little ones fully to Gerard's counsel
+and discretion.  Being prevented in due season by God's grace, Father
+John was devout, and is worthy of remembrance, for that going on day by
+day he reached forward continually to the things that are before, being a
+notable lover of poverty, one that kept lowliness and loved sobriety.  He
+was the very beauty of purity, a pattern of simplicity, a strong upholder
+of discipline, an enemy of sin, a light of virtue, an ensample of
+devotion, strong in faith, long suffering in hope, prodigal in charity,
+and one that did convert many from the vanity of the world.  A few things
+concerning him are written in the beginning of this book.
+
+So being wearied by his many years, when the day of his release from
+captivity was nigh, and he was dwelling in the house of the Sisters at
+Almelo, he fell sick; and having fulfilled seventy years of life, he fell
+asleep in the Lord and was buried in the chapel of the Sisterhood there.
+After his happy departure, John of Resa, a devout priest, was chosen as
+the second minister of the House of St. John, and he sought and obtained
+for that House certain privileges that were needful, and also the
+consecration of the burial-ground, which things were granted by the
+Venerable Frederic, Lord Bishop of Utrecht.  After him Christian, a
+native of Zeeland, and one that had made his profession, was chosen as
+priest to that House, and was the third to administer and rule the same.
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+Of the pestilence that afflicted mankind, and how some of our Brothers
+died in this plague.
+
+In the year 1421 there was a notable pestilence in Deventer, Zwolle,
+Kampen, and the neighbouring towns, and during the three months of summer
+much people of the land were slain thereby.  In the same year, after the
+Feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, the Cross was preached
+against the heretics of Prague, who stirred up a grievous persecution
+against Holy Church, the clergy, and the Christian people; and led away
+many faithful persons by threatenings and deceits: likewise they
+destroyed monasteries and churches, and put many persons to a cruel
+death.  In the same year in the month of September the disease laid hold
+on certain of our household, for the pestilence did mightily increase,
+and on the Octave of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, after High Mass, a
+Lay Brother named Nicholas died.  He was born in Drenthe, and had been
+our miller, a man of good reputation and life, and well beloved by all
+that were in the House.
+
+On the Feast of St. Lambert, Bishop and Martyr, and about the hour of
+Vespers, died our Brother Oetbert Wilde, a fervent and devout priest.  The
+Brothers were with him when he died, and they offered up prayers after
+the accustomed manner.  He was in the thirty-eighth year of his age, and
+the fifteenth after his profession: he came from Zwolle, where he was
+born of very honest parents, and he loved our patroness St. Agnes the
+Virgin with a special devotion.  In the beginning he suffered many
+weaknesses and temptations, but afterward, by the help of God, he was
+changed into another man, mightily uplifted from pusillanimity of spirit,
+and endowed with much grace of devotion.  He died happily after a good
+struggle, and on the next day his body was buried next to Brother
+Nicholas Kreyenschot on the eastern side of the cloister, and Mass and
+prayers were said for him.
+
+On the Feast of St. Michael, after Vespers had been said, Nicholas, son
+of Peter, departed this life.  He was a Donate of our House, and a
+carpenter, being a man of great stature and mighty strength, and he had
+lived for more than twenty years in the House of Mount St. Agnes.  He
+came from Monekedam in Holland, and having lived with us from the very
+beginning of the monastery, he left a good memorial of his skill and
+industry in his craft in the building of the church, and the new stalls
+for the Brothers in the choir.  His body was laid in the burial-ground of
+the Laics, toward the south part and near the path.
+
+On the day of St. Jerome the Priest, at about the time when the midday
+meal was ended, died Riquin of Urdinghen, a Donate of our House who
+attended the sick.  He departed after a brief agony, while Litanies were
+sung round his death-bed: his native place was in the diocese of Cologne,
+and during the twenty-five years that he lived in the House on the Mount
+he never visited his friends, nor saw his native land once he had
+departed from her.  He loved the Blessed Virgin with singleness of heart,
+and on the seventh day of the week he abstained from one portion of
+pottage out of devotion to her.  In these three desires he was heard of
+the Lord before his death, namely, to die on an high day, and amid the
+Brothers--for he greatly loved them--and to have a short death struggle;
+which things were so brought to pass by our good Lord even as he had
+desired them out of his good and simple heart.
+
+On the Feast Day of St. Luke the Evangelist, at about the fifth hour of
+the morning, died Adam of Herderwijck, a Donate of our House, who had
+sojourned in this place for twenty years.  He submitted himself to divers
+toils and discommodities by his devotion and faithfulness to the business
+of the House; he was pitiful to the poor, kindly to the afflicted, and in
+this time of stress he ministered with care and diligence to the Brothers
+that were sick.  His body was laid in the burying ground of the Laics
+near the other Donates, and after his burial the pestilence was stayed,
+for God had pity on us, and some that had been smitten by this stroke
+grew whole of their disease.
+
+In this year, after the Feast of All Saints, Brother Gerard Ae, once an
+inmate of the House on the Mount, died in Frisia in the Convent of the
+Nuns at Berghen.
+
+In the same year, on the Feast of St. Lucia the Virgin, Peter
+Valkenburrigh the Priest departed this life.  He had lived an humble life
+for a long while with the Brothers in the Field of St. John near
+Vollenhoe, and he desired to be buried upon Mount St. Agnes, where he had
+dwelt in former days, with the first Brothers of the House; for they of
+the Field of St. John had not as yet a consecrated burying ground; so he
+was laid to rest on the eastern side of ours next to Winald the Priest,
+who was once chaplain to our Lord Frederic, Bishop of Utrecht, and a
+friend to the Brothers on the Mount.
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+Of the death of William, son of Seger, a Priest in Hasselt.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1422, on the Vigil of Ascension Day, which was
+the day following the Feast of St. Potentiana, died that devout priest,
+William, son of Seger, the Confessor of the Sisters of the Third Order at
+Hasselt.  He was born in Zwolle, and was buried, as he had long desired,
+on the eastern side of the precinct before the Prior's Cell.  There were
+present at his burial these venerable men, namely, Father Wessel, first
+Superior of Kleerwater, near Hattem, Father John Haerlem, Confessor of
+the Sisters at Zwolle, Father Gerard Trecht, and Father Stephen Mulart,
+who were priests in Hasselt.  Also many other honourable men, and friends
+of the said William, came together to his burial from the aforesaid
+towns, and the Prior of the House recited the burial office with faithful
+devotion in presence of the Brothers.
+
+After his death Father Gerard Trecht was called by the Fathers of our
+Order to rule over the aforesaid Sisters in the room of the departed
+Brother.
+
+In the same year, during the days of Pentecost, peace was established
+between the men of Utrecht and Holland, and those of Geldria, for during
+a whole year they had been at grievous enmity, and many deeds of rapine,
+murder, and arson had been wrought in evil wise on both sides.
+
+In the month of September, on the day before the Feast of S. S. Cosmas
+and Damianus, Brother John Pric, a priest and inmate of the House of
+Mount St. Agnes, died in Thabor in Frisia.  He was born in the town of
+Steenwyck, and had been Vicar of the Church of St. Clement in that place,
+but after several years, at the request of the Prior at Thabor, he dwelt
+for a time with the Brothers of that House, and in the same year many
+died in the pestilence, amongst whom he also fell asleep in the Lord, and
+was buried with the other Brothers in that place on the eastern side of
+the cloister.  This was his motto for the novices: "He that doth not
+accustom himself to exercises of humility at the beginning of his
+conversion, and doth not break down his own will, shall seldom become a
+good Religious."
+
+In the month of October, on the day of the translation of St. Augustine
+the Bishop, there died at Zwolle that honourable dame, Mary, the widow of
+Henry de Haerst, our neighbour.  She was truly pious and pitiful towards
+the needy, and often came humbly to Mount St. Agnes to hear the Holy
+Offices.  Moreover, she abstained from all wordly adornments in her
+vesture, and she left a good bequest to our Brotherhood on the Mount,
+where also she doth lie buried in the church in the same tomb with
+Bartold her son.
+
+In the year 1423 there was such mighty cold and frost that endured from
+Epiphany even to the Feast of St. Peter's Chair at Antioch, that the
+hardness of the frost brought great masses of ice across the waters.
+Wherefore at the beginning of March, when the snow and ice melted
+suddenly in the heat of the sun, a great flood of waters followed, and
+the dykes were burst by the rushing thereof, so that much of the corn
+land was overflowed, and the seeds perished.
+
+In the summer of the same year the boundary wall round our monastery was
+finished even from the south to the western side, and a new gate was
+made.
+
+In this same year, on Easter Eve, two Converts were invested, namely,
+Brother Gerard ten Mollen, and Brother Gerard Hombolt, as is recorded
+above.
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+Of the death of our most reverend Lord Frederic, Bishop of Utrecht.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1423, on the Feast Day of S.  Dionysius, Bishop
+and Martyr, which is the ninth day of October, that most reverend and
+renowned Lord Frederic of Blankenhem, the illustrious Bishop of Utrecht,
+went away out of the light of this world, being about eighty years of
+age.
+
+He ruled the diocese of Utrecht strenuously and in honourable wise during
+thirty years, for the grace of God Almighty succoured him: his power was
+increased by many victories, and he gave the Church peace, his country
+safety, and his people tranquillity before his death.  This is he that
+was a potentate of renown, a pillar of the priesthood, a guiding star to
+Clerks, a father to the Religious, a friend to all devout persons, a
+defender of the orphan, an avenger upon the unjust.
+
+This is he that was the glory of rulers, the delight of subjects, that
+upheld dignity among the aged, and uprightness amongst the young, he was
+a pinnacle of learning, the ornament of the wise; he gave weapons to the
+warriors and a shield to them that strove: he inspired terror in his
+foes, and courage in his people; he was an ornament to the nobles, an
+honour to princes, a glory to the great ones of the land.  Who could tell
+his praises in worthy wise, for in his days all was well ordered in the
+land of Utrecht!  Prelates were honest, and priests pious in the worship
+of God; the religious were devout, the virgins were chaste, the people
+were fervent in the faith, judges were firm, and wealth grew abundantly
+in the cities.  In these days also, schools for learning flourished,
+especially at Deventer and Zwolle, and a vast multitude of learners came
+together from divers states and regions, both near and afar off.  And
+because the Bishop feared God, honoured Holy Church, and loved and
+defended all that served the Lord, therefore the Majesty on High
+protected him from the enemies that were round about, making rebellious
+nations subject to him, especially those Frisians who had invaded his
+territories.  Moreover, God did make his days illustrious by many
+marvellous deeds, so that an age of gold seemed to have been granted to
+his land of Utrecht.  But this did appear more evidently after the
+Bishop's death, when a schism--exceeding lawless and long enduring--arose
+and increased among Clerks and people alike.  And this the reverend
+Bishop feared should come about, for he was a prudent man and a learned;
+moreover, he knew the manners of the cities and the seditious ways of
+some of the nobles whose insolence he had been able to restrain and
+subdue with difficulty, and the exercise of great valour.  "After my
+death," said he, "they will know that they have had a good lord, for they
+all wish to be masters, and to have none set over them, wherefore it
+shall be ill with them."  And he prophesied truly, for the whole land of
+Utrecht suffered grievous loss for her sedition, and shall long mourn the
+same, as will be shown briefly in the proper place.
+
+So this illustrious ruler died in his castle that is called Horst, not
+far from Utrecht, and his body was brought by a seemly train of followers
+to the church at Utrecht where his predecessors were buried, and there in
+company with the other bishops in an honoured tomb upon the right side of
+the choir he doth rest in peace.
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+
+Of the death of Brother John Vos of Huesden, who was the second Prior at
+Windesem.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1424, on the Saturday following the Feast of St.
+Andrew, being the second of December, the venerable Father John Huesden,
+who was the second Prior of Windesem, died in the sixty-first year of his
+age.  He had been a disciple of Master Gerard Groote and Father
+Florentius, Vicar of Deventer, and on the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene, in
+the year following the investiture of the first Brothers, he himself was
+invested there together with Henry Balveren.  A short time after Brother
+Werner, the first Prior, was absolved from his office, this John Huesden
+was chosen the second Prior of the House, being then in the twenty-eighth
+year of his age.  By the help of God he continued as Prior for thirty-
+three years and ruled the House in a laudable manner: also he was of much
+profit to the whole Order, being a most comfortable and kindly Father to
+all the devout Brothers and Sisters that were in the whole Diocese, for
+he was charitably disposed to all alike.  He ordered the writing of many
+books for the monastery, being a fervent lover of the holy writings, and
+was specially devoted to our Father Saint Augustine, a store of whose
+books he collected diligently.  He was also at Constance in the days of
+the General Council, whither he went in company with John Wale, the
+venerable Prior of Zwolle, and the cardinals and other prelates received
+them both kindly and with reverence.
+
+Now it came to pass a few days before his death, and within the Octave of
+St. Martin the Bishop, that two Brothers came from Mount St. Agnes to
+Windesem to commune with the Prior.  And one of them had a dream after
+this wise, which vision did foretell the Prior's death; for he saw the
+spirits gathered together in Heaven and hastening as if to the death-bed
+of some one, and straightway he heard a bell toll as if for the passing
+of a dying man, and the sound hereof aroused him, and he awoke.  So
+rising from his bed and desiring to go to see what had happened, he
+perceived no man, for it was before the fifth hour in the morning, and
+the Brothers were yet asleep.  So, returning to himself, he kept silence,
+and the thought came to him that our Father the Prior should soon depart
+hence.  Yet he told naught of this vision to any that were in the House,
+but to a certain Clerk that was coming from Brabant and journeying in his
+company he said privately: "Tell Hermann Scutken, who sojourneth at
+Thenen, to come quickly if he would speak with our Father at Windesem,
+for if the vision that one hath seen this night is true, I wot that he
+shall not long abide here."  So when fifteen days were passed this
+Reverend Father died on the day aforesaid after High Mass, and before the
+midday meal the Mass of the dead was sung for him, and his body was
+buried in the choir before the step of the sanctuary.
+
+On the Vigil of the Epiphany after the death of this venerable Father,
+Brother Gerard Naeldwijc, the Procurator of the House, was chosen to be
+Prior; but he was greatly grieved thereat, and after a long while he
+consented, though against his will.  Being lowly and gentle he might not
+bear the honour and burden of this place, and he sought earnestly with
+many prayers to be relieved from the care of so great a charge, and when
+the next General Chapter was held he sought to be absolved from his
+office of Prior, which petition was granted to him.  So after he had been
+absolved, and when the Fathers were still gathered together, Brother
+William Vorniken, the Prior of Mount St. Agnes, was chosen by the same
+General Chapter to be Prior of the Superior House.  And when he knew of
+his election he too was stricken with dismay, for he was afraid of the
+burden, which is indeed a thing to fear.  So he wept abundantly, saying
+again and again that he was unworthy, and striving mightily against this
+thing in every manner, yet was he obliged to obey and to take upon
+himself for Christ's sake the yoke of so great a burden, being compelled
+thereto by his obedience and the determination of the more part.
+Therefore, at length, he consented, and after weeping bitterly he was
+confirmed and inducted into the office, and all that were in the House
+gave thanks to God and were glad; but the House of Mount St. Agnes was
+saddened above measure and wept when her faithful Pastor was taken from
+her, for she knew none like to him.
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+
+How Brother Theodoric of Kleef was chosen to be the third Prior of the
+House on the Mount.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1425, the House of Mount St. Agnes bereft of her
+Pastor (who had been chosen for and translated to the Superior House) was
+instant to provide for herself another suitable ruler in accordance with
+the canons.  Wherefore the Brothers were gathered together, and on the
+Saturday after Pentecost the Mass of the Holy Spirit was celebrated after
+the monastic manner, and all the members of the Chapter came together to
+the Chapter House.  When the opinion of each had been heard, Brother
+Theodoric of Kleef, our Sub-Prior, was chosen, and those venerable
+Fathers, the Prior of Windesem and the Prior of the House of the Blessed
+Virgin, near Northorn, took part in this election, and confirmed the same
+as an holy act by the authority committed to them.
+
+Brother Theodoric was one of the elder Brothers of this same House, and
+had been among those that were first invested: he had a long training in
+the good life, and he wrote summer and winter Homilies together with
+certain other books.
+
+After his election as Father and third Prior of our House, many evils
+befel in the diocese of Utrecht, which same did mightily afflict our
+House and all the devout in the land.  This was by reason of a schism
+between Sueder of Culenborgh, who was confirmed as Bishop of the diocese,
+and the noble Rodolph of Diepholt, and the long continued strife between
+these two did disturb many Clerks and citizens of the land.
+
+In the same year, on the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin
+Mary, and after Compline, died our Brother Conrad, a Convert.  He was the
+tailor, and was born in Scyrebeke in the Countship of Marck, and had
+lived at Deventer under Florentius, which devout Father sent him to Mount
+St. Agnes when he had learned the tailor's art.  He lived devoutly and
+humbly with us for many years, making, cleaning, and mending the raiment
+of the Brothers, but toward the end of his life it was his chief delight
+to think that he had often cleansed their clothing, for he hoped by his
+labours in this regard to have cleansed also the stains of his own sins.
+He was a man right pure and modest, and one that loved poverty and
+simplicity, and he ardently longed to be released and to be with Christ
+Jesus and Mary, whom he often called upon by name at the last: moreover,
+it was given him to die a peaceful and an holy death on this day of Her
+Festival, and his body was laid in the burying ground within the cloister
+of the monastery, hard by the northern gate, toward the wall of the
+eastern building.  In the same year Sueder of Culenborgh was confirmed
+Bishop of Utrecht by the authority of the Apostolic See, and he was
+accepted by the people of Utrecht, and of certain other towns, but by the
+States of Overyssel he was not received.  Wherefore these States were
+placed under an Interdict, and a great controversy arose among Clerks and
+people, for some observed the Interdict, but the chief ones of the States
+with those that clove to them, clamoured against it.
+
+Alas! Holy God! on the day before the Feast of St. Lambert we ceased from
+our singing by reason of the Interdict that was published against us!  For
+this cause the nobles of the land and many of the vulgar had indignation
+against us and other Religious, and we suffered many insults, and at last
+we were driven to go forth from our country and our monasteries in order
+to observe the Interdict.
+
+In the same year, on the holy day of Christ's Nativity, were invested two
+Clerks that had been Probationers a long while, and also one Convert
+named James Cluit of Kampen who had studied for some time at Deventer
+under John of Julich, the famous and devout Rector.  The Clerks were
+Brother Gerard Smullinc of Kleef, who had attended the school at Zwolle
+under Master John Cele, the excellent Rector with whom he dwelt for some
+space as a fellow commoner: and Brother James Ae, a Convert from Utrecht,
+and kinsman to Brother William Vorniken who was once our Prior.
+
+CHAPTER XXI.
+
+Of the death of Brother Egbert formerly Sub-Prior at the House on the
+Mount.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1427, on the day after the Feast of St. AEgidius
+the Abbot, and after the third hour of the night, Brother Egbert of
+Linghen died at Diepenveen in the House of the Sisters of our Order.  He
+was Rector and Confessor of that House, and was buried in the church
+there, outside the choir and between the two chancels, the Prior of
+Windesem being present at his burial.
+
+This Brother was born in the town of Ummen and baptised in the church of
+St. Bridget: but when his parents removed to Zwolle, he being a youth of
+good disposition began to attend the school under Master John Cele, and
+earnestly to profit thereby.  And when he heard the honourable reputation
+of the House on the Mount he came thither eagerly: now the elder John
+Ummen then ruled over it, and his wholesome exhortations touched Egbert
+to his good, so being now sufficiently advanced in learning he left his
+parents, and in humility and devotion joined himself to these
+Brothers--the poor little ones of Christ.  Afterward he was promoted to
+the Priesthood in this same House, and since the grace of devotion grew
+in him, in a short time he, with two others, took the Religious habit.
+These three were the first to take it, and Egbert the first amongst them.
+Also he was for a time Sub-Prior of our House on the Mount, being a man
+of good heart, eloquent in word, diligent in writing, a comforter of them
+that sorrowed, quick to forgive injuries, and one that did rejoice with
+all his heart at the progress of others.  He adorned many of the chant
+books in the choir with beautiful illuminations, and also divers books
+for our library, and sometimes those that were written for sale.  He
+loved our House on Mount St. Agnes above all places that are on the
+earth, and he laboured right faithfully for the building thereof.
+Moreover, when his parents were dead, he, their only son, received all
+their goods as their lawful heir; and these were given for the common use
+of the Brothers who had heretofore lived in great lack.  Wherefore year
+by year memorial is made of him and his parents in the monastery for
+these benefits, as is justly due.
+
+CHAPTER XXII.
+
+How our Brothers and other Religious were driven from the land by reason
+of the Interdict.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1429, the strife between them that followed
+Sueder and them that clave to Rodolph--who had been chosen to be
+Bishop--still continued, and heavy threats were made against the Regulars
+in that they obeyed the letter of the Apostolic See and the commandments
+of Sueder, Bishop of Utrecht.  And since they would not consent to the
+appeal of Rodolph, nor maintain his cause, they were driven either to
+begin again to sing the services of the church or to depart from the
+country, they and all their company.
+
+Then did the Priors take counsel with their congregations, and they chose
+rather to give place to the people that were enraged against them, and to
+be exiles for justice' sake than to consent to such commandments to the
+scandal of all the devout, for these had already gone away from a great
+part of the country, leaving their own houses and their native land.
+
+Therefore, when this grievous choice was made known before the Fathers
+and Brothers of our House, there was but one opinion amongst all, namely,
+that they must prepare to sojourn in a strange land and so keep obedience
+to the Apostolic See, but that they should leave in the monastery certain
+of their household that were Lay Brothers, Converts and Donates, who
+might keep the House.  Thus were the Brothers driven forth, and they
+departed publicly before sunset on the Feast of St. Barnabas the Apostle.
+Moreover the Brothers of Windesem with their household went forth toward
+Northorn, and they of Bethlehem in Zwolle went over the Yssel to the
+district of Geldria.  But the Brothers of Mount St. Agnes abode at
+Hasselt for the first night, and on the next day they took ship for
+Frisia meaning to go to their Brothers at Lunenkerc, to help and comfort
+that House which they had begun to reform.  And by the help of God, while
+many of our Brothers sojourned there, the House soon came to be well
+ordered.  There were together in the hired ship in which they crossed
+over twenty-four of our household, both Clerks and Lay Brothers, and
+these abode three years in Lunenkerc for the name of Christ and the
+Church of God; and the exile from their own land, which they took
+patiently, bore notable fruit.
+
+These are the names of our Brothers and the others of our household, both
+Clerks and Laics, who were driven from the land of Utrecht and from our
+monastery for their obedience in the matter of the Interdict which they
+observed for more than a year by command of the Apostolic See.
+
+First our venerable Father the Prior, who was called Brother Theodoric of
+Kleef; the second was Brother Thomas of Kempen, the Sub-Prior; the third,
+Brother John Ummen, who was stricken in years and weak; the fourth,
+Brother Gerard Wesep; the fifth, Brother John Benevolt; the sixth,
+Brother Wernbold Staelwijc; the seventh, Brother John Bouman; the eighth,
+Brother Henry Cremer; the ninth, Brother Henry of Deventer; the tenth,
+Brother Dirk Veneman; the eleventh, Brother Helmic; the twelfth, Brother
+Christian; the thirteenth, Brother James Cluyt; the fourteenth, Brother
+Gerard Smullinc; the fifteenth, Brother Cesarius, a Novice; the
+sixteenth, Brother Goswin, son of Pistor, a Novice.
+
+Likewise there were two Converts, namely, Brother Arnold Droem and
+Brother James Ae; three Clerks that had not yet received the Religious
+habit, namely, Hermann Craen, Gosswin ten Velde, and Arnold ten Brincke;
+two Donates named Gerard Hombolt and Laurence, and also John Koyte, a
+guest and familiar friend of our House.  All of these were received for
+the first night as the guests of the Sisters at Hasselt, who showed great
+charity and humanity towards us, and they lamented and wept bitterly that
+we were driven out with violence.  But since all the Brothers could not
+find room nor beds wherein to sleep, these Sisters had compassion upon us
+and brought us their own bedding wherewith they prepared a place for us
+to sleep in the stable on the hay and straw, and here we all slept
+commodiously enough.  Many of the citizens in Hasselt also had compassion
+upon us and wept, but certain envious folk that thought ill of us mocked
+our Brothers and spake lightly of them, but of these divers did afterward
+repent.  On the second day, when morning came, we hired a small ship and
+came by way of the sea to Frisia, the land we sought, having taken
+sustenance by the way; but we used both sails and oars and gat us across
+not without great hazard for the wind was contrary.  Thus we went thither
+for the name of Christ and to keep obedience to the Holy Roman Church,
+the which we all desired to obey, and we committed ourselves to God Who
+showed forth His mercy toward us, and snatching us from the peril of the
+sea brought us safely to our Brothers in Lunenkerc.
+
+In the year 1430, on the 19th day of December, being the day before the
+Vigil of St. Thomas the Apostle, died our beloved Brother John, a priest
+who was born at Kampen.  He was third among the first four who received
+investiture, and he died after midday and was buried on the right side of
+Brother Oetbert.  He wrote in excellent wise the Chants in the books that
+are for use in the choir, for he was a good singer, and a man of modest
+character, and showed himself to be able and skilled in divers kinds of
+work at harvest time and in the building of the House.  When we were
+driven forth he went with the Brothers to Frisia, though he was weak, for
+he chose rather to share their exile than to abide alone with a few Lay
+Brothers to keep the House.  But afterward he was sent back before the
+rest, for his sickness compelled us to do this: so having fulfilled
+thirty-one years in the Religious Life, he fell asleep in the Lord.
+
+In the year 1431, on the Feast of St. Stephen, Pope and Martyr, Brother
+Goswin Becker died in Lunenkerc.  He was in the beginning of the third
+year after his profession, but was not yet in Holy Orders, and he was
+buried in the cloister of the monastery there.  He was the son of one
+John Limborgh, otherwise Becker, and was born at Zwolle.
+
+CHAPTER XXIII.
+
+Of the return of our Brothers from Frisia to Mount St. Agnes.
+
+In the year of our Lord 1422 (1432), license was granted to members of
+the Religious Orders, and to devout Priests and Canons, to return to
+their own places and monasteries which they had left in order to observe
+the Interdict of our Lord the Pope, but some few were excepted as being
+suspected of taking part in the sedition.  Now the Bishop of Matiskon had
+been sent as Legate of the Apostolic See to make terms of peace, and to
+remove the Interdict that had been pronounced to maintain the cause of
+Sueder as against the noble Rodolph, who had been chosen to be Bishop.
+Many Prelates and Religious Brothers were gathered together to meet the
+aforesaid Legate in the town of Viana, and the Fathers of our Religious
+Order and Devotion, the Priors of Windesem and of Mount St. Agnes
+together with many others--devout Priests, who had been obedient to the
+Interdict--entered into Utrecht rejoicing, after holding friendly
+converse with the Legate.  Then the Brothers returned each to his own
+House bearing with them sheaves of peace, the reward for their long exile
+which they had endured outside the diocese, and so by little and little
+they returned to their own monasteries eagerly and with devotion; for
+some of the Brothers of our House returned on the eve of the Feast of the
+Assumption of the Blessed Mary, and some about the Feast of St. Michael,
+while a few were left in Frisia to minister to the needs and preserve the
+discipline of the House at Lunenkerc.
+
+Through all things blessed be God who alone doeth great marvels!
+
+CHAPTER XXIV.
+
+Of the death of Brother John of Kempen, the first Prior of Mount St.
+Agnes.
+
+In the same year, on the fourth day of November, at midnight, died
+Brother John of Kempen, the first Rector and Confessor of the Sisters at
+Arnheim, being in the sixty-seventh year of his age.  He had been Rector
+or Prior in divers places and Houses that were newly founded, namely, at
+the Fount of the Blessed Virgin, near Arnheim, where he was the first
+Rector when that House was founded, and here he invested divers Brothers:
+afterward he was chosen to be Prior of Mount St. Agnes and ruled the
+House for nine years: then he was sent to Bommel, and he began the House
+there with a few Brothers.  After this he was chosen to be Prior of the
+House of the Blessed Mary, near Haerlem, in Holland, over which he ruled
+for seven years.  At another time he was deputed to be the first Rector
+of the Sisters at Bronope, near Kampen, and at last he ended his life
+happily in a good old age and in obedience in Bethany, which is by
+interpretation "the House of Obedience," and he was buried within the
+cloister after Vespers.  I was with him and I closed his eyes, for I had
+been sent by the Visitors to bear him company, and I abode with him for a
+year and two months.  After Easter, in this same year, the House of
+Bethany was incorporated into the General Chapter.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1433, during Lent, three Clerks were invested,
+namely, Brother Hermann Craen of Kampen, Brother John Zuermont of
+Utrecht, and Brother Peter Herbort of Utrecht.  In the same year died
+Sueder of Culenborgh, Bishop of Utrecht, and after his death Pope
+Eugenius confirmed Rodolph Diepholt, who had been chosen before, to be
+Bishop of the diocese.
+
+In the year 1434, on the Feast of the Conception of the Glorious Virgin
+Mary, was invested Brother Bero, a Clerk, of Amsterdam.
+
+In the same year, on July 28th, died Margaret Wilden, a matron of great
+age and mother of our Brother Oetbert.  She was buried in the broad
+passage at her son's head, and on the northern side of the cloister.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1436, on the Octave of the Feast of St. Stephen,
+Proto-Martyr, Brother John, the first Convert of our House, died in
+Beverwijc, near Haerlem.  He was a faithful man and prudent in business,
+wherefore he was sent abroad with Brother Hugo of the same House, and
+bound by his obedience he accepted the mission.
+
+In the same year, on the Feast of St. Juliana the Virgin, after Lauds,
+died John Benevolt, a Priest of our House, who was born in Groninghen, a
+man of great simplicity and innocence; he was buried on the eastern side
+of the cloister, on the right of Brother John Ummen.
+
+In the same year, on the Feast of the Finding of the Holy Cross, in the
+first hour after midday, died Brother Alardus, a Priest of Pilsum and a
+Frisian by nation.  He was well stricken in age, being above seventy-six
+years old, and had lived the Religious Life for thirty years.  He was a
+man of great gentleness, and in the celebration of the Mass careful and
+devout.  He was ever among the first to go into the choir and the Common
+Refectory of the Brotherhood until his last sickness.  It had been his
+desire to die on this Feast because he had often celebrated it at the
+Altar of the Holy Cross, and according to his prayer so it was done unto
+him.  He often said to me, "The best dish that is set before me in the
+Refectory is the Holy Reading, the which I gladly hear: wherefore I do
+not absent myself willingly lest I should miss the fruit of that Holy
+Reading during the meal.  I delight also in the presence of the Brothers,
+in that I see the whole congregation there present taking their food
+under strict discipline."  At length he was weighed down with years, and
+though he could not walk alone, he came leaning upon a staff to the
+entrance of the choir to hear the Brothers singing; then he took holy
+water, and bowed the knee toward the High Altar.  On the days when he
+celebrated he often received a special consolation from God Himself.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1438, on the day after the Feast of St. Gregory
+the Pope, died Brother Rodolph, a Priest from Oetmeshem, who had been
+Prior of the House of St. Martin the Bishop, in Lunenkerc, in Frisia,
+near Herlinghen.  He had been sick a long while with dropsy, and on the
+day aforesaid he breathed forth his soul between the ninth and tenth
+hours in the morning, and he was buried on the right of Brother Alardus.
+In the same year, on the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Mary
+ever Virgin, six Clerks were invested, namely, Brother Henry Becker of
+Zwolle, Brother John Zandwijc of Rhenen, Brother Ewic, also of Rhenen,
+Brother Telmann Gravensande of Holland, Brother George of Antwerp, and
+Brother Arnold, son of Conrad, of Nussia.  In the same year there was a
+great famine in divers parts of the land, and in a short space a mighty
+pestilence followed; also in that year, on the Vigil of the Nativity of
+Christ, and after High Mass, died John Eme, a Convert, who was cellarer
+to our House.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1439, on the Feast of St. Peter ad Vincula, and
+early in the morning, before the fourth hour, died Wermbold Stolwic of
+Kampen, who was a Priest before he began the Religious Life.  He was
+often sick of a fever, and being weakened thereby he fell asleep in the
+Lord, having made a good confession, and was buried after Vespers.  He
+wrote the music in some of the Chant books in the choir.
+
+In the same year, on the Feast of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary,
+there was an earthquake in divers places, and in the summer following a
+great pestilence in divers parts, and many devout Brothers and Sisters
+departed from this present world.
+
+In the year 1440 the great building on the western side of the monastery
+was set up, to receive guests and the Lay folk of our household, and the
+roof thereof was finished in stone on the day before the Feast of our
+Holy Father Augustine.  At this work many of our Brothers laboured long
+and bravely, while others attended to the choir.
+
+In the same year four brothers died in the pestilence, namely, Brother
+Arnold Droem, a Convert, Goswin Witte, a Clerk and Oblate, Dirk
+Mastebroick, a Donate, Hermann Sutor, a Novice.  Likewise many of our
+neighbours in Haerst and Bercmede died of this plague, and by their own
+desire were buried in our monastery.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1441, on the Feast of St. Petronilla the Virgin,
+died our beloved Brother Christian of Kampen, the Infirmarius, for he was
+smitten with the plague.  He was very attentive to the sick and plague
+stricken, to whom he ministered faithfully to the death.  On the same
+day, when noon was hardly past, died John Clotinc, a Lay Brother and
+Oblate.  He was a man very devout, and a pattern for his long service in
+the brewery and the mill, and for his frequent prayers.  These died on
+the same day and at the same hour after High Mass when Sext was done, and
+after Vespers, when the Vigils had been sung, they were buried in peace.
+After their death, by the mercy of God, the plague in the cloister was
+stayed.
+
+In the same year and month, but before the aforesaid Brothers, and on the
+day before the Feast of St. Pancras, died the elder Wermbold, a Donate,
+who was born in Hasselt.
+
+In the year 1442, on the fourth day of March, which was the third Sunday
+in Lent, the venerable man, John of Korke, Bishop Suffragan to our Lord
+of Utrecht, consecrated the burial-ground upon the eastern side of the
+church, together with the cloister thereof, likewise the passage before
+the Brothers' Refectory, and that on the western side that goeth from
+before the cells of the Converts to the entrance of the church.  Also on
+the northern side the ground to bury strangers in, with the whole circuit
+thereof, but the part in the midst of it had been consecrated aforetime
+with our church.  Moreover, the Bishop granted indulgences for forty days
+to them that walked devoutly round the burial-ground.  Besides these, he
+consecrated the precious and fair Image of the Blessed Virgin with the
+Child Jesus, that standeth above the altar which is dedicated in honour
+of Her and of St. Augustine (this is that altar which is set in the midst
+of the church before the choir), and he granted forty days' indulgence to
+them that should recite five Aves devoutly and on bended knees before the
+said image.  Likewise, he consecrated another small image of the Blessed
+Virgin, that is placed before the gate of our monastery, and he granted
+forty days' indulgence to them that should recite three Aves there
+devoutly and on bended knees.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1443, on the day of St. Prisca, Virgin and
+Martyr, and after midday, died our beloved Brother, John Bouman, a
+Priest, who was once our Procurator.  He had been sick for a long while
+with a quartan fever, whereby his body was wasted, and he finished his
+life with a happy agony.  He was born in Zwolle, and for many years
+endured labours and divers infirmities, and this saying of Christ was
+often in his mouth: "In your patience ye shall possess your souls."  When
+I visited him at the end he said to me, "How gladly I would every day go
+with the Brothers into the choir if I were strong enough God knoweth!"  He
+was full of faith and compassion, and he gladly read and heard of the
+Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ; he had, moreover, a special devotion to
+the Blessed Mary Magdalene, for he was born on Her Feast Day, wherefore
+he often said the Mass for Her Feast, or humbly asked another to say it
+for him.  About a month before his death a certain Brother had this
+vision after Matins: it seemed to him that the Brothers were singing the
+Vigil in the choir, and that a corpse was there.  And after the Vigil the
+door of the choir was opened, and certain Lay Brothers of our household
+came into the choir and stood round the corpse; amongst these were seen
+two Lay Brothers who were already dead that came to the burial, namely,
+Brother John Eme and Hermann, son of Wolter (now they had died four years
+before this time).  These, with the rest of the household, went forth as
+if to follow the corpse going through the gate upon the south side of the
+choir, and they went in procession to that part of the precinct where our
+Brothers, who are Priests, are wont to be buried--and straightway the
+vision disappeared.  Then that Brother held his peace and began to think
+within himself: "It may be that some one of our Brothers shall soon
+depart out of this world, and we shall sing the solemn Vigils of the dead
+for him."  And so it came to pass, for when the month was ended, Brother
+John Bouman died, and the things seen in the vision were fulfilled in due
+order on his behalf, and he was buried near Brother Christian.  He lived
+in the Order of Regulars for thirty-one years and twenty-six days, and he
+had friends in Zwolle that were good men and great: moreover, notable
+increase of goods came to our monastery from him and from his parents.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1444, on the Feast of All Saints, was invested
+Henry Ruhorst, a Clerk, who was born at Kampen.
+
+In the same year, on the Octave of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin
+Mary, the Regulars of Haerlem, by the will of all, took upon them the
+rule of the cloister.
+
+After the Feast of St. Bartholomew, three of our Brothers who were
+Priests, were sent to found the new House of Roermund.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1445, on the day before the Feast of St. Bernard
+the Abbot, our beloved Brother Caesarius Coninc died.  He was a native of
+Utrecht, and Prior of Lunenkerc, but he had made his profession at Mount
+St. Agnes.  He went on the concerns of his House to Antwerp, where he
+fell sick, and having been in a fever for nearly eight days he fell
+asleep in the Lord, and was buried there in the Convent of the Sisters of
+our Order.  He held the office of Prior for eight years, and he departed
+from this world in the forty-sixth year of his age, and many goods came
+for the use of the monastery from his parents.
+
+In the same year, during Advent and after, a flood of waters overwhelmed
+many lands and drowned the crops in Betua that pertains to Geldria and
+Hertzogenbusch.
+
+In the year 1446, on the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin
+Mary, two Clerks were invested, namely, Brother James Spaen, from
+Geldria, and Brother Henry, son of Paul of Mechlin in Brabant; the former
+of these attended the school at Deventer, and had a brother who was a
+Religious at Northorn: the latter attended the school at Zwolle.
+
+In the same year, on Palm Sunday in the month of April, there was a great
+tempest, snow, hail, and the breath of the storm, and thunder was heard
+therewith.  In the night of that day the dyke between Wilsen and Kampen
+was broken down, and the cattle and beasts of burden at Mastebroic were
+drowned.  In Zutphen the tower of the church was set afire by lightning,
+and the roof was cleft above, and certain persons were wounded, and some
+were slain by this sudden mischance--in other parts also divers houses
+were destroyed by fire.  In Zwolle, after Mass, a mighty terror fell upon
+them that were in the church, and the shutters were shaken from the
+church windows by a lightning stroke.  In the same year, on the day
+following the Feast of St. Odulphus, and at the seventh hour when
+Compline was done, died Brother Frederic, son of John, a Convert from
+Groninghen.  He was an aged man of about eighty years, and one of the
+elders amongst them that first dwelt in this place.  In many things he
+was profitable to the Brothers, for he shaved their heads and blooded
+them and dressed their wounds, and did other faithful service to the sick
+and the plague stricken; at length, wearied with age and having a good
+foundation of holy deeds, he fell asleep in the Lord.  He came to Mount
+St. Agnes to serve the Lord in the sixth year after the death of Master
+Gerard Groote, with the first Brothers that dwelt here, and with those
+very poor Lay folk, the disciples of Gerard, of whom I have written
+above.  He lived therefore in this place for sixty-six years, reckoning
+the years of his conversion from the beginning thereof to the year of his
+death inclusively, and Brother John Kempen, the first Prior of this
+House, invested him as a Convert on the Feast of St. Katharine the
+Virgin, in the year of the Lord 1401, he being the third of the Converts
+then invested.
+
+In the same year, on the Octave of the Holy Trinity, and on the night of
+the Feast of the Saints Gervase and Protasius, died Brother Arnold, son
+of Conrad of Nussia, being twenty-six years of age.  He had been in the
+priesthood for one year, and for nearly fifteen days had been sick of a
+tertian fever, but God had pity on him that in a brief space he fulfilled
+many years, and by the swiftness of his course escaped the hazardous
+defilements of the world; now he had finished eight years in the
+Religious Life.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1447, on the day before the Feast of St. Agnes
+the Virgin, two Clerks were invested, namely, Everard ter Huet of Zwolle
+and James Spenghe of Utrecht.
+
+In the same year the Clerks at Alberghen, near Oldenzale, received the
+habit of Holy Religion in the Order of Canons Regular of St. Augustine,
+and they were invested on the day of the Finding of the Holy Cross.
+
+CHAPTER XXV.
+
+How Theodoric of Kleef, third Prior of the House on the Mount laid down
+his office, and was absolved therefrom.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1447, that venerable Father, Theodoric of Kleef,
+third Prior of our House of Mount St. Agnes the Virgin, coming home from
+the General Chapter, called the Brothers together, and humbly sought to
+speak with them so that when the Visitors of the House came he might be
+absolved from his office of Prior.  For twenty-three years he had ruled
+the House with fatherly care, and he was weary with many labours.  He
+would have made this petition a year before, but that the urgency of
+divers concerns of the House had hindered him from so doing, and he
+pleaded the weakness of his age and that his senses were clouded.  Hearing
+these things the elder Brothers spake with the members of the Chapter,
+and thinking to show mercy toward their beloved Father who had long
+served them to the best of his power, they gave a kindly hearing and
+assent to his petition.  Wherefore the three eldest amongst them, on
+behalf of the other Brothers and at their request, came to the Visitors,
+for they were sitting in a private room to hear the opinion of each one
+of the Brothers, and on bended knees with their hands clasped they
+besought them instantly, and with all their hearts, to grant absolution
+to this Father for that he was infirm and aged; this they said was the
+time to show him pity, and this was what he desired as he had told to
+certain of them privately.
+
+The Visitors therefore heard the opinions of all, and finding that the
+more part of them that were gathered together demanded this thing of set
+purpose, did piously admonish the Prior that he might yield to the
+petition of the Brothers and resign his office out of consideration for
+his own weakness of body.  The good Father hearing this prostrated
+himself humbly before the Chapter, and returning thanks to the Brothers
+said that he was ready to resign into the hands of the Prior of the
+Superior House the burden of that office which he had long borne.
+
+But since the duty of holding visitations at certain other houses had
+been laid upon them, the Priors of Windesem and Zwolle besought our
+Brothers that such visitations might be held by the known and former
+Prior as the Chapter had ordained, and when these were done, then at a
+convenient season the desire of the Brothers concerning the absolution of
+the Prior should be fulfilled.
+
+So when the matter of the visitation was finished, the Priors of
+Amsterdam and of Hoern returned, and coming to our monastery did a second
+time examine the opinion of the Brothers in private, and they found that
+the more part were still of one heart, and constant to their opinion that
+the Prior should be absolved, though some few of the younger Brothers
+dissented from the rest.
+
+Hearing this the Visitors, by the authority to them committed, absolved
+the Prior on the day after the Dispersion of the Apostles, thinking
+thereby to provide for the peace and usefulness of the House.  Then in
+accordance with the statutes of the Chapter they bade the Brothers to
+keep fast for three days for the election of a new Prior; then they
+returned toward Holland to their houses, since their own needs compelled
+them so to do, but they besought the venerable Prior of Windesem to deign
+to be present in person at the election when the Brothers should choose
+their Prior.  And this was done, the grace of God providing for us, so
+that the petition of the brothers, which they had made long since, came
+to a good issue in the election of a new Prior, for which election they
+did invoke the Holy Ghost and poured out prayers to God instantly both in
+public and in private.
+
+CHAPTER XXVI.
+
+How Brother Henry of Deventer was chosen to be the fourth Prior of the
+House of Mount St. Agnes.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1448, on the 20th day of June (July), when the
+three days' fast was ended, the Brothers came together to sing the Mass
+of the Holy Spirit on the day before the Feast of St. Praxedes the
+Virgin; but the Mass of the Blessed Virgin had been said in private
+because it was the Sabbath.  Then after the end of Mass, and when Sext
+was done, the Brothers went forth from the choir to the Chapter House to
+choose a new Prior; and the venerable Prior of Windesem, with the Prior
+of Zwolle, was there present with them, for he had been called and
+besought to hear the election.  So, having held a short conference with
+the Brothers, and the manner of election being read, the Prior of
+Windesem exhorted the members of the Chapter to choose a fit person to be
+Prior following the commandments of God and Canon Law.  There were here
+present twenty-one Brothers that were electors, and two who were far away
+had written letters wherein they expressed their will.  So the Brothers
+that were electors went away a little space outside the doors of the
+Chapter House, and the two Priors aforesaid came and stood by the altar
+in the Chapter House, the door thereof being open, and with them were the
+three elder Brothers.  There they stood to hear the votes of each man
+separately, for they could be seen by all, but none could hear what was
+said.  Then the votes of each being heard and counted, our Sub-Prior,
+Brother Henry, son of William of Deventer, was chosen and nominated to be
+Prior, having the votes of the more part recorded for him on the paper,
+namely sixteen.  Some there were beside that did not choose him, but of
+these three Brothers did not vote at this time, and two chose the
+Procurator, James Cluyt.  Then one of the elder Brothers, on behalf of
+himself and of the more part, besought the Prior of the Superior House to
+confirm the election, who straightway appointed the next day to be the
+last for any to oppose.  And when none made opposition to the manner of
+the election, nor said aught against the Brother who was chosen, the
+Prior elect was called to consent to his election which had been made
+according to the canons, so that it might be duly confirmed.  And he
+straightway prostrated himself in the midst of the Brothers protesting
+that he was not sufficient, and he humbly besought to be relieved of this
+burden, but when he could not gain his purpose, and dared not obstinately
+to resist, he gave consent in an humble voice, being overcome by the
+insistence of the Brothers and compelled by his obedience to his
+superior: and he submitted himself to the ordinance of God for the sake
+of observing brotherly love and the needful discipline of the cloister.
+So when he had been confirmed by the Prior of Windesem he was led in to
+the choir in the presence of all the Brothers, and placed in his stall,
+and prayers were offered up.  After which done all the members of the
+Chapter straightway went into the House, and following the accustomed
+manner all the professed Brothers took the vow of obedience to their
+Father, the new Prior, and after them the Converts, and lastly the
+Donates did the like.  When this was done they spent the day with joy and
+giving of thanks, and at last their Fathers, the Priors of the other
+houses who had taken part in all that was done, said farewell to them,
+and the Brothers left the garden and returned to their cells.  When the
+bell rang for Vespers they came together to the choir, and sang the
+Vespers of St. Mary Magdalene with cheerful voices.  After three days the
+Brothers were called together to the Chapter House, and the Prior
+proposed that in accordance with the statutes they should choose another
+Sub-Prior, so on the Feast of St. James the Apostle, before the hour for
+Vespers, Brother Thomas of Kempen was nominated and elected after a brief
+scrutiny.  He was one of the elders, being sixty-seven years of age, and
+in past times had been appointed to this office, and albeit he knew
+himself to be insufficient and would have made excuse, yet he did submit
+him humbly to the assembled Brothers, for his obedience bade him so to
+do; neither did he refuse to undergo toil on their behalf for the love of
+Christ Jesus, but earnestly besought the prayers of his comrades and
+Brothers, for he trusted rather in the grace of God than in himself.
+
+In the same year, during the summer season, the crops were grievously
+ravaged in divers places by the mice, which ate the corn while it was
+still growing up and when it was in the blade.  Our Lay Brothers,
+therefore, dug ditches and put in the ground jars filled with water, and
+such was the craft with which they did this that a vast number of the
+mice were drowned in these jars, and they slew in divers places many
+thousands.  These creatures had caused great loss to us and our
+neighbours by ravaging the wheat, the barley, the oats, and the peas, and
+also the green crops in the fields that were for the fodder of the
+cattle.
+
+About the beginning of the month of September there was a notable
+tempest, and a great flood of waters broke in upon us (for the sea had
+burst his banks), and this did overflow our pasture land and destroyed
+the grass and the fodder.  By this same tempest many ships that had
+adventured themselves upon the sea were overwhelmed with all their crews.
+
+But herein again the good and merciful God did provide for us, for our
+fishers took great store of fish by reason of this flood, and these did
+suffice the Brothers and their guests for food during many days.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1449, on the Feast of St. Bernard the Abbot, we
+received the precious relics of certain Saints and Martyrs who were
+companions of Gereon, Duke and Martyr, and of others that were companions
+of the Eleven Thousand Holy Virgins of Cologne.  These did the venerable
+Abbot of St. Panthalion send to us from the many relics that are in that
+monastery.
+
+Likewise Egbert Tyveren, a Donate of our House, brought back to us from
+Cologne, as true relics, certain small fragments that were given to us by
+the Carthusians, and by the Regular Brothers of our own order in the
+House of Corpus Domini.  The Prior and the Brothers of our House being
+gathered together in the choir before High Mass brought these relics into
+the church, carrying the Standard of the Cross and lighted tapers in
+their hands, and afterward the Prior placed them on the different altars,
+having enclosed them in reliquaries in seemly wise in honour of the
+Saints.
+
+In the same year, on December the 16th, our Brother Godefried of Kempen
+died in Brabant in the House of the Sisters of the Regular Order that is
+called the Cloister of the Blessed Virgin, near Zevenborren.  This
+convent was afterward destroyed utterly by fire in the year 14--, and the
+Sisters were removed to Brussels with great honour by the Duchess of
+Burgundy.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1450 many faithful servants of Christ went to
+Rome to gain Indulgences, which our Lord, Pope Nicholas V, by advice of
+the Cardinals, and moved himself by piety and mercy, had granted by a
+Bull in the previous year.  Then did many Christian folk that sojourned
+on this holy pilgrimage return whole, but many died by the way, and many
+in the city of Rome.
+
+In the same year, in Holland, Utrecht, Amersfoort, Zwolle, Kampen,
+Deventer, Zutphen and many other towns and hamlets, a bubonic plague
+raged, and many devout persons and religious, as also many worldlings,
+departed from this present life.  In the same year the winter time was
+very mild, with but little snow and thin ice, but the wind was cold.  In
+Lent, and at the beginning of March, our fishers took great abundance of
+the fish called smelts, wherewith, during the Fast, our Brothers were
+fed, and also many poor beggars at our gates.
+
+In the same year the men of Zwolle builded a great and lofty bridge of
+strong wooden timbers across the River Vecht, not far from our monastery,
+to serve the necessities of their own folk and the convenience of men
+that would come thither; the cost thereof was six hundred Rhenish
+florins.
+
+In the same year, on the Feast of St. John before the Latin Gate, Brother
+Gerard of Deventer, whose surname was Bredenort, was invested.
+
+In the same year, on the twenty-ninth day of August, died James Oem,
+Rector of the Sisters at Bronope, near Kampen, who for nine years had
+exercised a kindly rule over that House.  After his death the Prior of
+Windesem appointed Brother Dirk of Kleef to be Rector and Confessor of
+this House.  He had been formerly Prior of Mount St. Agnes, and was the
+eldest of the Brothers of that monastery.
+
+In the year 1451, on the Octave of Easter, which was the day before the
+Feast of the Finding of the Holy Cross, died Dirk Poderen, a servant of
+our House, a poor man and an aged, being about eighty years old: he had
+lived with us for twenty years.
+
+In the same year, on the Vigil of the Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle,
+and at the ninth hour, when Compline had been said, died Brother Gerard,
+son of Wolter, a Convert who was sixty-eight years of age lacking two
+months, and had lived the Religious Life for nearly forty years.  The
+Prior and the Brothers were present with him at his death: he was
+faithful and earnest in good deeds and words, and he was buried on the
+western side of the passage with the other Converts.
+
+In the same year a new mill was builded, and finished with much labour
+and cost, for the greater convenience of our House.
+
+In the same year the House of the Regulars in Cologne which is called
+"Corpus Christi," and standeth in the parish of St. Christopher the
+Martyr, was received into our Chapter.  At this time, namely, after the
+Feast of the Conception of the Blessed Virgin, our Brother, Henry Cremer,
+was sent to act as Sub-Prior of this House, and Brother Gerard of Kleef
+went with him to be the Rector.
+
+In the same year there was a grievous pestilence in Cologne, and as is
+reported by many, twenty-five thousand persons are reckoned to have died
+thereof.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1451, our most Reverend Lord Nicholas de Chusa,
+Cardinal with the title of St. Peter in Chains, who was Legate for the
+land of Germany, came to the diocese of Utrecht, after that he had
+visited the upper parts of Saxony and the cities and townships of
+Westphalia.  He came likewise to Windesem, where he was received with
+honour by the Brothers, and held a conference with them, and by the
+authority of the Apostolic See he granted Indulgences on the occasion of
+the Jubilee to all that were subject to our General Chapter.  When he was
+asked whether one might go to Rome to gain Indulgences without special
+license, he replied: "Our Lord the Pope himself hath said, 'Better is
+obedience than Indulgences.'"
+
+In the year of the Lord 1452, a great and grievous loss befel the city of
+Amsterdam, a famed and populous city in Holland, for a fire broke forth
+on the Feast Day of Urban, Pope and Martyr, and the wrath of God went
+forth in particular against the congregations of religious persons, both
+men and women; so great was the fire that the more part of the city
+should seem to have been destroyed, and scarce a third part thereof was
+saved.  Fourteen monasteries are known to have burned almost to the
+ground, and verily great misery was caused thereby in the sight of all
+men, such as had not been heard of from very ancient times until that
+day.  Many virgins that had taken the veil, putting aside their maiden
+modesty, wandered about the city lamenting and begging for hospitality,
+whereby the hearts of many were moved to tears.  Everything was buried,
+from the great Church of St. Nicholas to the ancient Convent of the Nuns
+of our Order inclusively, and in the other direction from the Church of
+the Blessed Virgin Mary to our monastery exclusively, for God in His
+mercy spared that House that it was unhurt.
+
+In the same year, on the Feast of the Commemoration of St. Paul the
+Apostle, and after Vespers, our beloved Brother Henry Cremer died at
+Windesem; on the day following, being the Octave of St. John the Baptist,
+his body was brought to our House, wherein, through the mercy of God, he
+had lived for nearly thirty-three years in the Religious habit; this was
+done that at his life's end he might not lie in a strange land afar from
+our House, but might be buried according as he desired amongst our
+Brothers.  He was faithful in his labour, in the writing of books, and in
+his attendance in the choir; and being zealous for discipline he kept a
+watch over his mouth and loved his cell.  Formerly he had been Prior in
+Rickenberrich in Saxony for nearly eleven years, and afterward for a few
+years abode in Diepenveen with two others his companions, but he was
+instant in his petition to return to the Brotherhood, and obtained his
+desire; after this he was sent to Cologne, but returning thence he died
+at Windesem and was buried in our House.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1453, a strange pestilence fell upon the men of
+certain towns and the villages adjacent thereto.  This plague befel after
+the Feast of St. John the Baptist, and was notable by reason of the
+benumbing of the throat and the pain it caused in the breast and side.  At
+this time many of our Brothers and the Lay folk of our Household who were
+labouring hard in the fields--for it was harvest--were smitten so
+grievously by the benumbing of their throats that they could scarce speak
+or eat.  There was a north wind that was very cold at night, but by day
+turbulent and dry, and many were chilled thereby and fell sick.  As a
+remedy against this, some clothed themselves in stouter garments and
+abstained from cold food and drink, and these grew well by reason of
+their abstinence and care to keep themselves from too great cold, for God
+had pity on them; but some that neglected these matters died after three
+days, or even two, being weakened by the numbness.
+
+When this disease first broke forth, our Brother Gerard ter Mollen, a
+Convert, fell sick and received the Unction after Compline on the day of
+the Translation of St. Martin the Bishop: in the night following, before
+the hour for Matins, his sickness grew heavy on him and he died.  He was
+a faithful labourer, ever ready to toil for the common weal, and he was
+in the sixtieth year of his age, having fulfilled thirty years and three
+months in the Religious Life: he was buried in the western path at the
+head of Gerard, son of Wolter.
+
+In the same year, in the month of July, and on the Feast of the
+Translation of Benedict the Abbot, died Dirk, son of Arnold, a young man
+who was a Laic and Fellow Commoner, that came from Bericmede: he had
+received the Sacrament of the Holy Unction, and died after High Mass had
+begun.
+
+In the same month, on the day following the Feast of St. Margaret the
+Virgin, when Compline was done, and the Ave Maria had been said, died
+Henry Diest, a Donate of our House: he was nearly forty-eight years of
+age and had fulfilled thirty years in this House.
+
+In the same month, on the day following the Feast of Alexius the
+Confessor, Dirk Struve, a Laic and Fellow Commoner, died after Compline,
+having received the Holy Rite of Extreme Unction.  He had lived long in
+the House, and on the day following when the first Mass had been said he
+was laid in the burying ground of the Lay Brothers.
+
+After him, and on the night before the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene,
+before Matins, died Everard Ens of Campen, a good and faithful Laic and
+Fellow Commoner, who had lived with us for fifteen years.
+
+In the same year, in the month of August, on the night before the Feast
+of St. Dominic the Confessor, and before Matins, died our most beloved
+Brother Theodoric of Kleef.  He was the third Prior of our House, and an
+old man and full of days, for he was seventy-six years old, and had
+fulfilled fifty-five years in the Religious Life.  When the first
+Brothers were invested here, he was the fourth to receive the Habit, and
+from the very beginning of the monastery, before any of the Brothers had
+received investiture, he with the Clerks and Lay folk in this place had
+begun to serve the Lord in much poverty and toil.  Moreover, it had
+always been his desire that by the favour of the Lord he might end his
+life in this same House with the Brothers, and be buried amongst them,
+and so it came about, for he was laid in the eastern passage by the side
+of our Brother, Henry Cremer, whom he had drawn to the Religious Life,
+and whom he had loved with all his heart.  Thus it came about that as
+they had loved one another in life, so in death and in the grave they
+were not divided.
+
+In the same year and month, on the day following the Feast of Sixtus,
+Pope and Martyr, and when noon was past, died Dirk, son of Wychmann of
+Arnheim, who had lived here for two years.
+
+In the same year, in the month of August, on the Feast of St. Lawrence
+the Martyr, and in the morning after Prime, died Matthias, son of William
+of Overcamp, a Donate of our House, who had been overseer of husbandry
+for a great while.  He often suffered pain from the stone, and at length
+falling sick with a disease in the throat, and being bowed with age, he
+fell on sleep in holy peace in the seventy-second year of his age, having
+endured many labours; for when the monastery was founded he came hither
+with his father, William, a tailor, of great age, and being then but ten
+years old, he began that good course which was brought to this happy
+issue.  He was laid in the burying-ground of the Lay folk before the
+entrance to the broad cloister.  At this time of pestilence in our House
+it befel that a certain Brother, while sitting in his cell, heard a sound
+at the door thereof as of one knocking twice, but when he arose to open
+the door he could not see or find any man there.  And marvelling at the
+matter he thought that perhaps some one might be like to die, and on the
+next day the bell was tolled for the death of Dirk Struve, a Laic of our
+household.  So also before the death of Brother Theodoric of Kleef, once
+the Prior of our House, the like thing happened two days before he fell
+sick.
+
+In the year 1454, on the morning of the fourteenth day of March and after
+Prime, died Brother Gerard Hombolt, a Convert, in the fifty-fifth year of
+his age.  He had fulfilled thirty years in the Religious Life, and for a
+great while was cellarer of the House, in which office he was faithful
+and zealous for the common good, so far as our poverty in temporal wealth
+and the number of persons to be served did allow.  He was buried in the
+western passage before the door of the church with the other Converts.
+
+In the same year, on the sixteenth day of May, the venerable Father John
+Lap died in the House of Elisabethdal, near Roremund, of which he was
+Prior, but he had made his profession as a Brother of our House of Mount
+St. Agnes.  He was in the fifty-fifth year of his age, and being a lover
+of discipline and of the Religious Life had fulfilled thirty years and
+nearly two months therein.
+
+In the same year, on the day before the Feast of the Exaltation of the
+Holy Cross, and about the second hour after noon, died Dionysius
+Valkenborch, a Donate of our House, being seventy-three years of age.  He
+had lived an humble and holy life with us for a great while, near to
+fifty-five years; at first his tasks were to feed the swine and milk the
+cows, but when he grew old he was made the gatekeeper, with another to
+help him, and ending his temporal life in a good old age he left a fair
+ensample to all.
+
+In the same year, in the month of August, on the day following the Feast
+of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, there was a heavy rain both
+in the uplands and the lowlands, and much corn and seed perished thereby,
+and we suffered great loss in our farm by the overflowing of many waters.
+In the same year, on the Feast of Gallus the Confessor, and at about the
+ninth hour, when Compline was ended, died Brother John Zandwijc of Renen,
+a Priest of our House, being thirty-eight years old.  He had suffered
+long from the stone, and was patient and gentle, and he had fulfilled
+sixteen years and near seven months in the Religious Life.  On the day
+before the Feast of St. Luke, when Mass was ended, he was buried by the
+side of Theodoric of Kleef in the eastern passage of the cloister; here
+he rests in peace, freed from the many toils and perils of this life, for
+his desire was to be released and to be with Christ.
+
+In the year 1455, on the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, two Clerks
+were invested, namely, Brother Henry, son of Bruno, and Theodoric, son of
+Arnold Wanninck; both came from Deventer, and had honourable parents and
+friends, and in the year following they made their profession together
+upon the same day.
+
+In the same year, on the Octave of the Feast of the Apostles Peter and
+Paul, when Matins was ended, died our venerable Father, William
+Voerniken, the fourth Prior of Windesem.  He was buried in the choir by
+the side of the venerable Prior John Huesden, for these two greatly loved
+one another, wherefore after death they shared one tomb in the church.  He
+was eighty-two years of age, and had been the second Prior of the House
+on Mount St. Agnes.
+
+In the same year, on the 22nd of April, when Prime was done, died John
+Mastebroick, a Laic and servant of our House, who was faithful in labour
+and devout in prayer.  He was about seventy years old, and had lived with
+us for nearly forty-five years, and he departed to the Lord in holy
+peace, desiring an eternal reward for his many labours.  He was laid with
+the servants in the burial-ground of the Lay folk and Donates of our
+House.
+
+In the same year, on the 9th of October, the day before the Feast of
+Marcus, Pope and Confessor, when Compline was done, died Gerard, son of
+Hermann, a Laic and servant of our House; he was a stonemason and a
+faithful worker so far as his powers did allow, but he was often sick
+with the complaint of the stone, from the tortures whereof he died,
+though he bore the same with much patience; and he left all the goods he
+had as a bequest to the monastery.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1455, on the 17th day of November, within the
+Octave of the Feast of St. Martin the Bishop, four altars in our church
+were consecrated by Iodocus, who was Bishop Suffragan, Doctor in Sacred
+Theology, and belonged to the order of Preachers.  He had received a
+general commission from the General Chapter of Utrecht, and he
+consecrated the several altars after this wise.  First the altar which is
+on the north of the church, and in the upper part thereof, in honour of
+St. Michael the Archangel and all the holy Angels: secondly, the altar
+which standeth upon the same side, but in the lower part of the church,
+in honour of the holy Confessors, Gregory, Ambrose, Jerome, Bernard,
+Francis, and Lebuin.  Thirdly, the altar which is in the midst of the
+church, in honour of the holy Confessors, Martin the Bishop, Willibrord
+the Bishop, Nicholas the Bishop, and Antony the Confessor.  Fourthly, the
+altar which standeth on the south side, toward the end of the church, in
+honour of the Saints Anne, Elizabeth, Monica, mother of our holy Father
+Augustine, and all holy widows.
+
+Likewise he consecrated the Holy Cross that is over the door of the
+choir, and certain images of Saints, namely, of St. Augustine the Bishop
+and St. Agnes the Virgin: also two small figures, the first of St. Mary
+Magdalene, the second of St. Agnes in the Coffer; also the image that is
+over the altar of the Holy Cross that showeth the blessed Virgin Mary
+holding the Crucified Lord, Who lieth on her breast: also the images of
+St. James the Apostle, St. Katherine the Virgin, and St. Barbara, Virgin
+and Martyr.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1456, on the Feast of St. Antony the Confessor,
+Brother Gerard, son of Dirk, who came from a place near Zwolle, was
+invested as a Convert.  He was a man well stricken in age, and had lived
+with us in honest wise for thirty years, being a good husbandman; before
+his investiture he had been an humble Donate, for we had many of that
+degree amongst us.
+
+In the same year, on the day following the Feast of St. James the
+Apostle, died John Smyt, a Laic and servant of our House.  He was drowned
+in a deep pool that had been filled by the rain, and with him perished
+four very good horses that were drawing a cart to fetch fodder.  At that
+time the weather was very rainy, so that many crops were destroyed
+thereby.  The Brothers therefore brought back this servant of God to the
+House, and after Compline laid him in the burial-ground of the Laics.
+Moreover, they celebrated Mass for him, and offered up prayers that he
+might receive the reward of his labours.  By God's providence, he and the
+other Laics of our House had received Communion, as was the custom, on
+St. James's day: and he himself had lived with us for one year, being
+skilful and diligent in the smith's craft.
+
+In all things blessed be God, Who scourgeth us, and also healeth our
+stripes, for though we lost above an hundred florins by the drowning of
+the horses, yet did the good Lord save us and our country from the army
+of the Duke of Burgundy, who was laying siege to Deventer; for after the
+Feast of St. Matthew peace and concord were restored between the Duke and
+the cities and people of this land.
+
+In the same year of the Lord 1456, on the Feast day of St. Lucia, Virgin
+and Martyr, and in the morning when High Mass for her festival was
+already begun, died that fervent lover of discipline, Brother William
+Coman.  He was born in Amsterdam, in Holland, and for a great while had
+lived an humble life amongst our Brothers, and he was seventy-eight years
+and four months old.  On the Feast of St. Brixius, Bishop and Confessor,
+he had fulfilled, by the help of God, fifty-five years in the Religious
+Life, for this was the anniversary of his investiture, and on this day he
+celebrated Mass for the last time, for he was sick from that day forward
+until the Feast day of St. Lucia, whereon he ended his life with a happy
+agony; and he was buried in the eastern passage by the side of our
+Brother John Zantwijc.
+
+This William Coman left many a good ensample of patience, poverty, and
+abstinence, for the imitation of them that come after; and in the days of
+the venerable Prior, William Vorniken (who was the second to hold that
+office in our House) he was Procurator, and afterwards Sub-Prior.  Then
+for three years he was Prior of the House at Amersfoort, after which he
+was Rector of the Sisters at Bronope near Kampen for fourteen years; but
+at last, as age had come upon him, and his hearing failed by little and
+little, he returned to our House and Brotherhood, where he died in holy
+peace, and he was buried amongst the Brothers after the accustomed
+manner.
+
+In the same year died Gerard Smullinc, the first Rector and Prior of the
+House at Ruremund, who, after that he was absolved from his office, went
+to gain Indulgences at the Shrine of St. James at Compostella, in which
+place he was buried.
+
+The anniversary of his death and that of his parents is kept on the day
+following the Feast of St. Elizabeth, because we know not surely the day
+thereof.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1457, on the day of St. Benedict the Abbot, and
+at eleven o'clock at night, Theodoric Herxen, a venerable Father of pious
+memory, and a priest of seemly life, died at Zwolle, being seventy-six
+years old.  He was the second Rector of the House of Clerks in Zwolle,
+and ruled it for forty-seven years; also he was Confessor to many devout
+Brothers and Sisters, and his whole life, from the time that he was of
+full age, was spent in discipline of character and in virtue.
+
+CHAPTER XXVII.
+
+How Father Henry, the fourth Prior, resigned his office, and how Father
+George was chosen to be the fifth Prior.
+
+In the year 1458, on the day following the Feast of St. Matthias the
+Apostle, Brother Henry, son of William, the fourth Prior of the House,
+resigned his office.  Now he had lain sick for a great while and was weak
+from fever; wherefore, prostrate upon his bed in the presence of all the
+Brothers, he besought them with many tears and exhorted them to agree to
+choose another Prior in his room, according to the lawful statutes of the
+Order.
+
+Hearing this all the Brothers were grieved, and for three days they
+fasted after the accustomed manner, praying for guidance in the coming
+election, which was held on the Thursday after the third Sunday in Lent,
+for which day the Introit is "Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord."  So
+when the Mass of the Holy Spirit had been said and the hours were done,
+the election was held in the choir in the presence of all the Brothers;
+and that venerable Father the Prior of Windesem was also present with
+them to hear the opinion of each one; likewise Brother John Naeldwijc and
+Brother James of Cologne, Prior of the House of the Blessed Virgin at
+Belheem in Zwolle.
+
+When the opinion of each had been heard, George, who was a Brother of our
+House, but at this time Prior of Briel, was chosen by the greater number
+of votes.  Some indeed chose Bero, Prior of Beverwijc, but all consented
+humbly and peaceably to the judgment of the greater number; so by common
+consent Brother George was elected, being a Father most beloved, and
+himself a lover of the rule.
+
+In the same year four Brothers were invested, three of them on the day
+following the Feast of St. George the Martyr, and the names of these were
+Henry Hierde of Herderwijc in Geldria, Hermann Borken of Westphalia in
+the diocese of Munster, and Theodoric of Zwolle.  The fourth, namely,
+John Orsoy of Kleef, was invested soon after, on the Feast of the
+birthday of our Father St. Augustine.
+
+In the same year there was a notable pestilence in Deventer, Zwolle, and
+Kampen, the which had raged in Utrecht and the neighbouring places in the
+previous year.  Verily this scourge of God was pious and pitiful towards
+Christian folk, as hindering them from dwelling long in this world so as
+to love it rather than the kingdom of Heaven.  At this time many devout
+Sisters in Deventer and Zwolle departed to Christ.
+
+On the day following the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed and
+Glorious Virgin Mary died our beloved Brother Henry Ruhorst, the
+Sub-Prior of our House, being forty years old, and he was buried in the
+eastern cloister by the side of our Brother William Coman.
+
+In the same year and month, on the Feast of St. Jerome and after midday,
+died Hermann, son of John, a Laic who was Sub-Infirmarius, being twenty-
+six years old.  He was a poor man, who was born in a place near Wessel in
+the district of Kleef; and being received by us, he showed himself ready
+to do whatever was laid upon him.
+
+In the same year, in the month of October, and at noon on the Feast day
+of St. Dionysius the Bishop, Brother Gerard Wessep died in Zwolle.  He
+had been sent to the Monastery of Belheem, and of his obedience and
+brotherly love he went thither after the death of many of the Brothers of
+the House; for of these ten had died, as well as certain Laics that were
+of the household.  After the hour of Vespers he was borne to a carriage
+and brought therein to our House, as he had desired, and he was buried
+with the Brothers in the eastern cloister, by the side of the Sub-Prior.
+At the time of his death he had fulfilled almost fifty-six years in the
+Order, being in the seventy-seventh year of his age.  He wrote many books
+in the Latin and Teutonic tongues for the choir, the library, and for
+sale; and he was forward to perform many labours for the common good.
+Above all he was very faithful and ready in tending the sick and dying
+till the moment of their departure; for he feared not then to tend and
+stand by diseased and plague stricken folk, serving them for the sake of
+God and brotherly love.  So the Lord willed to reward him also, with the
+Brothers that were dead in Belheem; wherefore, when he had spent fifteen
+days in Zwolle, he fell sick of the plague, and God took him from the
+toil and trouble of this present life and gave him eternal peace and
+rest, which things--as oft he told me with clasped hands--he had long
+desired.
+
+In the same year, on the day following the Feast of St. Martin the
+Bishop, at the hour of Vespers, died our beloved Brother James Cluit, a
+devout Priest and first Rector of Udem, being sixty-three years old, and
+he was buried before the High Altar.  His memory shall continue to be
+praised and blessed, for he was beloved of God, an ensample to us all,
+and his own stern judge.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1459, on the Feast of the Epiphany and at about
+the fifth hour in the morning before Prime, died Everard of Wetteren, the
+cook, a devout Donate, who was eighty years of age and over.  He had
+dwelt formerly in Deventer with Lambert Gale, a tailor, and in the days
+of Florentius, who sent him to Windesem, he was first tailor of the
+House; but the Brothers at Windesem sent him on to Mount St. Agnes before
+the members of that community were invested with the Religious habit, and
+there he helped to sew and make the garments in which those first four
+Brothers were habited, whose investiture in the year 1398 is described
+above.  After some while spent in this office he was sent to serve in the
+kitchen as assistant, and he afterwards became chief cook, in which post
+he served all the Brothers faithfully for above thirty years.  At length,
+wearied with years, he was relieved from his labours and slept in peace,
+being an old man and full of many days.
+
+In the same year, within the Octave of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin
+Mary and on the Feast day of the holy martyrs Protus and Hyacinthus, at
+noon died Gerard Hombolt of Utrecht, a Donate of our House, who was fifty-
+nine years old.  He was very zealous, faithful, and devout in the service
+of God, particularly in the things which pertain to the glory and honour
+of the Blessed Virgin Mary; moreover, he procured a most fair image of
+her, and a corona of polished brass holding many candles, and certain
+other ornaments that are set above the altar of the Blessed Virgin.  These
+things he did out of his great devotion, and with a pious intention of
+adorning our church in honour of the Blessed Virgin and St. Agnes.
+
+First he was Hospitarius and afterward Refectorarius to the Brothers, and
+all things that were committed to his charge he kept honestly and in
+cleanly fashion, seeing to the provision of all needful vessels, napkins,
+and towels.  On a time when many guests had come to the House he bade the
+cook provide all things necessary for them; but the cook, being troubled
+at this unaccustomed number, was heavy at heart, for he feared lest he
+might not be able to satisfy all as he fain would do, but Gerard Hombolt,
+putting his trust in the Lord, said, "Make the sign of the Holy Cross
+over the pots and the cooked food and God shall give His blessing and a
+sufficiency."  So the cook did as Gerard had said, and blessed the
+provision again and again in faith, and behold the good Lord, seeing
+their faith, gave them an increase so that all had enough; and when the
+meal was done there was abundance left over, insomuch that the fragments
+that remained sufficed for a full meal at supper.
+
+In his youth, and before he entered the monastery, Gerard, out of his
+great devotion, visited the Holy Land--Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and the
+other places hallowed by our Saviour; and he was disposed, if it should
+be allowed him, to visit them once again before his death.  But the good
+Lord changed his love for the earthly Jerusalem to love for the Jerusalem
+which is in Heaven, into which he entered (as I hope) through the
+intercession of the Blessed and Glorious Virgin; for on all the Vigils
+before Her feasts it was his wont to fast, eating nought save bread nor
+drinking aught save beer; and it was within the Octave of the Feast of
+Her Nativity that he departed in holy peace out of this present world to
+the realms of Heaven, having made a good confession, being contrite, and
+having received the Unction.  Much wealth also came to our House through
+his means, and he died in the fifty-ninth year of his age, having lived
+with us for thirty-five years.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1460, after the Feast of the Purification of the
+Blessed Virgin Mary, there was a mighty frost.  The bitter cold began on
+the Feast day of St. Scholastica the Virgin (which was the first Sunday
+in Lent), and endured until the middle of the fast, so that men and
+horses heavily laden could walk everywhere upon the frozen waters in
+safety, and carry their goods across the same.  Likewise in many places
+there was lack of fodder and straw wherewith to feed the beasts, for the
+ground was dry and frost bound, wherefore men could not get them fresh
+grass to feed the cattle.  For this cause some poor men brake up the
+roofs of their houses and gave of the thatch to the beasts: and this lack
+of grass endured until the first of May.
+
+In the same year, in the month of April, and on the second Sunday after
+Easter, which was the day before the Feast of Vitalis the Martyr, Brother
+Gerard Cortbeen was invested: he was a Priest, and a native of
+Herderwijc, a good man, honest, faithful, and thirty-two years of age.
+
+In the same year our church was adorned in seemly wise, the roof thereof
+and all the flat spaces of the inner walls being painted in fair colours
+to the glory of God and in honour of St. Agnes the Patron Saint of the
+church.  Amid the bright colours were written these three names Jesus,
+Mary, Agnes, which of holy purpose were painted in large and black
+letters, and they stand forth clearly to be read by the eyes of all that
+enter the church.
+
+In the same year, on the Feast of the Dispersion of the Apostles, between
+the hours of Tierce and High Mass, died Deric, son of William, a
+carpenter and servant of our household who was a Fellow Commoner.  He was
+born in Zwolle and was now thirty years of age, having lived a good,
+humble, and peaceable life in this House for nearly eleven years.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1461, on the morning of the Feast of St.
+Emerentiana the Virgin, and before the hour of Prime, died Herder Stael,
+a very honest man, and a fellow citizen with us at Zwolle, being seventy-
+four years old.  He was a special and faithful friend to our House for
+many years.  As was his wife also particularly in the troubled times of
+Bishop Rudolph, when our Brothers were constrained to leave the monastery
+and to go to the House belonging to our Order in Lunenkerc.  At that time
+this good man bought our crops as they stood in the fields near the
+monastery, and out of an honest purpose bade his servants to reap and
+harvest the same.  Afterward he sent the fruits of the ground, and the
+provender that had been gathered, to our Brothers in Lunenkerc by little
+and little, for they had been sent thither as it were to a place of
+exile.  This same Herder Stael lived with us for nearly a year before his
+death, being moved so to do by a deep desire, and having a holy and firm
+purpose to serve God.  He died as aforesaid in holy peace and in an
+honoured old age, and his body was laid in the broad cloister; his
+friends from Zwolle being present at his burial.
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII.
+
+Of the ancient Reliquary of St. Agnes, and how it was gotten.
+
+In the same year 1461, George, the venerable Father of our House, asked
+and obtained from the Canons of the great church at Utrecht the ancient
+Reliquary of the most holy Agnes, Virgin and Martyr, and the beloved
+Patron of our House, but her relics were not therein contained.  It was
+in her honour that our church was consecrated in the year of the Lord
+1412, and on the Friday in Easter week, as is set forth more fully above
+in the chapter entitled "Of the Consecration of our Church."
+
+Two of our Brothers that were ordained to be Priests, namely, Brother
+Henry, son of Bruno, and Brother Theodoric Wanninck, brought back this
+holy Reliquary with them, journeying from Utrecht by way of Holland, and
+across the sea, not without danger and fear, for the sea was turbulent.
+Yet through the help of God, and the merits of St. Agnes the Virgin, they
+were protected from these perils and reached an haven of safety.  A few
+days afterward, on the eve of the Feast of St. Scholastica the Virgin,
+they brought the Reliquary to Mount St. Agnes, and our Brothers, with all
+the Laics of our household, hearing this, did rejoice exceedingly.
+
+The Reliquary was borne into the church with all devotion and reverence
+and placed in the sanctuary of the choir near the High Altar and beneath
+the arch in the northern wall.  The bones of the Saint had rested for
+nearly three hundred and fifty years in this Reliquary, which was an
+humble one, being of wood and covered with plates of brass and gilded
+work.  But at last a new and most fair coffer of silver adorned with gold
+was made for her by the Canons of the great Church of St. Martin at
+Utrecht.
+
+Likewise one should note that it was in the year of the Lord 1413, in the
+time of Frederick of Blanckenhem, the Reverend Bishop of Utrecht, that
+the relics of this most Blessed Saint Agnes the Virgin were removed with
+all reverence from the ancient wooden Reliquary into this new one of
+silver fairly gilt.  This was done on the second of December, being the
+day following the Feast of AEgidius the Abbot, by that Reverend man
+Hermann Lochorst, Dean of the great Church of St. Martin the Bishop.  He
+it was, chiefly, who had procured that the holy relics of the Saint
+should be removed in this manner; and a great while afterward George, our
+venerable Father and Prior, earnestly begged for the ancient Reliquary,
+which our House had long desired, and by the insistence of his friends he
+obtained the same from the Chapter and Canons of the church.  These
+things were done in the year 1461, as is written above.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1462, on the night of the Feast of St. Juliana,
+Virgin and Martyr, died our beloved Brother John, son of Hessel of
+Zuermont, who came from Utrecht.  He was a timid man, and ready for any
+lowly task; moreover, his will was always good to serve the monastery to
+the best of his power.  Yet through the weakness of his nature and pains
+in his head, he often stayed outside the choir, but by his work without
+he redeemed the time which he could not spend in devotion within the
+church.
+
+A few days before his death he said to certain of the Brothers that he
+should die shortly, and indeed the end came somewhat suddenly to him, for
+on the day before the Feast of Juliana the Virgin he was well and
+cheerful, but in the night following some weakness, whereof we knew not,
+came upon him, and he was found dead before the bed in his cell; being
+clad in his under garment he lay prostrate upon the floor with his feet
+stretched out and his arms close to his side, looking as though he were
+commending himself to God and to the Holy Angels: for no man was with him
+at the last to give him comfort, since none knew of his agony, but after
+supper-time, because they saw that he was not present, certain Brothers
+sought him in the cell where he slept, and they found that he was gone
+away from this world, and had fled to Christ as we do piously hope and
+believe.  He came of very good and honest parents in Utrecht, and had
+many friends and kinsmen that were living the Religious Life.  And so at
+length, after many labours and much pain of heart and body, he was taken
+away from the miseries of this present life, in the fifty-fourth year of
+his age, having spent twenty-nine years in the Religious Life.  After the
+office of the Mass had been said duly, and the Psalms and Vigils had been
+recited, he was buried in the eastern side of the cloister, on the right
+of Brother Gerard Wesep.
+
+In the same year, after the Epiphany, there was a most bitter frost,
+which lasted throughout Lent and longer, and the great drought was
+hurtful to the pasture lands whereon the beasts were fed.
+
+CHAPTER XXIX.
+
+Of the death of Brother Henry, son of William, the fourth Prior of our
+House.
+
+In the same year, and upon the 10th day of March, being the second day
+before the Feast of St. Gregory the Pope, died our most beloved Brother
+of pious memory, Henry, son of William, who was a native of Deventer.  He
+departed at the fifth hour after midday, when the Vigils of the dead had
+been sung; and our beloved Father George and all the Brothers were
+present with him, praying during his happy death struggle, and many Laics
+of our household were there also.
+
+He had been the fourth Prior of our House, and having sought instantly to
+be absolved from his office because of his oft infirmities, he lived
+thereafter for four years amongst the Brothers, being humble, gentle,
+exemplary, devout, and reverent to all.  To none was he burdensome, but
+to all men kindly, comfortable, pitiful, helpful, cheerful, modest,
+peaceable, and silent.  Amid elders and prelates he was lowly and
+courteous, towards the young and weakly he was sweet and amiable.  Because
+of his good and modest manners, his uprightness, fidelity, and the honest
+bearing which he showed (as a Religious ought to do) whether walking or
+standing, speaking or keeping silence, he long held the office of
+Procurator for the House; for he was chosen for that post in the first
+place, and afterward was made Sub-Prior.  But at last, by God's
+ordinance, he was promoted to be the fourth Prior of our community, in
+which office he was confirmed in all peace and charity.  For ten years he
+continued to be Prior, ruling those that were under him by the goodness
+and modesty of his character rather than by rough speech; he was instant
+in his zeal for reading, for prayer, and holy meditations whensoever such
+exercises were possible.  Well might one write and say of him many of
+those things that the blessed Bernard doth write concerning Humbert, the
+servant of God, who was the devout Sub-Prior in St. Bernard's House.  Him
+did Henry strive to imitate, for he too was devout, beloved of God and
+man, and a servant of Christ.  He died in the sixty-first year of his
+age, having entered upon the forty-second year of his Religious Life, and
+he was buried on the right side of Brother John Zuermont.
+
+In the same year, on the day before the Feast of St. Ambrose the
+Bishop--this day being the Saturday before Passion Sunday--and at the
+fifth hour of the morning before Prime, died Dirk ten Water, an
+honourable citizen and magistrate of Zwolle, who had been received as a
+Fellow Commoner, for he greatly favoured the devout.
+
+He abode in our House as a guest for six weeks, being sickly the while,
+but it was his intention to serve God and to remain with us: also he was
+a notable benefactor to the House in his lifetime and at his death; and
+he died in peace in the sixty-eighth year of his age, being fortified by
+the sacraments of the church.  He was buried in the tomb of his mother,
+Swane ten Water, beneath a sarcophagus of stone that standeth in our
+church before the Altar of Holy Cross.
+
+In the same year, on the last day of August, and within the Octave of the
+Feast of St. Augustine, before Matins, died the humble and devout Laic,
+John Bobert, being forty years old.  He came from the diocese of Treves,
+and formerly was our shepherd, but afterward he became porter to the
+monastery, and he was very faithful and pitiful to the poor.  Having
+fulfilled twelve years in this House, he fell asleep in peace, and was
+laid in the burial-ground of the Lay folk.
+
+In the same year, during Advent, on the Octave of the Feast of St. Andrew
+the Apostle, and before Prime, died an aged man named Gerard Poelman.  He
+was a Donate of our House, and was born in Zwolle, but he lived with us
+for sixty-two years, having come to us in the days when we were still
+very poor, and lacked goods, buildings, books, and holy vestments.  His
+parents often succoured us and did us much kindness, for they were
+somewhat wealthy, and they gave or lent us money to buy provision,
+because they loved their sons who dwelt with us, namely, Henry, and this
+Gerard that was the younger brother.  These two had one sister, whose
+name was Adelaide, a devout virgin, who for many years ruled over the
+House of the Beguines at Nyerstadt, where at length she died amid the
+nuns, and she was buried by the Brothers of the Regular Order in
+Bethlehem.
+
+At first this Gerard was the tailor of our monastery, as was also his
+brother Henry, but afterwards he faithfully discharged the duty of
+fisherman, but when weakness compelled him to abandon this task, he
+became the gardener, and was skilful in growing vegetables and herbs of
+divers kinds.  At last, wearied with years and overborne with toil, he
+fell asleep in a good old age, for he was eighty-one years old, and in
+return for his labours received a crown of life at the hands of the King
+of Glory.  He was laid in the burial-ground of the Laics and servants of
+the House, on the western side of our church, and the venerable, devout,
+and holy Father George performed the rites.
+
+In the year 1463, on the day before the Feast of Quirinus the Martyr,
+that is on March 29th, and at about the eighth hour when Compline was
+done, died John, son of James, a faithful Laic of our House and a good
+husbandman; he was an Oblate and Resignate, and was born in Dalssen;
+moreover, he proved himself to be useful and skilled in his work among
+our husbandmen.  He was well beloved, and lived in this monastery for
+twenty-eight years, but having fulfilled forty-six years of life, he
+departed in holy peace, and was buried near Gerard Poelman, in the burial-
+ground of the Laics, on the Wednesday before Palm Sunday.
+
+In the same year, on the 15th of May, being the fifth Sunday after
+Easter, and the third day after the Feast of Servatius, three young
+Clerks were invested, namely, Peter, son of Simon, of Liege, William, son
+of Peregrinus, of Kampen, and Arnold Wanninck of Deventer, own brother to
+Theodoric Wanninck of our community.  Brother Peter, the first of these,
+was twenty-three years old; the second, namely, William, was twenty-one;
+and Arnold Wanninck, the younger, was twenty.  At their investiture our
+Father George performed the ceremony and celebrated High Mass of the
+Resurrection.
+
+In the year 1464, on the 15th of May, being the Tuesday after the Feast
+of the Ascension of our Lord, Hubert, son of Nicholas, of Amersfoort, who
+was thirty-five years old, was invested as a Convert of our House.  For
+some years he had been town crier, and he was well beloved, being a
+trusty friend to the devout Brothers and Sisters in their business.  When
+his wife was dead and his sons had received their portions, he chose to
+leave the world and humbly to serve God in the monastery; so after a
+probation of nearly three years he was invested solemnly as a Convert.
+
+In the same year, and on the day following the Feast of St. James the
+Apostle, died Andrew, son of Hermann, of Sichele, a faithful and devout
+Laic of our House and an Oblate to God.  He had no possessions of his
+own, nor did he leave behind him any private store, no not one mite.  He
+came to our monastery on the Feast day of St. Agnes, in the year of the
+Lord 1419, being then twenty-one years old; and having fulfilled with us
+in the service of God nearly forty-four years, being then sixty-five
+years of age, he departed from this world.  His death came about through
+a sudden mischance, for having fallen from a horse, he was hurt
+grievously, and commending himself to God, he fell asleep in holy faith
+and peace.  And he was laid in the burial-ground of the Laics.
+
+In the same year, on the Feast day of St. Matthew, Apostle and
+Evangelist, there fell a great tempest of wind, and many trees were
+broken and torn from the earth; likewise large ships were sunk in the
+sea, and in many parts, as also at Rome, the pestilence raged so that a
+great multitude of men that had thought to live long died thereof.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1465, on the Feast of the Annunciation of the
+Blessed Virgin Mary, a young Clerk named Reyner Koetken was invested.  He
+was nineteen years of age, and sprung from an honourable stock, having
+good parents and friends at Zwolle: moreover, he had three sisters who
+were living the Religious Life as Beguines in the House of Wyron that
+lieth near the city without the northern gate.
+
+In the same year, in the month of March, and during the Lenten season,
+God succoured our House by granting us to catch a great number of fishes
+in the river Vecht, which is near the monastery, and these sufficed for
+all that dwelt with us, and likewise for the poor, and for strangers;
+also many traders came from the regions of Westphalia and Saxony to buy
+these fish which are called smelts.
+
+In the same year a new monastery was founded in Zwolle for the Order of
+Preachers.
+
+In the same year, in the month of July, and on the day before the Feast
+of St. Praxedes the Virgin, died our beloved Brother Henry Lymborgh, a
+Priest, who was born in Zwolle.  He was fifty years old, and he was
+buried in the eastern cloister, by the side of Henry, son of William, our
+fourth Prior.  Often he fell sick with the stone, and at the end, having
+fulfilled twenty-seven years in the Religious Life, he had a slight
+stroke of palsy in the face, and he fell asleep in peace amongst the
+Brothers.  In the same year, in the month of October, and on the day
+following the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel (that is, the night of
+the Feast of St. Leodegarius, Bishop and Martyr), died John Tyman, a
+native of Holland.  He was a faithful Laic and an Oblate, and when he
+finished his course was seventy years of age.
+
+For forty-five years he lived with us humbly, and in obedience working
+with the husbandmen, albeit for a long time he had been lame; and after a
+long trial by sickness he rendered up his soul with patience, and was
+laid in the western burying-ground with the other Laics.
+
+In the same year, and on the day before the Feast of the holy Martyrs,
+Crispin and Crispian, one Bernard Irte died at Zwolle, being a citizen of
+that city, and son of Lambert of Irten, a magistrate of the State.  He
+was a friend to our House, and during his lifetime often visited our
+church, in which out of his devotion to St. Agnes the Virgin he desired
+to be buried, and he was laid with the Converts in the western cloister
+before the door of the church.
+
+In the year 1466, on the night of the Feast day of St. Maurus the Abbot,
+and before Matins, died Wolter Eskens, the father of Gerlac, our
+cellarer; he was an ancient man, being ninety years old, and he had been
+formerly our husbandman on a certain farm pertaining to the monastery at
+Windesem, but he was born in the town of Raelten.  In his old age he left
+his friends and acquaintance, following his son Gerlac, who was a
+faithful Oblate, and he lived in our House for nearly eleven years before
+his death.
+
+Long had he been bowed with age, yet he hastened to the church every
+morning to hear Mass, leaning upon a staff.  He was very good and patient
+in bearing his bodily weakness, and he fell asleep in the Lord, giving
+thanks.  So after Mass had been said for him, he was buried with the
+Laics and servants of our House, in the burying-place of the Donates.
+
+In the same year, on the Octave of the Feast of St. Agnes the Virgin,
+died Christian, a Priest, who was eighty years old.  He was Curate of Ter
+Heyne, and a special friend to our House, and out of his devotion he
+chose to be buried with our Brothers, so he was laid in the eastern
+cloister in the same grave with Hermann Gruter the Priest.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1467, on the third day of the month of March, and
+before Compline, died Hysbrand, our tailor, a Resignate and Oblate, who
+was born in Amsterdam, a town of Holland.  For thirty years he had lived
+with us, and he was laid in the burying-place of the Laics, being seventy-
+two years of age when he died.
+
+In the same year, on the Feast day of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul,
+died Tidemann Mulart, a native of Hasselt.  He was a Resignate and an
+Oblate, who had long discharged many hard tasks as a servant of our
+House, for he abode with us for near of forty-four years, and at length
+he departed in peace, being seventy-two years old, and he was laid in the
+burying-place of the Laics.
+
+In the same year the Brothers and members of the House at Windesem
+builded and enlarged their ancient church to promote the honour of God.
+
+In the same year, after the Feast of Pentecost, our Father George builded
+a new kitchen that was greater and more stoutly wrought than the former,
+for the old kitchen was roofed with reeds and thatch, and he builded this
+new one by reason of the peril of fire, and also to rid us of certain ill
+conveniences, and to promote the good of the community.
+
+In the same year, on the night of the Assumption of the Blessed and
+Glorious Virgin Mary, and after the Te Deum had been sung, died the
+devout Laic, Nicholas Bodiken, who was an Oblate of our House.  He served
+Christ faithfully, and showed special devotion in singing the praises of
+the Most Blessed Virgin.
+
+A few days before his death he was seized with grievous pain in the head
+and his other members, but being purged by this sore suffering in the
+body, he gained an happy issue therefrom, for his end was such as he
+would have wished, and he met the same with a good will and with complete
+resignation on the day aforesaid, which was the solemn feast of the
+Blessed Virgin.
+
+When supper was ended, Nones of the Blessed Virgin were sung, and Vigils
+recited for him, and then he was laid in the burying-place of the Laics
+and amongst the Oblates and Donates of our House; being in the seventy-
+ninth year of his age when he died.  He had lived for a great while with
+us, but the needs of his mother and grandmother constrained him to take
+care of them, which thing he did, having taken counsel with the Prior of
+our House, but after that they died in Zwolle, he returned to the
+monastery at Mount St. Agnes.  After this he fulfilled thirty years in
+complete subjection to our rule, and on the Feast day aforesaid he fell
+asleep in the Lord, and all that dwelt in this House bore witness to his
+good report.
+
+On this same Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Mary, our most
+beloved Father George took the Ciborium of the Venerable Sacrament from
+the altar with all reverence, and the whole body of members, going before
+him in procession round the cloister, sang the Response, "Felix namque."
+After they had returned to the choir, they bowed the knee before the
+Revered Sacrament which was placed upon the altar, and sang the Antiphon,
+"Media Vita," with the verse and the Collect proper to times of
+pestilence, for at this time the plague had begun both here and in many
+places.
+
+In the same year, by the blessing of God, our orchard bare much fruit,
+but the fields, though they stood thick with corn, were hurt by the
+continued rain that fell at harvest time.  Wherefore frequent prayers to
+God for fair weather were made at the time of Mass, and the seven psalms
+were recited in the choir.
+
+In the same year, on the Feast of St. Simon and St. Jude, died Arnold of
+Nemel, an aged farmer, who was a neighbour and a good friend to our
+House.  He was laid in the western cloister before the door of the
+church, and in one grave with his son.
+
+In the same year, after the Feast of All Saints, and after Compline, on
+the day before the Feast of Leonard the Confessor, died Arnold, son of
+Gerard of Werendorp, who was our miller, a faithful Laic and Fellow
+Commoner of our House.  He was a man greatly beloved and profitable to
+the Laics of our household and all the Brothers, and he died after that
+he had finished the thirty-third year of his age, having continued with
+us for fourteen years.  He was laid in the burying-place of our Laics by
+the side of Nicholas Bodiken.
+
+In the same year, 1467, Albert, son of Hubert of Amersfoort, was invested
+on the day of the Conception of the Glorious Virgin Mary, being twenty-
+three years old, but he had attended the school at Zwolle for four years.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1468, in the month of April, on the day following
+the Feast of St. Ambrose the Bishop and in the middle of the night,
+before Lauds, died Godefried Hyselhan of Kampen, a Laic and Donate of our
+House, being eighty-three years of age.  For a great while he was the
+miller of our monastery, and a man faithful and upright in his
+conversation.  Afterward he became our porter, and showed himself pitiful
+and kindly to the poor; but at length, worn out with years, he died in
+peace, for God had mercy on him: and he was laid in the burying-ground of
+the Laics.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1469, on the day after the Feast of the Holy
+Innocents--which day is the Feast of St. Thomas of Canterbury, and
+falleth within the Octave of the Lord's Nativity--died Brother Gerard
+that was called Cortbeen, whose death befell after supper, and before the
+hour of Vespers.  Before he entered the Religious Life he was a Priest,
+and he was born at Herderwyjc, but for ten years past he had lived the
+Religious Life amongst us in piety and devotion.  Often he endured much
+toil in time of harvest, and in winter also he would cut wood in the
+marshland, for he was a strong man and apt for coarse and heavy toil, yet
+he neglected not the inner things of God.  At the last he was afflicted
+of the Lord with a dropsy in the legs, and after bearing the scourge of
+this infirmity he departed out of this world to the Lord in the forty-
+second year of his age.  So Mass and Vigils for the dead were said for
+him, and he was buried in the eastern cloister.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1470, on the third day after the Feast of
+Servatius the Bishop, two Clerks, and one Laic who was a Convert, were
+invested.  This was on a week day, so as to avoid the concourse of men,
+and the gathering together of a crowd of friends from the world.
+
+Of these Clerks the first was Otto Graes of Deventer, who was twenty-two
+years old and had two brothers living the Religious Life as Priests in
+the Regular Order: of these one was at Windesem, the other in the House
+of Bethlehem at Zwolle.  The second of the Clerks was Rudolph, son of
+Gerard, a native of Amersfoort, who was twenty-one years old, and had
+sojourned for a while at Zwolle before he entered the monastery.  The
+third was Henry Kalker, a Novice and Convert, who came from the region of
+Kleef, and was thirty-seven years of age: he lived with us before his
+investiture, dwelling amongst the Laics, and he was a good tailor, but
+sometimes he served in the kitchen, and sometimes ministered to the sick:
+after a while, by reason of his uprightness, he was invested as a
+Convert.
+
+In the same year, on the day following the Feast of the holy Martyr
+Maurice and his companions, and after Matins had begun, died our Brother
+Peter Herbort, a Deacon who was sixty-five years old.  He was of weak
+frame, and by nature very frail, so that he was unable to observe many of
+the statutes, yet he often received discipline in the Chapter for his
+faults: also he washed the heads of the Brothers when they were shaven,
+and rejoiced to serve the others as reader in the Refectory.  At length,
+having fulfilled forty-three years in the habit of the Regular Order, the
+time came for him to go forth; so being contrite of heart, having made
+his confession and received the Communion and the Unction, he fell asleep
+in the Lord in good confidence and faith amid the prayers of the
+Brothers.  For our Father George, with many of the Brothers, was present
+with him, but the rest remained in the choir to sing Matins and Lauds.
+After supper Vigils were sung for him and for our other benefactors, and
+he was buried in the eastern cloister by the side of our Brother Gerard
+Cortbeen.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1471, that is to say, on the Feast day of Antony
+the Confessor, and in the morning after High Mass, died that devout Laic,
+Gerlac, son of John, who was born hard by Zwolle, that is to say, at
+Dese.  He was seventy-two years old, and for the last fifty-three years
+and more had lived with us in great humility, simplicity, and patience.
+He bore many toils and privations, and amongst the other virtues that he
+showed, he was especially notable for the virtue of silence, so that
+through all the day he spoke but very little, and even during the hours
+of toil he gave an example of silence to others.
+
+A short while before his death he was smitten with apoplexy, and became
+partly delirious and he was laid in our burying-ground with the rest of
+the Laics.
+
+
+
+
+SO FAR THE CHRONICLE WAS WRITTEN BY THOMAS OF KEMPEN; THE RESIDUE THEREOF
+WAS DONE BY ANOTHER.
+
+
+In the same year, on the Feast of St. James the Less, and after Compline,
+died our most beloved Brother Thomas Hemerken, who was born in the city
+of Kempen, in the diocese of Cologne.  He was in the ninety-second year
+of his age, and this was the sixty-third year after his investiture;
+likewise he had been a Priest for above fifty-seven years.
+
+In the days of his youth he was an hearer of Florentius at Deventer, by
+whom also he was sent, when twenty years old, to his own brother, who at
+that time was Prior of Mount St. Agnes.  From this same brother he
+received his investiture after six years of probation, and from the early
+days of the monastery he endured great poverty and many labours and
+temptations.
+
+Moreover, he wrote that complete copy of the Bible which we use, and also
+many other books for the use of the House, and for sale.  Likewise he
+composed divers little books for the edification of the young, which
+books were plain and simple in style, but mighty in the matter thereof
+and in their effectual operation.
+
+The thought of the Lord's passion filled his heart with love, and he was
+wondrous comfortable to the troubled and the tempted; but as age grew
+upon him he was vexed with a dropsy in the legs, and so fell asleep in
+the Lord and was buried in the eastern cloister by the side of Brother
+Peter Herbort.  In the same year, on the Feast day of St. Lambert, and
+after Prime, Brother Hermann Craen the Vestiarius died of the plague,
+being sixty-four years old.  In the beginning he was Sacristan, but
+afterward, and for above fifteen years, Vestiarius.  Then for thirteen
+years he held the office of Procurator, but being set aside from that
+office, he was for the second time appointed to be Vestiarius, in which
+vocation he gained much praise for that he provided sufficiently for
+every man so far as the means of the House did allow.  After that he was
+set aside from his office of Procurator he bore himself patiently: and he
+had lived the Religious Life with us for thirty-eight years and a half:
+but in the day aforesaid, when Vigils had been sung for him, he was
+buried after supper-time in the eastern passage.
+
+In the same year, on the day before the Feast of St. Francis, and after
+Matins, Wichman Spuelre died of the plague.  He was a young Laic about
+twenty-five years of age who was born at Doesborgh, but for above four
+years he had lived with us; and being chosen to be Sub-Infirmarius he
+served the sick with kindliness and in gracious wise, wherefore he
+obtained great praise from all men.  He was laid in the burial-ground of
+the Laics, but on the day following, namely, on the Feast of St. Francis,
+and just before one o'clock, three Priests and one Lay Brother were
+anointed with the oil of the sick.  In the same year, on the day after
+the Feast of St. Francis, Brother Henry, son of Paul of Mechlin, who was
+a Priest, died of the plague.  He was nearly forty-six years of age, and
+was Infirmarius, in which same office he had served the Brothers
+faithfully for fifteen years; but he had lived with us in the Religious
+Life for twenty-four years and a half, and he was buried in the eastern
+cloister beneath the steps, and in the same tomb with Nicholas
+Creyenscot, who died before.
+
+It is told of this Brother, as an ensample and memorial of him, that on
+the third day after that he was smitten with the plague, seeing that sure
+sign of death which is vulgarly called the "Death Spot," and while his
+strength of mind and body were yet whole in him, he asked for the habit
+to be brought wherein, after the custom of the Order, he must be buried;
+and when it was given him he put it on without help from another, and
+with his own hand sewed up the forepart thereof lest others might
+unwittingly look upon his body.  Then after supper-time was ended, he,
+with the Infirmarius who was acting for him, read the Litanies and the
+seven penitential psalms for all his negligences; and as an act of
+gratitude for all the benefits that God had bestowed upon him, he added
+the Te Deum Laudamus.  So at length, about the hour of Vespers, having
+made a good confession, he rendered up his soul, Father George being
+there present with him, while the Brothers were singing the verses
+antiphonally in the choir.
+
+In the same year, on the Feast of St. Marcus the Pope, when dinner was
+ended, Peter, son of Nicholas, a Laic of our household, died of the
+plague.  He was born in Amsterdam, and was about fifty years old, but he
+had lived with us for twenty-five years and a half, being employed in the
+brewery.  He was a strong man of great stature, and a pattern to the
+Laics by reason of his close observance of the habit of silence, his
+regularity in reading the Vigils, frequenting the church, and such like
+exercises.  He was laid in the burial-ground of the Laics.
+
+In the same year, on the day following the Feast of St. Dionysius the
+Martyr, and before the ninth hour in the evening, Brother Peter, son of
+Simon, who was born in Liege, died of the plague; now he had lived with
+us in the Religious Life for nine years and a half.  By nature he was
+very timid and modest, and at the beginning of his conversion he had
+suffered many temptations to cowardice, albeit he was afterwards
+delivered from these by the grace of God.  So he yearned for death with
+great desire, longing to be released and to be with Christ, and he was
+laid in the eastern cloister.
+
+In the same year, on the day following the Feast of St. Luke the
+Evangelist, and after Matins, Peter, son of John, died of the same
+plague.  He was a Laic and Resignate of about seventy-three years of age,
+who was born in Utrecht; but he had lived with us for about fifty-four
+years, and was employed in binding books.  By nature he was very weakly,
+especially in the head, and he often received discipline for his
+negligences, being punished therefore: yet he did gladly serve for the
+Brothers at Mass, and at the last, in the time of the plague, he got his
+death through ministering to the sick, and died in the presence of Father
+George, and was laid with the other Laics in their burying-ground.
+
+In the same year, on the day following the Feast of the Eleven Thousand
+Virgins, and in the morning after Prime, died our Brother John Kysendael,
+who was born at Orsoy in the land of Kleef.  He was almost thirty-four
+years old, and had lived with us in the Religious Life for fourteen years
+and nearly two months, being much beloved for his holy conversation and
+his virtuous life.  Moreover, he served the Brothers humbly in his office
+of sacristan for nearly four years, and so that versicle which is sung
+for confessors was apt and fitting for him "who was ever pious and
+prudent, lowly and modest, sober and chaste and peaceful so long as this
+present life endured in his bodily limbs."  He was buried in the eastern
+cloister.
+
+Two hours afterwards, on the same day, and of the same plague, died
+Hermann Crom, a Laic and Resignate, who was born in Utrecht, being now
+sixty-four years old, but he had lived with us for nearly thirty-four
+years; he was of great service to the Brothers, first in the office of
+Sub-Infirmarius, and afterward in making ready the Refectory and
+ministering to the other needs of those Brothers that were weak and old.
+At length, as he served the sick, he was smitten with the plague, and was
+laid in the burying-ground of the Laics.
+
+In the same year, on the Feast of St. Simon and St. Jude, and after
+supper-time, Laurentius died of this same plague.  He was a Laic and
+Donate, and his native place was Alsen, a town near Tyel in the parts of
+Geldria.  He was seventy-three years of age, and had been barber to the
+House, having lived with us for near forty-five years.  A great company
+of strangers resorted to him hoping to be cured by his skill as a
+surgeon, for he had some good knowledge of that art.  He was laid in the
+burying-place of the Laics.
+
+In the same year, on the Feast of St. Martin the Bishop, and before the
+tenth hour in the evening, Ludolph the miller died of the plague.  He was
+born at Delden in Twenthe, and was nearly thirty-seven years old, but he
+had lived with us for three years and a half.  He fell sick through
+tending the plague-stricken, for he was at this time their faithful
+servant; and having made a good confession, and being filled with a
+fervent love of God, he died and was laid in the burying-ground of the
+Laics.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1472, on the Feast day of St. Ambrose, which fell
+on the Sunday after Easter, died Brother Everard ter Huet, a native of
+Zwolle, and Prior at Bergum, where for ten years and more he had ruled
+the Brothers in laudable wise.  Having fulfilled forty-three years of
+life, twenty-five of which he had passed as a member of our Order, he
+died at last, being smitten with the plague, and was buried in the church
+of the aforesaid monastery.
+
+In the same year, on the fourth day after the Feast of St. Ambrose, and
+when Prime was done, died our Brother John Lent that was a native of a
+place near Zwolle, being nearly eighty years old; but he had lived with
+us in the Religious Life for about fifty-nine years.  He was very strict
+in his observance of the rule, and a pattern to the Brothers, but at
+length, being worn out with the disease called stone, he died, and was
+buried in the eastern cloister.  By his writing he was of much profit to
+the monastery, for he attained great excellence in this art, wherefore he
+wrote many books for sale, and many for the choir and the libraries,
+wherein he left a notable example for others to imitate.
+
+In the same year, on the day of St. Potentiana the Virgin (which was the
+Tuesday after Pentecost), and when Vespers were done, Johson of Tric died
+of a rupture.  He was a Laic and Resignate, a native of Zwolle, and
+seventy-five years old; but he had lived with us for fifty-one years,
+being a pattern to the Laics by the toils that he bore, and his obedience
+to discipline.  By reason of his trustiness he was often set over the
+husbandmen at Lunenkerc at the time of our exile, and also at home, that
+is, at Mount St. Agnes.  But at the last he died suddenly and without
+making confession, for death was beforehand with him; howbeit he received
+the Unction, and he had made his confession two days before he died, and
+had received Communion with the others on the Feast of Pentecost.
+
+In the same year, on the fourth day after the Feast of St. Lucia, died
+Gherard, son of Hermann, a Laic of our household, who was born near
+Albergen in Twenthe.  He was nearly fifty years old, and had lived with
+us for twenty-three years.  His stature was small, but his mind great,
+and he directed our husbandry with all diligence; but at length he fell
+into a consumption owing to a kick from a horse, and having lingered a
+long while, he died, and was laid in the burying-ground of the Laics.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1473, on the 28th day of June, two Brothers were
+invested as Clerks.  The first was Stephen Putselaer, who was born at
+Doesborgh, and had attended the school at Deventer; he was now twenty-two
+years old.  The second was John, son of Tric, a native of Amsterdam, who
+had sojourned at the school of Zwolle for nearly four years, and at the
+time of his investiture he was at the beginning of his eighteenth year.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1474, on the day before the Feast of St. Agatha,
+Virgin and Martyr, and in the morning between the sixth and seventh
+hours, died Brother Otto Lyman, a native of Goch, being nearly seventy-
+six years old, but he had lived with us for fifty-five years and a little
+more.  He was very zealous for discipline, and most strict in observing
+the rule of silence; also it was his custom to attend all the services in
+the church, each in its season, so much so that although weakened by old
+age and an apoplexy, he did not forgo this custom to the very end of his
+life.  Besides this he carefully observed a voluntary poverty both in the
+matter of his clothing and with regard to the furniture of his cell.
+During his life he wrote many books for the library; but at length his
+infirmities grew upon him, and he fell asleep in the Lord in the presence
+of the venerable Prior and the Brothers, and was buried in the eastern
+cloister.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1474, on the day of St. Urban, Bishop and Martyr,
+brother Martin, son of Nicholas, was invested.  He was nineteen years of
+age and was born at Amsterdam, but he had attended the school of Brussels
+for three years.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1474, on the second day after the Feast of the
+Conception of the Virgin Mary, and after Matins, died Brother Theodoric
+Veneman, who was born near Zwolle, being now seventy-two years old; but
+he had lived a laudable life with us for fifty-two years, lacking two
+months.  He was of ripe character and a pattern Brother; moreover, he was
+zealous in observing the rule of silence and quietness, but at length he
+fell sick and slept in the Lord, and the venerable Prior George and the
+Brothers were with him at his death.  He was buried in the eastern
+cloister.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1474, on the day of St. Agapitus the Martyr, died
+Goswin ter Beeck, a Laic of our household, who was born in Zwolle, being
+-- years old, but he had lived with us for about fifty-three years; his
+life was a very pattern, and well ordered, both in word and deed; he had
+been our miller for more than forty years, and was very faithful to the
+House.  In that he greatly feared that death should come suddenly, he
+made his confession to the venerable Prior after due preparation, and a
+short time afterwards he met that death which he had feared, for God
+ordained it so.
+
+In the same year died our beloved Brother Gerard, son of Tric, that was a
+Convert.  This befell on the second day after the Feast of St. Lucia,
+Virgin and Martyr, and after Matins.  He was eighty-two years old, and
+for many years had been a Donate, but having lived honestly amongst us
+for more than thirty years he was invested as a Convert, for so it seemed
+good to the Prior and the whole Brotherhood.  He was most strict in
+observing discipline, weighty in word and character, austere toward
+himself, and a lover of poverty.  Moreover, he directed our husbandry,
+and that of two other Houses of our Order, to wit, the Houses at Anyhen
+and at Lunenkerc, also that of the monastery belonging to the Order of
+St. Benedict which is called the House of Kleerwater, near Hattem; for
+out of charity to the Brothers of that House the venerable Prior lent
+Gerard to them.  So having lived with us for nearly fifty-four years in
+this honest and devout wise, he fell asleep in the Lord and was buried in
+the western passage which is called "The Strangers' Passage," together
+with the other Converts.
+
+In the year 1475, on the fourth day after the Feast of Maurice and his
+companions, and about the fifth hour in the morning, died William Brant,
+a Laic of our household, but a Clerk in regard to learning.  He was born
+at Kampen, and was now nearly seventy-five years old; but he had lived
+with us for nearly sixty years.  Although he was notable for knowledge,
+yet he desired to continue humbly, modestly, and in quietness unto his
+life's end in the condition of a Laic, and specially to avoid the sin of
+detraction.  Beside his unceasing labours in other matters, he awakened
+the Brothers for Prime during forty years.
+
+In the year 1473, on the third day after the Feast of St. Matthias the
+Apostle, and in the morning, died Encbert of Tyveren, a Donate and Fellow
+Commoner of our House, being eighty-three years old.  Amongst other
+virtuous habits, he had one that is specially worthy to be remembered,
+namely, that if any did him a wrong, he would easily and without
+hesitation grant full forgiveness for the same, whenever the offender
+showed any sign of charity toward him.  Being fired, moreover, with
+charity and love for God and his neighbour, and with a zeal for souls
+that ceased not night or day, he strove for their good whenever he had
+opportunity; and of this many can bear witness, both men and women, for
+whom he obtained places fit for them wherein they might serve God.
+
+In the same year and week, namely, on the fifth day after the Feast of
+St. Matthias, John Bodien (?) died at Deventer.  He was a Laic of our
+household, and being oppressed by infirmity he went to Deventer to take
+counsel of a physician, and there died in his brother's house; and since
+he was born of a good stock, his body was brought back to us with honour
+by his friends, and laid in the burying-ground of the Lay folk.  For a
+few years after his conversion he served in the kitchen, and coming to
+his life's end he fulfilled the toils of many years in a short space.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1477, on the Octave of the Feast of the
+visitation of the Blessed Mary, and after Nones, that is at about the
+eighth hour, died Gerlac, son of Wolter.  He was a devout man and very
+trusty; a Laic and Resignate that was born at Ralt, and he was nearly
+seventy-one years old.  On the day before his death, and after Compline,
+he took his supper in the kitchen according to his custom (for he was
+cellarer) and by a mysterious visitation of God he suddenly was deprived
+of all sense and strength.  He lost the power of speech, and he lay until
+next day struck down with apoplexy without speaking or eating, and died
+after Nones at the hour aforesaid.  He had lived with us for nearly forty
+years, during twenty-three of which he had fulfilled the duties of the
+aforesaid office with faithfulness and care, being almost always in his
+cell and ready to carry out the wishes of the Brothers.  He was laid with
+the other Laics in that burying-ground of ours that pertains to them of
+that condition.
+
+In the same year, on the Feast of St. AEgidius, and after Compline, that
+is to say about the middle of the seventh hour, died that devout Laic,
+Albert, son of Florentius.  He was a Resignate and about seventy-three
+years old, but he had lived with us for nearly forty-five years, and for
+a long while served the Brothers patiently in the kitchen.  But
+afterwards he was very serviceable to the sick, and to the Infirmarius,
+by catching and bringing them fresh fish.  He was laid with the others in
+the burying-ground of the Laics.
+
+
+
+
+FROM THE CHRONICLE OF OUR BROTHER THOMAS OF KEMPEN CONCERNING MATTERS NOT
+PERTAINING TO OUR HOUSE.
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+
+_Concerning the year in which that reverend man, Florentius of
+Wevelichoven, was made Bishop of Utrecht_.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1479, Florentius of Wevelichoven, aforetime
+Bishop of Munster, was enthroned as Bishop of the Church of Utrecht on
+the Festival of St. Willibrord, first Bishop of that See.
+
+He was a prudent man of honest life, ripe age, and a lover of religion,
+and under his rule, which was during the reign of our Lord Pope Urban VI,
+Gerard Groote flourished, that venerable master who was truly great by
+reason of his life, his learning, and the words of his preaching.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+
+_Of the death of John Ruesbroeck, first Prior of the Groenendaal_.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1381, and on the second day of December, being
+the Octave of St. Katherine, Virgin and Martyr, the venerable and most
+devout Master John Ruesbroeck died in the district of Brabant.  He was
+the first Prior of the Monastery of the Groenendaal near Brussels, which
+Monastery pertains to the Order of Canons Regular; he was then in the
+eighty-eighth year of his age, and he was buried before the north end of
+the High Altar in the choir.  He took the Religious habit in the
+aforesaid place amongst the first who were there invested, being then
+sixty years of age; and, by the help of God, he fulfilled the office of
+the Priesthood for sixty-four years.  His holy and glorious doctrine was
+published far and wide over the land of Germany, and giveth light
+thereto.  This was he whom Master Gerard Groote visited, together with
+John, a scholar from Zwolle, for he thought that his writings were worthy
+to be compared with those of the greatest doctors.  Moreover, he had put
+forth many books that were most devout, touching matters of the higher
+understanding, which books, of his wisdom, he wrote in the Teutonic
+tongue; and he poured forth in liberal abundance that grace of heavenly
+sweetness which he had received from God, for the use of his neighbour
+and them that should come after in the Church.  There are eleven books
+which he composed either before or after his entrance into the Religious
+Life; and less the tale should be incomplete, the book of his letters
+doth make that number up to twelve.
+
+There was in the same monastery, under this venerable Master, a Convert
+whose name was John, a man very devout, who did humbly devote himself to
+his life's end to serving in the kitchen, and he was illumined with
+special grace for divine contemplation.  He compiled a great and notable
+book, filled with high and heavenly doctrine, in the which he doth
+commend his most beloved father, John Ruesbroeck, in most excellent wise.
+
+In the same monastery also were certain other most devout Fathers and
+Religious Brothers, eminent for their life and wisdom, as their holy
+works that have come down to us do testify.
+
+Concerning the life and writings of John Ruesbroeck and Brother John
+Cocus, more is told in a little book that hath been put forth of late,
+and that is entitled "Of the Origin of the Monastery of the Groenendaal."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+
+_Of the death of the venerable Master Gerard Groote, a man most devout_.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1384, on the Feast day of the blessed Bernard the
+Abbot, and at the fifth hour, after Vespers, Gerard, surnamed Groote,
+died at Deventer, in the time of the pestilence; he was a venerable man
+and beloved of God, and the forty-fourth year of his age was nearly done.
+
+His body was borne to the Parish Church of the most Blessed Virgin,
+Mother of God, and therein was laid with due honour not far from the
+sanctuary.  His father's name was Werner Groote, and he was a Schepen and
+magistrate of the same city; his mother was called Heylwige, and both her
+husband and she were of high place and mighty in honour and riches,
+judged after the measure of worldly dignity; but Gerard, by God's
+inspiration, put aside the burden of riches and despised the pomps of the
+world on the which he had relied carelessly for a long while, and for the
+sake of an humble Christ took upon him a garb of humility.  Suddenly he
+was changed into another man, so that all wondered, and he became a rule
+of life to Clerks and Lay folk alike.  Hereafter, by the pattern of his
+good conversation and the exhortation of his holy preaching, he withdrew
+many persons from the vanities of the world and laid upon them the gentle
+yoke of Christ.  Likewise he resigned all his ecclesiastical benefices,
+but he kept some small portion of his father's goods to provide for his
+own necessities.  Much he gave to the Religious, and his dwelling-house
+and homestead lie bequeathed for ever to the poor Sisters, or Beguines,
+whom he had gathered together in that same place.  Of his humility he
+took upon him the rank of a deacon so that he might be able to preach,
+but he would not take priestly orders because of the awe in which he held
+the same.
+
+On a time he went toward Zwolle in company with Peter, Curate of the
+Church of Deventer, and his companion questioned him with friendly
+boldness, saying: "Beloved Master, why wilt thou not be made Priest,
+since thou art well lettered and fitted to rule others?"  But Gerard made
+answer: "I would not be Curate of Zwolle, no, not for a single night, for
+my cap full of golden florins."  And Peter being astonished said: "What
+then shall we feeble and wretched folk do, for our knowledge and our life
+are less worthy than thine?"  And this word of Master Gerard had so great
+weight that this same Peter did afterward renounce his pastoral charge
+and did maintain himself upon a single benefice, and that one to which no
+cure was attached.  Gerard, moreover, wrote profitable treatises, and
+many letters to divers persons, and from these writings one may see
+readily enough how great a zeal for souls was in him, and how deep an
+understanding of the Scriptures.  He translated two books of John
+Ruesbroeck from the Teutonic into the Latin tongue, and these are
+entitled: "Ecce Sponsus" and "De gradibus amoris."  Likewise he
+translated "The Hours of the Blessed Virgin," and certain of the Hours
+from the Latin into the Teutonic tongue, so that simple and unlearned
+Laics might have in their mother tongue matter wherewith to occupy
+themselves in prayer on holy days; and also that the faithful, reciting
+these Hours, or hearing them recited by other devout persons, might the
+more readily keep themselves from many vanities and from idle talking,
+and so, being assisted by these holy readings, might make progress in the
+love of God and in singing the divine praises.  Once a certain man who
+was united to him in the bonds of friendship, asked him, saying: "Most
+beloved Master, of what use are all these books which you carry on so
+great journeys?"  And Gerard answered: "For good living a few books are
+enough; but we must have all these for the instruction of others and to
+defend the truth, so that if any might not believe me yet they may assent
+to the authority of the saints."  Many other good things also Master
+Gerard did in his life, as certain worthy records of him tell us, so that
+from the small band of his disciples there grew at length a great company
+of devout persons.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+
+_Of the great eulogy passed upon Gerard by a certain doctor_.
+
+Master Gerard of holy memory, he who was called "The Great," has passed
+happily to the Lord.  Truly he was "The Great," for in his knowledge of
+all the liberal sciences, both natural and moral, of civil law, canon
+law, and of theology, he was second to no one in the world, and all these
+branches of learning were united in him.
+
+He was a man of such saintliness and gave so good an example in his
+mortification of the flesh, his refusal of temporal advantages, his
+contempt for the world, his brotherly love for all, his zeal for the
+salvation of souls, his effectual preaching, his reprobation and hatred
+of wickedness, his withstanding of heretics, his enforcement of the canon
+law against those that broke the vow of chastity, his conversion to the
+spiritual life of divers men and women who had formerly lived according
+to the world, and his loyalty to our Lord Urban the Sixth--in all those
+things I say he gave so good an example, that many thousands of men
+testify to the belief that is in them that he was not less great in these
+virtues than he was in the aforesaid sciences.  Master William of
+Salvarvilla, Cantor at Paris, Archdeacon of Brabant in the Church of
+Liege, an eminent doctor in theology, compiled the above eulogy from that
+which he heard from the lips of men worthy of credit, and from his own
+knowledge of Master Gerard, and he believed beyond all doubt that it was
+true.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+
+_How, after his death, the number of the Devout and the Order of Regulars
+did increase_.
+
+After the death of the venerable Master Gerard Groote, the devotion of
+faithful persons in Deventer, Zwolle, Kampen and the neighbouring towns
+began to grow mightily in the Lord, so that in a short time there arose
+many congregations of men and women that served God, dwelling together in
+common and in chastity of life after the manner of the primitive Church
+and that laudable custom of the holy Fathers that was introduced by the
+Apostles.
+
+Some of these who could ill abide the concourse of people in the cities,
+sought habitations that did befit them far from the places where men do
+congregate, and having builded them poor little houses, determined to
+lead a hidden life therein after the example of the ancient Fathers; but
+in process of time, as their numbers and their goods increased, they took
+upon them the habit of holy religion, for God so ordered it, and
+converted their houses into Monasteries of the Order of Canons Regular,
+thinking thereby to be the more profitable.  This same memorable Master,
+inspired with a spirit of prophecy, foretold this thing, namely, that the
+number of the devout should increase mightily, for to a certain Priest,
+who was his friend, and afterward became a Canon Regular at Zwolle (from
+whom also I heard the saying), he said: "Behold, beloved, this good thing
+which by God's help hath been here begun, shall be increased yet more,
+and this little spark shall kindle many fires throughout all Holland and
+Geldria."
+
+Thanks be to God that as we have heard, so have we seen with our own eyes
+the fulfilment of this prophecy, and that not only in the regions round
+about, but also in the parts afar off and in the upper provinces.  He had
+it likewise in mind to found, with the help of certain friends, a
+monastery for Regulars who should take the habit which he had seen in
+Brabant in the house of John Ruesbroeck, but this purpose he committed to
+the followers whom he had made firm in the faith of Christ, that they
+should fulfil it, for death was beforehand with him, and this was,
+indeed, fulfilled effectually by these same disciples in after days.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+
+_Of the consecration of the Church, and the investiture of the first
+Brothers in Windesem_.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1387, on the day before the Feast of St. Luke the
+Evangelist, the first Church of the Monastery in Windesem was consecrated
+in Honour of the glorious Virgin Mary, Mother of God.
+
+This place received the name Windesem from the village that lieth near to
+it, and it is one mile from Zwolle, toward the south; near the eastern
+side thereof is the River Yssel; also some space away is Hattem, the
+strongest fortress in Geldria.
+
+On this same day six Brothers made their profession and were invested
+with the habit of the Order of Canons Regular, who observe the rule of
+Augustine, the glorious Bishop and Father of our Order.  The names of
+these are as followeth:
+
+Brother Henry of Huxaria, a Priest.
+
+Brother Werner of Lochem, in Geldria, the first Prior of the house there.
+
+Brother John of Kempen, in the diocese of Cologne, who was afterward
+Prior at Mount St. Agnes.
+
+Brother Henry Wilde of Hertzogenbosch, in Brabant.
+
+Brother Berthold ten Hove, a native of Holland, who conveyed to us his
+patrimony and the place where the monastery standeth.
+
+Brother Henry Wilsem of Kampen, a man of great probity, who was formerly
+a great one in the world.  He was eloquent in discourse, humble and
+earnest in the service of God.
+
+With these and others that loved holy religion, this new foundation of
+the Order of Canons Regular in the diocese of Utrecht had its beginning
+after the happy death of Master Gerard Groote, and under the rule of
+Florentius, Bishop of Utrecht, it increased by little and little, but in
+process of time it began to grow yet more fruitfully in divers places.
+All the men above named, save only one, had been disciples of Master
+Gerard, by whom they, with many other Clerks, were drawn to the amending
+of their lives, being imbued with his wholesome exhortation.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+
+_Of the death of John de Gronde, a Priest_.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1392, on the 17th day of May, being the day
+following the Feast of St. John before the Latin Gate, and at the fourth
+hour in the morning, John de Gronde died at Deventer, in the house of
+Florentius.  He was a devout Priest and a mighty Preacher of the Word,
+and it was in the fortieth year of his age.  The town of Octmesheim, in
+the district of Twent, and the diocese of Cologne, was his native place,
+and he was a man adorned with modesty and eloquence, and the venerable
+Master Gerard let summon him from Amsterdam in Holland to hear the
+confessions of the devout, likewise Gerard committed to him the
+governance of the Sisters of his House.  For awhile he abode with the
+first Brothers in the ancient House of Florentius, and rose up with the
+others in the morning to recite the Hours; and when the time for rising
+came, he awoke straightway and went forthwith to arouse the other
+Brothers, knocking and saying: "Arise, watch and pray, that ye enter not
+into temptation."  Of this thing Master Gerard maketh mention in the
+letter which he wrote to the priests at Amsterdam, what time he besought
+that John should be sent to him, for this alacrity did especially please
+him.
+
+As his death drew on, Father Florentius, who earned the love of all the
+devout, stood by him to comfort and console him; to whom John spake,
+saying: "Lo! the adversary doth strive to disquiet me, and would confound
+me at the last."  But Florentius answered: "Fear not but trust in the
+Lord, and keep silence as to those things that are cast up against thee."
+Then John, as one truly obedient, said: "In the name of the Lord," and
+these were the last words that he spake before his death.  He was buried
+in the Church of the Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, by the side of Master
+Gerard and in the same tomb, for it was in this church that he had oft
+proclaimed aloud the Word of God.  Likewise from time to time he would
+preach at Zwolle and hold colloquy with the Brothers on the mount, urging
+them to hold with constant mind to the course they had begun.  So these
+two on earth are covered by one stone, and one Stone, that is an
+heavenly, did make them firm in the true faith; as they loved one another
+in life, so in death their bodies are not divided.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+
+_Of the death of the most Reverend Florentius of Wevelichoven, Bishop of
+Utrecht_.
+
+In the year of the lord 1393, on the Feast day of St. Ambrose the Bishop
+(which in that year was Good Friday), while the Holy Office of the Lord's
+Passion was being said in the church, our most Reverend Lord Florentius
+of Wevelichoven, Bishop of Utrecht, departed from the light of the world.
+He died in the city of Hardenberch, having ruled his diocese for twelve
+years and five months in laudable and glorious wise, and his body was
+taken to the Church of the Blessed Martin at Utrecht, and was buried with
+honour in the choir beneath the steps of the sanctuary.  Here a taper is
+kept lighted as a memorial of his good reputation, for verily he was a
+lover of the true light, and a defender of his country.  In discipline he
+was very strict; and spent naught needlessly or to any unprofitable end,
+but all that was justly owed he paid honestly, repaying loans, restoring
+buildings that were decayed, setting up new ones, fortifying towns and
+castles.  He loved the things of God and prudently disposed of worldly
+matters; by his servants he was beloved, to the poor he was pitiful; he
+cherished all devout persons, and was accepted of Clerks and people.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+
+_How Frederick of Blanckenhem was chosen to be Bishop_.
+
+In the same year, the noble and famous Lord Frederick of Blanckenhem,
+formerly Bishop of Strasburg, was chosen to the See of Utrecht and
+confirmed by the authority of the Apostolic See.  He was one of lofty
+mind, famous for knowledge and prudence, and by the help of God he ruled
+the diocese for many years with great glory, and guarded his country by
+his victorious might.  Beneath his rule the Order of Canons Regular and
+the devout multitude of Brothers and Sisters spread far and wide, and
+rejoiced in their prosperity in all regions that lay beneath his
+jurisdiction.
+
+In this year also three monasteries were founded in Holland, near
+Amsterdam.  One belonging to the Carthusian Order, one to the Canons
+Regular, and one to the nuns of that same order: this last lieth within
+the city and near the ditch.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+
+_How the monastery at Northorn was founded_.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1394, about the time of the Feast of the
+Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Clerks belonging to the
+household and congregation of that venerable Priest, Master Everard of
+Almelo, a Bachelor in Physic or Medicine, began to prepare a place for a
+monastery; for of their own free will and by his council they had
+determined to build an house in Vrensueghen upon an hereditament that is
+called Enoldint.  So having obtained license from that Reverend Lord Otto
+ten Hoye, Bishop of Munster, and having the consent of the Dean,
+Archdeacon, and Chapter, which was given on the 1st day of May, a small
+Oratory was consecrated in this same place during the Advent following
+and on the Feast day of St. Thomas the Apostle.  This Oratory stood where
+now the church is builded, and there on this same day four Priests of the
+household of Everard were invested with the habit of the Order of Canons
+Regular; they were admitted by Wenomar, Bishop of Sebale, a member of the
+third Order, and Vicar-General for Pontifical Acts to Otto, the Reverend
+Bishop of Munster: now the names of the Brothers by him admitted are
+these:
+
+The first was Henry Kyndeshof of Deventer, and there were also Herpe of
+Lippe, Hermann Plectenberrich, and John of Julich.  Of these Hermann
+Plectenberrich was chosen to be the first Prior, and the four abode by
+themselves under the authority of the Bishop of Munster, because their
+founders would not have them subject to any other, but in the year of the
+Lord 1400 they were placed under the authority of the Chapter-General of
+Windesem, which is in the diocese of Utrecht, and lieth near Zwolle, as
+it were one mile distant.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+
+_Of the death of that most devout Priest Florentius, Vicar of the Church
+of Deventer_.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1400, on the day before the Feast of the
+Annunciation of the Blessed Mary ever Virgin, and when it was now late,
+and the Ave Maria had rung, there died in his own House at Deventer the
+Priest Florentius Radewin.  He was a man of holy life and the beloved
+Father of all the devout, an humble Vicar of the Church at Deventer, a
+Master of the University of Prague, and he was now in the fiftieth year
+of his age.  He was born at Leerdam that is subject to the Count of
+Arkel, but when he heard of the fame of Master Gerard, he left his native
+land and became his devout follower and disciple, and in a short space he
+was a Father to many devout persons, and the first founder of the
+congregation of Clerks in Deventer.
+
+His garb was simple and gray in colour, his bearing was composed, his
+bodily presence full of grace, and his aspect lovable.  His hair was
+black, but his beard somewhat gray; his face was thin and had but little
+colour, his forehead was bald and his gait and bearing were full of
+dignity.
+
+Once he came on a visitation to Mount St. Agnes, and the Brothers were
+glad at his coming, and the elder amongst them asked him to deliver some
+discourse, so he spoke a few words to them on humility and charity, and
+at the end he added: "See now, ye may be sickened of these words that ye
+have heard from me," for he did not think that he could say aught worthy
+to be heard.  Nevertheless he was mighty to comfort the devout, and it
+was a pleasant thing to see him and hear his words.  Also the words
+wherein he confessed that he was not skilled to speak were received as
+very edifying, and some of the Religious wrote what he said on their
+tablets and in their books.
+
+This most holy man of God flourished in the days of that venerable Lord
+Florentius of Wevelichoven and the illustrious Frederick of Blanckenhem,
+the two famous Bishops of Utrecht.
+
+When his death was announced to them of the city, the Canons and Clerks
+came together to attend the burying of so great a man, and a vast
+multitude of people followed as far as to the Church of St. Lebuin,
+wherein he was buried before the altar he had served, which is dedicated
+in honour of St. Paul.  His life that was adorned with virtue is more
+fully set forth in the DIALOGUS NOVITIORUM.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+
+_Of the death of Everard of Eza, a Curate in Almelo and a great master of
+Physic_.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1404, on the first day of the month of April,
+died that reverend man Everard of Eza, the Curate of Almelo and a great
+master in physic.  He often gave the benefits of his healing art without
+price to many that were sick, but especially to the poor.  Likewise he
+founded and in a special way provided for the Monastery of the Blessed
+Virgin in the Wood near Northorn, in the Countship of Benthem, and he
+procured that some of the Clerks who lived with him should be invested
+there.  Amongst physicians he had a great reputation; of the nobles he
+was honoured, by worldlings he was feared, by the religious he was
+beloved, and for a long while his fame was good in the land.  Moreover,
+he had been a close friend to Florentius, the Vicar of the Church at
+Deventer, and rejoiced to visit him; and he often succoured him in his
+infirmities and expended anxious care upon him; likewise he said of
+Florentius that it was a thing above human nature that a man so weak
+should live so long, unless it were that God preserved him.
+
+But let it not be a marvel to any how it came about that these two
+reverend Fathers and Masters were thus of one heart in the service of
+God, for He who brought together the Blessed Peter and Paul to preach in
+Rome did also unite Florentius and Everard in Deventer, to be as it were
+two bright lights in the world, to dwell together as Brothers like minded
+in the House and there to comfort themselves and others.
+
+But the conversion of this reverend Master Everard came about after this
+manner, and was brought by the co-operation of God to an wholesome
+effect.  When the venerable Master Gerard, of whom mention is made above,
+was preaching the Word of God to the people outside the walls of
+Deventer, Everard hastened to come to his preaching, for he had heard
+Gerard's fame and was puffed up with the wisdom of this world; so he came
+not of brotherly love, but out of a curious mind, desiring to know
+whether the Master's teaching was consonant with his fame, for he did not
+hunger for uprightness but rather would catch him in his talk.  Yet he
+stood not openly among the common and simple folk, but behind a pillar,
+as one that hideth; and behold Almighty God Who knoweth the heart,
+neither can any hide from His face, did fill the quiver of the preacher
+with sharp arrows wherewith in secret he pierced through the heart of
+this curious hearer, who, being pricked thereby, laid aside all the
+naughtiness of his former vanity, and became a devout disciple of the
+preacher.  For when the preaching was done, he came near to the man of
+God, and made known how the Lord had dealt with him by means of the
+preaching, and how this had befallen him as if the preacher had traversed
+all the hidden places of his heart and seen all the secrets thereof.  So
+Master Gerard received him and confirmed his charity toward him, and at
+length Everard became his companion and helper in preaching; but not long
+after his conversion Master Gerard departed to the Lord.  After his
+departure the old enemy stirred up no small enmity against the devout
+disciples, but God was present with them, giving to them patience and
+constancy.  Now many of the devout were ignorant of Master Everard's
+conversion, but he wished to join himself to the disciples of Christ that
+dwelt in Deventer in the House of Florentius; the Brothers, however, when
+they saw him were afraid, and began to flee from before his face as lambs
+from before the wolf, and they gat them into the hidden places of their
+cells; yea, and Florentius himself was fearful, for he knew not what
+Everard might mean, who aforetime had been harsh enough and had opposed
+the devout Brothers.
+
+Everard therefore said to Florentius: "Wherefore do these Brothers flee
+away?" and he answered: "They know not with what mind thou art come," but
+Everard said, "I am come to amend my life," and when he was still held in
+suspicion of Florentius, he said after due thought and protesting his
+innocency: "If ye will not believe my words, at least believe mine acts--I
+pray you give me a cell for a season, and prove me therein of what spirit
+I am."  Therefore they took him and assigned to him a cell where he lived
+long and was wholly converted; for as once he had gained great knowledge
+of medicine, so now he received no small light in the law of the Lord and
+in the holy Scriptures.
+
+After this he accepted the dispensation of God towards him, namely, to be
+still and attend to his heavenly calling, and also following herein the
+example of Florentius, to gather together into his own house at Almelo
+certain Clerks and Lay folk, with whom he lived for many years under due
+discipline.  Moreover, lest they who were so gathered together should be
+scattered abroad after his death, he began to think of a fit place where
+they might serve God together, and by His help he found such a place as
+he desired for the founding of a monastery, and here those Brothers whom
+he had formerly invested in an humble manner were placed.  To them he
+distributed gifts out of his own substance, namely, gold and silver,
+books and other things for their use, for building and for needful
+expenses.  As regardeth the foundation of this monastery see above, under
+the year of the Lord 1394.  He was buried in his own church at Almelo,
+where he had governed his people for many years, and he left a good
+memorial among the devout whom he cherished and loved as a father.  On a
+time when I attended the school at Deventer, I fell sick, and with such
+care did he tend me that by the mercy of God a like sickness fell not
+upon me for many years after.
+
+In the same year, on the Feast day of St. Gregory the Pope, the building
+of our church was begun by brother John of Kempen, the first Prior.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+
+_Of the death of the Priest Amilius that succeeded Florentius at
+Deventer_.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1404, on the day before the Feast of St. Barnabas
+the Apostle, Amilius the Priest died at Deventer; he was a mighty zealot
+for souls, kindly in feeding the poor, austere to himself, compassionate
+to the sick, comfortable to the troubled, and he was about thirty-two
+years of age.
+
+He came from the parts of Geldria near Tyele, and coming to Deventer he
+attended school there for a while, but when he was amongst the foremost
+of the students he left the school and clave to Florentius, for it was
+his desire to serve God.  Afterward Florentius procured his promotion to
+the priesthood, and before his death placed him over the whole
+congregation, likewise he did commit to his charge the governance of the
+House as being his beloved disciple.  This burden that was laid upon him
+Amilius undertook with much sorrow, and though he was not minded to
+disobey the command of so great a Father, yet with weeping eyes,
+lamentation and sighing, he professed himself unworthy of this
+preferment; likewise in his secret prayer he mourned bitterly, for he
+desired rather to have the tasks of the kitchen laid upon him than to be
+preferred to the honoured post of governing men.  For in the kitchen he
+ever rejoiced in his servitude, being safer therein, and having a good
+conscience; but in the other office a thousand dangers met him, bringing
+no small care with them.  Yet God did not long delay to answer the
+prayers and sighs of his humble servant, for his burden on earth endured
+but a short while, and having fulfilled four years and near to three
+months in the care of governance, the Lord rewarded his faithful labours
+with eternal rest.  His body was laid in the burying-ground of St. Lebuin
+the Confessor, near that of Lubbert, a Priest of his own House.  There
+also was John of Viana buried, and there Reyner Haerlem the acolyth and
+many other devout Brothers and Clerks of the House of Florentius rest in
+peace.  After the death of Amilius, John Haerlem succeeded as ruler of
+the House, but he was afterwards chosen to govern the sisters at Zwolle,
+and Godefred of Wesel filled his place, for the Fathers in their prudence
+did so ordain it.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+
+_Of the first investiture of the Sisters of our Order in Diepenvene near
+Deventer_
+
+In the year 1408, on the Feast of St. Agnes the Virgin, the Sisters of
+the Order of Canons Regular in Diepenvene near Deventer were first
+invested.  This investiture was done by Brother John Huesden, the
+venerable Prior of Windesem; and there were present also the Prior of the
+House of the Fount of the Blessed Virgin near Arnheim, Brother John of
+Kempen, Prior of Mount St. Agnes, and many other devout persons, both men
+and women, who came together eagerly to be present on so notable a day.
+So then there was great joy for the heavenly marriage of many devout
+matrons and virgins; but the sound of much weeping ascended to heaven
+also.  The number of them who took on them the habit and the order that
+followeth the rule of the Blessed Augustine the Bishop was forty-three,
+and of these three first made their profession the same day, but the
+others remained Novices for a year.  Many of these Sisters were gathered
+and brought from Deventer from the house of Master Gerard Groote, after
+that the numbers there began to be increased, and John Brincerinck
+governed and guided them for a great while.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+
+_How the monastery in Budiken was reformed_.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1409, William van den Berg, Bishop elect of
+Paderborn, began to reform the monastery at Budiken, transferring it from
+the rule of Canons Secular to that of Canons Regular; and he published on
+this occasion the licence for their transference, at the end of which are
+the words following: "To the honoured John Wael, Prior of the Monastery
+at Zwolle, that is in the diocese of Utrecht, we do by these presents
+grant, concede, and allow the privileges hereafter following, namely,
+that he may attach to the Church and Monastery at Budiken a suitable
+congregation of men devoted to God, when opportunity doth offer, and that
+they be under the Order of Canons Regular, conforming to the rule
+observed in the Monastery at Zwolle so far as the rule there obtaining
+doth permit.  We are led to grant this licence for this special reason,
+namely, that St. Meynulsus, the founder of this monastery, is believed to
+have belonged to the Order aforenamed; let the said John Wael therefore
+set over this same congregation a Prior or Superior as may seem expedient
+to him."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+
+_Of the death of Gerard Kalker, a devout Priest, and Rector of the House
+of Clerks_.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1409, on the Vigil of the Nativity of Christ,
+Gerard Kalker died at Zwolle.  He was a devout Priest and Rector of the
+House of Clerks in the said town, and his age was thirty-six years.  The
+town named Kalker in the district of Kleef was his native place, but when
+he was attending the school at Zwolle he joined himself to the devout
+Brothers, and himself became one of their congregation.  Afterward he was
+chosen to dwell in the new House that had been built for a congregation
+of Clerks by Meynold of Windesem, a rich citizen of Zwolle, and after a
+while was instituted as Rector of the same House, being held worthy of
+that office by his Elders.  He was one of great stature and innocency of
+life.  In word kindly, in counsel wise, in bearing composed; to the poor
+compassionate, to strangers courteous, and the citizens loved him;
+moreover, he burned fervently with divine love to gain the souls of many.
+He was a zealous follower of Florentius, whom he esteemed with all his
+heart and loved as his dearest Father; likewise he left behind him many
+devout Brothers whom he had built up to the highest virtues.  He was
+buried in our monastery at Windesem, and Theodoric Herxen, his disciple,
+succeeded him as Rector.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+
+_Of the death of Henry of Gouda, a devout Priest, at Zwolle_.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1410, on the day of St. Gregory the Pope, Henry
+of Gouda died at Zwolle.  He was a devout Priest and Confessor to the
+Sisters in that place, having been of old one of the disciples of
+Florentius, and he was born in Holland near Schoonhoven.  Being learned
+in the Scriptures he was a mighty preacher, and one that did truly
+despise the world and its riches; he feared not to reprove the vices of
+sinners, and in his frequent preaching he strove for the salvation of his
+neighbours; moreover, he kept a strict watch over his own conscience, and
+guarded his good reputation and humility of life.  On a time, as he was
+passing through the street in a city that is far away, some boys whom he
+knew not seized him from behind by his cloak, and mocked him with jests
+because it was his wont to go clad in very simple attire, and a long sad-
+coloured cloak, for he seemed to take no thought of any outward thing,
+nor to desire honour.  So being thus entreated and disturbed he looked
+back and said to himself: "Here ought we to dwell, for at Zwolle they say
+unto us, 'Sir, sir,' yet what merit do we gain thereby?"
+
+Likewise he came sometimes to Mount St. Agnes, and sought to speak with
+the Brothers in their cells, and as he was holding converse with a
+certain one of them, he said, amongst many other good things, "Very good
+is the life that ye pass here, and the more safe is the road that ye
+traverse in that ye abide in the cloister afar from the multitude of men.
+I, who almost every day do traffick with worldlings, what can I learn
+thereby save the acts of worldly men?  I am a man untaught, neither have
+I knowledge of the life of contemplation, nor do I seek to take hold on
+lofty matters--but sometimes I can preach in simple words to untaught and
+common folk--yet henceforth I purpose to amend myself with more
+diligence, and by God's favour to apply myself to things of greater
+moment."  When he said this, that Brother was greatly edified at the
+humble words that proceeded from his mouth.  It is said also in his
+preaching he uttered this notable saying: "Why should I say more?  Words
+do beget a multitude of words--and acts beget their kind.  The fruit of
+the Word is its fulfilment in deed."
+
+He was buried in the church at Windesem, where also certain other devout
+Brothers and Priests do sleep, and after him John Haerlem was preferred
+to rule over the Sisters in Zwolle, since the well-being of the House so
+determined it; he was one that was sufficiently skilled in sacred
+learning, and he had lived long and devoutedly in Deventer, and moreover
+had ruled the House of Florentius for several years.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+
+_How the Sisters in Bronope were invested_.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1411, on the day of the Conception of the Blessed
+Virgin Mary, the Sisters of the Order of Canons Regular in Bronope were
+first invested.  This House lieth outside the town of Campen, which town
+is near the bank of the Yssel where that river runneth down to the sea.
+This investiture, with indelible and perpetual vows to live the life of
+the cloister, was conferred by the Reverend Fathers and the Priors of our
+Order, namely, John Vos of Huesden, Prior of Windesem, and William
+Vorniken of Utrecht, Prior of Mount St. Agnes near Zwolle.  To these the
+care and visitation of the House, and likewise of the house at Diepenvene
+that lieth without Deventer, were afterward committed by the General
+Chapter.  But the number of these Sisters who were first invested in this
+place was fourteen, of whom ten became nuns, and four Converts; and of
+the ten nuns four did make their profession on the same day; the other
+six, and the four Converts remained for a year as Novices.
+
+In the year of the lord 1412, a General Chapter was holden and the houses
+of the nuns at Diepenvene and Bronope were incorporated as members of the
+said Chapter.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+
+
+_The death of Wermbold the Priest_.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1413, on the Vigil of Pentecost, being the night
+of the Festival of Barnabas the Apostle, and at the eleventh hour, died
+Wermbold, a devout Priest of laudable life who was Confessor to the
+Sisters of the third Order in the House of St. Caecilia.  He came from
+Holland, from a place near Gouda, and for long had stood as a burning and
+shining light in the city of Utrecht, enkindling many by the word of his
+preaching and drawing them to the path of right living by his good
+example and his wholesome counsel; for he was a zealous lover of the holy
+Scriptures, and an eloquent preacher to the people, one well beloved for
+his eminent continency of life, and honoured by great folk.  He procured
+that divers books of sacred theology should be written, and translated
+divers sayings of the Saints into the Teutonic tongue so as to profit the
+faithful Lay folk who were earnestly desirous to hear the Word of God.  At
+length, when his pious labours in the service of God had been fulfilled
+with many trials, the good Lord of His great kindness favoured Wermbold
+with a most sweet consolation in a vision that was revealed to him.  His
+body was taken for reverent burial to the choir of the Church of St.
+Caecilia, and the last words he spake as life departed were: "For Thou
+Lord only hast set me in hope."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+
+
+_Of the death of John Cele, Rector of the School at Zwolle_.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1417, on the ninth day of May, which in that year
+was the fourth Sunday after Easter, the reverend Master John Cele died at
+Zwolle in the diocese of Utrecht.
+
+He had ruled the scholars there strictly, being an excellent instructor
+of youth, a zealous lover of the divine Name, and one that closely
+attended the choral and other offices of the Church and taught others so.
+This most faithful man, eminent for his honest life, ruled the school for
+many years, and with discernment taught many of his pupils to love holy
+religion and the following after God.  What Order that is illustrious for
+its life or reputation hath not had monks that were his pupils?  Although
+above others the Canons Regular, the Cruciferi, and the Cistercians have
+gained many adherents to the Order from among his students, and of these
+some, being endued with the grace of virtue, have become fathers of
+monasteries and rectors of churches.  For the pupils who were under his
+rule learned from their good Master to despise for Christ's sake the
+glory of this world that vanisheth away, and that in the whirlpool of
+this mortal life nothing is better and holier than to spurn the
+enticements of the world and to fight for the Lord of Heaven.  In his
+days it was a lovely thing to enter the town of Zwolle and to see the
+chosen multitude of scholars that did attend the school.  Who could tell
+in worthy wise with what fatherly care he strove to instruct all in
+learning and character, and to the leading of an upright life, and the
+holding of a good repute?  For this purpose he often set before them and
+quoted the authority of the holy Scripture, and strongly encouraged them
+to copy sentences from the writings of the Saints.  Furthermore, he gave
+them regular instruction in singing, taught them to attend the church
+assiduously, to honour Priests, to love religion, to hold converse with
+devout and learned men, to pray yet more often, and gladly to take their
+part in singing the praises of God.  He himself was there present with
+cheerful countenance, directing the whole choir in their harmonious
+melody; and likewise on feast days he often played on the organ,
+rejoicing greatly in this task, and being herein a true imitator of
+David, that holy king who played upon the harp and danced before the ark
+of God, singing His praises.  In process of time the fame of John Cele's
+goodness went forth to the utmost parts of Germany, and his sayings and
+opinions reached to the ends of the earth, borne thither on the lips of
+his pupils.  The men of Brabant with the Flemings, they of Holland with
+the Frisians, they of Westphalia with the Saxons came in crowds to study
+under him, and having borne themselves studiously in the school, returned
+with their learning to their native places, men of Treves and Cologne,
+Liege and Utrecht, Kleef and Geldria were found here; and youths that
+were apt for learning gathered together from other villages and castles
+and made great progress in knowledge.  The richer paid their own expenses
+out of their sufficiency, the poor gathered in bands to beg, giving
+thanks to the hands that helped them.  These did the Master instruct
+gladly and without price when besought so to do for God's sake, for he
+was a true father of the needy, and he exhorted them to strive to turn
+their studies to God's service; but wandering and froward fellows he
+would not admit nor endure, but either by correction changed them to a
+better mind or drove them forth from his presence, lest the naughtiness
+of such presumptuous persons might work ill to them that were well
+disposed to obey, and disturb the peace of the studious flock and their
+Rector.  So he was a rod of fear to the idle, but a staff of protection
+and safety to them that were well disposed to learn.  Many of his
+hearers, when they had laid fitting foundation of knowledge, flew higher
+to loftier studies, and those who bore them diligently were promoted to
+the degree of Masters in a short while, and certain of these applying
+themselves to yet fuller knowledge were found worthy to be counted in the
+number of the Doctors.
+
+The great city of Paris doth know, holy Cologne and Erfurt do confess,
+and the Curia at Rome is not ignorant of this, namely, the number of
+learned men whom the school of Zwolle sent forth while Master John Cele
+ruled her with all diligence, which thing he continued for a great while,
+even until his hair grew white, for they say that this venerable Master
+governed the scholars here for more than forty years.
+
+This is his great glory, that so vast a multitude of his scholars speak
+well of him, so many illustrious Clerks praise him, so devout a company
+of monks still remember his name.
+
+All things were well at Zwolle beneath his rule; they of the world were
+not at enmity with the scholars, the devout might serve God freely where
+they would, the Religious were under good supervision, and Priests of
+honest life were accepted of the citizens.
+
+They who governed the people feared God and were endowed with wisdom and
+riches; moreover, amongst them were many learned magistrates who had been
+of old disciples of John, and as was fitting, they ever held him in love
+and reverence.  He had collected many books for his own use, both of
+philosophy and divinity, and he directed that after his death these
+should be distributed for pious uses; for some he left as a pious
+bequest, and for the good of his own soul, to churches, some to
+monasteries, and some to the poor.  So this is that revered and justly
+praised Master John Cele, a native of the town of Zwolle, a man well
+taught, learned, not puffed up by knowledge, sober, chaste, humble, and
+devout.
+
+Once he had gone to the country of Brabant with the venerable Master
+Gerard Groote to see face to face that man most dear to God, John
+Ruesbroeck, one that was illustrious for his life and doctrine, for he
+had known him from afar, since his fame was noised abroad, and this
+journey he made out of love for his devout and holy life.  John
+Ruesbroeck received them both in fatherly wise, and after a few days they
+returned to their own habitation, greatly refreshed by the words of his
+mouth and by his living example.  This is more fully set forth in the
+book of the life of that memorable Father.  From this time forth the
+flame of brotherly love burned yet more vehemently in the heart of each,
+and, indeed, John Cele did wondrously love Gerard from the very beginning
+of his preaching, ever holding him dear, and a man of one heart with him
+in Christ, one that did treat well of the Word of God before the people,
+showed a pattern of life in his own conduct, and was very fervent in his
+zeal for souls.  For this reason Master John bore the reproach of men and
+much evil speaking from the froward, who never fail so to entreat them
+that do well; and this befell him because he encouraged and praised the
+acts of the Master and the glorious words of his preaching, yet was he
+not overcome by the snarls of envious folk, nor ceased greatly to extol
+Gerard, but before the magistrates and the people he spake freely on
+behalf of the Religious.  To him did Gerard address certain friendly
+letters, and John, who loved the Master's words with all his heart, did
+collect the whole number of his epistles, because of his delight in
+reading them.  Likewise he did often mention the venerable Master by name
+to his scholars, as one whom he knew well, and in his own pleasant voice
+did recount his deeds for an example to them.  This is the end of the
+life of John, that faithful servant of Christ Jesus, to whom may God
+grant to enjoy the glory of heaven with all the saints.  His body was
+buried at Windesem, in the ancient cloister, near the door of the church.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI.
+
+
+_Concerning John Brinckerinck, a disciple of Master Gerard_.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1419, on the 26th of March, that is to say, on
+the day following the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, John
+Brinckerinck died at Deventer.  He was a man beloved of God, a devout
+Priest and Rector, and Confessor to the Beguines in the House of Master
+Gerard Groote.  He was born of good parents in the city of Zutphen, in
+Geldria, and in the years of his youth he began the devout life through
+the preaching of Master Gerard, for in a short while he became a disciple
+of the Master and was adorned with special grace; moreover, he heard many
+good things from him, and received from his mouth words of heavenly
+wisdom, for he oft held converse with him in the House, and yet more
+often without when they journeyed.
+
+After Gerard's happy death, John was ordained to the priesthood, and when
+John de Gronde, the first Confessor of the Sisters at Deventer died, he
+ruled the said Sisterhood which Gerard had founded, being set up as the
+second Rector thereof, in which office he was a zealous minister, and he
+governed the Sisters in most excellent wise for many years, for God
+helped him.  Sometimes he preached the Word of God in church to the
+people, and he drew many to the service of God as handmaids of Christ;
+and when the congregation of Sisters had begun to grow in merit and to
+increase daily in number, he began to build a monastery for the Nuns of
+the Order of Regulars outside the city of Deventer towards the north, a
+work done with great and daily labour, and he ruled the same most
+strictly with all diligence.
+
+Through his example and his counsels, which promoted the salvation of
+many, a great number of other Houses for Nuns were begun in divers parts,
+of which some were under the discipline of the Canons Regular, while
+others professed the rule of the third Order and were incorporated
+therein.
+
+His body was taken to his own monastery at Diepenvene, and there buried
+in the choir before the High Altar, and after his death John Hoef was
+preferred to be Rector of the Sisters in Deventer, but the care of the
+Nuns was committed to the Prior of Windesem.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII.
+
+
+_Of the death of Gisbert Dou, Rector of the Sisters at Amsterdam_.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1420, on the day before the Feast of the Nativity
+of the glorious Virgin Mary, Gisbert Dou died in Holland.  He was a
+Priest of reverend life and Rector and Confessor to many Sisters in
+Amsterdam, and he did also promote and found two monasteries for the
+Canons Regular.  This man of God, from the beginning of his conversion,
+was very familiar with Gerard Groote, and his close friend, for he knew
+his inmost thoughts better than did any other mortal man, both the good
+thoughts and the bad alike, and whatever Gerard did in his life, for he
+was his Confessor and his most faithful confidant in those things which
+pertain to the examination of the conscience.  He held with him,
+therefore, most devout colloquies, frequently conferring with him as to
+the condition of the Brothers or Sisters, and the things needful to
+preserve the devotion which had begun in many places.  But through the
+bounty of God he lived safely for many years to comfort the good, and he
+often preached the Word of God publicly in the church to the people.  He
+was kindly and liberal in hospitality to all who came to him, a faithful
+helper of the poor, a sweet comforter to the sad, a staunch friend to the
+Religious.  The mighty looked favourably upon him, the simple folk and
+the community loved him, and learned men and prelates heard him
+reverently; and so having fulfilled seventy-five years of life, he died
+in a good old age amongst the Fathers of his House, and was buried in the
+Convent of the Sisters of our Order.
+
+In the year of the Lord 1450, Peter de Mera, Chamberlain to our Lord
+Eugenius IV, obtained a letter granting Indulgence to our House, namely,
+to the Prior, the Brothers, the Converts, the Donates, and the Oblates in
+the House on Mount St. Agnes; and the purport of his letter was as
+followeth:
+
+"Most blessed Father and most holy Lord, This petition is made to further
+the salvation of the souls of your devout servants Theodoric the Prior,
+the Canons or Brothers, and the other members of the community who dwell
+in the Monastery on Mount St. Agnes, near Zwolle, following the rule of
+the Order of Canons Regular, which monastery is in the diocese of
+Utrecht: likewise on behalf of the servants of this same House, and of
+other Priors, Canons, Brothers, members of the community, and servants,
+who shall dwell from time to time in the aforesaid monastery; wherefore
+that in future they may be ordered in more wholesome wise we beseech your
+holiness to deign of your grace to grant them Indulgence to the effect
+following, namely, that as long as they continue in the verity of the
+faith, the unity of the Holy Roman Church, in obedience and in devotion
+to your holiness and your successors, the Chief Pontiffs of the Holy
+Roman Church, who shall be canonically elected, so long a suitable
+Confessor chosen by them shall have power under the authority of the
+Apostolic See to grant to them when in articulo mortis full remission of
+all sin which they may have confessed with contrition of heart.  Provided
+always that they presume not to do any unlawful thing through their
+reliance upon this Indulgence, and provided also that so soon as they are
+notified of this Indulgence they keep fast on every Friday for one whole
+year, or do some other act of piety: but if they have neglected to fast
+or been unable to do so, or if it hath been their custom heretofore so to
+fast on every Friday, then they shall be bound to perform some other
+special act of grace in accordance with the directions of the aforesaid
+Confessor.
+
+"The privilege desired in this petition is granted to all professed
+Brothers, Converts, and Oblates, under perpetual vows, so long as they
+live in the observance of the rule.
+
+"Given in the presence of our Lord the Pope,
+
+                                    "C. ARMINIENSIS.
+
+"It is asked also that the aforesaid licence hold good without letters
+Apostolic to confirm the same.
+
+                           "Granted.  C. ARMINIENSIS."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII.
+
+
+_As to the gaining of Indulgences at the stations in Rome_.
+
+To the venerable and devout Priors at Windesem and Mount St. Agnes near
+Zwolle, and to the Priests and Fathers unfeignedly beloved in Christ
+Jesus, these, from Brother Everard Swane of the House of the Blessed
+Virgin in the Wood near Northorn, your unprofitable servant, good
+Fathers.  Venerable Fathers, most beloved in Christ Jesus, my love is
+ever ready to serve you, and I was desired by divers persons, yea, and
+besought, as I understood, by some of your Brothers also, to write to the
+Curia to enquire as to the virtue and extent of the Indulgences granted
+at certain stations in Rome by our most Holy Father Pope Eugenius IV, the
+granting of which Indulgences was promoted by my Lord the Cardinal as ye
+do know.  I was required to ask the virtue of such, and how they might be
+obtained; this thing, therefore, I did long since, and I have received a
+reply to this effect, namely: "That no man may know fully the virtue and
+extent of these Indulgences, because from the time of St. Peter onward,
+Indulgences beyond number have been given and granted by divers
+Pontiffs."
+
+I have spoken likewise on this matter with certain persons that are about
+the Court, and to put the matter shortly, these also are unable to give
+any certain decision in the matter, but, arguing it amongst themselves,
+some said that the remission of all sins may be obtained at any station;
+others held and said that all Indulgences granted throughout the whole
+city may be obtained at any one of the stations.  Which is the truer
+argument I dare not to say, beloved Fathers, but this I know full well of
+mine own knowledge and experience, that Cardinals, Prelates, and others,
+both men and women, throughout the whole city, are wont to be zealous in
+visiting each several station; neither is it the usage there to make any
+reference to the virtue or extent of the Indulgences, even inwardly, but
+every man doth commit this matter to God Who alone doth know the tale of
+the same, and we too ought to follow this custom.  But as concerning the
+gaining of the same, of which I have made mention above, the Chamberlain
+of my Lord Bologna, who returned to this country a short while ago for
+divers purposes, hath told me thereof by word of mouth, and he saith that
+he himself was present when the Indulgences were granted.  Every man that
+hath made his confession and is contrite, and hath fulfilled the
+conditions laid down in the letter wherein the Indulgence was
+granted--that is, living in common and in the observance of the rule--may
+gain the same in the church of his own monastery.  And these conditions
+are that he enter the church with the same intention that he would have
+in Rome were he present there on the proper days for visiting the
+stations; that he prostrate himself before the altar which he would have
+chosen there, and pour forth his prayers or certain repetitions of the
+Pater Noster as devoutly as he may: that he celebrate Mass: or visit the
+several altars saying the Pater Noster or other prayers after the same
+manner as that which is customary in the aforesaid city.  In short, if
+any man doth as is aforesaid, there is sure hope that he will gain the
+Indulgences just as if he were actually present in Rome, as is set forth
+also in the said letter.  Therefore, beloved Fathers, ye may, if it
+please you, tell these things to the Brothers of your House, or to any
+others ye will that desire to be informed as to the matters set forth
+above, and in this do as may seem expedient to you.  As for our Lord
+Eugenius the Pope, aforementioned, who hath granted and given us
+Indulgences so freely, and my Lord of Bologna who procured the grant, and
+others who have laboured in what manner soever to this same end, ye will
+(as they do trust) make mention of them in your prayers, especially on
+the days proper for the stations, committing them to God for the sake of
+Jesus the humble.  And may He see fit to keep you, and all that are
+committed to your charge, safe in His holy service.
+
+Written on the day following the Feast of St. Philip and St. James, in
+the year of the Lord 1443.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV.
+
+
+_The letter of the Cardinal of Bologna_.
+
+Antony, by the mercy of God, Bishop of Ostia, Cardinal of the Holy Roman
+Church, and commonly known as the Cardinal of Bologna, to all and each of
+the Canons Regular, our beloved in Christ, and to all other persons that
+are Converts or Lay Brothers in the House of the Blessed Virgin in the
+Wood, and in the Houses elsewhere that belong to the said Order of St.
+Augustine in whatever diocese they may be, and who live in the observance
+of the rule, and to others who shall see these presents, greeting:
+
+It is a just thing, and one consonant with reason, to bear witness to the
+truth; wherefore by the tenor of these presents we do notify your whole
+society, and bear witness that our most holy Father and Lord Eugenius IV,
+by divine providence Pope, by his Apostolic authority hath granted to
+each and all of you Indulgence and Concession following at my prayer and
+instance, the same being delivered by word of mouth and needing no
+further confirmation by letters Apostolic.  Ye are not bound in any way
+whatever to avoid any man, even though he be for the time being held
+under sentence of excommunication, either at the time of the celebration
+of the divine Mysteries or at other seasons (unless indeed there be any
+in your churches that are publicly denounced as excommunicate), nor shall
+such intercourse be held to impute guilt to you or to any one of your
+company.  Likewise and by similar authority he doth grant to you, that
+those among you that for the time being do suffer infirmities in the body
+be not bound to say or recite the Canonical Hours during the time of such
+infirmity, nor be deemed to be under such compulsion so that they be
+excused by the counsel of such suitable Confessors as may be chosen from
+your body.
+
+Likewise that each Prelate of your several churches shall have authority
+with regard to vows to make pilgrimage across the seas, to the shrine of
+the Blessed Peter and Paul, or other places of pilgrimage which ought to
+be paid by you, or any one of you, from time to time, to commute the same
+to other acts of piety.
+
+Furthermore and by the authority aforesaid he doth grant to the followers
+of your devotion this concession:
+
+Whereas Indulgences have been granted by the Apostolic See to faithful
+persons all and sundry who from year to year devoutly visit certain
+churches in the which "stations" are appointed for certain days--and of
+these churches some are within, and some without the city--and whereas
+these Indulgences are granted to persons who visit the said churches on
+the days for which stations for this purpose are appointed;
+
+Now therefore he doth grant that each and all of you, being truly
+penitent and having made confession, may and ought to enjoy the benefits
+of such Indulgences just as if ye had actually and in person visited the
+churches aforesaid.
+
+And this concession shall avail both for the present and time to come for
+ever, so that it hold good for those of you only who shall continue to
+live in common, and in your own community (that is under the General
+Chapter), and shall persevere in the observance of the said rule.
+
+
+
+
+A LETTER CONCERNING THE FIRST INSTITUTION OF THE MONASTERY AT WINDESEM.
+
+
+Here beginneth the preface to the work following: with the whole
+affection of my heart and mind, and with the service of my voice do I
+exalt God, the Invisible, the Almighty, and His only begotten son our
+Lord Jesus Christ.
+
+My most beloved Brother of old, when I told the tale of the former state
+of this House, of the Fathers and Brothers thereof, and their blessed
+deeds, and when I related also the origin of this foundation, thou didst
+seem to lend an ear somewhat readily thereto.  Furthermore, thou didst
+make request that some memorial thereof should be committed to writing
+(for so it seemed good to thee), because they who saw and knew the former
+members of the House and the fervour of their lives, are now almost all
+dead; and I am as it were the dregs of the cup, the very last of all; and
+being already worn with age, it is like that I shall not be suffered to
+abide long with thee.  For this cause thou dost affirm that it should be
+profitless and wasteful that by the lapse of time things that might
+perchance serve as an example and tend to the edification of some, should
+pass over to forgetfulness.
+
+Wherefore I have fulfilled thy petition, though mayhap not thy full
+desire, since my manner of writing is coarse and ill-kempt; for which
+reason I have made no mention of thy name, nor of my own; and this is of
+set purpose lest if this poor letter fall at any time into the hands of
+another, he might be offended on the very threshold and so not care to go
+forward any further.
+
+II.  _The history of the origin of the New Devotion_.
+
+Now in the days of old the land of the English did abound in men great
+and holy, by whose saintliness and doctrine (as saith the venerable Bede)
+that land was watered like the Paradise of the Lord; and so it was that
+certain rivulets of that water, through the mercy of God, flowed down to
+this our land to make it fruitful.  For this country was up to that time
+truly parched and ill-tended, inasmuch as doing service to idols, and
+being ensnared in the errors of the heathen, it was held captive of the
+devil.
+
+III.  _Of them by whom this land was turned to the Faith of Christ_.
+
+As for the first and chief of these spiritual rivulets, namely that great
+man and true saint, Willebrord, we know the tale of how he appeared here
+by sure testimony.  For in the time of Pepin, King of the Franks, and his
+son Charles the Great, and when 700 years more or less had elapsed since
+the birth of the Lord, Willebrord with eleven others did irrigate the
+said land with the waters of their holy preaching.  Moreover, with the
+help of his companions he did busy himself with breaking up the ground
+with the ploughshare of discipline, yet not without much difficulty; and
+in a short space the task of spreading the faith did prosper wondrously
+beneath their hands; for God worked with them, and did confirm their
+words with signs following.
+
+Of a truth how great a fervour of faith and devotion flourished in this
+our land under their guidance, and for a long while after their days, is
+shown to this day, not only by the testimony of the books which we have
+read, but also by those countless churches and monasteries which, as we
+see, were builded on every side where the temples of idols had been
+overthrown.
+
+IV.  _A lamentation over the waning of the aforesaid fervour_.
+
+But, fie upon it, this first fervour and regular observance of discipline
+did in process of time grow so lukewarm and feeble, that the outward
+framework thereof alone remained, and as for the fruitfulness of the
+truly spiritual life, the devil might seem to have said in the words of
+Esaias, "and with the sole of my feet have I dried up all the rivers of
+defence."
+
+A certain aged man and an honoured priest spake in my hearing of this
+drouth and failure of devotion, and referring to the time of which I
+tell, he said that in the days of his youth and in these parts of the Low
+Countries, all things pertaining to devotion and charity were so brought
+to nothingness, that if any were touched inwardly by a desire to amend
+his life, he would scarce find one single man from whom to ask counsel;
+nor scarce one spot where he could put these fledgling desires into a
+place of safety, unless it were among the Carthusians; for amongst them
+Religious observance and the vigour of spiritual life did flourish at
+that time, but scarce amongst any others.
+
+V.  _Of the rise of the New Devotion in our land_.
+
+Since, therefore, there was such drouth throughout the whole land (as
+hath been said before) that there seemed to be no trace anywhere of the
+ancient devotion, the good Lord looked down from Heaven upon the earth
+with the eye of His mercy, and made rise a little fount in these failing
+days and in our land that was desert, pathless, and unwatered; which
+fount grew by little and little to be a river (as is said in the Book of
+Esther), and after a while into much water to irrigate not trees that are
+corruptible, but souls, which truly are the plants of that garden which
+is of the Spirit and faileth not.
+
+VI.  _Of Master Gherard Groet_.
+
+Master Gherard Groet was this memorable fount, and not unworthily is he
+thus typified, having been small in his lowly esteem and abnegation of
+himself, but as his name doth signify, in the sight of God mighty to
+overthrow by the sword of this word of the Lord the foes that rise up
+against the salvation of His elect, so that he and his beloved sons might
+gain the inheritance of Israel.  One may say fitly enough of this man
+what St. Augustine saith of Paulinus, who from being very rich became for
+God's sake very poor and yet with full store of holiness.
+
+Moreover, like Anah, he found the hot springs in the desert, namely, the
+sweetness of divine love beyond common measure, together with abundant
+zeal to gain souls, and an hatred of wickedness.
+
+Having these things before his eyes he spared not while he lived either
+toil or cost, for he went about preaching everywhere in hunger and
+thirst, in cold and nakedness.
+
+VII.  _Of his death_.
+
+At length after much strife, and having converted many to Christ, this
+most blessed Father passed happily to the Lord in the year of the Lord
+1384; and he left the residue of the work, of which he himself had done
+enough, to his little ones, those whom he had gathered under his wings
+that they might promote the salvation of many and be their pattern, whom
+also he had nurtured with the milk of his goodness and his sweet-savoured
+doctrine; for it was his intention that through them should be finished
+that work which he had ever in mind, and had striven to carry into effect
+so far as he could; namely, to snatch souls from the jaws of the devil
+and restore them to their Maker.  This work his followers in their time
+were not backward to do, neither have their successors to the present day
+ceased to fulfil the same task.
+
+VIII.  _Concerning Florentius and his companions_.
+
+Of these primitive disciples of Master Gherard, the first and chief was
+that Florentius, son of Radewin, who was wonderful in all holiness and
+honesty of character, and whose name that House, which was the first of
+all the congregations of Clerks only, doth still retain.  In like manner
+one House at Deventer still hath its name from Gherard Groet, because it
+was the House wherein he dwelt, and afterward this was the first of all
+the congregations of women.  This Florentius with his companions that
+were men of light, and whose names and deeds are of record, made no small
+gain of souls for the Lord, especially amongst the scholars that were
+Clerks, and by their labours the monasteries of divers orders were
+propped up in no slight degree and reformed also, the Lord working by
+their means.
+
+IX.  _How like things were done in other cities_.
+
+Florentius seeing that this was good, and that indeed no sacrifice could
+be more acceptable to God than zeal for souls, sent devout and learned
+men to other cities also to do a like work, especially to places where
+there were schools largely attended, such as Zwolle, Doesborch,
+Herderwijc and the like; and these men lived a common life like that in
+the congregation already founded, and gained their livelihood by writing
+books.  They studied most of all to draw to Christ such scholars as were
+Clerks and when they were so drawn and converted, to send them to the
+several monasteries and congregations, there to serve the Lord.  Moreover,
+the conversion of these and their conversation was a cause and means of
+salvation to many, as we found out afterward in the case of divers of
+them.  So much of their calling Clerks to Christ.
+
+X.  _Of the names of the Fathers and Rectors of the first congregation_.
+
+Furthermore, with regard to the Fathers of the former congregations (to
+go back a little to my former subject), I, in the hearing of Christ
+Jesus, without whom nothing can be begun or founded duly, do say as
+followeth:
+
+"Through what act of grace or miracle came it to pass that as Master
+Gherard Groet was preaching and sowing the seed everywhere, there were
+added to him so suddenly and unexpectedly men of such kind and so great,
+for these were of one mind with him, and every one of them in each city
+and place burned with the zeal with which he also burned to exhort and
+convert a people that was stiff necked.  Yet with all diligence they set
+them to the task of gathering together virgins as pearls from the shells
+and most pure lilies from the thorns.  These were in their days true
+bridesmen and friends of the bridegroom, who hear and rejoice because of
+the bridegroom's voice: who strove with emulation in God's behalf to
+present the whole body of plighted virgins whom they had gathered
+together as one chaste virgin to one husband, even to Christ.
+
+Thou dost ask, perhaps, "Who are they whom thou dost so commend, and what
+are their names?"  Hear then:
+
+In Deventer, John Brinckerinc ruled over the virgins that were first
+gathered together there, and from these in after days sprang the House at
+Dyepenween, which was under the same Rector.
+
+In Zutphen was Henry of Huesden; in Doesborch, Tric Gruter; in Zwolle,
+Henry of Gouda; in Kampen, Tric of Gramsberch; in Utrecht, Werembold.  In
+Amersfoort, William son of Henry; in Leyden, Peter of Poel; in Harlem,
+Hugo Goltsmit; in Amsterdam, Ghijsbert of Oude; in Horn, Paul of
+Medenblic.  Likewise in Enchusen, Paul of that city; in Pormereynde,
+Nicolas of that city; in Almelo, Everard of Eza; likewise in Schutdorp,
+Henry of that city.  These are the holy men whom the Lord chose with love
+unfeigned to carry on and complete His work which Master Gherard Groet
+had begun in wholesome wise by His inspiration, as hath been set forth
+already.  Holiness made them priests, learning made them doctors,
+diligence made them profitable rectors of many congregations, and zeal
+for the gaining of souls made them notable preachers as hath been found
+in the case of many of them.  O happy day on which that great Gherard was
+born amongst us, for he was the fount and source whence flowed the waters
+of salvation to our land, so that what before his time had been parched
+became a pool, and the thirsty land, springs of water.
+
+XI.  _Of the multiplication of the devout, especially of virgins_.
+
+From this time forth the fount that once was small began to grow by means
+of the rivulets aforesaid into abundant waters, that is, monasteries
+without number and congregations also which fed them, so that it should
+seem that the saying in Exodus was fulfilled which saith of the sons of
+Israel how that when Joseph died his seed was multiplied exceedingly and
+filled the land.  Thus it came to pass that the people, both men and
+women, loved a life of virginity, and in chastity emulated the dwellers
+in Heaven.  But above all there was a vast band of women that were
+virgins who despised the thought of motherhood, and spurned this flowery
+world with contempt, ever showing by their thoughts, their deeds, and
+their bearing, that they desired rather to be united to that Spouse Who
+is in Heaven.  What state is there to-day, what township or city in the
+whole province of Cologne but rejoiceth to have known the savour and
+scent of these same lilies?  Yet was there diversity in their lots, for
+as Paul doth testify of himself, so too was it with them; some having a
+savour of life unto life, and some a savour of death unto death.  But in
+this the matter of their election is most clearly shown, and likewise the
+fact that they were not of the world, because they ever bare the world's
+hatred and persecution, sometimes suffering at the hands of parents and
+kindred, sometimes from rulers and the common folk of the cities and
+towns, beneath which persecution they bore themselves with all patience
+and humility; yet they suffered most greatly from false teachers and
+preachers who were zealous to assail with mad words, and to persecute a
+manner of life that they knew not, yet did not they not prevail.
+
+XII.  _How a certain monk of Cologne was put to confusion_.
+
+For example, one such was preaching in Cologne at the time of the Prague
+heresy, and he said among other matter: "Ye do go to Prague to contend
+with heretics whom ye might find readily in your midst--even in St.
+Gereon's Street"--by which he signified the Sisters of the congregation
+who dwelt in the said street.  But the great ones of the city took the
+word very ill, saying that such a thing was never heard, namely, that
+heretics should dwell in the fair city of Cologne.  But why should I say
+more?  At length the matter was referred to the bishops and to the
+university, and, save that the monk had somewhat speedily sought refuge
+by flight, it would have conduced to his own detriment that he ever
+preached that word in Cologne.
+
+XIII.  _How the Sisters were examined_.
+
+Forthwith Master Henry de Gorinchem was sent to enquire into the charge
+of the false preacher aforesaid (for this Master Henry was held in the
+highest esteem among theologians at that time), and he did skilfully
+perform the task assigned to him, examining the affairs and condition of
+those Sisters with all diligence, and when he understood clearly their
+sincerity in the Faith; their obedience in all things to Holy Church; how
+that they had given up all personal property both in goods and in their
+own will; their chastity and how in all things they did imitate the
+Mother of Christ; their patience in watching, fasting, and in seeking to
+gain their whole sustenance by the labour of their hands, he was
+astonished thereat and returning to those who had sent him he spake
+openly, saying, "If this life be not that in which every Christian ought
+to follow Christ, then have I never read the Scriptures."  And from that
+time he bore such goodwill toward them, that very often he would help
+them in their suits, and likewise by his will he distributed notable
+gifts amongst them.
+
+XIV.  _Concerning Master Bernard de Reyda_.
+
+Next in order there was the disciple and successor of this doctor,
+namely, Master Bernard de Reyda, who may fittingly be reckoned amongst
+the most illustrious, and he ruled over the Sisters aforesaid until the
+present day, being also their Confessor and Fellow Commoner.  But whither
+have we come?  Verily it was our purpose, according to thy petition to
+say somewhat of the first members of our House at Windesem for thy
+delectation: but I do confess I have been led further than I thought by
+my desire to bring forth into the light the names of the Fathers
+aforementioned who were well known to me, fearing lest in process of time
+they should be hidden altogether in the darkness of silence, which thing
+God forbid.  But in the second place, the savour of these sweet-scented
+lilies that were now spread far and wide amid the monasteries and
+congregations, did compel me to bear some testimony as to their number
+and their most holy conversation, while the breath of life is yet whole
+in me.  For unworthy though I be, I have conversed with them for these
+many years past, visiting and holding colloquies with them, and I have
+ever found them firm in the faith, and in deed effectual; wherefore let
+any man say what he will of them, but I say with Balaam: "Let me die the
+death of the Righteous, and let my last end be like theirs"--but let us
+return to the purpose whence we have wandered.
+
+XV.  _Of the origin of the House at Windesem_.
+
+So under Florentius and his companions there grew a great company of
+devout persons, both Clerks and Laics, who either wished to dwell with
+them or at least relied upon their wholesome admonition and counsel.
+
+Amongst these were two men of no mean rank according to worldly dignity,
+sagacious in mind and sufficiently learned for their degree, namely Henry
+de Wilsen, a citizen of Kampen, and Goswin Tyasen, a citizen of Zwolle.
+These two, being prudent men and well skilled in worldly matters, were a
+strong stay to Florentius and his companions, and ever present helpers in
+all the work that the Lord had ordained should be done through them.
+
+But when they saw how, that after the death of Master Gherard Groet of
+holy memory, the heavens continually dropped honey, and how that from the
+seed which Gherard had planted and the skies bedewed from above, many
+congregations of men and women began to spring up on every side, they
+rejoiced with exceeding joy; also they began to hold many colloquies
+amongst themselves, as to how this good beginning that had its wholesome
+origin from God might continue unshaken for a yet longer space to His
+glory, and the salvation of many souls.
+
+They found by God's inspiration that this might be done by the means
+following, that is to say, if a monastery of some approved order, but
+preferably of the Canons Regular, should be founded, under whose shadow
+all the devout turtle-doves might have a secure refuge from the swoop of
+the falcon.  But where might a place be found, and the other things also
+that were needful for the carrying out of such a work?  For, as saith the
+Apostle of the calling of the primitive Church, so amongst these also
+there were not many rich, not many noble--save them that their virtue did
+make noble and them that voluntary poverty did make rich before God.
+
+Wherefore these Converts prayed to the Lord with all their hearts, that
+He, without whom no good thing is begun, carried forward, or ended, might
+deign effectually to show them what might be His good pleasure in this
+business; and they remembered likewise that Master Gherard Groet ever
+kept the same purpose in mind, although he could not carry his desire
+into effect, for death was beforehand with him.
+
+XVI.  _Concerning Brother Bertold, and the site of this monastery_.
+
+The Lord therefore, that He might show how He was the cause and the
+beginner of all these things, stirred up the spirit of a young Clerk
+named Bertold ten Hove, who was the owner of broad meadows, and
+particularly of an estate that is called "Hof to Windesem"--where by
+God's aid we now do dwell--and he, coming to Florentius and his company,
+did of his own act and free will offer to give himself and all his
+possessions into their hands for the service of God, and he desired
+earnestly that a monastery might be builded in the aforesaid place, if
+this might be done.
+
+When they knew this, all betook them to praising God, reaching up their
+hands toward Heaven; for they held it as a most sure sign that He had
+heard their prayer, and had promised to be, by some means or other, the
+promoter of this cause.  Straightway so many of them as were owners of
+houses or lands sold them and put the price into Florentius' hands, or at
+least resigned the same for the use of the monastery that should be
+builded.
+
+XVII.  _Of the goodwill and consent of Florentius the Lord Bishop_.
+
+Forthwith they began to be instant with the venerable Lord Florentius of
+Wevelichoven, who was then Bishop of Utrecht, for his consent to the
+founding of a monastery, and for the privileges needful for this
+business; and him they found most gracious in all things, for he had a
+special love of virtue.
+
+This was done in the year of the Lord 1386, and by the co-operation of
+God (good men also reaching forth an hand to help them) the affair so
+prospered that in the year following, that is in 1387, on the day
+following the Feast of St. Gallus the Confessor, an humble church and
+burial-ground and also four altars were consecrated in due order by
+Hubert, the venerable Bishop of Yppuse, in honour of the Holy Trinity,
+and the Blessed Virgin and others.
+
+XVIII.  _Of the first Brothers of this monastery_.
+
+But since it is written, "Not the people for the place's sake, but the
+place for the people's sake," we must see who were the first to dwell
+here; since indeed these were the founders and the pattern of all who did
+afterwards come under the Chapter of Windesem.
+
+In the first place there was Henry of Uxaria, at that time the only
+priest amongst them, and he was appointed Rector by the Bishop, by whose
+commission the said Henry received the Religious habit from the
+suffragan.
+
+Next there was Henry de Wilsen and Goswin Tyasen, who were invested as
+Clerks, that did devote themselves, for they would not be promoted to
+holy orders by reason of a stain that did unfit them under the rule.  Also
+there were these following: Brother John of Huesden, Brother Henry Wilde,
+Brother Werner Keencamp, Brother Bertold ten Hove, Brother John Kempis,
+and Brother Henry Balveren.  All these were sons and disciples of
+Florentius, from whose breast they sucked in abundance the milk of all
+goodness, which same they poured forth without stint for their posterity
+in after days.
+
+These men and certain others of the community, whose will was good
+thereto, were marked out by Florentius to build the monastery in the
+place aforesaid, and to take the habit of Holy Religion therein to the
+Glory of Christ; which task they were forward to fulfil with wisdom and
+all speed; also to the men above named there were added, a short space
+afterward, certain persons of like intention and fervour, namely, John
+Otto of Zoes, Henry Loder, Arnold of Kalkar, Gherard of Naeldwijc, John
+of Broechusen, and others.
+
+XIX.  _The praise of the early Fathers_.
+
+O Windesem, these are they by whom thy first foundations were laid,
+through whom was kindled that bright light, namely, the rule of the truly
+Regular life; so that thou who wast then as a grain of mustard seed, the
+least of all herbs, wast enabled to grow into a great tree, beneath the
+shadow of whose branches fowls of heaven, without number, might take
+their pleasant rest.
+
+XX.  _How the Brothers aforesaid were promoted in other monasteries_.
+
+At last when many houses that sprung from the same stock had been founded
+on all sides, both for men and women, there was scarce one of them but
+desired that a pastor might be provided from amongst the aforesaid
+Brothers of Windesem.
+
+This we did see with our own eyes and hear in after days, how Brother
+Henry of Uxaria was appointed by the Bishops to be the first Rector of
+this House, which office he held for but a short time; then we did see
+Brother John of Huesden, a young man in years but hoary in mind, who
+ruled this church of ours for above thirty-three years in wholesome wise,
+to the great increase of our goods, both spiritual and temporal, and was
+beloved of God and man.  When he died Brother Gherard Naeldwijc was
+chosen by all the Brothers to take the place of the departed Prior, yet
+scarce for half a year could he bear the honour and burden of this care
+by reason of his exceeding lowliness, but he renounced the office of
+Prior and cast off the burden thereof in presence of all the Brothers,
+though this was contrary to the opinion of the whole community, and
+likewise to that of the Fathers gathered together in the Chapter.
+
+Likewise we have seen how Henry Wilde was chosen to be Prior at Eemsteyn,
+Brother Werner at Horn, Brother John Kempis at Mount St. Agnes, Brother
+Arnold Kalkar at the Fount of the Blessed Mary, Brother John Otto at
+Amsterdam, Brother Henry Loder at Northorn, Brother John Broechusen at
+Leerdorp, and so forth.
+
+XXI.  _Of the pattern of virtue left for us by the Fathers_.
+
+And now, in the last place, one must see how virtuous were these men, and
+what an example they left for us to imitate.  But no one amongst men
+knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of a man which is in him;
+yet by considering his outward deeds one may guess what lieth hidden
+inwardly in him.
+
+XXII.  _Of their simplicity and poverty_.
+
+One may know by the humble plan of the former House which they builded
+how greatly these men loved simplicity and holy poverty.  For the inner
+walls thereof were small, and the House was covered in with reeds or
+thatch; so at that time what is now the part behind the church was the
+whole church itself; and the chapel that is now was then the refectory;
+the brewery was the kitchen, and the old brewery was our mill house and
+infirmary.  Moreover, the bounds of the monastery were so narrow that the
+present inner wall on the north of the barn was then the extreme outer
+wall of the House.  So the whole was lowly and small, being arranged to
+receive but few inmates.
+
+XXIII.  _Of their Victual_.
+
+They kept a frugal and poor table, not so much of necessity, or through
+lack, as out of love of poverty, and the habit which was implanted in
+them, which same they had acquired together with the disciples of
+Florentius.
+
+So on a time I heard Brother Gherard Naeldwijc say in pleasantry that in
+those times on fast days they would sometimes divide one fig into four or
+six portions that so the great quantity of the bread they consumed might
+be seasoned by those fragments.  On a time also there come to us, I know
+not whence, half a jar of salted salmon, and as the Brothers were
+doubting what should be done therewith, Brother Henry de Wilsen, being
+ever greatly zealous for discipline, persuaded them that by all means it
+ought to be sold lest such new and unaccustomed dainties should begin to
+be brought in.
+
+At this time they had no flocks of sheep, nor any fishery, nor fishers,
+but so piously and soberly did they live that Gherard of Bronchorst, a
+Canon of St. Saviour's, who once sojourned for a while with the Brothers
+at Windesem, was wont to say in his own pleasant manner, "None fare
+sumptuously in Windesem unless it be the swine and the guests."  So also
+to drink wine and eat roast fowls were held in Windesem to be matters
+that should be referred to the Bishop.
+
+XXIV.  _Of their Vesture_.
+
+Their vesture and their utensils were notable examples of their true
+lowliness and simplicity, so that I remember to have seen those venerable
+elders, Brother Henry of Uxaria and Brother Henry de Wilsen, wearing
+garments that were altogether worn through by constantly rubbing against
+the seats as they leaned back, and these were botched about the elbows
+with great patches of rough cloth.  But if men of their quality wore such
+vesture what wonder if the younger men in those days were not more
+freakish than they in the matter of clothing?
+
+Indeed, I lie if I have not seen some of our household that were Laics
+wearing sad-coloured garments made of bark fibre, in providing which and
+like garments also Brother Henry Balveren, the Vestiarius, showed great
+zeal, as did the tailor, Brother Herbert, a Convert who was formerly a
+disciple of Gherard Groet.
+
+They had likewise certain hair shirts which were lent from time to time
+to divers of the younger Brothers for the taming of their vices and
+concupiscence, and one of these was as rough as those hair cloths with
+which the brewers' cauldrons are wont to be dried.
+
+XXV.  _How they avoided all occasion of scandal_.
+
+One may see how greatly they preferred their own good report and the
+edification of all men before all worldly good, by this tale; namely,
+that on a time two young men of Deventer came to Windesem, of whom one
+was called Goswin Comhaer (a man who was afterward a great example), but
+the other was Conrad Mom.  These earnestly sought to be received here,
+but the members of the House made answer saying that in this region there
+would be too much talk if this were done, and if they remained in this
+place, for their parents dwelt hard by: let them rather go to Eemsteyn.
+And receiving this reply the men took it ill enough, so that I heard one
+of them exclaim in a sad voice: "May God pity us in that we cannot obtain
+or know any place of rest for this cause, namely, that we are rich."  And
+they went obediently to Eemsteyn.
+
+XXVI.  _Of their Charity_.
+
+These men also were wondrous charitably disposed toward all that did
+lack, especially toward new Houses of our own order that were begun in
+poverty.  These they desired to help to an extent even beyond their
+power, by transferring to them both goods and men, as is manifest not
+only in the matter of the two youths aforementioned, but also in the case
+of divers others that were rich and desired to dwell with them.  These
+they did often direct to other monasteries to relieve their needs, for
+they sought not what might be profitable to themselves, but rather what
+should be so to others.  Thus they sent Arnold Droem to Mount St. Agnes,
+Stephen Wael to the Valley of Peace, and Brother Nicholas Bochorst to
+Nazareth, and so forth.
+
+In like manner it was agreed by the community with regard to Brother John
+ten Water that he should be sent to the Fount of the Blessed Mary where
+there seemed to be notable scarcity; yet by his lowliness and his great
+importunity that he should by no means be parted from the Brothers, he
+did overcome this resolution.
+
+But the well spring of their goodness ceased not with these, rather it
+did flow forth and reach all men, especially poor Clerks and members of
+the Houses of the New Devotion.  What man did ever return from them empty-
+handed? for if the petitioner were rich, he brought back counsel, if he
+were poor he received help.
+
+XXVII.  _Concerning Gherard of Renen_.
+
+There was in those days, that is, amongst the first Fathers, a man of
+great age, who was by no means the least of his own folk, and his name
+was Gherard of Renen.  He would sojourn for long spaces of time with the
+Brothers at Windesem, for he was bound to them by an exceeding love: and
+being on a time in the House at Utrecht wherein I dwelt, and in the
+presence of a certain honourable matron who was his kinswoman, he began
+to speak of the aforesaid Brothers, their manner of life and their
+virtues, and I myself was there present also.  So then this woman was
+suddenly kindled to so great fervour by the things that she had heard
+that she suddenly burst forth with these words: "Ah, if I were a man, and
+mine own master, no one should hinder me from going to such a community."
+And I verily believe that until this man told his tale I myself had never
+heard mention of Windesem.
+
+XXVIII.  _Of the privileges obtained for the binding together of the
+Chapters_.
+
+After a short while it came to pass that three daughters were born to the
+House at Windesem, namely Eemsteyn, the House of the Blessed Virgin, and
+the House of the New Light near Horn.  And when in this manner the number
+of the monasteries had grown to four, by the advice of Florentius and the
+other Fathers aforenamed, they sent to the Curia at Rome in the time of
+Boniface the Pope, who granted them leave to gather together a General
+Chapter together with authority and fitting privileges and so forth; for
+up to this time they had agreed to remain directly under the rule of the
+Bishop.  Gherard of Bronchorst, who hath been named above, did take upon
+him this mission with all devotion, but Reyner Minnenbode, the founder of
+the monastery at Eemsteyn paid, as it is said, all the expenses thereof
+in most liberal wise.
+
+XXIX.  _Of their manner of holding the Chapter_.
+
+But when the Fathers and Brothers of these four Houses held a Chapter in
+their humble fashion, the Fathers of the congregations whose names are
+given above would come together, or at least some of them, and sit them
+down to deal with matters concerning not the acquiring of worldly wealth,
+but the conversion of souls and the maintenance of the common good.  And
+at that time all were as it were one fold and one flock, and in very deed
+one body in Christ.
+
+XXX.  _The Conclusion_.
+
+What sayest thou to these things now, Brother most beloved, remembering
+that thou wast a wild olive, and meet for eternal fire, and seeing that
+thou art now grafted, in despite of nature, on this fair and fruitful
+olive tree, and art become a partaker in its fatness?  Canst thou do
+aught save proclaim with the whole inward love of thine heart, "Great is
+thy mercy to me, O Lord, and Thou hast snatched my soul from the
+nethermost Hell"?  For it is written of Catho that he would praise his
+gods mightily--he being but an heathen--and extol his own good fortune,
+in that it had been permitted to him to be born in that land, and at that
+time when he could see Rome and her Empire flourishing in the height of
+their prosperity; and if this is true, Brother most beloved, what return
+wilt thou make to the Lord thy God for that it was given thee to be born
+and to live in this time of His Most abundant Goodness, and in a land
+which He, the Lord, hath blessed?  Hadst thou lived in the days of thy
+fathers, before our land was illumined by the light of Grace of which so
+much hath been said already, what else could have befallen but that thou
+shouldest have done even as they did?  From which it doth follow that
+thou also wouldest have gone even whither they went, there to abide for
+ever.
+
+O happy days in which were born the leaders and chiefs of this new army
+of ours, I mean Gherard Groet and Florentius, and their son's sons also,
+and they that are born from them continually! and so it shall continue to
+the end of time.  Amen.  May the Mother of Grace grant thee to follow
+their footsteps and to hold fast their doctrine.
+
+* * * * *
+
+Here endeth the letter concerning the first institutors of the monastery
+at Windesem, which letter was written by the venerable Father William
+Voern.
+
+
+
+***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHRONICLE OF THE CANONS REGULAR
+OF MOUNT ST. AGNES***
+
+
+******* This file should be named 16759.txt or 16759.zip *******
+
+
+This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
+https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/6/7/5/16759
+
+
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