_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.