_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.