n 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 c