ctor, 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.