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