The Chronicle of the Canons Regular of Mount St. AgnesThomas, à Kempis
Religion
The Chronicle of the Canons Regular of Mount St. Agnes
Thomas, à Kempis
Augustinian Canons
In the year of the Lord 1409, on the Vigil of the Nativity of Christ,
Gerard Kalker died at Zwolle. He was a devout Priest and Rector of the
House of Clerks in the said town, and his age was thirty-six years. The
town named Kalker in the district of Kleef was his native place, but when
he was attending the school at Zwolle he joined himself to the devout
Brothers, and himself became one of their congregation. Afterward he was
chosen to dwell in the new House that had been built for a congregation
of Clerks by Meynold of Windesem, a rich citizen of Zwolle, and after a
while was instituted as Rector of the same House, being held worthy of
that office by his Elders. He was one of great stature and innocency of
life. In word kindly, in counsel wise, in bearing composed; to the poor
compassionate, to strangers courteous, and the citizens loved him;
moreover, he burned fervently with divine love to gain the souls of many.
He was a zealous follower of Florentius, whom he esteemed with all his
heart and loved as his dearest Father; likewise he left behind him many
devout Brothers whom he had built up to the highest virtues. He was
buried in our monastery at Windesem, and Theodoric Herxen, his disciple,
succeeded him as Rector.
CHAPTER XVII.
_Of the death of Henry of Gouda, a devout Priest, at Zwolle_.
In the year of the Lord 1410, on the day of St. Gregory the Pope, Henry
of Gouda died at Zwolle. He was a devout Priest and Confessor to the
Sisters in that place, having been of old one of the disciples of
Florentius, and he was born in Holland near Schoonhoven. Being learned
in the Scriptures he was a mighty preacher, and one that did truly
despise the world and its riches; he feared not to reprove the vices of
sinners, and in his frequent preaching he strove for the salvation of his
neighbours; moreover, he kept a strict watch over his own conscience, and
guarded his good reputation and humility of life. On a time, as he was
passing through the street in a city that is far away, some boys whom he
knew not seized him from behind by his cloak, and mocked him with jests
because it was his wont to go clad in very simple attire, and a long sad-
coloured cloak, for he seemed to take no thought of any outward thing,
nor to desire honour. So being thus entreated and disturbed he looked
back and said to himself: "Here ought we to dwell, for at Zwolle they say
unto us, 'Sir, sir,' yet what merit do we gain thereby?"
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