They studied most of all to draw to Christ such scholars as were Clerks and when they were so drawn and converted, to send them to the several monasteries and congregations, there to serve the Lord.

Moreover, the conversion of these and their conversation was a cause and means of salvation to many, as we found out afterward in the case of divers of them.

So much of their calling Clerks to Christ.
X.

_Of the names of the Fathers and Rectors of the first congregation_.
Furthermore, with regard to the Fathers of the former congregations (to go back a little to my former subject), I, in the hearing of Christ Jesus, without whom nothing can be begun or founded duly, do say as followeth: "Through what act of grace or miracle came it to pass that as Master Gherard Groet was preaching and sowing the seed everywhere, there were added to him so suddenly and unexpectedly men of such kind and so great, for these were of one mind with him, and every one of them in each city and place burned with the zeal with which he also burned to exhort and convert a people that was stiff necked.

Yet with all diligence they set them to the task of gathering together virgins as pearls from the shells and most pure lilies from the thorns.