But this movement for reform was not confined to Germany nor to the Benedictines.  In the beginning of the fifteenth century the house of Augustinian canons at Windesheim near Zwolle instituted for itself a new and stricter set of statutes, and soon gathered round it nearly a hundred houses of both sexes, forming the Windesheim Congregation:  besides which, other monasteries bound themselves into smaller bodies to observe the new statutes.  Thus, for instance, Erasmus’ convent at Steyn was a member of the Chapter of Sion, with only a few others; two of which were St. Mary’s at Sion, near Delft, to which his brother Peter belonged, and St. Michael’s at Hem, near Schoonhoven.  The fame of Windesheim spread into France.  In two successive years—­1496, 7—­parties were invited thence to reform French Benedictine houses.  The first, headed by John Mauburn of Brussels, was brought in by the Abbot of St. Severinus’ at Chateau-Landon near Fontainebleau.  It was completely successful and Chateau-Landon was made the head of a new Chapter:  after which Mauburn proceeded to reform the Abbey of Livry, a few miles to the north-east of Paris.  The second mission, though promoted by influential men in Paris, had less result.  St. Victor’s, the Benedictine Abbey which the Bishop of Paris wished to reform, was one of the most important in his diocese; and its inmates were averse from the proposed changes.  For nine months the mission from Windesheim sat in Paris, expounding, demonstrating, hoping to persuade.  One of the party, Cornelius Gerard of Gouda, an intimate friend of Erasmus’ youth, enjoyed himself greatly among the manuscripts in the abbey library; but that was all.  In August 1498 they went home, leaving St. Victor’s as they had found it.

The strenuous endeavours made at this time towards monastic reform from within may be illustrated from the lives of Guy Jouveneaux (Juuenalis) and the brothers Fernand.  Jouveneaux was a scholar of eminence and professor in the University of Paris.  Charles Fernand was a native of Bruges, who, in spite of defective eyesight, which made it necessary for him regularly to employ a reader, had studied in Italy, had been Rector of Paris University, 1485-6, and had attained to considerable skill in both classical learning and music.  John Fernand, the younger brother, also excelled in both these branches of study.  Symphorien Champier, the Lyons physician, speaks of him with Jouveneaux as his teacher in Paris.  Charles VIII made him chief musician of the royal chapel.

In 1479 Peter du Mas became Abbot of the Benedictine house at Chezal Benoit, which lay in the forests, ten miles to the South of Bourges.  His first care was to restore the buildings, which had been partially destroyed during the English wars earlier in the century.  When that was achieved, he set himself to reform the conditions of religious observance, and for that purpose invited a band of monks from Cluny.  His policy was continued by his successor, Martin Fumeus, 1492-1500,