nd knowledge, one that had friends great and famous,
should go about the streets with so meek an aspect, and showing little
care for his attire; for he cared not at all about worldly things, and
sought only to gain a great usury of souls for God. He was well
favoured, kindly in word, and courteous to all, so that any man whatever,
whether a stranger or born in the land, even though poor and unknown,
might speak to him and receive from him some discourse upon the things of
God. The good saw this and rejoiced thereat, but the froward gnashed
with their teeth and spake evil of Gerard. A certain man, therefore, one
of the great ones of the State, came near to him, and rebuked his words
and deeds, for the man himself took more pleasure at that time in
worldliness than in the things of God. "Why," said he, "dost thou
disquiet us, and bring in new customs? Cease from this preaching, and do
not disturb or frighten men." But Gerard made answer with wisdom and
constancy: "I would not willingly suffer you to go to Hell," and the man
said again with indignation: "Let us go thither in peace," but the kindly
and good Master replied: "I will not do so; if thou wilt not hear, there
will be some who will gladly give ear"--but we must return to our
history.

When the most beloved Master was sojourning in Zwolle for the purpose of
preaching the Word, some of his disciples aforementioned who dwelt
together there came to him secretly and confessed that they desired to
live a life further removed from that of the world, for they could not
bear to mingle with worldlings without suffering hurt to their spiritual
life; and they said that they would choose to dwell without the City if
he should agree thereto. They begged him therefore, as loving sons
speaking to their father, to condescend to go with them some little space
outside the City to look for a place convenient wherein to live quietly.
Then Gerard assented to their pious prayers, and when the next day dawned
he prepared for the journey and taking with him the brothers Wychmann,
Reyner, Henry and James Wittecoep, he went with them towards the
mountains of Nemel to a place that was foreordained of God, and separated
from the multitude; for men were seldom seen to come thither or to pass
by, and patches of thorns and nettles grew here and there upon the hills
and valleys. So as they went forth the wind beat against them, hut
neither rain nor wind could stay the Master from the strai