must be their refuge, for they were instant to make prudent
provision for themselves and those that should come after, and to stop
the mouths of them that spoke evil, because such men did strive with the
cunning of this world to disturb the lowly and simple lives of the
Brothers. Moreover, though they were still poor and had not things
suitable to their need--either proper buildings or service books--yet did
they try to begin the work, trusting in the mercy of God and heartened by
the help of good men. And one spake of them and marvelled that men so
poor should wish to build a monastery and to take religious vows, though
they had no hope of increase, but Father John of Ummen, ever a lover of
poverty, answered him, saying: "I have always heard from holy men that
poverty is good, being both the cause of all good and the means of
increasing the same."

CHAPTER VI.

_Of the year and place in which the first four Brothers were invested_.

In the year of the Lord 1398, on the 18th day of January, being the Feast
of St. Prisca, Virgin and Martyr, our Right Reverend Lord Frederic of
Blanckenhem, the renowned Bishop of Utrecht, issued his license to the
devout priests, Egbert van Lingen, and Wolfard, the son of Matthias, and
to the other Clerks and Lay Brothers that dwelt on Mount St. Agnes, in
Nemel, near Zwolle, for it was his desire to increase the glory of God,
and to promote the cause of Holy Religion. By the full authority vested
in him he gave them leave to build a monastery for the Order of Canons
Regular in any fit and proper place in his diocese, so that they might
worthily and devoutly serve as the soldiers of Almighty God in the
Regular Order, following the rule of the blessed Augustine. So having
obtained this licence in their favour, they chose a place in the freehold
land that is called Westerhof, in the district of Gherner and the parish
of Dalvessen, the curate of which parish, who was an honourable man named
Frederic Denter, giving his assent to their purpose. They determined to
set their monastery here because they had found no other site that was
fitting, although they sought anxiously elsewhere a place of habitation.
At this time the men of Zwolle would not suffer a monastery to be builded
upon the Mount at Nemel, though this was done in after days by the favour
of God, but Egbert Mulart had given them this land at Westerhof. He was
a most upright man, and one in authority, being of gentle line