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 straight course, and
he went on rejoicing and said pleasantly to his companions: "I will go
before you and shield you from the wind with my cloak." But as they drew
near to the place, they went up to the top of an hill, and having made a
circuit round the mountains for some little space, they at last beheld a
valley, that was narrow and deep, upon the northern side of the mountain,
and Gerard's disciples asked him a question, saying: "See! most beloved
Master, how good is this place, and how private; here we may hide for the
love of Christ, as of old the holy Eremites did hide in the mountains and
in caves in the earth." But this they said in simplicity of heart out of
the fervent zeal of their devotion, and their desire for a life more
remote from the world, for they thought there they could be hid, screened
by the thickets of brushwood. But the Master being most discreet and
wise in counsel soon dissuaded them from this purpose, for a place that
lieth low doth never suit the human complexion, nor would a place so