narrow avail in future for many men to dwell in. So they withdrew their
feet prudently therefrom and visited another mountain that was near; and
their wise leader saw that on the south side thereof was a level place
fit for crops, and he said to them that stood by: "Place your tabernacle
at the foot of this mountain--then shall ye be able to make a little
garden for your herbs and fruits on the level place toward the south. If
the Lord grant me life I will be here often with you." Having visited
this place and walked about it through God's inspiration, they returned
again to the City together, leaving the issue of the matter to the
pleasure of the Almighty. But in the same year the beloved Master
Gerard, that light and lamp of devotion that shone upon his country of
Utrecht, was taken away from this world to receive the reward of his
labours, and he went up from the vale of our lamentations to the mount of
everlasting bliss.



CHAPTER II.


_Of the building of the first House on Mount St. Agnes_.

But after the passing of the Master, who must ever be held in
remembrance, the new branch of his planting ceased not to bear fruit;
moreover the heaven shed dew upon it from above, as Gerard at the end of
his life had promised, so that our land yielded increase in her season;
and the men above named continued to carry into effect the intention
which they had formed in their minds. The chief mover in this holy work
was James Wittecoep, the son of one Thomas Coep, a man who had been a
magistrate in the town of Zwolle; and he did all that in him lay to