_Of the scanty food and raiment of the Brothers, and how wondrously God
did provide for them_.
Who can tell how poor was their food while they laboured at their daily
toil? Their victual was coarse, their drink ungenerous, their raiment
simple and rude, so that naught did minister to the lusts of the flesh,
but the needs of the body were satisfied soberly enough. They were often
compelled to eat food that was of evil savour through lack of better
victual; but constant toil and hunger made herbs and pulse to be pleasant
to the taste. Fish was given to the community seldom, and eggs more
rarely still, but yet of their goodwill the Brothers would give these to
the sick, or to strangers, if by any means they could get such things.
Wherefore one hath said, "When the reign of poverty is long, pleasure
doth endure but a little space."
On certain days the rule allowed them to eat flesh meats, but if at such
times a larger mess was set before them, yet was it not more daintily
cooked. Furthermore, certain amongst them, who while they dwelt in the
world had been taught to love a very different fare, were now content
with scanty and coarse food, doing great violence to their lusts thereby;
but yet they bore all these things patiently after that saying of Christ,
"The Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by
force." Sometimes when supper was ended scarce aught did remain to be
divided amongst them on the day following; at other times there was lack
of utensils or cooking pots, or suitable food would fail; but God the
Maker of all things, who of old did feed the people in the wilderness,
did not desert the Brothers on the Mount. So it once came about that
when they had consumed almost all their food, Gerard the cook being
anxious for the morrow, made his lack known to Father John, saying sadly
"What shall I set before them to-morrow?" But John consoled his sadness
with kindly words, and exhorted him to have faith in the Lord, who doth
not fail them that hope in Him. And when that day had drawn on to
evening, Everard of Eza, Curate of Almelo, came unexpectedly in his
chariot as if sent by God to comfort the poor. He was received by the
Brothers eagerly and reverently, and they brought him in as if the
Hospice was his own, for he loved the House and all that dwelt therein by
reason of their utter poverty and their simple manner of life, and
because their desire was to hinder none, but to profit all men; moreover
he was united to Father John by a special bond of love. Wherefore, when
he had determined to travel to Windesem, or had business at Zwolle, he
delighted to come first to the Brothers on the Mount; and being a mighty
shepherd of souls as well as a most skilful physician, he alighted from
his carriage and fed souls that were in want thereof with the fodder of
the Holy Word, and likewise cheered the faint of heart by giving them the
food they lacked. He had brought with him fine meal, and flesh, and he
gave the same to the Brothers for their common use; and they receiving
the gifts he offered were all comforted by their better fortune, and gave
thanks to God and to Everard that of his bounty he had provided for them
and succoured them in their so great need. At another time, also, divers
poor Clerks had been called from Zwolle to help them in some work,
wherefore certain of the Brothers went down to fish in the brook Vecht,
whose course is near to the mountain. So they let down their nets in the
name of Jesus, and by the grace of God, who made all waters, there were
taken of the fish called bream a number equal to the number of their
guests.
At that time Gerard Bronchorst, a Canon of Utrecht, and a great friend to
the devout, was in authority at Deventer, and he gave two cows to our
Brothers on the Mount, but forasmuch as God would prove their patience
and increase their faith, one of the cows died, though the other one
remained whole. And the wondrous goodness of God provided that the one
should give so large a yield of milk as to suffice for all the Brothers,
though they would have thought that they would scarce get enough from
two. Then was seen the fulfilment of the word of the prophet Esaias, who
saith: "It shall come to pass in that day that a man shall nourish a
young cow, and for the abundance of the milk he shall eat butter."
At the beginning of their common life the Brothers were despised by
worldlings, and they bore patiently the derision of them that passed by;
also they were called by vile names in scorn, and suffered much evil
speaking and many injuries from the envious; but the patience of the good
overcame the malice of the froward, and the freedom of their good
conscience gave them the greater joy because of the scorn that was cast
upon them. For although men that were ill-disposed would insult these
poor little ones of Christ, and blushed not to speak evil of the
innocent, yet many that feared God would praise their holy conversation;
such men assisted them with kindly deeds and help, being moved thereto by
pious reasons.
One of the community, a Lay Donate and an upright man, was employed in
feeding the cattle, and as he was driving an herd of swine in the field
he met an ancient crone, who began to abuse him and to hurl unseemly
words at him. And the devout Brother answered her gently, saying, "Good
dame, tell me my faults freely, and chide me sternly, for I greatly lack
such chastisement," but the woman hearing this was smitten with inward
remorse, and said in a changed voice: "What should it profit me to help
you to the kingdom of heaven, but myself to hell!" for she perceived that
by her chiding the Brother earned fresh merit, but she punishment for her
frowardness.
It came to pass that as two of the Brothers were at work together out of
doors, one by mischance did unwittingly hurt the other somewhat, and he
who had done the injury prayed the other to pardon him for God's sake.
But the Brother who was hurt in body was whole in heart, and said: "Even
if thou hadst slain my father I would freely pardon thee," and those that
stood by and heard his saying were edified, and glorified God for the
gracious words that proceeded from the sufferer's mouth. May these few
things that I have told of the early deeds of our elders be pleasing to
the reader.