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