At this time they had no flocks of sheep, nor any fishery, nor fishers, but so piously and soberly did they live that Gherard of Bronchorst, a Canon of St. Saviour’s, who once sojourned for a while with the Brothers at Windesem, was wont to say in his own pleasant manner, “None fare sumptuously in Windesem unless it be the swine and the guests.”  So also to drink wine and eat roast fowls were held in Windesem to be matters that should be referred to the Bishop.

XXIV. Of their Vesture.

Their vesture and their utensils were notable examples of their true lowliness and simplicity, so that I remember to have seen those venerable elders, Brother Henry of Uxaria and Brother Henry de Wilsen, wearing garments that were altogether worn through by constantly rubbing against the seats as they leaned back, and these were botched about the elbows with great patches of rough cloth.  But if men of their quality wore such vesture what wonder if the younger men in those days were not more freakish than they in the matter of clothing?

Indeed, I lie if I have not seen some of our household that were Laics wearing sad-coloured garments made of bark fibre, in providing which and like garments also Brother Henry Balveren, the Vestiarius, showed great zeal, as did the tailor, Brother Herbert, a Convert who was formerly a disciple of Gherard Groet.

They had likewise certain hair shirts which were lent from time to time to divers of the younger Brothers for the taming of their vices and concupiscence, and one of these was as rough as those hair cloths with which the brewers’ cauldrons are wont to be dried.

XXV. How they avoided all occasion of scandal.

One may see how greatly they preferred their own good report and the edification of all men before all worldly good, by this tale; namely, that on a time two young men of Deventer came to Windesem, of whom one was called Goswin Comhaer (a man who was afterward a great example), but the other was Conrad Mom.  These earnestly sought to be received here, but the members of the House made answer saying that in this region there would be too much talk if this were done, and if they remained in this place, for their parents dwelt hard by:  let them rather go to Eemsteyn.  And receiving this reply the men took it ill enough, so that I heard one of them exclaim in a sad voice:  “May God pity us in that we cannot obtain or know any place of rest for this cause, namely, that we are rich.”  And they went obediently to Eemsteyn.

XXVI. Of their Charity.

These men also were wondrous charitably disposed toward all that did lack, especially toward new Houses of our own order that were begun in poverty.  These they desired to help to an extent even beyond their power, by transferring to them both goods and men, as is manifest not only in the matter of the two youths aforementioned, but also in the case of divers others that were rich and desired to dwell with them.  These they did often direct to other monasteries to relieve their needs, for they sought not what might be profitable to themselves, but rather what should be so to others.  Thus they sent Arnold Droem to Mount St. Agnes, Stephen Wael to the Valley of Peace, and Brother Nicholas Bochorst to Nazareth, and so forth.