he aforesaid Brothers, their manner of life and their
virtues, and I myself was there present also. So then this woman was
suddenly kindled to so great fervour by the things that she had heard
that she suddenly burst forth with these words: "Ah, if I were a man, and
mine own master, no one should hinder me from going to such a community."
And I verily believe that until this man told his tale I myself had never
heard mention of Windesem.

XXVIII. _Of the privileges obtained for the binding together of the
Chapters_.

After a short while it came to pass that three daughters were born to the
House at Windesem, namely Eemsteyn, the House of the Blessed Virgin, and
the House of the New Light near Horn. And when in this manner the number
of the monasteries had grown to four, by the advice of Florentius and the
other Fathers aforenamed, they sent to the Curia at Rome in the time of
Boniface the Pope, who granted them leave to gather together a General
Chapter together with authority and fitting privileges and so forth; for
up to this time they had agreed to remain directly under the rule of the
Bishop. Gherard of Bronchorst, who hath been named above, did take upon
him this mission with all devotion, but Reyner Minnenbode, the founder of
the monastery at Eemsteyn paid, as it is said, all the expenses thereof
in most liberal wise.

XXIX. _Of their manner of holding the Chapter_.

But when the Fathers and Brothers of these four Houses held a Chapter in
their humble fashion, the Fathers of the congregations whose names are
given above would come together, or at least some of them, and sit them
down to deal with matters concerning not the acquiring of worldly wealth,
but the conversion of souls and the maintenance of the common good. And
at that time all were as it were one fold and one flock, and in very deed
one body in Christ.

XXX. _The Conclusion_.

What sayest thou to these things now, Brother most beloved, remembering
that thou wast a wild olive, and meet for eternal fire, and seeing that
thou art now grafted, in despite of nature, on this fair and fruitful
olive tree, and art become a partaker in its fatness? Canst thou do
aught save proclaim with the whole inward love of thine heart, "Great is
thy mercy to me, O Lord, and Thou hast snatched my soul from the
nethermost Hell"? For it is written of Catho that he would praise his
gods mightily--he being but an heathen--and extol his own good fortune,
in that