On a time he went toward Zwolle in company with Peter, Curate of the Church of Deventer, and his companion questioned him with friendly boldness, saying:  “Beloved Master, why wilt thou not be made Priest, since thou art well lettered and fitted to rule others?” But Gerard made answer:  “I would not be Curate of Zwolle, no, not for a single night, for my cap full of golden florins.”  And Peter being astonished said:  “What then shall we feeble and wretched folk do, for our knowledge and our life are less worthy than thine?” And this word of Master Gerard had so great weight that this same Peter did afterward renounce his pastoral charge and did maintain himself upon a single benefice, and that one to which no cure was attached.  Gerard, moreover, wrote profitable treatises, and many letters to divers persons, and from these writings one may see readily enough how great a zeal for souls was in him, and how deep an understanding of the Scriptures.  He translated two books of John Ruesbroeck from the Teutonic into the Latin tongue, and these are entitled:  “Ecce Sponsus” and “De gradibus amoris.”  Likewise he translated “The Hours of the Blessed Virgin,” and certain of the Hours from the Latin into the Teutonic tongue, so that simple and unlearned Laics might have in their mother tongue matter wherewith to occupy themselves in prayer on holy days; and also that the faithful, reciting these Hours, or hearing them recited by other devout persons, might the more readily keep themselves from many vanities and from idle talking, and so, being assisted by these holy readings, might make progress in the love of God and in singing the divine praises.  Once a certain man who was united to him in the bonds of friendship, asked him, saying:  “Most beloved Master, of what use are all these books which you carry on so great journeys?” And Gerard answered:  “For good living a few books are enough; but we must have all these for the instruction of others and to defend the truth, so that if any might not believe me yet they may assent to the authority of the saints.”  Many other good things also Master Gerard did in his life, as certain worthy records of him tell us, so that from the small band of his disciples there grew at length a great company of devout persons.

CHAPTER IV.

Of the great eulogy passed upon Gerard by a certain doctor.

Master Gerard of holy memory, he who was called “The Great,” has passed happily to the Lord.  Truly he was “The Great,” for in his knowledge of all the liberal sciences, both natural and moral, of civil law, canon law, and of theology, he was second to no one in the world, and all these branches of learning were united in him.