Page:Chronicles Of The Crusades.djvu/9

 

PROLOGUE

.1. you had happily proceeded to the Charter House from our church of Winchester, much and often did I desire to follow you who had thus departed, peradventure to remain with you, but certainly to behold what you were about, how you lived, and whether the Carthusian cell is more exalted and nearer heaven than the cloister of Winchester. It pleased God at length to satisfy my wish. I came, and oh that I had come alone! I went thither making the third, and those who went with me were the cause of my return. My desire displeased them, and they caused my fervour, I will not say error, to grow cold. I saw with you that which elsewhere I had not seen, which I could not have believed, and which I could not sufficiently admire. In each of your cells there is one door according to custom, which you are permitted to open at pleasure, but to go out by it is not permitted, except so much as that one foot should always remain in the cell within the threshold. The brethren may step out with one foot, whichever they lease, but the other must remain in the cell. A great and solemn oath is to be taken that the door by which it is not permitted to enter or depart 