Chapter IX. Of his labours, and his patience toward his enemies than with the wise of the world, because the innocent and the needy for the most part give place to the purposes of God more readily than the worldly-wise who trust in their own wisdom. For which things' sake the prophet David said, "The innocent and the upright have adhered to me because I have waited on Thee." 22
(3) A certain man of the order of mendicants, a Religious in garb, but a worker of mischief in speech, began to speak against the venerable Master in many things, and when he could not overcome him, he hastened to the Curia at Rome to bring a suit against this man of God, or by some other crafty device to impose silence upon him: which thing he would have feared to do if he had been moved by the Spirit of God: but the Just Judge, the Lover of peace, ordered things otherwise than as this turbulent person had expected, for being suddenly smitten by sickness while upon his journey, he died; and his whole device fell to the ground and came to naught.
There was another man of the order of preachers who was eloquent in discourse and had the fame and dignity of one in great esteem. This man having heard of the bright reputation of the venerable Master, rejoiced with exceeding charity thereupon, and congratulated Gerard with sincerity of mind. He sent him a friendly letter composed in elegant language, speaking highly of the good work which Gerard had begun, and urging him not to be broken down by the assaults of froward men, but to trust in God and stand firm, and to refresh Christian people with yet more copious draughts of the water that floweth from Heaven. Having heard this and having read the letter, the Master, who was tried in many things, embraced the writer, his fellow-worker in holy exhortation, with the arms of charity, and was strengthened by his letter, as by an oracle of God, for the work of preaching.