The epidemics of the Middle Ages / From the German of J.F.C. Hecker. Tr. by B. G. Babington. Completed by the author's treatise on child-pilgrimages.

  • Hecker, J. F. C. (Justus Friedrich Carl), 1795-1850.
Date:
1859
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The epidemics of the Middle Ages / From the German of J.F.C. Hecker. Tr. by B. G. Babington. Completed by the author's treatise on child-pilgrimages. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.

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    But in the month of August, on the Sabbath day, VIII Calend. September, a certain Teutonic boy, named Nicolas, entered the city of Genoa for pur- poses of pilgrimage, and with him a great multitude of pilgrims carrying crosses and staves, in the judgment of a working man more than 7000, [thus of the 30,000, about a fourth part] men and women, boys and girls. And on the Lord’s day following they departed from the city; but many men, women, boys, and girls of that number remained at Genoa. 10. Author unknown. [Fragmentum Historicum incerti auctoris, M. Alberti Argentinensis Chronico in manuscriptis codicibus prEefixum, p. 74. Ger- manise Historicorum illustrium Tomus unus, Christian-Urtisii fide et studio nunc editus. Francofurti 1585. Fol. p. 88.] At that time there was made a foolish expedition, young and silly persons taking the mark of the cross without any discretion, rather for curiosity than for their salvation. Persons of both sexes, boys and girls, not under age only, but also grown up, married women with virgins, set out, going with empty purses not only through all Germany, but also through parts of Gaul and Burgundy; neither could they by any means be restrained by their parents and friends, but used all efforts to join that expedition, so that everywhere in the towns and in the country they left their tools and whatever they had in hand at the time, and joined the bands as they passed by. And as for such novelties we are often a folk of easy faith, many thought that this came to pass not through lightness of mind, but by a divine inspiration and a kind of piety. For which reason they also succoured them in their expenses, furnishing food and other necessary things. But when the clergy and some others of sounder mind spoke against it, and judged that expedition vain and useless, the laics vehemently cavilled, saying, that the clerks were unbelievers, and that they opposed this thing for envy and coveteousness, rather than for truth and righteousness. But forasmuch as no affair that is commenced without the balancing of reason and without vigour of counsel, attains to a good conclusion; after this foolish multitude arrived at the parts of Italy, they were separated and scattered through the cities and towns, and many were kept by the inhabitants of the land as servants and handmaids. Others are said to have reached the sea, who were taken prisoners by the sailors and mariners, and carried to other distant parts of the earth. But the rest coming to Rome, when they saw that they could go no further, not being sustained with any authority, at last became aware that their labour was frivolous and empty : and yet they were by no means absolved from the vow of the cross, except the boys under the age of discretion, and those who were oppressed with old age. Therefore, thus deceived and perplexed, they began to return; and they who formerly used to pass through the countries in parties and troops, and never without the song of encouragement, now re- turning, singly and in silence, barefooted and famished, were a scoffing to all men: also many virgins were ravished, and lost the flower of their chastity. 11. Chronicle of the City of Genoa. [Chronica de Civitate Januensi, edita a Fratre Jacobo de Voragine ordinis Fratrum prsedicatorum d. gr. Archi- episcopo Januense. usa Musatori, Rer. Ital. Scriptt. Tom. ix. p. 1. Col. (pag.) 45 E.j In the year of the Lord MCCXXII (?) in the month of August, there came to Genoa a certain Theuton named Nicolas, in the habit of a pilgrim, and there followed him a great multitude of pilgrims both great and