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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    their unskilfulness did them much harm, though they succeeded here and there in maintaining some confidence in their holy call- ing, by pretending to have the power of casting out evil spirits.1 The Brotherhood of the Cross announced that the pilgrimage of the Flagellants was to continue for a space of thirty-four years ; and many of the Masters had, doubtless, determined to form a lasting league against the church; but they had gone too far. So early as the first year of their establishment, the general indigna- tion set bounds to their intrigues; so that the strict measures adopted by the Emperor Charles IV., and Pope Clement,2 who, throughout the whole of this fearful period, manifested prudence and noble-mindedness, and conducted himself in a manner every way worthy of his high station, were easily put into execution.3 The Sorbonne, at Paris, and the Emperor Charles, had already applied to the Holy See, for assistance against these formidable and heretical excesses, which had well nigh destroyed the influence of the clergy in every place; when a hundred of the Brotherhood of the Cross arrived at Avignon from Basle, and desired admis- sion. The Pope, regardless of the intercession of several cardi- nals, interdicted their public penance, which he had not author- ized ; and, on pain of excommunication, prohibited throughout Christendom the continuance of these pilgrimages.4 Philip VI., supported by the condemnatory judgment of the Sorbonne, forbad their reception in France.5 Manfred, King of Sicily, at the same time threatened them with punishment by death: and in the East, they were withstood by several bishops, among whom was Janus- sius, of Gnesen,6 and Preczlaw, of Breslaw, who condemned to death one of their Masters, formerly a deacon ; and, in conformity with the barbarity of the times, had him publicly burnt.7 In Westphalia, where so shortly before they had venerated the Brothers of the Cross, they now persecuted them with relentless severity ;8 and in the Mark, as well as in all the other countries 1 Trithem.‘Annal. Hirsaugiens, T. II. p. 206. 2 He issued a bull against them, Oct. 20, 1349. Raynald. Trithem. loc. cit. 3 But as they at last ceased to excite astonishment, were no longer welcomed by the ringing of bells, and were not received with veneration, as before, they vanished as hu- man imaginations are wont to do. Saxon Chronicle, by Matt. Dresseren. Wittenberg, 1596, fol. p. 340, 341. 4 Albert. Argentinens. loc. cit. 5 Guillelm. de Nangis. 6 Ditmar. loc. cit. 7 Klose of Breslaw’s Documental History and Description, 8vo. Vol. II. p. 190. Breslaw, 1781. 8 Limburg Chronicle, p. 17.