Page:A history of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, volume 2.djvu/377

 GERARD GROOT. 3^1 nied the expressions attributed to him and was let off with an in- junction to pubhcly repeat the denial in Kampen and ZwoUe, where he was said to have uttered his heresies. This unexpected lenity excited the indignation of Groot, who had sufficient influ- ence to induce Bishop Florent to take up the case again and try it personally. Bartholomew endeavored to escape his persecutor by appearing a day in advance of the one set for his trial, but word was sent to Groot, who threw himself into a wagon, and by travel- ling all night reached Utrecht in time. On this occasion he was successful ; Bartholomew was condemned as a heretic, abjured, and was sentenced to wear crosses in the form of scissors. The Augustinians did not lack friends, and they retahated on those who had busied themselves in the matter. The magistrates of Kampen prosecuted some women who had served as witnesses and fined them, and they also banished for ten years Werner Keynkamp, a friend of Groot, who subsequently was thrice prior of houses of Brethren of the Common Life. Groot himself did not escape, for soon afterwards Bishop Florent, for the purpose of silencing him, issued an order withdrawing all commissions to preach. Groot then endeavored to procure from Urban VI. papal commissions as preacher and inquisitor, and sent to Eome ten florins to pay for the bulls. Fortunately for his fame, he died, in 1384, before the return of his messenger, and Holland was spared the effects of his inconsiderate zeal, inflamed by strife and armed with the irresponsible power of the Inquisition. In his gentler capacity he left his mantle to Florent Eadewyns, under whom were developed the communities of the Common Life These spread rapidly throughout the ^^etherlands and Germany, and though occasionally the subject of inquisitorial persecution, they were covered by the decision of Martin Y., when Matthew Grabon, at the Council of Constance, endeavored to procure the condemna- tion of the Beguines, of which more anon. After this they flour- ished without opposition, supporting themselves by disseminating culture, as educators and copiers of manuscripts. After the Re? ormation the communities rapidly died out, although the house ot Emmerich, near Diisseldorf, remained to be closed by l^apoleon m 1811, and the four brethren then ejected from it continued to observe the rules, tiU the last one, Gerard Mulder, died at Zeve naar, March 15, 1854. One branch of the brethren, however