Page:A history of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, volume 2.djvu/392

 g^g GERMANY embroidery, the heresy, probably Luciferan, -^^l^^^^^^ Z which excited enthusiasm in its followers, for at the place ot exe rutfon they declared that the flames lighted to c—e^tb.- were golden chariots to carry them to heaven. Another nstance If lucitanism occurred at Sakburg, in 1340, when a pnest named Rudolph in the cathedral, cast to the ground the cup contammg fh' b ood of Christ, a sacrilege which he had previously commit, ted aV Halle. Unier examination, he — ^.*™^f ^;;,^^ and asserted the final salvation of Satan and h.s angels. He was obstinate to the last, and consequently was burned. The Brethren of the Free Spirit had by no means been sup- pressed In 1339 three aged heresiarohs of the sect were captured Tc nstance and tried by the ^-^^^P" I>^-f "^^PJ.S,;' sensuality were proved against them, and they described their ab- rreSfof thelites of the Church in the most ^^^^^^l^;^;^ Their constancy held good until they were brought to the place S execution, wLn it failed them; they -anted and je^^^^^^^ fenced to imprisonment for life in a dungeon on bread and ^^ ater. Tn 1342 at Wiirzburg, two more were forced to recantation. Per- ecS, hoIv:r, wt spasmodic, and in many places toleration prTctica ly existed. Thus, in Suabia, in 1347, we are told tha the heresy of the Beghards spread without let or hindrance. It Is impossible to eradicate it, even had there been efforts made o suXs it which there were not, and it would eventuaUy have overtrned the Church had there not finally arisen theologians qhle and willinsr to combat it.f ATout this period flourished Conrad of MontpeUier, a canon of Eatibon one of the most learned men of the day, who wrote
 * traSa'^st the sect. In spite of the condemnation uttered by

the Council of Vienne, he says it continues to -reas-nd mij.^ r,lv as there are no prelates found, to oppose it. The heretics Se ros^JyTgnorant peasants and mechanics, who wander around wearing tUdistinctfve garments of the sect, which are also fre^ ■ qully used as a disguise by Waldenses. They seek hospitably of . Vitodurani Chron. (Eccard. Corp. Hist. I. 1833-4, 1839^0)._Dalham Con- '"■ ^:^1 Son. (Eccard. 1. 1906-7. n67-8).-Ul..a„, Reformers before the Reformation, Menzies' Translation, I. 383.