Page:History of the German people at the close of the Middle Ages vol1.djvu/19

 humble, believing Christians, and at the same time free, strong, independent, manly thinkers. Above all, they showed themselves undaunted in unmasking and fighting against ecclesiastical abuses. Their love for the one Catholic Church spurred them to carry on unflinchingly the work of reform which Nicolaus of Cusa had inaugurated in Germany.

All Christian nations had one enemy in common—the Turk—'the hereditary foe of Christianity.' To make joint cause against him under the leadership of