marched in procession, carrying banners and crosses. The folly soon crossed the
Alps into Germany, and found its disciples in Bohemia and Poland, Alsatia and
Bavaria. It was sternly repressed by the different governments, but in 1349,
when the plague broke out in Germany, it again lifted up its head. Albert of
Strasburg relates[60] that two hundred came from Schwaben to Speier, under one
chief and two lieutenants, whom they almost slavishly obeyed. Their form of
proceedings was always the same: placing themselves within a circle drawn on
the ground, they removed their clothing, until nothing was left but a covering for
the loins. Then they walked, with arms outstretched like a cross, round and
round the circle for a time, finally prostrating themselves on the ground.
Springing to their feet, each struck his neighbour with a scourge, armed with
knots and four iron points, regulating his blows by his singing of psalms. At a
given signal the discipline ceased, and the fanatics threw themselves first on
their knees, then flat upon the ground, groaning and sobbing. The leader, on
rising, gave a brief address, exhorting them to ask the mercy of God upon their
benefactors and enemies, and also on the souls in purgatory. This was followed
by another prostration, and then another discipline. Those who had taken charge
of the clothes now came forward, and performed the same ceremonies.
“Penance took place twice a day: in the morning and evening the flagellants
went abroad in pairs, singing psalms amid the ringing of bells, and when they
arrived at the place of flagellation they stripped the upper part of their bodies,
and took off their shoes, wearing only a linen dress from the waist to the ankles.
Then they lay down in a large circle in different positions, according to the
nature of their crime: the adulterer with his face to the ground; the perjurer on
one side, holding up three of his fingers, &c., and were then castigated, more or
less severely by the master, who gave the order to rise in the words of a
prescribed formula:
‘Stant uf durch der reinen Martel ere;
Und hüte dich vor der Sünden mere.’”After which they scourged themselves, chanting psalms and uttering prayers for
deliverance from the plague.
Hecker, quoted by Mr. Cooper, thus describes the resuscitation of the sect:
“While all countries were filled with lamentations and woe, there first arose in
Hungary, and afterwards in Germany, the Brotherhood of the Flagellants, called
also the Brotherhood of the Cross, or Cross-Bearers, who took upon themselves