CHAPTER VI.--GERMANY.

Persecution of Strassburg Waldenses in 1212 316

Spread of Waldensianism in Germany 318

Mystic Pantheism.--The Amaurians and Ortlibenses 319

Brethren of the Free Spirit or Beghards.--Luciferans 323

Conrad of Marburg.--His Character and Career 325

Gregory XI. Vainly Stimulates him to Persecution 329

Gregory Commissions the Dominicans as Inquisitors 333

The Luciferan Heresy 334

Conrad's Methods and Massacres 336

Antagonism of the Prelates 338

Assembly of Mainz.--Conrad's Defeat and Murder 340

Persecution Ceases.--The German Church Antagonistic to Rome 342

The Reaction Keeps the Inquisition out of Germany 346

Waldenses and Inquisition in Passau 347

Growth of Heresy.--Virtual Toleration 348

The Beguines, Beghards, and Lollards 350

The Brethren of the Free Spirit 354

Tendency to Mysticism.--Master Eckart 358

John of Rysbroek, Gerard Groot, and the Brethren of the Common Life 360

John Tauler and the Friends of God 362

Persecution of the Brethren of the Free Spirit 367

Antagonism between Louis of Bavaria and the Papacy 377

Subservience of Charles IV.--The Black Death 378

Gregarious Enthusiasm.--The Flagellants 380

Clement VI. Condemns Them.--They Become Heretics 383

Attempts to Introduce the Inquisition.--Successful in 1369 385

Persecution of Flagellants and Beghards.--The Dancing Mania 390

Beghards and Beguines Protected by the Prelates 394

Speedy Decline of the Inquisition 395

The Waldenses.--Their Extension and Persecution 396

Renewed Persecution of the Beghards 401

William of Hilderniss, and the Men of Intelligence 405

The Flagellants.--The Brethren of the Cross 406

Triumph of the Beghards at Constance 409

Renewed Persecution 411

Hussitism in Germany.--Coalescence with Waldenses 414

Gregory of Heimburg 417

Hans of Niklaushausen 418

John von Ruchrath of Wesel 420

Decay of the Inquisition.--John Reuchlin 423

Its Impotence in the Case of Luther 425