et scortorum consoitia, in Episcopatu Spirensi solam luxuriam esse peccatjiim, et
pene neminem fuisse punitum, nisi solum illos aut eos fiequentius, qui castitatis
vitio laboiabant, ca;tero3 vero longe enormioribus gravioribusque irretitos criminibus
aut a pcena fuisse immunes, aut saltern mediociitsr in comparatione lascivorum
mulctatos : cum tarnen sancti Doctores et jura canonica afferant, incontinentiam
inter peccata mortalia esse minimum. Tlie bishop, however, perseveres in his
decrees, moti ex hoc verbo Gregorii, quo dicit, fornicationem minoris quidem esse
culpae, majoris autem diffamis, cujus auctoritatis huic vitio dediti prima verba, nos
vero ultima attendimus, propter quod ipsi peccatum hoc suum in se parvi faciunt,
nos difiamiam et scandalum magnifacimus. Pensamus haec et multa alia innume-
rabilia mala corporis, famae et anim«, quae ha;c cum mulieribus suspectis conversatio
et cohabitatio secum afferunt, inprimis autem illud, quod raro tales vers et catholics
peccata sua confitentur: emendandi propositum, quod habere se dicunt, regulariter
aut fictum est aut falsum, et — legitime et coram Deo non absolvuntur. Hermannus
Ryd de Reen de vita et honestate Clericorum, c. 1. in Brown App. ad fasciculum,
p. 133 : Antiquitus — mali Clerici et sacerdotes fuerunt hypocritae, — quibus valde
erat infestus Salvator, — cum ssepe eos redarguit, contra eos pradicavit. — Modsrni
autem Clerici pejores sunt illis hypocritis, qui, licet mali sunt et pessimi praevari-
catores pro majori parte, non tamen talia in occulto hominibus nescientibus, ut
hypocritae, fecerunt. Utinam ioret ita bonum, ut justi coram hominibus apparerent,
ne homines in eis scandalizarentur. Sed aliter est negotium : quoniam minus
verecundantur laicia, gloriantes de malitia eorum et male actis. Quot publicos
fornicatus sive fornicarios videmus ! imo, quod pejus est, tales et hujusmodi sic
vivere perrnittuntur publice ab eorum Prsiatia, solum quod omni anno porrigant
certam quotam pecuniarum Otticialibus eorum !
'" Complaints of the effect of this example Concilium Parisiense, ann. 1429. c.
23 (Mansi XXVIII. p. 1107). Cum propter crimen concubinatus, quo multi
ecclesiastici et religiosi viri inficiuntur, habeantur Ecclesia Dei et fotus Clerus in
derisum, abominationem, et opprobrium cunctis gentibus ; et illud nefandissimum
scelus in Ecclesia Dei adeo invaluit, ut jam non credant Christian!, simplicem
fornicationem esse peccatum mortale (see Huss sermo syn. ann. 1405, below,
§ 149, note 5): nos volentes ad exstirpationem tanfi facinoris — pi'ovidere, etc.
In the summons to the Synod on St. Martin's day, 1486, the bishop of Speyer
complains (TVvrdtwein subsidia diplom. XII. p. 247): licet — nos contra concu-
binarios nostrarum civitatis et diocesis Spirensis processus nostros varios, et quidem
formidabiles et diras in se continentes pcenas pro hujusmodi vitio concubinatus ex-
tinguendo promulgaverimus ; nihilominus tamen validus st frequens clamor ad nos
VOL. III. 36
282 Third Period. Div. V. A. D. 1409 — 1517.
and disgusting disease. ^i As early as the Council of Constance, it was
openly said that nothing could remedy these evils but to allow the
marriage of priests : i- but such was the strength of prejudice that
men in other respects liberal in their views, as for instance the chan-
cellor Gerson, resisted every effort to change the existing laws of the
church.''^ There always continued to be intelligent men, who advo-
cated the marriage of priests ; ^^ but the interests of the hierarchy
perduxit, quod nonnulli, immo ut asseritur multi, per civitatem et diocesim nostras
adeo patule et publice secum tenuerint et teneant iiiulieres suspectas et concubinas,
tamque reprehensibilem cum eis agant vitam, quod exinde Laici non tantum
scandalisantur, sed et ipsi eoruin exemplo similiter peccaudi suiiiant occasionem,
etc. Lavacrum conscientice, c. YII. : Propter quod secundum b. Bernardum in
districto Dei judicio judicantur non solum quia in his peccaverunt, sed etiam ideo
quia suis nefandis exemplis rudibus et simplicibus occasionem peccandi dederunt.
Propter quod etiam in hac vita corda eorum indurantur, quod raro aut nunquam
poenitent, pracipue hi, qui pesle luxuria» aut avaritise infecti sunt, quia a nuUo
volunt corrigi nee alicujus inlormationeni accipere. Citius enim decem laici vel
plures ab errore suo revocantur, quam unus Clericus vel literatus perverse vivens.
Et ideo in sensum reprobum multi tales traduuiur, et ca;citate justo Dei judicio
percutiuntur, etc.
'1 Ph. G. Hensler's Gesch. der Lustseuche, die zu Ende des fünfzehnten
Jahrh. in Europa ausbrach. Altona, 1783. Theiner II. II. S. 803 ff.
'- Franciscus Zaharella (from 1411 Cardinalis Florentinus, + 1417) capita
agendorum in Conc. Constant, de reformatione Ecclesia^, c. 12 (r. «. Hardt Conc.
Const. I. IX. p. 524) : Circa concubinarios providea'ur cum effectu ; alias sie
negligendo praestaret permittere conjugium Clei'icis. Et de hoc etiam disponetur.
Especially Wilhelmi Sagineti (Saignet, a French knight) lamentatio ob coelibatum
sacerdotum, seu dlalogus Nicaente constitutionis, et naturse ea de re conquerentis.
Ms. in Basle cf. Oudini comm. de scriptoribus Eccles. antiquis. T. III. p. 2325.
" Gerson answered Saignet in the dialogus sophise et naturae super CEelibatu
Ecclesiasticorum (Opp. II. p. 617 seq.). In this he asknowledges the impossibility
of checking the incontinence of the clergy, but still will not hear of the marriage
of priests, comforting himself witli the reflection, p. 634, dc duobus uialis minus est
incontinentes tolerare sacerdotes, quam nuUos habere. His views on the subject,
too, are lax to a degree in him surprising; e. g. Sermo contra luxuriam Dom. II.
Adv. (Opp. III. p. 917): Violatne persona votum suum, quando non servat casti-
tatem suam, vel etiam Presbyter, aut religiosa persona ? Respondeo, quod regu-
lariter votum castitatis fit, quod nunquam vovens contrahcre velit matrimonium, et
pro hoc quis consequenter obligatus est ad castitatem. Ideo non violat votum
suum is, qui non contrahit matrimonium, quamvis peccet gravissime. One of the
means recommended to prevent such offences, Sermo contra luxur. Dom. IV. Adv.
(1. c. p. 932) : Tertium remedium est etiicere, ut paucissima faciant peccata, et
interdum multa bona facere. Notate, quod sit in secreto, et extra festa et loca
sancta, cum personis sine vinculo.
'■* S i g i s m u n d s Reformation (first ed. by Joh. Bümler. Augsburg, 1476, and
in Goldasti Constitt. impeiial. I. p. 170 ; with some arbitrary clianges in Basil
1521) was not, to be sure, presented to the Council of Basil, as the title-page of
the ed. of 1476 represents, nor to the Council of Constance, as is represented by
the title of the cd. of 1521 ; nor is it by Sigisniund, but moie probably (as is sup-
posed hyv.d. Hardt, Conc. Const. I. XXVII. p. 1121) by the imperial counsellor,
Frederick v. Landskron, after Sigismund's death, but still it is an important docu-
ment. In the Section Von Ordenung aller Pfarrkirchen it is stated that all the
measures against concubinage had proved inclfectual. It is then proposed that
each church shall have two married priests ; that they shall serve on alternate
weeks, and that each in his week shall refrain from intercourse with his wife. —
JVicolavs Panormitanns (see § 131, note 33, "f 1445) Lectura super c. cum olim.
De clericis conjugatus (i. e. ad IJecr. Greg. Lib. III. Tit. III. c. 6.) ed. Taurin.
1577. fol. 361. proposes the question : Numquid hodie Ecclesia possit statuere, ut
Chap. IL National Churches. § 138. Morals of the Clergy. 283
were too deeply involved in the question to expect them to yield.
Clericus possit contrahere matrimoniurn, sicut Graeci ? and answers: Credo, quod
sic, — et non solum credo, potestateni inesse Ecclesiae hoc condendi, sed credo pro
bono et salute animaruin quod esset salubre statutum, ut volentes coniinere et
magis mereri, relinquerentur voluntati eorum ; non volentes autem continere,
possint contrahere : quia experientia docente contrarius prorsus effectus sequitur
ex ilia lege continentiae, quuin hodie non vivant spiritualiter, nee sint mundi, sed
maculentur illicito coitu cum eorum gravissimo peccato, ubi cum propria uxore
esset castitas, ut dicitur Cap. Alcana (Decretum Grat. P. 1. Dist. XXXI. c. 12).
Unde deberet Ecclesia facere, sicut bonus medicus, ut si medicina, experientia
docente, potius officit quam prosit, earn tollat. Et utinam idem esset in omnibus
constitutionibus positivis, ut saltem obligarent quoad pa-uam, et non quoad culpam.
Nam ita creverunt statuta positiva, ut vix reperiantur aliqui, qui non corruperint
viam suam. — ..^neas Sylvius hist. Cone. Basil, lib. II. (ed. Catopoli, 1667. 4to.
p. 86) : fbrtasse non esset pejus, sacerdotes quaniplures uxorari : quoniam multi
salvarentur in sacerdotio conjugato, qui sterili in Presbyterata damnantur. De
auctoritate Cone. Basil, dialogus (in Kollar Analecta Vindobonensia II. p. 780) :
dim conjugem nee habere, nee habuisse indecorum sacerdotibus fuit ; hodie vero
solum habere interdicitur, quae prohibitio, ut ego existimo, utilius quoque hodie
prohiberetur. When Cardinal he wrote to his friend Jo. Friint (Ep. .307) : Credi-
mus te uti non insulso consilio, si, quurn nequeas continere, conjugium qua;ris,
quaravis id prius cogitandum fuerat, antequam initiareris sacris ordinibus. Sed
non sumus Dii omnes, qui futura prospicere valeamus. Quando hue ventum est,
ut legi carnis resistere nequeas, melius est nubere, quam uri. Non tarnen haee
Pontificis sententia, ut dispensandum censeat : stat in sua severitate. — Expectan-
dus est ergo, ut tute agas, alterius Apostolatus, qui initior sit. So too when Pope.
One of his sayings was {Platina de vilis Pontiff, ed. 1645. p. 762) : Sacerdotibus
magna ratione sublatas nuptias, majori restituendas videri. — Also the French
Carmelite, Thomas de Rennes (Thomas Redonensis), who preached with great
zeal in France and Italy against the corruption of the Roman church, and insisted
upon a refoimation (for which he was burned at the stake in Rome, 14o6), is sup-
posed to have been an advocate for the marriage of the priests. The passage
attributed to him in Flacii catalog, no. .365, is, however, that of Panormitanus,
above cited. See Baleiis. Centur. V'll. c. 100. — Felix Hcimmerlin also, in his work
de libertate eccl., wished that the priests might be allowed to marry. See
Mailer's Schweizer. Gesch. Th. 4. S. 261. Anm. 309. — j?/am Chartier,
secretary of the kings Charles VI. and VII., "f 14-58, in his work I'esperance ou
consolation des trois vertus (Les oeuvres de Maistre .fllain Chartier, reveußs,
corrigees par A. du Chesne. a Paris, 1617. 4to. p. 388. The passage given by
Flacius catal. test. no. 200, and Theiner II. II. 697, in Latin, but erroneously
cited from the work le Curial citirt) : Or fut il pieqa fait un nouvel Statut en
I'Eglise latine, qui desseura I'ordre du sainct manage d'avec la dignite de Prestrise
souz couleur de purte et chastete sans souiileure. Maintenant court le Statut de
concubinage au contraire, qui les a attraits aux estats mondains, et aux deliz
sensuels et corporels. Et qui plus est, se sont rendus a immoderee avarice, en pro-
curant par symonie et par autres voyes illicites, litigieuses, et processives en corrup-
tion, et autrement, benefices et prelatures espirituelles. Et avec ce se sont souillez
et occupez cs afTaires citoyens, et es negoces et cures temporelles. Et ce premier
Statut departit pietja I'Eglise grecque d'avec la latine. Et ores la desordonnanee
avaricieuse des Prestres a fait separer les peuples de Behaigne (Böhmen) d'Eglise
de Rome. Que dy-je de Behaigne .' mais de Chrestiente presque toute. Car les gens
de I'Eglise out si avilenne par leurs coulpes eux et leur estat, qu'ils sont ja des-
daignez et des grands et des menus du monde : et les cceurs estrangez de I'obeis-
sance de saincte Eglise par la dissolution de ses niinistres. Car, conmie dit est, ilz
ont laisse les espousailles, mais ils ont reprins les illegitimes, vagues, et dissolues
luxures. Je ne vueil plus avant eslargir ma parolle. Car tant ont telles Constitu-
tions de lieu, comme on y prent de plaisir. Que a apporte la Constitution de non
marier les Prestres, si non tourner et eviter legitime generation en advoultrise, et
honneste cohabitation d'une seule espouse en multiplication d'escande luxure ?
Se je disoye tout ce que j'en pense, je diroye plainement, que la gresse des biens
temporeis meslee du souffle d'envie, et la chaleur d'ambition et de luxure ont fait
284 Third Period. Div. V. A. D. 1409 — 1517.
Thus the hatred of the laity towards a clergy, who added such im-
leur apprest pour mettre le feu en I'Eglise, etc. — Ju. Anton de S. Georgia,
Professor Juris in Pavia, Provost at Milan, at last Cardinal, •f 1509. In his Aurea
et singulai'is lectura super t(uarto Decretalium cum additionibus Benedict! de Vadis.
Lugd. 1522. fol. we read ad Tit. Yl. Qui Clerici vel voventes matrimoniuin con-
trahere possunt, in the Rulirica, wheie the editor speaks: Tempore primitivEe
Ecclesiae licebat Presbyteris, et sic constitutis in sacris, uxoi-em habere, dumniodo
die celebrationis abstinerent a conjugibus. Postea in occidentali Ecclesia venit
prohibitio, ut constituti in sacris deberent continere. Dicit hie Cardinalis (namely,
Jo. Ant. a S. Georgio), qnod dat matcriam illaqueandi plures animas hoc praecep-
tum, et ideo credit, quod, sicut Ecclesia induxit hoc pra-ceptum continentia% quod
quandoque revocabit; et erit conveniens dicto Apostoli revocatio, qui dixit: de
virginibus praeceptum non habeo, consilium autom do. Conrad Celles, Professor
in Ingolstadt and Wien, 'J- 1508, Amorum lib. II. Elegia 6 :
Gregorius primi Friderici tempore regni,
O quantum incauti pectoris egit opus!
Ille sacris vetuit caclebs connubia lectis,
Liberior vitiis ut sacra vita foret.
Nullus enirn pudor est teneras violare puellas.
Et neque legitimas sollicitare faces.
Quique uno quondam fuerat contentus amore,
lUe raodo plures rite fovere potest, etc.
Baptista Mantuanns, Carmelite in Mantua, ^f 1516, Fastorura lib. I. De s. Hila-
rio (0pp. ed. Antverp. 1576. Svo. T. II. fol. 252) :
Non nocuit tibi progenies, non ohstitit uxor
Legitimo conjuncta thojo, non horruit ilia
Tempestate Deus thalamos, cunabula, teedas ;
Sola erat in pretio, qus nunc incognita virtus
Sordet, et attiito vivit cum plebe cucullo.
Propterea leges, quae sunt connubia contra.
Esse malas quidam perhibent : prudentia patruni
Non satis advertit, dicunt, quid ferre recuset.
Quid valeat natura pati : cervicibus, ajunt.
Hoc insuave jugum nostris imponere Christus
Noluit, istud onus, quod adhuc quam plurima monstra
Fecit, ab audaci, dicunt, pietate I'epertum.
Tutius esse volunt, qua lex divina sinebat
Isse via, veterumque sequi vestigia patrum.
Quorum vita fuit melior cum conjuge, quam nunc
Nostra sit, exclusis thalamis, et conjugis usu.
Jo. Mnrivs Belga (le Maire, Historian of Louis XII.) de schismatum et Concilio-
rum Ecclesia; universalis differentia, vviilten in French, 1511, translated into Latin
by Simon Schardius, and appended to his life of Theodoricus a Niem (Argentor.
1609. 8vo. p. 571 seq.). Pars I. c. 2 : Tria praecipue Ecclesia; universali magnum
damnum attulere, nimirum ambitio, avaritia; mater, omissio seu neglectus Concilio-
rum generalium, legitimi matrimonii sacerdotum in Ecclesia latina prohibitio : de
quibus singulis ample fuseque in toto hoc opere dicetur. On the last head he
brings extracts from Chartier, P. III. c. 15, and then remarks, cap. 16: quan-
tumvis diligenter investigarim, quo Papa auctore, vel cujus Concilii decreto conju-
gium saccrdotibus sit interdictum in Ecclesia latina, id tamen nusquam invenire
potui. Alii siquidem id tempore Grcgorii septimi, monachi Cluniacensis, factum
esse tradunt : — alii id multo ante factum esse existimant in Concilio Nicasno, cujus
tamen decreto Graeci subscribore noluerunt : in Belgico, seu inferior! Germania
sentiunt, id auctore Papa Calixto factum, et ad hoc versiculos hosce, cum barbaros,
turn ridiculos allegant :
O bone Calixte, nunc omnis Clerus odit te :
Olim Presbyteri poterant uxoribus uti :
Hoc destruxisti, tu Papa quando fuisti :
Ergo tuum festum nunquam celebratur honestum.
Chap. IL National Churches. § 138. Morals of the Clergy. 335
morality to their presumption and avarice, was more and more em-
bittered ; '^ and seeing in the riches with which they were endowed
the origin of their corruption, the feeling was constantly gaining
ground that no reform could be hoped for till they should be deprived
of their possessions. i''
Polydorus Vergilius of Urbino, who was a long time in England, 'f 1555, de rerum
inventoribus (appeared first in Bonon. 1499. 4to.) lib. V. c. 4 : lllud tarnen dixe-
rim, tantum abi'uisse, ut ista coacta castitas illam conjugalem vicerit, ut etiam
nullius delicti crimen majus ordini dedecus, plus mali religion!, plus doloris omnibus
bonis impresserit, inusseiit, attulerit, quam sacerdotum libidinis labes. Proinde
forsitan tam e republica Christiana, quam ex ordinis usu esset, ut tandem aliquando
Jus publici matrimonii sacerdotibus restitueretur, quod illi sine infaniia sancte potius
colerent, quam se spurcissime ejuscemodi naturas vitio turpificarent.
^* Lavacrum conscientice, cap. VI. : Quid est ergo, quod caeteri homines cujns-
cunque status nobis infesti sunt .' Certe non possumus dicere, quod ha-c sit causa,
quod filii hujus seeculi persequuntur nos, tanquam filios lucis : — quia non sumus
filii lucis sed tenebrarum. — Noc occurrit nobis alia causa, nisi quod transgressores
legis sumus, nee earn in corde diligimus, nee eam in ore praedicamus, nee etiam
earn opere adimplemus : et sic abutimur sacerdotii dignitate.. — Ubi enim major
semulatio peccatorum nisi in sacerdotibus, qui non solum in se omni iniquitate sunt
pleni, sed etiam aliis sunt occasio peccandi et ruinfe a;ternai damnationis. — Nam si
Presbyter sit avarus, usurarius, gulosus, etc., solum non sit luxuriosus ; tunc ab
omnibus honiinibus habetur sanctus et honestus. Si vero de aliis vitiis est in-
noxius, sed vacet solummodo luxuria, conteranitur ab omnibus hominibus tanquam
presbyter vitiosus. Cap. VII. : Et propter liKC et his similia multi laicorum ab
elargitione eleeniosynarum et a fundatione beneficiorum retrahuntur. Sicque
viluit sacerdotium et quotidie vilescit, et multi erubescunt Clerici fieri, vel suos
permittere clericari : et si Clerici etficiuntui-, tarnen perversa intentione hoc fit.
Nam divites hoc I'aciunt propter pinguioies prasbendas, pauperes vero ideo, quod
leviori et meliori modo se nutrire possunt. Trithemius instit. vitEe sacerdot. cap.
4. note 1, above.
'® See JuUani Card, epist. ad Eugen. IV. § 131, note 6. Andreas Episc.
Megarensis. § 131, note 19. Also the so-called Reformation of Frederick III.
(Goldast's Reichssatzung, S. 280). — Gravamina Ord. Equestris in Bavaria
Georgio diviti Duci Landshutensi, ann. 1499, exhibita in the Bibliothcca hist.
Güettingensiü. Th. 1. 1758. 4to. S. 289: plura tributa et prsedia cum possident
Ecclesiastici, quam Principes et Nobilitas sua, fere omnia sua? subjiciunt avaritiae ;
et licet, ut ait divus Hieronymus, temporalibus augmentis spiritualia etiam in dies
augmentari deberent, ea tamen magis atque magis diminuuntur, et omnino obli-
viscuntur Ecclesiastici illi majorum nostrorum, qui eos ditarunt. — Religio peperit
divitias, sed filia conspiravit in necem parentis; crescit animus, crescunt affectus.
Jo. Marius Belga de schismat. et Concill. seeks to show, P. I. (see P. I. c. 1),
quomodo opes Ecclesiaä data, maxima a Constantino M. et successoribus ejus,
Pipino, Carolo M., Ludovico Pio, et aliis, etsi primo sub specie sanctitatis, probi-
tatis et castitatis sint partas, nihilominus tamen postea pessimos fructus produxerint,
nimirum superbiam, arrogantiam, fastum, haeresin, principum contemptum, tyran-
nidem in subditos, imprudentiam, aliaque ejus generis vitia complura. Compare
Alain Chattier, note 14, above.
286 Third Period. Dio. V. A. D. 1409 — 1517.
CHAPTER THIRD.
HISTORY OF M N A C H I S M .
<^ 139.
ATTEMPTS TO REFORM THE OLDER ORDERS.
The corruption of the convents ^ could not well escape notice in
this period, in which so much was said of reform ; and we find, there-
fore, constant complaints of their state as well as attempts to remedy
the evil. The Council of Constance began these efforts by causing a
Chapter of the German Benedictines, the first for many years, to be
held under its superintendence in 1417.'^ This example was followed
in other countries,-* but without much success, till the Council of
Basil, when the reformation of the Regular Canons of Germany was
committed to the general chapter of the convent of Windesheim ; ^
" • See § 108. The only exception was the Carthusian Order, see Jo. Buscius
de reform, monasteriorum lib. III. c. 32. in Leibnitii Sciiptt. Brunsv. II. p. 935:
Carthusia a prima sui institutione semper in observantia regulari peimansit propter
tria, videlicet solitudinem, silentium et visitationem, ut patet in hoc versu :
Per tria So. Si. Vi. Carthusia permanet in vi.
' This was a Capitulum provinciale nionachorum nigiorum Provincice Mogun-
tinensis et Dioeceseos Bambergensis, see Trithemii Chioa. Hirsaug. ad ann. 1417.
T. If. p. 346 seq. The Acts of this Chapter see in Trithemii opp. pia ed. Buscbus
p. 1030 seq., more complete in v. d. Hardt Cone. Const. I. XXVI. p. 1086 seq.
That very important reforms for the Monastic Orders were proposed at Constance
may be seen from the Reformatorium (see § 130, note 13) in v. d. Hardt I. X.
p. 703 seq., but they never were carried into etfect.
3 See the Capitulum provinciale nigrorum monachorum apud Westmonasterium
ann. 1422. (in Mansi XXVIII. p. 1037). Concil. Parisiense, ann. 1429. c. 12 seq.
(1. c. p. 1102).
* The chief authority on this subject is Jo. Buschii (of Zwolle, from 1419 a
Canon in Windshcim, afterwards Prior in Sulta near Hildesheim, Abbot of the
convent Neuwerk near Halle, and again Prior in Snlta, J 1479) de reformatione
monasteriorum quorundam Saxonia;, libb. IV. in Leibnitii Scriptt. Brunsvic. II.
p. 476 seq., and p. 806 seq. The convent of AVindsheim near Zwolle was the most
important among those of the Regular Canons, who were connected with the fratres
vitae communis, and the seat of the Capitulum generale, which assembled yearly
from all the convents of these two orders. Although very strict in the observance
of their rules, the Regular Canons were far removed from any thing like exagge-
rated ascetic notions. .To. Busch, Chron. Windeseinense (ed. Herib. Roswydus.
Antverp. 1621. 8vo.) lib. II. c. 5. p. 276, relates: duo fratres in Windesem propter
hujusmodi rigidam abstinentiam et occultam alimenlorum sibi neccssariorum sub-
tractionera cerebrum et naturalia conturbantes, rationis facti sunt impotentes. —
Perpendentes igitur Patres nostri et seniores, hujusmodi rigidam abstinentiam pro
animarum non esse salute, nee corporum sanitate, sed in personarum et Ordinis
nostri perpetuam vcrgere destructioneni, — plenam dederunt licentiam omnibus
fratribus et fauiiliaribus suis bene comedendi, et de cibariis qua; dantur in communi
quantum poterant sine scrupulo et cum bona conscientia libere assumendi, immo
etiamsi noluerunt, natura ne deficiat, ad sumendum compellendi. — Unde et mos
apud DOS inolevit, ut, cum Clericus quia ad religionem se suscipi deprecatur, tria
Chap. III. National Churches. § 139. History of Monachism. 287
in conjunction with which the reformation of the Benedictines was
begun by the convent of Bursfeld. ^ Soon after this (1450-1451)
the Cardinal Nicholas de Cusa appeared in Germany as papal legate
to advance the cause of reform generally, so far as the necessity of
reform was recognised by the court of Rome ; and he too engaged
in the reformation of the convents.'^
primum puncta ab ipso interrogentur, videlicet an bene possit comedere, an possit
bene dorniire, et an velit libenter obedire : quoniam in istis tribus punctis funda-
mentum perseverantire in religione consistit, et cum ex premissis unum defuerit,
ad religionem aptus et idoneus non erit. The reputation of the convent induced
the bishops to call on them to reform other convents of their Order in the Nether-
lands, and on the Rhine ; in Saxony they were called on to assist in the reformation
of a convent in Wittenburg, A. D. 1423 (Busch de reform, monast. I. c. 11. p.
488). After this, A. D. 1435, the Priors of Windsheim and Wittenburg were com-
missioned by the Council of Basil to conduct a reibrmation of all the convents of