Heroes of Modern Europe | Page 3

of the tenth century there were innumerable pilgrims
travelling {12} toward the Holy Land, for it had been prophesied that
in the year A.D. 1000 the end of the world would come, when it would
be well for those within Jerusalem, the City of the Saviour. The
inhuman conduct of the Turk was resented violently, because it would
keep many a sinner from salvation; and the dangerous journey to the
East was held to atone for the gravest crimes.
After the first disasters in which so many Crusaders fell before they
reached their destination, Italy especially began to benefit by these wars.
It was considered safer to reach Jerusalem by sea, boarding the vessels
in Italian ports, which were owned and equipped by Italian merchants.

Venice, Pisa, and Genoa gradually assumed the trade of ancient
Constantinople, once without rival on the southern sea. Constantinople
was a city of wonder to the ignorant fighting men from other lands,
who had never dreamed of a civilization so complete as that which she
possessed. Awed by elegance and luxury, they returned to their homes
with a sense of inferiority. They had met and fought side by side with
warriors of such polished manners that they felt ashamed of their own
brutal ways. They had seen strange costumes and listened to strange
tongues. Henceforth no nation of Europe could be entirely indifferent to
the fact that there was a world without.
The widowed and desolate were not comforted by the knowledge
which the returned Crusader delighted to impart. They had been
sacrificed to the pride which led husbands and fathers to sell their
estates and squander vast sums of money, that they might equip a band
of followers to lead in triumph to the Holy Wars. The complaints of
starving women led to {13} the collection of much gold and silver by
Lambert Le Bègue, "the stammering priest." He built a number of small
houses to be inhabited by the Order of Bèguines, a new sisterhood who
did not sever themselves entirely from the world, but lived in peaceful
retirement, occupied by spinning and weaving all day long.
The Beghards, or Weaving Brothers, took pattern by this busy guild of
workers and followed the same rules of simple piety. They were fond
of religious discussion, and were mystics. They enjoyed the approval of
Rome until the new orders were established of Saint Francis and Saint
Dominic.
In the twelfth century religion was drawing nearer to humanity and the
needs of earth. The new orders, therefore, tried to bridge the gulf
between the erring and the saintly, forbidding their brethren to seclude
themselves from other men. A healthy reaction was taking place from
the old idea that the religious life meant a withdrawal from the
temptations of the world.
St Dominic, born in Spain in 1170, was the founder of "the Order of
Preaching Monks for the conversion of heretics." The first aim of the
"Domini canes" (Dominicans), or Hounds of the Lord, was to attack

anyone who denied their faith. Cruelty could be practised under the rule
of Dominic, who bade his followers lead men by any path to their
ultimate salvation. Tolerance of free thought and progress was
discouraged, and rigid discipline corrected any disciple of compassion.
The dress of the order was severely plain, consisting of a long black
mantle over a white robe. The brethren practised poverty, and fared
humbly on bread and water.
The brown-frocked Franciscans, rivals in later times of the monks of
Dominic, were always taught to love {14} mankind and be merciful to
transgressors. It was the duty of the Preaching Brothers to warn and
threaten; it was the joy of the Frati Minori, or Lesser Brothers, to tend
the sick and protect the helpless, taking thought for the very birds and
fishes.
St Francis was born at Assisi in 1182, the son of a prosperous
householder and cloth merchant. He drank and was merry, like any
other youth of the period, till a serious illness purged him of follies.
After dedicating his life to God, he put down in the market-place of
Assisi all he possessed save the shirt on his body. The bitter reproaches
of kinsfolk pursued him vainly as he set out in beggarly state to give
service to the poor and despised. He loved Nature and her creatures,
speaking of the birds as "noble" and holding close communion with
them. The saintly Italian was opposed to the warlike doctrines of St
Dominic; he made peace very frequently between the two parties
known as Guelfs and Ghibellines.
Welf was a common name among the dukes of Bavaria, and the Guelfs
were, in general, supporters of the Papacy and this ducal house,
whereas the Waiblingen (Ghibellines) received their name from a castle
in Swabia, a fief of