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sometimes undertook to make trial of their power of working miracles； as in Strasburg； where they attempted； in their own circle； to resuscitate a dead child： they； however； failed； and their unskilfulness did them much harm； though they succeeded here and there in maintaining some confidence in their holy calling； by pretending to have the power of casting out evil spirits。
The Brotherhood of the Cross announced that the pilgrimage of the Flagellants was to continue for a space of thirty…four years； and many of the Masters had doubtless determined to form a lasting league against the Church； but they had gone too far。 So early as the first year of their establishment； the general indignation set bounds to their intrigues： so that the strict measures adopted by the Emperor Charles IV。； and Pope Clement； who； throughout the whole of this fearful period； manifested prudence and noble… mindedness； and conducted himself in a manner every way worthy of his high station； were easily put into execution。
The Sorbonne； at Paris； and the Emperor Charles； had already applied to the Holy See for assistance against these formidable and heretical excesses； which had well…nigh destroyed the influence of the clergy in every place； when a hundred of the Brotherhood of the Cross arrived at Avignon from Basle； and desired admission。 The Pope； regardless of the intercession of several cardinals； interdicted their public penance； which he had not authorised； and； on pain of excommunication； prohibited throughout Christendom the continuance of these pilgrimages。 Philip VI。； supported by the condemnatory judgment of the Sorbonne； forbade their reception in France。 Manfred； King of Sicily； at the same time threatened them with punishment by death； and in the East they were withstood by several bishops； among whom was Janussius； of Gnesen； and Preczlaw； of Breslau； who condemned to death one of their Masters； formerly a deacon； and； in conformity with the barbarity of the times； had him publicly burnt。 In Westphalia； where so shortly before they had venerated the Brothers of the Cross； they now persecuted them with relentless severity； and in the Mark； as well as in all the other countries of Germany； they pursued them as if they had been the authors of every misfortune。
The processions of the Brotherhood of the Cross undoubtedly promoted the spreading of the plague； and it is evident that the gloomy fanaticism which gave rise to them would infuse a new poison into the already desponding minds of the people。
Still； however； all this was within the bounds of barbarous enthusiasm； but horrible were the persecutions of the Jews； which were committed in most countries； with even greater exasperation than in the twelfth century； during the first Crusades。 In every destructive pestilence the common people at first attribute the mortality to poison。 No instruction avails； the supposed testimony of their eyesight is to them a proof； and they authoritatively demand the victims of their rage。 On whom； then； was it so likely to fall as on the Jews； the usurers and the strangers who lived at enmity with the Christians？ They were everywhere suspected of having poisoned the wells or infected the air。 They alone were considered as having brought this fearful mortality upon the Christians。 They were； in consequence； pursued with merciless cruelty； and either indiscriminately given up to the fury of the populace； or sentenced by sanguinary tribunals； which； with all the forms of the law； ordered them to be burnt alive。 In times like these； much is indeed said of guilt and innocence； but hatred and revenge bear down all discrimination； and the smallest probability magnifies suspicion into certainty。 These bloody scenes； which disgraced Europe in the fourteenth century； are a counterpart to a similar mania of the age； which was manifested in the persecutions of witches and sorcerers； and； like these； they prove that enthusiasm； associated with hatred； and leagued with the baser passions； may work more powerfully upon whole nations than religion and legal order； nay； that it even knows how to profit by the authority of both； in order the more surely to satiate with blood the sword of long…suppressed revenge。
The persecution of the Jews commenced in September and October； 1348； at Chillon； on the Lake of Geneva； where the first criminal proceedings were instituted against them； after they had long before been accused by the people of poisoning the wells； similar scenes followed in Bern and Freyburg； in January； 1349。 Under the influence of excruciating suffering； the tortured Jews confessed themselves guilty of the crime imputed to them； and it being affirmed that poison had in fact been found in a well at Zoffingen； this was deemed a sufficient proof to convince the world； and the persecution of the abhorred culprits thus appeared justifiable。 Now； though we can take as little exception at these proceedings as at the multifarious confessions of witches； because the interrogatories of the fanatical and sanguinary tribunals were so complicated； that by means of the rack the required answer must inevitably be obtained； and it is； besides； conformable to human nature that crimes which are in everybody's mouth may； in the end； be actually committed by some； either from wantonness； revenge； or desperate exasperation： yet crimes and accusations are； under circumstances like these； merely the offspring of a revengeful； frenzied spirit in the people； and the accusers； according to the fundamental principles of morality； which are the same in every age； are the more guilty transgressors。
Already in the autumn of 1348 a dreadful panic； caused by this supposed empoisonment； seized all nations； in Germany especially the springs and wells were built over； that nobody might drink of them or employ their contents for culinary purposes； and for a long time the inhabitants of numerous towns and villages used only river and rain water。 The city gates were also guarded with the greatest caution： only confidential persons were admitted； and if medicine or any other article； which might be supposed to be poisonous； was found in the possession of a strangerand it was natural that some should have these things by them for their private usethey were forced to swallow a portion of it。 By this trying state of privation； distrust； and suspicion； the hatred against the supposed poisoners became greatly increased； and often broke out in popular commotions； which only served still further to infuriate the wildest passions。 The noble and the mean fearlessly bound themselves by an oath to extirpate the Jews by fire and sword； and to snatch them from their protectors； of whom the number was so small； that throughout all Germany but few places can be mentioned where these unfortunate people were not regarded as outlaws and martyred and burnt。 Solemn summonses were issued from Bern to the towns of Basle； Freyburg in the Breisgau； and Strasburg； to pursue the Jews as poisoners。 The burgomasters and senators； indeed； opposed this requisition； but in Basle the populace obliged them to bind themselves by an oath to burn the Jews； and to forbid persons of that community from e