On the Continent the lazar hospitals partook of the same differences in regard to poverty and wealth as we have traced in Britain. In France, some of them, however, had become so very amply endowed by the commencement of the fourteenth century that they at last excited the avarice of Philip V., who subjected many of their inmates to the flames.[100] “They were burned alive” (_on les bruloit tout vifs_), says the historian Mezeray, “in order that the fire might purify at one and the same time the infection of the body and that of the soul.”[101] The ostensible cause for this act of fiendish barbarity was the absurd allegation, that (as the original ordonnance of Philip bears[102]) the lepers of France and other parts had been bribed to commit “the detestable sin and horrible crime” (detestabile flagitium et crimen horrendum) of poisoning the wells, waters, etc., used by the Christians. The real cause, there is little doubt, was a desire, through this flimsy excuse, to rob the richer hospitals of their funds and possessions; and this appears only too strongly in the anxiety displayed in the special wording of Philip’s original edict, that all the goods of the lepers be lodged and held for himself, (ordinavimus, _inter alia_, quod omnia bona eorum ad manum nostrum ponerentur et tenerentur.)[103] The persecution of them was again temporarily renewed in 1388, under Charles VI. of France.[104] DATES OF THE APPEARANCE AND DISAPPEARANCE OF LEPROSY IN GREAT BRITAIN. Much has been written regarding the date of the first appearance of Leprosy in western Europe. By Astruc,[105] Bach,[106] and others, it has been averred that the leprosy of the middle ages was introduced from the East by those who returned from the crusades. Some of our own historians, as Fuller[107] and Heron,[108] allege that by this means it first reached Great Britain. It is quite possible, allowing the disease for the sake of argument to be contagious, that through the increased international intercourse of that period, it may have been propagated more rapidly and widely than would otherwise have occurred; but there are ample reasons and proofs for believing that it existed on the continent of Europe, and even as far westward as England, before the crusade fanaticism had drawn any converts from this country. The first relay of Englishmen engaged in the crusade left in 1096, and returned two years afterwards. Several English leper-houses were founded before that period.