See Hecker’s _Black Death_ (trans. by Dr. Babington, 1853).—Hecker gives the documents relating to the trial of the Neustadt Jews in an appendix, from the _Chronicle_ of Jacob of Königshoven. See also pp. 103-127. Footnote 130: These fanatics were everywhere foremost among the instigators of the cruelties perpetrated on the Jews. Women, and even children, joined their ranks in great numbers, wearing the hats with red crosses, carrying flags, and scourging themselves with the rest. The particulars given are taken from the account in Jacob von Königshoven’s _Elsassische u. Strassburgische Chronik_, inserted entire in Wackernagel,—(p. 931). The chronicler says:—‘Zuo Strôsburg kam mê denne tûsent manne in ire geselleschaft, und siu teiltent sich zuo Strôsburg: eine parte der geischelaere gieng das lant abe, die ander parte das lant ûf. und kam sô vil volkes in ire bruoderschaft, das es verdrôs den bôbest und den keiser und die phafheit. und der keiser verschreip dem bôbeste das er etwas hie zuo gedaechte: anders die geischeler verkêrtent alle die welt.’ The Flagellants claimed power to confess and give absolution. The thirty-four days’ scourging among them was to make a man as innocent as a babe—the virtue of the lash was above all sacraments. Thus the people took religion into their own hands, blindly and savagely,—no other way was then possible. It was a spasmodic movement of the mass of life beneath, when the social disorder that accompanied the pestilence had loosened the grasp of the power temporal and spiritual which held them down so long. Footnote 131: See Schmidt’s _Tauler_, p. 58. Footnote 132: Laguille’s _Histoire d'Alsace_, liv. xxv. p. 290. Footnote 133: Hecker, p. 81. Footnote 134: Schmidt’s _Tauler_, p. 59. Footnote 135: See Note, p. 336. Footnote 136: Ruysbroek sent a copy of his book, _De ornatu spiritualium nuptiarum_, to the Friends of God in the Oberland. He had many friends in Cologne, and it is very likely that the work may have reached Tauler there, either through them or from the author, who must have heard of him. Footnote 137: See _Johannes Ruysbroek_, by Engelhardt, p. 168. Footnote 138: Froissart, book ii. chap. 40. Footnote 139: Froissart, chapp. 41, 42. Footnote 140: _Ibid._, book i. chap. 34. Footnote 141: Optimum aliena insania frui. Footnote 142: Engelhardt, p. 326. Footnote 143: It is certain that Ruysbroek was visited during the many years of his residence in Grünthal, much after the manner described, and also that Tauler was among the visitors, though the exact time of his journey is not known. Footnote 144: