Heroes of Modern Europe

								

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