FLAGELLANTS

(Lat. flagellum, a whip.) A sect of enthusiasts who first appeared in the middle of the 13th century, and being then repre ed, sprang up again with renewed violence I i I iel4th. Beginning first at Cret u in Italy, the contagion of the example spread in a few years throughout Europe; and every city was infested by multitudes who went naked from the loins upward, and inflicted upon themselves several daily flagellations, with the idea of obtaining thereby merit in the eyes of God. They formed themselve* into a society, and at first were at least innocent in their be haviour; but as their numbers increased, they gave way to great exce es, and were eventually suppre ed by a holy wai proclaimed against them by Pope Clement VI. [s. 472]