in Ecclesiastical History, an appellation assumed by a new sect which sprung up towards the close of the thirteenth century, and gained many adherents in Italy, France, and Germany. They took their denomination from the words of St Paul, Rom. chap. viii. ver. 2. 14.; and maintained, that the true children of God were invested with the privilege of a full and perfect freedom from the jurisdiction of the law. They were enthusiasts to a degree of distraction, both in their principles and practice. They resembled the Beghards, by which name they were sometimes called, in their aspect, apparel, and manner of living. Some of their professed principles resembled those of the Pantheists; for they held, that all things flowed by emanation from God; that rational souls were portions of the Deity, and that the universe was God; and that, by the power of contemplation, they were united to the Deity, and acquired thereby a glorious and sublime liberty, both from the sinful lusts and the common instincts of nature; and hence they concluded, that the person, who was thus absorbed in the abyss of the Deity, became a part of the Godhead, and was the son of God, in the same sense and manner that Christ was, and that he was freed from the obligation of all laws human and divine. They treated with contempt all Christian ordinances, and all external acts of religion, as unsuitable to the state of perfection at which they were arrived. Some of them were honest but deluded enthusiasts; and they endured the torments inflicted upon them by the inquisitors with astonishing calmness and triumph. Others proceeded to the most extravagant licentiousness of conduct. They held their secret assemblies stark naked, and lay in the same beds with their spiritual sisters, and indiscriminately with other women, without the least scruple or hesitation; modesty and decency being, according to their creed, marks of inward corruption. And some of them proceeded still farther, and maintained, that the divine man, or believer, could not sin, let his conduct be ever so horrible or atrocious. Many edicts were published against them; but notwithstanding the severities they suffered, they continued till about the middle of the fifteenth century. They were called by several other names, such as Schwesternes, Picards, Adamites, and Turlupins.

BRETHREN and Clerks of the Common Life, a denomination assumed by a religious fraternity towards the latter end of the fifteenth century. They lived under the Brethren rule of St Augustin, and were eminently useful in promoting the cause of religion and learning. Their society was first formed in the preceding century, by Gerard de Groote, a native of Deventer; but did not flourish till about the period above mentioned, when it obtained the approbation of the council of Constance, and became very respectable in Holland, the Lower Germany, and the adjacent provinces. It was divided into two classes; the lettered brethren or clerks, and the illiterate; they lived in separate habitations, but maintained the closest fraternal union. The former applied to the study of polite literature, and the education of youth; whilst the latter were employed in manual labour, and the mechanic arts. They were frequently called Beghards and Lollards, by way of reproach.

White Brethren, fratres albaei, were the followers of a leader, about the beginning of the fifteenth century, who was arrayed in a white garment; and as they were also clothed in white linen, they were distinguished by this title. Their leader was a priest from the Alps, who carried about a cross, like a standard, and whose apparent sanctity and devotion drew together a number of followers. This deluded enthusiast practised many acts of mortification and penance, endeavoured to persuade the European nations to renew the holy war, and pretended that he was favoured with divine visions. Boniface IX. ordered him to be apprehended and committed to the flames, upon which his followers dispersed.