the advantage of allowing great latitude for individual initiative,
while it largely responded at the same time to man's need of
mutual support. A federation of village communities, covered
by a network of guilds and fraternities, was called into existence
in the mediæval cities. The immense results achieved under
this new form of union--in well-being for all, in industries, art,
science, and commerce--were discussed at some length in two
preceding chapters, and an attempt was also made to show why,
towards the end of the fifteenth century, the mediæval republics
--surrounded by domains of hostile feudal lords, unable to, free
the peasants from servitude, and gradually corrupted by ideas
of Roman Cæsarism--were doomed to become a prey to the
growing military States.

However, before submitting for three centuries to come, to
the all-absorbing authority of the State, the masses of the people
made a formidable attempt at reconstructing society on the old
basis of mutual aid and support. It is well known by this time
that the great movement of the reform was not a mere revolt
against the abuses of the Catholic Church. It had its construc-
tive ideal as well, and that ideal was life in free, brotherly
communities. Those of the early writings and sermons of the
period which found most response with the masses were imbued
with ideas of the economical and social brotherhood of mankind.
The "Twelve Articles" and similar professions of faith, which
were circulated among the German and Swiss peasants and
artisans, maintained not only every one's right to interpret the
Bible according to his own understanding, but also included the
demand of communal lands being restored to the village com-
munities and feudal servitudes being abolished, and they always
alluded to the "true" faith--a faith of brotherhood. At the
same time scores of thousands of men and women joined the
communist fraternities of Moravia, giving them all their fortune
and living in numerous and prosperous settlements constructed
upon the principles of communism. ¹ Only wholesale massacres

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