Homologumena

HOMINES INTELLIGENTLE (" Men of Intelligence "): A heretical sect of mystics that flourished in Brussels 1410-11. They were also called Free Spirits. The source of their heretical doctrine was undoubtedly the pantheistic mysticism of the Flemish poetess Hadewick Blommaerdine (q.v.), whose teachings had been opposed by Jan van Ruysbroeck early in the fourteenth century. The heads of the Brussels sect were lEgidius Cantoris, an untutored layman, and Willem van Hilderniasen, a Carmelite. Though differing in the details of their doctrine, these leaders held in common the general view that only those in a state of mystical ecstasy and union with God are able to understand the Bible. Both boasted of the wonderful visions beheld by them; and on one occasion Cantoris, while in the ecstatic state, ran naked through the streets of Brussels calling himself the savior of humanity. That the sectaries expected freedom of spirit and beatification of all wicked spirits to come with the era of the Holy Spirit, which they regarded as imminent, was due to influence of the tradition of Joachimism (see Joachim of Fiore). Serious complaints were made about their immoral mode of life. Two inquisitors who interfered in 1410 met with opposition on the part of the Brussels populace and barely escaped withtheirlivea. At that time Hilderniasen formally recanted, but the following year he was again tried for heresy and condemned to lifelong imprisonment. No account has been preserved of the trial of other members of the sect, or of the after-effects of this movement, which was evidently deep-seated.

Herman Haupt.

Bibliography: P. Fr6dl;ri'(.Q, Corpus dOCBmGnEorRm inquisirionia Neeriandicte, i. 288-279, Ghent, 1889; A. Jundt, HiaE, du pantheiame populaire au moyen-8pe, pp. 111 sqq., Paris, 1875; J. J. Altmeyer, Les FrJeuraeura de la reorme aux Pays-Bas, i. 82 sqq., ib. 1888.