on reform brought The Friends of God into conflict with the Church and not long after Merswin’s death in 1382, they were condemned. After Merswin's death, some sources claim that Nicholas of Basel became the leader. He was eventually burned at the stake with two of his followers for heresy at Vienna around 1395. The relationship of Nicholas of Basel to the Friends of God is unclear as he was condemned as a Beghard. Another prominent member, Martin of Mainz, a follower of Nicholas of Basel, was also burned for heresy in 1393. Beliefs Many leaders of the group were executed for heresy because they criticized the corruption of Catholicsm, they believed that there will soon be judgement from God on the church. The group was a democratic lay movement, and they held holiness, love, piety and devotion as important. The movement was a mysticist movement and they held great importance in rescuing other peoples' souls. Texts A number of mystical texts are associated with The Friends of God, most notably the Theologia Germanica and the Book of the Nine Rocks. Many of the works were attributed to The Friend of God from the Oberland, although probably written by Rulman Merswin himself. See also Margaretha Ebner The Friend of God from the Oberland Theologia Germanica References Works cited Further reading Rufus M. Jones, Studies in Mystical Religion, Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, no date (originally published London: Macmillan, 1909) Gordon Leff, Heresy in the Later Middle Ages: The Relation of Heterodoxy to Dissent, c. 1250 – c. 1450, Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1967 (reprinted by Sandpiper Book, 1999) External links "The Friends of God" (Schaff - CCEL) Christian mysticism History of mystic traditions Christian communities 14th-century Christianity Christian mystics