Brethren, White

Brethren, White, the followers of an unknown leader, said by some writers to be from Scotland, who appeared in the neighborhood of the Alps about the year 1399, and proclaimed himself commissioned to preach a new crusade. He named his followers Penitents, but from their white dresses they were more commonly called Fratres Albati, or White Brothers, or White Penitents (Ital. Bianzchi). Boniface IX, suspecting the leader of insidious designs, caused him to be apprehended and committed to the flames, upon which his, followers dispersed, and the sect became extinguished.-Mosheim, Ch. Hist. ii, 467.