Men were thus compelled to think for themselves.

They could not find who was the legitimate thinker for them.
They began to see that the Church must rid herself of the curialistic chains, and resort to a General Council.

That attempt was again and again made, the intention being to raise the Council into a Parliament of Christendom, and make the pope its chief executive officer.

But the vast interests that had grown out of the corruption of ages could not so easily be overcome; the Curia again recovered its ascendency, and ecclesiastical trading was resumed.

The Germans, who had never been permitted to share in the Curia, took the leading part in these attempts at reform.