History of the Reformation in the Sixteenth Century Volume III Part 46

[639] Vita, moribus et doctrina herbescenti Christo apud Rhaetos fons irrigans. Zw. Epp. p. 485.

The Reform made still more rapid strides at Zurich. The Dominicans, the Augustines, the Capuchins, so long at enmity, were reduced to the necessity of living together; a foretaste of h.e.l.l for these poor monks. In the place of these corrupted inst.i.tutions were founded schools, an hospital, a theological college: learning and charity everywhere supplanted indolence and selfishness.

CHAPTER XIII.

The Oligarchs--Bernese Mandate of 1526 in Favour of the Papacy--Discussion at Baden--Regulations of the Discussion--Riches and Poverty--Eck and colampadius--Discussion--Zwingle's Share in the Discussion--Vaunts of the Romanists--Abusive Language of a Monk--Close of the Disputation.

[Sidenote: THE OLIGARCHS--DEPUTATION TO BERNE.]

These victories of the Reformation could not remain unnoticed. Monks, priests, and prelates, in distraction, felt that the ground was everywhere slipping from beneath their feet, and that the Romish Church was on the point of sinking under unprecedented dangers. The oligarchs of the cantons, the advocates of foreign pensions and capitulations, saw that they could delay no longer, if they wished to preserve their privileges; and at the very moment when the Church was frightened and beginning to sink, they stretched out their mailed hands to save it. A Stein and a John Hug of Lucerne united with a John Faber; and the civil authority rushed to the support of that hierarchical power which openeth its mouth to blaspheme and maketh war upon the saints.[640]

[640] Revelation xiii. 5, 6, 7.

Their first efforts were directed against Berne. The seven Roman-catholic cantons, in collusion with the Bernese oligarchs, sent a deputation to that city, who laid their complaints before the council on Whitmonday 1526. "All order is destroyed in the Church,"

said the schulthess (chief magistrate) of Lucerne, "G.o.d is blasphemed, the sacraments, the mother of G.o.d, and the saints are despised, and imminent and terrible calamities threaten to dissolve our praiseworthy confederation." At the same time the Bernese partisans of Rome, in harmony with the Forest cantons, had summoned to Berne the deputies of the country, chosen from those who were devoted to the papacy. Some of them had the courage to p.r.o.nounce in favour of the Gospel. The sitting was stormy. "Berne must renounce the evangelical faith and walk with us," said the Forest cantons. The Bernese councils decreed that they would maintain "the ancient christian faith, the holy sacraments, the mother of G.o.d, the saints, and the ornaments of the churches."[641]

Thus Rome triumphed, and the mandate of 1526 was about to annul that of 1523. In effect, all the married priests not born in the canton were compelled to leave it; they drove from their borders all who were suspected of Lutheranism; they exercised a vigilant censorship over every work sold by the booksellers, and certain books were publicly burnt. Even John Faber, with audacious falsehood, said publicly that Haller had bound himself before the council to perform ma.s.s again, and to preach the doctrine of Rome. It was resolved to take advantage of so favourable an opportunity to crush the new faith.

[641] Actum uff den heil. Pfingsel Montag, 1526. Tschudi.

[Sidenote: DISPUTATION PROPOSED.]

For a long while public opinion had been demanding a discussion; this was the only means left of quieting the people.[642] "Convince us by the Holy Scriptures," said the council of Zurich to the diet, "and we will comply with your wishes."--"The Zurichers," it was everywhere said, "have made you a promise; if you can convince them by the Bible, why not do so? if you cannot, why do you not conform to the Bible?"

[642] Das der gmein man, one eine offne Disputation, nit zu stillen was. Bull. Chr. i. 331

The conferences held at Zurich had exercised an immense influence, and it was felt necessary to oppose them by a conference held in a Romish city, with all necessary precautions to secure the victory to the pope's party.

True, these discussions had been p.r.o.nounced unlawful, but means were found to evade this difficulty. "It is only intended," said they, "to check and condemn the pestilent doctrines of Zwingle."[643] This being settled, they looked about for a vigorous champion, and Doctor Eck offered himself. He feared nothing. "Zwingle no doubt has milked more cows than he has read books," said he, by Hofmeister's account.[644]

[643] Diet of Lucerne, 13th March 1526.

[644] Er habe wohl mehr Kuhe gemolken, als Bucher gelesen. Zw. Opp.

ii. 405.

[Sidenote: FEARS FOR ZWINGLE.]

The Great Council of Zurich sent Dr. Eck a safe-conduct to go direct to Zurich; but Eck replied that he would wait for the answer of the confederation. Zwingle then offered to dispute at Saint Gall or Schaffhausen; but the council, acting on an article of the federal compact, which provided "that every accused person should be tried in the place of his abode," ordered Zwingle to withdraw his offer.

At last the diet fixed that the conference should take place at Baden on the 16th of May 1526. This meeting promised to be important; for it was the result and the seal of the alliance which had just been concluded between the clergy and the oligarchs of the confederation.

"See," said Zwingle to Vadian, "what Faber and the oligarchs now venture to attempt."[645]

[645] Vide nunc quid audeant oligarchi atque Faber. Zw. Epp. p. 484.

Accordingly, the decision of the diet produced a great sensation in Switzerland. It was not doubted that a conference held under such auspices would be favourable to the Reformation. Are not the five cantons the most devoted to the pope supreme in Baden, said the Zurichers? Have they not already declared Zwingle's doctrine heretical, and pursued it with fire and sword? Was not Zwingle burnt in effigy at Lucerne, with every mark of ignominy? At Friburg, were not his writings committed to the flames? Do they not everywhere call for his death? Have not the cantons that exercise sovereign rights in Baden declared, that in whatever part of their territory Zwingle made his appearance, he should be apprehended?[646] Did not Uberlinger, one of their chiefs, say that the only thing in the world that he desired was to hang Zwingle, though he should be called a hangman all the rest of his days?[647] And has not Doctor Eck himself, for years past, been crying out that the heretics must be attacked with fire and sword? What then will be the end of this conference? what other result can it have, but the death of the reformer?

[646] Zwingli in ihrem Gebiet, wo er betreten werde, gefangen zu nehmen. Zw. Opp. ii. 422.

[647] Da wollte er gern all sein Lebtag ein Henker genannt werden.

Ibid. 454.

[Sidenote: THE MARTYRS OF LINDAU AND FRIBURG.]

Such were the fears that agitated the commission appointed at Zurich to examine into the affair. Zwingle, an eye-witness of their agitation, rose and said: "You know what happened at Baden to the valiant men of Stammheim, and how the blood of the Wirths dyed the scaffold......and it is to the very place of their execution that they challenge us!......Let Zurich, Berne, Saint Gall, or even Basle, Constance, and Schaffhausen, be selected for the conference; let it be agreed to discuss essential points only, employing nothing else than the Word of G.o.d; let no judge be set above it; and then I am ready to appear."[648]

[648] Wellend wir ganz geneigt syn ze erschynen. Zw. Opp. ii. 423.

Meanwhile, fanaticism was already bestirring itself and striking down its victims. A consistory, headed by that same Faber who had challenged Zwingle, on the 10th of May 1526, about a week before the discussion at Baden, condemned to the flames, as a heretic, an evangelical minister named John Hugel, pastor of Lindau,[649] who walked to the place of execution singing the _Te Deum_. At the same time, another minister, Peter Spengler, was drowned at Friburg by order of the Bishop of Constance.

[649] Hunc hominem haeretic.u.m d.a.m.namus, projicimus et conculcamus.

Hotting. Helv. K. Gesch. iii. 300.

Sinister rumours reached Zwingle from all quarters. His brother-in-law, Leonard Tremp, wrote to him from Berne: "I entreat you, as you regard your life, not to repair to Baden. I know that they will not respect your safe-conduct."[650]

[650] Caveatis per caput vestrum......Zw. Epp. p. 483.

It was affirmed that a plan had been formed to seize and gag him, throw him into a boat, and carry him off to some secret place.[651]

With these threats and persecutions before them, the council of Zurich decreed that Zwingle should not go to Baden.[652]

[651] Navigio captum, ore mox obturato, clam fuisse deportandum. Osw.

Myc. Vit. Zw.

[652] Zwinglium Senatus Tigurinus Badenam dimittere recusavit. Ibid.

[Sidenote: COLAMPADIUS--REGULATIONS.]

The discussion being fixed for the 19th of May, the disputants and the representatives of the cantons and bishops began to arrive gradually.

On the side of the Roman-catholics appeared in the foremost place the warlike and vain-glorious Doctor Eck; on the side of the Protestants, the retiring and gentle colampadius. The latter was well aware of the perils attending this discussion. "He had long hesitated, like a timid stag worried by furious dogs," says an old historian; at length he decided on going to Baden, previously making this solemn declaration, "I acknowledge no other standard of judgment than the Word of G.o.d." At first, he had earnestly desired that Zwingle should share his danger;[653] but he soon became convinced that, if the intrepid doctor had appeared in that fanatical city, the anger of the Romanists, kindling at his sight, would have caused the death of both of them.

[653] Si peric.l.i.taberis, peric.l.i.tabimur omnes tec.u.m. Zw. Epp. p. 312.

They began by determining the regulations of the conference. Doctor Eck proposed that the deputies of the Forest Cantons should be empowered to p.r.o.nounce the final judgment; which was, in truth, antic.i.p.ating the condemnation of the reformed doctrines. Thomas Plater, who had come from Zurich to attend the colloquy, was despatched by colampadius to ask Zwingle's advice. Arriving during the night, he was with difficulty admitted into the reformer's house.

"Unlucky disturber," said Zwingle to him, as he rubbed his eyes, "for six weeks I have not gone to bed, owing to this discussion.[654]......

What are your tidings?" Plater stated Eck's demands. "And who can make those peasants understand such things?" replied Zwingle; "they would be much more at home in milking their cows."[655]

[654] Ich bin in sechs Wochen nie in das Beth Kommen. Plater's Leben, p. 263.

[655] Sie verstunden sich bas auf Kuh malken. Ibid.

[Sidenote: ECK AND COLAMPADIUS.]

On the 21st of May the conference opened. Eck and Faber, accompanied by prelates, magistrates, and doctors, robed in garments of damask and silk, and adorned with rings, chains, and crosses,[656] repaired to the church. Eck haughtily ascended a pulpit splendidly decorated, while the humble colampadius, meanly clothed, was forced to take his seat in front of his opponent on a rudely carved stool. "All the time the conference lasted," said the chronicler Bullinger, "Eck and his friends were lodged at the Baden parsonage, faring sumptuously, living gaily and scandalously, and drinking much wine, with which the abbot of Wettingen provided them.[657] Eck took the baths at Baden (it was said) but......in wine. The evangelicals, on the contrary, made a sorry appearance, and the people laughed at them as at a troop of mendicants. Their way of living was in strong contrast to that of the papal champions. The landlord of the Pike, the inn at which colampadius lodged, being curious to know what the latter did in his room, reported that every time he peeped in, he found him reading or praying. It must be confessed (said he) that he is a very pious heretic."

[656] Mit Syden, Damast und Sammet bekleydet. Bull. Chr. i. 351.

[657] Verbruchten vil wyn. Bull. Chr. i. 351.