countries, was spread the name and glory of this monastery, which, like
St. Gall and Muri, was subject to the rule of Benedict. It dates its
origin as far back as the ninth century, and was built on that spot,
occupied in the beginning by the hermit's cell of Meinhard, a German
count. A legend of a voice, that fell from heaven, when in the
following century the Bishop of Constance was dedicating a new chapel
there, and of a song of angels repeatedly and distinctly heard, gave
rise to the yearly festival of the "Consecration of the Angels," which,
when it happened on a Sunday, as it did every seventh year, was
celebrated with increased splendor. The story of Meinhard's death and
the discovery of his murderers by means of ravens, who followed them,
survived among the traditions of the people, and the miracle being
accredited by Pope Leo VIII, and the power of granting plenary
indulgences allowed to the monastery, vast crowds of pilgrims were
attracted thither. By their offerings and the donations of the great it
became wealthy. The Abbos enjoyed the rank of a Prince, and the monks,
as a body, were descended from noble families. They were a proud,
irritable race, and could talk as much almost about the history of
their quarrels as of their pious exercises. Conrad of Hohenrechberg,
who, in the beginning of the sixteenth century, stood at their head,
troubled himself little about incense and choral singing, and thought
it a wicked thing in his relations to have forced him to take the cowl.
He took a knightly pleasure in the chase, and his heart leapt at the
sight of a drawn sword. To cunning and hypocrisy his nature was averse.
Whoever was open, simple, and sincerely pious found a friend in him.
For learned men he had a great esteem, but from lack of elementary
knowledge, was not able to follow their investigations. This he
modestly confessed. The reading of the mass he avoided as often as it
was possible, and was free to say, "If Christ be in the bread, then
indeed I know not how highly you prize yourselves; but I, poor monk, am
not worthy to look on him once, and hence decline to offer him. Is he
not there?--wo is me! if I offer bread, instead of God, and suffer the
people to adore it." When disputes ran too high, he sometimes broke
them off with the words, "Why so much talk? Now and at my last hour,
I say with David--_Have mercy, O God, upon me, according to thy
loving-kindness. Enter not into judgment with thy servant._ More I do
not wish to know." He was a diamond, unpolished, it is true, and
carelessly set, but always powerful enough to prevent any interference
in the government of his foundation.
At his side, Theobald of Geroldseck, filled the influential post of
Administrator. Zwingli himself writes of him, "His share of knowledge
is quite moderate, but he knows the value of learning, and particularly
seeks intercourse with those, who are possessed of it." By the aid of
such persons he desired to increase the prosperity of the monastery,
for the advantage and maintenance of whose privileges, he was clothed
with power. He was glad therefore to learn that Zwingli was able to
accept a call, and in fact an agreement was entered into by the
attorneys of the two parties on the 14 April, 1516, at Pfaffikon, on
Lake Zurich, in consequence of which Zwingli undertook the office of
preacher and pastor, in the capacity of vicar to the people's priest at
Einsiedeln, for which boarding at the convent-table, 20 florins at the
quarter-fastings, the revenues arising from the penny-offering and
requiems, and his own share of the confession-fees were guaranteed to
him, and the first complete benefice at the disposal of the
Administrator besides. Nevertheless, at their own urgent request, he
still remained pastor of his congregation in Glarus, and discharged his
duties there by the help of a vicar.
In the summer of the same year, trained as he already was in the school
of the world, he entered into the quiet shades of the cloister. It can
scarcely be expected that he will remain there long. First of all, let
us take a view of monastic life on its most favorable side, as a school
of self-denial, as a place of refuge for more profound study, as a
field for the exercise of practical charity. In all these respects it
has no doubt served valuable ends. And who will deny that, in times
when the will of the strong would endure no restraint, when bloody
revenge was thought to be a duty, and when iron bodies, broken by no
excess, added deeds of violence to deeds of violence, a milder spirit
was awakened in the walls of the cloister, and that pride was humbled
there, and self-will subdued?--that in the _God's peace_, which
protected its environs, the mechanic, as well as the peasant, found
labor and encouragement? And who does not acknowledge the services
rendered by particular monasteries, especially those of the
Benedictines, in the preservation and multiplication of rare
manuscripts--the works of the ancients, that had survived the downfall
of the Western Empire and the irruption of barbarian hordes? And even
in later times, in our own country, who will not freely own his
indebtedness to a Kopp in Muri, a Van der Meer in Rheinau, and the
monks of the neighboring St. Blaise,---a Herrgott, Neugart, Eichhorn,
and the Abbot Gerbert himself, for a knowledge of the diplomacy and
history of the Middle Ages? Who does not honor the Augustines of Mt.
St. Bernard, the Gray Sisters and the excellent schools of particular
monasteries?
But then, on the other side, who will not admit that indolence, false
views of life, narrow-mindedness, hypocrisy, and secret and impure
practices found a home in a multitude of these establishments? In
Zwingli's days, these dark features were most prominent and, we may
even say, altogether prevailed. To prove this, not only Protestant, but
enough of Catholic witnesses also are at hand. It was well for a man of
his spirit and aspirations to spend a few years in the quiet cells of
the cloister for the completion of his theological studies, especially
since he was exempt from the duty of wasting time in empty ceremonial
rites. But after this end was attained, it was easy to foresee that he
would again wish himself beyond the narrow walls.
To this the peculiar character of the monastery of Einsiedeln, as a
far-famed place of pilgrimage, contributed. In general there is little
to admire in the disposition of any one, who does not find his soul
elevated in places hallowed by departed greatness. A noble feeling lay
at the bottom of the expeditions to the Holy Sepulchre during the
Middle Ages, although they partook of all the rudeness of the time that
produced them; and even yet, how many spots are there in the land of
Palestine, that awaken, in the bosom of the traveler, meditations, in
which earnestness and sorrow mingle. On fields of battle, in haunts,
where ruled the leaders and the teachers of mankind, memory works with
double power, and even around graves known only to perishing tradition,
there lingers for some an imperishable charm. No censure therefore on
pilgrimages that spring from such deep impulses!
But when the hand of man ventures to write down in such a place: "Here
is plenary absolution from guilt and punishment," when the mortal will
forestall the eternal judge, and by the fancy of expiation obtained
through such a pilgrimage, the frivolity of the sinner is directly
enhanced and the perpetration of grosser crimes encouraged, when money
rings in the sanctuary, in whose courts a market is opened for relics
and consecrated amulets--who can be angry, if a feeling of indignation
flashes through the mind of the clear-sighted thinker, as well as
through the believing heart of the truly pious?
But Zwingli was now compelled to witness frequent scenes of this kind.
And in what troubled shapes, did not the events of the day, the
delusion of the crowd, and the avarice of those who made again of them,
array themselves, when in the stillness of the evening or the night,
the Gospel opened to him its fountains of light, warmth, and living
sacrifice. No doubt this conviction of the unworthiness of this trade,
carried on with lost men, was confirmed, and the impulse to come out at
once and maintain stout battle against all these powers of darkness,
more and more strengthened. Though somewhat before, yet now more than
ever the feeling, that such a conflict must come, paved his way; the
eyes of thousands were seeking some, who would undertake it, and were
turned with desire to every one, gifted with a resolute spirit; and
many friendly voices told him, that on his efforts the hopes of the
father-land chiefly rested. "This is he"--said John [OE]chslin in Stein
to his friend Fabricius--"of whom I cannot say enough,--he, who towers
above all other Swiss,--he, who has spread around him here a better
civilization." "He"--the German Nesenus wrote to him--"who has humbled
our monks, those spiritual tyrants, has done more for the true doctrine
of Christ, than he who has beaten the ferocious Turks. Go on, my
Zwingli, in the work begun for the blessing of your nation." "You show
us"--is contained in a letter of Rhenanus from Basel--"the true
doctrine of Christ, sketched intuitively, as it were, on a tablet; you
inform us, that Christ was sent into the world for this purpose--to
communicate to us the will of his Father; that he commands us to
despise earth with its riches, its honors, its power, its pleasures and
every thing of this kind, and seek after the heavenly father-land; that
he teaches us peace, unity and all the lovely charities of life
(nothing else is Christianity), as of old, Plato, who is truly worthy
of being counted a great prophet, dreamed of them in his republic; that
he would lift us above a state of abject dependence on country,
parents, kindred, health, and all the blessings of earth, and convince
us that poverty and the other miseries of life are in no wise evil.
These doctrines Christ has confirmed by his life, more glorious than
that of any man. Would that Helvetia had many, who could so exhibit Him
to us! Such alone have power to improve our national character. And our
people are by no means incapable of improvement."
The relation in which Zwingli stood to Geroldseck gave him
encouragement to take a bolder step. Whatever he needed in the way of
scientific help Geroldseck permitted him to buy for the monastery and
was glad to add thus to its treasures. Zwingli was always grateful for
his protection and support, and at a later period, when he had left
Einsiedeln, gave utterance to the following expression, "You have never
looked back, after you laid your hand to the plough. You are indeed the
friend of all scholars, but me you have loved like a father, having not
only admitted me to your friendship, but to the most intimate
confidence of your heart. Go on, as you have begun; stand firmly at
your post. God will in the end lead you to the goal. No one can gain
the crown, who does not fight bravely for it." Most willingly did he
respond to the order of the unprejudiced Administrator, to go, with his
friends, Zink, [OE]chslin, and Schmied, to the convent under the
supervision of Einsiedeln, there to relieve the nuns from the duty of
singing matins, to recommend to them the reading of the German Bible,
and to grant permission to any, who might wish it, to leave the convent
and marry.[8]
But the most powerful weapon of his spirit was the living word.
Proceeding cautiously, step by step, he as yet only attacked abuses in
Einsiedeln; nevertheless his pulpit discourses made a deep impression,
and already the number of pilgrims began to diminish, yea, many brought
back again the presents, which they had carried away. Reports are still
extant of the sermons preached at the festival of the Consecration of
the Angels, in 1517, and those of Whitsuntide, 1518.[9] The first must
have been bold, and according to the testimony of Hedion, who was
present, the second were "beautiful, thorough, solemn, comprehensive,
penetrating, evangelical, in the power of their language reminding one
of the oldest church-fathers." A part of the monks were scandalized,
but the Abbot and Geroldseck encouraged and protected the orator.
The attention of Rome was drawn to these things; but it did not at all
abandon the hope of winning him back again. A _literal and faithful_
translation of the letter, sent to him from Zurich, on the 14 August
1518, by Antonio Pucei, nuntio of the Apostolic See, is here added:
"Glorious by virtues and merits, commended as well by experience as by
the testimony of your honorable fame, you have found such favor in the
eyes of our Lord, the Pope and the Apostolic See, that we, full of
paternal kindness, keeping in view your person adorned with scientific
culture, graciously purpose, according to the authority granted as by
our aforesaid Lord, the Pope, to confer on you a title of special
dignity. But hereby you perceive in truth, whither our kind disposition
toward you would tend, when we now create you--who are a master of
arts, whom, we, out of regard to merits already alluded to, would
promote and adorn with the title and privileges of a special post of
honor,--you, whom we, if you have fallen in any way under any ban,
suspension, interdict, or other ecclesiastical sentence, or under any
censure or penalty of any court, or of individual men, be its origin
what it may, partaking in the operations of our favor, and turning your
prayer toward us in relation to the matter, we would now absolve and
have known as absolved--you, we now, in the name of our holy Lord, the
Pope and the Apostolic See, in accordance with these presents, create
an _acolyte-chaplain_, by the apostolical authority, granted us by the
most holy Father in Christ, our Lord, the Lord Leo X, Pope by the
decree of God, and exercised by us, and graciously enroll you in the
number and society of the other chosen acolyte-chaplains of our Lord,
the Pope, and the Romish See. At the same time we grant you the
possession and enjoyment of all the privileges, prerogatives, honors,
exceptions, favors, liberties, immunities and indulgences, singly and
collectively, which belong to the other acolyte-chaplains of our Lord,
the Pope and the Apostolic See, or which they in any way hereafter
shall be allowed to possess and enjoy, to be used by you freely and in
a lawful manner, unrestricted by the apostolic constitutions and
commands, or any other kind of impediment whatsoever. Then will you by
aspiring after virtue advance from good to better, and become worthy of
a still higher place in the presence of our Lord, the Pope and
ourselves, and he himself, our Lord, the Pope, and we will thereby be
moved to bestow on you more extensive favors and honors. The present
document is dispatched to bear witness, and we have allowed it to be
ratified by our seal appended thereto."
"An official style," the scientific reader, who looks at this letter
may exclaim; but the people, in whose ranks Zwingli ranged himself,
understood and needed another kind of language. That which the Church
granted to her pliant acolyte-chaplains--freedom from excommunication,
the dwellers in the Alps had sometimes ventured to bestow upon
themselves on their own authority in moments of power. The complicated
sentences and the promises contained in them, in case of fidelity and
submission, made, therefore, little impression upon the Reformer. How
independent he was, in this respect, even at Einsiedeln, appears from
his letter, of 1525, to Valentine Compar, former state-secretary in
Uri. "Observe," says he, "dear Valentine, what I will yet publicly
make known to the people, now living, that I, both before and since the
schism arose, have discoursed and treated with distinguished cardinals,
bishops and prelates concerning errors in doctrine, and warned them to
begin the correction of abuses, or else they would be involved in
greater trouble. Eight years ago at Einsiedeln and then at Zurich I
often proved to the Lord Cardinal of Sion, that the whole Papacy rested
on a rotten foundation, and this always by appealing to the Holy
Scriptures. The noble Sir Diebold von Geroldseck, Master Francis Zink
and Doctor Michael Sander, all three yet living are my witnesses; and
the above-named Cardinal has frequently expressed himself to me in this
way, 'If God restores me again to favor (for he was at that time in
disgrace with the Pope), I would then willingly see the pride and
falsehood of the Roman Bishop exposed and corrected.' And then, he has
not seldom conversed with me about doctrine and the Holy Scripture, and
every time would acknowledge the falsehood and his displeasure at it.
But how he behaved afterwards, need not be told here."
When, therefore, the Bishop of Constance himself, just at this time, in
a pastoral letter to the clergy of his diocese, uttered, in the
strongest terms, complaints of their thoroughly corrupt condition, and
deplored, that "many of them, without regard to shame and the fear of
God, kept lewd women in their houses, and would neither put them away
nor do better, and that others were addicted to gambling and oftener to
be met with in taverns than in their own rooms, wrangled in the
streets, scolded, giving rise to uproar as well as blasphemy against
the Savior, his blessed mother, and all the saints of God, wore weapons
and clothes altogether unsuited to their condition, entered into
unlawful agreements, crept into nunneries and otherwise led abandoned
lives at variance with the priestly character," and acknowledged the
urgent necessity of a remedy, was it a seditious movement, or not
rather a noble effort to help on a good cause, when Zwingli thanked his
chief pastor for this, but at the same time begged him to act as well
as speak?
It is easy to imagine how such a zealous discharge of the duties of his
calling should more and more attract the attention of the public
authorities. Wintherthur was anxious to see him in the place of its
deceased pastor. He had to decline, because the citizens of Glarus were
not willing to release him from his former engagement. In Zurich even,
wither he had come on a visit, the number of his admirers continually
increased. The burgomaster Roist and his brethren-in-arms at Marignano
were acquainted with him since the Italian campaign. To the senator,
Jacob Grebel, he was introduced by his son Conrad, at that time one of
his warmest admirers. The canons Utinger, Erasmus, Schmied and
Engelhart knew and honored his scientific attainments, and even the
hostile disposition, which, then already, some of the most resolute
defenders of every kind of wickedness cherished toward him, might well
have proved a recommendation to all well-disposed people. Thus the way
was prepared for a translation to the scene of his future labors, but
before this, Einsiedeln was yet to see him coming out boldly against
one of the cardinal sins of the Papal Court.
Samson, the auctioneer of writs of indulgence, came to Switzerland, as
Tetzel to Saxony. The shameless trade, carried on by both, in the
pretended remission of sins, is well known. We will not revive these
scandalous scenes, confidently believing, that their repetition in our
age would be impossible. Even Zwingli paused a moment, before he
ventured to attack openly the corrupter of the people, who was backed,
as he asserted, by a commission from the Pope. It was the bishop of his
country, who strengthened him for the undertaking. "Hugo, Bishop of
Constance"--says he in the letter to Compar already quoted from--"has
informed me by his Vicar Johansen Faber, since the Franciscan monk
Samson would sell indulgences amongst us, and since he, the bishop had
learned that I preached against it, and confirmed me therein, he was
willing to stand by me in all fidelity. How could I act otherwise? Had
I not to obey a bishop of Constance, whose vicar wrote to me,--even if
I had not intended to do the same thing before--to make war on the
ensnaring system of indulgences?"
He uttered warnings from the pulpit in Einsiedeln and the natural
result was, the monk found so little encouragement in the neighboring
Schwyz, that he the more quickly passed on to richer and more willing
hearers in Bern.
But now, with this last act, the ministerial labors of the Reformer in
Einsiedeln must be brought to a close. Erhard Battman, people's priest
at Zurich, was elected a member of the monastery of that place and
resigned his post as preacher. The choice of a successor lay with the
canons. A majority of the most influential of them, together with
several officers of state urgently desired that Zwingli should be
chosen. Oswald Myconius, properly Geisshausler, who is since known as
the biographer and friend of Zwingli, became an agent in the matter. He
was born at Luzern, four years later than Zwingli, and had received a
careful education, particularly in the Latin language at Rothweil under
an eminent teacher, and afterwards in the High School at Basel. He
early became acquainted with the accomplished Glareanus and thanked him
especially for his perception of every beautiful and noble tendency in
life, and for an introduction to Zwingli, who once came from Glarus to
Basel on a visit. It was the learned Netherlander Erasmus chiefly,
around whom, all who strove after culture and science with genuine
zeal, united themselves in Basel. Even Art found in this genial man
recognition and encouragement. The celebrated painter Holbein was his
friend, and had furnished spirited illustrations for a book, in which
Erasmus had hit off the various follies of the time with wit and humor.
This memorial is preserved to this day in the library of the city. In
the society of such distinguished men Myconius found his sphere of
knowledge enlarged, his judgment corrected and his will strengthened.
Three beautiful traits appear prominent in his character--Earnestness,
Thoroughness, (by which, not content till he had rightly apprehended
the smallest details, he rose higher, step by step, but ever the more
securely, for thus Platter, afterwards his scholar, has portrayed him
with grateful affection), and then, that which only belongs to pure
endeavor, a Modesty, that is not concerned about its own praises but
only about the propagation of truth, and springing from this and
connected with it, the most cordial esteem and the most devoted
friendship, where he discovered true merit in others, and an
acknowledgment without envy, where he found in them a greater talent
than his own. For this reason he became so intimate with Zwingli and
remained so true to him, through all changes, to the end of his life.
About the same time that his friend went to Einsiedeln, he himself
received a call as teacher in the _foundation school_ at Zurich. Here
he soon gained influence and consideration, and it was owing to his
efforts that the present invitation was extended to Zwingli, who
answered him thus, "See that you tell me of the course of duties, the
persons, who are at the head of affairs, the salary and whatever else
you can find out. On Wednesday I will dine in Zurich and then we can
talk over the matter. I will take no step without your advice.
Congratulate, according to usage, in my name the newly elected Provost
Frei, as one who is a friend to learning."
Myconius confirmed him in his resolution to offer himself as a
candidate for the post; and, some days after, Zwingli laid open his
heart to his friend. "A _fable_"--writes he--"reaches my ears; that
Lorenzo Fable, so the Swabian from Graubuenden is called, has preached
once before your congregation, and is not wholly unacceptable to the
prudent people of Zurich; yet a letter from Michael, the private
secretary of the Cardinal, assures me of the contrary. How, said I to
myself, is it thus true, that the prophet has the least honor in his
own country? Can a Swabian even be preferred to a Switzer, who, on his
own territory, would not be regarded as inferior? Yes, indeed! I see
well how he strives to gain the applause of the multitude by flattery.
I know too that the whole endeavor of the vain man is after that--this
Jack Smoke, as I, with our Glareanus, will call fellows of his kidney.
Keep this scornful effusion of mine to yourself, dear friend, and
continue to work for me, for I will freely confess, the place appears
now doubly desirable, since I know, that he hankers after it. Yes, what
I would otherwise have borne patiently, would now seem a real disgrace.
Indeed I must go against the warning of Paul, who accuses them, that
covet, of worldly-mindedness. Already I had proposed to myself, to
expound the whole Gospel of Matthew, an undertaking hitherto unheard of
in Germany. Let them choose him and they will soon see what he will
bring out of his goose-stall. Take this hasty letter in good part. It
is more warm than prudent."