in Zurich towards the close of the summer of 1519. Spreading in almost
all the neighboring countries, it reached Switzerland from the east,
and penetrated into the secluded vallies of the mountains. Zwingli
received the news of its near approach in a bath at Pfeffers, and,
mindful of his duty as people's priest, immediately hurried back to
Zurich. Seeing the peculiar danger, he sent several young men, who were
living in his house, particularly his young brother Andrew, to their
homes; but he himself unterrified began to discharge the duties of his
office. The result, that was foreseen, followed. He also was laid upon
a bed of sickness.
Not for harmony of rhythm, but for the deep inward feeling, which they
manifest, the verses composed by him, after he had become convalescent,
in two different periods of sickness, are truly remarkable. They show
us the sources of his faith and activity, and a character, which even
in view of what appeared to be his last hour, remained true to itself.
An admirer of Zwingli in modern times, still keeping faithfully to the
thoughts, has altered the language to that of our century, and in this
form they may also be admitted here.[1]
_In the beginning of sickness:_
Lo! at my door Yet, if to quench
Gaunt Death I spy; My sun at noon,
Hear, Lord of life, Be thy behest,
Thy creature's cry. Thy will be done!
The arm that hung In faith and hope
Upon the tree, Earth I resign,
Jesus, uplift-- Secure of heaven--
And rescue me. For I am thine!
_When the disease gained strength._
Fierce grow my pains: In Satan's grasp,
Help, Lord, in haste! On Hell's dark brink,
For flesh and heart My spirit reels,--
Are failing fast. Ah! must I sink?
Clouds wrap my sight No, Jesus, no!
My tongue is dumb, Him I defy,
Lord tarry not, While here beneath
The hour is come! Thy cross I lie.
But his vigorous constitution surmounted the disease. About the end of
autumn signs of convalescence began to appear, and he gave vent to his
joy, at the prospect of restoration to life and activity, in the
following stanzas:
My Father God, Though now delayed,
Behold me whole! My hour must come,
Again on earth Involved, perchance,
A living soul! In deeper gloom.
Let sin no more It matters not
My heart annoy, Rejoicing yet
But fill it, Lord, I'll bear the yoke
With holy joy. To Heaven's bright gate.
Thus sickness did not cause him to waver in his settled convictions,
but filled him, on the contrary, with new courage. Yet the last poem
shows us that a foreboding of a darker fate in the future was by no
means strange to him. Indeed, not long after his recovery, he expressed
himself still more clearly in a similar strain to his friend Myconius.
After a glance at the dangers which surrounded Luther, he continued:
"Whatever may befall me, I, already marked out as a victim, look for
every thing evil from the clergy and the laity. I only pray Christ for
courage to bear all with a manly heart, and that he may crush or
strengthen me, his laborer, as may seem good to him, and, should I even
fall under excommunication, I will think of Hilary, that learned and
holy man, who was banished from Gaul to the deserts of Africa, and of
Lucius, who was driven from the Roman See, and afterwards brought back
with honor. I will not liken myself to such men, who though greater
than I, still endured the greatest evils. But should _one_ glory await
me; may it be, to suffer shame for Christ! Yet, let him, who thinketh
he standeth, take heed lest he fall."
That he could thus express himself to his best friend only by letter
and no more see him in person at his side, belonged to the bitter
trials of his life at this time. Myconius had just then accepted a
call to the highest professorship in his native city Luzern, and
Zwingli found himself deprived of half his support, "like an army"--he
said--"one of whose wings is cut off in the presence of the enemy."
This man, by reason of his moderation, had great influence with the
clergy and the laity, and often became a useful mediator between them
and the impetuous Zwingli. There was no one now to persuade the
Reformer to use milder measures; and the complaints of the canons,
summed up in a letter to his superior, the Provost Frei, only provoked
him to a repulsive answer. These related chiefly to the imposition of
tithes, the main source of revenue to the church, and an unjust burden
in the eyes of the majority of the nation. The people's priest was
expressly pledged by the statutes, to take care of the conscientious
disposition of the tithe, and to insist upon it as a religious duty in
his discourses. "Instead of which"--says the letter of the canons--"he
denies the divine origin of the tax, and seems to regard it as tyranny,
if it be strictly enforced. Is it any wonder that the people stick to
him? He makes us odious to the laity, calls the monks 'theologians of
the cowl,' and whatever he hears bad of them, he talks about it in the
pulpit." It is almost certain, that the Provost, when Zwingli had
conversed somewhat earnestly with him concerning these charges, was
ashamed of the memorial of his subordinates. At least he cherished no
hatred toward his person. On the contrary, some months later, he
exerted his utmost influence to induce the chapter of the canons,
without consulting a higher spiritual court, to simplify their worship
and alter the breviary of the cathedral, "because it is impossible in
this age to keep up any longer the multitude of holidays, ceremonies
and ecclesiastical customs, which have been accumulating for
centuries." In the same manner Zwingli was afterwards, upon his own
request, admitted into the number of the canons.[2]
Thus far in Zurich the external condition of the church remained the
same. The agitation was confined to the souls of men. In the mean time
this was little felt beyond the limits of the canton. Neither the
Confederates, nor the Bishop, nor the Pope, nor his legates found any
occasion to interfere; and now again it was from political events, that
the first general movement took its rise.
The Perpetual Peace was concluded by Francis I, in the hope of paving
the way for a closer alliance with the Confederates. He needed and
sought after their soldiers; he wished to take them away from his
enemies. He, therefore, sent to them some of his men of business, who
were best acquainted with our country and its inhabitants; lavished
gold in abundance, and held in his employ some of the most active Swiss
as recruiting officers. Among these, Albert von Stein, a Bernese, was
the boldest and most indefatigable. He was well known in the canton of
Zurich. He had relations and connexions there. His appearance always
gave rise to an excitement, and in some districts of the country at
least, the youth did not lend an unwilling ear to his voice. When by
the election of Charles V. to the throne of the German Empire in the
year 1519, the French King saw his hopes vanish, he redoubled his
efforts to secure the wished for defensive alliance, and a favorable
hearing first of all in Bern and Luzern. Most other places joined with
them. Only Zurich, Schwyz, Basel, and Schaffhausen stood out against
it. At length, in April 1521, the three latter were also won over. On
the 5th of May, the treaty was subscribed in Luzern by twelve states
and all the places subject to them, and at the same diet the resolution
was passed, to make a last general endeavor, to prevent Zurich from
withdrawing by herself.
It is mentioned by Bullinger and all his contemporaries that Zwingli
spoke out decidedly against this treaty from the pulpit and whenever he
found opportunity; and they seem to infer from the strength and
clearness of papers concerning it issued from Zurich, that he had the
chief hand in their composition. But the Confederates worked against
him with just as much zeal. Not only did envoys from Bern, Luzern, Uri,
Unterwalden, Zug and Solothurn, along with the French ambassador
Lameth, present, in the name of all the others, petitions, expressions
of regard, and even hints at grievous consequences in case of a
refusal, but written letters came also from the rural districts and
congregations, demanding a subscription of the treaty. Albert von Stein
and others like him, were seen traveling repeatedly from place to place
throughout the canton.
Under these circumstances the government resorted to a natural
expedient. It declared that it must first hear the voice of the people,
and then the great council would decide.
Members of the council were sent into all the bailiwicks, to lay before
the assembled commons, first the treaty itself, and then, a written
explanation of its several articles, and ask their patient examination
of it, and also a communication of their views, in writing, to the
government. With the league and its significance to the Confederacy the
more circumstantial history of the country begins. On the contrary, the
real voice of the people ought to be plain to us from the answers of
the commons. The records may be quoted in the true-hearted language of
the time, and a beginning made with Winterthur.
"On notice brought by our worthy lords, the knight Felix Grebel,
Younker Conrad Engelhard and Master Henry Wegmann, who as ambassadors
of our gracious, loving lords, the burgomaster, and the Small and Great
Councils of the city of Zurich, have sufficiently informed, by written
instructions, my lords, the Schultheiss, and the Small and Great
Councils of the city of Winterthur concerning the alliance--it is true:
my lords, the Schultheiss, and the Small and Great Councils, would have
thought advice from them unnecessary, since they have already given it
to our lords, the burgomaster, and the Council of the city of Zurich,
by their deputy and member. But since they could not be excused and
found themselves included with others in the letters of instruction,
they have sat upon the business and framed an answer to be given to the
twelve cantons, in the hope that it may serve to further peace and
unity. And the humble, earnest answer and prayer of my lords, the
Schultheiss and the Small and Great Council, is, that some way may be
devised, so to arrange matters, that our lords, the burgomaster and the
Council of the city of Zurich, may be and remain one with the twelve
cantons and the other Confederates, with the further offer, that, if it
happen so or not, they will none the less act, as becomes pious, honest
people, and place their lives and property at your disposal."
"The four Wards, together with Wipkingen, Seebach, Schwamendingen, and
Oerlikon, also Wiedikon and Wollishofen, give answer to the paper read
before them concerning the French alliance: first of all, that they
thank my lords for their distinguished honor and friendship in laying
open before them their cares and trials; therefore, be it their general
will and opinion, and urgent desire and prayer, that my lords will be
very slow to enter into union and alliances with the French, as well as
other foreign princes and lords, since they would have nothing at all
to do with the French aforesaid. For each honest man can scarcely raise
children enough to send to the French King. Besides, be it also their
desire, that the treaties and what they grant, be maintained among the
Confederates; and thereto, as pious, true people and subjects, they
pledge their lives and property and all else, that God has given them."
"An assembly at Hirslanden and Riespach have with one accord resolved
on the cross, that they fervently, earnestly, and with the highest
zeal, thank our lords of Zurich for their pious, friendly notice, and
for telling them so truly the misery, troubles and dangers of the
alliance with the king, brought about and subscribed to by the twelve
cantons, and therefore, earnestly beseech our lords aforesaid to remain
firm in their honest purpose and intention, and give the go-by to all
princes and lords; then will they also pledge to them their souls,
honor, lives and property without any reserve, since they would have
nothing at all to do with this alliance, as far as lies in their
power."
"A general assembly convened at Zollikon have, with great determination
and unanimity, given answer, that they are well-pleased with the notice
of our lords and their opinion, and that their reason is too weak to
praise enough the pious, honest resolution of our lords; therefore they
pressingly and earnestly pray our dear lords aforesaid to hold fast to
their good resolution and not let themselves be moved therefrom by
anybody, and not enter into this French alliance; then will they all
together and without exception pledge their souls, honor, lives and
property to our lords and stand by them till death."
"A general assembly at Kuessnacht, with one accord make answer: Your
community has been sore wondered at and annoyed by the other
confederates, who have brought themselves and their posterity into a
danger, which will last for a long while, and may result in great
damage to their people and cantons. Yet as for all, so the entire
assembly with one accord, and with the greatest zeal, thank our lords
for the true, friendly commands, brought by our two lords Walter Hans
Berger and Thomas Spruenglin of the Small and Great Council, and also
for the pious, honorable, just and Christian resolution, to suffer
grievance themselves rather than mischief should befall us and our
posterity in the course of time. Therefore, the assembly offer the
earnest and friendly prayer to our lords, that they will stick to their
resolution to give the go-by to all lords, so that they who belong to
them can remain unhampered, and every father also be aided by his sons,
if he has need to use them for himself. In this, the entire assembly
dares to pledge to our lords their lives and property and all that they
have, wishing them also to help to punish their own sons, when they
will not remain true, and act in a rebellious manner. The assembly also
desire our gracious lords, when troublesome persons stray into their
city or canton, and act in an unbecoming way, striving to seduce the
young men, that they will drive them off by authority, to prevent
greater disturbance, which might arise from their overbearing
dispositions."
Meila replied in a similar strain; and Mænedorf likewise.[3]
"A meeting at Stæfa has agreed on this: Because, for several years past
it has unfortunately happened, that many honest people have been lost
and killed, it ought to be plain now, that it came by treachery, and by
means of the same lights, which burn in one confederacy at this day.
Therefore they agree that these lights ought to be put out. For such
cause it is to be feared, if our people unite with the people of the
twelve cantons, that they will be brought to dishonor by them, for it
is the common talk, that the twelve cantons wish to appoint the Duke of
Wurtemberg, and, if it then go well or ill with the Confederates, that
it would be little to the credit of our lords of Zurich and their
honest people (it would not redound to their honor to have separated
themselves). Therefore, they do not the less think, that the alliance
would be neither godly nor right and altogether against the welfare of
the soul, and they beseech our lords to withdraw themselves therefrom,
if they can, and set the hearts of their honest people at rest, when
they can bring it about. Then will they pledge to you their lives and
property as far as they can. The assembly at Stæfa would commend
themselves to your regard, since they more than others will have to
meet with reproaches."
"A general assembly in the department of Grueningen have unanimously
resolved to give this answer to our envoys, saying: Worthy lords, to
come to us for counsel was not needful, for the reason that we own you
as our lords and superiors and willingly esteem you as such. Hence we
ought to be rightly obedient to you in all your plans, and cheerfully
aid you. But since you desire to know our wishes and feelings, great
praise and honor are given on all sides to our gracious, loving lords,
who have hitherto pleased us so well, for their excellent management;
and it gives us great satisfaction, that you have so faithfully
remembered your own, and are not willing, for the sake of money, that
they should be bound; and we beseech you by the Most High God to stick
to your resolution and give the complete go-by to foreign lords, and
foreign wars and foreign money, as clearly shown in the contents of the
paper concerning its removal, sworn to, years ago, in Zurich and all
its dependencies. So we hope it will be adhered to and followed up. But
if any one acts contrary thereto, or has acted, then you, our lords,
well know, what punishment is due to him, and therefore we desire that
you will consider the profit and honor of our country: so will we
pledge to you our lives, honor, goods and everything else, God has
given us, as a true child to his father; and will stand by you, like
pious, honest people. Further, it is our urgent petition, that by some
means you will drive Albert von Stein and others, who serve the French
for pay, from your city and canton, so that honest folk be not
corrupted and good comrades brought to sorrow, for it would not be to
the credit of the city and our lords to have an honest man and his
children stirred up to sedition and led astray. And it is also our
prayer and desire, that our lords warn the several cantons of the
dangers of such an alliance. And to this and all the articles, as here
written, and whatever else it may please our lords to add, the honest
people of this bailiwick, pledge their lives and goods, as poor folks
ought to do to their lords and masters."
"Greifensee is not at all pleased with the alliance, since the up-shot
of it would be, to make the king of France our master instead of our
gracious, loving lords of Zurich."
Duebendorf, Dietikon and Rieden declare themselves in the same way,
thanking, agreeing and resolving; H[oe]ngg likewise, the department of
Old Regensperg and New Regensperg, Neuamt; the Schultheiss, Council and
general assembly at Buelach; the burgomaster, councils and general
assembly of the department of Eglisau; the bailiwicks of Maschwander,
Freiamt and Hedingen; Wædenschweil also, and Richtenschweil with the
addition: "If our dear lords thus hold fast and keep always in the
right way, it is our prayer, though they have heretofore eaten and
drunk with the French, that they still drive them off; and that it be
done by the Councils in the city and in the country, and finally, that
they maintain the hereditary union of His Imperial Majesty, all as they
have written."
Horgen adds this request: "Even though it should result in suffering
and trial to our lords, to expel the foreign and German French from
their city and canton, yet they would then be, neither French nor
Imperial, but good Zurichers and Confederates."
"A general assembly at Thalweil has resolved firstly, that the paper
which has reached them from Luzern is in no wise acceptable, for they
do not believe that such a letter has been prepared honestly and at the
command of delegated ambassadors, lords and rulers, but suspect that it
has been hatched in corners and is chiefly the production of the German
French. Accordingly it is their will and opinion, and very urgent prayer,
that our lords will stick to their praiseworthy design not to enter into
alliances and treaties either with the French or other foreign lords and
ever boldly keep to their honest way--and then, that judgment and
authority be immediately exercised, in the city of our lords, against
certain German French, who travel about here and there, using haughty
and improper language in order to stir up your own and other people--it
is the friendly petition of this whole assembly that my lords will drive
off such seditious characters, and should this not be done, persons can
be found perhaps, who will themselves undertake to drive them off and
restore quiet, for the reason that heretofore and now every disturbance
has arisen from these German French--so will they place body and blood
at the disposal of my lords."
Kilchberg, Altorf, in the upper part of the county of Kyburg, and
Kloten give thanks and vote decidedly in favor of declining.
Upper Winterthur, having heard the paper read, resolved to return this
answer: "Our lords have hitherto acted honorably and well in other
similar affairs, hence, in good hope they will do so in the future, we
confide in our lords as honorable men. Therefore it is their humble
prayer and desire, that, as far as may be, our lords will not separate
themselves from the Confederacy, but continue one with it; so will they
ever act as dutiful subjects and pledge to our lords their lives and
property and whatever else God has given them."
"The bailiff, council and general assembly at Elggau thus answer, that,
not having understanding and skill enough to speak and advise in this
or in matters of much less moment, they leave the business in the hands
of our lords; yet it is their prayer, that our lords hold the
Confederacy in friendship and favor, but none the less will they pledge
to our lords their lives and fortunes."
"The burgomaster, bailiff, council and general assembly at Stein vote
for declining the alliance, since, if it should be accepted, they would
be afraid lest it should prove a great disadvantage and injury to
the inhabitants of Stein and cause them sensible loss if war should
arise therefrom, namely in their tolls, licenses, market-monies,
quarter-dues, pasturing and watches, for lying on the borders they
would have to bear the first brunt, and hence wish our lords to care
for them in the most faithful manner."
Upper and Lower Stammheim and Marthalen leave the business in the hands
of their lords.
"Andelfingen has framed this answer: As our lords have hitherto managed
well for us, they are wise and prudent enough to act in this affair.
Yet finally, they pray that our lords may remain in peace and quiet and
continue one also with the common confederates, and, in case it may be
reasonably effected, that our lords do not separate themselves from the
Confederacy, desiring which, they place at their disposal their lives
and property, and will be found as faithful and obedient subjects."
The opinion of the citizens was altogether the same as that of the
great majority of the country-people. Everywhere the heads of
corporations were commissioned to make this known to the Council, so
that it was resolved in the end, after deliberating a long time yet
with little opposition, to give a decided refusal to the alliance. But
the answer was sent to the twelve cantons and Francis I., couched in
moderate language, that Zurich would honestly hold to the Perpetual
Peace with France, faithfully maintain all the treaties sworn with the
Confederates, and not separate herself from them but place life and
property at their disposal, that she also begged for the continued good
will of France and allegiance to the Confederation on the part of the
Swiss; and yet at the same time was firmly resolved henceforth to
renounce the pensions of princes and foreign alliance, trusting in the
help of God.
From now on every public voice in favor of foreign mercenary service
was compelled to silence, and its avowed or secret promoters hid their
resentment or left the canton. In fact the most notorious among them
threw up their citizenship in Zurich. But the entire party of those,
who remained in their native country, conceived the fiercest hatred
toward Zwingli. "He was blamed," says Bullinger, "most of all for
having prevented the union by his preaching and divided a brave
confederacy. The distinguished pensioners and soldiers, as well as
others, who had heretofore run after him and praised his sermons, now
reviled Zwingli as a heretic. Many, to whom religion had never any
special charms before, now pretended a great interest on its behalf,
saying, they would defend the old, true faith against the heretic
Zwingli, yet the secret of their zeal was not in their faith, but in
the bags of the royal exchequer. Hence there arose among the other
confederates a strong hostility against Zurich and abuse and slander
against Zwingli." Still the cause of the people and the uprightness and
fidelity, which maintains an oath, triumphed in the end.