History of Three Renowned Reformers, History 4 – Colophon
¶ The hiſtory of the Lyfe and Death of Huldericke Zuinglins. Wrytten by Oſwa…d Mi…s. (⸫)
¶ Oſwald Miconius wyſheth perfect health, to hys friende Agathius Ber….
YOVR requeſt is (deare friend Agathy) I ſhould publyſh a matter as worthy notice, as ſurmounting the compaſſe …ing ſkyll. For great thynges requyre ſupportacion of great power, as yet I hauehave ramforced onelyonly. For I am bothe weake to attaynd to high matters, and naturally giuen to atchieue low enterpriſes. Think you this is a triuial argumēt to diſcourſe I wyl not ſay deſcriue the hiſtorye of Zuinglius lyfe? for ſuche is not your deſire, weying the ſterility of my ſkyl and eloquence. Tully the Prince of al good learning, & the famous Plutarche, might with their greateſt veſſels wade in thys large ſea, without eclipſe of their glorious cunning and elegant ſtyle. So great is Zuinglius among his ſincere friendes, & ſo ſ…lly eſtemed among hys illiterate & prophane enemies, herof ſpringeth your doubt. There be ſome (you allydge) that in prayſing him, make the ſame a myrour of godlynes, and ſome in contemning hym, paint him out lyke an horrible and monſtrous wyght, whych moueth you to maruaile, the yearth canne ſuſtaine ſo facinerous a creature. Thus ye laud of hys friends alluryng you to reuerence. & the ſclaū der of his foes, prouoking you to abhore his lyfe and actes: You ſeme to ſuſpende your reſolute iudgement of him, and hys learned woorkes, and therfore requires to be credibly enformed by ſome his familiar friendes of his demeanure and cōuerſacion, that (ſuch is your zelous affection) as hys excellent monumēts ſhine in al Chriſtianity and ſincere doctrine: ſo they maye receyue condigne credit, and godlye reporte of all Chriſtian people. I maye ryghte boldlye affirme, I knewe Zuinglius familyarlye, who was my Mecenas, & with whom I had learned conference, for ye which I am obliged vntounto hym manyfoldly. But what can I geue, ſo barrayne of eloquence, and ornate phraſe? If you dyd not remember me, I ſhoulde forget my iuſt debt, now that you preſſe me, I wyl do what I can, and y• more is, I dare be bold to ſay, thys compendious narratiō wyl delight you much For I write as I hauehave had experiēce, truſting you wyl cōmunicate to none thys diſcourſe, but kepe it to your ſelf
Zuinglius was borne about the yere of our Lord. 1487. in a Village,The place …her zuinclius was orne. called Doggiens, otherwyſe named y• wylde houſe, as high ſituated, as any Mountain in Suicerland. I hauehave ben fond to beleue he gathered Dininity by hys neare neighborhed to heauen, conſidering he hadde not hys lyke of long tyme in holynes of lyfe. His Father hight Nicholas Zuinglius, hysHis parēts Mother Margaret Meyline, both perſons of good fame. His father was renowmed, as wel for hys integrity, as temporal preferment. In hys Country he was a principal Gouernour, & we… eſtemed. Thys man hauing good hope of his yong ſonne, beſtowed him wyth a Prieſt his Brother, to trye yf he were apt to take learning, and vnderſtandyng by the ſame his towardnes, he put hym to a Scholemaiſter, vnderunder whō he proſpered ſo well, that hys Inſtructor could not limit him ſo much to learne, as he had ready wyt to receiue. Therefore he was ſent to Baſile, beyng but .x. yeares old, and had to Maiſter one Gregory Binzle a learned and ready Teacher. There he profited in ſmal tyme ſo well that he gayned in diſputacion, and conference of ſtudy muche more then other hys fellowes, which moued the elderZuinglius was a Muſician. Scholers to ſtomake hym. He excelled in the arte of Muſicke, as it is incident to them that be naturally bent more to one ſcience, then an other. Hys Inſtructor Binzle, louyng hym dearely, conſidered well the maner of teachyng then vſed, was farre to baſe for ſuch a ioly and pregnant wyt, and therfore returned him to his Parents praying them to place hym, wher as he myght receyue inſtruction according to hys capacitye. Then was he ſent to Berne, there to ſtudye vnderunder one Henry Lupulus, a learned mā, & famous in Poeſy, who firſt aduaūcedZuingliꝰ is ſent to Berne. and profeſſed letters of humanitye in Suicerland. This man red vntounto him approued authors, of whō he learned the purity of the Latin tong, & vnderſtanding of Authors with good iudgemēt. He alſo learned to write Verſes & could ſcan & iudge others Poeſy. He had not fullye conſumed two yeres in this ſtudy, when he had grounded ſoHis ſtudye of Philoſophy. wel, as he might build thereupon the ſtudy of Philoſophy. Thē he repa…red … Vienna in Au…triche, wher he learned the ſomme of Philoſophie, & augmented hys knowledge in letters of humanitye. In fewe yeares after he was called home, and fearing intermiſſion of exerciſe of learning, he returned to Baſile, where he cōmunicated his ſkyll to many. And being elected principall of S. Martins Colledge, he began to profeſſe good learning, to the ſingular commoditye of al his Auditors. At vacant tymes he curiouſly examined Philoſophy, and the vaine Cōmentes of Sophiſtes, to arme himſelfe the more ſtrongly, if in time to come, it chaunced him to diſpute againſt them. … his graue ſtudies with ſome … melody, as he was pleaſantly wy… liuely, & me…y conceited. … …e …a…ly after, he learned to play on all Muſicall inſtrumentes, to then…e he might quicken his minde, def…tigat… with ſtudies, & returne to them with more alacrity I doubt muche (deare friend Agathye) hold you can beleueThe profit of M…. this, for hereby his enemies hauehave …a… …aſiō tō … him, a…enging Muſicke is an alluring …aite to …eche rous luſt, & no encouragement to gentle ſtudye. I hauehave hearde the peruers pronounce euilly of him, & ſpeciallye the Babilonical Prieſtes, who lyue licenciouſly, & wallow in Venus …ddie. But who lyues ſo …e of ſpot, that can eſcape Momus blaſt, we wil not be diſcouraged to aduaunce hys praiſe, what ſo euer Miöas Mates, & blinde Buſſards chat. Is not this an euident argumēt, he vſed Muſick ſaw dably, conſideryng he perſwaded … ſtubentes to geue them ſelues therunto, and wherefore might he refrayne? ſince there is nothing that reioyceth the ſorowful minde more the Muſick. After he had long tyme trauailed, as wel in liberal artes, as in the ſtudy of philoſophie, he receiued ye due guer…ō of Scholes, to wyt, the degree of Mayſter. The whych he tooke not ſo wyllyngly, as to condeſcend to the opiniō of men, who iudge none learned, vnles they …e …ecked wyth theſe braue tytles. A whyle after as the matter & order required, he employed hys ſtudyTheologie corrupted wyth Philoſophy. in ſchoole diuinitye, but by and by he perceyued yt it was but loſſe of tyme, and that by worldly wyſdome, God & Philoſophy were mixed together, in ſuch ſort, that of thys vanitye, barbarouſnes, or rather vayne glory, there was no certayne hope of anye ſincere doctrine: yet he continued in thys exerciſe, as though he had bene an eſpial or loker on the enemies campe, tillZuinglius choſen Paſtor of Glaris. thoſe of Glaris elected hym their Superintendent, without taking the order of Prie…thod. The whych he tooke afterwardes, beyng con…ayned to perfect that, that the other had begon Hauing receiued thys order, he wholy addicted him ſelfe to ſtudy, ſpecially of holye Scripture. For ſynce that tyme he made none accompt of good learning, but where the ſame ſerued hys turne in the ſacred ſcripture, and preachinges. And for thys purpoſe heThings requiſite to a Preacher. learned Valerius the great by rote, becauſe of hys examples. He conſidered, that he that had the charge to inſtruct the flocke of Chriſt, ought to be garniſhed with the ſcience of manye things, & ſpecially with diuine knowledge, more then with eloquence, and elegant phraſe to expound althinges duly, and for the vtility & capacitye of eueryevery one. He endeuored wyth all ſedulity, to atchieue this, peruſyng alwayes the newe and old Teſtament, elucidating the proprieties of the text & applying them as he thought good, to the profit and benefit of thoſe of ye Countrye that heard him. By thys tyme he had ſo encreaſed in diuine knowledge, that the vertuous & learned iudged hym wel exerciſed in holy ſcriptures, and a perfect Diuine. Yet he was not contented ther with, vntil he had the knowledge of the tounges to ſupply that he lacked. Wherefore he gaue him ſelfe firſt to the Greeke tong, by helpe of Lexic…ns, or Greke Dictionaries and tranſlacions. He wrate S. Paules Epiſtles in Greke, and learned them by rote, ſo as he vnderſtoode them better in Greke, then in Latin. The like he did in all other bookes of the newe Teſtament. But hauing learned of S. Peter that holy ſcripture is not vnderſtanded by particular interpretacion, he lifted hys eyes to the heauens, beſeching the holy Ghoſt to be his Inſtructor, & prayed daylye he myghte hauehave that grace geuen him to vnderſtande ſincerelye the ſence of the holy Ghoſt. And fearingwhēre we ought to ta… the knowle…e of y• holye Scripture leaſt vnderunder colour of the holye Ghoſte he ſhoulde abuſe hym ſelfe, he conferred that, that was wrytten, and illuſtrated the darke places, by the plaine, in ſort, that when he preached the ſcripture, eueryevery man might plainely perceiue he was taughte of the holy ghoſt.
By this meane the knowledge of heauenly trough long time obſcured, to the great detriment & perdicion of ſoules: was happely reſtored vntounto vsus He iudged of the Catholick doctours as they iudged of them ſelues, that we muſt reade them with iudgemēt, and try them by the Canonical ſcriptures, as by a touch ſtone, otherwyſe they be ordinarely ſo corrupted, with medley of Philoſophy and mans reaſons, that it is impoſſible ther ſhould be anye order in conforming them to the authoritye of holye Scripture, a thynge in tyme paſt attempted and put in vre.
Then he practiſed hys ſkyll in this maner: He proclaimed & made warre againſt a… notable diſorders & enormities, ſpecially againſt the penſiōs (for ſo we terme the preſentes that PrincesZuingliꝰ zeale againſt Penſionaries. make to ſome particular parſons to leauye Soldiours, to aide them in their warres) deſiring to aboliſh thē, and to reduce the Countrye to the priſtinate eſtate, and former ſimplicity. For he conſidered, vnles he purged the ſountaxne of all euyls, Chriſtian doctrine coulde not ſettle and take ſure foundacion.
You may not here Agathy ſay: Is it poſſible that Zuinglius yet a Papiſt, ſhoulde thynke of the Goſpell? Credite mee, it is more then .xxvii. yeares paſt, ſynce theſe Blocke heads charged him ſecretelye to be an heritik, as wel for thys that is rehearſed, as for that he approued Iohn Picus of Mirandolas propoſitions, ſet vp at Rome by him in time paſt to diſpute, the whych notwithſtandyng he could not obtayne. Hereof ſprang the hatred, infamy, exclamacion, and wyly working of the children of the world agaynſt Zuinglius, & encreaſed euen as hys vertues augmēted. The other contrarely that were godly affectioned, as ſome auncient and vertuous perſonages, wyth certain Prieſtes of a leſſe corrupt lyfe, eſteemed hym ſo hyghly, as they truſted by hys endeuor, the iuſtice & integrity of the aunceſtors ſhould be remiſed in their old eſtate. At that time he announced the grace of the Goſpell, in ſorte, that he ſayd lyttle of the abuſes of Rome, or nothing at al. For he thought it was neceſſarye that truth fyrſte knowen, ſhould worke in the hartes of hys auditors, ſo that when they had wel vnderſtanted the true cōntaundements, they myght diſcerne the falſe and repugnaunt. And truly, ſuche was the qualitye of time, he could doo none other. For in this contrariety of opinions and rebellion of people, the truth had rather ben reiected, then y• abuſe reformed. Truth it is in this poynt I cannot cleare thys yong man of all ſuſpicion of ſynne, although with ſacred deſire to ſerue God, he circumſpectly tooke hede by euyl example to abaſe the authority of heauenly doctrine. Thus Zuinglius demeaned hym ſelfe at Glaris. And in thys broil he had good occaſion offered hym to repaire to the hermitage for a ſeaſon. Thither the Lorde Thibaut Gerolzege a Baron inuited hym, a man as wel affectioned to learnyng and learned men, as to true religiō, who was the adminiſtrator of our Ladies Hermitage. The cauſe that moued Zuinglius to repayre thither, was the ſingular deſire he had to publiſh Chriſt and the verity, among diuers & farre diſtant nacions, who for the famous brute of y• place, in frequency flowed thither, and partly the goodly oportunity he ſuppoſed to finde ther to come to a more perfect vnderſtāding of the Greke tong. And happely the euent aunſwered hys expectacion, for there he manifeſted Chriſt, & got perfect intelligence of the Greeke, to vnderſtād more eaſ…ly the newe and old Teſtament. Euen about this tyme the congregacion of Zuricke, deſtitute of a Preuther, …uborned certayn, who did theyr vndeuour to place Zuinglius theyr Superintendent. He was ignoraunt of thys, tyll that a Chanon of the Citye required hym, if he wouldeZuingliꝰ called to Zuricke. diſcharge the prouince of a Preacher, and be theyr Paſtor at Zuricke. He aunſwered he was content, and truſted, that if the grace of god was preacher & receyued in ſo famous a place, the other Cantōs or quarters of Suiderland would followe that example, and by thys meane a godlye reformation would enſue.
And all be it hee was aſſured hee ſhoulde not hauehave lyke ſalarye as before, yet he ſayde, yf they woulde appoynt hym that function, he woulde endeuour to dyſcharge the ſame. But he woulde not requyre it at the tyme of eſertion, as many are accuſtomed, to procure the voyce and ſuffrage of other. I was ſuborned, I truly Agathye, to geue Zuinglius my voyce, whych I gaue, aud receyued graunt for hym. Who was immediatly ſent for, & admitted wyth y• incredible ioy of al good perſōs. A while after being in the Chapiter of the Chanons, he proponed vntounto them, what he determined to teach the people, to wit, the hiſtory of our Sauiour Chriſt, accordyng to S. Mathew, ſo as his vertue, whoſe name thei did aduaunce ſhould not be buryed any lenger, to the detrimēt of diuine glory, & helth of ſoules. Further, he proteſted he wold not expound the ſame by humayn ſence, bindyng himſelfe by othe to any priuate Interpreter, but by conference & induſtrious collection of ſcripture, & by the intelligence of the holy ghoſt, the whych he hoped to obtaine wt humble prayer made vntounto God. This his reſolution made ſome heauy & ſorowful, & ſome ioyful, euen as the voyces before wer not al alike to admit Zuing lius. He began to execute his promis at the Natiuity of our Lord. 1519. and ſynce purſued the ſame. Duryng hysMartine Luther. continue in this, Luthers name begā to grow in credit, & many bought and red his bokes. And albeit Zuinglius as then red thē not, yet he exhorted in his ſermōs his auditors to bie & reade thē. The reaſon that moued Zuinglius to do thys, was becauſe yt people, reading them & vnderſtanding, Zuinglius emploied no time in ſtudi of them, myght conſider in both a conformity and a grement of teachyng & opinion drawen out of the holye ſcriptures, & be the more enflamed to ground vponupon and addict them ſelues to the truthe. Thys godly deuiſe had profitable ſucceſſe a whyle after. Truth it is, the order he obſerued in preaching made much alſo, wherby the ſymple as wel as the learned and ingenious might profit. For he explaned the ſcripture ſo plainlye, and with ſuch dexteritye, that he was lothe any ſhoulde depart from hys ſermons, vnles they were edefied & enriched wyth godlye lore. And as he manifeſtly taught y• truth, and that with great diligence, ſo was he vehement, & ſharpe in reprouyng vice, as much as euer was any man. Aboue al the reſt, he inueyed agaynſt the Penſionaries, the oppreſſors of the poore, & the diſſolute, ydle, & delicious lyuers. He vſed ſuch a maieſty in rebukyng, as neuer none the lyke before, when he thundred wt terrible wordes agaynſt the Penſions & diſſolute lyuing, becauſe he woulde not ſeeme to daſhe and aſtonyſhe the Eſtates, or ſuche of the Commonty, as thronged among the peruers, & reprobate in hearyng his ſermons, he euer more added thys: That thys my vehement rebuke may not agreue & trouble thee, O vertuous man, vnderſtād I touch thee not, nor in thys matter I hauehave to do with thee. Sometime he digreſſed from hys theame, when matters interceadyng enforced hym too ſurceaſe hys begunne purpoſe. But now the bleſſed & happy tyme expired, the ſoūdeſt and beſt part of the people embraced truth, he diſcourſed in hys ſermons againſt thynges leſſe tollerable in the Church, he condempned the priuate gaynes of Prieſtes, & ſuche as by priuate power abuſed the church, whych moued the prieſtes and laity to omit no time of conſultacion, by what wyle, or policies they myght entrap hym. But of thys perhaps I wyl diſcourſe more at large. Now let vsus returne to hys ſtudies: Emong ſoZuingliꝰ Lectures. many laborius affaires, he ceaſed not to read al approued Greeke authors, as Homere, Thucidides and Lucian, that is more playne and eaſy, Theocritus, Heſiodus, Ariſtophanes and other, tyll he had redde and reuolued them all.
And for that hys ſtudye required, and Andrewe Boſcheuſtyn learned in the Hebrue tounge, was come to Zurick to profeſſe the ſame. Zuingglius was hys diligent Scholer, who receyued foorth wyth a marueylous taſte of thys tong. And hauing obtained of the Senate, the erection of a Colledge of good learnyng, and the three tounges, he ſolicited the ſame to ſend for Iames Cepor…us a yong man wel learned in thoſe tounges, to be a publicke profeſſor there. VnderUnder whom he determined to atchieue all that concerned the Greke Grammer.
Awhyle after by conference of the Seuenty and S. Ieromes tranſlacion, he tooke boldnes to expounde the text of Eſay and Hieremy, ryght excellent Prophetes, accompanyenge hym ſelfe wyth Leo Iuda, who had then ſtudyed and trauayled in that knowledge and Felix Mantius, who ſynce was defamed wyth the hereſy… of the Anabaptiſtes. He ſtudyed continually ſtanoyng vp ryght, and preſcribed certayne houres to ſtudye, at whyche he neuer fayled, if hee were not preſſed wyth matters of importaunce.
From earlye morning, tyl tenne of the clocke, he applyed hym ſelfe to reade, interpretate, inſtruct, & write, as tyme and occaſion required. After Dinner he attended to ſuch as would conferre wyth hym in any matter, or required counſell, or he deuiſed and walked wyth hys friendes tyll twoo of the clocks, at whych tyme he returned to hys ſtudye. After Supper he walked a lyttle whyle, and then after he gaue himſelfe to wryte letters, the whyche ſometymes he vſed tyll mydnyght. Further, if the Senate hadde neede of hym in any vrgent matter, he was alwayes ready at theyr commaundement.
And nowe Agathye, if it delyghte you to heare Zuinglius trauayles agaynſt the enemyes of truth, and the attemptes of wy…ye woorkers, wee muſt deryue our dyſcourſe from a far ther and hygher begynnynge.
Albeit that Fraunces Lambert Friar obſeruant of Anguiō, whoſe name is wel knowen to the French & Germayne nacion, ought not to be enrolled among hys enemyes: yet for that of the fyrſt & principal he broched this buſynes agaynſt Zuinglius, he muſt not here be buryed in the vale of oblition. He came to Zurick in hys Fryars weede, & diſputed openly agaynſt Zuinglius, touching the interceſſion of Saints, but I cannot tel who pricked hym, if it were the truth, or that he ſet but a face theron. For after certen propoſitions, he was contented to be reformed, & gaue thankes to God, that he had reuealed the truth vntounto hym ſo playnly by hys excellent Organe. Awhyle after came Iohn Faber, & Martine Blanſhe Preacher of T…ding, addreſſed thyther by Hugo, Byſhop of Conſtaunce, at the requeſt of the inhabitauntes of Zurick. And albeit as thei reported, they had none other Commiſſion thē to vnderſtand the cauſe of the differentes, and endeuour to pac…fy and end them: Neuertheles occaſion ſo offered, & matters ſo fallyng out, they fell into queſtion of the Goſpel, the interceſſion of ſaintes, humaine conſtitucions, and other thynges in ſuch …ort, that they paſſed and conſumed theyr whole iourney in diſputacion herein, and not wyth out emolument, For al the aſſembly, whych was about ſyxe hundred parſons conſidered wel, how vyle & frayl al worldly matters were reſpect of celeſtial thynges. It ſufficed not the Byſhop to hauehave ſent theſe foreſayde parſons. For anon after hys Suffragan came to Zuricke in deliberacion to perſwade them to beleue the interceſſion of Sayntes, & the ſacrifice o… the Maſſe. The whych by hys booke publiſhed abroade, and approued by many ſcholes, he hath labored to confyrme. But he loſt tyme: For a certen noble man of illuſtre famely, & magnanimous, beyng demaunded what the Suffragan had gotten, he aunſwered: The Vicar hath driuen away the Sow, and we bryng the Pygges, or as I mought ſai: the Suffragan hath beaten the buſh, and Zuinglius hath taken the Byrdes. Theſe thynges ſo happely fyniſhed by y• ſingular goodnes of almyghtye God, Zuinglius was enforced to ſet pen to the paper. I wyl not here enterlace the Catalogue of hys bokes, nor declare the vtinty of them, conſidering they be publiſhed and beare ſufficient wytnes of them ſelues. I wyl briefely ſay thys: there is a ſounde doctrine iuigned wyth ſimplicity in them, and I know not where any more efficacy or ſolid… tye maye be founde in anye mannes woorkes, then in hys in myne opinion. In thys hurly burly, I cannot tel what aduertiſment the Pope hadde hereof, but incontinētly he addreſſed hys Ambaſſadour to vsus, and wrate hys Apoſtolicall letters or ſchedule, the tenour wherof enſueth.
Adrian the Pope, the ſyrte of thys name. We…de…oned S…e, we greteA letter ſēt by Adrian y• Pope to Zuingliꝰ. thee well, and ſende ou… Apoſtolicall benediction. We a…ſſe oure reuerende Brother Enn…u… ▪ Byſhoppe of Verules, domeſticall Prelecte, oure Meſſenger, and of oure Apoſtolicall Sea a prudent, and faythfull member, to repayre to the inuincible and moſt confederate nacion vntounto vsus, an… our Apoſtolicall Sea, to ſtreate wyth the ſame of matters of importaunce, and whych appertayne as well to the ſayde Sea, as to the whole eſtate of the Chriſtian common weale. Albeit wee hauehave enioyned hym to propone theſe thynges publickely, yet beyng enfourmed of thy vertue, and effectuallyThe Popes mandate. embracing thy deuotion, as hys whom we ſingularly credit, and hauehave in ſpeciall regarde. We hauehave geuen expreſſe commaundement to the ſayd Byſhoppe our Meſſenger, to delyuer vntounto thee our letters apart, and to aduertiſe thee of our good wyl towards the ſame. We therefore exhort thy deuocion in our Lorde, that thou credit him in all thynges, and that thou hauehave in recōmendacion our affaires, and the affayres of the Apoſtolicall Sea, as we hauehave thyne honour, aduauncement, and profytte, by thys meane thou ſhalt encurre our ſpecial grace and fauour. Geuen at Rome at S. Peters, ſealed wyth the Fyſſhers Kyng. 23. day of Ianuary. 1523.
The cauſe y• moued me to publiſhe this letter here, is to teſtify y• if Zuinglius had bene more ambicious, then he was ſincere & godli, he might hauehave had preeminēt eſtate, & abundance of welth. For not onelye the Pope wrate vntounto hym, but alſo to Fraunces Zuiggien to practiſe wyth Zuinglius, to leane to the Apoſtolical ſea, & mayntayne that part. At a certaine tyme I prayed Fraunces to tell me what the Pope promiſed for the ſame. He aunſwered: certaynly al ſaue hys Papiſtical chayre, or Apoſtolicall ſea. Euen now the Goſpel began to floryſh, and was eſtemed of the greateſt part, for a heauenly trouth, namely of the Senate of Zurick, and of the Councell of the. 2. hūdred, wherfore Zuinglius began to ſtudy to reduce thynges to a better ſtate & to procede orderli. Thei altered fyrſt thoſe things whych empeſched the propagacion & aduauncement of the Goſpell. The nombre of Prieſtes and Moonkes were growen in tract of tyme to a more huge multitude, then neede required, for matter of religion. It was then ordayned by the Senate, throughe the perſwaſion of Zuinglius: that the nombre ſhuld be abridged & reduced to fewe, & thoſe neceſſary for the ſeruice of y• Church, prouided that none ſhoulde be depriued or expelled theyr benefice, but enioy the reuenue of the ſame, duryng theyr lyfe, & deceaſed, none to be ſubſtitute in theyr place. The three ordersThe Monkes ſee at lyberty. of Monkes were ſpoyled of theyr religious attyre, and put al together in a place, whence they myghte go forth as oft, and when they thought good wythout any contradiction, eyther to marry or to apply theyr ſtudy. If any would not ſauour y• ſwetenes of the Goſpel, they had lybertye to go and do where & what they would, in ſuch ſort, as none had hys conſcience charged. The eccleſiaſtical reuenues were employed vponupon the miniſters of the Church, y• profeſſors of good learning, the reſt of the prieſts & Monkes and on the poore. There were found amōg theſe yong men of great expectacion, and purely affectioned to the ſtudy of piety. Such were reſerued in hope to ſerue the church, & were nouriſhed through out the whole ſignory of Zuricke, and after were employed as neede required. Zuinglius alſo a zelous man towardes ſacred & good learnyng had builded the foundacion of a ſchoole, whyche had not bene infer our to any, yf death had not diſſolued by fatal ſtroke his godly purpoſe. Further, he deputed certaine of the Counſell to vnderſtand and examine the ſtate of Matrimonye. He perſwaded to abolyſhe the Images, whyche were then worſhipped, to deface and teare in peeces the Maſſe, & to ſet vp y• Supper of our lord in his integrity
From this tyme forwardes the hereſye of the Anabaptiſtes beganne to bourgen, who would not permit thatHereſye of Anabaptiſtes. little Children ſhoulde be baptiſed, & after rebaptiſed them ſelues, and proceding with an enraged mynde, they ruſhed into the moſt horrible hereſies that euer raigned. As ſoone as Zuinglius perceiued thys, for that y• principal Authors▪ were his friendes, learned men, of Zuricke and of his flock, he endeuoured bi familiar conference to reduce thē to …anity of mynde. But when he ſaw, that what they concludedZuingliꝰ oppo…th hymſelf agaynſt the hereſies of the Anabaptistes. in his preſence, reuolting anone after, they obſerued no part of theyr promyſe, and heaped nombers of diſciples ſequeſtrynge them from the Church, and framyng another new, it was erpedient for hym to reſyſte Sathan, and publikly confound them Beleue me Agathy, I was preſent at nyne ſeueral times, and hearde theyr friendly conference and vehement diſputacions, it ſhall be ſuperſtuous to enlarge any further hereof. Certenly theyr mouthes ſo ſwarmed wyth iniuriousIniuries & blaſphemyes agaynſt Zuinglius. reportes & blaſphemies, that they abaſhed not to charge and lay on Zuinglius al the euyls & miſchiefes which are figuratly ſetforth in the reuelaciō of S. Iohn. This peſtiferous ſect was of this nature, the more we trauailed to repreſſe their inſolencye, the more they encreaſed in theyr furor and raging heate. Wherefore the Senate was enforced to proceede againſt them by way of impriſonment exile, and death, as not agaynſt Anabaptiſtes, but periured, rebel, & ſedicious parſons, for y• they eſtemed vanitye, more then veritye, preferred vyce aboue vertue, & embracing ſediciō, hated ſecurity. And it was neceſſary to ſence & fortefy y• godly wt bokes, leaſt they might be ſeduced. The laſt that was found of this ſect was Baldaſar Hubmer enſeigne bearer of the Anabaptiſtes, who of a friend & felow of y• Goſpel was becom a miſcheuous foe. Thys fyrſt wyth writing bewrayed hys wickednes, after in the preſence of the deputed Counſellours approned the ſame. For being eſcaped from Walſhut, a Towne ſituate by the Rhene, he came to render hym ſelf to the Lordes of Zuricke, wher he was apprehended. He required the Lordes of the Counſayle he myghte conferre with Leo Iuda, Sebaſtiā Economus and me. The whych was graunted vntounto him for the ſecond time. We traualied ſo much with hym, that vndoutedly he promiſed to ſubmyt him ſelfe the morrow after. Cōming then from the Senate houſe to the Temple, he aſcended the Pulpit, after Zuinglius was gone downe, & confirmed all that he had taught before, ſaying he was moued therto, becauſe Zuinglius had prayſed ſo muche that vertue Conſtancy, intitulyng and callyng ſo hys partinacious opinion. He was then brought backe to pryſon, where he was deteyned, tyll Zuinglius ſecretly releaſed hym, and ſent hym away, not wythout money & a guyde. And arriuing at Conſtance, he ſo detracted and moſt impudētly defamed Zuinglius, that he was forced wyth an Apology to cleare hymſelfe to the brethren, wherein largely he treatedDiſputation at bad… of the Anabaptiſtes horrible hereſye.
Now ye requyre to vnderſtand the diſputacion at Bade, and fyrſt of all what was the cauſe the Lords of Zuricke would not permit Zuinglius to be there preſent. But for as much as the whole diſcourſe of the ſame is diuu…ged & imprinted, I had rather addreſſe you thyther, yet doubtynge I ſhould ſeme ignoraunt of the whole. I ſend you the Lordes letters of Zuricke to Iohn Eccius with the ſafeconduct & promyſe of good men, that inuited hym to conferre wyth Zuinglius, and diſcuſſe the ſacred trouth of the old and new teſtament to the common profit of al the Church. For Eccius had enterpriſed in two Epiſtles directed to the Embaſſadours of the league, to conuince and confute the errours and hereſy of Zuinglius, by the reading of theſe letters, & for that Eccius made none account of y• that was wrytten to him, you may vnderſtand the Lordes intencion, why they ſtayed Zuinglius, although he hymſelfe aunſwered ſufficiently that matter▪ in hys woorkes agaynſt Faber, & would to God I had euen nowe that diſputacion to ſend to you. Al be it he was not preſent in the diſputacion: yet he labored as much with care, diligence, counſel, aduertiſement, exhortacion and writing, whych he ſent to Bade, as though he had aided againſt the enemies of y• truth. For my part I deſyre nothyng more, then to hauehave ſene hym face to face diſputyng wyth Eccius at ful liberty: I beleue the .v. lytle Cantons of Suicerland had giuen perfect iudgement, where the lye or trouth had reſted, but it was not lawful for hym to be ther. Since that tyme, findyng ſecurity in trauayl, he went to Berne wher was Murnerus & Eccius, wyth. 4. Byſhops, and certayn principall Moonkes, whych the counſel of Berne required vnderunder ſurety to repayre thyther. Trouth it is, he was garded with. 200. men of armes to paſſe by the confederate Coūtries. He made alſo a long iourney to Marpurge, to conferre wyth Martine Luther, and Phillyp Melancthon, of the Euchariſtical Sacrament, not doubtyng ani thing, becauſe it was a place voyde of daunger. You cannot chuſe but euidently perceyue, he hath endured great trauayles in theſe affaires. Diuers called hym teacher of new opinions, becauſe of hys iudgement of the ſupper of our Lord. But I beleue if they had red with equitye, and well weyed that y• he wrote to the Princes of Germany, aſſembled at Auſburg, they woulde hauehave iudged other wyſe. I remyt you to the booke, fearing is loſe tyme. For what perſwaſion wyl auayle hym, that in the ſame treatiſe of the Supper of our Lorde, wyll not perceyue and learne the truth? Hytherto we hauehave treated of the paynes and trauayles he ſuſtayned to defend the verity, and nowe we wyll declare the peryiles he incurred for the ſame.
After that the Prieſtes and Monks were expulſed theyr Cloyſters, and otherThe Priſtes and Monkes▪ growē on of credit. Religious houſes, and ſentence …iffinitiue pronounced againſt them, that receiued Princes penſions, they attempted dyuers wayes to deſtroye him. I wyl wryte of them that be notoriouſly knowe, and paſſe in ſilence hys ſecrete and lurkyng enemyes. At a certen tyme there knocked one at hys doore after my▪ night, and prayed hym to come and viſit one nygh dead. Hys Deacon aunſwered, y• he would not awaken his Mayſter, but repayre to the ſycke hym ſelfe. The other importunatly refuſed, ſo as he bewraied hys wretched entent, wherfore y• Deacon faining he would go and awaken hys Maiſter, ſhut the dore cloſely, and ſuffered the Caitiffe to tarye there at hys pleaſure. And when it was daye, Zuinglius had intelligēce, this was a ſubtile ſleyght. Fyrſt, to take him ſo daynlye, then to ſnaff…e hys mouth, & ſtoppe his ſpeeche, and ſo to cary hym away in a boate. Awhyle after, they had prepared a horſe ſecretly, for the lyke purpoſe. Further, we hauehave ſent an e…pial wandring vp and downe in the Towne, & wearyng a long ſwerd hyred to encounter Zuinglius, & then to murder hym. Lykewiſe two Inhabitaunts of Zurick, whom I wil not name, came one night when thei we… wel wh…tled, and aſſailed Zuinglius houſe, threw ſtones, brake the wyndowes, belched out raylyng wordes, … ſo inſolently demeaned them ſelues that no neyghbour durſt rebuke them They ſtayed not, tyl ſtones, ſtrength and ſclaunder failed them. In y• mornyng the Counſell was aduertiſed of this tumult, the gates of the City cō maunded to be ſhut, and men clad wt armure to ſearch them eueryevery where, vntyl that certain wemen, whych conſented to thys miſcheuous & ſcelerate fact, diſcloſed one of them, for y• other a lytle before was eſcaped the towne. This one was found in a new caſke, and committed to pryſon, & after many ſentences geuen, was appoynted a perpetual priſoner, and in few wekes after releaſed at the requeſt of thoſe of Berne. Often tymes Zuinglius ſupped wyth hys friendes, or wt ſuche as came to the towne, in hys returne he neuer went vngarded home. The Senate in thys troublous ſturre cauſed warde and watch to be kept about hys houſe. But if he found ſecurity in thys theyr vigilant garde, certes, he was moleſted wyth thouſande other troubles. They called hym Penſionary, becauſe in time paſt he receiued a yearely penſion of the Pope, ignorant then it was any ſynne. As touchynge that hee excuſed hym ſelfe to the Germaynes in thys wyſe: Where as I hauehave had to doo ſometyme wyth the Pope, that is ceaſed now long agone. I thought then it was lawfull to receyue his money, to maintayne hys party. But when I knewe myne errour, I religned hys penſion, which is the cauſe y• Popes Deputies conne …e ſmal thankes: yea, defame & ſcorn me, as though I were cu…pable, for aſ muche as they perſwade men, that in taking the Popes money, God is ſincerely ſerued. And writing to Berchtho… Ha…er, and Caſpar Megander, touchyng Princes preſentes, he ſayth thus: I eſteme the glori of Chriſt, yea myne own, more then al the treaſure of worldly Princes, much leſſe the benefites and …argeſſe of one Kyng. I hauehave learned what princely rewards pretend, ſo that auarice hath no more place in me, albeit ſhe is familiar and atteding vponupon old age. And his aduer ſaries not ſatiſfied to call him theefe, ad…u…erer & heretik, to defame his doctrine & abaſe his credit, they hyſſed & barked at him publicklye, as though they had bene …unatike perſons. But when theſe ſilly mad doltes ſaw they preuailed not againſt the Goſpel and ſeruauntes of God: they conuerted theyr ſtingyng & hyſſing agaynſt ſuch as had receiued the word of God, hoping to irritate them, & pull them frō the ſauour of hym, who ſeemed to be the author (as they peruerſely iudged) of their euyll. They ſo reproched and mocked hym, that the Senate of Zuricke determined in re…u…ſe theſe iniuries, and c…u…lius aſſaultes. I had nede to wryte a large volume, to ſuche as deſyre to vnderſtande or deſcriue hys affayres. In the ende there were apoynted new confederacies for the tuicion of Chriſtiā doctrine, with out viola…yng or doyng preiudice to the auncient all…unce, whyche was not done wythout the ſyngular diligence and great trauayle of Zuinglius. Not that he attempted ani thing agaynſt the peace (for neuer lyke …lagitious deuiſe coulde penetrate the brayne of ſuche a louer of hys Countrye) but that by thys pollecye he hoped to eradicate the …yces then ſwarmyng, and to plant the true and ſyncere Religion, to the honour of God▪ and the common profit of Swicerlād, or els in defending Gods cauſe, thus to enflame all mens hartes to prayſe the Lord, and by the magnificence of this new confederacy, to aſtoniſh and daſh the aduerſaries, therby the ſonerZuingliꝰ writeth to hys friendes. to wyn and reclayme them to Chriſt. Thys incontinently moued certayne furious Papiſtes to fall to weapons, and broche inteſtine warre. Wherupon Zuinglius wrate to hys friendes in thys maner.
I wil repeate vntounto you that I hauehave often wrytten, that is, that ye be conſtant, and not dyſmayd with the war, for ye peace that ſome ſollicite ſo carefully, is a warre and no peace, & the warre that we enterpriſe, is peace & not warre. For we couet not ye bloud of any lyuing creature, & abhorre the effuſion of the ſame in thys commocion: but our whole entent is to interrupte the licencious gouernment of ſome. If thys he not taken in hande, the Goſpell ſhall neuer hauehave his free courſe, nor the Miniſters of the ſame lyue in ſecurity. Our determinacion tendeth to no cruelty, but all that we deliberate, is friendly and paternal. We deſyre to preſerue ſuche as by ignorancy procure theyr perdicion. We be reſolued to defende liberty, wherefore diſdayne not our enterpriſes, for certaynly they be more godly and iuſt then is reported vntounto you. Credit▪ vsus, and be not ſeduced by ſuche as accuſe vsus. Ye hauehave tryed our conſtancye and faythfulnes, and well perceyued our enemies leuity, and diſſimulaciō. Be preſent wyth our company, & obſerue conſtantly the fayth ye owe to God & men. What ſhal I ſay further? dread nothyng, we wyl atchieue al thynges ſo proſperouſly (God helping vsus) as ye ſhall not be a ſhamed, nor repent ye hauehave combyned your ſelues wyth vsus.
Theſe were Zuinglius woordes, whych I hauehave recited here to declare how iniuſtlye he is nominated of certayne a Bloudſucker. It is moſt true he was magnanimous and cōſtant in greateſt daungers, but alwayes cyrcumſpect, prouident and wiſe. He neuer thurſted the bloud of anye, no …ot of hys extremeſt foes, whych euerye wyſe man & Chriſtiā Miniſter ought to deteſt. The very ground & foundacion of al hys enterpriſes, was the libertye of hys Countrye, the vertue of the Aunceltors, & the glory of Chriſt, what ſo euer his enemies ceblaterate the which I proteſt in trouth before God. He was twyſe in the warres of the confederates, which bare y• name of a Monaſterye called the Chappell. He wyllinglye went to the firſte, becauſe he would be preſent at the conſultacion, fearyng any thyng ſhoulde be decree… ther contrary to right and equity. The matter was ended well, and without effuſion of broud. I hauehave heard him ſay he perceiued more malice, and peruers counſel ther, then euer before he red in vokes, or had learned by experience. In the ſecond war he was elected Paſtor of the armye, where he went vnwyllyngly, foreſeing the peryl that was iminent. The condicion of the warre myſliked hym marueilouſly, and the rather for that he ſawe the enemyes victailes cut of, vnderſtanding well what myſchiefe hunger would brede & compel. Albeit to ſpeake truly, after thoſe of Zurick had enterpryſed the ſame (wherunto certayne whom we knowe prycked them of a good zeale, hopynge in the meane ſeaſon there would be a conſultacion and treaty of peace made, notwithſtanding the Lordes of Zuricke had choſe the warce) Zuinglius was not determined to alter anye thyng, doubting the enemyes woulde make no accompt of them, as he paſſed not much to wythſtand theyr inuaſion.
Fourtene dayes before the armye was encamped, I hearde hym twyſe ſay in pulpit wher he preached, in the midſt of this broil: I know wel what thys meaneth, all thys is to procureiny death. He declared ſecretly to certayne of his friendes, that the blaſing ſtarre which appeared many wekes, and whiche we ſuppoſed to portende Ecolampadius deceaſe: ſignified hys fatal fall. The Soldiours of Zuricke ruſhed forth in great diſorder. I cannot but ſorowfully lament, when I cal to mynde that doleful tyme. They marched not lyke men of warre in euen rankes, but lyke a ſorte of venturours, ſome ſtraglyng abroade, ſome runnyng before and behynde the Enſeygne, deſtitute of conduct counſell, and pollecye, and accorded not one wyth an other.
I cannot name them to be any great nomber of me of armes, for wher thei wer muſtred. 5000. they appeared not in the field ful. 4000. Then as thys lyttle nomber approched to encountre a huge army and in perfect order, Zuinglius folowed mounted on horſ backe, accordyng to the maner of the Country. I cannot expreſſe the dolor and ſorrowe I ſuſteyned, when I beheld him, truly I was aſtoniſhed ther with. We mourned all that day, and made our humble prayer vntounto God. But he hadde decreed an other thyng for vsus, and not agaynſt vsus, as I holily expounded the ſame. For by thys we hauehave learned to be more circumſpect, and to take better hede, reuerencyng more the Goſpel, and fearyng God alſo. And the enemyes that reſiſted the Goſpel, are now diſcloſed, and manifeſted to vsus. About the euenyng of the day, we were aduertiſed that the battayles had ioyned very hotely, & that we had loſt Zuinglius. The brute went he was thriſe diſmounted, with the checke of the Troupe, but incontinētly he was holpen vp on horſeback… agayn, and the fourth tyme he was ſtryken on the chynne with a terryble blowe, and fallyng downe from hys horſe vponupon hys knees, he ſayd: what euyl hap is thys? they may flea the body, but not the ſoule, and thys ſpoken he departed in our Lord.
After thys ouerthrow, the enemies hauyug good leyſure (for our Soldiours were retired into place of ſafegarde) ſought for the body of Zuinglius. But who teld them he was in yt battayle and ſlayne? The body beyng founde, was condempned, and after ſentence geuen, diſmembred & burnt to aſhes. Behold y• diſcourſe of Zuinglius lyfe, lo the accident of his death which he ſuffered for the ſingular affection he bare to hys Countrye, and Chriſtian common weale. Truth it is, thys end is horryble in the ſyght of mortall men, but precious before God, and is predeſtinate to al faithful Miniſters by diuine iuſtice, if y• Lord of hys grace and ſyngular bountye, ſpare them not.
I ſuppoſe Agathy, I hauehave ſatiſfied your requeſt, I hauehave obſerued as I promyſed, trouth ioyned wyth breuitye, not forcyng for fyne termes, and elegāt phraſes. I pray God ſome learned and godlye man, ſuccedinge me, may deſcriue and beautefy thys hiſtorye, as truely, ornately, and learnedly, as the profite of the ſtudious ſort, and the dygnitye of thys excellent man doe requyre.
Farewell, it maye pleaſe you to accept thys my trauayle in friendly part. At Zurycke the yeare 1532. (:)
Vireſcit vulnere virtus
¶ To the fauourable Reader.
IHumbly require thee, fauourable Reader, to beare wyth ſuch faultes as hauehave eſcaped in the prynting, I truſt in the next impreſſion more emendaily to publiſh theſe godlye hiſtories. In the meane ſeaſon I thought good to admoniſhe thee of one abſurdirye, whiche might argue mere ignoraunce, if I would not aduertiſe thee of the ſame. In my Epiſtle dedicatorye to the Lorde Wentworth, where as is wrytten (and the body is no body, but a ſepulture) reat ſepulchre. The reſt I ſubmit to th… learned correction.
Farewel.
Imprinted at London by Iohn Awdely, dwellyng in lytle Britayne ſtr…te, by great S. Battelmewes. (⸫)
End of the text · Philipp Melanchthon, History of Three Renowned Reformers (1561)