is
very first interference of the high ecclesiastical dignitaries, the
affair took a direction, which it retained in every step that followed.
"What Zwingli himself has to say in regard to this event deserves
careful attention.[4]

"When"--he writes to his friend, the canon Erasmus Fabricius, then
pastor at Stein--"on the seventh of April the ambassadors, of whose
approach I had already been apprized, had reached Zurich, I wished much
to learn what their purpose might be. But night had set in, before my
faithful assistant, Henry Luethy, came with the news, that the
_notarius_ (as he is called) had an order to summon all the priests to
attend early in the morning in the hall of the convent. I esteemed it a
good omen, that the business was to be opened by a courser so dull and
limping. Scarcely had we assembled on the morrow, when the bishop began
in a fashion, which I will portray further on in the conduct of affairs
before the Council. The whole speech was violent, threatening and
haughty, although he carefully abstained from any personal allusions to
myself and even avoided calling me by name. His declamation over, I
stepped out, thinking it unbecoming and pusillanimous not to neutralize
an address, that might do so much injury, especially because I could
perceive by their smothered sighs, and read in the paleness of their
faces the strong impression it had made on several priests, who shortly
before had been won over to the Gospel and were not yet firm as rocks.
Concisely and boldly I replied to the suffragan, in what sense and
spirit, let the valiant ones, who have heard me, judge. The most
important part of it you will learn meanwhile, when I come to describe
the session of the Council. The speakers withdrew from this wing, as
though he were beaten or put to flight, and hastened to another field
of combat, namely the hall of the Council, where, as some of the
members informed me, they brought it forward, likewise sparing my name,
yet with the declaration, lest I might perhaps be called in, that they
had nothing to do with me. After a short discussion, it was resolved to
have as full a meeting of the Great Council as possible on the
following day, and also to guard against the admission of the people's
priests, as there was no dependence to be placed on them and their
language, so unexceptionable, could not be contradicted. Through the
whole day I tried my utmost to gain admission for us, but in vain. The
burgomaste