these points, touching my morals, if they were not
prejudicial to the good city of Zurich; for, since it would be a great
disgrace to so glorious a city, if it suffered such vices even in a
boy, I need not speak of one, who is devoted to God's Word and the
common salvation of men. As to this, wise and gracious Lords, let it be
far from you to put faith in any one, who speaks what he pleases
against others or myself; for the times are perilous. The devil, who is
an enemy of the truth, has used all his arts to cast down and destroy
it. Therefore it is my humble prayer to Your Worships, that, as
heretofore, if they have somewhat to say to me, or any one somewhat
against me, he or they seek me before my Lords at Zurich, where I am a
citizen and a canon; besides a born Toggenburger and a countryman at
Schwyz and Glarus. Bat, as for as regards the doctrine of Christ, I ask
no other protection from any one, than may serve to prevent
interference against the pure word of God; and each and every one shall
see, if God will, that since I laid hold of the Gospel of Christ, I
have never taught anything, whose ground I did not search into
beforehand, as far as God permitted. Understand this my plain, hasty
letter in the best sense; for it is written without deceitful cunning.
Let it also be made public, so that each and every one can see my
innocence. And may Almighty God keep your State in his grace and honor!
Amen."

There is nothing in the records of the Recesses to show, whether this
vindication was really read before the Diet. It is certain, however,
that it was known to the individual members, among whom, as well as
among the States, opinions concerning Zwingli already began to be
divided, and his adherents were treated with far more mildness in Bern,
Solothurn, Basel and Schaffhausen, than in Luzern, Freiburg and the
three Forest Cantons. In Glarus several of the most influential members
of the government continued to keep up a correspondence with him, or a
friendly feeling toward him; indeed, the government of Bern, as early
as June, 1528, issued a decree, that that only, which could be proved
by the Holy Scripture, should be taught in the pulpit; and, at the
close of the same year, the nuns of K[oe]nigsfeld received permission
to leave the convent, if they desired it.

In this respect, the Council of Zurich had already taken the lead in
the month of June, by doing the same thing for the Sisters at
[OE]denbach. The wealth