nnoticed."

The earliest traces of a fire, which afterwards broke out
destructively, began to appear first on the evening of the second day.
Mention has already been made of Conrad Grebel, Zwingli's previous
friend and admirer, and also of his father, the councilor Jacob Grebel.
The history of this family, truly told, would be a warning for all, who
expect from the chances of fortune that happiness, which is only to be
found in contentment and a pure conscience. A skillful man of business,
frequently employed in the affairs of Zurich and the Confederacy, the
father had formed extensive connections. His house in Zurich was always
open to the ambassadors of foreign princes and distinguished allies; in
consequence of which his expenses gradually became greater than his
income. His sons and daughters grew up. Their welfare and that of the
family was sought in splendid living. The elder daughter became
prioress of the convent of [OE]denbach; the younger, at a later period,
the wife of Vadianus; she was the most fortunate of the children, the
only one happy till a ripe old age. One of the sons entered the service
of the Archduke Ferdinand as a gentleman of the bed-chamber; the other,
Conrad, lived at Vienna and Paris on sums of money, which the father
knew how to obtain from the Emperor, the King of France, and Duke
Sforza of Milan. His extravagance aided not a little in the ruin of the
family. More and more the father put himself under dangerous
obligations to strangers. He did it too, after the penalty of death had
been affixed to the taking of foreign pensions. Already had one son
been dismissed from the service of the Archduke, and Conrad returned
home in shattered health and burdened with debt. The convent at
[OE]denbach was broken up; the mother tormented by sickness, domestic
calamities and her own passionate disposition, increased the general
misery. Then the bribery of the father came to light, and an old man,
with snow-white hair, he ended his days on the scaffold, in 1526. His
dignified behavior, when led to the block, excited universal pity. Some
months before he had begged the authorities to pardon his ruined son,
the chief cause of his misfortunes.[13] For himself, he would not do
it. What value would a longer life have had in view of such a downfall!

We have anticipated, in order to show the fate of the family in its
connection; the thread of our story now leads us back to Conrad. To no
common abilities he ha