private aims. Though it cannot be denied,
that in later times respectable men have lived in our country under the
name of Anabaptists, and are even yet to be found, still their moral
worth springs not from their otherwise innocent mode of baptism, but
from their religious exercises, their simple way of living, and the
good examples, which they have before their eyes. Yet here also we
durst not forget, that it is not the part of history to examine
articles of faith, but to keep to events and the external phenomena of
life.

In May, 1424, when the decree of the government was issued for the
abolition of images and the mass, it was told in Zurich, that the
inhabitants of Zollikon, roused by the preaching of Br[oe]dlein, had
broken down the images and altars in the church and even carried away
the baptismal font; that the doctrine had spread among them, that it
was unchristian to baptise children, because no examples of it were
found in the Gospel, although frequent mention was made of the baptism
of adults; that in fact a deluded multitude had desired to be baptised
again; that it had been granted to them by several, who set themselves
up for apostles; that some ran about in the houses preaching,
explaining the Scriptures and administering the Supper; that others,
and those often the most simple, pretended to prophesy; and that in
general an improper and blasphemous game was carried on in religious
matters. They were informed also that Manz and Grebel had appeared
there, and the foolish movement was beginning to spread over the
surrounding country.

Whilst a portion of the people fell in with such follies, disturbances
arose at the same time in the opposite quarter. The majority of the
inhabitants of Meilen would no longer suffer their two priests, who had
married, to enter the church. They broke into their houses, wasted
their wine and provisions, and it was only with difficulty that the
government succeeded in bringing about a sort of compromise between the
shepherds and their flock.

A month later followed the so-called "Storming of Ittingen." The
_landvogt_ in the Thurgau had taken the reformer [OE]chsli prisoner,
and was conveying him by night to the tower at Stein. He cried out for
help; the watchful citizens of Stein, on the strength of documents,
which gave the right to do this only to them, hurried after, to set him
at liberty. Their neighbors of Stammheim, in the canton of Zurich,
joined them, and the whole