nd lastly, their
threats to appear before the Bernese districts. Yet it was Thomas
Murner, who finally brought the matter to an issue. If Eck and Faber
were undoubtedly fitted by their noble external appearance--their
scientific and worldly training, to gain influence among the higher
classes, so was the barefooted monk not less the man, to work upon the
multitude: to inspire some with enthusiasm and rouse up others to
anger. We have seen with what dogmatical, cunning and rude language he
assailed, at Baden, not only Zwingli, but the Zurichers, and all the
adherents of the Reformer, to the great displeasure of many, especially
the Bernese. The publication of the Acts of the Disputation was now
committed to this man, by the government at Luzern. In compliance with
truth, it must be said, that he was guilty of no falsification; for the
printed copy agrees accurately with the manuscripts of the four
secretaries, which are still extant; but they would not believe this in
Basel or Bern, without comparing the documents, on account of the
violent assertions contained in other writings which he then published.
Among these, everything else was eclipsed by the so-called Libel
Almanac, whose appearance, with its vulgar wit, its coarse language and
its blood-thirsty spirit, was demanded by party-hatred. The almanac of
the Zurichers gave rise to its publication, because they had omitted
the names of the saints. Instead of these, those of the Reformers and
their most prominent adherents were now introduced under opprobrious
epithets, with printed caricatures alongside. It was issued in
Luzern--tinder the eyes of the government--and widely circulated. And
as the preachers and other respectable men of Bern were not spared in
it, the government demanded satisfaction--indeed united with that of
Zurich for this purpose. These two states were thus drawn nearer and
nearer together. The former appeared at the conferences instituted by
the latter in opposition to those of the Five Cantons, and when, on
Easter Tuesday of the year 1527, the election for the Councils arrived,
the friends of reform carried the day by a decisive victory. Some of
the most violent of their opponents were ousted from both Councils, and
several others, among whom was Caspar von Muelinen, before mentioned as
deputy at Baden, were obliged to go back from the Small to the Great
Council; but the question was put to all the districts of the Canton,
whether, in order to plea