session of their rights; until
the religious usages were restored, and divine worship celebrated after
the old mode in the church of the foundation. But just as plainly did
Zurich and St. Gall declare that this should not be. The subjects of
the monastery were now roused up by Zurich, and many in Toggenburg
began to hope even for complete deliverance from all foreign rule.
Reconciliation had become impossible. In a letter of advice, drawn up
by Zurich and St. Gall, it is expressly said: "Matters have come to
this pass, that either our Lords, together with our confederates and
christian fellow-citizens of St. Gall and the entire population of the
abbacy (_Gotteshauschente_), to whom our Lords have pledged life and
property, for the ministry of the Divine Word, or else Sir Kilian, the
pretended abbot, must bend and break."

In this business Zwingli took a very active part. His plans in relation
to it were so comprehensive that he did not look for entire approval in
Zurich herself. Not only were the lawful claims of the two cantons,
Luzern and Schwyz, to a share in the deliberations on the affairs of
St. Gall, wholly set aside, but Glarus also was not to be heard, except
in so far as she agreed with Zurich in the fundamental principle laid
down by him. This principle, that all spiritual lordship is
unscriptural, and therefore unjust--a principle, which he was ready to
avow, defend and prove clearly on the field of science, he carried
over, as already shown, into the sphere of politics and wished to apply
it to a treaty made in times, when men knew nothing of it, and with
parties, who did not even yet recognize it. Hence an opinion drawn up
by him has this heading: "Advice how the deputies ought to treat,
either with or without the deputies of Glarus, so that the monastery of
St. Gall, its abbot and its monks may be surprised, overcome and put up
at auction with their monkhood and lordship, and knocked down to the
Four Cantons." On the margin is added: "Not to be read before the
burghers" (Great Council).

It was then proposed, in plain language, to send full orders to the
governor-general to call together the subjects of the abbey everywhere
in their several parishes, and announce to them that Zurich was
resolved, as far as lay in her power, to prevent the acknowledgment of
the abbot elect and the choice of any successor; since there could be
no concord between monkery and the Gospel--that she had no desire to
invade the