nons, where Zuinglius was the same tyme dwellyng, complainyng likewise of such new teachers, which troubled the Church, and exhorted them earnestly, to beware and to take diligent heede to themselues. And for somuch as both the pope and the Emperours Maiestie had cōdemned all such new doctrine by their decrees and Edictes, he willed them therfore to admitte no such new innouations of doctrine, without the common consent of them, to whom the same did appertayne. Zuinglius hearing therof, referreth hys cause to the iudgemēt and hearing of the Senate, not refusing to render vnto them accomt of his faith. And for somuch as the byshops letter was read openly in the colledge, Zuinglius directeth an other letter to the Byshop agayne, declaring that þ^e said letter proceeded not from the Byshop, nor that he was ignoraunt who were the authors thereof, desiring hym not to folow their sinister counsayles, for that truth (sayd he) is a thyng inuincible, and can not be resisted. After he same tenour, certaine other of the Citie likewyse wrote vnto the Byshop, desiring him that he woulde attempt nothyng, that should be preiudiciall to the libertie & free course of þ^e Gospell: requiring moreouer that he would forbeare no longer the filthy and infamous lyfe of priestes, but that he would permitte them to haue their lawfull wiues. &c. Thys was in the yeare of our Lord. 1522.

MarginaliaZuinglius writeth to the Heluetians. Besides this, Zuinglius wrote also an other letter to the whole nation of the Heluetians, monishing them, in no case to hynder the passage of sincere doctrine, nor to inferre any molestation to priestes that were maryed.MarginaliaPriestes maryage. For as for the vowe and coaction of their single lyfe, it came (sayd he) of the deuill, and a deuilish thing it is. And therfore, wheras the sayd Heluetians had such a rite and custome in their townes and pages,MarginaliaAn olde vse of the Heluetians to forewarne their priestes to take concubines. that when they receaued any new priest into their Churches, they vsed to premonish hym before to take hys concubine least he should attempt any misuse with their wiues and daughters: he exhorted them that they would no lesse graunt vnto them to take their wyues in honest matrimony, then to take concubynes and harlotes, agaynst the precept of God.

MarginaliaZuinglius resisted by aduersaries. Thus as Zuinglius continued certayne yeares, labouring in the word of the Lord, offence began to rise at thys new doctrine, and diuers stept vp, namely the Dominicke Friers on the contrary side, to preach & inuey against hym. But he keeping himselfe euer within the Scriptures, protested that he would make good by the worde of God, that which he had taught. Vpon this the Magistrates & Senate of Zuricke, sent forth their cōmaundement to all priestes & ministers within their dominion, to repayre to the citie of Zuricke, agaynst the xxix. day of Ianuary next ensuyng (this was. an. 1523.)MarginaliaDisputations at Zurike about religion. there euery one to speake freely, and to be heard quietly, touching these controuersies of religion, what could be sayd, directing also their letters to the Byshop of Cōstance, that he would either make his repaire thether himselfe, or els to send hys deputie. When the day appointed came,MarginaliaIoan. Faber Stapulenses against Zuinglius. and the Byshops vicegerent, which was Ioannes Faber, was also present: the Consul first declaryng the cause of this their frequencie and assemble (which was for the dissension newly risen about matters of Religion) required, that if any there had to obiect, or inferre against the doctrine of Zuinglius, he should freely and quietly vtter and declare hys mynde.

MarginaliaEx Sled. lib. 3.
Lxvij. articles of Zuinglius. Zuinglius had disposed his matter before, and cōtriued all his doctrine in a certeine order of places, to the number of lxvij. Articles: which articles he had published also abroad before, to the ende that they which were disposed, myght resort thether better prepared to the disputation. When the Consul had finished that which he woulde say, and had exhorted other to begyn: then Faber first entring the matter, began to declare the cause of hys sendyng thether,MarginaliaIohn Faber refuseth disputatiō. and afterward would perswade, that this was no place conuenient, nor time fitte for discussing of such matter by disputatiō, but rather that the cognition & tractation thereof belonged to a generall Councell, which he sayd, was already appointed, and now neare at hand. Notwithstanding, Zuinglius still continued vrging and requiring hym, that if he had there any thyng to say or to dispute, he would openly and freely vtter hys mynde. To this he aūswered agayne, that he would confute hys doctrine by writing. This done, with a fewe other wordes on both sides had to and fro, when no man wouldMarginaliaThe assemble of Zuricke brake vp without disputation. appeare, there to offer any disputation, the assemble brake and was discharged.MarginaliaThe gospel publikely receaued in Zuricke
Traditions of men abolyshed. Wherupon the Senate of Zuricke incontinent caused to be proclaymed through all their dominion and territorie, that the traditions of men should be displaced and abandoned, and the Gospell of Christ purely taught out of the olde and newe Testament. an. 1523. Ex Ioan. Sled. lib. 3.

When the Gospell thus began to take place, and to florishe in Zuricke and certaine other places of Heluetia, the yeare next folowing, an. 1524. an other assemble of the Hel- uetians was cōuented at Lucerna, where this decree was made on the contrary part:MarginaliaConstitutions made in the coūcel of Lucerne. That no man should deride or contemne the word of God, which had bene taught now aboue a thousand and foure hūdreth yeares heretofore: nor the Masse to be scorned, wherein the both of Christ is consecrated, to the honour of God, and to the comfort both of the quicke, and the dead.

That they which are able to receiue the Lordes body at Easter, shall confesse their sinnes in Lent to the Priest, and do all other thynges, as the vse and maner of the Churche requireth.

That the rites and customes of holy Church be kept.

That euery one obey his own proper pastor and curate, and to receaue the Sacramentes of hym, after the maner of holy Church, and to pay him his yearely dutyes.

That honour be geuen to Priestes.

Item, to absteyne from flesheatyng on fasting dayes, and in Lent to absteine from egges and cheese.

That no opinion of Luther be taught priuely or apertly, contrary to the receaued determinatiō of holy Church, and that in tauernes and at table, no mention be made of Luther, or any new doctrine.

That Images and pictures of Saintes in euery place be kept inuiolate.

That Priestes and Ministers of the Church be not compelled to render accomt of their doctrine, but onely to the Magistrate.

That due ayde and supportation be prouided for them, if any commotion do happen.

That no person deride the reliques of the holy spirite, or of our Lady, or of Saint Anthony.

Finally that all the lawes and decrees set forth by the Byshop of Constance, be obserued.

These constitutions whosoeuer shall transgresse, let them be presented to the Magistrate, and ouerseers be set ouer them that shall so transgresse.

MarginaliaThe letter of the Heluetians to the Tygurines. After these thynges cōcluded thus at Lucerna, the Cātons of Heluetia together directe their publicke letter to the Tygurines or men of Zuricke, wherein they do much lament and complayne of this new broched doctrine whiche hath set all men together by the eares, through the occasion of certaine rash and newfangled heades, which haue greatly disturbed both the state of the Church, and of the commō wealth, and haue scattered the seedes of discorde: whereas before tyme, all thynges were well in quyet. And although this sore (sayd they) ought to haue bene looked to by tyme, so that they should not haue suffered the glory of Almighty God, and of the blessed Virgine and other Saintes to be dishonored, but rather should haue bestowed their goodes and lyues to mainteine the same: yet notwithstandyng they required them now to looke vpon the matter: which otherwise would bryng to them destruction both of body and soule: as for exāple, they might see the doctrine of Luther what fruit it brought. The rude and vulgare people now (sayd they) could not be holden in, but would burst forth to all licence and rebellion, as hath appeared by sufficient proufes a late: and like is to be feared also among thēselues,MarginaliaZuinglius & Leo Iuda, were preachers at this tyme in Zuricke. & all by the occasion of Zuinglius, and of Leo Iuda, which so take vpon them to expounde the word of God, after their owne interpretation, openyng thereby whole doores and windowes to discorde and dissension. Albeit of their doctrine they were not certaine what they dyd teach: yet what incōuenience folowed vpon their doctrine, they had to much experiēced. For now all fastyng was layd downe, and all dayes were alyke to eate both flesh & egges, as well one as an other: Priests & religious persons both men & women brake their vowes, ranne out of their order, and fell to marying: Gods seruice was decayed, singing in the Church left, and prayer ceased: Priests grew in contempt: Religious men were thrust out of their cloysters: Confession, and penaunce was neglected, so that mē would not sticke to presume to receaue at the holy aultar, without any confession made to the Priest before. The holy Masse was dirided & dscorned: Our blessed Lady, and other saintes blasphemed: Images pluckt down & broken in peeces, neither was there any honour geuen to the Sacraments. To make short, men now were growen vnto such a licence and libertie that vnneth the holy hoste could be safe within the Priestes handes. &c.

The disorder of all which thynges, as it is of no small importaunce, so it was (sayd they) to them so greuous and lamentable, that they though it their part to suffer the same no lōger. Neither was this the first tyme (they sayd) of this their complaynyng, when in their former assemble they sent vnto them before, the lyke admonition writyng to them by certaine of the Clergy, and crauyng their ayde in the same. Which seyng it is so, they dyd now agayne earnestly call vpō them touchyng the premisses, desiryng them to surcease frō