by which the five cantons had engaged the Vallaisans to support them was to be considered in the diets, "without prejudice to engagements entered into between Zuric, Berne, Basle, S. Gallen, Mulhausen, and Bienne, and some other places." In the third article the six states last named and their allies "earnestly besought" the five cantons to renounce the foreign pensions, and bound them not to enlist any of the subjects of the six states for the military services connected with such pensions. The seventh article engaged the canton of Schweitz to pay to the family of the murdered Schlosser such a pension as certain arbitrators should appoint. The eighth confirmed all the edicts and regulations which the six states had issued on the subject of religion within their own territories-providing only that no compulsion should be used towards any person with respect to the choice of his religion. The ninth and tenth proclaimed a general amnesty for all persons who had assisted either party; and forbad all insulting language or other means of provocation to be used on either side. The twelfth related to an individual, the notorious Thomas Murner. His infamous and inflammatory libels had caused Zuric and Berne some time before to demand his punishment from the government of Lucerne; who had however screened him, and favoured his escape. It was now agreed that he should be compelled by Lucerne to appear before appointed judges at Baden, to answer for his conduct. The remaining articles referred to the arbitration of the mediating powers, the settlement of the question of the expenses incurred by the reformed states in the present armament; and also the accommodation of the A. D. 1529. CHAP. Remarks on the treaty. dispute between Berne and Underwalden concerning the affair of Hasli; and some other points of difference. The peace being signed, the treaty with Ferdinand was given up and destroyed, and the armies withdrew to their respective homes. The appointed arbitrators, within the prescribed time of fifteen days, decided that the five cantons should pay to the reformed states and their allies three thousand crowns of gold (écus d'or) for the expences of their armament: and that Underwalden should make compensation to the same amount for the injury it had offered to Berne.1 On reviewing the terms of this treaty, we do not wonder that the Roman-catholic cantons should have felt dissatisfied with it. It was evidently greatly to the advantage of the reformed, who were throughout considered as the aggrieved party, and the party also which possessed the power of enforcing reparation of its wrongs. We might even be ready to apprehend, that more was exacted from the opposite side (particularly with regard to defraying the expences of the armament,) than sound policy would have dictated; because more than they were likely to acquiesce in, or voluntarily to fulfil. But we may feel surprised when we are told that Zwingle and others on his part were dissatisfied, and condemned the treaty. But the fact appears to have been this: long experience had shewn them the spirit of the enemy with whom they had to contend, and had convinced them that there was no safety for them but in depriving him of the power to do hurt: and the present they con Ru. ii. 417-428, 528-546; where the treaty is copied. at length. Gerd. ii. 396. ceived to be the proper opportunity for effecting this object. And certainly the events which followed shewed that the reformed had done either too little or too much they had mortified and irritated their enemy without weakening him. He only waited therefore for a favourable occasion of revenging himself upon them. Accordingly we find the Roman-catholic cantons first demurring, and then refusing, to fulfil the award of the arbitrators against them; and, even at the time they dismissed their troops, engaging to one another by oath to maintain "the old religion," and to punish any (of their subjects, I presume,) who should embrace what they styled "the new one." Nay Ruchat, on the authority of manuscripts in his possession, informs us, that in the month of November following they despatched a secret embassy to the emperor, then in Italy, soliciting him to make war on the reformed cantons, and promising him their aid. It was too evident therefore, from the first, that the wounds of Switzerland were not healed by this treaty of peace, but only unsoundly skinned over. Within three months after it was concluded, Berne was seen again raising troops to enforce the payments awarded to it, and the reformed cantons began to renew their demands to have liberty of conscience allowed within the territories of their Roman-catholic neighbours. For the present however, after repeated diets had deliberated upon the subject, matters were accommodated, and the pacification was preserved the principal change made being the apparently absurd one of agreeing, that, where the majority had voted either for the reformation or against it, the decision should be final, instead of being open to revision or reversal A. D. 1529. CHAP. where opinions might have altered. The XVIII. reformed expelled from It is obvious that neither party could promise themselves any advantage from this change, except by assuming, that, in the present state of the public mind the first decisions were likely in a majority of instances to be in their favour. If the reformed flattered themselves (and perhaps they had reason to do so,) with such a result, their anticipations were not in all cases fulfilled. In one of the carliest that occurred they were disappointed; and the disappointment was attended with circumstances suited to give the deepest pain, not only to a zealous partisan but to every humane mind. Roth weil, in Suabia, is a free imperial city, which, like the town of Mulhausen, lay without the bounds of Switzerland, but yet was included in the confederation. The reformed in this place, (who had Conrad Stuckli for their minister,) imagining themselves sufficiently numerous to carry the question according to their wishes, brought it to the vote; but by the superior generalship of their adversaries they were defeated. In consequence, not only was popery permanently established, but the papists immediately commenced a violent persecution against their opponents; displaced those who held official situations; threw many into dungeons and chains; and finally expelled them all, to the number of four hundred persons, men, women, and children, from the territory of the city. The fugitives betook themselves to Zuric, Strasburg, Constance, and Berne.2 Let an 1 Ru. ii. 428-9, 439-442. Gerd. ii. 396-7. 2 Among them is particularly mentioned Valerius Anselm, a physician of eminence, and a man of great learning; who, retiring to Berne, was employed by the government to write the history of that state. Ru. ii. 495-497. instance be shewn, in which a protestant majority, after any of these votings for religion, thus treated a minority of Romanists! A. D. 1529. We mentioned the conference of Marpurg Conference as another notable occurrence of this year. It of Marpurg. was held in the month of October, under the auspices of the landgrave of Hesse, between Luther, Melancthon, and others on the one side, and Zwingle and Ecolampadius, assisted by some of their friends, on the other-for the now hopeless object of healing the fatal difference between the two great reformed bodies on the subject of the presence of Christ in the eucharist. We shall not think it necessary at all to enter into the details of what passed at the meeting of these extraordinary men, but shall content ourselves with referring the reader to Dr. Milner's notice of it, or, if he desires fuller information, to some other authors who will furnish him with it. Luther was not a man to be dealt with on such a subject as this, especially when he had already so far committed himself, and so determinately made up his mind. Give him a case in which he was clearly right, and was employed in defending the grand truths of God's word, and no man would in finer style, or more satisfactorily, tread down all opposition: but in a case like this, in which good men might differ, and might labour under strong prejudice, and in which, by whatever means, he had formed a decided opinion, and common fairness could hardly be expected from him. He would pursue the same method in this case as in the former, against men, and under circumstances, essentially different. Accordingly he in the present conference bore down every argument by vociferating the words, "THIS IS |