manists, flushed with anticipated triumph, had come to Baden attired
in their richest robes and glittering with jewels. They fared luxuriously,
their tables spread with the most costly delicacies and the choicest
wines. The burden of their ecclesiastical duties was lightened by gaiety
and reveling. In marked contrast appeared the Reformers, who were looked
upon by the people as little better than a company of beggars, and whose
frugal fare kept them but short time at table. OEcolampadius's landlord,
taking occasion to watch him in his room, found him always engaged in
study or at prayer, and greatly wondering, reported that the heretic was
at least "very pious."

At the conference, "Eck haughtily ascended a pulpit splendidly decorated,
while the humble OEcolampadius, meanly clothed, was forced to take his seat
in front of his opponent on a rudely carved stool."(261) Eck's stentorian
voice and unbounded assurance never failed him. His zeal was stimulated by
the hope of gold as well as fame; for the defender of the faith was to be
rewarded by a handsome fee. When better arguments failed, he had resort to
insults, and even to oaths.

OEcolampadius, modest and self-distrustful, had shrunk from the combat, and
he entered upon it with the solemn avowal, "I acknowledge no other
standard of judgment than the word of God."(262) Though gentle and
courteous in demeanor, he proved himself able and unflinching. While the
Romanists, according to their wont, appealed for authority to the customs
of the church, the Reformer adhered steadfastly to the Holy Scriptures.
"Custom," he said, "has no force in our Switzerland, unless it be
according to the constitution; now, in matters of faith, the Bible is our
constitution."(263)

The contrast between the two disputants was not without effect. The calm,
clear reasoning of the Reformer, so gently and modestly presented,
appealed to minds that turned in disgust from Eck's boastful and
boisterous assumptions.

The discussion continued eighteen days. At its close, the papists with
great confidence claimed the victory. Most of the deputies sided with
Rome, and the Diet pronounced the Reformers vanquished, and declared that
they, together with Zwingle, their leader, were cut off from the church.
But the fruits of the conference revealed on which side the advantage lay.
The contest resulted in a strong impetus to the Protestant cause, and it
was not long afterward that the important cities of Be