he affairs of Milan. The Confederate
Diet is assembled in Baden, and the following embassies arrive there:
legates from his Holiness, Pope Julius II, from the Emperor, from the
Cardinal of St. Potentiana (Schinner), legates by proxy of the King of
Spain, from the King of France (these half by stealth), from the Duke
of Savoy, from the Duke of Lorraine, from the Venetians, from the
Milanese; all bent on furthering their own wishes and aims. Here the
foresight and craftiness of men must be studied, how they try to bring
each other into difficulty, in order to prosecute their own advantage
more securely amid the confusion; and how they pretend to desire one
thing, in order to gain the contrary. The Emperor in particular ties
the knot. He had resolved in secret to restore Maximilian, son of the
banished Duke, Ludovico Sforza, to the princely seat. To the
astonishment of all, he comes out with the assertion that Lombardy, as
a fief of the empire, durst receive its ruler from no one but the head
of the empire. This gave little satisfaction to the Confederates. 'The
Emperor,' say they, 'had promised to assist us with cavalry; but he
went no further than fair words. We, the Pope, and the Venetians have
borne the burden of the war. And now, he, who did nothing, comes to
carry off the prize.' Yet it does not break out into an open quarrel.
Another embassy arrives from the Holy Father, Julius, and the
cardinals. It brings to the Confederates the title of honor,
'Liberators of the Church.' Most welcome is this title to them, and
most welcome what is added, 'They may ask what they please, the most
sacred will be granted to them.' The greater part, yea, all ask for the
privilege of bearing the image of the Crucified on their banner; the
men of Glarus wish the risen Savior. In the end the resolution is
passed to bring back Maximilian, the son of Louis, to the throne of his
father. I would have written to you more fully, my dear Vadianus, for
this is not the hundredth part, had not a pressure of business
prevented me. Judge of this hasty letter with indulgence. It has been
the work of not more than three hours."

This, the earliest historical production of Zwingli, that has come down
to us, is translated as literally as possible, in order to show the
opinion then entertained by him, of political and ecclesiastical
relations, his strong youthful spirit, which delighted in the chances
of war, and his study of the military art and history