ng a new chapel
there, and of a song of angels repeatedly and distinctly heard, gave
rise to the yearly festival of the "Consecration of the Angels," which,
when it happened on a Sunday, as it did every seventh year, was
celebrated with increased splendor. The story of Meinhard's death and
the discovery of his murderers by means of ravens, who followed them,
survived among the traditions of the people, and the miracle being
accredited by Pope Leo VIII, and the power of granting plenary
indulgences allowed to the monastery, vast crowds of pilgrims were
attracted thither. By their offerings and the donations of the great it
became wealthy. The Abbos enjoyed the rank of a Prince, and the monks,
as a body, were descended from noble families. They were a proud,
irritable race, and could talk as much almost about the history of
their quarrels as of their pious exercises. Conrad of Hohenrechberg,
who, in the beginning of the sixteenth century, stood at their head,
troubled himself little about incense and choral singing, and thought
it a wicked thing in his relations to have forced him to take the cowl.
He took a knightly pleasure in the chase, and his heart leapt at the
sight of a drawn sword. To cunning and hypocrisy his nature was averse.
Whoever was open, simple, and sincerely pious found a friend in him.
For learned men he had a great esteem, but from lack of elementary
knowledge, was not able to follow their investigations. This he
modestly confessed. The reading of the mass he avoided as often as it
was possible, and was free to say, "If Christ be in the bread, then
indeed I know not how highly you prize yourselves; but I, poor monk, am
not worthy to look on him once, and hence decline to offer him. Is he
not there?--wo is me! if I offer bread, instead of God, and suffer the
people to adore it." When disputes ran too high, he sometimes broke
them off with the words, "Why so much talk? Now and at my last hour,
I say with David--_Have mercy, O God, upon me, according to thy
loving-kindness. Enter not into judgment with thy servant._ More I do
not wish to know." He was a diamond, unpolished, it is true, and
carelessly set, but always powerful enough to prevent any interference
in the government of his foundation.

At his side, Theobald of Geroldseck, filled the influential post of
Administrator. Zwingli himself writes of him, "His share of knowledge
is quite moderate, but he knows the value of learning, and particularly
s