This volume constitutes the second part of THE HISTORY OF THE REFORMATION by Philip Schaff It is included as Volume VIII in the 8-volume HISTORY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH Volume VII in this series, on the German Reformation, constitutes the first part of this 2-volume unit on The History of the Reformation OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH BY PHILIP SCHAFF PROFESSOR OF CHURCH HISTORY IN THE UNION THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY BRI45 This is a reproduction of the Third Edition, Revised COPYRIGHT, 1910, BY CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS Reproduced by special arrangement Library of Congress Number 39-3700 PHOTOLITHOPRINTED BY CUSHING - MALLOY, INC. PREFACE THIS Volume concludes the history of the productive period of the Reformation, in which Luther, Zwingli, and Calvin were the chief actors. It follows the Protestant movement in German, Italian, and French Switzerland, to the close of the sixteenth century. During the last year, the sixth centenary of the oldest surviving Republic was celebrated with great patriotic enthusiasm. On the first day of August, in the year 1291, the freemen of Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden formed "in the name of the Lord" a perpetual alliance for the mutual protection of their persons, property, and liberty, against internal and external foes. On the same day, in 1891, the great event was commemorated in every village of Switzerland by the ringing of bells and the illumination of the mountains, while on the following day—a Sunday - thanksgiving services were held in every church, Catholic and Protestant. The chief festivities took place, from July 31 to Aug. 2, in the towns of Schwyz and Brunnen, and were attended by the Federal and Cantonal dignitaries, civil and military, and a vast assembly of spectators. The most interesting feature was a dramatic representation of the leading events in Swiss history the sacred oaths of Schwyz, Brunnen, and Grütli, the poetic legend of William Tell, the heroic battles for liberty and independence against Austria, Burgundy, and France, the venerable figure of Nicolas von der Flue appearing as a peacemaker in the Diet at Stans, and the chief scenes of the Reformation, the Revolution, and the modern reconstruction. The drama, enacted in the open field in view of mountains and meadows and the lake of Luzern, is said to have equalled in interest and skill of execution the famous Passion Play of Oberammergau. Similar celebrations took place, not only in every city and village of Switzerland, but also in the Swiss colonies in foreign lands, notably in New York, on the 5th, 6th, and 7th of September.1 1 The celebration has elicited some valuable contributions to the authentic history of Switzerland, which may be added to the literature on p. 3. I mention Dr. W. OECHSLI: Die Anfänge der schweizerischen Eidgenossenschaft. Zürich, 1891. — Jos. IG. VON Aн: Die Bundesbriefe der alten Eidgenossen von 1291 bis 1513. Einsiedeln, 1891.— - PIERRE VAUCHER: Les Commencements de la Confédération suisse. Lausanne, 1891. — Prof. GEORG VON WYss: Rede bei der Bundesfeier der Eidgenössischen polytechn. Schule, und der Hochschule Zürich am 25 Juli 1891. Zürich, 1891.- Denkschrift der historischen u. antiquarischen Gesellschaft zu Basel. Zur Erinnerung an den Bund der Eidgenossen com 1. Aug. 1291. Basel, 1891.-The second volume of DIERAUER'S Geschichte der Schweizerischen Eidgenossenschaft appeared at Gotha, 1892, but goes only to the year 1516, when the history of the Reformation began. |