Ulrich,** the distinguished Swiss reformer, was born at Wildhausen, Toggenburg, in the canton of St Gall in 1484. He received his early education at Basle, Berne, and Vienna, and returned at the age of eighteen to Basle, where he opened a school. He took care to prosecute his theological studies under Thomas Wittenbach, and he preached his first sermon in 1506. Towards the end of this year he was appointed pastor of Glarus, where he spent the next ten years, diligently engaged in the practical duties of his office, and in the more scholarly engagements of the study of Hebrew, classics, and elegant literature. The Bible was with Zwingli the great authority for settling every disputed question of human duty; and, regardless of the ordinary aids for the understanding of the Scriptures, he is reported to have gone boldly at once to the fountain-head, and to have drawn comfort for his flock from the pages of the living word. His fame as a preacher soon spread over Glarus, and in 1516, he was removed to the abbey of Einsiedeln, as a field of greater usefulness. Next year he was chosen to fill a vacancy in the cathedral church of Zürich. Zwingli had before this time discovered the errors of the Church of Rome, and he had not scrupled to assail its doctrines of pilgrimages, relics, monastic vows, offerings, and indulgences. In 1518 he procured the expulsion of Samson, a vender of indulgences, from the canton of Zürich. Luther's name had by this time filled all Europe, although Zwingli had seen the corruptions of the Church of Rome earlier than the German reformer. The friends of the hierarchy now began publicly to manifest their dislike to Zwingli and his doctrine of free scriptural inquiry, and they had him publicly accused of heresy before the council of Zürich in January 1523. His enemies wished to bring tradition and the schoolmen to confute him, but he stood up stanchly for the Scriptures. He drew up sixty-seven doctrinal propositions, containing the marrow of all since advanced in the reformed doctrines, on which he took his stand, and challenged his opponents to drive him from his position. The council chose the Scriptures as their authority, and Zwingli of course triumphed. Next year (1524) the young reformer purged the canton of Zürich of all unscriptural doctrine. This advanced attitude which the canton assumed, disturbed the drowsy equanimity of the neighbouring districts, and clutching in blind rage for the sabre, they vowed that if men got so far ahead of their fellows by the use of their reason, they should be reduced to constitutional order by the unanswerable argument of the sword. In October 1531, a force from the popish cantons marched against Zürich and Berne, and resolved either to purge them of the heresy which had crept into them, or to annihilate them at a single blow. Zwingli, like a dauntless hero as he was, went out to meet the foe at the head of his brave Zürichers to the field of Cappel. After a very hot engagement, the small band of reformers were beaten, their valiant leader slain, his body cut to pieces, and reduced to ashes. Thus, at the early age of forty-seven years, was this learned, sober, and pious man cut off on the 11th of October 1531.

For lives of Zwingli, the reader is referred to those of Hess in French and English, 1812, and of Schulter in German, as the best. Biographies of him have likewise been written by Myconius, Hottinger, Usteri, and Vögelin. Hottinger's life is translated into English by J. C. Porter. An eight-volume edition of Zwingli's works was published in 1829–1843, by Schulter and Schulthess; but the comparatively careless manner in which this issue is executed renders a complete edition of his works still necessary. Though inferior to Luther in eloquence, and to Calvin in power of mind, Zwingli yielded to neither in sobriety of thought, and in the candour and sincerity of his views. In learning, piety, and courage, he is inferior to none of the reformers of the sixteenth century. (See Luther and Reformation.)

**ZWOLLE,** a fortified town of Holland, capital of the province of Overyssel, on the Zwarte-water, between the Yssel and the Vechte, 62 miles E.N.E. of Amsterdam. It is a neat, clean, and regularly built town, having a number of good streets and spacious places. The ramparts are planted with avenues of trees, and there are many pleasant walks in the vicinity. It is the seat of several district courts, and has eight churches including a fine old cathedral, a house of correction, several hospitals, and a grammar school. The manufactures are woollen, cotton, and linen stuffs, ropes, leather, sugar, salt, &c.; and an active trade is carried on in cattle, agricultural produce, dried fish, &c. Zwolle was formerly a free imperial city, and a member of the Hanseatic League. The famous Thomas-a-Kempis resided for sixty-four years in the monastery of St Agnes, in the neighbourhood of this town, and died there in 1471. Pop. (including three suburbs) 17,500.

THE END.