During the day the rumour of Zwingle's absence spread through Zurich, and his enemies were elated. "He has fled the country," said they; "he has run away with a pack of scoundrels!" "As he was crossing the river at Bruck," said others, "the boat upset and he was drowned." "The devil," affirmed many with a malicious smile, "appeared to him bodily and carried him off."[201]--"There was no end to their stories," says Bullinger. But the council immediately resolved on acceding to the wish of the Reformer. On the very day of his departure they appointed one of the councillors, Ulric Funck, to accompany him to Marburg, who forthwith set out with a domestic and one arquebusier. Strasburg and Basle in like manner sent statesmen in company with their theologians, under the idea that this conference would doubtless have also a political object. [201] Der Tufel vere by imm gesin.--(Bulling. ii. p. 224.) Zwingle arrived safe and sound at Basle,[202] and embarked on the river on the 6th September with Œcolampadius and several merchants.[203] In thirteen hours they reached Strasburg, where the two Reformers lodged in the house of Matthew Zell, the cathedral preacher. Catherine, the pastor's wife, prepared the dishes in the kitchen, waited at table, according to the ancient German manners,[204] and then sitting down near Zwingle, listened attentively, and spoke with so much piety and knowledge, that the latter soon ranked her above many doctors. [202] Integer et sanus Basiliam pervenit.--(Zw. Epp. ii. p. 361.) [203] Aliquos mercatorum fide dignos, comites.--(Ibid.) [204] Ich bin 14 Tag magd und Köchin gewesen.--(Fussl. Beytr. v. p. 313.) See her remarkable correspondence with the superintendent Rabus.--(Ibid. p. 191-354.) [Sidenote: THE REFORMERS AT MARBURG.] Zwingle, after discussing with the Strasburg magistrates the means of resisting the Romish league, and the organization to be given to the christian confederacy,[205] quitted Strasburg; and he and his friends, conducted along by-roads, through forests, over mountains and valleys, by secret but sure paths, at last arrived at Marburg, escorted by forty Hessian cavaliers.[206] [205] De jure præsidendi conciliis civitatum christianarum.--(Ibid. v. p. 364.) See book xvi. of this History. [206] Per devia et sylvas, montes et valles, tutissimos et occultos.--(Ibid. p. 368.)