A few days later, on the 9th January 1532, two hundred and thirty ministers assembled at Berne, among whom was the wise Capito, and formed a sort of council. Having most of them left the Romish church, they desired liberty not only for themselves, but also for their adversaries. The laymen were of the same opinion. Berne, the representative of protestantism, agreed with Friburg, the champion of popery, on this subject. 'We desire,' said the Bernese, 'that every one should have free choice to go to the preaching or to mass.' 'And we also,' said the Friburgers. 'We desire that all should live in peace together, and that neither priests nor preachers should call their adversaries heretics or murderers. 'And we also,' said the Friburgers. 'Nevertheless, we do not wish to hinder the priests and preachers from conferring amicably and fraternally concerning the faith.' 'Quite right,' said the Friburgers. These articles, and others like them—the first monument of religious liberty in Switzerland—were published on the 30th January 1532.[445] It is to be regretted that this proclamation of the sixteenth century was not henceforward taken as a pattern in all christian countries, and in Switzerland, where it was drawn up. The order did not for long prevent violent collisions. We shall now leave this quarter, and follow elsewhere the great champion of the Word of God, Farel; but we shall return here later. The evangelical seed was to be sown still more abundantly in the Pays de Vaud, and that soil, which appeared adverse at first, will produce and has produced, in our days especially, the finest of fruits. [425] 'Fratres qui huc venerunt in messem missi sunt.'—Farellus Andronico, Jan. 27, 1531. Choupard MSS. [426] 'Quam difficiles eradicatu supersunt radices, antequam novale jaciendo semini sit idoneum.'—Farellus Andronico, Jan. 27, 1531. Choupard MSS. [427] 'Aureos montes polliceri nolo.'—Ibid. [428] Matthew xxiii. 23. [429] 'Sine vanis controversiis vel aquæ vel panis aut censuum aut decimarum, in quibus pars Christianismum putat.'—Farellus Andronico. Choupard MSS. [430] Non est quod otium expectes sed negotium.'—Farellus Andronico, Feb. 12, 1531. [431] 'Labores plurimi.'—Ibid. [432] 'Sed in ipso pugnæ æstu, robustos ac plenis viribus hostes alacer aggrediaris, collocata in Deum fiducia, cujus est victoria sicut et pugna; non enim nos pugnamus, sed Dominus.'—Farellus Andronico. Jan. 27, 1531. Choupard MSS. [433] 'Pugnam fervere, cum hostibus consertas manus jungere, victoriam suis impartire, sed non citra sudorem.'—Farellus Andronico, April 1531. Choupard MSS. [434] 'In medios hostes prosilire, jacula vibrare, hostes hinc inde prosternere ac dissipare.'—Ibid. [435] 'Nec tantopere curandum quid uxor velit et poscat, sed quæ Deus ipse petat et jubeat.'—Farellus Andronico, April, 1531. Choupard MSS. [436] Warlike musical instruments. [437] Chronique de Neuchâtel. Chant de bataille, par un Lucernois. Müller, _Hist. de la Conféd. Suisse_.