The schoolmaster of Coire, who had already made one attempt to attack Comander, began with much volubility to argue in favour of the doctrine of the sacrament according to the text, "This _is_ my body."--"My dear Berre," said Comander, "how do you understand these words, John is Elias?"--"I understand," replied Berre, who saw what Comander was aiming at, "that he was really and essentially Elias."--"Why then," continued Comander, "did John the Baptist himself say to the Pharisees that he was not Elias?" The schoolmaster was silent: at last he replied, "It is true." Everybody began to laugh, even those who had urged him to speak. The Abbot of St. Luke's made a long speech on the eucharist, which closed the conference. Seven priests embraced the evangelical doctrine; complete religious liberty was proclaimed, and the Romish worship was abolished in several churches. "Christ," to use the language of Salandronius, "grew up everywhere in these mountains, as the tender grass of spring; and the pastors were like living fountains, watering these lofty valleys."[639] [639] Vita, moribus et doctrina herbescenti Christo apud Rhætos fons irrigans. Zw. Epp. p. 485. The Reform made still more rapid strides at Zurich. The Dominicans, the Augustines, the Capuchins, so long at enmity, were reduced to the necessity of living together; a foretaste of hell for these poor monks. In the place of these corrupted institutions were founded schools, an hospital, a theological college: learning and charity everywhere supplanted indolence and selfishness. CHAPTER XIII. The Oligarchs--Bernese Mandate of 1526 in Favour of the Papacy--Discussion at Baden--Regulations of the Discussion--Riches and Poverty--Eck and Œcolampadius--Discussion--Zwingle's Share in the Discussion--Vaunts of the Romanists--Abusive Language of a Monk--Close of the Disputation. [Sidenote: THE OLIGARCHS--DEPUTATION TO BERNE.] These victories of the Reformation could not remain unnoticed. Monks, priests, and prelates, in distraction, felt that the ground was everywhere slipping from beneath their feet, and that the Romish Church was on the point of sinking under unprecedented dangers. The oligarchs of the cantons, the advocates of foreign pensions and capitulations, saw that they could delay no longer, if they wished to preserve their privileges; and at the very moment when the Church was frightened and beginning to sink, they stretched out their mailed hands to save it. A Stein and a John Hug of Lucerne united with a John Faber; and the civil authority rushed to the support of that hierarchical power which openeth its mouth to blaspheme and maketh war upon the saints.[640] [640] Revelation xiii. 5, 6, 7.