[648] Wellend wir ganz geneigt syn ze erschynen. Zw. Opp. ii. 423. Meanwhile, fanaticism was already bestirring itself and striking down its victims. A consistory, headed by that same Faber who had challenged Zwingle, on the 10th of May 1526, about a week before the discussion at Baden, condemned to the flames, as a heretic, an evangelical minister named John Hügel, pastor of Lindau,[649] who walked to the place of execution singing the _Te Deum_. At the same time, another minister, Peter Spengler, was drowned at Friburg by order of the Bishop of Constance. [649] Hunc hominem hæreticum damnamus, projicimus et conculcamus. Hotting. Helv. K. Gesch. iii. 300. Sinister rumours reached Zwingle from all quarters. His brother-in-law, Leonard Tremp, wrote to him from Berne: "I entreat you, as you regard your life, not to repair to Baden. I know that they will not respect your safe-conduct."[650] [650] Caveatis per caput vestrum......Zw. Epp. p. 483. It was affirmed that a plan had been formed to seize and gag him, throw him into a boat, and carry him off to some secret place.[651] With these threats and persecutions before them, the council of Zurich decreed that Zwingle should not go to Baden.[652] [651] Navigio captum, ore mox obturato, clam fuisse deportandum. Osw. Myc. Vit. Zw. [652] Zwinglium Senatus Tigurinus Badenam dimittere recusavit. Ibid. [Sidenote: ŒCOLAMPADIUS--REGULATIONS.] The discussion being fixed for the 19th of May, the disputants and the representatives of the cantons and bishops began to arrive gradually. On the side of the Roman-catholics appeared in the foremost place the warlike and vain-glorious Doctor Eck; on the side of the Protestants, the retiring and gentle Œcolampadius. The latter was well aware of the perils attending this discussion. "He had long hesitated, like a timid stag worried by furious dogs," says an old historian; at length he decided on going to Baden, previously making this solemn declaration, "I acknowledge no other standard of judgment than the Word of God." At first, he had earnestly desired that Zwingle should share his danger;[653] but he soon became convinced that, if the intrepid doctor had appeared in that fanatical city, the anger of the Romanists, kindling at his sight, would have caused the death of both of them. [653] Si periclitaberis, periclitabimur omnes tecum. Zw. Epp. p. 312.