Schaff - History of the Christian Church Vol. 8 - Media Sabda Org

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Few great battles have had so much effect upon the course of history as the
little battle of Cappel. It arrested forever the progress of the Reformation
in German Switzerland, and helped to check the progress of Protestantism
in Germany. It encouraged the Roman Catholic reaction, which soon
afterwards assumed the character of a formidable Counter-Reformation.
But, while the march of Protestantism was arrested in its original homes, it
made new progress in French Switzerland, in France, Holland, and the
British Isles.
King Ferdinand of Austria gave the messenger of the Five Cantons who
brought him the news of their victory at Cappel, fifty guilders, and
forthwith informed his brother Charles V. at Brussels of the fall of “the
great heretic Zwingli,” which he thought was the first favorable event for
the faith of the Catholic Church. The Emperor lost no time to congratulate
the Forest Cantons on their victory, and to promise them his own aid and
the aid of the pope, of his brother, and the Catholic princes, in case the
Protestants should persevere in their opposition. The pope had already sent
men and means for the support of his party.
The disaster of Cappel was a prelude to the disaster of Mühlberg on the
Elbe, where Charles V. defeated the Smalcaldian League of the Lutheran
princes, April 24, 1547. Luther was spared the humiliation. The victorious
emperor stood on his grave at Wittenberg, but declined to make war upon
the dead by digging up and burning his bones, as he was advised to do by
his Spanish generals.
The war of Cappel was continued for a few weeks. Zürich rallied her
forces as best she could. Bern, Basel, and Schaffhausen sent troops, but
rather reluctantly, and under the demoralizing effect of defeat. There was a
want of harmony and able leadership in the Protestant camp. The Forest
Cantons achieved another victory on the Gubel (Oct. 24), and plundered
and wasted the territory of Zürich; but as the winter approached, and as
they did not receive the promised aid from Austria, they were inclined to
peace. Bern acted as mediator.
The second religious Peace (the so-called Zweite Landsfriede) was signed
Nov. 20, 1531, f296 between the Five Forest Cantons and the Zürichers, on
the meadows of Teynikon, near Baar, in the territory of Zug, and
confirmed Nov. 24 at Aarau by the consent of Bern, Glarus, Freiburg, and
Appenzell. It secured mutual toleration, but with a decided advantage to
the Roman Catholics.