Basle was famous for its university and for the great printing house of Froben.

Here Albert Duerer had stayed for a while during his wandering years.

Here Sebastian Brant had studied and had written his famous satire.

Here the great Erasmus had come to publish his New Testament.
But the Reformation in Switzerland was only in [Sidenote: 1521-9] {148} part a child of humanism.

Nationalism played its role in the revolt from Rome, memories of councils lingered at Constance and Basle, and the desire for a purer religion made itself felt among the more earnest.