CALVIN On January 15, 1527, Thomas von Hofen wrote Zwingli from Geneva that he would do all he could to exalt the gospel in that city but that he knew it would be vain, for there were seven hundred priests working against him.

This letter gives an insight into the methods by which new territory was evangelized, the quarters whence came the new influences, and the forces with which they had to contend.
Among the early missionaries of "the gospel" in French-speaking lands, one of the most energetic was William Farel.

[Sidenote: Farel, 1489-1565] He had studied at Paris under Lefevre d'Etaples, and was converted to Lutheranism as early as 1521.

He went first to Basle, where he learned to know Erasmus.

Far from showing respect to the older and more famous man, he scornfully told him to his face that Froben's wife knew more theology than {161} did he.