himself undoubtedly advised, only a political conflict. On the one side
appeared to him, imbued as he was with the idea of a purely spiritual
kingdom of God and Christ, a worldly power defending itself not by the
lawful, yea, necessary weapons of science and sound judgment, but by
anathemas and the flames of the faggot, and on the other, those who
wished to attain and defend liberty, without which neither a religion
of the heart nor of the head, nor a faith matured to conviction by the
agreement of both, was possible. With this feeling he wrote to his
friend in Bern: "The peace, about which many now talk so much, is war;
the war, which I wish, peace. There can be no security either for the
truth, or her worshippers, till the ground-pillars of tyranny be
overthrown. Do not lose confidence in me, because I must say this.
With God's help I will prove myself worthy of it." But, even if the
question, according to the judgment of the Reformer, was fairly one of
an external, political nature, when logically carried out, it would
take the form of opinion in some, or of principle in others. Yet never
will such questions be solved by weapons of iron. The blind iron
usually wounds the principle for which it was drawn out, and its
defender first. "Put up thy sword in its sheath," said Christ to Peter,
"for they, who take the sword, shall perish by the sword;" and for
Zwingli it was a prophetic word. Only for material interests, lying
equally before the eyes of all the world; only when the duty of
fighting against the violation of national treaties or human laws, or
else for upholding them, does true policy take up the sword, and in
this respect the statesmanship of Bern seems more prudent; yea, more in
harmony with the Federal Compact, than that of Zurich. But there are
moments in the lives of nations, when prudence will no longer avail,
and energetic action, even passionate endeavor, becomes a necessity. In
such cases each one has to appeal to his own conviction of duty, and
his justification lies in his willingness to sacrifice himself
therefor. Over the corpse of the noble victim, the censuring voice of
posterity is silent.
He, who accompanies the Reformer with undiminished sympathy along his
path, which from this time forth becomes more and more slippery, will
find the truth of what has been said. The grand achievement, which he
desired, perhaps rather anticipated--the formation of a strong league
in the midst of Europe, controlling extremes; a league of concord, and
yet of the free developement of individual members in their peculiar
customs and forms of government; united by the spiritual bond of a
common faith, of a common _submission to the Gospel_, embraced with a
pure mind and _carried out in practice_; satisfying the understanding
and contenting the heart; one in _its aim_ of worshipping God; diverse
in _its mode_, according to the usage and wants of the country;
tolerating philosophical as little as dogmatical dictators; repudiating
alike the Propaganda and the Jesuits; a league whose members are not
exclusive like Jews, but helpful like Christians--the nineteenth
century can see it realized, if in its free presses a manly openness is
able to triumph over wholesale robbery and keep down human
devilishness, as well as the spirit of hypocrisy.
On the 1st of June, a secret council was held in Zurich, to consider
the outrage of the Schwyzers. Some wished to prohibit the exportation
of provisions, others to revoke the treaties, and a third party to
declare war without delay. The last course was adopted by the Great
Council on the 3d of June, and the tidings sent to Schwyz in the
following language: "Our greeting first! Pious, circumspect, wise,
should our good friends and faithful, dear Confederates be! Your
haughty and defiant letter we have received and considered, and though
you accuse us therein of not keeping covenant with you, we think we
have done it as faithfully and better than you have heretofore; than
you, who have persecuted, unjustly punished, given into other hands,
violently and unrighteously dragged beyond the jurisdiction and laws,
which belonged to us as well as you, miserably tortured and killed many
an honest man merely for asserting his faith and maintaining the honor
of God, by which we and our people, who are pious, honest Christians,
if God will, have also been greatly and severely injured, reviled
and shamefully abused, as to our honor and old, praiseworthy customs;
ill-treated in a wanton manner without cause, surrounded, beaten,
defied, and a pious priest under our protection, whom it became us to
save, pounced upon beyond your jurisdiction, carried off in a scornful,
unjust fashion, before God and to our great displeasure, burned to
death for adhering to God's Word, since you had no other charge against
him. Because now you have always suffered such outrages and injuries to
pass by without punishment, because you have despised all our warnings
and embassies, publicly transgressing in many instances the Articles of
Confederation, and because we see that no justice can be hoped for from
you, we are obliged, in order to rescue and maintain the Divine truth,
its honor and ours, to chastise you for such wantonness, injustice and
violence with our own hand, in the strength of God, and intend also,
with as much strength and grace as God gives us, to take vengeance on
you without mercy. But we have warned you of it and kept our honor.
Thus you can understand the motives of our action; you yourselves
desired nothing else, since you have provoked us to this course by your
violence and gross injustice." In consequence of the threatened passage
of the bailiff (_vogt_) of Unterwalden that way to Baden, Bern was
written to: That the friendly exhortation to moderate measures had
come too late. They had certain intelligence that Unterwalden intended
to escort her _landvogt_ to Baden with an armed force. Bern must not
permit this according to her own solemn declaration. And she is
there strongly besought to join the Zurichers, now promptly rising in
self-defence.
But Bern, for some time back, had been endeavoring, principally through
Luzern, to bring Unterwalden into a more peaceful humor. She had not
yet put any troops under arms, and had received information from the
Five Cantons that they too would not be the first to do it. Hans
Edlebach, who was sent to Lenzburg, to hasten the march of the expected
contingent, had to suffer bitter reproaches from the _landvogt_ and the
Bernese residing there: Was it prudent to begin war during such a
famine? Was it like a Confederate, not to suffer the law first to take
its course? Was it fair dealing toward Bern, to rise up against every
warning, and without giving her notice beforehand? Zurich may now bring
to an end alone what she has commenced alone. To this the Zurichers
wrote in reply: "We would sooner have expected death, than that your
aid should have failed us up to this time; what guilt will rest upon
you, if calamity overtake us?" But Zurich was in no wise hindered by
this delay, and the declaration of the Bernese immediately following,
that though they would now march out, it was only for the support of
their ally and not to encourage the war. One division of troops was
sent to Bremgarten and Muri: another placed at the west end of the lake
to hold Schwyz in check, whilst another marched under Jacob Werdmueller
to the country lying around Rapperschweil, so that the Toggenburgers,
the people of Gaster, and the evangelical portion of the Glarners might
be encouraged to join them. To his countrymen of Toggenburg Zwingli was
particularly favorable. "Dear comrade," he wrote to his friend
Werdmueller, "I hope the Toggenburgers will not fail, yet hasten to
communicate with the town-clerk of Lechstensteg; for a general assembly
to consult about affairs was held on Wednesday, the 9th day of June.
Take care and keep the advice secret. If you act against Toggenburg,
you must not speak of taking possession of the country, for they will
not suffer such a thing, having some time since made themselves free by
their military power." Less consideration was shown toward the Thurgau.
Lavater, the bailiff (_vogt_) of Kyburg received orders to occupy the
territory for Zurich, with the reservation of the rights of Glarus, and
notify the inhabitants that the Five Cantons would be allowed no share
in the government without their own consent, which was an open
violation of existing treaties, and founded on the right of conquest.
The chief force, consisting of 4,000 picked men, well armed and
provided with numerous guns, marched under George Berger to the borders
of Zug. Berger had served in Italy with honor. He maintained severe
discipline in the army. Idle women, who usually followed the Swiss
expeditions in great crowds, were not suffered here. On the other hand,
in spite of the scarcity just then prevailing, an abundant stock of
provisions was furnished; a good spirit prevailed among the soldiery.
It was a long time since Zurich had displayed such power. From the
steps of the senate-house the burgomaster Walder exhorted the departing
troops to discipline and a fearless defence. Commander Schmied was
appointed army-chaplain. Without a summons from the government Zwingli
rode along, a halberd on his shoulder. The report of the outbreak,
Zurich's declaration of war, communicated to the Four Cantons by
Schwyz, set them also in motion. Flying appeals went out at the same
time from Zug. First, volunteers hastened thither; then came the
militia of Schwyz, of Uri, of Unterwalden--the latter well armed and
particularly eager for war. Messengers were despatched to Waldshut and
Feldkirch for Austrian aid.
The Zurichers halted at Cappel. A declaration of war was also made
against the Five Cantons. It resembled that against Schwyz, but with an
additional reference to the doings of the Unterwaldners and to the
Austrian alliance. On the morning of the 9th it was sent to Zug, and
directly after the Zurichan force, strengthened by new accessions, took
up the line of march. They had not yet crossed the boundaries of the
canton, when the _landamman_ Æbli came up against them from Baar. He
was a man of irreproachable character, a leader of the people in his
canton, esteemed and beloved by the Confederates, trained in the school
of life, keeping in view the wants of the present, but both by
education and disposition unfitted for scientific and religious
controversy. As related by Bullinger, who was an eye-witness, this man
begged "the Lords of Zurich with tearful eyes; begged them as strongly
as he could, for God's sake and that of the whole Confederacy, to stay
quiet where they were without actual operations and approach, till he
would return again in the course of a few hours; for he had good hopes,
by the aid of other honorable, honest people, who also were in a fair
way to separate, with the help of God's grace, to make an honorable
peace, which would redound to the good of the Confederacy; besides,
great bloodshed would be avoided and no poor widows and orphans made;
for this, he trusted in the Holy Gospel, which teaches us peace, love
and unity. Moreover, he had also found a moderate, friendly opinion in
the Five Cantons, that it would be a great calamity, if one Confederate
would wretchedly kill the other, when their forefathers so often and
closely pledged together their persons, property and blood; and a like
opinion existed here among those, who had suffered much pain and injury
in war. We ought not, said he, grant such pleasure to the foes and
enemies of our common country. He, therefore, most earnestly plead only
for some hours to do his best to prevent the sad dismemberment of the
Confederacy."
Discordant views prevailed amongst the Zurichers. Yet the majority were
won over by this true-hearted, patriotic speech. After a short
deliberation, the leaders declared themselves ready to halt, and a
courier was dispatched to Zurich for instructions. But Zwingli
approached the _landamman_, who had formerly been one of his most
intimate friends in Glarus, with the words: "Dear _amman_, thou wilt be
obliged to account to God for this peace. Now, whilst our enemies are
in our power and unprepared you give them good words. Thou believest
them, and holdest back. Hereafter, when they are prepared, they will
not make peace with us; who then will separate us?" "Dear comrade,"
replied the _amman_, "I trust in God. He will make all right. Act
always for the best."
The brief truce, which now followed, was diligently used by both
parties. The Catholics brought together their chief force in the
country of Baar. Auxiliaries from Wallis (_Valais_), Livinen and the
valley of the Esch joined them. Their little army swelled to eight
thousand. That of the Zurichers was strengthened from the Thurgau and
St. Gall. A third just as important, that of the Bernese aided by
Basel, Biel and Muehlhausen, under the _schultheiss_ Von Diesbach, had
reached Bremgarten. Full thirty thousand men, unlike in view and
disposition, stood under arms. The Confederate policy was in the camp
of the Bernese. "We will attack the aggressor," said they, "wherever he
comes from. We will suffer no war, till all lawful remedies are
exhausted." They had written the same to Zurich, where hurrying envoys
from Glarus, Appenzel, the Three Cantons, Solothurn and Freiburg
arrived every hour with plans for a settlement of the difficulties.
Bern had also convoked at Aarau, a Diet for the whole Confederacy. Even
from Strasburg the Mayor Sturm had come as a mediator. A spirit of
peace began to pervade the opposing camps. Besides, many were anxious
to return home. They thought of their agricultural labor, which in the
month of June was particularly needful. The necessity for shedding
blood had not yet stirred the feelings of the multitude. Neighbors of
the different confessions still held intercourse with each other. The
out-posts had agreed not to injure each other; one party looked on the
peaceful sports of the other at the ring and the hurling of stones.
That beautiful feature of old Swiss cordiality was manifested, when
milk was brought from one side, bread from the other, and the hostile
warriors, with jokes over the limits to be guarded, ate the common food
from _one_ vessel. It drew an exclamation of surprise from the Mayor of
Strasburg, who witnessed it.
According to old usage, when the militia had marched out, the Council
of Zurich gave over to the commons-at-war (_kriegsgemeine_) the
instruction of the negotiators at the Diet in Aarau. There was one man
particularly to whom this was little pleasing, who apprehended evil
results--Ulric Zwingli. Should all the fruits of his earnest endeavor,
all the hopes for evangelical freedom, involved in this breach, be
lost? He feared a too ready compliance. "Gracious, loving Lords," he
wrote, "our messengers come in again this moment. I observe indeed how
the matter stands. They now give good words, and pray and beg. But do
not be misled, and regard no wry faces, but command us, beforehand, to
act with earnestness, not to surrender our advantage, but to accept
only a solid peace; for no one can give better words than these people,
and when we are out of the field, they will return in one month and
attack us. For God's sake act boldly. By my life, I desire not to
mislead you, nor give way myself. One cannot write everything. Stand
fast in God. Yield nothing to wry faces, till the right is established.
God be with you. In haste, in haste!"
After this he did his utmost in the camp at Cappel, so that the
treasurer, Rudolph Thumeisen, the deputy to Aarau, was instructed to
demand positively, liberty to preach the Gospel everywhere in the
Territories, the abrogation of the Alliance with Austria, the
abjuration of all pensions and the punishment of those, who would
propogate and dispense them, the costs of the war and indemnification
for the children of the martyred Jacob Kaiser. Meanwhile in Aarau the
continuance of the armistice only was determined on, and the
prosecution of the negotiations by arbitrators in the vicinity of the
camps transferred to Steinhausen, in the canton of Zug.
It had been previously said, that the commons-at-war (_landsgemeinden_)
should themselves hear the complaints and arguments of the opposing
parties. The leaders and deputies of the army of the Five Cantons made
the beginning in the camp of the Zurichers. An eye-witness, Kessler of
St. Gall, has given the following graphic picture of the event. It is
here told in his own words: "Now, at the request of the Five Cantons,
it was appointed, that, on the next Monday, a committee should come
over from their camp into ours, in order to interrogate each other as
well as the friendly arbitrators. So a high scaffolding was raised upon
barrels in the field before Cappel. On this was placed the banner of
Zurich, with all the ensigns and officers then encamped at Cappel, and
around the scaffolding stood the common soldiers. After the committee
of the Five Cantons, thirty in number, had been conducted over by the
Zurichan trumpeter, the umpires approached; one rose after the other on
the scaffold, speaking to the array and exhorting them to hold fast the
purpose to submit on both sides to a friendly and moderate treaty of
peace, seeing not only the sorrow, the misery and the great damage and
ruin, that must accrue to us from this present misunderstanding, if it
should come to the shedding of blood; but on the other hand, also, the
great joy that would arise among our foreign hereditary enemies; and
that nothing else can at last result from it, but that we, weakened by
our own discord, will be the more easily conquered and ruled by those
enemies, for whom, when united, we were always strong enough. Besides,
the great dislike of the people of Germany and other countries, during
our campaigns there, must be considered; and if our poor widows and
orphans are left, what scanty crusts of bread will be doled out to
them. Therefore, we implore you, for God's sake, to make peace with
each other like faithful, pious Confederates, who, in times past, have
fought and suffered so much together. Hereupon, Captain Escher of
Zurich stood forward, and disclosed in general and special to the
deputies of the Five Cantons the cause and articles of the war now
declared against them, reviewing with sharp words their unkind,
shameful and scandalous doings so long persisted in, but which could
henceforth be no longer endured or suffered, consistently with justice
and honor. After this, the deputies, gentlemen and captains of the Five
Cantons rose up; among the first _schultheiss_ Hug of Luzern; and each
gave answer to the articles and the accusation touching his Lords.
Nevertheless, something should be done. They desired that every effort
should be made to bring about a lasting peace, lest, as was before said
by the arbitrators, we might be compelled to murder and destroy each
other. But so far as might be, they desired a just settlement,
promising to abide thereby. Then it was proposed to retire a little out
of the crowd to a particular spot; and the captains and the commons
conferred among themselves, and decided that a committee of the same
number as theirs should be sent into the camp of the Five Cantons, to
disclose to the common soldiery, the business, which had not yet
reached them. There were present also Master Ulric Zwingli, Master
Conrad Schmied, the Commander, chosen preachers from the city and
canton of Zurich, men wholly inclined to purge the Confederacy from all
unfairness, unrighteousness and pride, and restore piety and honor.
When his turn came, Master Ulric spake very plainly, that they who were
there might understand, declaring that the cold apology of the Five
Cantons and their appeals to the law, which before this had been little
regarded by them, reminded him of condemned criminals, who when led to
punishment cried out for justice, in order to prolong their lives. Then
he spoke of the sin, the danger and the injury springing from the
pensions, undeservedly taken from kings and princes, countries and
people, and addressed the aforementioned _schultheiss_, Hug, by name:
It is well known what he is and has been for years, and whence he has
been enriched by so many thousand crowns; they are earnestly exhorted
to put it away, else peace, quiet and unity would never be seen in the
Confederacy."
With milder words Escher sought to allay the rising discontent of
the deputies of the Five Cantons, who, after a notice that the
leaders of the Zurichers should remember to appear also before their
commons-at-war, withdrew and were honorably conducted out of the camp.
Rain in torrents, as it fell abundantly during this summer, poured down
on the following day, the fifteenth of June. The overflowing of the
Loretz prevented any meeting. On the sixteenth, with clearing skies and
glad sunshine, fifteen of the most prominent Zurichers, to whom several
people from the country were added, rode over into the camp of the Five
Cantons.
Here also, as with the Zurichers, the reception took place amid warlike
display and the thunder of cannon. The leaders affirmed that more than
12,000 men were under arms. They stood well drawn up; defiance in every
face. The Unterwaldners were particularly well armed, partly with bows
and partly in heavy coats of mail. Hans Escher opened the discussion,
glad of the opportunity to represent in its true light the
misapprehended cause of Zurich before so large an assembly of
Confederates. First, he read aloud a detailed list of grievances,
published by the government itself. "All this," he then continued, "we
would have borne for the sake of the common peace, but when your rulers
concluded an alliance with yon power, which your own forefathers have
always considered their most dangerous enemy, and which is now, perhaps
more than ever, ours, how could we keep quiet any longer? Still, we
were not the first to march out. The Unterwaldners took up arms before,
to place their _vogt_ in Baden. Our troops, when they came to Muri,
found a meal prepared for them. Yet we do not wish to deal in mutual
crimination to our own injury, but rather to favor the liberty, which
we have inherited from our fathers, or what is the welfare of all,
according to the Gospel to which we adhere, the restoration of the old
Confederate pledges, which, as we ask them from you, we are also
willing and ready to give to our Confederates." The country-people
supported the speech of the citizen. Upon many of the hearers the
impression was evidently good, for a general belief prevailed among the
Catholics, that the country-people of Zurich had only submitted to the
Reformation with reluctance. Others, on the contrary, thought the
grievances in the paper of the Zurich Council exaggerated. "When have
we refused you justice?" said they. "How often have you appealed to us
in vain?"--"Yes," rejoined the treasurer Funk, an active young man, and
one of Zwingli's warmest adherents--"we know your ways of doing
justice. That unhappy pastor made an appeal and you referred him to the
executioner." The rash word was spoken. "Funk! you had better been
silent," one of his companions called out to him. A fearful tumult
arose; the troops put themselves in motion. The more considerate
warned the Zurichers to retire without delay, and secured them by a
detailed escort.