The event in Zug was not quite so peaceful. Open discord reigned among
the counselors, a majority of whom were zealous advocates of the
alliance. Admission to the general assembly (_landsgemeine_) was not
granted to the deputies. We are told in their report: "They pretended
they had an excitable population, and were concerned lest our presence
would create great confusion; for they were much more passionate and
intolerant in the assemblies than the councils." In Altorf a difference
was made between Zurich and Bern; between the decided cantons and those
that were more accommodating.--The former were thanked; the latter, and
Zurich especially, were charged with interfering in matters of faith,
where they had no business so to do. Of the new faith, they said:
"Would to God it were buried!" Then an attempt was made, as had been
done before by Schwyz, to maintain it as a principle in the government
of the Common Territories, that even in ecclesiastical affairs the
majority of votes among the ruling cantons should decide. Of all the
points at issue this was the most difficult. Over it the strife
continually broke out anew.--Proudly and piously spoke the Luzerners:
They would follow their forefathers in everything, in adherence to the
Federal Compact, and in love, but only when it did not deviate from the
faith. Seditious persons now try to undermine this, as once the serpent
sneaked around our first parents in Paradise. From such poison they
would preserve their children and children's children. They had been
prompted to do what they now did, in the face of censure, by the
intrigues, embassies and negotiations of other cantons among
themselves, in the territories as well as with foreigners, the defiance
with which their just complaints had been met and the arming of the
Zurichers. In Obwalden a very hostile disposition at last revealed
itself. Here a bitterness of spirit had been left behind by the
unsuccessful inroad into the Haslithal, which was essentially increased
by the claims of Bern for indemnification, the sojourn of fugitive
Oberlanders and the execution of Hans im Sand, who had enjoyed special
favor in Obwalden. With all their efforts the mediating cantons had not
yet been able to restore peace, but only to prevent the outbreak of a
second war. The deputies of Obwalden and those of the Reformed cities
still gave each other short words and exchanged sullen looks, when they
met at the Federal Diet. But in Sarnen the most unfriendly reception
awaited the embassy of the Confederates. Only the envoys of those
cantons, which had not yet spoken out decidedly for the Reformation,
were treated with a certain moderation, and notified that the sharp
language, which must be used, had but a partial reference to them. Then
the Federal Compact was revoked with all apostates from the true faith,
and pity expressed that it had not been done before. They and the other
Forest Cantons were the true, old Confederates, they had won the prize
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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