rfere? Our _Buergerrecht_ was devised not for
disturbing the peace of the Empire, but to aid in preserving it."
Agreement became more and more difficult. The Five Cantons, already
standing in hostile attitude toward Zurich and Bern, sought to persuade
Glarus, Freiburg and Solothurn to a closer, special union "for the
maintenance of the old, true Christian faith, the holy seven sacraments
and particularly the office and sacrifice of the mass, with all good
Christian rules, benedictions and usages, as handed down from our
forefathers, nothing excepted"--for the suppression of every innovation
in the Common Territories, and armed succor, if either there or on
their own soil an attack is made on that faith, whose support and
defence should be the highest duty, higher even than the preservation
of the Confederacy. From Freiburg they received an unconditional
assent; from Glarus and Solothurn, where the friends of Reform were
increasing in number, one with provisos attached. Wallis (_Valois_)
also joined the alliance. More anon. The time had come, when the Five
Cantons began likewise to look beyond the limits of the Confederacy.
Austria was the nearest to them. Zurich and Bern had sought foreign aid
in order to carry out their innovations more securely, why should they
refuse the same for the preservation of the old faith, for upholding
the unity of the church. Through the bishops of Chur, especially
through their friends in Graubuenden, they hoped to obtain access to
the authorities of the Archducal government in Inspruck. Meanwhile
these projects were kept secret for a long time within a narrow circle
of those who could be trusted. They first came to light, when, in the
summer of 1528, a second alliance in addition to the Christian
_Buergerrecht_ was concluded between Zurich and Bern, who were moved
thereto, as they said, by the violent suppression, on the part of the
Eight Cantons, of all attempts at Reform in the Common Territories.
"Since," so it is recorded in the original documents relating to this
matter, "our dear Confederates of the Eight Cantons are not only
offended and show themselves averse to us and our adherents in our
Christian enterprise, but have even taken occasion specially to pledge
and bind themselves to remain true to the old faith, as they call it,
and have attempted to seduce several of ours from their Christian
enterprise and respect and obedience to us, promising them help,
counsel, encouragement an