Obwalden. Among
these was a certain Hans im Sand, an aged, wealthy and, in other
respects, estimable man. He afterward crossed over the Bruenig by
stealth to visit his family, and was then betrayed, condemned and
beheaded. In accordance with the barbarous custom of the age, his widow
was obliged to pay the executioner, who went himself to get his wages.
At the earnest request of those, who had remained faithful, part of
their privileges were gradually restored, first to the inhabitants of
the Haslithal and then to the people of the monastery. Most of the
captives were set free through the prayers of friends or by giving
bail. On the other hand, the brother of the Provost of Interlachen and
two more of the principal rebels were executed, and Christian Kolb, who
had everywhere stirred up the insurgents to excess and violence, was
not only slain but quartered.

After this victory, the government of Bern addressed itself to the
establishment of the Reformation in the entire canton as well as to its
more rapid diffusion in all parts of the Confederacy. St. Gall, where
the mass and images had already been laid aside, now joined the
Christian _Buergerrecht_. In Basel, the middle class took a still
bolder stand against the more aristocratic party belonging to the old
faith. The Council was divided and cramped; one burgomaster stood
opposed to the other. Now the deputies of the cantons and now those of
the cities appeared with attempts at mediation. The churches re-echoed
with the mutual recriminations of the mass priests and the preachers.
[OE]colampadius wisely continued to speak in favor of peace, but he
could not bring it about; for the time for anything like compromise had
gone by. Crowds of armed men broke into the churches by force, altars
were overthrown, pictures and images dashed to pieces, dragged into the
streets and burned: the Small Council was compelled to exile twelve of
its members, and the Great Council to increase its number by the
admission of four associates from each guild. A committee, appointed by
them and armed with full authority, succeeded in restoring quiet. The
introduction of the Reformation into the whole canton followed these
events. In Glarus also, Schaffhausen, Appenzel and Graubuenden the new
party gained strength every day. Even Solothurn no longer stood firm in
the old faith, especially since Berchthold Haller had been called
thither as a preacher.

In all directions, with unremitting zeal