reserve 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the Federal Compact was revoked with all apostates from the true faith,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
of liberty, they had admitted the rest of the cantons into the
Confederacy. Why should these now wish to be their masters? But the
Emperor, Austria, France, Savoy and Wallis (_Valais_) will indeed help
them to prevent it. A written answer was refused. On the other hand
they got a sight of the escutcheons of Zurich, Bern and Basel painted
on a gallows in the house of the secretary of state (_landschreiber_)
and when they complained of it, the excuse was, it meant nothing,--a
foolish fellow had daubed it there.

Great was the exasperation at this news, particularly in Zurich. Now
openly and earnestly they set about arming themselves, refused peace
beforehand without the humiliation of Obwalden, and called upon Bern by
letters and an embassy not to make the least abatement in its unsettled
grievances against that district, but rather to insist with redoubled
zeal on satisfaction and the fullest indemnity. Indeed, Zwingli wished
to go yet fu