document was in the form of a
letter, addressed to the cities of the Christian _Buergerrecht_. "It is
a known fact," so it begins, "that in former centuries no kings and no
people offered a more steady resistance to the overgrown power and
tyranny of the Roman Emperor than the most Christian kings of France
and the people of Helvetia. Through them, not only their own liberties,
but those also of other princes, nations and cities have been
maintained. Hence this alliance of powers--the greater one of France
and the lesser of the Confederates (which latter are not able by
themselves to sustain so great a war) cannot be dissolved without
injury to the cause of universal freedom. This the kings of France have
always kept in view. And, although at present the Five Cantons continue
to stand aloof from the cities of the Christian _Buergerrecht_, and
this in fact does not the less grieve the King of France, than if (God
forbid!) his two sons were at variance, still he preserves the feelings
and the policy of his ancestors, who valued the friendship and
attachment of no people more than that of the Confederates. Hence, if
he cannot effect a treaty with all Switzerland, on account of the
above-mentioned schism, he is yet at least willing to conclude one with
the cities of the Christian _Buergerrecht_, as well as those cantons,
which are not distant in their views, namely, with Glarus, Solothurn,
Appenzel and the Toggenburgers; and it shall be of such a character,
that even the Zurichers, who would not join the one concluded several
years ago, can no longer have any reason to stand aloof, because it
contains no articles contrary to the Divine law. For this purpose it
shall also be submitted beforehand to the theologians and preachers of
the Gospel in the Confederacy, since it is the dearest wish of the most
Christian King himself, that the Gospel shall be maintained in its
purity." The chief articles proposed by Zwingli are the following:
Twenty years for the duration of this alliance, whose special duty it
shall be to defend the Christian religion, and that against every man
who may assail it, without exception. If one of the two parties is
disturbed, because it has received the Gospel or for other reasons,
then the other shall send aid at the first call; should it, on the
contrary, make the attack, then authority is given, to help only, if
the reasons of the attack be found lawful. The troops of the cities in
the service of the k