uragement of friends and
the terror of foes, to make the impression that they would obtain it.
For this purpose reports of their brilliant reception and the marks of
honor bestowed on them were spread everywhere--how often they had
spoken with the Emperor and his brother--how often they had been
summoned to confer with influential and illustrious men. But, on the
other hand, reports of quite a different character reached Switzerland
from the observers of the Reformed party, of whom an unknown citizen of
St. Gall appears to have been the most active. His long letters, full
of details, were immediately communicated by St. Gall to the allied
cities. Touching the abbot and the embassy of the Five Cantons, he
expresses himself in the following manner: "Kilian, the pretended abbot
of St. Gall, came hither on the 9th of July. I have seen him several
times, and conversed with his chamberlain and his chancellor on the
street, when they saluted me; yet they betrayed nothing. The chancellor
told me, that his gracious lord was here only to receive a fief from
the Bishop of Chur; item, to wait and see also what would be done at
the present Diet and likewise how it would go with others of the
clerical order, as well as himself. Indeed, his case is such, that even
if the just-named abbot had received wise council, he could not, in my
judgment, accomplish anything. The said Kilian lodges with one Fischer,
at a hotel in some obscure street. On the 10th of the present month, he
dined with the Bishop of Constance; and then on the 11th, in front of
the Bishop's chamber, paced up and down, giving vent there to his
sorrow, anguish and misery, and cries to the Virgin, for more than an
hour, before he was admitted; then without doubt the words of the said
bishop gave him comfort; though I hope their scheme will prove a gross
failure, since I, by the help of God, as far as I can learn the issue
of this business, will send My Lords the very earliest information
thereof. Touching the embassy of the cantons: First, the deputies of
Luzern arrived on the 5th day of this month (July). By the command of
the Emperor, they are lodged at a respectable inn, not far from the
court of the Emperor and King. The _vogt_ of the canton has presented
and delivered to the Emperor many letters, without doubt supplications
and apologies for royal treaties and seals broken on compulsion and
other similar things in writing. But I cannot see, that the Emperor can
give t