rce, they need count on no
help from her; and might shape their plans accordingly. Basel and
Schaffhausen showed far more sympathy, but likewise wished for a
general consultation before further steps were taken. St. Gall begged
Zurich to try peaceful measures once more; and if in vain, she then
pledged herself to abide true to her obligations.

Zurich promised to attend the appointed diet, but did not suspend the
preparations for war, which she had already begun. Her deputies, the
burgomaster Roist, the banneret Schweizer and Jost von Knosen, appeared
in Aarau with binding instructions. They were to surrender nothing,
hear no more plans of mediation, and consent to no longer delay of
punishment. Bern persevered just as decidedly in protesting against any
breach of the peace. By the urgent solicitation of the others, the
Zurichers were at last prevailed on, to give the decisive answer in
their own city, whither the collective deputies now went with them, in
order to lay the matter before the Council itself. They were already
agreed among themselves in no case to go further than consent to
proclaim and execute, in common with Zurich, a decree against the
export of provisions, as proposed by Bern, and that only when all other
milder measures were exhausted.

With one accord they began to entreat the Council to lay aside all
warlike preparations, not wantonly to disturb the internal peace,
whilst danger threatened from without, not to carry bloodshed into the
rural districts, where so many innocent people were yet living, not to
destroy the ripening harvest, the only hope of the poor, of so many
widows and orphans; but Zurich vehemently resisted and would not give
way in the least. Once before, said the Councils, against our
convictions, in order to please others, we consented to a peace, which
has only resulted in our greater injury. Shall we now do it again, and
let slip out of our hands the advantage which we at this moment
possess? To wait till the Emperor, till Austria comes to their aid, or
perchance lends secret support to Medicis--to hope for truth and
faithfulness among those, to whom nothing could be more welcome than
our total destruction? The proposal also to lay an injunction on the
export of provisions found no favor in the beginning. This remedy was
thought more hateful than war itself. An honorable war was not contrary
to the Word of God; but it would be unchristian to cut off bread from
the mouths of the