undaunted spirit and presence of mind in the popular
rebellion at T[oe]ss, and although he was among the last to leave the
battle-field of Cappel, and that only when all resistance had become
impossible, yet an inner voice perhaps whispered to him, that among the
glorious band, who had there laid down their lives, the name of the
chief commander should not have been wanting. Intimidated and
perplexed, he attempted no decisive measures. "Of Lavater many said,"
so Bullinger tells us, "that he was frightened, and durst no longer
talk among and with the people. The constrained position of the general
had its effect upon the army. Several of the cowardly and faithless
began to desert, rain set in, and provisions grew scarce. In spite of
every entreaty, to protect at least the Zurichan frontier, the army of
Bern retreated to Bremgarten." "Why do you hesitate to follow?" said
the ensign Hugi of Solothurn. "You shut your eyes on your own
necessities, as your fathers before you in the old Zurich war. As they,
so you are at variance; as they, so you have lost the hearts of your
Confederate brethren; you have no power to make further resistance, and
yet you will not give way."

And in fact the government did not consider it just then consistent
with honor and duty. It was resolved not to entertain the proposals for
peace made by the mediators; because one of the conditions of the
Catholics was, that in the Territories it should be decided by a new
vote whether they would return to the old or continue in the new faith.
Bern also assented to this course. But now an army of 4,000 men from
the Five Cantons, among whom were the lawless foreign mercenaries of Ab
Isola, rushed upon the cottages and hamlets of the unprotected
territory of Zurich, overran the left shore of the lake, and ravaged as
far down as Thalweil. Terror seized the canton. Many fled to the city;
all the roads were filled with weeping-women and children, mingled with
lowing herds, and the alarm-bells resounded on every side. The councils
were called together and the troops still lying at Bremgarten summoned
by their honor and oath to hasten up without delay. They obeyed, but in
vain were the Bernese, first by the treasurer Eddlebach and then by the
burgomaster Roist and two associate councilmen, conjured by everything
which they held sacred, this once to come to the rescue of their old
confederate-sister, only to enter the city for its immediate
protection, whilst the