Zurichers would fight without the walls. The
cold answer was, that they would think over the matter, and write to
the troops at Zofingen and the government at Bern. Not all of
Diessbach's army shared this feeling with him. Jacob Mai thrust his
sword at the bear in the banner, as though he would rouse him up to
action. The field-chaplain Kolb spake thus to the assembled soldiery:
"Your forefathers in a like case would have swum through the Rhine to
attack the enemy; at the slightest call they marched to battle; the
Gospel itself does not move you." These words were uttered with
impunity; but yet they produced no effect. The men of Solothurn, Basel,
Schaffhausen, Biel and Muehlhausen also joined the Bernese. Captain
Friedbolt of St. Gall alone declared, that by order of his superiors,
he would place life and property at the disposal of Zurich, and a small
troop from Bischoffzell followed him. The majority of the Thurgovians
and Toggenburgers, who were still encamped with the Zurichers, returned
to their homes.

Meanwhile, the Catholics retired again before the Zurichers, marching
up the left shore, with a reinforcement of 1,000 Graubuendners, ferried
over from the right shore of the lake. The army under Hans Escher, who
had succeeded Lavater in the chief command, encamped above Horgen on
the heights of the Zimmerberg. Zurich now stood unsupported, except by
her confederates of Graubuenden and a few from St. Gall. The rural
districts were sighing for peace, and the Five Cantons began also to
desire it. The absence of all the able-bodied men increased the
distress at home, which was already great enough by reason of the
famine; the inclemency of an early winter gave few charms to a life in
the field, and the hamlets on the frontier, crowded with soldiers,
began to feel the pinchings of want. Under these circumstances a letter
was addressed by the Five Cantons to the "Parishes general and special,
who are subject to Zurich," requesting them to conclude a special peace
with the Catholics, in case the capital would refuse to do so. This
produced a great excitement. Deputies from various parts of the canton
appeared before the government, with the earnest prayer, that some
means might be devised to prevent further invasion and relieve them
from the burdens of the war, which had now became almost intolerable.
After a long and violent struggle, the peace-party triumphed in the
Council. Negotiations were opened; but the decision