hem on all sides victory,
honor and fortune, so surely, that no lord has ever conquered them,
though never so strong; which, without doubt, is not to be attributed
to human ability, but to the power and grace of God. Yea, when they
defended their fatherland and freedom at Morgarten, Sempach and Naefels,
where three hundred and fifty men attacked fifteen thousand for the
twelfth time in one day and at last beat them, among whom ye good
people of Schwyz had thirty, and in many other places, when they went
to battle and returned home always with joy and honor, then they rested
in peace, stained by no disgrace. But now, since we are lifted up in
our own conceit, and think ourselves wise; since we have become filled
with pride and boasting, though it is nothing but air; how should we
escape not having shame and loss imputed to us by God, though we have
spread our names so far with such vainglory: _We_ have done this; _we_
will do this; _we_ can do this; no one is able to withstand _us_; as if
we had a covenant with death; although a heavy scourging and punishment
passes by, may it not yet come over _us_; since we place our hope in
lying and tricks and are protected thereby--just as if we were iron and
other men gourds; just as if no one could harm us like the heroes, who
saved themselves from the deluge by that enormous pile, the tower of
Babel. It is very certain that our pride is not His gift. He waits
long, and that only, for us to do better. If we do not, then it will be
done unto US as it was done unto Sodom and Gomorrah." This letter
alone, or in connection with other reasons, which may have brought it
about, actually prevailed at Schwyz, after a stormy meeting, over the
national inclination toward the French, and it was resolved for the
next 25 years to reject foreign alliances and pensions; Nidwalden also
joined in the resolution. As may easily be imagined, this greatly
strengthened the hatred against Zwingli. "Thy truly Christian summons
to the people of Schwyz"--writes Berthold Haller from Bern--"is
severely condemned among us, indeed in the highest degree." Embassies
were sent to Schwyz and Nidwalden, to warn them back, and one also to
Zurich with the request, that if they wished always to keep apart, they
would at least abstain from influencing other members of the
Confederacy, and keep careful watch over the seditious libels that
issued from their city. The government remained firm to the principles
laid down for