t
are divided in this business, which is a great trouble to us. Therefore
we earnestly pray you to put away all such discord and be united, so
will we also pledge our persons and our property to God's Word and our
Lords."--"Nothing is kept secret"--wrote Buelach--"in Your Small and
Great Council, but everything is continually published through the
whole Confederacy, and this grieves us. We pray you therefore to make
diligent inquiry and expel the babblers, and drive off them who are
opposed to God's Word; then it should be cared for that the entire
country should not be disturbed by them." Eglisau asked for the same
thing with the addition: "If you, dear Lords, are not strong enough to
punish such people, we will help you with our persons and our
property." That from Ruemlang carries the same sense: "Further, it is
our wish and advice, that You, as our Lords and Superiors, will look
after the adversaries of God's Word, both those who sit in your Council
and those who are of the clergy, be they priests or monks, and expel
them from the city and canton, for it is certain that the greatest
displeasure of the Confederates has sprung from this source; and if
You, as our Lords and Superiors, are not strong enough for them, we
will stand by you with our persons and our property, for such things
can be endured no longer." With a hankering side-glance at the fat
possessions of the monasteries, they of the Four Wards wrote: "We have
received the friendly and gracious communication of our Lords with
great thanks, and wish to be among those who pledge person, soul, honor
and property to the Word of God and their Lords and Superiors,
especially to those who mean well, and not to the base, who strive
against God's Word. For the rest, it is our wish, that You, as our
Lords and Superiors, would punish and drive away those wicked ones, who
fight against God's Word, be they in the Council, in the city, or in
the canton, be they clergymen or laymen, for it is certain, that the
displeasure of our Confederates has, for the most part, arisen from
this quarter by their letter-writing and other rebellious acts; and if
you are not strong enough to punish or drive them away, we will aid you
with our persons and our property to drive them off. In the third
place, be it our will and opinion, that you will take care of and drive
away by the help of God's Word, all the soup-eaters, who crowd
together, as is well known, in the monasteries; for if this