ity they arrogated to
themselves in this respect over the others, is plainly visible in their
behavior toward Bern. Notwithstanding her repeated requests, the acts
of the Baden Conference were not communicated to her; her conduct was
subjected to severe censure, and it was resolved to send thither a
delegation to confirm the alliance by an oath; but only after the Great
Council and the consulting deputies of the districts had declared
solemnly beforehand, that Bern would not desert the Five Cantons in
matters of faith, yea, would even recall her former grant in favor of
the free interpretation of the Scriptures. Indeed, she was obliged to
draw up a sealed declaration to this effect. But with that even the
Five Cantons were not satisfied. "A command"--so it is enjoined in the
letters of their Conference at Luzern--"shall be given to our envoys at
the swearing of the treaty as to what more shall be said to our
Confederates at Bern, _which they shall indeed hear_." What this may
have been will become intelligible to us, when we have taken a nearer
view of the religious and political condition of Bern, as it then was.

From the earliest period of the Confederacy down, a mutual friendship
had existed between Bern and Zurich. In the old wars against Zurich,
when all the Confederates appeared in hostile array against her, Bern
had stood out for a long time; and at great sacrifice, had endeavored
to bring about a reconciliation, and was the first to reach out again
the hand of peace. She thankfully acknowledged the true help, which
Zurich had afforded her in the Burgundian wars. Not seldom was she
solicited to act as mediator, in disputes, which Zurich had with her
own subjects, and always discharged her commission with kindness and
honor. In the quarrels also with other states, arising in consequence
of the reforms in Zurich, she took no part in the hostile measures
contrived against her, and the insults offered to her ambassadors; on
the contrary, did all she could to preserve peace. But a short time
before the Conference at Baden, she had publicly declared: "Though our
dear Confederates of Zurich should not be willing to accept the
proposals of compromise drawn up by us, we have still unanimously
resolved neither to separate from them nor from our other allies, but
faithfully to adhere to all sworn treaties." This was the disposition
of the canton; this the policy of the government, which, among all the
Swiss states, was the