when the power of the government was displayed, the confidence
of its friends increased and the courage of its enemies sank. Many of
the Oberlanders, who were in Interlachen, saw the arrival of the men of
Obwalden with concern, knowing their cause would be rather endangered
than promoted by them. They began to rue the step they had taken, and
quietly to desert the ranks of the insurgents. A hurried embassy from
Basel, the inhabitants of the country around Sarnen, and even a
deputation from Luzern showed the men of Obwalden that their invasion
was a breach of the Federal Compact, with good effect upon the more
considerate. Cold weather was approaching, and the rain poured down in
torrents; they became fearful, if they did not speedily return home, of
finding the mountain-passes blocked up with snow, and hence the Bernese
advanced without resistance, whilst the enemy retreated and in the end
dispersed. The more peaceable and better-thinking people of the Five
Cantons expected this turn of affairs, yea even wished it. "Then the
peasants," so writes Captain Sh[oe]nbrunner of Zug in his journal,
which is still extant, "went back again to their Lords of Bern, which
was not improper; for it is natural for every man to cleave to his
own."

The punishment that followed was truly severe: the restitution of all
property stolen or destroyed, payment of costs, the acceptance of the
Reformation, the surrendry of their banners with the seal of the
canton, and the abrogation of all privileges and immunities, formed the
chief items. The oath of unconditional obedience had to be sworn on
their bended knees.--"Then," we are told by a contemporary, "the
horse-guards were sent into all the insurgent villages, and especially
into the valley of Grindelwald to apprehend the real authors of the
mischief, the ringleaders and the pillagers. Then were the houses of
the rebels ransacked, and their cattle, goods and possessions, and
whatever property belonged to the Unterwaldeners in the canton were
taken and confiscated to the city of Bern, though afterward through
pity much was given back again to women and children. Hereupon some
arrived from Halse, Brienz, Grindelwald, Habkeren and Rinkenberg in
chains. These they sent with the others, who were captured on the
ascent at Oberhofen, to Thun, and thence to be dealt with according to
their deserts, well guarded to Bern." A number of the parties most
deeply implicated escaped punishment by fleeing to