rther. He had expressly desired, in the Privy Council, by
which all the more important business of state was again disposed of,
that no peace would be concluded with Obwalden, if she would not
renounce all pensions, abandon the alliance with Austria and give up
all the bailiwicks for a term of office. But Bern was by no means so
ready for war. In the Council, jealousy or mere political shyness of
the often hasty interference of Zurich, appears to have given new
animation to the party opposed to her. "We are," wrote Haller to
Zwingli, "as unsound as ever in our government; and though we now at
Easter possess the Small and Great Councils, yet we are fearful that
nothing good will be done here, because all those, who have hitherto
shown themselves hostile to the word of God, are returning to power,
and if that happen, then you may expect nothing else from us, than that
nothing good will be undertaken." Under seal of the strictest silence
he communicated to him the fact, that in eight days at furthest no more
than a crown would be found remaining in the public treasury. "If the
Oberlanders knew this," he added, "do you suppose they would leave us
unmolested?" It appears also, when Zurich became still more urgent, and
earnestly declared she would not suffer it, but prevent it by force of
arms, if necessary, that the new _landvogt_ of Baden, an Unterwaldner,
entered the city on horseback about the time of the election of public
officers, and an embassy from Bern with prayers for more peaceful
deliberation and more moderate councils, uttered the assurance that she
was less inclined than ever to such a course. "In the opinion of my
Lords," said its spokesman, "it would be better yet to prevent by
friendliness an unpleasant issue. They are not willing to begin war
before they know more certainly the disposition of their people, who
are ready for an outbreak, now when the sun shines, but when it rains,
their courage falls. A part of our peasantry have concluded a formal
treaty with their neighbors of Luzern not to injure one another. We
would not compel them to do so. You know very well that the Word of God
enjoins nothing else but peace and quiet. True, dear Confederates and
Christian townsmen of Zurich, you yourselves at first desired to
accomplish everything by kindness. Indeed, faith cannot be administered
at the point of the spear and halberd. And then remember, the Emperor
has not so much to do, that if we attempt anything, h