e to themselves
power and rule, and the administration of the higher offices; and as
you also cannot presume, that either you or we of the two cantons
(Zurich and Glarus) have a right to act in this matter without the
knowledge and approval of the other cantons; you will perceive that it
is not advisable to grant them, just at this time, a chief bailiff,
judge, council and high courts of dignity and appeal; we are only able,
in order that they may have no reason to complain about justice and
law, to allow them now, in the beginning, to fill the lower courts, as
they have come down from antiquity, with honest, upright, sensible and
God-loving men, but the principal posts of government, the high
offices, to which sovereignty pertains, must continue as they are,
until it is seen what course the abbot and the two cantons, who support
him, will take." It was then proposed, to place the chief power in the
hands of the governor-general for the interim, to associate with him
for this purpose able men, and appoint them a court of appeal in
judicial cases; but for the final settlement of affairs, to call
together a second conference of the four protectorate cantons, and
should Luzern and Schwyz refuse to take part in it, to signify to them,
that they were determined to proceed without them. "It is then to be
presumed," continues the letter of advice to the deputies, "if they
thus see, that the abbot cannot be restored, they will quietly agree
with us of the two cantons to take charge of the government. But should
they persevere in their opposition and attempt to use any force on
behalf of the abbot against our purpose and that of the honest people,
it will then be our duty to curb force with force, until honest people,
perchance our Confederates of Bern and others shall interpose and help
to make a treaty of peace. And then indeed it will be discovered, whose
shall be the rule and authority, and who shall be lord or servant, and
thereby the desire for self-government among the people of the abbacy
shall be broken and every thing rightly settled, ordered and secured by
charter, how and in what form, henceforth, court, law, dignities,
offices and all authorities shall be held, and how and what grievances
shall be redressed for the honest people."

Zurich acted from this time forward, in accordance with these
views, and at the close of the year, after Luzern and Schwyz had
repeatedly declined to take part in a second conference, she