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Protestantism in Switzerland - James Aitken Wylie

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Chapter 7<br />

Arms – Negotiations – Peace<br />

FIRST carne the startl<strong>in</strong>g news to the Swiss<br />

Reformers that the Five Cantons had struck a<br />

league with Austria. Next came the flash of<br />

Keyser's martyr-pile. This was succeeded by the<br />

clang of military preparations. Zurich saw there<br />

was not a moment to be lost. The council of the<br />

canton met; it was resolved to support, religious<br />

liberty, and put a stop to the behead<strong>in</strong>gs and<br />

burn<strong>in</strong>gs which the Popish cantons ]had<br />

commenced. But to carry out this resolution they<br />

must gird on the sword. Zurich declared war.[1]<br />

From Zug sounded forth the summons to arms<br />

on the other side. There was a muster<strong>in</strong>g of<br />

warriors from all the valleys and mounta<strong>in</strong>s<br />

around. From the rich meadows of Uri, which the<br />

footsteps of Ten had made for ever historic; from<br />

that lovely strand where rise the ramparts of<br />

Lucerne, reflected on its noble lake, and shaded by<br />

the dark form of the cloud-capped Pilatus; from<br />

112

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