Protestantism in Switzerland - James Aitken Wylie

No eyes were to be closed that night in Basle.
The Senate had been sitting all day. There was time
for an answer, yet none had been forthcoming.
They had been put off till tomorrow. What did that
mean? Was it not possible that the intervening
night would give birth to some dark plot which the
Senate might even now be hatching against the
public safety? They were 1,200 men, all well
armed. They sent again to the council-hall to say,
"Tonight, not tomorrow, we must have your
answer." It was nine of the evening. The Senate
replied that at so late an hour they could not decide
on a matter of so great moment, but that to-morrow
they should without fail give their answer, and
meanwhile they begged the citizens to retire in
peace to their homes.[12]
The citizens resolved not to separate. On the
contrary they sent once more, and for the last time,
to the Senate, to demand their answer that very
night. Their Excellencies thought good no longer to
trifle with the armed burghers. Longer delay might
bring the whole 1,200 warriors into the Senate
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