An Introduction to the History of the Principal Kingdoms and States of Europe

Chapter VII

313 u chapte r vi i u Of the Switzers.§1. |[These Countries which are possess’d now by the Switzers]| belonged formerly to the German Empire; but that they were united in one Commonwealth [into a special republic] was occasioned thus; the three small Counties [Landschafften] of Ury, Switz, and Under-Walden, which commonly are call’d the three Forest Towns, enjoy’d very antient {freedom and} Privileges, which they pretended to have been granted them by the Emperor Lewis, Surnamed the Pious, yet so, that the Emperor used to send thither an Imperial Judge or Vicar [Reichsvogt], who had the supreme Jurisdiction in criminal Affairs [Capital-Sachen]. There were also some Monasteries in those Countries which, tho they enjoy’d particular ‘Privileges’ [rights], yet did they not interfere with the Liberty of the People. But there lived a great many Noblemen among them also, who by degrees getting the ascendant over the Common People [das Volck], did oppress their Liberty, especially during the differences which were betwixt the Emperors and the Popes, when the Nobility us’d to side with the Popes, but the Commonalty with the Emperor. These divisions betwixt the Nobility and the People grew very high at the time of the great Interregnum, which happen’d after the death of the Emperor Frederick the Second, which breaking out into an open War {A. 1260}, the whole Nobility was driven out of the Country; but by the Emperor Rodolfus’s Authority, a reconciliation having been made betwixt them, the Nobles were restored to their Estates. 1. Rather: “Those peoples [Völcker] which are now called Swiss.” First Original of this Commonwealth . 314 chapter vii Thus these Countries did enjoy their Liberty {unimpeded}, till the Reign of Albert I. who having conceived a hatred against them, because they had sided with his Rival Adolph of Nassau, {and because he} was very desirous to annex them {along with many other things} to his Hereditary Countries; the Monasteries therefore, and a great many of the Nobility, having, upon his desire, submitted themselves to the Jurisdiction of the House of Au-stria: The same was also proposed to the three abovementioned places, who refusing his proposition , he set over them Imperial Judges or Vicars, who, contrary to the antient Custom, began to reside in strong Castles, and having first try’d by perswasions to bring them over to the House of Austria, afterwards, when they found their labour lost that way, grew very burthensom to the People by their oppressions; neither were the Petitions made against them by the Commonalty in any ways regarded by the Emperor; nay the Judge of Under-Walden, who’s name was Geisler, was become so extravagant, that he set his Hat upon a Pole in the Market-Place of Altorf, commanding that every body should pay the same respect to his Hat as to himself; thereby to make a tryal of their Obedience. And among others one William Tell having often pass’d by without paying his Respect, he forced him to shoot with an Arrow through an Apple, which was placed upon his own Sons Head; but this man whilst he was ‘carrying’ [being led] to prison, making his escape, stirr’d up the hatred of the People against the Judges.§2. There were at that time three Men of great Authority [ansehnliche] among them, viz.Werner Stouffacher, born in Switz,Walter Furst born in Ury, and Arnold of Melchtale born in Under-Walden: These entred into an Association, whereby it was agreed among them, to rid themselves of this Tyranny, and to restore their antient Liberty. A great many more having entred afterwards into this Association an agreement was made betwixt them; that in the year 1308. on the first day of January, they would surprize these Judges in their strong Castles, and drive them out of the Country. This Confederacy was made in the year 1307. on the 17. of October; and having afterwards been put in execution in the abovementioned year, on the first day of January, these three places The first Union of the Switz. of the switzers 315 entred into a Confederacy for ten years for the mutual Defence of their antient Liberties. In the year 1315. Leopold Arch-Duke of Austria, Son of Albert I. marched with an Army of 20.000 Men to force them to Obedience ; against whom they...