Another time in the sayd Syluania, as the good man of the house was absent abroade, the gouernour which had then the rule of the towne, entring into the house, cōman∣deth the wife to prepare for him a bath, and to let him haue his pleasure of her. Wherunto she being vnwilling, differ∣red the bathe as long as she might, till the returne of her husband. To whome then she making her complaynt, so moued his mind, that he with his axe or hatchet which he had in his hand, flew vpō the adulterous ruler & slue him.
Another example of like violence is reported of the ru∣ler of Suicia, and Siluania, who surprised with like pride and disdaine against the poore vnderlings, caused his cap to be hanged vp vpon a pole, charging and commanding by his seruant, all that passed by, to do obeysance to the cap. Which, when one, named William Tell, refused to do, the tiraunt caused his sonne to be tied, with an apple set vpon his head, and the father with a crossebow, or a like instrument, to shoote at the apple. After long refusing, whē the wofull father could not otherwise choose, by force con∣streined, but must leauill at the apple, as God would, he mist the child, and stroke the marke. This Tell, being thus compelled by the tirant to shoote at his sonne, had brought with him two shaftes, thinking that if he had stroke the child with the one, the other he would haue let driue at the tyraunt. Which being vnderstand, he was apprehended, and led to the rulers house: but by the way escaping out of the boate, betweene Urania and Brun, and passing tho∣rough the mountaines with as much speede as he might, he lay in the way secretly as the ruler should passe, where he discharged his arow at the tyraunt, and slue him.
And thus were these cruell gouernours vtterly expel∣led out of these three valleyes or pages aforesayd, and after that, such order was taken by the Emperour Henricus 7. and also by the Emperours Ludouicus duke of Bauaria, that henceforth no iudge should be set ouer them, but only of their owne companie, and towne dwellers. Ex Seb. Munst. Cosmog. lib. 3.
It folowed after this, in the yeare of our Lord 1315. that great contention and war fell betweene Fridericke Duke of Austria, and Ludouicke Duke of Bauaria, striuing and fighting the space of eight yeares together about the Em∣pire. With Ludouicus held the three pages aforesayd: who had diuers conflicts with Lupoldus, brother to the fore∣named Fridericke Duke of Austria, fighting in his bro∣thers quarell. As Lupoldus had reared a mighty army of twenty thousand footemen and horsemen, and was come to Egree, so to passe ouer the mountaines to subdue the pages: he began to take aduise of his counsaile, by what way or passage best he might direct his iourney toward the Suitzers. Whereupon, as they were busy in consulting, there stoode a foole by (named Kune de Stocken) which hea∣ring their aduise, thought also to shoote his bolt withall, and told them that their counsaile did not like him. For all you (quoth he) consult how we should enter into yonder countrey: but none of you geueth any counsaile how to come out againe, after we be entred. And in conclusion, as the foole said, so they found it true. For when Lupoldus, with his hoste had entred into the straites and valleys be∣tweene the rockes and mountaines, the Suitzers wyth their neighbours of Urania, and Siluania, lieng in priuie waite, had thē at such aduantage, & with tumbling downe stones from the rockes, and sodeine comming vpon theyr backes in blinde lanes, did so encomber them, that neither they had conuenient standing to fight, nor roome almost to flie away. By reason whereof, a great part of Lupoldus army there being enclosed about ye place called Morgartē, lost their liues, & many in the flight were slaine. Lupoldus with thē that remained, retired and escaped to Thurgoia. This battaile was fought, anno. 1315. Nouember 16.
After this, the burgers of these three villages, being con∣tinually vexed by Fridericke Duke of Austria, for that they would not knowledge him for Emperour, assembled them selues in the towne of Urania, an. 1316. and there entred a mutuall league and bond of perpetuall societie and con∣iunction, ioining and swearing themselues, as in one bo∣die of a common wealth, and publike administration, to∣gether. After that came to them Lucernates, then Tugia∣ni, after them the Tigurines, next to them folowed Ber∣nates, the last almost of all, were the Basilians, then follo∣wed after, the other seauen pages aboue recited.
And thus haue ye the names, the freedome, and confede∣ratiō of these Suitz••rs, or Cantons or pages of Heluetia, with the occasions & circumstāces therof briefly expressed. Now to the purpose of our story intended, which is to de∣clare the successe of Christes Gospel and true Religion re∣ceaued amōg these Heluetians: also touching the life & do∣ctrine of Zuinglius, & order of his death, as heere insueth.