180 THE SWISS REFORMATION.
The crisis was aggravated by an international difficulty. Graubiinden sent deputies to the Diet with an appeal for aid against the Chatelan of Musso and the invasion of the Valtellina by Spanish troops. The Reformed Cantons favored co-operation, the Roman Catholic Cantons refused it. The expedition succeeded, the castle of Musso was demolished, and the Grisons took possession of the Valtellina (1530-32).
Zwingli saw no solution of the problem except in an honest, open war, or a division of the bailiwicks among the Cantons according to population, claiming two-thirds for Ziirich and Bern. These bailiwicks were, as already remarked, the chief bone of contention. But Bern advocated, instead of war, a blockade of the Forest Cantons. This was apparently a milder though actually a more cruel course. The Waldstiitters in their mountain homes were to be cut off from all supplies of grain, wine, salt, iron, and steel, for which they depended on their richer Protestant neighbors.^ Zwingli protested. "If you have a right," he said in the pulpit, '' to starve the Five Cantons to death, you have a right to attack them in open war. Thej^ will now attack you with the courage of desperation." He foresaw the disastrous result. But his protest was in vain. Ziirich yielded to the counsel of Bern, which was adopted by the Protestant deputies, May 15, 1531.
The decision of the blockade was communicated to the Forest Cantons, and vigorously executed, Zurich taking the
branch ihrer Stelhmg in eidgenossischen Dingen grosser war, dass somit die Stiidte sich durchaus nicht eigneten, als Vertreter der ^ gottlichen Gerechtigkeit tmd Strafe' die Fiinf Orte I'on ikren hergehrachten Redden zu entsetzen. Audi in der auswdrtigen Politik verliess Zwingli nun die G-rundsdtze des eidgenossischen Rechtes, die er selber vorher mit Nachdruck vertheidigt hatte. Er ging in reformatorischem Eifer Verbindungen ein und nahm an politischen Planen Theil, ivelche den Frieden und selhst die Existenz der Eidgenossenschaft gefiihrden mussten."
1 Zurich was charged by Bern with an excess of passion, Bern by Ziirich with an excess of prudence. In the language of Zwingli : —
" Ber7i klagt : Zurich ist zu hitzig, Zurich klagt : Bern ist zu witzig."
§ 46. THE SECOND WAR OF CAPPEL. 181
lead. All supplies of provision from Zurich and Bern and even from the bailiwicks of St. Gall, Toggenburg, Sargans, and the liheinthal were withheld. The previous year had been a year of famine and of a wasting epidemic (the sweating sickness). This year was to become one of actual starvation. Old men, innocent women and children were to suffer with the guilty. The cattle was deprived of salt. The Waldstatters were driven to desperation. Their own confederates refused them the daily bread, forgetful of the Christian precept, "If tliine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him to drink ; for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head. Be not overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good" (Rom. 12 : 20, 21).
Zwdngli spent the last months before his death in anxiety and fear. His counsel had been rejected, and yet he was blamed for all these troubles. He had not a few enemies in Ziirich, who undermined his influence, and inclined more and more to the passive policy of Bern. Under these circumstances, he resolved to withdraw from the public service. On the 26th of July he appeared before the Great Council, and declared, " Eleven years have I preached to you the gospel, and faithfully warned j^ou against the dangers which threaten the confederacy if the Five Cantons — that is, those who hate the gospel and live on foreign pensions — are allowed to gain the mastery. But you do not heed my voice, and continue to elect members who sympatliize with the enemies of the gospel. And yet ye make me responsible for all this misfortune. Well, I herewith resign, and shall elsewhere seek my support."
He left the hall with tears. His resignation was rejected and withdrawn. After three days he appeared again before the Great Council, and declared that in view of their promise of improvement he would stand by them till death, and do his best, with God's help. He tried to persuade the Bernese delegates at a meeting in Bremgarten in the house