The World's Story (Volume 7); A History of the World in Story, Song and Art, Ed. by Eva March Tappan (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1914. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... THE MEETING AT THE RUTLI 1307] BY HEINRICH ZSCHOKKE this and the two following selections, dealing with the oppressions of the Hapsburgs, come originally from chronicles written two or three centuries later, and must be regarded as legends rather than as history. The Editor.} They Gessler and Landenberg] did as imperial bailiffs had never done before, and took up their abode in the land. Landenberg went to the king's castle, near Sarnen in Obwalden, and Gessler built for himself a tower in the country of Uri. The taxes were increased, the smallest offenses punished by imprisonment and heavy fines, the country people treated with haughtiness and contempt. Gessler, passing on horseback before Stauffacher's new house, in the village of Steinen, cried out insultingly, "Shall peasants be allowed to build so finely?" And when Arnold Anderhalden, of Melchthal in Unterwalden, was condemned for some slight offense to lose a yoke of fine oxen, Landenberg's servants took the oxen from the plough, and said, "Peasants may draw the plough themselves." But young Arnold, irritated by this insult, struck the servant and broke two of his fingers. Then he fled into the mountains. In revenge, Landenberg put out both the eyes of Arnold's old father. Whoever, on the contrary, adhered to the bailiff and did his will, was treated with indulgence and was always in the right. But all did not escape, who, trusting in the protection of the bailiff, thought themselves entitled to do evil; and, as there was no longer any justice to be had in the land, each man helped himself, and this occasioned many disorders. But the bailiffs laughed and persisted in their tyranny; they not only trod under foot the chartered franchises of the people, sanctioned by emperors and kings, but disregarded the...