This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1875 Excerpt: ...demanded of the pope the imposition of a tax upon the convents for the costs of the war and also the recall of the nuncio Caraccioli, whom they called the originator of all the trouble. The catholic cantons long felt the bitter effects of this war; for they had incurred great expenses. Schwyz levied a tax of five crowns on each household; Lucerne was obliged to exercise force to raise her share of the costs; Uri to appease her subjects in Leventina by important franchises (1713), and thenceforth to call them "dear and faithful compatriots." CHAPTER XLVI. CONDITION OF THE SWIS8 AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. THOMAS Massner's QUARREL. A. D. 1701 to 1714. After the fratricidal battle of Villmergen, the Confederates were engaged in no foreign or domestic war for the space of eighty-six years. But this period was not one of happiness, of quiet or of glory; it passed in constant differences, sometimes of one canton with the others, sometimes of the magistrates with their subjects. During every ten years there were, now here, now there, fresh intrigues, fresh conspiracies, fresh revolts, until the rotten edifice of the old Confederacy crumbled at the first blow given to it by the hostile hand of France. The first wars of the ancient Confederates were under taken on their own account and for their protection against the oppressors of their rights and liberties. Thereby they obtained an imperishable glory among the nations of the earth. Then the cantons and cities, which had become free, undertook numerous wars to acquire sovereignties and subjects and to extend their limited territories. They reaped internal discord and an equivocal reputation. The deeds of the greatest conquerors finally fall into oblivion or contempt, as they are seldom ...