Conditions and Terms of Use ABOUT THIS BOOK Copyright © Heritage History 2010 The stories in this book are stories of brave men and Some rights reserved women who lived many hundreds of years ago. They lived in a This text was produced and distributed by Heritage History, an country which is far from ours and spoke a language very organization dedicated to the preservation of classical juvenile history different from ours. But they struggled with tyrants as we and books, and to the promotion of the works of traditional history authors. all people who love their freedom and their country have had The books which Heritage History republishes are in the public to do, and we can read their story and be glad and sorry with domain and are no longer protected by the original copyright. They may them, just as if they were our own people and spoke our own therefore be reproduced within the United States without paying a royalty language. For whether the story is of Arthur against the to the author. Saxons, of Alfred against the Danes, or Wallace and Bruce The text and pictures used to produce this version of the work, against the English, or of Tell and his friends against the however, are the property of Heritage History and are subject to certain restrictions. These restrictions are imposed for the purpose of protecting the Austrians, it is all the same, we love the men who fought for integrity of the work, for preventing plagiarism, and for helping to assure their freedom and their Fatherland. And it is very interesting to that compromised versions of the work are not widely disseminated. know that at the time when Bruce and Wallace were fighting In order to preserve information regarding the origin of this text, a for Scottish freedom, Tell and his friends were fighting for copyright by the author, and a Heritage History distribution date are Swiss freedom, and that the battle of Morgarten the great included at the foot of every page of text. We require all electronic and battle of Swiss independence, which you will read about in printed versions of this text include these markings and that users adhere to this book, happened little more than one year after the battle of the following restrictions. Bannockburn, which was the great battle of Scottish independence. It seems wonderful that these two mountain 1. You may reproduce this text for personal or educational purposes as long as the copyright and Heritage History version are included. peoples should at the same time have been fighting for freedom against two powerful and strong nations, and not only 2. You may not alter this text or try to pass off all or any part of it as your fighting for it, but winning it. own work. Yet some people say that William Tell never lived. Let 3. You may not distribute copies of this text for commercial purposes. them visit the Rütli, Tell‟s Platte, the Hollow Way, and let them ask themselves whether Tell lives in the hearts of his 4. This text is intended to be a faithful and complete copy of the original countrymen or not. At any rate I hope that these brave Swiss document. However, typos, omissions, and other errors may have occurred during preparation, and Heritage History does not guarantee a people will always have a place in your hearts, and I hope that perfectly reliable reproduction. you will remember that the women were brave like the men, and that they, too, helped to save their country. Permission to use Heritage History documents or images for H. E. MARSHALL commercial purposes, or more information about our collection of traditional history resources can be obtained by contacting us at [email protected] Original Copyright 1908 by H. E. Marshall. 2 Distributed by Heritage History 2008 TABLE OF CONTENTS HOW GESSLER CAME TO RULE .......................... 4 ARNOLD OF MELCHTHAL .................................... 6 GESSLER AND STAUFFACHER ............................ 8 HOW THE CAP OF AUSTRIA WAS SET UP ...... 11 THE MEETING OF THE THREE PATRIOTS ..... 12 THE GATHERING ON THE RÜTLI ..................... 14 WILLIAM TELL AND HIS GREAT SHOT .......... 16 THE ESCAPE OF WILLIAM TELL ...................... 20 TELL’S SECOND SHOT .......................................... 22 HOW CASTLE ROSSBERG WAS TAKEN .......... 24 HOW CASTLE SARNEN WAS TAKEN ................ 26 HOW EMPEROR ALBRECHT MET HDEATH .. 28 THE BATTLE OF MORGARTEN .......................... 30 Original Copyright 1908 by H. E. Marshall. 3 Distributed by Heritage History 2008 CHAPTER I Austria was another of the states of the great empire, and at one time a Duke of Austria was made ruler of Switzerland. Switzerland is a beautiful country, full of HOW GESSLER AND LANDENBERG mountains, lakes, and valleys, and this Duke cast greedy eyes CAME TO RULE IN SWITZERLAND upon it, and longed to possess it for his very own. But the Swiss would not give up their freedom; and Far away in the heart of Europe there lies a little three cantons, as the states into which Switzerland is divided country called Switzerland. Instead of being surrounded by the are called, joined together, and swore to stand by each other, blue sea as our island is, it is surrounded and shut in on all and never to submit to Austria. sides by other lands. It seems wonderful that in the fierce old Uri, Schwytz, and Unterwalden were the names of days, when might was right, and when great and powerful these three cantons. They were called the Forest Cantons Kings and Princes swept over the world, fighting and because of the beautiful woods with which the mountainsides conquering, that little Switzerland should not have been were covered. A little later another canton joined the three. conquered and swallowed up by one or other of the great These four cantons lie round a lake which, from that, is called countries which lay around. But the Swiss have always been a the Lake of the Four Forest Cantons. brave and fearless people; in the very heart of Europe their country has lain for hundreds of years as safe and free as our At last it happened that Albrecht, Duke of Austria, was island on the ocean waves. chosen to be Emperor. He was the son of that Duke who had already been ruler of Switzerland, and he was greatly rejoiced, Many many years ago, however, one of the great for he said to himself that now truly he would be lord and Princes of Europe did try to conquer Switzerland and take master of Switzerland. For although the Swiss had resisted the away the freedom of its people. But the people fought so Duke of Austria, they would not dare to resist the Emperor, he bravely, that instead of being conquered, they conquered the thought. So he sent two nobles to the Swiss to talk to them, tyrants and drove them away. and persuade them to own him as their King. In those far-off times the countries of Europe were “Promise that your country shall belong to the Duke divided quite differently from now. The greatest ruler in for ever,” said these nobles, “and he will care for you and love Europe was the Emperor, and his empire was called the Holy you as his children. You are not strong enough to stand against Roman Empire. This Empire was divided into many states, a great enemy, but he will protect you. He does not ask this of over each of which ruled a Prince or King who owned the you because he wants to take your flocks and herds, but Emperor as “over-lord.” When an Emperor died, his son did because he has heard from his father and has read in old not succeed to the throne, but the Kings and Princes met histories what a brave people you are. Duke Albrecht loves together and chose another Emperor from among their brave men. He will lead you to battle and victory, and make number. you rich with spoil, and will give you great rewards, and when Switzerland was one of the countries which owned the you do brave deeds, he will make you knights.” Emperor as over-lord. But the Swiss were a free people. They Some of the people of Switzerland were persuaded to had no King or Prince over them, but a Governor only, who belong to Austria, but the freemen and nobles, and all the was appointed by the Emperor. Original Copyright 1908 by H. E. Marshall. 4 Distributed by Heritage History 2008 people of the three cantons replied, “Say to your master, as Then, very sad at heart, the messengers turned home Duke, that we will never forget what a brave leader and good again. When they had gone, Albrecht smiled grimly to Governor his father was, and we will love and respect his himself. “They will not yield,” he said, “but I will oppress house for ever, but we wish to remain free. Say to him, as them and ill-treat them until I force them to rebel. Then I will Emperor, that we will be true to the Empire as we have ever fight against them and conquer them, and at last Switzerland been. As Emperor he must content himself with that.” will be mine.” So the messengers went back to Albrecht and told him what the people said. When he heard the message he was very angry. He looked darkly at the nobles, biting his fingers and grinding his heel into the ground as he listened. “The proud peasants,” he cried at last, “they will not yield. Then I will bend and break them.