The Poor Man of Toggenburg - Autobiography of Ulrich Bräker

another speak, and no delegate could get a word in edgeways, so that people thought they would have to disperse with the matter still undecided. The minority party smelled a rat and tried continually to hinder the majority. But nevertheless it went off without coming to blows. The riot was eventually calmed and two majority votes were concluded. The latter and much more numerous one decided, not only for Wattwil, but also so to speak for the whole province, concerning the matter of the forced decision of the Landrat, the supplementaries or a threefold Landrat, namely, that things should stay as they were and only the single council be authorised to deliberate for the general good without hindrance, to select men from its members for Schwarzenbach, to deal and negotiate with the prince's deputies amicably and as they thought fit.

Now the remaining communes also arrived at this conclusion, which therefore had a majority of five to one in the whole province. A new provincial Diet was held, the forced decision of the Landrat was declared null and void, deputies were chosen afresh to go to Schwarzenbach and other business of the province was decided, without a single man appearing to be part of the plot. For the men of the Upper Toggenburg had pledged themselves to bestow protection upon the assembled Landrat.

But all this did not banish the bitterness and the overruled party subsequently found occasion to avenge themselves somewhat, in that they brought it about that one man was deservedly rejected. Meanwhile the negotiations in Schwarzenbach remained at a standstill for a long time. On the prince's side the grievances, which one hoped to have raised, were demanded from the Toggenburg in writing. Perhaps to obtain advice about them, what might be conceded or not conceded. In our part of the world everyone took one of three parties, so to speak, or more exactly three opinions. The first wanted to leave everything as it was, and held that our grievances and our taxes were not worth consideration. The second had many grievances, some brought as many as 60 articles for discussion, which they wished to have lifted or commuted. We do not need any princes, said a third. Should we commute? Will we buy what we could have for nothing! And that we can do if only we have the will! etc." [Voellmy, v 2 pp 296-299]

16th November The Landrat of the Toggenburg composed a reply to the abbey's offers, including new demands for rights [Chronik, p 449]. Granting this would have reduced the Prince-Abbot's temporal power to nothing but an outward show. By this time Müller-Friedberg was finding it difficult to deal with the situation without backing from the Prince-Abbot.

In November Bräker visits Girtanner five times. On 29th-30th, they discuss Bräker's financial situation, which is near to ruin. The visits continue into December and on the 26th Girtanner's diary records that he has been reading Bräker's diary over Christmas. [Chronik, p 448]

Bräker thinks that compared to other subject lands, the Toggenburg has done well, because it has freedom of trade and the right of travel and settlement. One can only say that it is a little too much subject to the person of the Prince. From this it seems right to Bräker that the clergy should be relieved of their secular offices and the exercise of their powers limited to the spiritual. The Toggenburg too should be permitted to seize back its ancient rights, especially now that its grievances have been set aside by the Prince-Abbot. Bräker does not feel himself called to be a reformer. His only wish is to be allowed to spend the evening of his days in peace, without care but not in inaction." [...] - Always to make use of the present moment, without taking thought for the future, is an art of the highest worth - To enjoy one's existence - to rejoice every morning over the new life of the day, in spite of insecure prospects into a future wrapped in darkness - To feel contentment with all the things and objects around us, just as they are and as by their nature they cannot be otherwise - when we love all human beings -" [Voellmy, v 2, p 302]