English Translation of the Text of the Schwyz Bundesbrief

The Charter of 1 August 1291

In the Name of God, Amen.

The public reputation and well-being requires confirmation of lasting pacts for peace and order.

For this reason, all the people of the valley of Uri, the people of the valley of Schwyz, and the community in the lower valley of Unterwalden, in view of the perils of this age, for their better defense and protection, have pledged one another mutual assistance, counsel, and support, both within the valleys and without—not sparing their lives, property, and entire fortunes—against anyone who commits injustice or who by force threatens life or property.

And every community pledges to come to one another’s aid as necessary, and at their own expense, to repel malicious attack and to avenge injustice; and to this end they have sworn a solemn oath to renew the ancient league. However, in so doing each man shall, according to his station, serve his overlord as is fitting and proper.

We have also vowed, decreed and ordained in common council and by unanimous consent, that we will accept or receive no judge in the aforesaid valleys, who shall have purchased his office; or one who shall not be a native or a resident among us. But if conflict arises between any of the Eidgenossen (confederates; Eid = oath, Genosse = fellow or comrade), the wisest among the confederates shall come forth to resolve the difficulty between the parties, as shall seem right to them; and whichever party rejects their verdict shall be considered an adversary by the other confederates.

Furthermore, it has been established between the confederates that anyone who deliberately kills another without provocation shall, if caught, forfeit his life as his evil deed demands, unless he is able to prove his innocence of said crime; and if by some chance is he is able to escape, then let him never return. Those who conceal and protect any such criminal shall be banished, until they be expressly recalled by the confederates.

 

 

 

If any confederate, by day or by stealth in the night, maliciously injures another by setting fire, he shall never again be considered a countryman. If any man protects and defends such an evil-doer, he shall render satisfaction to the injured party.

Furthermore, if any confederate shall take another’s goods or injure him in any way, the goods of the guilty party, if recovered within the territory of this league, shall be seized to pay damages to the injured party, in a just manner.

Furthermore, no man shall seize another’s goods for repayment of debt, unless he be his debtor or surety, and this step shall be taken only by special permission of his judge.

Moreover, every man shall obey his judge, and if necessary, he must himself name the judge in the valley to whom he is answerable. And if anyone rejects a verdict of the court and, as a result of his obstinacy, another confederate is harmed, the confederates are pledged to compel the offender to give satisfaction in the matter.

And if war or conflict should occur among any of the confederates, and one of the disputing parties refuses to accept the verdict of the judge or to give satisfaction, the confederates are pledged to stand with the other party.

The above-written statutes, decreed for the common welfare and benefit shall, God willing, endure forever. In testimony whereof, at the request of the aforesaid parties, this charter has been made and confirmed with the seals of the aforesaid three communities and valleys.

Done in the year of our Lord 1291, at the beginning of the month of August.

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