country, as I said before, was abolished; and, after the model of
revolutionary France, the Tyrol was divided into the departments of
the Inn, the Adige, and the Eisach; the passion plays, which formed
so large a part of the amusements of our people, were prohibited;
all pilgrimages to chapels or places of extraordinary sanctity were
forbidden. The convents and monasteries were confiscated, and their
estates sold; the church plate and holy vessels were melted down and
disposed of; the royal property was all brought into the market. New
imposts were daily exacted without any consultation with the estates
of our people; specie became scarce from the quantity of it which
was drawn off to the royal treasury; the Austrian notes were reduced
to half their value, and the feelings of our people irritated almost
to madness by the compulsory levy of our young men to serve in the
ranks of your army. In this manner you tried to crush us to earth.
But I tell you, we shall rise again, the whole Tyrol will rise and
no longer allow itself to be trampled under foot. You say the king
does not want any Tyrolese as subjects. He shall not have any, for
the Tyrolese want to become again subjects of their dear Emperor
Francis of Austria. Men of the Tyrol, from Pusterthal, Teffereck,
and Virgenthal, you wish to become again subjects of the Emperor
Francis, do you not?"

"We do, we do!" shouted the men, uttering deafening cheers. "Our
dear Francis is to become again our lord and emperor! Long live the
Emperor Francis!"

"Silence!" cried the tax-collector, pale with rage and dismay;
"silence, or I shall send for the soldiers and have every one of you
arrested, and--"