The matter of the grants to Charles of France had been settled to his royal brother’s liking, not to that of his Burgundian ally.  Champagne and Brie, so cheerfully promised at Peronne, were withdrawn and Guienne substituted.  When Normandy had been exchanged for Champagne and Brie, as it was arranged at Peronne, Charles of Burgundy approved the change as he thought it assured him an obedient friend as neighbour.[22] The second change, Guienne instead of Champagne and Brie, was quite a different thing.

Guienne bordered the Bay of Biscay far away from Burgundy.  Naturally, Charles was not content.  Then, too, it looked as though he had lost a useful friend as well as a neighbour, for the new Duke of Guienne was formally reconciled to his brother and took oath that his fraternal devotion to his monarch should never again waver.

Long before Charles was completely convinced that Louis was not going to maintain the humble attitude assumed at Peronne and Liege, he became very suspicious that intrigues were on foot against him.  “He hastened to Hesdin where he entered into jealousy of his servants” says Commines.  That he was assured that there were reasons for his apprehensions appears in an epistle circulated as an open letter,[23] to various cities, wherein he makes a detailed statement of the plots against his life by one Jehan d’Arson and Baldwin, son of Duke Philip.

Sorry return was this from one recognised as Bastard of Burgundy and brought up in the ducal household.  Further, one Jehan de Chassa, Charles’s own chamberlain, had taken French leave of the duke’s service and made his way to the king in his castle of Amboise, where he had been pleasantly received and promised rich reward when he had “executed his damnable designs against our person.”

Messengers sent by this Chassa to Baldwin in Charles’s court at St. Omer were arrested as suspicious, and that circumstance frightened Baldwin and caused him to take to his heels, leaving his retinue, his horses, and his baggage behind.  He dreaded lest he might be attainted and convicted of treason, and therefore he took shelter with the king.

“Saved from this conspiracy by the goodness and clemency of God, we inform you of the events so that you may render thanks by public processions, solemn masses, sermons, and prayers, beseeching Him devoutly and from the heart that He will always guard and defend our person, our lands, seigniories, and subjects from such plots.

    “May God protect you, dear subjects.  Written in our castle of
    Hesdin, December 13, 1470.

    “CHARLES.

    “LE GROS.”

It was not long before Charles had less reason to fear French “subtleties.”  At an assembly of notables[24] convened at Tours at the end of 1470, Louis dropped the mask of friendship worn uneasily for just two years, and made an open brief of his grievances against the duke.

His case was cited with a luxury of detail more or less authentic.  The interview at Peronne was a simple trap conceived by Balue and the Duke of Burgundy.  The treaties of 1465 and 1468, both obtained by undue pressure, had not been respected by Charles, etc.  The assembly was obedient to suggestion.  It was a packed house.