“Thank you for the pains you have taken but pray, as speedily as you can, come here to draw up your ordinance for we only have a fortnight more of the truce.  I have sent the artillery and soldiers to Angers.  Monsg. the grand master, strengthen Odet’s forces, do not let one man go, and see to it that the seneschal of Guienne enrols sufficient to fill his company.  Then if there are more at large, form them into a body and send them to me and I will find them a captain and pay all those who are willing to stay.

“As to him,[21] make him talk on the way and learn whether he would like to enter into an agreement in his brother’s name, and work it so that the duke will leave the Burgundian in the lurch at all points for ever, and make a good treaty, as you will know how, for I do not believe that the Seigneur de Lescun left here for any other reason than to attempt to make an arrangement of some kind.

“Now monseigneur the grand master, you are wiser than I and will know how to act far better than I can instruct you, but, above all, I implore you come in all haste for without you we cannot make an ordinance.

    “Written at Xaintes, May 28th.

    “LOYS."[22]

    “AMBOISE, June 7th.

“Loys, by the grace of God, King of France.  Beloved brother and cousin, we have received the letters you have written making mention, as you have heard, that in the truce lately concluded between us and the Duke of Burgundy up to April 1st next coming, which will be the year 1473, the Duke of Burgundy has mentioned you as his ally, which you do not like because you never asked the Duke of Burgundy to do so, and you do not know whether he made this statement on the advice of the Venetian ambassador who is with him.

“Therefore, and because you do not mean to enter into alliance or understanding with the Duke of Burgundy but wish to remain our confederate and ally and have sworn to that effect before notaries, and sealed your oath with your seal ... that you are no ally of the Duke of Burgundy and that you renounce and repudiate his nomination as such ... also you may be certain that on our part we are determined to maintain all friendship between us and you ... and if we make any treaty in the future we will expressly include you in it and never will do otherwise."[23]

“Monseigneur the grand master, I am advised how while the truce is still in being, the Duke of Burgundy has taken Nesle and slain all whom he found within.  I must be avenged for this.  I wished you to know so that if you can find means to do him a like injury in his country you will do it there and anywhere that you can without sparing anything.  I have good hopes that God will aid in avenging us, considering the murders for which he is responsible within the church and elsewhere, and because by virtue of the terms of their surrender [they thought] they had saved their lives.

    “Done at Angers, June 19th.