The vacillating emperor was affected by the attitude of his suite, and by their varying representations.  There is no actual proof of French interference, but French agents had been seen in the city, and might have had private audiences with the emperor.  Gradually, relations changed between Charles and Frederic.  There was a cloud, not dissipated by a three days’ fete given by the duke (November 19th-22d), evidently in farewell.  Was Charles too exigeant with his demands, too chary of his daughter?  Probably.

On November 23d, instead of a definitive treaty a simple convention was signed, postponing the coronation until February.  Emperor and regal candidate were to meet again at Besancon, Cologne, or Basel.  In the interval, Charles was to come to a satisfactory understanding with the electors and obtain their official endorsement for the imperial grant.

November 25th was appointed, not for the regal investiture, but for Frederic’s departure.  On the evening of the 24th, he gave audience to his councillors and princes.  The electors present were urged by the Burgundians to give their own conditional approval at least, and to consent to a reduction of the military obligations to be incurred by Charles.  It was a crisis, however, where nobody wished to pledge anything definitely.  There was an evident disposition to await some further issue before final action.

The leave-taking between the bargain makers was expected to be as pompous as had been the entry into Treves.  It was far into the night of November 24th when the audience broke up.  Little rest was there for the imperial suite, for when the tardy November sun arose above the eastern horizon, its rays met Frederic sailing down the Moselle.  Not only had no imperial adieux been uttered, but no imperial debts had been settled.  This was the news that was awaiting Charles when he awoke.  Baffled he was, but not in his hope of being a king that day.  No, only in his expectation of a stately pageant.[14] In all haste he sent Peter von Hagenbach to ride more swiftly along the bank than the boat could sail, so as to overtake the traveller and urge him to wait for a few more words on divers topics.  In one account it is reported that Frederic, though annoyed at the interruption, still assented to Hagenbach’s request.  No sooner was the latter away, however, than he changed his mind and continued his course.

Rumour was busy, in regard to this strange exit of the emperor from the scene.  The general belief among contemporaries was that it was on the eve of the intended coronation that Frederic turned his back on the scene.  Take first the words of Thomas Basin, whose statement that he was in the very midst of the events can hardly be doubted:[15]