That was on January 21, 1474, the very day when the mortgagee was preparing to ride into Dijon and read the agreeable assurances of his wisdom, strength, and puissance.  Yet a month and Sigismund’s envoys were seated on the official benches at the Basel diet, ranking with the delegates from the cantons and the emissaries from France.  On March 27th, the diet met at Constance, and for three days a debate went on which resulted in the drafting of the Ewige Richtung, the Reglement definitif, a document which contained a definite resolution that the mortgaged lands were to be completely withdrawn from Burgundy, and all financial claims settled.  This resolution was subscribed to by Sigismund and the Swiss cantons.  Further, it was decided to ignore one or two of the stipulations made at St. Omer and to offer payment to Charles at Basel instead of Besancon.

Meantime that creditor, perfectly convinced in his own mind that the legends of his birthplace were correct in their rating of his character and his qualities, again crossed Lorraine and entered Luxemburg, where he celebrated Easter.  It was shortly after that festival, on April 17th, that a letter from Sigismund was delivered to him announcing in rather casual and off-hand terms that he was now in a position to repay the loan of 1469, made on the security of those Rhinelands.  Therefore the Austrian would hand over at Basel 80,000 florins, 40,000 the sum received by him, 10,000 paid in his behalf to the Swiss, and 30,000 which he understood that Charles had expended during his temporary incumbency,[7] and he, Sigismund, would resume the sovereignty in Alsace.

It was all very simple, at least Sigismund’s wish was.  The expressions employed in the paper were, however, so ambiguous, the language so involved, that Charles expended severe criticism on his cousin’s style before he proceeded to answer his subject-matter.  To that he replied that the bargain between him and Sigismund was none of his seeking.  The latter had implored his protection from the Swiss, had begged relief in his financial straits.  Touched by his petitions, Charles had acceded to his prayers and the lands had enjoyed security under Burgundian protection as they never had under Austrian.  Charles had duly acquitted himself of his obligations, he had done nothing to forfeit his title.  The conditions of redemption offered by Sigismund were not those expressly stipulated.  If a commission were sent to Besancon, the duke would see to it that the merits of the case were properly examined.

“If, on the contrary, you shall adhere to the purpose you have declared, in violation of the terms of the contract and of your princely word, we shall make resistance, trusting with God’s help that our ability in defence shall not prove inferior to what we have used to repulse the attacks of the Swiss—­those attacks from which you sought and received our protection.”