“Ryght reverend and my most tender and kynd Moodre, I recommende me to youw.  Pleas it yow to weete that blessyd be God, this vyage of the kynges is fynnysshyd for thys tyme and alle the kynges ost is comen to Caleys as on Mondaye last past, that is to seye the iiij daye of Septembre, and at thys daye many of hys host be passyd the see in to Ingland ageyn, and in especiall my Lorde off Norfolk, and my bretheryn ....I also mysselyke somewhat the heyr heer; for by my trowte I was in goode heele whan I come hyddre and all hooll and to my wetyng I hadde never a better stomake in my lyffe and now in viij dayes I am crasyd ageyn."[9]

Thus wrote one Englishman from Calais and doubtless many others found the air more wholesome at home.

Charles of Burgundy was now ready to consider the affairs of Lorraine.  He advised Rene of his intentions, in a manifesto which reached him on September 5th.  The preamble contained a long list of the manifold benefits conferred upon Lorraine by the House of Burgundy.  Then Rene was admonished to observe in every particular the terms of his own treaty with Charles, which he, Rene, had signed voluntarily, or the former would “make him know the difference between his friendship and his enmity.”

This menace was ominous to the poor Duke of Lorraine.  For on September 13th, his friend Louis XI. had signed a fresh treaty with Charles of Burgundy at Soleure, and Campobasso was marching mercenaries in Burgundian pay towards the unfortunate duchy.  In other words, the French king abandoned the young protege whom he had spared no pains to alienate from Burgundian protection.  It was a moment when his one interest apparently was to settle accounts with the Count of St. Pol, who had been equally treacherous in his dealings with England, Burgundy, and France.[10]

Having rested during the summer, the Burgundian troops were in fine trim when Charles marched to Nancy, taking towns on the way, and sat down before the capital in the last week of October.  From his camp he wrote to the Duke of Milan: 

“Very dear brother, I recommend myself to you.  I have just accepted a truce with the king for nine years to come, in the form and manner contained at length in the copy of the articles which I have given to your ambassador, resident with me . . . .  And be sure, fratello mio, that nothing would have induced me to accept the truce, had you not been comprised therein.  And, similarly, you must be satisfied in all the pacts between the king and myself, just as you were comprised in the convention lately made at Neuss.

“For the rest, I have heard from your ambassador about the troops that can be furnished me, for which I am well content, praying you to continue to serve me in accordance with the promises of your ambassador.  As to the coming of your brother to me [Sforza, Duc de Bari], I should be very glad.  He has no reason now for delay as he can travel in Lorraine as safely as in Lombardy, as I have said to your ambassador.  Pray the Lord to give you the desires of your heart.

    “Written in my camp at Nancy the penultimate day of October, 1475.