The necessity for his preparations was evident.  An opportune legacy inherited by Rene of Lorraine enabled that dispossessed prince to work to better advantage than he had been able to do since Charles had convened the Estates of Lorraine at Nancy.  Moreover, on the very day of the review of the deficient Burgundian troops, a Swiss diet at Fribourg adopted resolutions regarding, a closer alliance with Rene.[11] Louis XI. ostensibly maintained his truce with Charles but he had intimated that a French army would wait in Dauphine ready “to help adjust the affairs of Savoy,” and, at about the same time when Yolande was at court, he gave a gracious reception to a Swiss embassy, so that Rene did not feel himself without support as he advanced to recover his city.

The mercenaries left by Charles at Nancy were weak and indifferent—­a brief siege, and the capital of Lorraine capitulated to Duke Rene.  Charles was too late to prevent this mortifying loss.  His forces, too, were a mere shadow.  Three to four thousand men rallied round him in the Franche-Comte, a few hundred joined him in Burgundy, and as he skirted the frontier of Champagne he received slight reinforcements from Luxemburg.  Then came Campobasso and his mercenary troops, and the Count of Chimay with such Flemish fiefs as had, individually, respected the duke’s appeal.  In all, the forces at Charles’s disposition amounted to about ten thousand, far fewer than those at Neuss or at Granson.

At a diet of October 17th, the compact between Rene and the Swiss was confirmed, and the former was assured of efficient aid to help him repulse Charles in his advance into Lorraine.  There was need.  The city of Toul refused admission to both dukes, but furnished provision for Charles’s troops, so that for the moment he was the better off of the two.  Rene then proceeded to provision Nancy and to prepare it for a siege, while he himself proceeded to Pont-a-Mousson, and for several days the two adversaries were only separated by the Moselle.  Charles’s army was augmented daily by slight accessions from Flanders, and England, and by fragments of the garrisons of the towns in Lorraine that had yielded to Rene and the latter fell back, little by little.  Charles in his turn held Pont-a-Mousson, and proceeded along the road to Nancy, not deterred by the Lorrainers.

It was on October 22nd, that Charles of Burgundy laid siege for the second time to Nancy.  In thus entering into active hostilities, he was ignoring the advice of his councillors who were unanimous in begging him to devote the winter months to refitting his army in Luxemburg or Flanders.  His position was really very dangerous.  He had no base on which to rest as he had recovered no towns except Pont-a-Mousson.  But he ignored the patent obstacles and tried assault after assault upon Nancy—­all most valiantly repulsed.  Within the walls, there was an amazing display of courage, energy, and good humour.  As a matter of fact, the duke’s reputation had waned, while the fear of his cruelty emboldened the burghers to hold out to the last ditch.  Any fate would be better than falling into his hands, was the general opinion.