Just at this epoch, there was an attempt at mediation between the combatants.  The King of Portugal,[13] nephew of Isabella, appeared at his cousin’s camp and implored him to put an end to the carnage, and in the name of humanity to stop a war that was horrible to all the world.  In spite of his own stress, Charles managed to give his kinsman a splendid reception, but he waved aside his petition, and simply invited him to join him in his campaign.

A week sufficed for the Swiss contingent to march from Basel to Nancy, across the plains of Alsace.  Meantime Rene had rallied about four thousand men under Lorraine captains, and to this was added an Alsatian force which had joined him by way of St.-Nicolas-du-Port.  They were a rude, pitiless crowd, as they soon evinced by routing a few Burgundians out of the houses where they had hidden, and massacring them publicly.  A reconnaissance, sent out by Charles, was easily put to flight.

On January 4th, Charles learned that fresh troops had reached St. Nicolas.  He showed assurance, arrogance, and negligence.  His belief in his star was fully restored.  He actually did not take the trouble to try once more to ascertain the exact strength of the enemy.  He had commissioned the Bishop of Forli to negotiate for him at Basel, and refused to credit the statement that the Swiss were throwing in their fortunes with Rene.  He thought that “the Child,” as he contemptuously termed his adversary, had simply gone right and left to hire mercenaries, and he rather ridiculed the idea of taking such canaille seriously, saying that it was a host unworthy of a gentleman.  Still he resolved to meet and finish them once for all.[14]

It is a fact that the Swiss reinforcements were a different and far less efficient body than the volunteers of Granson and Morat had been.  French gold, scattered freely, had done its work in exciting the cupidity of every man who could bear arms.  There were some staunch leaders, like Waldemar of Zurich and Rudolph de Stein, but their kind was in the minority.  Berne aided with money rather than with men, but she was not a generous ally as she insisted on having hostages to ensure her repayment.  A venal spirit was evident in every quarter.  As the troops made their way over the Jura their behaviour showed that the late splendid booty had affected them.  Plunder was their aim.  When Rene reviewed these fresh arrivals from Basel, one of his attending officers was Oswald von Thierstein, late governor of Alsace.[15] Disgraced by Sigismund he had passed over to the Duke of Lorraine, who appointed him marshal.

On that January 4th, a Saturday, Charles held a council meeting.  The opinion of the wisest, already given on previous occasions, was urged again: