Rene of Lorraine was formally admitted to the League of Constance on April 18, 1475, and was now ready openly to abjure the “protection” he had once accepted from Burgundy.  There was a touch of old King Rene’s theatrical taste in his grandson’s method of despatching the herald who rode up to the duke’s gorgeous tent of red velvet on May 10th.  The man was, however, so overcome at the first view of le Temeraire that he hastily delivered up his letter, and threw down the blood-stained gauntlet, which he carried as a gage of war, without uttering a word.  Then he fell on his knees, imploring the duke’s pardon.[14] Charles was so little displeased at the signs of the impression his presence made that, instead of being angry with the man, he gave him twelve florins for his good news.  The terms of the declaration of war carried by the herald were as follows: 

“To thee, Charles of Burgundy, in behalf of the very high, etc., Duke of Lorraine, my seigneur, I announce defiance with fire and blood against thee, thy countries, thy subjects, thy allies, and other charge further have I not."[15]

The reply was straightforward: 

“Herald, I have heard the exposition of thy charge, whereby thou hast given me subject for joy, and, to show you how matters are, thou shalt wear my robe with this gift, and shalt tell thy master that I will find myself briefly in his land, and my greatest fear is that I may not find him.  In order that thou mayst not be afraid to return, I desire my marshal and the king-at-arms of the Toison d’Or to convoy thee in perfect safety, for I should be sorry if thou didst not make thy report to thy master as befits a good and loyal officer.”

Thus was Charles pressed from the south and lured to the north.  Excellent reason for obeying the order of the pope’s legate that duke and emperor must lay down arms under pain of excommunication did either belligerent refuse!  The armistice accepted on May 28th was followed by a nine months’ truce signed on June 12th.  It was a truce strictly to the advantage of Frederic and Charles.  The Rhine cities, Louis XI., Rene of Lorraine, were alike ignored and disappointed in the expectations they had based on Frederic.

[Footnote 1:  Plancher, Histoire generale et particuliere de Bourgogne, avec des notes et des preuves justificatives, iv., cccxxviii.]

[Footnote 2:  Preparations for the duke’s visit to Dijon had been set on foot almost immediately after Philip’s death in 1467.  One Frere Gilles had devoted many hours to searching the Scriptures for appropriate texts to figure in the reception.  Every phrase indicating leonine strength was noted down.  The good brother died before the anticipated event came to pass but the result of his patient labour was preserved.]

[Footnote 3:  Dit qu’il avoit en soi des choses qui n’appartenoient de scavoir a nuls que a lui (Plancher, Preuves, iv., cccxxxiii.).]