e would. Louis expressed himself as fully
satisfied with its terms, and on the next day, November 2, set out on
his return to France. Charles kept him company for some distance. On
parting, the king said,--

"If my brother Charles, who is in Brittany, should not be content with
the assignment which I, for love of you, have made him, what would you
have me do?"

"If he do not please to take it, but would have you otherwise satisfy
him, I leave that to the two of you to settle," said Charles.

With these words he turned back, leaving Louis to pursue his way free
once more, "after having passed the most trying three weeks of his
life."

That the fox kept faith with the lion, or the lion with the fox, is not
to be looked for. New disputes broke out, new battles were fought,--not
now in alliance,--and the happiest day in the life of Louis XI. was that
in which he heard that Charles of Burgundy, the constant thorn in his
chaplet, had fallen on the fatal field of Nancy, and that France was
freed from the threatening presence of the bold and passionate duke.

_CHARLES THE BOLD AND THE SWISS._

On the 6th of February, 1476, Duke Charles of Burgundy marched from
Besancon to take the field against the Swiss, between whom and Burgundy
hostilities had broken out. There were three parties to this war, Louis
XI. being the third. That politic monarch had covertly stirred up the
Swiss to their hostile attitude, promised them aid in money, if not in
men, and now had his secret agents in both camps, and kept himself in
readiness to take advantage of every circumstance that might be turned
to his own benefit. Leaving Tours, he went to Lyons, that he might be
within easy distance of the seat of war. And not long had he been there
before news of the most gratifying character came to his ears, Duke
Charles had met the foe, and--but we anticipate.

The army of Burgundy was a powerful one, having not less than thirty or
forty thousand men and a strong train of artillery. It was followed, as
was Charles's fashion in making war, with an immense baggage-train.
Personally his habits were simple and careless, but he loved to display
his riches and magnificence, and made his marches and encampments
as much scenes of festival as of war. What this showy duke wanted from
their poor cities and barren country the Swiss could not very well see.
"The spurs and the horses' bits in his army are worth more money than
the whole of us could pay i