Raynaud de Xaintrailles:

From what I have learned, the Princess was kidnapped by a minor noble who acted of his own volition. It appears that he had been pursuing her for some time. The Kaiser let her (and I) go only on the condition that we persuade the Conseil and particularly the King that our release was done as a gesture of good faith on his part, although this hardly matters now. He expressed desire for peace between our two nations, and...

*He hesitates for a second, then crosses himself*

...said that he had more pressing matters to worry about.

As for the mercenaries, I know very little, other than the fact that they were Italian.