He was better acquainted with the country than any other member of the council; and his advice was to secure to the crown of France the possession of the rich domains which it coveted, rather by some valid title, as marriage or friendly cession, than by the means which it was intended to adopt. Louis XI. doubtless thoroughly understood the wisdom of this advice, and had once approved it; but the facility with which he had just succeeded almost everywhere in getting possession of important places had intoxicated him. Commines persisted in thinking that the wise slowness of negotiations and alliances was preferable to the dangerous risks which would otherwise be incurred, because by maintaining the kingdom in peace, it would hold more secure possession of its pacific conquests. These prudent suggestions, maliciously interpreted, were obnoxious to the king, who had made up his mind to pursue a different course. Under the pretext of a mission into Poitou, on the frontiers of Bretagne, he dismissed his unwelcome adviser. This was a real disgrace. All the courtiers saw this, and amused themselves at Commines’ expense; but, as he tells us himself, he had no mind to laugh at their jokes, as he feared that the king might be at the bottom of the sport. Another circumstance added the climax to his anxieties. He had written into Hainault to enlist partizans for his master; and one of his relatives came to him, bearing promises of adherence from a number of notable persons, who undertook to deliver into his hands the principal towns and fortresses in the country. Before his departure, Commines communicated these offers of service to Louis XI., who flatly refused them, thinking he would be able to dispense with the assistance of these noblemen; but he afterwards had reason to repent his refusal; “for,” says Commines, “I saw he would have highly esteemed them, if he could have renewed his dealings with them.” The king’s ill-humour, however, was not of long duration, and his liberalities to others did not prevent his remembering Commines, who received his fair share of the confiscated property of Jacques d’Armagnac, which Louis XI. distributed among his favourites.