being compelled to yield to the moral violence exercised over them, they protested beforehand against anything they might be forced to do. A few days after the estates had thus passed once more into the hands of the king, he renewed his gift of them to Commines, by letters patent, which, thanks to the show of legality by which the agreement between the two parties was surrounded, were registered without obstacle by both the parliament and the Cour des Comptes. Commines’ high favour had now reached its climax; it seemed impossible for it to increase. A terrible accident however, which threatened to deprive him of his royal protector, served to make it still more evident. In the month of March, 1481, Louis XI. was attacked by a fit of apoplexy, which temporarily deprived him of speech, memory, and sense. As soon as he came to himself, he sent for his confessor and for Commines, who was at the time at Argenton. Commines hastened to rejoin the king, and by his order (expressed by signs, for he had not yet sufficiently recovered his speech), he slept in his room, and served him at table and in other respects, for fifteen days, as a valet de chambre. After two or three days, Louis XI. recovered sense and speech, but not so perfectly as to render Commines’ constant attentions unnecessary: for he alone was able accurately to understand him. He was even obliged to act as his interpreter to the official of Tours, and to acquaint him with the state of mind of his royal penitent, “for otherwise they would not have understood each other.” Public affairs remained for a time in suspense, although Commines read most of the despatches which arrived to the king, who either by word or sign indicated the answer he wished to have made; but no one was willing to execute these doubtful orders. “We did little business,” says Commines, “awaiting the termination of his illness; for he was not a master to be trifled with.”