Commines was next sent to Venice to obtain the ratification of this treaty by the senate of that powerful republic. But after a fortnight’s deliberation, the signiory refused to accede to the treaty, and offered, in its stead, propositions which Commines undertook to submit to the king. From Venice, he proceeded to Milan, to require the duke to execute certain clauses in the treaty which he had signed. But that prince evaded giving a categorical answer, and forced the envoy to take his leave before he had obtained anything more than a false promise that the duke would speedily fulfil all his engagements. This was the end of Commines’ active career. On his return to France, he continued his attendance on Charles VIII., but took no part in the management of affairs beyond speaking and voting in the council. During a temporary visit to his Chateau of Argenton, he received the news of the king’s unhappy death. He hastened with all speed to Amboise, and passed five or six hours in prayer by the body of his deceased sovereign. On the following day, he went to pay his homage to the new king, from whom he anticipated a favourable reception. But on ascending the throne, the Duke of Orleans had forgotten past services as well as past injuries; and Commines merely remained a member of the grand council, as during the previous reign. He soon ceased even to attend the meetings of this body, for his name appears on its registers for the last time on the 26th of July, 1498. After this date he seems to have retired into private life, and although he made a great effort in 1505 to obtain public employment, through the influence of the queen, he was obliged to remain, for the rest of his days, a mere spectator of the scenes and conflicts of political life. His activity meanwhile displayed itself in the conduct of his private affairs. On the 13th of August, 1504, his daughter Jeanne de Commines was contracted in marriage to René de Brosse, Count of Penthièvre, and heir to the duchy of Bretagne; by which union the blood of Commines has passed into the veins of more than one sovereign of the royal lines of France, Spain, Portugal, and Savoy. The last years of Commines were occupied and embittered by vexatious lawsuits relating to the property of his wife, and to other matters, into which it would be tedious to enter. He died at his Chateau of Argenton on the 18th of October, 1511, at the age of about 64 years. In other times, his death would have constituted almost a political event; but times had changed. It was, however, sufficiently noticed to induce one writer, whose name is unknown to us, to compose a sort of poem, deploring his decease.