Comines, PHILIPPE DE, Sieur d'Argentont, a French statesman and historian, who was born about 1445—at Renescure, in the neighbourhood of Hazebrouck. His ancestors had been citizens of Ghent. He joined the court of Burgundy, and was sent by Charles the Bold on important missions to France, England, and Spain. In 1472 he forsook Charles and entered the service of Louis XI. of France. He was rewarded with the rich fief of Talmont, and became one of Louis's most trusted advisers. On the accession of Charles VIII. he was deprived of Talmont, and cast into prison for having incurred the displeasure of the regent, Anne of Beaujeu. He accompanied Charles VIII. on his Italian expedition, was present at the battle of Fornovo, and had an interview with Machiavelli in Florence. He held sundry places and pensions under Louis XII., and died in 1509. His Mémoires consist of seven books, six of which deal with the reign of Louis XI., while the seventh treats of Charles VIII.'s wars in Italy. They are the earliest example in
French literature of the history as distinguished from the chronicle. Unlike the chroniclers, Comines cares little for the mere spectacle of courtly and military life. His sympathies are with the king against the nobles; his interest is centred in statecraft; he takes a keen delight in seeing the game of politics well played. His reflections on men and affairs are always dispassionate, and often pregnant and acute. His Lettres et Négociations were published in 1867-68. The best edition of the Mémoires is that by Chantelauze (Paris, 1881). The English translation by Danett (1596) was re-edited by Whibley in 1897.