COMINES, l'unirpE nE ( 1445-1509). A French statesman and historian. lie was born at the Castle of Comities, not far front Lille; re •eived a careful education. and in 1464 attached himself to Charles the Bold of Burgundy (then Count of Charolais). In 1472 Comines entered the service of Louis Xl., the rival and enemy of Charles, who made him one of his confidential advisers. lie proved himself a very suitable agent for carrying out the designs of the crafty mon arch; but after the death of Louis he incurred the displeasure of the regent, Anne de Beaujen, by his adherence to the party of the Duke of Orleans (afterwards Louis XII.), and was sen tenced to the forfeiture of a fourth of his estates and to ten years' banishment. This punishment, however, does not soem to have been carried out. for after a few yea re we find Comines again em ployed in important affairs of diplomacy; hut though he was engaged in the service of Charles and the Duke of OrlOans, he failed to win the confidence of these masters. He died at his Castle of Argenton, October 13, 1509. Comines's Jijmoires, which are a complete sur vey of the political history of his time, and de pict vividly the character of Louis XI., are ad
mirably written, and afford abnndant proof of an acute and vigorous mind. He seems to have looked keenly into the heart of every man who crossed him in life, and with cool and severe pre cision to have dissected him for the benefit of posterity. Among the many editions of his lielnoircs, the best are those by Lenglet-Dufres noy (4 vols.. London, 1747) ; by ?Mademoiselle Dupont (3 vole.), in the Collection (le la sociRe de l'hintoire de France (Paris, 1S40-47) ; and by Chantelange (Paris. BSI).
COMISCO, 1:0-nWsti. A city in Sicily, in the Province of Syracuse, situated about 40 miles southwest of the city of that name. It was known in Roman mythology as the location of a fabled fountain of Diana, the water of Willa, when drawn by women of light character, refused to mingle with wine. It is on the road between Catania and Licata, and has two churches, a theatre, and cotton and soap factories. Popula tion ( commune ), in ISS1, 19,333; in 1901, 21,873.