Cattho, his physician, and the friend of Comines,
who foretold the death of Charles of Burgundy in the very time and hour when it
took place at the battle of Morat. Upon this assurance Louis vowed a silver
screen to the shrine of Saint Martin, which he afterwards fulfilled at the
expense of one hundred thousand francs. It is well known, besides, that he was
the abject and devoted slave of his physicians. Coctier, or Cottier, one of
their number, besides the retaining fee of ten thousand crowns, extorted from
his royal patient great sums in lands and money, and, in addition to all, the
Bishopric of Amiens for his nephew. He maintained over Louis unbounded
influence, by using to him the most disrespectful harshness and insolence. »I
know,« he said to the suffering King, »that one morning you will turn me adrift
like so many others. But, by Heaven, you had better beware, for you will not
live eight days after you have done so!« It is unnecessary to dwell longer on
the fears and superstitions of a prince, whom the wretched love of life induced
to submit to such indignities.
 
60 The story is told more bluntly, and less probably, in the French memoirs of
the period, which affirm that Comines, out of a presumption inconsistent with
his excellent good sense, had asked of Charles of Burgundy to draw off his
boots, without having been treated with any previous familiarity to lead to such
a freedom. I have endeavoured to give the anecdote a turn more consistent with
the sense and prudence of the great author concerned.
 
61 There is little doubt that, during the interesting scene at Peronne, Philip
des Comines first learned intimately to know the great powers of mind of Louis
XI., by which he was so much dazzled, that it is impossible, in reading his
Memoirs, not to be sensible that he was blinded by them to the more odious
shades of his character. He entertained from this time forward a partiality to
France. The historian passed into France about 1472, and rose high in the good
graces of Louis XI. He afterwards became the proprietor of the lordship of
Argenton and others, a title which was given him by anticipation in the former
editions of this work. He did not obtain it till he was in the French service.
After the death of Louis, Philip des Comines fell under the suspicion of the
daughter of Louis, called our Lady of Beaujeu, as too zealous a partisan of the
rival House of Orleans. The historian himself was imprisoned for eight months in
one of the iron