Note 612 — BOOK THE FIFTH. (continued 2)

The bishop’s murder took place in 1482. In the months of August and September of that year, La Marck entered into a conspiracy with the discontented citizens of Liege against him, and was aided therein with considerable sums of money by the King of France. By this means, and by the assistance of many murderers and banditti, who thronged to him as to a leader befitting them, La Marck assembled a body of troops, whom he dressed in scarlet uniform, with a boar’s head on the left sleeve. With this little army he approached the city of Liege. Upon this the citizens, who were engaged in the conspiracy, came to their bishop, and, offering to stand by him to the death, exhorted him to march out against these robbers. The bishop, therefore, put himself at the head of a few troops of his own, trusting to the assistance of the people of Liege. But as soon as they came in sight of the enemy, the citizens, as before agreed, fled from the bishop’s banner, and he was left with his own handful of adherents. At this moment, La Marck charged at the head of his banditti with the expected success. The bishop was brought before the profligate knight, who first cut him over the face, saying, “Louis de Bourbon, I strove long to obtain your favour, but you would not receive me; now I have found you;” then murdered him with his own hand, and caused his body to be exposed naked in the great square of Liege, in front of St. Lambert’s Cathedral.