Note 271 — BOOK THE SECOND. (continued 2)

Guillaume de Haraucourt, son of Gerard de Haraucourt, Seneschal of Barrois, was elected Bishop of Verdun on the 14th of October, 1456, and took possession of his see on the 10th of August following. Possessed of the most brilliant qualities, and supported by the credit of Cardinal Balue, he met with a favourable reception from Louis XI., to whom he rendered important services. Subsequently becoming involved in the cardinal’s disgrace, Guillaume de Haraucourt was arrested, and confined in that iron cage, the invention of which is ascribed to him by Commines, book vi. chap. 12. He was kept a prisoner for fifteen years, and died on February 20. 1500.