Note 346 — Chapter V · POLITICAL HERESY UTILIZED BY THE STATE. (continued 2)

Pauli Langii Chron. Citicens. ann. 1314 (Pistorii I. 1201).—Chron. Sampetrini Erfurtens. ann. 1315 (Menken III. 325).—Naucleri Chron. ann. 1306.—Ferreti Vicentin. Hist. (Muratori S. R. I. IX. 1018).

Clement’s reputation was such that this was not the only legend of the kind about his death. While yet Archbishop of Bordeaux, he had a bitter quarrel with Walter of Bruges, a holy Franciscan whom Nicholas III. had forced to accept the episcopate of Poitiers. On his elevation to the papacy he gratified his grudge by deposing Walter and ordering him to a convent. Walter made no complaint, but on his death-bed he appealed to the judgment of God, and died with a paper in his hand in which he cited the papal oppressor before the divine tribunal on a certain day. His grip on this could not be loosened, and he was buried with it. The next year Clement chanced to pass through the place; he had the tomb opened, found the body uncorrupted, and ordered the paper to be given to him. It terrified him greatly, and at the time specified he was obliged to obey the summons.—Wadding. ann. 1279, No. 13.—Chron. Glassberger ann. 1307.

Guillaume de Nogaret, who was Philippe’s principal instrument, was the subject of a similar story. A Templar on his way to the stake saw him and cited him to appear within eight days, and on the eighth day he died.—Chron. Astena. c. 27 (Muratori S. R. I. XI. 194).