The archbishop of Bordeaux afterwards became pope, under the name of Clement V., protected by Philippe le Bel, and in memory of his opposition deposed Gauthier, enjoining him to retire into his convent.
The bishop of Poitiers was obliged to submit to the authority of the sovereign pontiff; but at the same time protested against the abuse of power of which he was the victim; and he appealed against the sentence of deposition _to God and the council to come_.

He died shortly after, and desired to be buried with his act of appeal in his hand.
When Clement V.came to Poitiers to treat with Philippe le Bel on _important and secret_ affairs--nothing less than the suppression of the order of the Templars--he lodged at the Cordelier convent, in the very church where Gauthier was buried.

Being informed of the act of appeal which the unfortunate bishop would not part with at the time of his death, he had a great desire to see it, and commanded that his tomb should be opened.

Accordingly, in the dead of night, by the light of torches, his desire was fulfilled.

One of the pope's archdeacons descended into the vault, and in the dead hand of the bishop beheld the scroll: he endeavoured to take possession of it, but found it impossible to do so, so firmly was it grasped by the bony fingers.