ABSTRACT
THE VIOLENCE OF the conflict of the papacy with France and the eventual use of force against the pope personally, produced a traumatic effect in papal quarters. The shock was perhaps salutary. A week after Boniface’s death a successor was chosen (Benedict XI). The papacy now entered a period which could suitably be headed: appeasement of France. Most of the measures decreed by Boniface against Philip were revoked and even the Colonna cardinals were released from excommunication, though not immediately restored to the College of Cardinals. Among the new cardinals created by Benedict XI in June 1304 was the English Dominican-General Walter Winterbourne who after the death of the pope in July 1304 was to play some role in the long and protracted conclave deliberating on a suitable successor: he had not, of course, had anything to do with the Bonifacian policy nor could he, as an Englishman, be accused of too great a leaning towards France. In short he was an outsider and ‘an honest broker’ to repair the damage that had been inflicted on the institution. Walter Winterbourne was indeed put up as a candidate after joining the conclave at Perugia in November 1304, but did not receive the required two-thirds majority. In the event, on 5 June 1305, the archbishop of Bordeaux was chosen by 10 out of 15 cardinals. In the circumstances this was a wise choice. Clement V was French by upbringing and outlook, but English as a subject of Edward I, and never having been a member of the curia, he was not in any way tainted as a partisan.
