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Rh Mr. Addington Symons well says, "the most pernicious of all the evils inflicted by the papal power on Italy and on Provence." Then followed the French tyranny, under which Boniface VIII. expired at Anagni; Benedict XI was poisoned at the instigation of Philip le Bel, and the Papal see was transferred to Avignon. Provence was henceforth involved in the bloody wars of Italy; its wealth, its manhood, were drained away, its Count passed to Naples to keep there his Court as a King, to the neglect of good government at home.

Romeo underwent the fate of all honest and strong men. He had made himself enemies, who accused him to the prince of having enriched himself at the expense of the province.

Romeo produced his accounts before the prince, showing that he had not betrayed his trust to the value of a denier; and then, resuming his pilgrim's habit, resumed also his wanderings. Finally he retired to the castle of Vence, where he died. His will was dated December i8th, 1250. Dante places him in Paradise:—