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Article THE BURIAL OF BERTRAND DE BLANCHFORT. ← Page 2 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Burial Of Bertrand De Blanchfort.
appropriate places near the high altar . In the centre of the circle , upon an elevated dais , was placed the bier and body of the departed chief . The snow-white mantle , ivhich enfolded him when alive , now served to form his funeral shroud ; and the sword , which he had wielded full oft against the foe , was laid peacefully across his abacus at the foot of the bier . His shield and helmet leant against the head , while over all
hung , in still and mournful folds , the magisterial banner of the defunct warrior . Such was the simple and expressive apparatus of the dead . Eight knights preceptors of exalted character knelt , at a respectful distance , on each side of the body ; and a grand prelate , in his ecclesiastical robes , was seen , in the attitude of devotion , muttering prayers at the lower extremity of the bier . Between the dais and the great altar were observable , what had
reference to some of their peculiar rites or mysteries , a large triangular tablet of chequered black and white marble , the frame-work of whicli was studded on each side b y thirteen golden candlesticks , and in the centre of ivhich lay a human skull . Twelve of these were furnished with burning tapers , the thirteenth seemed to have burnt down , and become extinguished . These tapers , together with the lamps that were kept constantly alive at the great altarformed at first the onlliht
, y g which the edifice received , and threw a dim unearthly gleam upon the spectral-like figures all ranged around in white , and silent as shades . No sound disturbed the stillness of the place , save the deep hollow chaunting of the priests , in which the whole from time to time joined , and the reading of the funeral sarvice for the dead , as it awoke the echoes of the ancient chapel . When the imposing ritual of the church
of Rome had been duly saitl anil sung by the clerical Brethren , Andre de Montbar , Grand Seneschal of the Order , stept slowly forward to the head of the bier , and with a deep voice , addressed the assembled mourners : — " Holy mother church and her patriarchal servants have now done their duty to God and to man . Will ye , my brethren , that I now should declare and feebly endeavour to discharge our debts of eternal gratitude and praise to our lost and deceased Brother and Master ? Brother Grand Priorwhat sayest thou ? " And the Grand
, Prior bowed his head in silence , and all the brethren did the same . Then said the Seneschal to the assembled convent : — "Brothers knights ! Brothers esquires ! Brothers armour-bearers and artizans of the soldiery of the Temple ! our good and glorious and beloved Master de Blanchfort is now , in all assurance , beholding us from on high , whither lie has gone to reap the reward of his toils and his labours . He has fought the good fight , and finished the faith : henceforth there is prepared for him a crown of glory which fadeth not away . What boots it then to
him that we should now bepraise him ! Valiantly , I ween , was his arm ever raised in the cause of the cross and of Christendom ; and that the infidel knows full well , who hath felt the force of his deadl y arm . But it was not to obtain the approbation of the world that our Master , while amongst us , put forth his mighty strength . Humblest was he among the humble , even after performing prodigies of valour , as some of the recent conflicts well testifiedwhere he periled himself for his king and
, his cause . With the manly modesty of a Christian hero did he shrink from the honours ivhich men ' s hands and lips would have heaped upon him , and sought only for matter of self-congratulation in being the chosen instrument to have saved his sovereign and the kingdom . Each and all of you knew him as a Brother . Higher he could not have stood
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Burial Of Bertrand De Blanchfort.
appropriate places near the high altar . In the centre of the circle , upon an elevated dais , was placed the bier and body of the departed chief . The snow-white mantle , ivhich enfolded him when alive , now served to form his funeral shroud ; and the sword , which he had wielded full oft against the foe , was laid peacefully across his abacus at the foot of the bier . His shield and helmet leant against the head , while over all
hung , in still and mournful folds , the magisterial banner of the defunct warrior . Such was the simple and expressive apparatus of the dead . Eight knights preceptors of exalted character knelt , at a respectful distance , on each side of the body ; and a grand prelate , in his ecclesiastical robes , was seen , in the attitude of devotion , muttering prayers at the lower extremity of the bier . Between the dais and the great altar were observable , what had
reference to some of their peculiar rites or mysteries , a large triangular tablet of chequered black and white marble , the frame-work of whicli was studded on each side b y thirteen golden candlesticks , and in the centre of ivhich lay a human skull . Twelve of these were furnished with burning tapers , the thirteenth seemed to have burnt down , and become extinguished . These tapers , together with the lamps that were kept constantly alive at the great altarformed at first the onlliht
, y g which the edifice received , and threw a dim unearthly gleam upon the spectral-like figures all ranged around in white , and silent as shades . No sound disturbed the stillness of the place , save the deep hollow chaunting of the priests , in which the whole from time to time joined , and the reading of the funeral sarvice for the dead , as it awoke the echoes of the ancient chapel . When the imposing ritual of the church
of Rome had been duly saitl anil sung by the clerical Brethren , Andre de Montbar , Grand Seneschal of the Order , stept slowly forward to the head of the bier , and with a deep voice , addressed the assembled mourners : — " Holy mother church and her patriarchal servants have now done their duty to God and to man . Will ye , my brethren , that I now should declare and feebly endeavour to discharge our debts of eternal gratitude and praise to our lost and deceased Brother and Master ? Brother Grand Priorwhat sayest thou ? " And the Grand
, Prior bowed his head in silence , and all the brethren did the same . Then said the Seneschal to the assembled convent : — "Brothers knights ! Brothers esquires ! Brothers armour-bearers and artizans of the soldiery of the Temple ! our good and glorious and beloved Master de Blanchfort is now , in all assurance , beholding us from on high , whither lie has gone to reap the reward of his toils and his labours . He has fought the good fight , and finished the faith : henceforth there is prepared for him a crown of glory which fadeth not away . What boots it then to
him that we should now bepraise him ! Valiantly , I ween , was his arm ever raised in the cause of the cross and of Christendom ; and that the infidel knows full well , who hath felt the force of his deadl y arm . But it was not to obtain the approbation of the world that our Master , while amongst us , put forth his mighty strength . Humblest was he among the humble , even after performing prodigies of valour , as some of the recent conflicts well testifiedwhere he periled himself for his king and
, his cause . With the manly modesty of a Christian hero did he shrink from the honours ivhich men ' s hands and lips would have heaped upon him , and sought only for matter of self-congratulation in being the chosen instrument to have saved his sovereign and the kingdom . Each and all of you knew him as a Brother . Higher he could not have stood