The Suppression Of The Templars In England.

utterly incredible , Avere accepted without silling . Dominican inquisitors Avere ready to aid the project . The Pope was a French archbishop , completely in the power of the king , ancl so the Templars were generally seized and imprisoned . The paramount influence of Philip , acting with the Pope , was sufficient to procure the adoption of the same policy practised in Franco in most of the other countries of Europe . The dreadful tale of torture followedtorture

, more savage , more diabolically cruel , than perhaps ever used before or since . The Templars , overcome by the agonies of their trial , and hoping , if they confessed , easily to obtain absolution from the Pope , in many cases admitted the charges , though same persevered , even to the death , in their assertions of innocence . But soon those who hacl confessed , ashamed of their weaknessgenerallwithdrew their admissionsbelieving that tbe Popewho was

, y , , holding a format inquiry into the charges against the Order , would do them justice . They little know , however , the man with Avhom they had to deal . While tbe long drawn ont inquiry Avas proceeding before the Pope , the unhappy wretches who bad confessed and retracted Avere seized upon by the Inquistion , under royal directions , as relapsed heretics , and suttered all the penalties of that terrible accusation . In one day no less than fifty-six of

these were burnt by slow fires near to the Abbey of St . Anthony , in the environs of Paris . Philip put the finishing touch to this work Avhen , before the Church of Notre Dame in Paris , a prince of the blood-royal of France , and Jacques de Molay , the Grand Master of the Templars , both of whom had confessed and retracted , were burned in charcoal fires in the face of a vast crowd . The Grand Master expired , solemnly asserting bis innocence , ancl with his last words summoning Clement , the unjust judge , and Philip , the cruel king , to appear before the tribunal of God . Within a year the ) ' had both departed to their account .

The influence of Philip had , as has been said , ai r ailed to cause his policy to be adopted in most of the nations of Europe . But this Avas not the case as regarded England . The influence of France counted for little here , ancl whatever Avas to be done must , needs to be done through the Pope and on pretended religious grounds . Edward II . Avas a weak prince . Had he resembled either his father or his son , it is perhaps not too much to assume that the Order of the Templars would not have been disturbed in England

, but left to die out by the same process Avhich extinguished the other religious orders . As it Avas , the king showed considerable resistance ancl regulated his proceedings by milder and jnstei- rule . The first attempt made by the king of France to influence his son-in-law in this matter altogether failed . An emissary , one Bernard Palet , hacl been dispatched to bring the king of England to his viewsbut his mission was

, coldly received . The King of England addressed a letter to Philip in his own name , ancl that of his prelates and barons , declaring his amazement at the charges made , his disbelief of them , and his confidence in the Order . Nor did he confine himself to tin ' s refusal . He became the advocate of the Order against the accusations of Philip . He wrote to the kings of Portugal , Castille , Sicily ancl Aragon , urging them to protect the order against its

calumniators ancl the avarice and jealousy of its enemies . He wrote to the Pope , asserting the pure faith and loft y morals of the Order , and calling upon him for his powerful aid . But hardly bad this letter been Avritten ancl dispatched when all was changed . A bull from the Pope arrived , commanding in peremptory terms the arrest of atl the Templars in England . The king at once ielded . Orders were sent to the sheriffs throughout EnglandIreland

y , , Wales , and Scotland , directing the arrest of the Templars . But they were no to be treated in the way in which they had been treated in France . The persons of the Knights were to , be treated Avith respect ; an inventory of their goods was to be returned into the Exchequer . On the Wednesday after Epiphany , 1308 , these orders were carried out . EveryAvhere throughout