Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Chivalet,
nothing but a simultaneous movement of all the Christian powers could be of any avail against the infidels . He most firmly objected to the . union of the two Orders . He then took hi s leave of the pope , and returned to Paris . Rumours were circulated that some serious charges had been made against the Templars , which coming to the Crrand Master ' s knowledge , he , accompanied by the Preceptors of France and Aquitaine , again repaired to the pope to justify himself and the Order . Clement informed them that serious charges of great crimes had been alleged against the order ; but the answers of the Knights appeared to satisfy the pope , and they once more returned to Paris .
"We have seen that the G-rand Master had carried with him to France the treasure of the Templars , which was safely bestowed in the city of Paris . To obtain these coveted riches was the king ' s determination , and with this object he resolved to suppress the Order
and seize on its property . On the night of the 13 th of October , 1307 , all the Templars in France were arrested . That this was the result of a long prepared and deeply laid scheme on the part of Philip and Clement , the pope ' s conduct in the affair leaves little room to doubt .
The proceedings thus commenced and carried on against the Order in France were characterized by the most virulent enmity , and , to support the charges against the Knights , every species ofabandoned subornation was resorted to . The tortures to which the unfortunate prisoners were subjected extorted alleged confessions from the miserable victims , made in the vain hope of thereby obtaining some
temporary relief from their anguish . These extorted confessions were afterward ^ renounced by the Templars , one and all . But we will not dwell upon these barbarities ; the horrors of those dungeons have never been fully revealed , nor is it probable that they ever will . On the 18 th of March , 1313 , a scaffold was erected in front of the cathedral of Paris , and the citizens were summoned to hear the
Order of the Templars convicted of grievous sins and enormities by the confessions- of its own officers . The papal legate ordered the Grand Master and three other noble Knights w ho were presented to the populace , to renew the avowals previously made when under torture . De Molay , raising his fettered hands to heaven , exclaimed , " " I I do confess my guilt , which consists in having , to my claimed do confess my guilt , which consists in having , to my
, shame and dishonour , suffered myself , through pain of torture and fear of death , to give utterance to falsehoods , imputing scandalous sins and iniquities to our illustrious Order , which hath nobly served the cause of Christianity . I disdain to seek to prolong a wretched and disgraceful existence by engrafting another lie upon the original
falsehood . " The . officers here interrupted him , and the Templars were hurried back to prison . The king being thus signally foiled in the attempt to criminate the innocent out of their own mouths , without waiting to consult the Pope or any other person , ordered the unfortunate De Molay and Griiy , the Grand Preceptor of France , to instant execution . z 2
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Chivalet,
nothing but a simultaneous movement of all the Christian powers could be of any avail against the infidels . He most firmly objected to the . union of the two Orders . He then took hi s leave of the pope , and returned to Paris . Rumours were circulated that some serious charges had been made against the Templars , which coming to the Crrand Master ' s knowledge , he , accompanied by the Preceptors of France and Aquitaine , again repaired to the pope to justify himself and the Order . Clement informed them that serious charges of great crimes had been alleged against the order ; but the answers of the Knights appeared to satisfy the pope , and they once more returned to Paris .
"We have seen that the G-rand Master had carried with him to France the treasure of the Templars , which was safely bestowed in the city of Paris . To obtain these coveted riches was the king ' s determination , and with this object he resolved to suppress the Order
and seize on its property . On the night of the 13 th of October , 1307 , all the Templars in France were arrested . That this was the result of a long prepared and deeply laid scheme on the part of Philip and Clement , the pope ' s conduct in the affair leaves little room to doubt .
The proceedings thus commenced and carried on against the Order in France were characterized by the most virulent enmity , and , to support the charges against the Knights , every species ofabandoned subornation was resorted to . The tortures to which the unfortunate prisoners were subjected extorted alleged confessions from the miserable victims , made in the vain hope of thereby obtaining some
temporary relief from their anguish . These extorted confessions were afterward ^ renounced by the Templars , one and all . But we will not dwell upon these barbarities ; the horrors of those dungeons have never been fully revealed , nor is it probable that they ever will . On the 18 th of March , 1313 , a scaffold was erected in front of the cathedral of Paris , and the citizens were summoned to hear the
Order of the Templars convicted of grievous sins and enormities by the confessions- of its own officers . The papal legate ordered the Grand Master and three other noble Knights w ho were presented to the populace , to renew the avowals previously made when under torture . De Molay , raising his fettered hands to heaven , exclaimed , " " I I do confess my guilt , which consists in having , to my claimed do confess my guilt , which consists in having , to my
, shame and dishonour , suffered myself , through pain of torture and fear of death , to give utterance to falsehoods , imputing scandalous sins and iniquities to our illustrious Order , which hath nobly served the cause of Christianity . I disdain to seek to prolong a wretched and disgraceful existence by engrafting another lie upon the original
falsehood . " The . officers here interrupted him , and the Templars were hurried back to prison . The king being thus signally foiled in the attempt to criminate the innocent out of their own mouths , without waiting to consult the Pope or any other person , ordered the unfortunate De Molay and Griiy , the Grand Preceptor of France , to instant execution . z 2