The Knights Templars.

enjoined the Archbishop of Rheims and the Bishops of Poictiers and Mende to render an account to the established stewards of the revenues of the Templars , and to transport what remained entirely out of the kingdom , under the protection

of the King . This was a clear indication that the Pope intended , along with the King , to dispose of the goods as he should see fit .

Chapter Xvii.

CHAPTER XVII .

The Commissioners continue the examination of Witnesses —Aymeric de Tillars-le-Duc—Proceedings against the Order at Senlis—Ponte-de-VArchc , Sfo . —The Commissioners summon two of the Defenders of the Order to assist at the examination of Witnesses They refuse — Evidence of John de Pollenaoicrt—The Demon Head—Evidence of Peter de la Palu—A . v . 1310-11 .

On Wednesday , the day after the burning of the fifty-four Templars , the Papal Commissioners continued the examination of the witnesses . Aymeric de Villars-le-Duc , aged about fifty years , appeared . He was examined regarding his former

confessions , and the articles upon which he was to depose being explained to him , he asseverated in the strongest manner his resolution to speak the truth . He was quite pallid , and seemed terrified beyond measure ; yet , striking his breast

with his clenched hands , he bent his knees , and , stretching his arms towards the altar , uttered these words : — " I speak upon my oath , and , if not truly , at the peril of my soul . If I lie , may death suddenly smite me before your eyes , and may I descend , body and soul , to hell . I persist , then , in maintaining that the crimes imputed to

the Templars are altogether false , though I have confessed some of them myself , overcome by the tortures which G . de Marcillac and Hugo de Celle , the King's Knights , ordered to be inflicted upon me . I have seen the fifty four Templars led in

carts to be committed to the flames , because they would not make the confessions required of them . I have heard that they were burnt ; and I doubt if I could , like them , have had the noble constancy to brave the terrors of the pile . I believe that , if

I were threatened with it , I should depose on oath before the Commission , and before any other persons who should interrogate me , that these same crimes imputed to the Order are true . 1 would hill God himself if it was required of me .

Are not these remarkable words ? Candour , in the midst of despair ; truth , and even courage , in the midst of terror . He then implored the Com-

Chapter Xvii.

missioners and the notaries who were present not to reveal what he had uttered to the King's officers and the keepers of the Templars , who would assuredly consign him to the flames . The Commissioners were gradually perceiving

that justice was out of the question in proceeding with their duty . A witness came to them late at night , and implored that his deposition might be kept secret , on account of the danger which he ran should it come to the King ' s ears . The

terror of the witnesses , and the determination of the King to allow no defence , satisfied them that their labours had better be suspended for some time . Accordingly , on the 21 st May , in the absence of the Archbishop of Narbonne and the

Archdeacon of Trent , they met , and declared their sittings suspended , and adjourned to the 3 rd of November . ( To he continued . )

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

I-BEEllASONItY ABOUT TWO HTTNDEED YEABS OLD . As I expected , " A Masonic Student " has entirely failed to bring forward the least proof of the existence of the M . M . degree previous to about the beginning of the last century . I am sorry for this , because , if he had fully and definitely written out and stated in

the Magazine the grounds or foundation on which he built his opinion , we would have known what to make of his ideas and evidence , and seen what they were worth ; hut all we get is ipse dixit ! which is of very little worth when it goes contrary to the evidence derived from the old lodge minutes written about or

before a century and a half ago . Then , to crown all , " A Masonic Student" says , — " I unreservedly accept the tradition of our Order which connects us with King Solomon and the Temple ! " Talk of faith , why there is any amount of hope for Canmore after that ! He and Solomon may yet serve as supporters for the

Masons' Arms . Hurrah ! the funds are rising . 0 Solomon , Solomon ! see what itis to be a King . That little Temple of yours , which neither yourself nor your subjects could build , but in order to construct which you had to employ foreigners , has led many , many very worthy believing brethren a funny dance .

They forget that the great glory of your Temple did not consist in its structure but in its worship , and the ideas connected therewith ; further , Mr . Solomon , vou know you were no more the " Grand Master , " or " Master of Wark , " at the building of the Temple than I am . You had something else to doalthough

, you undoubtedly laid out much money on buildings , & c ., by which you not only spent—as many other heirs have done—all your father ' s money , but also managed to grind down your subjects so hard with