The Knights Templars.

THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS .

ZONDON , SATURDAY , OCTOBER 3 , 1863 .

( Continued from page 245 ) . BOOK FOURTH—CHAPTER IV .

Arrest of the Templars at Paris In the Provinces Treatment of the prisoners List of those arrested at Paris — The King writes a letter to Edward of England , requesting him to follow Itis example— -Edward writes bach deprecating tlie course pursued by Philip , and denying that the crimes charged against the Order were

true—Philip issues an Act of Accusation—The Dominicans preach agciinst the Order—Appointed to talce the depositions of the Knights Torture ordered to le used — Modes of ' torture—A . D . 1307 .

Meanwhile the Templars Avere unacquainted with the dangers Avhich surrounded them , and unsuspicious of the King ' s hatred . They accordingly frequented the Court , and often saw the King , who treated them always with the greatest

consideration , and bestowed upon the Grand Master and De Peyraud many marks of his favour . They had forgotten the charges against their Order , and nothing happened to create a suspicion that such had ever been seriously entertained . So

far did the King carry his dissimulation , that on the very eve of the arrest , he appointed De Molaf one of the pall-bearers at the funeral of the Princess Catharine , wife of the Count de Valois . There is

a strange poetry running through many of the saddest events of history , a shadow which foretells the coming event . On his election to the Grand Mastership , De Molai held Philip ' s sou at the baptismal font ; and now when his disgrace is

settled upon , the King apportions him a high place at a funeral . Our rough and less courteous Scots ancestors , paid their victims a similar piece of cruel courtesy in the dish containing a black bull ' s head . This act is a complete index to the

cold-blooded and treacherous character of a Kin g , whose villany ranks hiin among- the chief of the crowned Iscariots of history . The fatal day at length arrived . At daybreak of the 13 th , the Temple at Paris was surrounded

by the King ' s myrmidons , the gates burst open , and the Templars dragged forth from their beds and pinioned . No ceremony Avas used . The Grand Master , De Peyraud , Guy the Prince Dauphin , Geoffrey de Goneville , the Grand Prior of Aquitaine , and all the Templars , to the number

The Knights Templars.

of one hundred and forty , were seized at the same place and moment . They made no resistance : the surprise was too complete ; and they were hurried off to prison , most of them to the horrible dungeons of Melun . No explanation being offered ,

the surprise and consternation of the captives were intense * Paris Avas in a ferment at the news ; and the citizens could ascribe the arrest of the

Templars to no other reason than the anger of the King , at their resisting his obnoxious edict for sounding the money . Had the arrest not been carried through so skilfully , the people would have rescued the Templars and the King ' s life have been

the immediate forfeit of his rashness . But Philip knew how to tame the courage of the people who would have made common cause with the Templars , had they been charged simply with conspiring against the crown ; but the boldest shuddered and

drew back as from a leper , when told that they were Heretics , and had been condemned by the Pope . This turned the tide of popularity against the Templars . The King's bold stroke won the victory , and he had only now to secure it .

No sooner had the King been informed of the arrest of the Grand Master and the Knights , than he at once repaired to the Temple , and took possession of it by personal installation resolving to reside there . He made himself master of all the

gold and silver which had been brought from Cyprus , as well as of the money Avhich had been before in the house . He confiscated all the rich trappings , armour , and furnishings , and seized upon the title deeds of the Order . He made no mention

of this spoliation to the Pope , nor does lie appear to have caused an inventory of the goods to be taken . After he had established himself in the

Temple , he ordered all the wealth and deads of the-Order to be seized in other parts of the kingdom , and transported to Paris . Upon the night of the 12 th , the governors and officers throughout the kingdom opened the packets

sent them . They were astonished at the orders , but dared not disobey them . They took instant steps to fulfil the desire of the King , and broughj ; to their assistance all the forces at hand , anticipating considerable resistance in making the arrest .

Upon the morning of the 13 th , they invaded the houses of the Templars , who surrendered themselves Avithout resistance , not having any suspicion ofthe crimes with which they were charged . They