The Knights Templars.

by his hatred of the Order , and desire to possess himself of its wealth , spoke with exceeding bitterness against it . He produced summaries of the interrogatories , which detailed the charges brought against the Templars , enlarged upon the

abominations which existed amongst them , and which they had confessed but he carefully avoided mentioning the fact , that several had revoked their confessions . The assembly were thunderstruck at these terrible charges , substantiated by the

greatest churchmen , -who had taken down the confessions ; and , without a dissenting voice , the Templars were judged worthy of death . The King furthermore contrived to have a petition presented to him at this assembly by the

representatives of the third estate , calling upon him to punish the crimes of the Templars . In this document it was declared that the King did not

require the concurrence of the Pope to exterminate such notorious heretics . " The chief of the children of Israel , Moses , that friend of God , who spoke with him face to face , cried , in similar circumstances against the apostates who had

adored the golden calf , upon each one to arm himself with the sword and strike . He did not demand to this act of justice the consent of Aaron , who was the High Priest of Gocl ; aud since all the Templars were heretics , or the abettors ancl

favourers of heretics and homicides , why should not the most Christian King proceed in the same manner against the Templars , and , if necessary , against the clergy , if unhappily , the clergy did fall into error , and helped and favoured those who

were heretical ? " There can be little doubt that these singular words were the dictation of the King , if the document was not actually drawn up by Imbert .

The Pope was terrified at the doings nf this parliament , and during the proceedings attempted to escape from the power of Philip to Bourcleaux ; but the King , ever vigilant , had his baggage and treasure arrested at the gate of the town , and

Clement found himself a prisoner . Delighted with the result of the parliament , the King repaired to Poictiers , and had an interview with the Pope . On his arrival , he prostrated himself before Clement , ancl humbly kissed his foot .

He was accompanied by his three sons—Louis , King of Navarre ; Philip , Count of Poictiers ; ? nd Charles , Count of Marche ; by his two brothers , Charles Count de Valois , and Louis , Count d'Evreux ; and by a large train of nobles of the

The Knights Templars.

land . The King described to the Pope what had taken place at the parliament , and Clement , struck by the pomp and warlike magnificence of the royal retinue , found himself unable to combat the wishes of the monarch . They then resolved upon the . final measures for the destruction of the

Templars . It was resolved that the King should retain possession of their persons , but in the name of the Pope ; that ; the process against them , should be conducted by the archbishops and bishops of the different dioceses where they were

confined , and that they should pronounce the final sentence- The Inquisitor of the Faith , by the desire of the King , was appointed to assist them , although this was against the law ; but the Pope was glad to give way to all the monarch ' s

wishes : that the King should not have the punishment of the Templars , but only in consort with the Pope ; that , supposing it was necessary to abolish the Order , all its riches should be employed for the recovery of the Holy Land ; that

the Pope and King should give orders to the carrying out of these articles , in furtherance of which the royal commissioners were to hand over to the Papal , all the moveables and property which were in their hands . The Pope then issued

a Bull renewing the prohibition of giving any asylum to the Templars , under pain of eternal , damnation . He still reserved to himself the right , of examining the Grand Master and the Grand Priors . The treaty between the Pope and King , was signed , and the knell of the Order rung . ( To be continued . )

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

KILWIXNIXO MASONIC lEGEND . The legend of the birthplace of Scottish Freemasonry being at Kilwinning about A . D . 1140 is simply a humbug ;* and , instead of the " stately abbey " being built about 1140 , it would be nearer the truth to say 1240

. I have read the following— " It must be allowed that there is great probability in Bro . Laurie ' s surmise that the Englisii brethren owe their knowledge of the Craft to emissaries from the Kilwinningsource , from which the light of Masonry quickly spread over the length and breadth of the island . "

The English brethren owe their knowledge of the Craft to emissaries from Kilwinning ! Nonsense . As well say the sea owes its existence to the riversthat flow into it .