The Knights Templars.

went to Melun , where the great body of the prisoners were confined . It was not the desire of the King to proceed unnecessarily to harsh measures with them . He desired rather to bribe than to force them into confessions of the guilt of the

Order . For this purpose , Imbert saw them often , and held long interviews with them , hinting , rather than expressly indicating , the nature of the confessions required , and promising pardon and favour to those who should confess . In fact , the

Templars were made aware that , -to obtain their liberfc ] " -, and even to save their lives , they required to acknowledge the crimes alleged against the Order . Imbert at the same time took notes of his

conversations with them , in which their statements were distorted , and which afterwards told with terrible effect against them . Having thus enlightened the Templars as to the nature of the crimes with which they stood

charged , and in a manner prepared them for examination , the King opened the proceedings by publishing a fresh act of accusation , and , by his agents , procured a petition to himself from the citizens of Paris , purporting to be in the name of

the French people , calling upon him , as head of the State , to proceed against the Templars . This document stated the detestation with which the

people regarded their abominable practices , recapitulated the enormous crimes with which they were accused ; their renunciation of Jesus Christ ; their desecration of the Cross , upon which they spat three times , in contempt of the faith ; the

permission to commit crimes of such an infamous character , that the present age refuses to hear them named ; and . the idolatry , which carried them so far as to adore an idol , the head of which was gilt , and to gird themselves with a cord which

had touched the idol , and which they regarded as an amulet . This idol was said to have been covered with

an old skin , embalmed , having the appearance of a piece of polished wax-cloth . In its head were two carbuncles for eyes , bright as the brightness of heaven , and in it all the hopes of the Templars were fixed . It was their sovereign god , and they

trusted in it with their whole hearts . It is very possible that in their wars the Templars might have become possessed of such a head , as the Comons and other Eastern barbai-ians possessed such ; but we do not think any one at the present day can believe that men like the Templars , whose whole gallantry proceeded from an exalted idea

The Knights Templars.

of Christianity , could have worshipped it . The Templars were furthermore accused of burning the- , bodies of their deceased Brethren , and grindingthe ashes to a powder , which they administered to the younger Brethren in their meat and drink ,

tomake them hold fast their faith and idolatry . They were accused of roasting infants , and annointing their idols with the fat ; of celebrating hidden rites and mysteries , to which young and tender virgins were introduced ; and other abominations ,

as absurd as they are horrible . William Paradin , in his " History of Savoy , " seriously repeats these monstrous accusations , and declares that the

Templars had a hole , pit , or cave in the earth , carefully concealed , where they kept an image of a man , upon which they had spread the skin of a human body , and placed two bright and lustrous carbuncles in the place of two eyes . To this

horrible statue they compelled all to sacrifice who desired to belong to their " damnable religion ;' and in their ceremonies they agreed to deny Christ , and to tread the Cross under foot , and tocurse every thing sacred . After which , assisted !

by women and girls , seduced to belong to their Order , they extinguished the lamps and lights which they had in the cave " Et s'il advenoit que d'un Templier et d ' un pucelle nasquit ua fils , il se rangoient tous en un rond , et se jottienfc

cet infant de main en main , et ne cessoient de le jetter jusqu'a ce qu'il fa mort entre leurs mains ; , etant mort ils se rotissoient ( chose execrable ) et .

de la graisse ils en ognoient leur grand statue \" Were anything wanting to prove that the King had no serious crimes to allege against the Order , the character of these charges would at once prove its innocence . The idol , which plays so

conspicuous a part in the proceedings , was never produced , although , had it really existed , it could easily have been found . But , as we have already said , their very virtues were turned against them ,, and they were charged with attempting to

conceal the iniquity of their lives , by alms-giving ,, constantly frequenting church , comporting themselves with edification , frequently partaking of the Holy Sacrament , and manifesting much , modesty and gentleness of deportment in the .

house as well as in public . We have only to ask , could this deception have been possible , or carried on for so long a time , without detection ?

Upon receipt of the petition of the Parisians , the King deputed the charge of examination to Imbert , and , and to give it an