The Knights Templars.

tare ; but even their devilish arts succeeded in extorting confessions of guilt from only two Serving Brethren and one Chaplain . Stephen de Staplebrugge , " an apostate and fugitive of the Order of the Temple , captured by

the King's officers in the city of Salisbury , " was on the 23 d June examined in the presence of the Bishops of London and Chichester , and others . He deponed to there being tAVO modes of reception , the one good and lawful , the other contrary to

the Christian faith . He had been received into the Order , at Dynneslee , by Brian le Jay , Grand Prior of England , the same Le Jay who Avas slain by Willian Wallace at the battle of Falkirk . He was led into the chapel , and the door closed behind him ; a crucifix was placed before the Grand Prior , and on either side of De Staplebrugge , a Brother

was placed Avith a drawn sword . The Grand Prior , pointing to the crucifix , said , " Do you see this image of the crucifixion ? " to which he replied , " I see it , my lord . " The Grand Prior then said , " You must deny that Jesus Christ was God and

man , and that Mary Avas his mother ; and yon must spit upon the Cross . " Whereupon the deponent , fearing death would be the result of his refusal , did so Avith his mouth , but not Avith his heart ; and spat beside the Cross , bufc not upon ifc . After

making this confession , the poor rack-tortured wretch , fell upon his knees , with eyes uplifted , with clasped hands , and uttering tears and sighs , besought the mercy and favour of Holy Church , declaring that he cared not for the death of the body , or for any amount of penance , but only for the salvation of his soul !

On Saturday , the 25 th June , the second Serving Brother , Thomas Tocci de Thoroldeby , Avas examined . He is described as " an apostate who had escaped from Lincoln after his examination at that place by the Papal Inquisitors , but

had afterwards surrendered himself to the King ' s officers . " This brother , however , at first disappointed the expectations of the Inquisitors . He adhered to his first depositions , adding some particulars regarding penances imposed , and absolu ¦

tions pronounced in the chapter , shewing the difference between sins and defaults , the priest having to deal with the one , and the Master Avith the other . He stated that the little cords were worn for an honourable purpose , and he having

lost his in a battle with the Saracens , the Grand Master punished him for a default in coming home without it . He corroborated the account given

I by other witnesses of the secret manner of holding chapters , and that the members ivere forbidden to confess to any but chaplains of the Order . * They did nothing contrary to the Christian faith , and as to the charge brought against the

Templars of endeavouring to benefit the Order by right or wrong , he quoted the statute , " that if any one should be found to have acquired anything unjustly , he should be deprived of his habit , and expelled the Order . " Being asked Avhy he

had become an apostate , and fled from his Order , he replied that he had done so through fear of death , as the Papal Inquisitor , De Lagui , when examining him afc Lincoln , asked him if he had nothing further to confess , and he replied that he

had not , unless he confessed what Avas not fciue , whereupon the Abbot , laying his hand upon his breast , swore by the Avord of God , that he would make him confess before he had done with him ; that , terrified by this threat , he had bribed the jailor of Lincoln with forty florins to let him escape . After this imprudent avoAval , the

Serving Brother Avas handed over to the tender mercies of De Lagni , Avho , having made him undergo the severest torture , " expelled the Avicked devil from him , " and brought Thoroldeby back on the fourth clay to " speak fche truth . " He now

confessed , that having been threatened by two Templars , Avho had naked swords in their hands , he denied Christ with his lips , but not Avithhis heart , and spat beside the Cross but not on it . Being required to spit upon the image of the blessed

Virgin , instead of doing so he contrived to kiss her foot . He stated that he had heard Brian le Jay , say a hundred times , that Jesus Chi'ist was not the true God , but a mere man ; and that the smallest hair out of a Saracen ' s beard , Avas of

greater Avorth than the whole body of a Christian . He declared that , standing once in the presence of Le Jay , Avhen some poor people were imploring his charity " for the love of God , and our Lady the blessed Virgin , " Brian answered , " What Lady ? go and be hanged to your Lady ;" ancl throwing a halfpenny into the mud , made