The Knights Templars.

the poor people hunt for ifc , although ifc Avas in the depth of a severe winter . He stated , that at chapters the priest stood like a beast , and had nothing to do but at the close of the meeting to repeat the psalm , " " God be merciful . "

Addison , with great truth , remarks , that the Templars must have been strange idolaters , Avhen they closed their chapters , in which they were accused of worshipping a cat , a man's head , and a black idol , with the reading of the beautiful

psalm , "God be merciful unto us , and bless us , and shew us the light of Thy countenance , that Thy way may be knoAvn upon earth , Thy saving health among all nations . " The witness further stated that the priest could not impose a heavier penance

than a day ' s fast on bread and Avater , and not even that without the brethrens' sanction . Further , that in the wars of the Holy Land , the Templars favoured the Saracens and oppressed tlie Christians ; aud he declared , for himself , he hacl never

seen the body of Christ for three years before , Avithout thinking of the devil , nor could he remove that evil thought from his mind by prayer , or in any other Avay that he could desire . He added , that on that very morning , he hacl heard

mass with great devotion , and since then had only thought of Christ , and Avas certain no Templar ' s soul could be saved unless a reformation took place . After the two Serving Brethren had in the above manner confessed , they were solemnly absolved and reconciled to the church .

On the 1 st July a chaplain avowed the guilt of the Order . He deponed to having been received in the first instance in a lawful manner described in his first examination ; but a year afterwards , being at the Preceptory of Garwy , Jacques de

Molai , AVIIO Avas then Grand Prior of England , called him into his chamber , ancl in the presence of two Templars of foreign extraction , informed him that he wished to put his obedience to the tesfc . He then commanded him to sit down on a

bed , which the deponent did . De Molai then sent to the chapel for a crucifix , and two Serving-Brethren armed Avith SAVords stationed themselves at the door . When the crucifix AVI * S brought , De Molai pointed to it , and asked Avhose image it Avas

that was nailed to the Cross . He answered , " The image of Jesus Christ , AVIIO suffered on the Cross for the redemption of mankind . " The Grand Prior ansAvored , " Thou sayest wrong , and art much mistaken ; for He was the son of a certain Avoman , and was crucified because He called

Himself the Son of God , and I , myself , have been in the place Avhere he was born and crucified ; and UOAV must thou deny Him , AVIIOUI this image represents . " The deponent , in horror , exclaimed , "Far be it from me to deny my Saviour / ' The

Grand Prior then told him that he must do it , or he Avould be put into a sack ancl be carried to a place Avhich he Avould find by no means agreeable , that there were swords in the room , and brethren Avilling to use them . The deponent then asked

if such Avas the general custom ; and being answered in the affirmative , fearing to lose his life by a refusal , he denied Christ with his tongue but not with his hearfc . Beino * asked in Avhom he

Avas told to put his faith , after denying Christ he replied , "In that great Omnipotent God who created the heaven and the earth !" Finding that the confessions Avere so scanty , the Inquisitors entered into a compromise Avith De

la More and the other Templars . By this they agreed to repeat a form of confession and abjuration , after which they were absolved , reconciled to the Church , and set at liberty . Some of the Templars , hoAvever , Avere still detained in

prison , and among them the pious De la More , the last Grand Prior of the Order in England . A few months after the close of the proceedings against the Templars he died of a broken heart in his solitary dungeon in the Tower , persisting

to the last in maintaining the innocence of the Order . King Edward , moved by his misfortunes and gallant conduct , directed the constable of the Tower to hand over his effects , valued at

£ 4 19 s . lid ., to his executors , to be employed in the liquidaton of his debts , and he commanded Geoffrey de la Lee , guardian of the lands of the Templars , to pay the arrears of his prison allowance ( two shillings per clay ) to his executor ,.

Roger Hunsiugou . The gallant Imbert de Blanche likewise died in prison . He had protested ftoni first to last against the violent proceedings of the Inquisitors , and had maintained fearlessly , amid all his trials , his OAVII innocence

and that of his Order . After having been tortured and starved in prison for the space of five years , he Avas condemned ( as he would make no confession of guilt ) to be shut up in a loathsome dungeon , to be loaded with double chains , and be

occasionally visited by the agents of the Inquisitors to see if he would confess anything . He remained in this miserable condition till death put an end to his sufferings . The Order Avas found