-
Articles/Ads
Article THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS. ← Page 4 of 4 Article CHAPTER XI. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Knights Templars.
innocent in England , although suppressed , and the lands given to the Knights of St . John , into which Order many of the Templars entered . *
Chapter Xi.
CHAPTER XI .
Proceedings against- tlie Order in Scotland Ireland — Germany . —Bold conduct of the Grand Preceptor and Brethren- of Germany . —Tiie Pope , terrified , sends instruments declaring them innocent . —They join the Teuconic Order . —The Templars in Arragonfly lo arms and defend tliemselves . —A royal army occupied iivo years in
reducing them . —They ore declared innocent . —In Gastile , Portugal , Florence and Cyprus , they are found innocent —The King of Sicily persecutes them . —Several "burned ¦ in IMij—A . D . 1307-1313 . Iu Scotland , the possessions of the Templars were veiy considerable . King David , that " sair
sancfc for the croon , " after introducing them into his dominions , is represented as " retinens eos diebus et noctibus , morum suorum fecit esse
custocles . " From him they procured grants of Temple in Mid-Lofchiau , and of Gallwyfche iu Galloway ; besides obtaining from his successors and the nobles of the country considerable land ancl wealth . In Edinburgh and Leith they had
oxtensive possessions , and some of the crosses upon the tenements belonging to them are standing at the present day . The proceedings commencd on the " 15 cal . mensis Decembris , Anno Gratia ) 1-J 09 , " before William , *) - Archbishop of St .
Andrews , and Master John de Solei'io , AVIIO is termed " Clerk of my Lord , the Pope , " in the Abbey of Holyrood . Walter clo Clifton , the Grand Prior of Scotland , and William cle
Middleton , Averethe only two Knights AVIIO appeared before this tribunal . De Clifton denied cA ery charge brought against the Order , and , on being interrogated regarding the manner of his reception , stated that—¦
"When William de la More , the Grand Prior of England , held his Chapter at the Preceptory of Temple Bruere , in the county of Lincoln , I sought of the assembled Brethren the habit and felloAVship of the Order . I Avas told by them that
I little kneAV what I asked , Avhen I sought to be admitted to their fellowship ; that it Avould be a hard matter for me , Avho was my OAVU master , to become the servant of another , and to cease to have a Avill of my own . Notwithstanding * their
representations of the rigour of their rules and observances , I still continued earnestly to ^ seek their habit and fellowship . I was then led to the chamber of the Grand Prior , where the Chapter was held , and there , on my bended knees , Avifch my
hands clasped , I again prayed for the habit and fellowship of the Temple . The Gi'and Prior and the brethren then required me to answer the folloAving questions : —Had I any quarrel with any man , or did I OAVO any debts ? Was I betrothed to any woman ? Had I any secret infirmity of
body , or did I knoAV of anything to prevent my remaining in the Order ? Having answered these questions to their satisfaction , the Grand Prior then asked the other brethren , ' Do you give your consents to the reception of Bro . Walter ? ' They
unanimously ansAvered , ' We do . ' The Grand Prior and the brethren standing up , then received me in the following manner : —Upon my bended knees , and AA'ith my hands joined , I solemnly promised to be the perpetual servant of the Grand
Master , of the Order , ancl of the brethren , for the purpose of defending the Holy Land . Having done this , the Grand Prior took out of the hands of a brother Chaplain the book of the Holy Gospel , upon which AA'as depicted a cross , and I swore
upon it to God and the Blessed Virgin Mary to be for ever thereafter chaste , obedient , and to live without property . Then the Grand Prior gave me the white mantle , placed the coif on my head , and admitted me to the kiss on the mouth , after which , he made me sit down , and admonished me to the folloAving effect : —From thenceforth to
sleep in my shirt , drawers , and stockings , girded Avith a small cord over the shirt ; never to tarry in a house where a Avoman was in the family-way ! never to be present at a marriage , or the purification of women ; ancl never to be sponser for a
child . " Being , furthermore , asked , Who Avas the Grand Preceptor of Scotland ? he answered , that he was " habens ibidem custodiam totins ordinis sui , nee
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Knights Templars.
innocent in England , although suppressed , and the lands given to the Knights of St . John , into which Order many of the Templars entered . *
Chapter Xi.
CHAPTER XI .
Proceedings against- tlie Order in Scotland Ireland — Germany . —Bold conduct of the Grand Preceptor and Brethren- of Germany . —Tiie Pope , terrified , sends instruments declaring them innocent . —They join the Teuconic Order . —The Templars in Arragonfly lo arms and defend tliemselves . —A royal army occupied iivo years in
reducing them . —They ore declared innocent . —In Gastile , Portugal , Florence and Cyprus , they are found innocent —The King of Sicily persecutes them . —Several "burned ¦ in IMij—A . D . 1307-1313 . Iu Scotland , the possessions of the Templars were veiy considerable . King David , that " sair
sancfc for the croon , " after introducing them into his dominions , is represented as " retinens eos diebus et noctibus , morum suorum fecit esse
custocles . " From him they procured grants of Temple in Mid-Lofchiau , and of Gallwyfche iu Galloway ; besides obtaining from his successors and the nobles of the country considerable land ancl wealth . In Edinburgh and Leith they had
oxtensive possessions , and some of the crosses upon the tenements belonging to them are standing at the present day . The proceedings commencd on the " 15 cal . mensis Decembris , Anno Gratia ) 1-J 09 , " before William , *) - Archbishop of St .
Andrews , and Master John de Solei'io , AVIIO is termed " Clerk of my Lord , the Pope , " in the Abbey of Holyrood . Walter clo Clifton , the Grand Prior of Scotland , and William cle
Middleton , Averethe only two Knights AVIIO appeared before this tribunal . De Clifton denied cA ery charge brought against the Order , and , on being interrogated regarding the manner of his reception , stated that—¦
"When William de la More , the Grand Prior of England , held his Chapter at the Preceptory of Temple Bruere , in the county of Lincoln , I sought of the assembled Brethren the habit and felloAVship of the Order . I Avas told by them that
I little kneAV what I asked , Avhen I sought to be admitted to their fellowship ; that it Avould be a hard matter for me , Avho was my OAVU master , to become the servant of another , and to cease to have a Avill of my own . Notwithstanding * their
representations of the rigour of their rules and observances , I still continued earnestly to ^ seek their habit and fellowship . I was then led to the chamber of the Grand Prior , where the Chapter was held , and there , on my bended knees , Avifch my
hands clasped , I again prayed for the habit and fellowship of the Temple . The Gi'and Prior and the brethren then required me to answer the folloAving questions : —Had I any quarrel with any man , or did I OAVO any debts ? Was I betrothed to any woman ? Had I any secret infirmity of
body , or did I knoAV of anything to prevent my remaining in the Order ? Having answered these questions to their satisfaction , the Grand Prior then asked the other brethren , ' Do you give your consents to the reception of Bro . Walter ? ' They
unanimously ansAvered , ' We do . ' The Grand Prior and the brethren standing up , then received me in the following manner : —Upon my bended knees , and AA'ith my hands joined , I solemnly promised to be the perpetual servant of the Grand
Master , of the Order , ancl of the brethren , for the purpose of defending the Holy Land . Having done this , the Grand Prior took out of the hands of a brother Chaplain the book of the Holy Gospel , upon which AA'as depicted a cross , and I swore
upon it to God and the Blessed Virgin Mary to be for ever thereafter chaste , obedient , and to live without property . Then the Grand Prior gave me the white mantle , placed the coif on my head , and admitted me to the kiss on the mouth , after which , he made me sit down , and admonished me to the folloAving effect : —From thenceforth to
sleep in my shirt , drawers , and stockings , girded Avith a small cord over the shirt ; never to tarry in a house where a Avoman was in the family-way ! never to be present at a marriage , or the purification of women ; ancl never to be sponser for a
child . " Being , furthermore , asked , Who Avas the Grand Preceptor of Scotland ? he answered , that he was " habens ibidem custodiam totins ordinis sui , nee