The Knights Templars.

defence , they were ready to receive it . De Boulogne then produced the following manifesto : — " We know that the Archbishop of Sens and his suffragans intend to proceed against us . By

right , he cannot do so , while the information lasts which you have been charged to take against us , and by reason of which we have been admitted to the defence of the Order . Thus we are under your protection , and are come to demand from

you that the proceedings on the part of the Council against us be at once put a stop to . These proceedings are irregular and unjust , and will hinder you yourselves from fulfilling your commission . They are against all form and law ,

since you are actually taking judicial proceedings against us ; and it is absurd to expect us to appear at two bars , and plead before two judges , at the same time . We are come , therefore , to declare our appeal to the Pope and the Holy See . We

place our persons , and those of all who have undertaken the defence of the Order , under the protection of the Pontiff . We demand at once a

notary to arrange our defence , if it requires it . We demand to be conducted without delay before the Pope , that we may follow up this our appeal , and before him we summon our accusers , aud to him we refer the whole question . Since we are

not to be set at liberty , nor put in possession of our wealth , we should at least be furnished with the necessary means to appear decently before his Holiness , as well as the protection of a guard , that before him we may prosecute our appeal .

Either intimate to the Archbishop our appeal , or bring us before him that we may notify it to him , and compel him to suspend his proceeding ; for , being fettered by one case , we cannot reply to another . Permit us the assistance of one or two

of your notaries to assist in preparing our defence , as Ave cannot find a notary courageous enough to lend us his assistance . " The Commissioners after long deliberation , replied : —

"The matter which engages the Archbishop of Sens and his suffragans in Council , is totally different and distinct from that , with which we are charged . We are ignorant of what is done in the Council . We are authorised by the Holy See to

fulfill our functions , and the Archbishop of Sens and his suffragans are also to discharge their duties within their own assembly . At tbe first dance , it does not appear to be part of our duty ,

Commissioners of the Pope , to have anything to order the " Archbishop of Sens , and the other prelates , relative to the proceeding against individuals belonging to the Order ; yet we will deliberate more maturely . AVe will , therefore , order our notaries to register your appeal iu the Rig ister of the depositions ofi Witnesses . "

The Templars , accordingly , retired somewhat satisfied ; but the King was on the watch , and interfered in time to stop any efforts of the Commissioners to see justice done . In the afternoon , the defenders were recalled to the presence of

the-Commissioners , when a communication was made to them which- filled them with indignation and alarm . The Commissioners informed them that this was the last occasion granted them for defending the Order , and that Peter de Verrao , clerk of

their guard , had orders to convey them back to their prisons in the provinces . This information amazed the defenders . Boulogne entered an indignant protest against such a palpable attemptto ' crush the defence . He renewed his demand to

be brought before the Pope , made all the neces * - saiy protests which the perilous situation of the Templars required , pei'sisted in asking that , since they were ordered back to their prisons in the provinces , they should be permitted to employ a

counsel to conduct their defence , and pursue their appeal . * He again demanded funds , to permit of the Templai-s appearing in suitable apparel before the Pope , under whose protection he placed the Order . He asked that an Act to that effect should

be granted that day . The Commissioners replied ! , that , in the matter of the Archbishop of Sens , they had no power over him ; that his Council was held by the consent ancl order of the Pope . It was for the Templars themselves to take the

necessary measures to pursue the appeal , of which . De Boulogne had given notice that day , and which had been inserted in the record of the proceedings . The defenders were then removed , and the defence crushed .

On the day following , Monday the 11 th of May , the Commissioners met for the hearing of witnesses . Humbert de Pny , the fourteenth witness ,, appeared . While alarm spread among the accused ,, ancl the Inquisitors were marking down their