The Knights Templars.

Temple of Jerusalem , as also the Order itself , who had been deputed in the parts beyond the seas for the defence of the patrimony of our same Lord Jesus Christ , were fallen against that Lord himself into the not to be mentioned crime of

Apostasy , the detestable vice of idolatry , the execrable practice of secret iniquity , and sundry heresies . But because it was not likely , nor did seem credible , that such religious men , who particularly often shed their blood for the name of

Christ , and were thought frequently to expose their persons to danger of death , and who often shewed many and great signs of devotion as well in the Divine offices , as in fasting aud other observances , should be so unmindful of their salvation ,

as to perpetrate such things , we would not give ear to such insinuations and impeachment of them being taught so to do by the example of the same Lord of ours , and the writings of canonical doctrine .

" But afterwards our most dear son in Christ , Philip , the illustrious king of the French , to whom the same crimes had been made known , not upon a view of avarice , since he does not design to apply or appropriate to himself anything of the

estates of the Templars ; nay , has wholly washed his hands of them , leaving the same to be disposed of in his kingdom by persons generally deputed by us and by the prelates of the kingdom of France , but inflamed with zeal for the orthodox

faith , following the renowned footsteps of his Ancestors , getting what information he properly could of what is aforesaid , he sent us many and great informations for instructing and acquainting of us , by his messengers and letters .

The infamy of the Templars daily increasing , in relation to the aforesaid crimes , as also in regard that a certain Knight of that Order , * who was of great birth , and in no small esteem in that Order , sworn before us in private , did depose : —That at

the reception of the brothers of the said Order , this custom , or rather corruption , is observed , that he who is received , at the suggestion of the receiver , or of the person by him deputed , renounces Christ , and spits upon a cross shewn him , in

contempt of the person crucified ; and both the receiver and the person received perform some other things which are not lawful nor becoming human modesty , as he then confessed before us : we cannot avoid , the duty of our office requiring the

same of us , giving ear to so many and such great clamours . But when at length , public fame accusing , and the repeated insinuation of the said king , as also of dukes , counts , and barons , and other noblemen , likewise of the clergy and people

of the said kingdom of France , resorting to our presence upon this account , both personally and by their representatives and syndics , which we mention with grief , it was come to our hearing , that the Master , Preceptors , and other brothers of

the said Order , and the Order itself , were involved in the aforesaid and many other crimes , and the premises seemed in a manner to be proved by many confessions , attestations , aud depositions of the aforesaid Master , and several Preceptors and

brothers of the aforementioned Order , made , had , and received before many Prelates and the Inquisitor into heretical depravations in the kingdom of France , all of them reduced into public writings , and shewn to us and to our brethren ; and nevertheless the aforesaid report and clamours were growing so strong , and were also heightened ,

as well against the Order itself as against particular persons of the same , that they could not , without great scandal , be passed by , or be tolerated without much danger . We , though following in the steps of Him whom ive , though unworthy ,

represent , 'thought fit , for the aforesaid reason , to proceed to iuquire into what has been said , aud did interrogate and examine many of the preceptors , priests , and brothers of the said Order , of no small reputation , brought into our presence ,

having first given them their oath that they would tell us the plain and full truth in relation to the premises , they being to the number of seventytwo ; and many of our brethren assisting us , and caused their confessions diligently put into

authentic writing , by public hands , to be immediately read in ours and the presence of our said brethren , and afterwards , some days being passed , in the consistory , before themselves , and the same to be expounded to each of them in their own

vulgar tongue , who persisting in them , expressly and of their own accord , approved of the same as they hud been recited .

" Afterwards designing in our own person to inquire of the Master and chief Preceptors of the aforesaid Order concerning the premises , we ordered the Master , chief Preceptors , aud brothers of the country beyond the sea , of Normandy , Aquitain , and Poitou , to be brought before us , being then at Poictiers ; but because some of