The Knights Templars.

dangers which would result to any one appearing to defend the Order . They , moreover , warned the Archbishop of the illegality of putting his sentence into execution , as the Templars had appealed to the Pope , and were necessarily removed from

his jurisdiction . The Archbishop replied , that he was the best judge of what line of conduct should I OQ pursued with regard to the Templars , abruptly -closed the interview , and gave orders for the execution of his seutence on the morrow .

The Archbishop's decision was soon rumoured over the whole of Paris , where the tidings were received with incredulity . The populace did not believe that such a sentence , if even passed , could 'be carried out , as . the crimes of the Templars had

^ not been clearly proved . On the morrow , how-• ever , the citizens assembled in great numbers at -the place of exepution , where their doubts regarding the fate of the Templars were speedily set at Test . The scene of the tragedy was in afield close

to the Abbey of St . Anthony , and the piles were ¦ raised at a little distance from the Abbey mill . 'The field was very large , and was capable of

containing a vast number of spectators . To test the firmness of the condemned Templars , and at the ¦ same time to shew them what would follow upon their still maintaining their innocence , a Knight was chosen to play the first scene of the tragedy .

He was conducted to the field of execution , and placed beside the fiery pile . The Archbishop hoped by this sight to terrify him into withdrawing his recantation , or , failing that , that his fate would frighten the others , and compel them to

acknowledge the truth of the crimes charged against them ; but he was doomed to be disappointed . The Knight refused to confess , and maintained the innocence of the Order . He was , accordingly

flung upon the pile , and burned ahve . His courage through the terrible hour of his death filled his companious with the deepest emotion . They resolved to emulate his glorious example , and die in the sacred cause of maintaining the innocence of

the Order . In fancy , they saw him entering the gates of Heaven in glorious apparel , his sins cleansed away in the fiery trial , which had made him a fit candidate for eternal glory , and the heavenly ¦ crown of those who suffer martydom in the cause

¦ of truth . The spectators , too , were filled with the liveliest emotion , and testified in many ways their belief in the Knight's innocence , and their admiration of his heroic death . The Archbishop allowed eight days to pass

before again pursuing his fiendish sentence . The second execution was the most terrible spectacle that had ever been witnessed before in Prance . Fifteen or twenty piles were prepared ; they were not flaming , but composed of hot charcoal—they

presented the appearance of smouldering beds of fire . No smoke , excepting a thin blue vapour , arose from them , so that the spectators could see the bodies of the Templars slowly and almost imperceptibly burning away . An innumerable

multitude of Parisians , besides a host of people from the surrounding villages and towns for many leagues , attracted by the news of such a dreadful and appalling spectacle , was drawn thither . There was a small space kept clear around the piles , and a

way through the field for the passage of the condemned ; every other spot was occupied . A profound silence sat upon the vast multitude , and each one dreaded to hear his own voice , even in a whisper . They shuddered as they saw the

executioners standing motionless by the beds of fire , and awe sealed their lips * Meanwhile , fifty-four of the condemned were selected to confess , or die . Among- these were

Ponsard de Gisi , who had so courageously undertaken the defence : Laurence de Beaune , who had shewn De Jainville ' s letter to the Commissioners ; Kichard de Marseille , John de Chames , William Arnaud , John de Chateau-ViUars , & c , all of whom

had rendered themselves conspicuous by their statements before the Commissioners , and peculiarly obnoxious to the King by their bold and uncompromising defence of the Order . Ponsard de Gisi and Laurence de Beaune , in particular , were

marked for the stake . They were all men of the noblest birth , of valour tested in many a battlefield , and who , having exhausted all the honours of life , and suffered the most hideous insults and cruelties , were now to win the crown of martyrdom ,

in a manner as glorious as ever was won among the lions of the Colosseum . Before leaving the prison , they had been promised pardon and liberty if they retracted their recantations . The agents of the King pressed them hard to do so , pointed

out the uselessness of sacrificing themselves for an Order already destroyed , and promising them rewards . To a man the Templars refused ; and one turning fiercely upon the King ' s agents , exclaimed — " It is better for us to die martyrs in God's holy