Chapter Sixth.

been arrested there . Then * depositions were similar to those taken at Paris . Radolph de Gisy , one of them , stated that till he had received the charge of a preceptory , he had never seen idolatry practised . He was not aware that the

g-irdle Avhich had been given him at his reception had touched the idol . He ended his deposition by throwing himself at the feet of the inquisitor , and asking pardon . This interrogation Avas signed by tAvo notaries .

From Bayeux , Imbert Avent to Troyes , where in presence of the bailie , and two gentlemen , he took the depositions of seven Templars . Their confessions differed little from the preceding . They were re-examined a feAV days after , but

appear to have added nothing to their depositions . At Trois-Eveches , in spite of promises and the cruellest torture , the Templars denied every charge declared that afc their reception nothing passed but what was good and holy . Imbert was forced to

send these unpleasant depositions to the King , who was much annoyed at them . To add to his annoyance , and to turn the tide of popular opinion in favour of the Templars , upon a new examination , most of fchem recanfced their former depositions , testified to the holiness of the Order , and declared that the crimes of which it had been

accused Avere vile lies , which they had only admitted to escape from the excessive torments of the torture . This would not do ; so Imbert had them all tortured anew . So brutally was ifc performed , that several of them died under it . The six

Knights formerly examined at Carcassone retracted their depositions , and died under the torture , maintaining the innocence of the Order . Others had been arrested here in the interval , and were now examined by Imbert , Avhen after suffering great torture , they confessed .

Let us examine these depositions . From them v / e ave to believe that the Templars were Deists . and Atheists and idolaters at once . Deism is founded on the moral law ; it reproves and condemns all crimes ; it abominates idolatry ; and it

hates the sin which the Templars admitted to have been one of their institutions . The depositions , supposing many of them not to have been forgeries of the Dominicans , Avere confessedly torn from the Templars by torture . Those at

Pontde-1 'Arche and Caen revoked their declarations when they Avere again examined , and terminated their recantations by imploring the mercy of the

Chapter Sixth.

Church . The whole proceedings were irregular . First , a great Order , holily established , ancl Avhich had rendered such eminent services to Christianity —which had sacrificed its best and bravest on the plains of the Holy Land , in defence of a sign

AYhich they are said to have defiled iu their houses —is accused by two apostates ancl a citizen , all condemned to death . The apostates are not brought face to face with those Avhoni they accuse . The guilt is assumed , the Knights arrested ; they

are called upon to confess to crimes , and , on denying fchem , are tortured till they confess , faint , or die . Secondly , the King hacl no other proofs of their guilt than these confessions , although he stated thafc Cardinal Cautilupo , the Pope ' s

chamberlain , AVIIO hacl been connected Avith the Templars from his eleventh year , had related some crimes . The depositions of this witness is not given ; and , even if it had , it would have been

worthless , as the evidence ot a creature of the King . Supposing the apostates hacl been tortured to prove the innocence of the Order , what Avould they not have confessed in its favour ? The very fact of their making these depositions as

the condition of pardon of their crimes , renders them valueless . Thirdly , the accusation , so sudden , and so vile , fche solitary imprisonment of the Templars , the forged letter of the Grand Master , the torture , and the foreseen

extermination of the Order , made many confess , who , had they been supported by their brethren , would rather have died than made an avowal of the hideous crimes . Could there be a more despicable mode of gaining evidence than that ennployed

by the King ? What can Ave think of the evidence itself , so full of contradiction : some acknowledging one thing , others denying ifc ? If the crimes were statutes of the Order , why Avere the depositions not all uniform ? Has there ever existed a

religious order Avhere the mode ot reception varied or was conducted in such a manner as these depositions would have us believe ? Had such been the case it was impossible for the Order to have existed as it did , countenanced by every monarch

and numbering among its members the noblest , the bravest , and the holiest of men . Innocent the Templars ivere of all crimes , save those common to all men . As for those isolated cases of

unnatural crimes , Avhich sometimes occur m a Christian land , Ave do not believe they Avere ever talked of in the noble Order , or eve ? entered the thoughts of the gallant Templars .