Chapter Vii.

CHAPTER VII .

The Pope remonstrates with Philip about the proceedings against the Templars—Issues a condemnatory Bull—Suspends Imhert and the Bishops from taking steps in ilic matter—Sends two Legates to Philip to demand the persons ofthe Templars—The King enraged—The Templars , hearing of this , recall , their depositions—The King

in a bold letter , rebukes and threatens the Pope , zolto , by a Bull , recalls his interdicts , and conforms to Pliilipi ' s wishes—Effect of this upon the -people—Disputes regarding the disposal of the wealth of ihe Order—The Pope issues a Bull commanding the arrest of the Templars

sill at large—Instructs fresh proceedings—A Council held id Paris — A Council held at Tours — The Pope attempts to escape to Bordeaux , but is arrested by the King —Inlerviev ; between the Pope and King at Poictiers—-I Council ordered to be held at Vienna—A . D . 1307—130 S .

Meanwhile , the Pope ivas kept in ignorance of the ferocious manner in which the examinations of the Templars were conducted ; and Philip only acquainted him with those details which Avere calculated to prejudice him against the Order . But ,

after the interrogations were completed , the violence employed by the Dominicans became known , Either the cruel ancl fiendish process disgusted the Pope , or he was chagrined at the King having seized the wealth of the Order for

his own use . From his character , we cannot believe that he was likely to care much how confessions were obtained , so long as these could justify the seizure of the wealth ofthe Templars ; nor would he have complained of the barbarity of

the torture , had their property been handed over to him . But the Pope , instead of being placed iu possession of the lands of the Order , found

managers established every where to collect the revenues , not in the name of the Church , bnt of the State . He , therefore , AA rote to the King denouncing these proceedings as so many outrages against his authority . He stated that his

rights hacl been violated by the proceedings of the Inquisitor , and the commissioners who had . conducted the interrogations , for they had taken their instructions from the King , AA hile the Templars Avere under the sole jurisdiction of the Pope , by

whose directions alone they could be examined . The King , by judging an ecclesiastical body , had gone beyond his privileges , and infringed upon the dignity and rights of the Church . He Avas furthermore astonished that Philip should have

seized upon the Templars' goods for his own use , contrary to his pledged Avord , thafc these should be employed , as originally destined , to the re-

Chapter Vii.

covery and defence of the Holy Land . This letter was written with considerable bitterness , for ths Pope found that he had sacrificed the best bulwark of his throne and of Christianity ; had given over to their enemies innocent and noble minded

men , wifchoufc deriving any advantages from thenfall . He represented , likewise , to the King the injustice of the whole procedure , which would naturally sap the authority of the Holy See , aud added , — "You , Sire , have no such example in

those AVIIO have preceded you in the throne of France . They have ever been 'the most deveted sons of the Church , have paid the Supreme Pontiff every respect , conduct which reflects fche highest honour upon their memories . Your conduct is

contrary to that of your predecessors , and not such as the successor of Sfc . Peter has a right to expect from you . " The pope professed to be deeply afflicted and astonished at it , but trusted that his

majesty , on consideration , would see the mischief he had wrought , aud would give every satisfaction . In addition to this letter , the Pope , upon fche 27 fch of October , fulminated a Bull still more condemnatory of the proceedings of the King . It

Avas dated from Poictiers , and bore that it was unheard of , and subversive of that obedience which Christian Kings owed to the Chair of St . Pefceiv for them to judge an ecclesiastical body . That in so doing Philip had behaved like a disloyal son of

the Church , for not content wifch having , by his own authority , arrested all the Templars in his , kingdom , he had put them to the torture , and made them suffer incredible torments to force

confessionsfrom them . He had also seized upon all their riches , without paying any attention to the letters which the Pope had addressed to him regarding their disposal . He added , that he did not pretend fco exempt ; the Templars from punishment ,

which they merited if found guilty ; but that ifc belonged to him , their superior and their natural judge , to instruct fche action and conduct the proceedings , ancl this he had resolved to do . It is also very probabls that the Pope , discovering the

manner in which he had been tricked by the King , was inclined to save the Templars , and so baffle the greed of Philip . The Pope joined certain deeds to his letter and Bull , by which he suspended Imbert ' s faculties of

Inquisitor of the Faith , and denounced him as an abuser of his functions , Avhich did not extend to reserved cases , these being judged by the Holy See alone . He suspended also the functions of