The Knights Templars.

to that end , and fco make an inquisition , concerning the execrable excesses which the members of the Order are said to have committed . " Edward , however , had become aware of the treatment Avhich the Pope received at the hands of

Philip , and answered the remonstrance in the following short and pithy manner : — "As to the goods of the Templars , Ave have done nothing with them up to the present time , nor do intend to do with them aught bufc what we have a

right to do , and what Ave knoAV Avill be acceptable to the Most High . " On the 9 fch January 1310 , the examination of witnesses was resumed in London . The

examinations took place in the parish Church of St . Dunstan ' s West , near the Temple . The Rector of the Church of St . Mary de la Strode declared , that he entertained strong suspicions of the guilt of fche Templars . He had , however , often been afc the

Temple Church , and had observed that the priests performed the Divine offices in the usual Avay . Many other clergymen declared that they had heard nothing prejudicial to the Order , and could allege nothing against it .

The Inquisitor tvas anxious to prove the guilt of the Order , and the murder of those ] Avho declined to partake in its criminalty . Thus , on the 27 th of January , he examined John de Stoke , a serving brother , Avho had been seventeen years in the

Order . He declared that secular persons Avere permitted to be present at the burial of the Templars ; that the brethren received the last sacraments , and the funeral service was always read

over their graves . Being questioned relative to the death of Walter le Bachelor , the Grand Preceptor of Ireland , he deponed , that fche Knight had been confined in fche Penitential Cell in the Temple , London , for disobeying the orders of his

superior , and being guilty of several immoral acts . He had been starved to death in the Cell . He had been buried like any other Christian , except that he was nofc buried in fche Temple buryingground , bufc iu fche courfc . He had confessed before

his death to Richard de Grafton , a chaplain of the Order , then in Cyprus , who had administered to him the last sacraments . De Stoke furthermore stated , that he himself , with Radolph de Barton , carried him to his grave at the dawn of day .

The deceased Knight had been in prison for the space of eight weeks . He was not buried in the habit of fche Order , and Avas nofc interred in the cemetery of fche Temple , because he Avas

considered excommunicated , in pursuance of a ruleor statute of fche Order , fco the effect that every one who privily made away with its property , and did not confess the crime , was deemed to be excommunicated .

On the 30 th of March , the Inquisitors openeel their court at Lincoln . Numerous Templars were examined in the Chapter-house of the Cathedral , among whom were many of the brave Knightswho had fought and bled in Palestine . William

de Winchester , Avho had been twenty-six years in fche Order , stated , that he had been received by the Grand Master , William de Beaujeu , afc th © fortress of " La Roca Guille , in the province of Armenia . " He declared the mode of

receptionwas the same in all the preceptories of the Order . Robert de Hamilton declared , that the girdles Avorn by the Knights were called the Girdles of Nazareth , because they had touched the column of the Virgin at that place , and were worn in remembrance of the Blessed Mary , Avho was the Patron

Saint of the Order . This was a common custom , and Popes Avere wont to send handkerchiefs which had touched the relics of saints as presents to suchpersons as they wished peculiarly to honour . On the 28 th of April , the examination of

twenfcythree Templars afc York commenced , and lasted till the 4 th of May . They all protested their innocence . Thomas de Stanford , a Knight of thirty . years' standing , had been received in the East by William de Beaujeu : and Radolph

de-Rostona , a chaplain of twenty-three years' standing , by William de Canello , the Grand Preceptor of Sicily , in the Preceptory of Lentini , there , Stephen de Radenhall refused to reveal the manner of reception , as it Avas against the laAvs ofthe Order , and by doing so he would forfeit his chamber , be stripped of his mantle , and be committed to

prison . In the month of June 1310 , the Pope wrote-King Edward , upbraiding him Avith fche laxity with Avhich he had pursued the Templars , and demanding that he should proceed with all diligence toprove their guilt , as had been done by the

Kingof France . Edveard , a good , easy , kind-hearted man , Avas noAv , much against his inclination , compelled to proceed with vigour against the Order , although he and his barons were perfectly satisfied of the innocence of the Knights . The Ecclesiastical

Council assembled . The Knights were ordered tobe confined in separate dungeons ; fresh interrogatories to be prepared : and , if other means failed