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Knights of the CrossThe truth about the Knights TemplarbyJeffrey S. Strickland

Knights of the Cross – The truth about the Knights TemplarCopyright 2012 by Jeffrey S. Strickland. All rights ReservedISBN 978-1-105-35162-4www.simulation-educators.comPublished by Lulu, Inc.Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a nonprofitorganization.All pictures, unless otherwise cited, are taken from the Wikimedia Commons of theWikimedia Foundation, and are either public domain or used under the terms ofthe GNU Free Documentation License or the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. Public domain pictures have been place in public domain by theauthors or their copyrights have expired.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTI would like to extend a special thanks to Laurie Strickland—patientand loving wife, nurturing mother, and loyal friend.

FOREWORDI will point out from the onset that I have biases. All writers do.BIAS 1. I am a Mason, though I have not been regularly active since1999. One of the things that I did in Masonry was ritual work. Iperformed nearly every lecture from the first degree of the MasonicLodge to the last degree of the Royal Arch Mason. I was well-versedin the Masonic ritual and literature. During that time, I never foundany reason to depart from the Brotherhood. “The Word of God, theBible”, is my rule and guide. When the Bible signals something witha “red flag”, I pay attention. I saw no red flags in Masonry.BIAS 2. I am a mathematician and operations research analyst. Idevelop studies, collect data, and interpret data in a logical manner.The data can be qualitative or quantitative, and I have variousmodels to deal with each. My analysis has to be unbiased, if I am tocontribute to the defense of our country. Thus bias 2 is a strength inthe endeavor that follows.Who were the Knights Templar?Traditional history tells us that the Knights Templar was anorganization of warrior monks, knight mystics, clad in whitemantles with splayed red crosses.They have been portrayed many ways. In Scott’s Ivanhoe 1 they arehaughty arrogant bullies, shamelessly abusing their power [1]. Inthe Robin Hood 2 adventures they were King Richard‘s attendants [2][3] [4] [5] [6]. In other 19 th century writings they are depicted asDevil worshipers and heretics.More recent historians are inclined to view them as hapless victims,sacrificial pawns in high level political maneuvering of the Churchand State.i

And yet, there are other writers, especially in the tradition ofFreemasonry who regard the Templars as mystical adepts andinitiates, custodians of an arcane wisdom that transcendsChristianity itself.Originally called the Order of the Poor Knights of Christ founded in1118 AD, their political purpose was to escort the true believers inChristianity to the Holy Lands of Jerusalem. They were sworn tochastity, poverty and obedience, and by 1139, they owed allegianceto no one but the Pope.Over the next two decades, young sons of noble families flocked tojoin the Templars, and since with admission to the Order, a man wascompelled to sign over all his possessions, including his land, theTemplar holdings proliferated.The Order maintained their own hospitals and surgeons, sea-ports,shipyards and fleets, both military and commercial, with their majorfleet in La Rochelle, France.Many myths and things we are familiar with today can also betraced back to the Templars: the symbol of the skull and crossbones,a rather morbid story of grave robbing and unholy weddings; thesuperstition of ill things happening on Friday the 13 th , (because ofthe October 13 th arresting of the Templars).The Templars have been linked with the shroud of Turin, (supposedto be the Mandylion that once belonged to the Templars), The HolyGrail, The Ark of the Covenant.The Fairest Sir Knight of AllJoe Edward Kier was knighted in modern times, and has served theorder faithfully to this day. I met Joe in 1989 at a United Methodistchurch in Lakewood, CO, where we composed jubilant praises insong together in choir. Joe became a life long mentor and friendfrom that point. In Joe, I have seen the purest example of Christ onearth; charity, faith, hope, selflessness, humility, bold leadership,gentle guidance. Joe is a Past Master of the Parkhill Masonic Lodgeii

of Colorado Ancient Free and Accepted Masons (AF&AM), Past HighPriest of Triad Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, Past IllustriousMaster of Jefferson Council of Cryptic Masons, Past Commander ofGeorgetown Commandry of Knights Templar, and Past Grand HighPriest of Colorado Royal Arch Masons. I cannot begin to elaborateon his Scottish Right offices and activities, as Joe is not one to boast.Joe Kier, US Army Retired, husband, business entrepreneur, Mason,Sir Knight, friend, mentor, godfather to my children, is myinspiration for writing this book. It is to Joe that I now dedicate thistome.Jeffrey StricklandIn Hoc Signo VincesSexto autem die mensis Decembris anno Domino nostro MMXINotes1 Ivanhoe is a historical fiction novel by Sir Walter Scott in 1819, and set in 12thcenturyEngland. Ivanhoe is sometimes credited for increasing interest inRomanticism and Medievalism; John Henry Newman claimed Scott "had firstturned men's minds in the direction of the middle ages," while Carlyle and Ruskinmade similar claims to Scott's overwhelming influence over the revival basedprimarily on the publication of this novel.2 Robin Hood became a popular folk figure starting in the medieval periodcontinuing through modern literature, films, and television. In the earliest sourcesRobin Hood is a yeoman, but he was often later portrayed as an aristocratwrongfully dispossessed of his lands and made into an outlaw by an unscrupuloussheriff. In popular culture Robin Hood is typically seen as a contemporary andsupporter of the late 12th-century king Richard the Lionheart, Robin being drivento outlawry during the misrule of Richard's brother John while Richard was awayat the Third Crusade. This view first gained currency in the 16th century.iii

TABLE OF CONTENTSACKNOWLEDGEMENT .............................................................................................. IFOREWORD.................................................................................................................. IWHO WERE THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR? .................................................................................. ITHE FAIREST SIR KNIGHT OF ALL ........................................................................................ IINOTES .......................................................................................................................................IIITABLE OF CONTENTS .............................................................................................. VPROLOGUE .................................................................................................................. 1THE TEMPLARS ........................................................................................................................ 1THE TALE TALES ..................................................................................................................... 3THE TESTAMENTS ................................................................................................................... 5THE TECHNOLOGY ................................................................................................................... 8THE TEDIOUS DETAILS ........................................................................................................ 10NOTES ..................................................................................................................................... 11CHAPTER 1. THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS. ........................................................ 13PRELIMINARIES ..................................................................................................................... 13THE TEMPLAR NAME ........................................................................................................... 16ST. BERNARD AND THE TEMPLARS .................................................................................... 21NOTES ..................................................................................................................................... 24CHAPTER 2. THE TEMPLAR RULES ................................................................. 29NOTES ..................................................................................................................................... 51CHAPTER 3. 1129 – 1168 .................................................................................... 53HUGH DE PAYENS. A.D. 1129 ..................................................................................... 53ROBERT DECRAON. A.D. 1136. .................................................................................. 53EVERARD DES BARRES. A.D. 1146 ........................................................................... 55EVERARD DES BARRES. A.D. 1147 ........................................................................... 56EVERARD DES BARRES. A.D. 1148 ........................................................................... 57EVERARD DES BARRES. A.D. 1149 ........................................................................... 59BERNARD DE TREMELAY. A.D. 1152. ..................................................................... 61ANDRÉ DE MONTBARD A.D. 1153. .......................................................................... 62BERTRAND DE BLANQUEFORT A.D. 1156. .......................................................... 63BERTRAND DE BLANQUEFORT. A.D. 1156. ......................................................... 65BERTRAND DE BLANQUEFORT. A.D. 1158. ......................................................... 67BERTRAND DE BLANQUEFORT. A.D. 1159. ......................................................... 68v

BERTRAND DE BLANQUEFORT. A.D. 1164. ......................................................... 69PHILIP OF NAPLOUS. A.D. 1167. ................................................................................ 69PHILIP OF NAPLOUS. A.D. 1168. ................................................................................ 74NOTES ..................................................................................................................................... 74CHAPTER 4. 1170 – 1185 .................................................................................... 83ODO DE ST. AMAND. A.D. 1170. ................................................................................. 83ODO DE ST. AMAND. A.D. 1172. ................................................................................. 95ODO DE ST. AMAND. A.D. 1177. ................................................................................. 97ODO DE ST. AMAND. A.D. 1179. ................................................................................. 98ARNOLD DE TORROGE. A.D. 1180. ........................................................................... 99ARNOLD DE TORROGE. A.D. 1184. ........................................................................ 101NOTES .................................................................................................................................. 102CHAPTER 5. LANDS, IMMUNITIES, AND OFFICES ..................................... 109TEMPLE CHURCH IN LONDON .......................................................................................... 109POSSESSIONS IN PALESTINE. ............................................................................................ 113POSSESSIONS IN THE PRINCIPALITY OF ANTIOCH. ....................................................... 118POSSESSIONS IN THE PRINCIPALITY OF TRIPOLI. ......................................................... 119POSSESSIONS IN APULIA AND SICILY. ............................................................................. 121POSSESSIONS IN UPPER AND CENTRAL ITALY. .............................................................. 122POSSESSIONS IN PORTUGAL. ............................................................................................ 123POSSESSIONS IN ARAGON, CASTILE AND LEION. ........................................................... 126POSSESSIONS IN GERMANY AND HUNGARY. .................................................................. 130POSSESSIONS IN GREECE................................................................................................... 131POSSESSIONS IN FRANCE. ................................................................................................. 131POSSESSIONS IN ENGLAND. .............................................................................................. 136PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES .......................................................................................... 144TEMPLAR ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT ............................................................. 147NOTES .................................................................................................................................. 155CHAPTER 6. 1185 – 1190 ................................................................................. 177GERARD DE RIDERFORT. A.D. 1185. .................................................................... 177GERARD DE RIDERFORT. A.D. 1185. .................................................................... 179GERARD DE RIDERFORT. A.D. 1186. .................................................................... 180GERARD DE RIDERFORT. A.D. 1187. .................................................................... 182GERARD DE RIDERFORT. A.D. 1188. .................................................................... 196WALTER. A.D. 1190...................................................................................................... 197NOTES .................................................................................................................................. 198CHAPTER 7. 1191 – 1242 ................................................................................. 201vi

WALTER. A.D. 1191. .................................................................................................... 201ROBERT DE SABLÉ A.D. 1191. ................................................................................ 201ROBERT DE SABLÉ A.D. 1192. ................................................................................ 205GILBERT HORAL. A.D. 1195. .................................................................................... 208PHILIP DUPLESSIES A.D. 1201. .............................................................................. 210PHILIP DUPLESSIES A.D. 1213. .............................................................................. 211PHILIP DUPLESSIES A.D. 1215. .............................................................................. 212WILLIAM DE CHARTRES A.D. 1217. ..................................................................... 212WILLIAM DE CHARTRES A.D. 1218. ..................................................................... 213PETER DE MONTAIGU A.D. 1218. .......................................................................... 214PETER DE MONTAIGU A.D. 1222. .......................................................................... 215PETER DE MONTAIGU A.D. 1223. .......................................................................... 217PETER DE MONTAIGU A.D. 1224. .......................................................................... 218HERMANN DE PERIGORD A.D. 1232. ................................................................... 219HERMANN DE PERIGORD A.D. 1236. ................................................................... 219HERMANN DE PERIGORD A.D. 1237. ................................................................... 219HERMANN DE PERIGORD A.D. 1239. ................................................................... 220HERMANN DE PERIGORD A.D. 1242. ................................................................... 221NOTES .................................................................................................................................. 222CHAPTER 8. 1242 – 1291 .................................................................................. 229HERMANN DE PERIGORD A.D. 1242. ................................................................... 229HERMANN DE PERIGORD A.D. 1243. ................................................................... 229HERMANN DE PERIGORD A.D. 1244. ................................................................... 232WILLIAM DE SONNAC A.D. 1245. .......................................................................... 236WILLIAM DE SONNAC A.D. 1246. .......................................................................... 237WILLIAM DE SONNAC A.D. 1247. .......................................................................... 238WILLIAM DE SONNAC A.D. 1249. .......................................................................... 239WILLIAM DE SONNAC A.D. 1250. .......................................................................... 241REGINALD DE VICHIER A.D. 1252. ........................................................................ 242REGINALD DE VICHIER A.D. 1254. ........................................................................ 243THOMAS BERARD A.D. 1256. .................................................................................. 245THOMAS BERARD A.D. 1262. .................................................................................. 246THOMAS BERARD A.D. 1265. .................................................................................. 246THOMAS BERARD A.D. 1268. .................................................................................. 247WILLIAM DE BEAUJEU A.D. 1273. ......................................................................... 248WILLIAM DE BEAUJEU A.D. 1275. ......................................................................... 249WILLIAM DE BEAUJEU A.D. 1291. ......................................................................... 251GAUDINI A.D. 1291. ..................................................................................................... 255NOTES .................................................................................................................................. 257vii

CHAPTER 9. 1297 – 1310 ................................................................................. 265JACQUES DE MOLAY A.D. 1297. .............................................................................. 265JACQUES DE MOLAY A.D. 1302. .............................................................................. 265JACQUES DE MOLAY A.D. 1306. .............................................................................. 269JACQUES DE MOLAY A.D. 1307. .............................................................................. 269JACQUES DE MOLAY A.D. 1308. .............................................................................. 280JACQUES DE MOLAY A.D. 1309. .............................................................................. 284JACQUES DE MOLAY A.D. 1310. .............................................................................. 298NOTES .................................................................................................................................. 305CHAPTER 10. 1310 – 1313 ............................................................................... 313JACQUES DE MOLAY A.D. 1310. .............................................................................. 313JACQUES DE MOLAY A.D. 1311. .............................................................................. 318JACQUES DE MOLAY A.D. 1312. .............................................................................. 344JACQUES DE MOLAY A.D. 1313. .............................................................................. 345Notes ............................................................................................................................. 353EPILOGUE ............................................................................................................... 359INSIDE THE LEGEND .......................................................................................................... 359THE CHINON PARCHMENT ............................................................................................... 360THE ACQUITTAL ................................................................................................................. 364THE TEMPLAR RITUAL...................................................................................................... 365CLOSURE .............................................................................................................................. 370NOTES .................................................................................................................................. 372APPENDIX: CHINON, AUGUST 17-20, 1308 ................................................ 373WORKS CITED ....................................................................................................... 385INDEX ....................................................................................................................... 409viii

PROLOGUEThe TemplarsThe extraordinary and romantic career of the Knights Templars,their exploits and their misfortunes, render their history a subject ofpeculiar interest. Shrouded in mysticism, claims of importantsecrets, allegations of heresy against the church, the Templars wentabout their work quietly and efficiently. Though often defeated inbattle, though they were on occasion outnumbered 600 to 20,000,their deeds of courage are the odes of old. Founded to defend thepilgrims to the Holy Land, purposed to preserve the Christian faith,and charged to live the monastic life, these “Knights of the Cross”served without wavering for nearly two-hundred years. Yet thedownfall of the Templar order came from a church and stateembroiled in politics.Although many Templars were born of noble families, these knightswere normal men and at the same time extraordinary men. Theywere ordinary in that they were human beings with humanweaknesses and could be seduced by human temptation. They wereextraordinary in that they gave up wealth and fame, and opted forservice to God as warrior monks. The life expectancy of a Templarin the Holy Land, at times of conflict, was very short. These warriormonks usually led the vanguard of the Christian armies, much akinto our modern cavalry. To increase the encumbrance to their duty,a unforgiving middle-eastern environment constantly exhaustedtheir resources, as well as their wellbeing.Born during the first fervor of the Crusades, they were flattered andmagnified as long as their great military power and religiousfanaticism could be made available for the support of the Easternchurch and the retention of the Holy Land. However, when thecrescent had ultimately triumphed over the cross, and the religiousmilitaryenthusiasm of Christendom had died away, theyencountered the basest ingratitude in return for the services theyhad rendered to the Christian faith, and were plundered,1

persecuted, and condemned to a cruel death, by those who ought injustice to have been their defenders and supporters. The memory ofthese holy warriors is embalmed in all our recollections of the warsof the cross; they were the bulwarks of the Latin kingdom ofJerusalem during the short period of its existence, and were the lastband of Europe’s host that contended for the possession ofPalestine.Arn – The Knight Templar (Swedish: Arn - Tempelriddaren) is a 2007 epic filmbased on Jan Guillou's trilogy about the fictional Swedish Knight Templar ArnTo the vows of the monk and the austere life of the convent, theTemplars added the discipline of the camp, and the stern duties ofthe military life, joining,“The fine vocation of the sword and lance,With the gross aims, and body-bending toilOf a poor brotherhood, who walk the earthPitied.”2

The Tale TalesThe vulgar notion that the Templars were as wicked as they werefearless and brave, has not yet been entirely exploded. However, Ihope that the copious account of the proceedings against the order,given in the ninth and tenth chapters of the ensuing volume, willtend to dispel many unfounded prejudices still entertained againstthe fraternity, and excite emotions of admiration for their constancyand courage, and of pity for their unmerited and cruel fate.Matthew Paris, who wrote at St. Albans, concerning events inPalestine, tells us that the emulation between the Templars andHospitaliers frequently broke out into open warfare to the greatscandal and prejudice of Christendom, and that, in a pitched battlefought between them, the Templars were slain to a man. Thesolitary testimony of Matthew Paris, who was no friend to the twoorders, is invalidated by the silence of contemporary historians,who wrote on the spot; and it is quite evident from the letters of thePope, addressed to the Hospitaliers, the year after the date of thealleged battle, that such an event never could have taken place [7].The accounts, even of the best of the ancient writers, should not beadopted without examination, and a careful comparison with othersources of information. William of Tyre 1 , for instance, tells us thatNassr-ed-deen, son of sultan Abbas, was taken prisoner by theTemplars, and while in their hands became a convert to theChristian religion. In the hands of the Templars, he had learned therudiments of the Latin language, and earnestly sought to bebaptized [8]. However, the Templars were bribed with sixtythousand pieces of gold to surrender him to his enemies in Egypt,where certain death awaited him; and that they stood by to see himbound hand and foot with chains, and placed in an iron cage, to beconducted across the desert to Cairo. Now the Arabian historians ofthat period tell us that Nassr-ed-deen and his father murdered thecaliph and threw his body into a well, and then fled with theirretainers and treasure into Palestine. Then the sister of themurdered caliph wrote immediately to the commandant at Gaza,3

which place was garrisoned by the Knights Templars, offering ahandsome reward for the capture of the fugitives. They wereaccordingly intercepted, and Nassr-ed-deen was sent to Cairo, wherethe female relations of the caliph caused his body to be cut intosmall pieces in the seraglio 2 . The above act has constantly beenmade a matter of grave accusation against the Templars; but what adifferent complexion does the case assume on the testimony of theArabian authorities!One must remember that William Archbishop of Tyre was hostile tothe order due of its vast powers and privileges, and carried hiscomplaints to a general council of the church at Rome. He isabandoned, in everything that he says to the prejudice of thefraternity, by Jacob of Vitry, bishop of Acre 3 , a learned and mosttalented prelate, who wrote in Palestine subsequently to William ofTyre, and has copied largely from the history of the latter. Thebishop of Acre speaks of the Templars in the highest terms, anddeclares that they were universally loved by all men for their pietyand humility. “Nulli molesti erant!” says he, “sed ab omnibus propterhumilitatem et religionem amabantur. 4 ” [9]In 1818, the celebrated orientalist Von Hammer 5 brought forwardvarious extraordinary and unfounded charges, destitute of allauthority, against the Templars [10]; and Von Wilbelm FerdinandWilcke, who has written a German history of the order [11], seemsto have imbibed all the vulgar prejudices against the fraternity. Imight have added to the interest of the ensuing work, by making theTemplars horrible and atrocious villains. However, I haveendeavored to write a fair and impartial account of the order, notslavishly adopting everything I find detailed in ancient writers, butsuch matters only as I believe, after a careful examination of thebest authorities, to be true.Tales of the Holy Grail, the burial shroud, and the ark of thecovenant, have never been substantiated, and with the exception aproposed shroud, unfounded. The shroud of Turin, itself, is likelynot the burial shroud of Christ, and even if it were, it would be one4

more relic to distract the focus of true worship. The grail is a objectof a romantic period, idealized by books of fiction and screenplaysof creative writers. Though entertaining, they do not containmatters of truth.In Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Dr. Jones approaches an ancientTemplar who is guardian of the Holy Grail (or are they just Hollywood props?).From Director: Steven SpielbergThe TestamentsThat historical documents are incomplete, and inaccuracies occurfrequently. Complete original works do not exist; these we call theautographs. Hence, one must find facsimiles of the autographscopied by the hand of some obscure and forgotten scribe; however,his copy cannot be found intact. Rather, we find fragments of thesecopies. Sometimes there are multiple reproductions supplyingmultiple fragments, which are often at odds with one another. Wethen take these sets of fragments and construct a manuscript.These manuscripts may have gaps which we then fill with oralhistory. And while we are building this manuscript, someone else isconstructing one using different sources and perhaps writing in adifferent language.5

The original languages are from the 12 th to 14 th centuries. Theyinclude Latin, Vulgar Latin, Old French, Old English, Italian, Spanish,German, often a mixture of these. To make matters worst, somesources are in Arabic is backwards, like Hebrew. Then we have todeal with inaccurate translations of the original languages duringthe 16 th through 19 th centuries, when we did not know a great dealabout original languages, and when textual criticism was not at itspinnacle. I often found myself translating a passage written in amixture of Vulgar Latin and Old French, to French, and then toEnglish, often guessing at the meaning of archaic words, and oftensaved by a modern marvel called the internet and Wiktionary.I have made reference to the bias of William of Tyre. He was notalone. Yet he was an eye-witness to the events he wrote of. Incontrast, many writing as if they were at the fall of Acre, forinstance, were never there. They borrowed someone else’s story,perhaps the one of a crusader knight fleeing in terror to Cyprus withhis prelate or king. In fact, the works of one authentic eyewitness ofthe events during the fall of Acre, the last Christian stronghold in theHoly Land, was produced by an anonymous writer whom referredto himself a “Templar of Tyre.”Charles G. Addison’s “The History of the Knights Templar: TheTemple Church and The Templars” (1842) is loaded with mistakes,misquotes, unidentifiable characters, and poor documentation. Itshould not be considered a source document, though many writersrefer to it. I have used it, with caution, to locate Templar fortressesand settlements in the Holy Land, usually not locating them underthe name he has used; and confirming the identity of key people,again, usually not with the same name as used in modernreferences.Other source document obstacles lay in my path. Time, war,earthquakes, fire, mishandling, etc. have either damaged portions ofcomplete works or destroyed them. Some have just simply“disappeared”. This has happened precisely because the historicalrecord concerning their sudden annihilation in the early-14th6

century at the hands of Philip IV ("the Fair") of France has been sosparse and ambiguous. Time and revolution have damaged anddispersed the sources, and made the Templars a magnet forspeculation and imagination. Some were kept secret. For instance,The Chinon Parchment is a historical document, discovered inSeptember 2001 by Barbara Frale, an Italian paleographer at theVatican Secret Archives, who claimed that in 1308, Pope Clement Vsecretly absolved the last Grand Master Jacques de Molay and therest of the leadership of the Knights Templar from charges broughtagainst them by the Medieval Inquisition [12] (There is more tofollow on this matter in the Epilogue). The parchment is datedChinon, 17-20 August 1308 and was written by Bérenger, cardinalpriest of St. Nereus and Achileus, Stephanus, cardinal priest of St.Cyriac in Thermis, and Landolf, cardinal deacon of Sant’ Angelo inPescheria; the Vatican keeps an authentic copy with referencenumber Archivum Arcis Armarium D 218, the original having thenumber D 217 [13] (see below for the other Chinon Parchmentpublished by Étienne Baluze in 1693).In his guide to the Authorized Standard Verion of the Holy Bible,Rev. Leonard Boyle, points out that even the earliest popes retainedletters, acts of martyrs, and other significant documents in ascrinium or chartarium. Since the popes in these earliest centuriesof the church did not have a permanent residence, the collecteddocuments were simply handed from pope to pope. By 649, it isapparent that these collections had found a permanent home in theLateran Palace in Rome. By the eleventh century, the collection isknown to have been moved to the slope of the Palatine Hill near theArch of Titus in the Roman Forum. Most of these early records wereon delicate papyrus and have long since disintegrated. Innocent III(1198-1216) was the first pope to recognize the need for aregularized form of record keeping. Copies of letters sent wereentered by hand in great registers. This action inaugurated theVatican Registers, still among the most important records of thearchives. This series is one of the principal sources for documentson the papacy between the years 850 and the reorganization of the7

papacy in 1588. From the perspective of the history of the nature ofdocumentation, the Vatican Registers are important, in that theywere regular in format and durable.The TechnologyThis is a low budget study, and since air travel itself is a financialdrain, and many of the places I needed to go—Syria, Lebanon,Palestine, the Golan Heights—have restricted access, I used anotherset of internet marvels: Google Map and Google Earth. From myrecliner, I have walked the halls of the temples in London, Sidonand Acre. I have walked the streets of France, Antioch, Aleppo,Safed, and Jerusalem. I have walked upon and studied the ruins ofTemplar and Hospitaliers fortifications and castles, including CastleBlanc, the Pilgrim’s Castle, Castle of Safed, Krak des Chevaliers, andthe Tower of Aphek. I have knelt on the plains of Gaza and the hillssurrounding the sea of Galilee. Never was I asked for a travel visafrom Syrian or Palestinian official.As I have performed a virtual pilgrimage to the Holy City, andwandered amid the courts of the ancient Temple of the KnightsTemplars on Mount Moriah. I could not but regard with more thanordinary interest the restoration by the societies of the Inner andthe Middle Temple of their beautiful Temple Church.I have ventured into historical archives in London, Paris and Rome.I have been able to obtain facsimiles of manuscripts that time hasforgotten. In many instances, Google Books contributed to myendeavors with electronic books that are in the public domain,having been published before the 20 th Century, many of whichcontain portions of the text of the aged manuscripts. Moderninstruments of preservation, advanced techniques of scanning, andcompound microscopy, etc., have rendered ancient parchmentsreadily available to researchers.8

Examples of the available manuscripts and scrolls.It is a subject of congratulation to us that we possess, in the TempleChurch at London, the most beautiful and perfect memorial of theorder of the Knights Templars now in existence. No one who hasseen that building in its late dress of plaster and whitewash willrecognize it when restored to its ancient magnificence. Thisvenerable structure was one of the chief ecclesiastical edifices of theKnights Templars in Europe, and stood next in rank to the Temple atJerusalem.The greatest zeal and energy have been displayed by the restoratorsin that praiseworthy undertaking, and no expense has been sparedto repair the ravages of time, and to bring back the structure towhat it was in the time of the Templars.Charles G. Addison (1842) says [14],“Mr. Willement, who is preparing some exquisitely stained glasswindows for the Temple Church, has just drawn my attention tothe nineteenth volume of the “MEMOIR ES DE LA SOCIÉTÉROYALE DES ANTIQUAIRES DE FRANCE,” published last year. Itcontains a most curious and interesting account of the church ofBrelevennez, in the department des Cotes-du-Nord, supposed tohave formerly belonged to the order of the Temple, written by theChevalier du FREMANVILLE. Amongst various curious devices,crosses, and symbols found upon the windows and the tombs ofthe church, is a copper medallion, which appears to have been9

suspended from the neck by a chain. This decoration consists of asmall circle, within which are inscribed two equilateral trianglesplaced one upon the other, so as to form a six-pointed star. In themidst of the star is a second circle, containing within it the LAMBof the order of the Temple holding the banner in its fore-paw,similar to what we see on the antient seal of the order delineatedin the title-page of this work. Mr. Willement has informed me thathe has received an offer from a gentleman in Brittany to send overcasts of the decorations and devices lately discovered in thatchurch. He has kindly referred the letter to me for consideration,but I have not thought it advisable to delay the publication of thepresent work for the purpose of procuring them.“Mr. Willement also drew my attention to a very distinctimpression of the reverse of the seal of the Temple described inpage 106, whereon I read very plainly the interesting motto,‘TESTIS SVM AGNI’.” (Exist to Witness the Lamb of God (Agnus)The Tedious DetailsAgnus Dei—Latin Vulgate for the ‘Lamb of God’—was an essentialTemplar emblem. Templar seals featured the Agnus Dei, usuallywith its right leg folded over a shepherd’s staff, and with a crosspattée in the background. Some seals even have the legend, “TESTISSUM AGNI,” meaning “I am a witness of the Lamb.”Some take AGNI literally to mean “Wisdom”, making the translation“Exist to Witness Wisdom” (perhaps Wisdom of Sophia), which isthe primary bases of drawing a relationship with the Templars andGnosticism. However, Agni is the singular, masculine, genitive caseof the noun Agnus, meaning Lamb. This renders Agni “as of theLamb”! The translation of the Latin word AGNI raises several areas ofcontention, since a similar word AGNITIO translates to “of the nature ofthe mind or wisdom”. Those who insist on adding the “O” to AGNI donot have a fundamental understanding of Latin noun declension. Inother words, they are ignorantly wrong!10

To guess at the nature of a man or an order of men, based on hearsay isobviously an uninformed methodology. To conjecture what may havebeen in their heart, the condition of their soul, the corpus of theconstitution, without documented evidence, extracted without torture, ismore than prejudicial, and reeks of discrimination. Surely there weresinful men in the Order; when have there not been fallen men in allwalks of life: a soldier, a builder, a king, or a president? Try to take awalk in their shoes, where thirst, carnage, intolerance, and martyrdomwas a daily possibility; where chastity was demanded and committed toby mean of flesh; where the cross not only served a insignia for theirhabits, but occupied the epicenter of their being.“Yet ‘midst her towering fanes in ruin laid,The pilgrim saint his murmuring vespers paid;‘Twas his to mount the tufted rocks, and roveThe chequer’d twilight of the olive-grove:‘Twas his to bend beneath the sacred gloom,And wear with many a kiss Messiah’s tomb.”Notes1 William’s great work is a Latin chronicle, written between 1170 and 1184. Itcontains twenty-three books; the final book, which deals with the events of 1183and the beginning of 1184, has only a prologue and one chapter, so it is eitherunfinished or the rest of the pages were lost before the whole chronicle began to becopied. The first book begins with the conquest of Syria by Umar in the seventhcentury, but otherwise the work deals with the advent of the First Crusade and thesubsequent political history of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.2 A seraglio or serail is the sequestered living quarters used by wives andconcubines in a Turkish household.3 “The name of their reputation, and the fame of their sanctity,” says James of Vitry,bishop of Acre, “like a chamber of perfume sending forth a sweet odour, wasdiffused throughout the entire world, and all the congregation of the saints willrecount their battles and glorious triumph over the enemies of Christ, knightsindeed from all parts of the earth, dukes, and princes, after their example, castingoff the shackles of the world, and renouncing the pomps and vanities of this life and11

all the lusts of the flesh for Christ’s sake, hastened to join them, and to participate intheir holy profession and religion.”4 Tr. Lation: “We are harming no one!” He says, “but was loved by all because of thehumility and religion.”5 In 1818, the name Baphomet appeared in the essay by the Viennese OrientalistJoseph Freiherr von Hammer-Purgstall, Mysterium Baphometis revelatum, seuFratres Militiæ Templi, qua Gnostici et quidem Ophiani, Apostasiæ, Idoloduliæ etImpuritatis convicti, per ipsa eorum Monumenta [10] (“Discovery of the Mystery ofBaphomet, by which the Knights Templars, like the Gnostics and Ophites, areconvicted of Apostasy, of Idolatry and of moral Impurity, by their ownMonuments”), which presented an elaborate pseudohistory constructed todiscredit Templarist Masonry and, and by extension, Freemasonry itself [262].Following Nicolai [263], he argued, using as archaeological evidence "Baphomets"faked by earlier scholars[citation needed] and literary evidence such as the Grailromances, that the Templars were Gnostics and the “Templars’ head” was a Gnosticidol called Baphomet.12

CHAPTER 1. THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS.“Every brother who is professed in the Holy service should,through fear of the flames of Hell, give total obedience to theMaster; for nothing is dearer to Jesus Christ than obedience,and if anything be commanded by the Master or by one towhom he has given his power, it should be done without demuras if it were a command from God . . . for you must give up yourown free will.” - The Rule of the Templars, as recorded byscribe John Michael at the Council of Troyes, 1128 1Upon this oath, the extraordinary and romantic institution of theKnights Templars, those military friars who so strangely blendedthe character of the monk with that of the soldier, took its origin as Idescribe in the paragraphs below.PreliminariesAbout 298 years after the death of Christ, the Empress Helena 2 , themother of Constantine, miraculously discovered the Holysepulcher 3 . Consequently, the first Christian emperor commandedthe erection of the magnificent church of the Resurrection, or, as itis now called, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, over the sacredmonument that is considered to be the site of the crucifixion ofChrist. Upon its establishment, a tide of pilgrimage set in towardsJerusalem, and went on increasing in strength as Christianitygradually spread throughout Europe. On the surrender of the HolyCity to the victorious Arabians, (A.D. 637,) the privileges and thesecurity of the Christian population were provided for in thefollowing guarantee, given under the hand and seal of the CaliphOmar to Sophronius the Patriarch.“From Omar Ebno ‘L Alchitab to the inhabitants of Aelia.”“They shall be protected and secured both in their lives andfortunes, and their churches shall neither be pulled down normade use of by any but themselves.” [15] Elmacin 4 , Histort ofthe Saracen. Eutychius13

Under the government of the Arabians, the pilgrimages continuedsteadily to increase; the old and the young, women and children,flocked in crowds to Jerusalem, and in the year 1064 the HolySepulcher was visited by an enthusiastic band of seven thousandpilgrims, headed by the Archbishop of Mentz and the Bishops ofUtrecht, Bamberg, and Ratisbon 5 . The year following, however,Jerusalem was conquered by the harsh Turcomen 6 . Three thousandof the citizens were indiscriminately massacred, and the hereditarycommand over the Holy City and territory was confided to the EmirOrtok, the chief of a brutal rustic tribe.Under the iron yoke of these fierce Northern strangers, theChristians were fearfully oppressed; they were driven from theirchurches; divine worship was ridiculed and interrupted; and thepatriarch of the Holy City was dragged by the hair of his beard overthe sacred pavement of the church of the Resurrection, and cast intoa dungeon, to extort a ransom from the sympathy of his flock. Thepilgrims who, through innumerable perils, had reached the gates ofthe Holy City, were plundered, imprisoned, and frequentlymassacred. An aureus, or piece of gold, was exacted as the price ofadmission to the holy sepulcher, and many, unable to pay the tax,were driven by the swords of the Turcomen from the very thresholdof the object of all their hopes, the goal of their long pilgrimage, andwere compelled to retrace their weary steps in sorrow and anguishto their distant homes [16]. The melancholy news of theprofanation of the holy places, and of the oppression and cruelty ofthe Turcomen, aroused the religious chivalry of Christendom; “anerve was touched of exquisite feeling, and the sensation vibrated tothe heart of Europe.”In the midst of this, there arose the fiery enthusiasm of thecrusades; men of all ranks, and even monks and priests, animatedby the exhortations of the Pope and the preachings of Peter theHermit 7 , flew to arms, and enthusiastically undertook “the pious andglorious enterprise” of rescuing the holy sepulcher of Christ from thefoul abominations of the heathen.14

When news of the capture of Jerusalem by the Crusaders (A.D.1099) had been conveyed to Europe, the zeal of pilgrimage blazedforth with increased fierceness; it had gathered intensity from theinterval of its suppression by the brutal Turcomen, andpromiscuous crowds of both sexes, old men and children, virginsand matrons, thinking the road then open and the journeypracticable, successively pressed forward towards the Holy City,with the passionate desire of contemplating the originalmonuments of the Redemption 8 [17]. The infidels 9 had indeed beendriven out of Jerusalem, but not out of Palestine. The loftymountains bordering the sea-coast were infested by bold andwarlike bands of fugitive Moslems 10 , who maintained themselves invarious impregnable castles and strongholds, from whence theyissued forth upon the high-roads, cut off the communicationbetween Jerusalem and the sea-ports, and revenged themselves forthe loss of their habitations and property by the indiscriminatepillage of all travelers. The Bedouin horsemen, moreover, makingrapid incursions from beyond the Jordan, frequently kept uprandom and irregular warfare in the plains; and the pilgrims,consequently, whether they approached the Holy City by land or bysea, were alike exposed to almost daily hostility, to plunder, and todeath.To alleviate the dangers and distresses to which these piousenthusiasts were exposed, to guard the honor of the saintly virginsand matrons 11 , and to protect the gray hairs of the venerablepalmer, nine noble knights formed a holy brotherhood in arms, andentered into a solemn undertaking to aid one another in clearing thehighways of infidels, and of robbers, and in protecting the pilgrimsthrough the passes and defiles of the mountains to the Holy City.Warmed with the religious and military fervor of the day, andanimated by the sacredness of the cause to which they had devotedtheir swords, they called themselves the Poor Fellow-soldiers of JesusChrist. They renounced the world and its pleasures, and in the holychurch of the Resurrection, in the presence of the patriarch ofJerusalem, they embraced vows of perpetual chastity, obedience,15

and poverty, after the manner of monks 12 . Uniting in themselves thetwo most popular qualities of the age, devotion and valor, andexercising them in the most popular of all enterprises, theprotection of the pilgrims and of the road to the holy sepulcher, theyrapidly acquired a vast reputation and a splendid renown.At first, we are told, they had no church and no particular place ofabode, but in the Year of our Lord 1118, (nineteen years after theconquest of Jerusalem by the Crusaders,) they had rendered suchgood and acceptable service to the Christians, that Baldwin theSecond, king of Jerusalem, granted them a place of habitation withinthe sacred enclosure of the Temple on Mount Moriah, amid thoseholy and magnificent structures, partly erected by the ChristianEmperor Justinian, and partly built by the Caliph Omar. In thesestructures, the monks and priests of Jerusalem had exhibited relicsand all objects likely to be sacred in their eyes. They often hadacquired these through their restless zeal, which led them to takeadvantage of the naiveté of the pilgrims. Built upon the Temple ofSolomon, the knights previously known as the Poor Fellow-soldiersof Jesus Christ, became thereafter known by the name of “theKnighthood of the Temple of Solomon. 13 ” [18]The Templar NameA few remarks in explanation of the name Templars, or Knights ofthe Temple, may be necessary here.By the Moslems, the site of the great Jewish temple on MountMoriah has always been regarded with peculiar veneration.Mohammed (Mahomet), in the first year of the publication of theKoran, directed his followers, when at prayer, to turn their facestowards it, and pilgrimages have constantly been made to the holyspot by devout Moslems. On the conquest of Jerusalem by theArabians, it was the first care of the Caliph Omar to rebuild “theTemple of the Lord.” Assisted by the principal chieftains of hisarmy, the Commander of the Faithful undertook the pious office ofclearing the ground with his own hands, and of tracing out thefoundations of the magnificent mosque which now crowns with its16

dark and swelling dome, the elevated summit of Mount Moriah 14 .[19] [20]This great house of prayer, the most holy Moslem Temple in theworld after that of Mecca, was erected over the spot where“Solomon began to build the house of the Lord at Jerusalem on MountMoriah, where the Lord appeared to David his father, in the place thatDavid had prepared in the threshing-floor of Oman the Jebusite.” Itremains to this day in a state of perfect preservation, and is one ofthe finest specimens of Saracenic architecture in existence. It isentered by four spacious doorways, each door facing one of thecardinal points; the Bab el D’jannat, or gate of the garden, on thenorth; the Bab el Kebla, or gate of prayer, on the south; the Bab ib’nel Daoud, or the gate of the son of David, on the east; and the Bab elGarbi, on the west. The Arabian geographers call it Beit Allah, thehouse of God, also Beit Almokaddas, or Beit Almacdes, the holyhouse. From it Jerusalem derives its Arabic name, el Kods, the holy,el Schereef, the noble, and el Mobarek, the blessed; while thegovernors of the city, instead of the customary high-sounding titlesof sovereignty and dominion, take the simple title of Hami, orprotectors.On the conquest of Jerusalem by the crusaders, the crescent wastorn down from the summit of this famous Moslem Temple, and wasreplaced by an immense golden cross, and the edifice was thenconsecrated to the services of the Christian religion, but retained itssimple appellation of “The Temple of the Lord.” William,Archbishop of Tyre 15 and Chancellor of the Kingdom of Jerusalem,gives an interesting account of this celebrated construction as itexisted in his time, during the Latin dominion. He speaks of thesplendid mosaic work, of the Arabic characters setting forth thename of the founder, and the cost of the undertaking, and of thefamous rock under the center of the dome [20], which is to this dayshown by the Moslems as the spot whereon the destroying angelstood 16 , “with his drawn sword in his hand stretched out overJerusalem” [17]. This rock, he informs us, was left exposed anduncovered for the space of fifteen years after the conquest of the17

holy city by the crusaders, but was, after that period, cased with ahandsome altar of white marble, upon which the priests daily saidmass.To the south of this holy Moslem temple, on the extreme edge of thesummit of Mount Moriah, and resting against the modern walls ofthe town of Jerusalem, stands the esteemed Christian church of theVirgin, erected by the Emperor Justinian, whose stupendousfoundations, remaining to this day, fully justify the astonishingdescription given of the building by Procopius 17 . That writerinforms us that in order to get a level surface for the erection of thestructure, it was necessary, on the east and south sides of the hill, toraise up a wall of masonry from the valley below, and to construct avast foundation, partly composed of solid stone and partly of archesand pillars. The stones were of such magnitude, that each blockrequired transportation in a truck drawn by forty of the emperor’sstrongest oxen; and to admit the passage of these trucks it wasnecessary to widen the roads leading to Jerusalem. The forests ofLebanon yielded their choicest cedars for the timbers of the roof,and a quarry of multicolored marble, seasonably discovered in theadjoining mountains, furnished the edifice with superb marblecolumns 18 . [21] The interior of this interesting structure, which stillremains at Jerusalem in an excellent state of preservation, after alapse of more than thirteen centuries, is adorned with six rows ofcolumns, from whence spring arches supporting the cedar beamsand timbers of the roof; and at the end of the building is a roundtower, surmounted by a dome. The vast stones, the walls ofmasonry, and the subterranean colonnade raised to support thesouth-east angle of the platform whereon the church is erected, aretruly wonderful, and may still be seen by probing through a smalldoor, and descending several flights of steps at the south-eastcorner of the enclosure. Adjoining the sacred edifice, the emperorerected hospitals, or houses of refuge, for travelers, sick people, andmendicants of all nations; the foundations whereof, composed ofhandsome Roman masonry, are still visible on either side of thesouthern end of the building.18

On the conquest of Jerusalem by the Moslems, this esteemed churchwas converted into a mosque, and was called D’jamé al Acsa. A largearea by a high stone wall, which runs around the edge of the summitof Mount Moriah, enclosed it together with the great MoslemsTemple of the Lord erected by the Caliph Omar. Guards from thenon-Christian peoples trod upon the whole of that sacred groundwhereon once stood the gorgeous temple of the wisest of kings 19 .[22]When the Holy City was taken by the crusaders, the D’jamé al Acsa,with the various buildings constructed around it, became theproperty of the kings of Jerusalem; and is denoted by William ofTyre “the palace”, or “royal house to the south of the Temple of theLord, vulgarly called the Temple of Solomon 20 ”. It was this edifice ortemple on Mount Moriah which was appropriated to the use of thepoor fellow-soldiers of Jesus Christ, as they had no church and noparticular place of abode, and from it they derived their name ofKnights Templars 21 .James of Vitry, Bishop of Acre, who gives an interesting account ofthe holy places, thus speaks of the Temple of the Knights Templars.“There is, moreover, at Jerusalem another temple of immensespaciousness and extent, from which the brethren of the knighthood ofthe Temple derive their name of Templars, which is called the Templeof Solomon, perhaps to distinguish it from the one above described,which is specially called the Temple of the Lord.” 22 Moreover, heinforms us in his oriental history, that “in the Temple of the Lordthere is an abbot and canons regular; and be it known that the one isthe Temple of the Lord, and the other the Temple of the Chivalry.These are clerks, the others are knights 23 .”The Rule of the Templar of the Lord conceded to the poor fellowsoldiersof Jesus Christ the large court extending between thatbuilding and the Temple of Solomon. The king, the patriarch, theprelates of Jerusalem, and the barons of the Latin kingdom, assignedthe Templars various gifts and revenues for their maintenance andsupport [23], and the order being now settled in a regular place of19

abode, the knights soon began to entertain more extended views,and to seek a larger theater for the exercise of their holy profession.Their first aim and object had been, as previously mentioned, simplyto protect the poor pilgrims, on their journey backwards andforwards, from the sea-coast to Jerusalem 24 ; [23] however, as thehostile tribes of Moslems, which everywhere surrounded the Latinkingdom, were gradually recovering from the stupefying terror intowhich they had been plunged by the successful and exterminatingwarfare of the first crusaders, and were assuming an aggressive andthreatening attitude, it was determined that the holy warriors of theTemple should, in addition to the protection of pilgrims, make thedefense of the Christian kingdom of Jerusalem, of the easternchurch, and of all the holy places, a part of their particularprofession.The two most distinguished members of the fraternity were Hughde Payens and Geoffrey de St. Aldemar, or St. Omer, two valiantsoldiers of the cross, who had fought with great credit and renownat the siege of Jerusalem. Hugh de Payens was chosen by theknights to be the superior of the new religious and military society,by the title of “The Master of the Temple;” and he has, consequently,generally been called the founder of the order.The name and reputation of the Knights Templars spread rapidlythroughout Europe, and various illustrious pilgrims from the farwest aspired to become members of the holy fraternity. Amongthese was Falk, Count of Anjou, who joined the society as a marriedbrother, (A.D. 1120,) and annually remitted the order thirty poundsof silver. Baldwin, king of Jerusalem, foreseeing that greatadvantages would accrue to the Latin kingdom by the increase ofthe power and numbers of these holy warriors, exerted himself toextend the order throughout all Christendom, so that he might, bymeans of so politic an institution, keep alive the holy enthusiasm ofthe west, and draw a constant succor from the bold and warlikeraces of Europe for the support of his Christian throne and kingdom.20

St. Bernard and the TemplarsSt. Bernard, the holy abbot of Clairvaux, had been a great admirer ofthe Templars. He wrote a letter to the Count of Champagne, on hisentering the order, (A.D. 1123,) praising the act as one of eminentmerit in the sight of God; and it was determined to enlist the allpowerfulinfluence of this great cleric in favor of the fraternity. “By avow of poverty and penance, by closing his eyes against the visibleworld, by the refusal of all ecclesiastical dignities, the Abbot ofClairvaux became the oracle of Europe, and the founder of onehundred and sixty convents. Princes and pontiffs trembled at thefreedom of his apostolical censures: France, England, and Milan,consulted and obeyed his judgment in a schism of the church: the debtwas repaid by the gratitude of Innocent the Second; and his successor,Eugenics the Third, was the friend and disciple of the holy St.Bernard.” [24]To this learned and devout prelate two knights Templars weredispatched with the following letter:“Baldwin, by the grace of the Lord JESUS CHRIST, King ofJerusalem, and Prince of Antioch, to the venerable Father Bernard,Abbot of Clairvaux, health and regard”.“The Brothers of the Temple, whom the Lord hath deigned to raiseup, and whom by an especial Providence he preserves for thedefense of this kingdom, desiring to obtain from the Holy See theconfirmation of their institution, and a rule for their particularguidance, we have determined to send to you the two knights,Andrew and Gondemar, men as much distinguished by theirmilitary exploits as by the splendor of their birth, to obtain fromthe Pope the approbation of their order, and to dispose hisholiness to send succor and subsidies against the enemies of thefaith, reunited in their design to destroy us, and to invade ourChristian territories.”“Well knowing the weight of your mediation with God and hisvicar upon earth, as well as with the princes and powers of21

Europe, we have thought fit to confide to yon these two importantmatters, whose successful issue cannot be otherwise than mostagreeable to ourselves. The statutes we ask of you should be soordered and arranged as to be reconcilable with the tumult of thecamp and the profession of arms; they must, in fact, be of such anature as to obtain favor and popularity with the Christianprinces.”“Do you then so manage, that we may, through you, have thehappiness of seeing this important affair brought to a successfulissue, and address for us to heaven the incense of your prayers.”[25]Soon after the above letter had been dispatched to St. Bernard, Hughde Payens himself proceeded to Rome, accompanied by Geoffrey deSt. Aldemar, and four other brothers of the order, including BrotherPayen de Montdidier, Brother Gorall, Brother Geoffrey Bisol, andBrother Archambauld de St. Amand. They were received with greathonor and distinction by Pope Honorius, who warmly approved ofthe objects and designs of the holy fraternity. St. Bernard had, in themean time, taken the affair greatly to heart; he negotiated with thePope, the legate, and the bishops of France, and obtained theconvocation of a great ecclesiastical council at Troyes (A.D. 1128),which Hugh de Payens and his brethren were invited to attend. Thiscouncil consisted of several archbishops, bishops, and abbots,among which last was St. Bernard himself. The rules to which theTemplars had subjected themselves were described there by themaster. They entrusted the holy Abbot of Clairvaux with the task ofrevising and correcting these rules, and of framing a code of statutesfit and proper for the governance of the great religious and militaryfraternity of the Temple.Thus, in 1123, the nine warrior knights under the protection of theKing of Jerusalem, Baldwin II, who had made their home inSolomon’s stables, below the Temple Mount, their task “to offerprotection to pilgrims”, became a religious order that was to growrapidly in Europe, helped by the support of St. Bernard of Clairvaux.22

The Vatican then recognized this order and their full title was “ThePoor Knights of Christ and the Temple of Solomon”. Their simpleway of life was reflected in their insignia of two knights riding onehorse. However, this symbol did not reflect the increasing wealth ofthe Templars, who became international bankers through the givingof credit notes against money deposited in one Templar House,which could be honored in other Templar centers.The Templars became immensely wealthy and this wealthultimately led to their destruction by the French King Philip IV in1307. He was heavily indebted to the Templars and needed fundsfor his war against England. The French King organized the arrestof all Templars in France on Friday October 13th on false charges ofheresy. This date is the origin of the superstitions around Friday13th; and we continue to be reminded of the Templars in manyplace names throughout the country including: the Inner and MiddleTemple legal institutions in London and strangely the famousBrunel Temple Meads Station in Bristol and in providing the site forHitler’s Berlin Airport – Templehof.At the end of the 19th Century, historians accepted that the heresycharges made against the Templars were valid. However, in recenttimes the discovery of later Vatican documents absolving the Orderof the heresy charges have led historians to conclude that theirdestruction was based on false statements, extracted by extrememethods of torture to justify Philip IV‘s suppression of the Order.The Templars were in part to blame, as their activities were in someareas shrouded in secrecy, in particular their initiation rites. Whenthey were driven out of the Holy Land by Saladin, their recordswere taken to Cyprus and subsequently destroyed. Lack ofdocumentary evidence has since enabled speculation of the wildestsort to flourish, starting with rumors that the original Knights inJerusalem discovered the Shroud of Turin and the Holy Grail underthe Temple Mount. Certainly, the Order was rich in relics and thisled to their growth and increasing wealth.23

Temple Church, BristolNotes1 “Donc, moi Jean Michel, par la grâce de Dieu, je méritai d'être l'humble écrivain dela présente règle, comme me le demanda le concile et le vénérable père Bernard,abbé de Clairvaux, qu'on avait chargé de ce divin travail.” Tr: “So, I, John Michael,by the grace of God, I deserved to be the humble writer of this rule, as the councilasked me and the venerable Father Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux, who had charge ofthis divine work.” [264]2 Saint Helena (Latin: Flavia Iulia Helena Augusta) also known as Saint Helen,Helena Augusta or Helena of Constantinople (ca. 246/50 – 18 August 330) was theconsort of Emperor Constantius, and the mother of Emperor Constantine I. She istraditionally credited with finding the relics of the True Cross, with which she isinvariably represented in Christian iconography.3 The True Cross is the name for physical remnants which, by a Christian tradition,are believed to be from the cross upon which Jesus was crucified [265]. Accordingto post-Nicene historians, Socrates Scholasticus and others, the Empress Helena (c.AD 250 – c. AD 330), mother of Constantine, the first Christian Emperor of Rome,travelled to the Holy Land, dated by modern historians in 326-28, founding24

churches and establishing relief agencies for the poor. It was afterwards claimed, inthe later fourth-century history by Gelasius of Caesarea followed by Rufinus'additions to Eusebius' Ecclesiastical History, that she discovered the hiding place ofthree crosses, believed to be used at the crucifixion of Jesus and the two thieves —St. Dismas and Gestas — who were executed with him, and that through a miracle itwas revealed which of the three was the True Cross.4 Georgius Edu Serecenia, sometime called Elmacin, is cited in Clavis Pentateuchi(Latin: “Key of the Pentateuch”), by Auctore Jacobo Robertson (1824). The Aribicfollowing the citation is unclear and requires further research.5 Ingulphus, the secretary of William the Conqueror, one of their number, statesthat he “sallied forth from Normandy with thirty companions, all stout and wellappointedhorsemen, and that they returned twenty miserable palmers, with thestaff in their hand and the wallet at their back.”--Baronius ad ann. 1064, No. 43, 56is cited in [266].6 The Turkomen also known as Oghuz Turks (a linguistic term designating theWestern Turkic or Oghuz languages from the Oghur languages) were a historicalTurkic tribal confederation in Central Asia during the early medieval Turkicexpansion. The name Oghuz is just the Common Turkic word for “tribe”. They arereferred to as “Western Turks” because they moved west from other Turkicpeoples after the Göktürk empire collapsed, and because the majority of the areasin which they inhabit today (except Turkmenistan and the Turkmen Sahra) arewest of the Caspian Sea, while those referred to as “Eastern Turks” live east of theCaspian Sea. The founders of the Ottoman Empire were also Oghuz Turks.7 Peter the Hermit (died July 8, 1115 in Neufmoutier by Huy) was a priest ofAmiens and a key figure during the First Crusade. According to Anna Comnena, hehad attempted to go on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem before 1096, but was preventedby the Seljuk Turks from reaching his goal and was tortured. Sources differ as towhether he was present at Pope Urban II's famous Council of Clermont in 1095; butit is certain that he was one of the preachers of the crusade in France afterward,and his own experience may have helped to give fire to the Crusading cause. Hesoon leapt into fame as an emotional revivalist; and the vast majority of sourcesand historians agree that thousands of peasants eagerly took the cross at hisbidding.8 “Omnibus mundi partibus divites et pauperes, juvenes et virgines, senes cumjunioribus, loca sancta visitaturi Hierosolymam pergerent.” [“All parts of the worldthe rich and the poor, the young men and maidens, old men with younger, theywere going to Jerusalem, the holy places shall visit the”]-- [17].9 The term “infidels” is used loosely throught. The Christian might refer to theMoslem as an infidel, while the Molem might equally refer to the Christian as aninfidel. The simple meaning in “one who is not of the faith”, whatever that faith mebe.25

10 Moslem also spelled Muslim, (Arabic: ملسم ), is an adherent of Islam, amonotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Moslems consider theverbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Mohammed. “Moslem” is the Arabicterm for “one who submits to God”. Musulman (Persian: ‏(ناملسم is a synonym forMuslim. This term is modified from Arabic. It is the origin of the Spanish wordmusulmán, the Portuguese word muçulmano and the Greek word μουσουλμάνος(all used for a Muslim). In English it has become an archaic usage.11 “To kiss the holy monuments,” says William of Tyre, “came sacred and chastewidows, forgetful of feminine fear, and the multiplicity of dangers that beset theirpath.”--Lib. xviii. cap. 512 “Quidam autem Deo amabiles et devoti milites, charitate ferventes, mundorenuatiantes, et Christi se servitio mancipantes in manu Patriarchæ Hierosolymitaniprofessione et voto solemni sere astrinxerunt, ut a prædictis latronibus, et virissanguinum, defenderent peregrinos, et stratas publicas custodirent, morecanonicorum regularium in obedientia et castitate et sine proprio militaturi summoregi.” (Trans:-“Some, however, God, lovely and devout soldiers, charity, fervent, andthe world renuatiantes, Patriarch of Jerusalem, and of Christ himself in the hand ofthe profession and a solemn vow of service mancipantes astrinxerunt sere, asaforesaid from the robbers, and to men of blood, to protect the pilgrims, and tokeep the public road, in the manner of canons regular serve the greatest king inobedience and chastity and without property.”) There were three kinds of poverty.The first and strictest (altissima) admitted not of the possession of any descriptionof property whatever. The second (media) forbade the possession of individualproperty, but sanctioned any amount of wealth when shared by a fraternity incommon. The lowest was where a separate property in some few things wasallowed, such as food and clothing, whilst everything else was shared in common.The second kind of poverty (media) was adopted by the Templars [54].13 St. Pantaleon, lib. iii. p. 82.14 de Barthélemi d’Herbelot Bibliothèque Orientale p. 270, 687, ed. 1697. William ofTyre, who lived at Jerusalem shortly after the conquest of the city by the Crusaders,tells us that the Caliph Omar required the Patriarch Sophronius to point out to himthe site of the temple destroyed by Titus, which being done, the caliph immediatelycommenced the erection of a fresh temple thereon, “Quo postea infra modicumtempus juxta conceptum mentis suæ feliciter consummato, quale hodie Hierosolymisesse dinoscitur, multis et infinites ditavit possessionibus.” (tr Latin: “Within a shorttime afterwards, according to his concept of the mind which successfullyconsummated, the quality of this day is known to be in Jerusalem, and enriched itwith many, and a vast possessions.”)--Will. Tyr. lib. i. cap. 2.15 William of Tyre was born in the Holy Land, born in the Holy Land and was, after aFrench education, appointed Archbishop of Tyre and Chancellor of the Kingdom ofJerusalem. He wrote towards the end of the twelfth century.26

16 “Erant porro in eodem Templi ædificio, intus et extra ex opere musaico, Arabiciidiomatis literarum vetustissima monimenta, quibus et auctor et imperarumquantitas et quo tempore opus inceptum quodque consummatum fuerit evidenterdeclaratur…. In hujus superioris areæ medio Templum ædificatum est, forma quidemoctogonum et laterum totidem, tectum habens sphericum plumbo artificiosecopertum. … Intus vero in medio Templi, infra interiorem columnarum ordinem rupesest, &c.” (tr Latin: “There were the same but in the Temple of the building, insideand out from the work of musaico, the oldest monument of learning Arabiclanguage, which must, at which time the quantity and the author of the work of thegovernment initiative and it is finished and that clearly is declared. . . . In the midstof the areas of the upper of this temple in building, the form of octogonum and,indeed, the same number of sides, roof, having artfully BURIED DEEP SPHERICALlead. . . . Inside, however, in the center of the temple, within the interior of thecolumns is the order of rocks, etc.”)--Will. Tyr. lib. i. cap 2, lib. viii. cap. 3. “In hocloco, supra rupem quæ adhuc in eodem Templo consistit, dicitur stetisse et apparaisseDavid exterminator Angelus … Templum Dominicum in tanta veneratione habentSaraceni, ut nullus eorum ipsum audeat aliquibus sordibus maculare; sed a remotis etlonginquis regionibus, a temporibus Salomonis usque ad tempora præsentia, veniuntadorare.” (“In this passage, which as yet in the same rock above the temple consists,it is said they had failed and that is destroyed, David apparaisse an angel....Saracens have the temple of the Lord in so great a veneration, that none of themwould dare to some filth defile him, but from the distant and remote regions, fromthe times of Solomon, the presence of up to the times, they come to adore.”)--Jac. deVitr. Hist. Hierosol. cap. lxii. p 1080.17 Procopius of Caesarea (Latin: Procopius Caesarensis, Greek: Προκόπιος ὁΚαισαρεύς; c. AD 500 – c. AD 565) was a prominent Byzantine scholar fromPalestine. Accompanying the general Belisarius in the wars of the EmperorJustinian I, he became the principal historian of the 6th century, writing the Wars ofJustinian, the Buildings of Justinian and the celebrated Secret History. He iscommonly held to be the last major historian of the ancient world.18 Procopius de ædificiis Justiniani, lib. 5.19 Phocas believes the whole space around these buildings to be the area of theancient temple. Ἑν τῶ ἀρχαίω δαπεδω τοῦ περιώνῦμου ναου έκείνοὺ Σὸλομῶντοςθεωρουμενοσ … Ἔξωθεν δὲ του ναου ἐστι περιαύλιον μεγα λιθόστωτον τὸ παλαιὸν,ὼς οῖμαι, του μεγαλου ναου δάπεδον. (tr. Greek: “Meanwhile floor of an ancienttemple periώnymou έkeinou Solomon theoroumenos. . . But outside the temple Estiperiaύlion mega lithostoton the old, as oimai, the great temple floor.”)--Phocædescript. Terr. Sanc. cap. xiv. Colon. 1653.20 “Quibus quoniam neque ecclesia erat, neque certum habebant domicilium, Rex inPalatio suo, quod secus Templum Domini ad australem habet partem, eis concessithabitaculum.” (tr. Latin: “Nor has the church that these existed, nor had a fixeddomicile, the King of his in the Palace, which otherwise has the south part of thetemple of the Lord, the habitation of them granted.”)--Will. Tyr. lib. xii. cap. 7. And27

in another place, speaking of the Temple of the Lord, he says, “Ab Austro verodomum habet Regiam, quæ vulgari appellatione Templum Salomonis dicitur.” (tr.Latin: “From the south, however, has the King's house, which is called the commonname of the temple of Solomon.”)--Ib. lib, viii. cap. 3.21 “Qui quoniam juxta Templum Domini, ut prædiximus, in Palatio regio mansionemhabent, fratres militiæ Templi dicuntur.” (tr. Latin: “And since they, according to thetemple of the Lord, as we said before, they have an abode in the palace of the king,the brothers are said to be the host of the Temple.”)--Will. Tyr. lib. xii. cap. 7.22 “Est præterea Hierosolymis Templum aliud immensæ quantitatis et amplitudinis, aquo fratres militiæ Templi, Templarii nominantur, quod Templum Salomonisnuncupatur, forsitan ad distinctionem alterius quod specialiter Templum Dominiappellatur.” (tr. Latin: “Moreover, the temple of Jerusalem is another very greatquantity and dignity, of whom is the host of brethren of the Temple, the Templarsare mentioned, that the temple of Solomon is called, perhaps especially to thedistinction of another, if it is called the temple of the Lord.”)--Jac. de Vitr. cap. 62.23 “In Templo Domini abbas est et canonici regulares, et sciendum est quod aliud estTemplum Domini, aliud Templum militiæ. Isti clerici, illi milites.” (tr. Latin: “In thetemple of the Lord is the abbot and canons regular, and it should be noted that thetemple of the Lord is one thing, another thing the host of the temple. These clerics,those soldiers.”)--Hist. Orient. Jac de Vitr. apud Thesaur. Nov. Anecd. Martene, tom.iii. col. 277.24 “Prima autem eorum professio quodque eis a domino Patriarcha et reliquisepiscopis in remissionem peccatorum injunctum est, ut vias et itinera, ad salutemperegrinorum contra latronum et incursantium insidias, pro viribus conservarent.”(tr. Latin: The first of them, however, and that the profession of them by the Lordfor the rest of the patriarch and the bishops of the remission of sins was imposed,so that the highways and roads, to the salvation of strangers on the other hand andthe raids of robbers lying in wait, according to their strength preserved them.”)--Will. Tyr. lib. xii. cap. 7.28

CHAPTER 2. THE TEMPLAR RULESRegula Pauperum Commilitonum Christi et Templi Salomonis.[26](Translation from Latin:- Rule of the Poor fellow-soldiers of Christand the Temple of Solomon)“Among the contradictions that are within the governments ofthis world, we may rekon it a very great one, that there shouldbe such an institution as that of armed monks, who make avow of living at the same time as hermits and soldiers”-Voltaire on Manners and Spirit of Nations (original inFrench)“Regula Pauperum Commilitonum Christi et Templi Salomonis” isthe first existing reference to “Règle primitive de l’Ordre” (ThePrimitive Rule of the Order). It was arranged by St. Bernard, andsanctioned by the Holy Fathers of the Council of Troyes in 1129, forthe government and regulation of the monastic and military societyof the Temple 1 ,. It is principally of a religious character, and of anaustere and gloomy company. It is divided into seventy-two headsor chapters, and is preceded by a short prologue, addressed “to allwho disdain to follow after their own wills, and desire with purity ofmind to fight for the most high and true king,” exhorting them to puton the armor of obedience, and to associate themselves togetherwith piety and humility for the defense of the holy catholic 2 church(not to be confused with the Roman Catholic Church); and toemploy a pure diligence, and a steady perseverance in the exerciseof their sacred profession, so that they might share in the happydestiny reserved for the holy warriors who had given up their livesfor Christ.“The Rule of the Templar” consists of 686 rules, the first 76 of whichconstitute the primitive or original rule (Règle primitive de l’Ordre).The basic rule was recorded by Jean Michel at the Council of Troyes29

in 1129 A.D. The completed rule was comprised of the followingsections and rules:-• Primitive Rule: 1-76• Hierarchical Status: 77-197• Election of the Master: 198-223• Penalties: 224-278• Convent Life of Brothers: 279-385• The Chapters of the Order: 386-415• Penances: 416-543• Details of Penalties: 544-656• Receipt of a Brother: 657-686The rule orders severe devotional exercises, self-mortification,fasting, and prayer, and a constant attendance at matins, vespers,and on all the services of the church, “that being refreshed andsatisfied with heavenly food, instructed and established with heavenlyprecepts, after the consummation of the divine mysteries,” none mightbe afraid of the fight, but be prepared for the crown. If unable toattend the regular service of God, the absent brother, is for matins,to say over thirteen pater-nosters, for every hour seven, and forvespers nine. When any Templar draweth nigh unto death, thechaplains and clerk are to assemble and offer up a solemn mass forhis soul; the surrounding brethren are to spend the night in prayer,and a hundred pater-nosters are to be repeated for the deadbrother. “Moreover,” say the holy Fathers, “we do strictly commandyou, that with divine and most tender charity you give daily unto somepoor man for forty days, as much meat and drink as was given to aliving brother.” The brethren are, on all occasions, to speaksparingly, and to wear a grave and serious deportment. They are tobe constant in the exercise of charity and almsgiving, to have awatchful care over all sick brethren, and to support and sustain allold men. They are not to receive letters from their parents,relations, or friends, without the license of the master, and all giftsare immediately to be taken to the latter, or to the treasurer, to bedisposed of as he may direct. Moreover, they are to receive no30

service or attendance from a woman, and are commanded, above allthings, to shun feminine kisses. There is much that is highlypraiseworthy in this rule, and some extracts of interest are providedin the following paragraphs.I. [Prologue] We speak first to those who secretly despise their ownwill and wish to serve with courage, a knight of the sovereign king,and those who want to do and perform, with diligence, the noblevirtue of obedience. We warn you, you who have so far led secularchivalry, in which Jesus Christ was not put in evidence, but you haveembraced a favor human, you’ll be among those whom God haschosen the mass of perdition and he has chosen, for its pleasantmercy, to defend the Holy Church so that you hasten to add you tothem forever.First of all, that those knights of Christ chose a conversion in theirholy profession, which must be added great diligence and strongperseverance, dignified, healthy, spiritual, because it is recognizedonly if it is kept with purity and duration, they may deserve a placeamong the martyrs who gave their souls for Jesus Christ…Thus, in all joy and brotherhood, we assemble in Troyes, thanks tothe prayers of Master Hugues de Payens by whom such chivalrybegan, with the grace of the Holy Spirit, for the feast of Saint HilaireBishop, in the year the incarnation of Jesus Christ, one thousand onehundred and twenty to eight, the ninth year since the beginning ofthat chivalry. Together, we heard from the lips of Brother Hugues dePayens, how was this order of chivalry established and, in our trial,we hired what seems profitable, all we seemed superfluous, wesupprimâmes.And everything in this meeting, could not be said or told, orforgotten, we left him with wisdom, at the discretion of ourhonorable father, sire Honorius and noble patriarch of Jerusalem,Etienne de la Ferte who knew the better the needs of the land of theEast and the poor knights of Christ. Now, and because many fathers31

assembled in this council and approved what we have said, we mustnot overlook the true sentences and said they thought it.So, I, Jean Michel, by the grace of God, I deserved to be the humblewriter of this rule, as the council asked me and the venerable FatherBernard, Abbot of Clairvaux, who had been responsible for thisdivine work.VI. [The names of the fathers who were at the Council] First, it wasMatthew, bishop of Albano, by the grace of God Legate of the HolyChurch of Rome; Renaud, Archbishop of Rheims, Henry, Archbishopof Sens and their votes; Josselin, bishop of Soissons, the bishop ofParis, the bishop of Troyes, the bishop of Orleans, Bishop ofAuxerre, the Bishop of Meaux, the Bishop of Chalons, the Bishop ofLaon, the Bishop of Beauvais, the abbot Vezelay, which wassubsequently elected Archbishop of Lyon and legate of the Churchof Rome, the abbot of Citeaux, the abbot of Pontigny, the abbot ofTrois-Fontaines, the abbot of Saint-Denis Reims, the abbot of Saint-Etienne de Dijon, the abbot of Molesmes and Bernard, Abbot ofClairvaux, already mentioned, etc.. They all praised the sentencefrankly. There was also a master Aubri de Reims, master Fouchierand several others, which would be long to tell. There were others,not scholars, for whom we can say that the most beneficial thing wecan guarantee is that they love the truth: namely Count Thibaud,Count of Nevers and Andrew baud. In their capacity, they were atthe council, and with a particular concern, they examined what theythought was right and what they thought forsook without reason.VII. There was also brother Hugues de Payens, master of chivalry,who had brought with him a few brothers Rotland brother, brotherGodfrey, brother Geoffroy Bissot, Brother Payen de Montdidier,Archambaud brother of Saint-Amand. Master Hugh, with hisdisciples, sent word to the fathers, after having recalled how theobservance came into being from what is said: Ego principium isloquor vobis, that is to say: "Since I am the beginning of speech. "32

VIII. It pleased the council that the notices were given and discussedwith diligence, according to the study of Holy Scripture, werewritten down so that they are not forgotten, that with theretirement of Bishop Honorius, Pope of the Holy Church Rome, thePatriarch of Jerusalem and the consent of the meeting and theapproval of the Poor Knights of Christ Temple which is Jéruslem.IX. [The rule of the poor knights of the Temple - The way to hear thedivine office] You renounce your own will being the servants of thesovereign king with horses and arms, for the salvation of your souls,and that forever, always with a pure desire to hear the morning anddivine whole, according to canonical observances and habits ofregular teachers of the Holy City of Jerusalem. To do this, venerablebrethren, God is with you because you promised to despise theworld forever for the love of God and also the torments of your bodyfed the flesh of God, full of commandments of our Lord, we say afterthe Divine Office, no one should fear going to the battle. Be preparedto overcome for the divine throne.…“XV. [How they should eat] In one common hall, or refectory, thebrothers must eat together. But against the example of other peoplewho do not practice, it is necessary that you have no hard feelings,something that is necessary for all of you in private, that in allhumility and reverence, in remembrance of the words of theapostle: Eat your bread in silence, and in emulation of the psalmist,who says, I have put a guard to my mouth; that is, “I will not offendwith my tongue”, which means “I have guarded my mouth, that Imay not speak evil”.“XVI. [Reading] At dinner and at supper, let there be always somesacred reading. If we love the Lord, and all his holy words and holycommandments, we must desire it and listen carefully. The readerwho reads the lesson teaches you to be silent when he begins toread.33

“XVII. [Meat] Let a meal of meat three times a week suffice you,excepting at Christmas, or Easter, or the feast of Our Lady, or of theTwelve Apostles. …On Sunday we think it clearly fitting andexpedient that two meals of meat should be served up to all thebrothers of the Temple, the chaplains and clergy, that in honor ofthe Holy Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The other inhabitants of thehouse, namely the squires and sergeants will be satisfied with adish, and that’s why they give thanks to God.“XVIII. [Bowls and Glasses] Two and two ought in general to eattogether, that one may have an eye upon another, that they enjoylife in abstinence and in the act of eating together. It seems justsomething that each of the brothers has a measure equal ration ofwine in his glass.“XIX. [Dishes on Weekdays] The other days of the week: to wit:Monday, Wednesday and even on Saturdays, the brothers have twoor three dishes of vegetable soup or other vegetables, and webelieve that this is sufficient and we order that this be held that if abrother does not eat a dish, he eats the other.“XX. [Friday Dishes] But on the sixth day (Friday) we recommendthe Lenten food, in reverence of the Passion of Jesus Christ. We askto fast from the feast of All Saints until Easter, except when it is thefeast of Christmas, the feast of Our Lady or the feast of the TwelveApostles. But the weak and sick brothers are not required to fast.From April to November, they can eat twice a day, unless there is ageneral fast.“XXI. [Graces to make] At any time after dinner and after dinner, allthe brothers should give thanks to God. If the church is close to thepalace where they eat, and if it is not close, they give thanks to ourLord Jesus Christ, with humility, because it is the supreme provider.The remains of the broken bread will be given to the poor and thebread will be kept whole. Now, as the gift to the poor is like thekingdom of heaven and the Christian faith as you recognize those34

who do not have it, it will be the tenth of bread is given to thechaplain for the poor.“XXII. [Collation 3 ] When the day goes and night approaches, whenthe bell rings or the call of the community is made or the manner ofthe country, all go to compline 4 (night prayer). We ask first for ageneral snack to take a general repast. But this we leave to theregulation and judgment of the Master, that when he has mercy youmay have water, and when he commands, you may receive it kindlytempered with wine: but this must not be done too plentifully, butsparingly, because, says Solomon, Quia vinum facit apostataresapienter, i.e., “Wine corrupts the wise”.“XXIII. [Keep Silence] When the brothers come out of compline, nopermission should be given to speak publicly, unless a great need. Ifhe needs to talk to his squire, he told what he had to tell him quietlyand in silence. But if, by chance, the day was not enough to do thejob and he needs to speak after Compline, for a great need or for thepurposes of chivalry or the condition of the house, we believe thatthe master or any of the older brothers who have to govern thehouse after the master, able to speak properly, and we ask that it bedone this way.XXIV. [Keep Silence (continued)] For it is written: In non multiloquioeffugies peccatum, that is, “talking too much is incentive to sin”. Andin another place: Mors et vita in manibus ling, which means: “Deathand life are in the power of language.” A person who speaks, weprohibit in any way, idle words and wicked laughter. And if anythingis to say what is said above, when you come in your bed, wecommand you to say the Lord’s Prayer with humility and devotion.“XXV [Brothers suffering] The brothers who are tired, havingensured the greater good of the house can be provided, are matins 5 ,after asking the consent and permission of the master or those incharge of that office. They must, however, say matins thirteenLord’s Prayer [paternosters was probably intended to be paternoster], as established above, that the word is consistent with the35

heart, and David says: Psallite sapienter, i.e., “Sing with wisdom”.And, as David says the same elsewhere: In conspectu angelorumpsallam tibi, i.e., “I will sing for you before the angels”. That thisthing be done following the arbitration of the master and thoseappointed to that office.…“XXVII. [Dresses of the brothers] We ask that all the dresses of thebrothers are shades of one color, namely white, black or homespun,and we give the white coat at all brother Knights in the winter andsummer. No other, which is not a knight of Christ, he is allowed towear the white coat. And those who have abandoned the dark life ofthe world, like these white robes, can recognize themselves asreconciled with the Creator: this means that the white sanctionchastity is the safety of courage and physical health, because if abrother does not promise chastity, he can not come to eternal rest,or see God, as the apostle says: Pacem sectamini cum omnibuscastimoniam sine qua nemo videbit Deum, which means: “Followpeace with all, keep chastity, without which no one can see God.”“XXVIII. [Dresses of the brothers (continued)] By the commoncouncil of the whole chapter, we contradict and order that isrecognized as a familiar one vice which, without discretion, wouldbe in the house of God and the Knights Templar. That the squiresand sergeants have no white dress, because it would be greatdamage to the house. It happened in the parts beyond the mountain,that false brothers, married or otherwise, emerged saying they werebrothers of the Temple when they were of the century… .“XXIX. [Dresses of the brothers (continued)] But these dresses mustbe no frills and no pride. And if we decided that no brother has furor coat to her dress, or anything that belongs to the use of the body,or even a blanket, we allow the lamb or mutton... .“XXXI. [Dresses of the brothers (continued)] And if a brother, by amovement of pride or presumption of courage, wants to have assomething owed, the most beautiful or the best dress, that it be36

given the most vile. Those who receive new clothes must make oldand given to the squires and sergeants, but mostly the poor, as mayseem best to him who holds that office.…“XXXIII. [Beasts and riders] Each brother knight can have 3 animalsand no more, unless he has permission from the master, and thisbecause of extreme poverty which is currently in the house of Godand the Temple of Solomon. To each brother knight, so we give tohave three animals and a squire, and if the groom uses his ownvolition and for charity, it is not lawful to chide him, nor to strikehim for any fault.XXXIV. [Secular knights used to run] For all who want secularknights, by pure will, be used to run with Jesus Christ and with thehouse of Solomon’s Temple, we order to buy, with loyalty, a suitablehorse, weapons and everything they will need for their needs. Next,we ask both parties to put the horse in prices and record the pricein writing that he is not forgotten. That the necessaries of life of thesquire, the knight and the horse, as the irons for the horse, they aregiven according to the comfort of home and fraternal charity. If bychance, during the term, the horse should die in the service of thehouse and the house can do, the master would give him another. Ifat the end of the term, the knight wants to return home, half theprice of the horse will be left out of charity at home by the knightand the other half, if he wants, he will receive as alms the house.“XXXV. [How the brothers must go] There is something suitable toall the brothers who professed that the holy service to and for theglory of the highest good and to avoid the fire of hell, they have astrong obedience to their master. Because anything is moreexpensive to Jesus Christ than obedience. That when something willbe controlled by the master or person to whom the master hasgiven power, it is made without any reservation, as if it was Godwho had commanded. As Jesus Christ said through the mouth of37

David, and it’s the truth: “Ob auditu auris obedivit mihi, meaning”(He obeyed when he heard me).…“XXXVII. [How the brothers must go (continued)]So the brotherscan go and they cannot go any other way, no day or night. Whenthey stop in the field, no brother, nor squire, nor any sergeantshould go to another camp to see or to speak with him withoutpermission, as stated above. We order too, by the common councilof the house and is ordained by God, no man makes war or peace inhis own will, but according to the commandments of the master towhich all must submit. They strive to follow the sentence of JesusChrist, who said “No veni facere voluntatem meam, sed ejus misi me”that is to say: “I do not just do my own will but the will of my fatherwho sent me.”…“XXXIX. [That no brother has golden harness] We stand fully thatthe brothers have the gold and silver to their bridles, their stirrupsand their spurs. But if it happens that an old harness they be givenout of charity, that gold and silver is colored so that the resplendentbeauty is not for the wearer, nor the pride they may feel. But if it is aharness you are given, it is the master who will.…“XLI. [Locks] A brother that does not have permission of thecommanders of the provinces or houses, cannot have a latch andkey in his bag or in his trunk. Without permission of the master orhis commander, a brother should not receive letters or his parentsor others, but when he has the permission, the letters will be readbefore him, if it pleases the master or commander.“XLII. [Let no man boast of his faults] Although all idle words aregenerally known to be a sin, that is those who will glorify it, beforeJesus Christ, the supreme judge, we demonstrate that the Prophet38

David says: “Obmutui silui and a”, that is to say, that sometimes wemust refrain from speech and observe silence. Thus, to avoid sin,we must cease and refrain from speaking ill. And we resolutelycondemn one brother to another brother tells the trials he has hadin the world, which is a bad thing in work of chivalry, and it alsotells the crimes of the flesh which he was able to succumb subject towomen. And if a brother to hear tell of another brother, let him shutup soon, and if he could not, he soon gives up his seat and closes hisears of his heart to the oil merchant (vender of idle tales).“XLIII. [Secular Donations] If by grace, something that can not bepreserved, such as meat, is given to a brother by a man of the world,he shall immediately present the gift to the master or commander ofthe meat. But if it happens that a friend or relative wants to give itto him for himself, he cannot take it without leave of the master orthe one who takes his place. And whosoever shall have received apresent, let it not grieve him if it be given to another. Let him knowassuredly, that if he be angry at it, he strives against God.…“XLVI. [Hunting] Together, we contradict a brother to take a birdwith another bird (hawk). It is not for the religious to obtainpleasure, but glad to hear the commandments of God and to be oftenin prayer, to confess each day with God, with tears and crying, theevil that he wills to kill. No brother seeks specifically to support aman who kills a bird with another bird (hawk). It is proper to anyreligious person to go simply and humbly, without laughing andwithout speaking, reasonably and without raising his voice. This iswhy we order especially to all the brothers we do not see them inthe woods with bows and crossbows to hunt animals, or huntingwith the man who, unless it be to preserve the offenses of pagans.You do not go after the dogs, nor crying, nor talk, nor point thehorse to try to capture a wild animal.”…39

“VLIX. [How can you have land and men] This new way of religion[the union of warfare with religion], we believe it was born in theHoly Land from the East by the Divine Scripture and DivineProvidence. We know that the army must [practice] chivalry,without guilt, [and] kill the enemies of the Cross. For this, we believeby law you are called Knights Templars, with the double merit ofbeauty and prowess, and you can have the land, men, villains, holdfields and rule justly and take your right to these things as isspecially prepared.L. [Sick Brothers] The sick brethren, it is given a faithful guard andgreat kindness, and that are served according to the words of theGospel and Jesus Christ, “and fled infirmus visitastis me”, that is tosay, “I was sick and you visited me”. Let it never be forgotten, as thebrothers who are ill should be treated with care and peace: we gainthe kingdom of heaven if you make such a service with faith. Weorder so that the nurse will appeal carefully and faithfully the thingswhich are necessary for various diseases, such as meat, flesh, birdsand all other meats that make health, and this according to the easeand the power of the house.…“LII. [Married Brothers] If the brothers who are married seekbrotherhood and the benefit of the prayers of the house, we grantyou receive them as follows. After their death they give you fromtheir property and everything related to it. Meanwhile, they mustlead an honorable life and strive to do good to the brethren. Butthey should never wear white dresses or white coats, but if theBaron dies before his wife, the brothers must take from hisproperty, and the residue, the lady will enjoy for life. It would notseem fair that such fellows [women] live in a house where thebrothers have promised chastity to God.“LVI. [Sisters] The company of women is a dangerous thing. Manypeople, by the attendance of women, the devil has rejected the rightpath to paradise. That women, as sisters are never received in the40

house of the Temple. For this, dear brothers, as stated above, it isnot appropriate to accustom yourself to such use and that theflower of chastity may always appear among you.…“LV. [How to receive brothers] If a secular knight, or any other manwants to leave the mass of perdition and leave this world andchoose the common life of the Temple, do not hurry to receive it.For thus says Sir Paul: Probate spiritus ex Deo sunt, if so, that is tosay, “Feel the spirit to see if it comes from God.” But for the companyof his brothers is given, that the rule be read to him and if he wantsto obey his commands, if it please the master and brethren toreceive him, he shows his willingness and desire the brethrenassembled in chapter and to all and that makes his request withcourage.…“LVIII. [Children] Although the rule of the holy fathers agree toreceive children in religion, we do not recommend you be burdened[with them]. For whoever wants to always give her child to thereligion of chivalry should feed him until the hour when he couldbear arms and root out of the earth the enemies of Jesus Christ.Then, in accordance with our rule, let the father or the parents placehim in the midst of the brothers, and lay open his petition to themall. For it is better not to vow in childhood, lest afterwards thegrown man should turn away.“LIX. [Of older brothers] We order you, with pious consideration,the old and the weak brothers are honored and treated according totheir weakness, following the authority of the rule for the thingsthat are necessary for their body and that nothing be withheld inany way.“LVI. [Brothers sent] The brothers who are sent through the variouscountries and various parts of the century should strive to practicethe commands of the rule according to their power, and they will41

have to live without taking meat or wine or something so that theygive a good witness to those outside. They not fail in any way inabout the order and give the example of good works and wisdom.And even in those homes where they will lodge, and one in thehouse where they will host, they are very honored and goodness.And if this can be done, let the night be not dark in the house or ifthey make war or are in the field, which God defending, lest theenemy gives them dark because of sin.LXI. [Excommunicated Knights] Where you know there is a meetingof knights excommunicated, we command you to go. If no one wantsto go and add to the knightly order parts from overseas, considerthe eternal salvation of their souls and not only for the temporalbenefit. We command you, in this condition received, he went firstto the bishop of the province and he does know about it. When thebishop has heard and absolved if he sends it to the master andbrothers of the Temple and if his life is honest and worthy of theircompany, it seems the master and brothers, he is received withmercy. But if it dies in the meantime, because of the fear and thework he has suffered, that it be given all the benefits of fraternity asone of the Poor Knights of the Temple.…“LXVIII. [Faults] If any brother shall transgress in speaking, orfighting, or in any other light matter, let him voluntarily show hisfault unto the Master by way of satisfaction. If there be nocustomary punishment for light faults, let there be a light penance;but if, he remaining silent, the fault should come to be knownthrough the medium of another, he must be subjected to greater andmore severe discipline and correction. If indeed the offence shall begrave, let him be withdrawn from the companionship of his fellows,let him not eat with them at the same table, but take his repastalone. The whole matter is left to the judgment and discretion of theMaster, that his soul may be saved at the day of judgment.42

“LXIV. [Small Mistakes] First of all, we must take care that a brother,powerful or not, strong or weak, is not to make amends slowly,humiliated or defending his fault, does not remain withoutdiscipline. If he wants to make amends, it made is with the smallesteffort. But if he refuses to comply with small admonitions and sodespite the prayers for him to God, he does not improve and boastsincreasingly, let him be removed from the holy flock following whatis said by the apostle “Auferte malum ex voll”, that is to say, “Removethe evil among you”. It is required that you remove the bad sheepfrom the brothers’ faithful company.…“LXVII. [The Murmur] You are commanded to avoid like the plague:the desire, the murmur and slander. So everyone is careful withwisdom of what the apostle says: Do Susurro sis criminator and inpopulist, that is to say: “do not blame, nor am slanderer of God’speople.” But when a brother know clearly that his brother hassinned, in peace and fraternal pity, it is fixed between them inprivate if he does not listen, he adds another brother and if hedespises the one and the other, we take it back to the chapter. Forthose who despise the others with great blindness and many arefilled with sorrow. One is careful not to envy each other so as not tobe immersed in the villainy of the devil.“LXVIII. [They have no familiarity with women] We believe it is adangerous thing in any religion to gaze too much on the faces ofwomen. And, therefore, none of you presume to kiss a woman, awidow, a virgin and his mother, nor sister, nor aunt, nor any otherwoman. Thus, the Knight of Jesus Christ to flee anyway from theembrace of women, in which men have continued to fall over again,they can retain and remain perpetually before God with a pureconscience and secure life.” [26]The above rule having been confirmed by a Papal bull, Hugh dePayens proceeded to France, and from there he went to England,43

and the following account is given of his arrival, in the Anglo-SaxonChronicle.“This same year [A.D. 1128] came from Jerusalem Hugh of the Templeto the king in Normandy; and the king received him with much honor,and gave him rich presents in gold and in silver. And afterwards hesent him into England; and there he was received by all good men,who all gave him presents, and in Scotland also: and by him they sentto Jerusalem much wealth withal in gold and in silver. And he invitedfolk out to Jerusalem; and there went with him and after him morepeople than ever did before, since that the first expedition was in theday of Pope Urban 6 .” [27] [28] Grants of land, as well as of money,were at the same time made to Hugh de Payens and his brethren,some of which were shortly afterwards confirmed by King Stephenon his accession to the throne (A.D. 1135). Among these is a grantof the manor of Bistelesham made to the Templars by Count Robertde Ferrara, and a grant of the church of Langeforde in Bedfordshiremade by Simon de Wahull, and Sibylla his wife, and Walter theirson.Hugh de Payens, before his departure, placed a Knight Templar atthe head of the order in this country, who was called the Prior of theTemple, and was the procurator 7 and vicegerent 8 of the Master. Itwas his duty to manage the estates granted to the order, and totransmit the revenues to Jerusalem. He was also delegated with thepower of admitting members into the order, subject to the controland direction of the Master, and was to provide means of transportfor such newly-admitted brethren to the far east, to enable them tofulfill the duties of their profession. As the houses of the Templeincreased in number in England, sub-priors came to be appointed,and the superior of the order in this country was then called theGrand Prior, and afterwards Master of the Temple.Many eminent knights of the best families in Europe aspired to thehabit and the vows, but however exalted their rank, they were notreceived within the heart of the order until they had provedthemselves, by their conduct worthy, of such a fellowship. Thus,44

when Hugh d’Amboise, who had harassed and oppressed the peopleof Marmontier by unjust exactions 9 , and had refused to submit tothe judicial decision of the Count of Anjou, desired to enter theorder, Hugh de Payens refused to admit him to the vows, until hehad humbled himself, renounced his pretensions, and given perfectsatisfaction to those whom he had injured [29]. The candidates,moreover, previous to their admission, were required to makerestitution and satisfaction for all damage done by them at any timeto churches, and to public or private property.An astonishing enthusiasm was excited throughout Christendom onbehalf of the Templars. Princes and nobles, sovereigns and theirsubjects, vied with each other in heaping gifts and benefits uponthem, and infrequent a testament of importance was made withoutan article in it in for their favor. Many illustrious persons on theirdeathbeds took the vows, that they might be buried in the habit ofthe order; and sovereigns, quitting the government of theirkingdoms, enrolled themselves amongst the holy order, andbequeathed even their dominions to the Master and the brethren ofthe Temple.Thus, Raymond Berenger, Count of Barcelona and Provence, at avery advanced age, abdicating his throne, and shaking off theemblems of royal authority, retired to the house of the Templars atBarcelona, and pronounced his vows (A.D. 1130) before brotherHugh de Rigauld, the Prior. His disabilities not allowing him toproceed in person to the chief house of the order at Jerusalem, hesent vast sums of money there, and confining himself in a small cellin the Temple at Barcelona, he there remained in the constantexercise of the religious duties of his profession until the day of hisdeath [30]. At the same period, the Emperor Lothaire conferred onthe order a large portion of his patrimony of Supplinburg; and theyear following, (A.D. 1131,) Alphonso the First, king of Navarre andAragon, also styled Emperor of Spain, one of the greatest warriors ofthe age, by his will declared the Knights of the Temple his heirs andsuccessors in the crowns of Navarre and Aragon. A few hoursbefore his death he caused this will to be ratified and signed by45

most of the barons of both kingdoms. The validity of this document,however, was disputed, and the claims of the Templars weresuccessfully resisted by the nobles of Navarre; but in Aragon theyobtained, by way of compromise, lands, and castles, andconsiderable dependencies, a portion of the customs and dutieslevied throughout the kingdom, and of the contributions raised fromthe Moors [31] [32] [33].To increase the enthusiasm in favor of the Templars, and stillfurther to swell their ranks with the best and bravest of theEuropean chivalry, St. Bernard, at the request of Hugh de Payens[34], took up his powerful pen in their behalf. In a famous discourse“In praise of the New Chivalry,” the holy abbot sets forth, ineloquent and enthusiastic terms, the spiritual advantages andblessings enjoyed by the military friars of the Temple over all otherwarriors. He draws a curious picture of the relative situations andcircumstances of the secular soldiery and the soldiery of Christ, andshows how different in the sight of God are the bloodshed andslaughter perpetrated by the one, from that committed by the other.This extraordinary discourse was written with great spirit; it wasaddressed “To Hugh, Knight of Christ, and Master of the Knighthoodof Christ,” is divided into fourteen parts or chapters, and commenceswith a short prologue. It is curiously illustrative of the spirit of thetimes, and some of its most striking passages will be read withinterest.The holy abbot thus pursues his comparison between the soldier ofthe world and the soldier of Christ—the secular and the religiouswarrior. “[I. Exhortation for the Knights Templar]… A new kind ofchivalry, one ignorant of the ways of the ages, which fights a doublefight equally and tirelessly, both against flesh and blood and against thespiritual forces of iniquity in the heavens. When a man mightily resists abodily foe by strength of his body alone, I no more think it a wonderthan I believe it to be a rare occurrence; nor is it marvelous, though Imight call it praiseworthy, when a man declares war on vice or demonswith the power of his soul, since the world is full of monks. But when46

oth of these kinds of men are girded with their own particular powerfulsword and distinguished with their own particular noble belt in a singleman, who would not judge this, which is as yet an unfamiliar thing, tobe most worthy of all admiration? He indeed is a fearless knight, andone secure from any quarter, since his soul is dressed in an armor offaith just as his body is dressed in an armor of steel….”“… Every time you who live in the ways of worldly chivalry gather tofight among yourselves, you need fear killing your adversary in bodyand yourself in soul; even more, you need fear finding yourself killed byhim, both in body as well as soul. The heart’s disposition, not thefortunes of war, determine defeat or victory for the Christian. If thereason for fighting is good, the outcome of the fight cannot be bad, inthe same way that any end cannot seem good when good cause andrighteous intention do not precede it. If you get yourself killed whiletrying to kill someone else, you will die a murderer. But if you prevailand in trying to win or do well you have occasion to kill a man, you willlive a murderer. Being a murderer benefits no one, the dead, the living,the victor or the vanquished. It is a joyless victory when you overcome aman but surrender to vice, and you vainly glory in having overcome aman when wrath or pride has mastered you....“[II. Secular Chivalry] What then is the end or issue of this secularchivalry, which I should probably just call wickedness outright, if itsmurderers sin mortally and its victims perish forever? To use the wordsof the Apostle, ‘he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshesshould thresh in hope of gain of some fruit.’ What error, knights, soincredible, what madness so unbearable draws you to chivalrous deedsat such expense and labor, all for no return but death or crime? Youcover your horses in silks and dress your armor with swatches offlowing cloth; you figure your lances, shields and saddles; your bridlesand your spurs you adorn with gold and silver and jewels; and with allthis display, you rush only towards death, in shameful madness andshameless idiocy. Are these the tokens of chivalry or the trappings ofwomen? Perhaps you imagine that your adversary’s sword willreverence the gold, be gentle with you because of your jewels, be unableto pierce your silks? For the fighter, as you yourselves know well from47

your well-known experience, three things are essential: the knight whowould accomplish much and well needs be careful in shielding himself,unencumbered for movement on the field, and quick to strike hisadversary; you, on the contrary, wear your hair after the fashion ofwomen, impeding your vision; trip up your own feet with your longhanging overgarments; bury your delicate, tender hands in sleeves cutlong and flowing. A greater danger than all of this, a thing thatendangers the conscience of the armed man more, is the fact that thereasons for espousing such a culpable kind of chivalry are so veryinconsequential and frivolous. What engenders such war and raisessuch strife among you is nothing more than unreasoned anger, or lustfor profitless glory, or want of some trifling worldly good. Surely it isnot prudent either to kill or die for such causes as these.”“[III. A New Chivalry] But Christ’s knights can fight their Lord’s fightin safety, fearless of sin in slaughter of their adversaries and fearless ofdanger at their own deaths, since death suffered or dealt out on Christ’sbehalf holds no crime and merits great glory. Hence one gains forChrist, and then gains Christ Himself …”…“[IV. The Way of Life of the Knights Templar] Now, for edification ordisparagement of our chivalry, which clearly does its chivalrous deedsnot for God but for the devil, a brief account of the life and ways ofChrist’s knights, of how they conduct themselves in battle and at home,of how they behave in public, and how greatly Christ’s chivalry and theusual sort differ from one another. First, Christ’s knights havediscipline and never disdain obedience, for as Scripture attests, theundisciplined son will perish, ‘restiveness is as the sin of witchcraft andrefusal to acquiesce is like the crime of idolatry.’ They come and go atthe will of their superior, wear what he has given them, and takeclothing and nourishment from nowhere else. They are wary of allexcesses in food and dress; they concern themselves only withnecessities. They have a joyous and sober life in their community,without women and without children. That they might lack noevangelical perfection, they live without private property, in one house,in one way, eager to safeguard spiritual oneness within the bounds of48

their peace. You could say that all their multitude has but one heart andone spirit, to such an extent does each of them strive, not to fulfill hisprivate desires, but rather to obey his master. At no time do they sit atleisure or wander adventurously; rather on those rare occasions whenthey are not engaged, they repair the wear and tear that their clothesand armor have suffered, bring things to order, and generally see towhatever their master’s will and communal necessity dictate, in order toearn their keep. Rank is not recognized among them at all; pride ofplace is allotted better, not nobler men. They rival one another inhonor; they bear one another’s burdens, so fulfilling Christ’s injunction.my insolent word, the profitless deed, improvident laughter, even theleast murmur or whisper does not go unrepaired when perceivedproperly. They swear off dice and gaming; they detest hunting, and takeno pleasure in the absurd cruelty of falconry, as it is practiced. Theyrenounce and abominate mimes and magicians and romancers, bawdysongs and the spectacle of the joust as vanity and dangerous folly. Theykeep their hair short, having learned from the Apostle that it is shamefulfor a man to wear his hair like a woman. Never do they set and rarelydo they wash their hair, preferring to go about disheveled and unkempt,covered in dust and blackened by the sun and their armor.”“When battle is at hand, they arm themselves with faith within and steelwithout, rather than with gold, so that when armed, rather thanprettified, they instill fear in their adversaries rather than incite theirgreed. They choose to have horses that are strong and quick, ratherthan showy or well-dressed. They attend to battle rather than display, tovictory rather than glory, and concern themselves to inspire fear ratherthan wonder. …God has elected such men to Himself and gathered themtogether from the ends of the earth, from among the mightiest of Israel,His agents for keeping the tomb which is the resting place of the trueSolomon, all bearing swords and well taught in the ways of war.”49

In Ironclad, Templar Thomas Marshall, played by James Purefoy, takes a laststand. Produced by Andrew Curtis; directed by Jonathan English.50

Notes1 The Rule was presented at the council at Troyes (1129), where the apostoliclegate, Cardinal Matthew of Albano, ratified it on behalf of the Holy See.2 The word catholic (derived via Late Latin catholicus, from the Greek adjectiveκαθολικός (katholikos), meaning “universal”) comes from the Greek phraseκαθόλου (kath'holou), meaning “on the whole,” “according to the whole” or “ingeneral”, and is a combination of the Greek words κατά meaning “about” and όλοςmeaning “whole”. The word in English can mean either "including a wide variety ofthings; all-embracing” or “of the Roman Catholic faith” as “relating to the historicdoctrine and practice of the Western Church”. It was first used to describe theChristian Church in the early 2nd century to emphasize its universal scope.3 The term “collation” originates in the Roman Catholic Church, where it refers tothe two small meals allowed on days of fasting, with or without abstinence.Traditionally, the reading in Benedictine monasteries of excerpts from Collationespatrum in scetica eremo, written by John Cassian, was followed by a light meal4 Compline (Night Prayer or Prayers at the End of the Day) is the final churchservice (or Office) of the day in the Christian tradition of canonical hours. TheEnglish word Compline is derived from the Latin completorium, as Compline is thecompletion of the working day. The word was first used in this sense about thebeginning of the 6th century by St. Benedict in his Rule (Regula Benedicti; hereafter,RB), in Chapters 16, 17, 18, and 42, and he even uses the verb complere to signifyCompline: “Omnes ergo in unum positi compleant” (“All having assembled in oneplace, let them say Compline”); “et exuentes a completorio” (“and, after going outfrom Compline...”) (RB, Chap. 42).5 Matins (also known as Orthros or Oútrenya in Eastern Churches) is the earlymorning or night prayer service in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran andEastern Orthodox liturgies of the canonical hours. The term is also used in someProtestant denominations to describe morning services. The name “Matins”originally referred to the morning office also known as Lauds. When the nocturnalservice called Vigils or Nocturns, celebrated at night only in monasteries, becamejoined with Lauds, which came to be treated as the concluding portion of thatservice, the name of “Matins"” was extended to the whole of the morning serviceand later still became attached to what had originally been that of Vigils6 At present there are nine known versions or fragments of the "Anglo-SaxonChronicle" in existence, all of which vary (sometimes greatly) in content andquality. The translation that follows is not a translation of any one Chronicle;rather, it is a collation of readings from many different versions. The nine known"Anglo-Saxon Chronicle" MS. are the following: A-Prime – The Parker Chronicle(Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, MS. 173); A – Cottonian Fragment (BritishMuseum, Cotton MS. Otho B xi, 2); B – The Abingdon Chronicle I (British Museum,Cotton MS. Tiberius A vi.); C – The Abingdon Chronicle II (British Museum, Cotton51

MS. Tiberius B i.); D – The Worcester Chronicle (British Museum, CottonMS.Tiberius B iv.); E – The Laud (or "Peterborough") Chronicle (Bodleian, MS.Laud636); F – The Bilingual Canterbury Epitome (British Museum, Cotton MS. DomitianA viii.) NOTE: Entries in English and Latin.; H – Cottonian Fragment (BritishMuseum, Cotton MS. Domitian A ix.); I – An Easter Table Chronicle (BritishMuseum, Cotton MS.Caligula A xv.)7 Procurator may refer to: Procurator (Roman), the title of various officials of theRoman Empire Promagistrate, an appointed position in the Roman Republic by theSenate, acting in place of a curator8 Vicegerent is the official administrative deputy of a ruler or head of state: vice +gerere. The Byzantine Emperors held as a title "God's Vicegerent on Earth”.9 Excessive or unjust demand.52

CHAPTER 3. 1129 – 1168“We heard the tecbir, so the Arabs callTheir shouts of onset, when with loud appealThey challenge heaven, as if demanding conquest.”HUGH DE PAYENS. A.D. 1129Hugh de Payens 1 , having laid in Europe the foundations of the greatmonastic and military institution of the Temple, which was shortlydestined to spread its significance to the most remote quarters ofChristendom, returned to Palestine at the head of a valiant band ofnewly-elected Templars, drawn principally from England andFrance.When they arrived at Jerusalem they were received with greatdistinction by the king, the clergy, and the barons of the Latinkingdom. With the aid of Hugh de Payens, a grand council wascalled together, and various military measures were undertaken forthe extension and protection of the Christian territories.ROBERT DECRAON. A.D. 1136.Hugh de Payens died, however, shortly after his return, and wassucceeded (A.D. 1136) by the Lord Robert 2 , surnamed theBurgundian, (son-in-law of Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury,)who, after the death of his wife, had taken the vows and the habit 3 ofthe Templars [35]. He was a valiant and skillful general 4 , but theutmost labors of himself and his military monks were foundinsufficient to sustain the tottering empire of the Latin Christians[36].53

The fierce religious and military enthusiasm of the Moslems hadbeen again aroused by the warlike Zinghi and his son Nūr ad-Dīn 5 .These were two of the most famous chieftains of the age, who wereregarded by the disciples of Mohammed as champions that couldavenge the cause of the prophet, and recover to the civil andreligious authority of the caliph, the lost city of Jerusalem, and allthe holy places so deeply respected by the Moslems. The one wasnamed Imad al-Din Zangi (Emod-al-deen), “Pillar of religion;” andthe other Nūr ad-Dīn (Nour-ad-deen), “Light of the Faith,” crudely,Nur ed-Din. The Templars were defeated by overpoweringnumbers in several battles; and in one of these the valiant Templar,Brother Odo de Montsaucon, was slain 6 . [36] Imad al-Din tookHoms 7 , Ba’rin 8 , Ba’albek 9 , Ashib, Hizan 10 , and closed his victoriouscareer by the capture of the important city of Edessa 11 . Nūr ad-Dīnfollowed in the footsteps of the father: he obtained possession of thefortresses of Artah 12 , Kafar Latha 13 , Ma’arat Nu’man 14 , Beaufort 15 ,and Al Balāţ 16 ; and overthrew with terrific slaughter the youngJocelyn de Courtenay, in a rash attempt to recover possession of hisprincipality of Edessa 17 . [37] [38] The Latin kingdom of Jerusalemwas shaken to its foundations, and the oriental clergy in trepidationand alarm sent urgent letters to the Pope for assistance. The holypontiff accordingly commissioned St. Bernard to preach the secondcrusade.54

EVERARD DES BARRES. A.D. 1146During this period (A.D. 1146), Lord Robert, Master of the Temple,was succeeded by Everard des Barres 18 , Prior of France. Hestraightway convened a general chapter of the order at Paris, whichwas attended by Pope Eugenius the Third, Louis VII, king of France,and many prelates, princes, and nobles, from all parts ofChristendom. The second crusade was arranged, and according toOdo de Diogilo 19 —a monk of St. Denis—the Templars, with thesanction of the Pope, assumed the blood-red cross, the symbol ofmartyrdom, as the distinguishing badge of the order, which wasappointed to be worn on their habits and mantles on the left side of55

the breast over the heart. Afterwards they came to be known by thename of the Red Friars and the Red Cross Knights [17] [39] [40].At this renowned assembly, various donations were made to theTemplars to enable them to provide more effective defense of theHoly Land. Bernard Baliol, through love of God and for the good ofhis soul, granted them his estate of Wedelee, in Hertfordshire, whichafterwards formed part of the preceptory of Temple Dynnesley.This grant was conveyed at the chapter held at Easter, in Paris, inthe presence of the Pope, the king of France, several archbishops,and one hundred and thirty Knights Templars clad in whitemantles 20 . [41] Shortly before this, the Dukes of Brittany andLorraine, and the Counts of Brabant and Fourcalquier, had givenvarious lands and estates to the order; and the possessions andpower of the fraternity rapidly continued to increase in every partof Europe [42].EVERARD DES BARRES. A.D. 1147Brother Everard des Barres, the newly-elected Master of theTemple, having collected together all the brethren from the westernprovinces, joined the standard of Louis, the French king, andaccompanied the crusaders to Palestine.During the march through Asia Minor, the rear of the Christian armywas protected by the Templars, who greatly distinguishedthemselves on every occasion. Odo of Deuil or Diogilo, the chaplainof King Louis, and his constant attendant on this expedition, informsus that the king loved to see the prudence and simplicity of theTemplars, and to imitate it; he praised their union and impartiality,admired above all things the attention they paid to their militaryequipment, and their care in stewardship and preserving theirequipage and munitions of war. He recommended them as a modelto the rest of the army, and in a council of war it was solemnlyordered that all the soldiers and officers should bind themselves incommon purpose with the Templars, and should march under theirorders [43].56

Conrad, emperor of Germany, had preceded King Louis at the headof a powerful army, which was cut to pieces by the infidels in thenorth of Asia. He fled to Constantinople, embarked on board somemerchant vessels, and arrived with only a few attendants atJerusalem, where he was received and entertained by the Templars,and was lodged in the Temple in the Holy City 21 . [44] Shortlyafterwards King Louis arrived, accompanied by the new Master ofthe Temple, Everard des Barres. It was at this time the Templarsunfolded for the first time the red-cross banner in the field of battle.This was a white standard made of woolen material, having in theits center the blood-red cross granted by Pope Eugenius. The twomonarchs, Louis and Conrad, took the field, supported by theTemplars, and laid siege to the magnificent city of Damascus, “theQueen of Syria,” which was defended by the great Nūr ad-Dīn, “Lightof the Faith,” and his brother Saif ad-Din (Sayf ed-din) Ghazi I,“Sword of the Faith.”EVERARD DES BARRES. A.D. 1148The services rendered by the Templars are thankfully recorded inthe following letter sent by Louis VII, the French king, to hisminister and vicegerent 22 , the renowned Suger, abbot of St. Denis.“Louis, by the grace of God king of France and Aquitaine, to hisbeloved and most faithful friend Suger, the very reverend Abbot of St.Denis, health and good wishes.”“… I cannot imagine how we could have subsisted for even thesmallest space of time in these parts, had it not been for their [theTemplars’] support and assistance, which have never failed me fromthe first day I set foot in these lands up to the time of my dispatchingthis letter--a succor ably afforded and generously persevered in. Itherefore earnestly beseech you, that as these brothers of the Templehave yet been blessed with the love of God, so now they may begladdened and sustained by our love and favor.”57

“I have to inform you that they have lent me a considerable sum ofmoney, which must be repaid to them quickly, that their house maynot suffer, and that I may keep my word…” [45]Among the English nobility who enlisted in the second crusade werethe two renowned warriors, Roger de Mowbray and William deWarrenne [46]. Roger de Mowbray was one of the most powerfuland warlike of the barons of England, and was one of the victoriousleaders at the famous battle of the standard 23 . He marched withKing Louis to Palestine and fought under the banners of the Templeagainst the infidels. Enamored with admiration of the faithfulnessand valor of the holy warriors of the order, he gave them, on hisreturn to England, many valuable estates and possessions. Amongthese were the manors of Kileby and Witheley, various lands on theIsle of Axholme, the town of Balshall in the county of Warwick, andvarious places in Yorkshire. So bountiful were his donations, thatthe Templars conceded to him and to his heirs this special privilege.That is, according to the rule and custom of the order of theTemplars, as often as Roger or his heirs should find any brother ofthe order of the Temple exposed to public penance, it should belawful for the said Roger and his heirs to release such brother fromthe punishment of his public penance, without the interference orcontradiction of any brother of the order [47].About the same time, King Stephen of England, for the well-being ofhis own soul and that of Queen Matilda his wife, and for the good ofthe souls of King Henry, his grandfather, and Eustace, his son, andall his other children, “granted and confirmed to God and the blessedVirgin Mary, and to the brethren of the knighthood of the Temple ofSolomon at Jerusalem”, all the manor of Cressynge, with theadvowson 24 of the church of the same manor, and also the manorsof Egle and Witham [48] [47]. Queen Matilda, likewise, for the goodof the souls of Earl Eustace, her father, the King Stephen of England,her husband, and of all her other children, granted “to the brethrenof the Temple at Jerusalem” the manor of Covele or Cowley inOxfordshire, two mills in the same county, conjoint pasture inShotover forest, and the church of Stretton in Rutland [49]. Ralph58

de Hastings and William de Hastings also gave to the Templars, inthe same period of influence, (A.D. 1152,) lands at Hurst andWyxham in Yorkshire, thereafter formed into the preceptory ofTemple Hurst. William Asheby granted them the estate where thehouse and church of Temple Bruere were afterwards erected [50].The order continued to rapidly increase in power and wealth inEngland and in all parts of Europe, through the charitable donationsof pious Christians. After the miserable failure of the secondcrusade 25 , brother Everard des Barres, the Master of the Temple,returned to Paris, with his friend and patron Louis VII. TheTemplars, deprived of their chief, were now left alone and unaidedto withstand the victorious calling of the fanatical Mussulmen.EVERARD DES BARRES. A.D. 1149The Templars’ despondent situation is portrayed in a melancholyletter from the treasurer of the order, written to the Master, Everarddes Barres, during his visit at the court of the king of France.“Since we have been deprived of your beloved presence, we have hadthe misfortune to lose in battle the prince of Antioch 26 and all hisnobility [51]. To this catastrophe has succeeded another. The infidelsinvaded the territory of Antioch; they drove all before them, andthrew garrisons into several strong places. On the first intelligence ofthis disaster, our brethren assembled in arms, and in concert with theking of Jerusalem went to the succor of the desolated province. Wecould only get together for this expedition one hundred and twentyknights and one thousand serving brothers and hired soldiers, forwhose equipment we expended seven thousand crowns at Acre, andone thousand at Jerusalem. Your paternity knows on what conditionwe assented to your departure, and our extreme want of money, ofcavalry, and of infantry. We earnestly implore you to rejoin us as soonas possible, with all the necessary succors for the Eastern Church, ourcommon mother.”“… Scarce had we arrived in the neighborhood of Antioch, ere we werehemmed in by the Turcomans on the one side, and the sultan ofAleppo (Nūr ad-Dīn) on the other, who blockade us in the environs of59

the town, while our vineyards are destroyed, and our harvests laidwaste. Overwhelmed with grief at the pitiable condition to which weare reduced, we conjure you to abandon everything, and embarkwithout delay. Never was your presence more necessary to yourbrethren;--at no conjuncture could your return be more agreeable toGod. . . . The greater part of those whom we led to the succor ofAntioch are dead...”“We conjure you to bring with you from beyond sea all our knightsand serving brothers capable of bearing arms. Perchance, alas! withall your diligence, you may not find one of us alive. Use, therefore, allimaginable celerity; pray forget not the necessities of our house: theyare such that no tongue can express them. It is also of the lastimportance to announce to the Pope, to the King of France, and to allthe princes and prelates of Europe, the approaching desolation of theHoly Land, to the intent that they succor us in person, or send ussubsidies. Whatever obstacles may be opposed to your departure, wetrust to your zeal to surmount them, for now hath arrived the time forperfectly accomplishing our vows in sacrificing ourselves for ourbrethren, for the defense of the eastern church, and the holysepulcher…”“For you, our dear brothers in Europe, whom the same engagementsand the same vows ought to make keenly alive to our misfortunes, joinyourselves to our chief, enter into his views, second his designs, fail notto sell everything; come to the rescue; it is from you we await libertyand life 27 !” [52] [53]On the receipt of this letter, the Master of the Temple, instead ofproceeding to Palestine, abdicated his authority, and entered intothe monastery of Clairvaux, where he devoted the remainder of hisdays to the most rigorous penance and humiliation.60

BERNARD DE TREMELAY. A.D. 1152.Everard was succeeded (A.D. 1151) by Bernard de Tremelay 28 , anobleman of an illustrious family in Burgundy, in France, and avaliant and experienced soldier [54] [55] [56].The infidels made continual incursions into the Christian territories,and shortly after his accession to power they crossed the Jordan,and advanced within sight of Jerusalem. Their yellow and greenbanners waved on the summit of the Mount of Olives, and thewarlike sound of their kettle-drums and trumpets was heard withinthe sacred precincts of the holy city. They encamped on the mountover against the Temple; and had the satisfaction of regarding froma distance the Beit Allah, or Temple of the Lord, their holy house ofprayer. In a night attack, however, they were defeated with terribleslaughter, and were pursued all the way to the Jordan, five thousandof their number being left dead on the plain [57] [53].Shortly after this affair the Templars lost their great patron, SaintBernard, who died on the 20th of April, A.D. 1153, at age sixty-three.On his deathbed he wrote three letters in behalf of the order. Thefirst was addressed to the patriarch of Antioch, exhorting him toprotect and encourage the Templars, a thing which the holy abbotassures him will prove most acceptable to God and man. Thesecond was written to Melesinda, queen of Jerusalem, praising hermajesty for the favor shown by her to the brethren of the order; andthe third, addressed to “Brother André de Montbard, a KnightTemplar, conveys the affectionate salutations of St. Bernard to theMaster and brethren, to whose prayers he recommends himself” [58].61

The same year, at the siege of Ascalon, the Master of the Temple andhis knights attempted alone and unaided to take that important cityby storm. At the dawn of day they rushed through a breach made inthe walls, and penetrated to the center of the town. There theywere surrounded by the infidels and overpowered, and, accordingto the testimony of an eye-witness, who was in the campaign fromits commencement to its close, not a single Templar escaped: theywere slain to a man, and the dead bodies of the Master and his illfatedknights were exposed in triumph from the walls [59] [60].ANDRÉ DE MONTBARD A.D. 1153.Andre de Montbard 29 was the last of the nine Knights who initiallyfounded the Templar Order. He occupied the position of Seneschalfor more than fifteen years before he accepted his nomination asMaster of the Order. This occurred after Bernard de Tremelay diedduring the siege of Ascalon. De Montbard accepted his nominationwith the sole intention of blocking the election of Guillaume deChanaleilles, who was a favorite of Louis VII, King of France.Guillaume de Chanaleilles was son of Guillaume I de Chanaleilles thehero of the First Crusade alongside Raymond IV de Toulouse. Theelection of de Chanaleilles would have permitted King Louis VII tocontrol the Order of the Temple. In turn, that control could havebeen used settled the delicate problem of Aquitaine.When King Louis VII married Alienor of Aquitany the territories ofthe kingdom essentially doubled, such was the estate that came withthe marriage. But, in August 1152, in answer to a request by KingLouis, the Pope annulled the marriage for reasons ofconsanguinity 30 . When Alienor married Henry II Plantagenet of62

England, to whom she bequeathed the same estate, the title to halfof France was a delicate problem indeed. It took the Hundred Yearswar to end the ownership predicament.When Andre de Montbard became Master he was already an oldKnight. He was weary after spending around 25 years in the ranksof the order. As Master, he was not particularly active and in 1156,he forsook his station and retired to the Claivaux Abbey, just asEvrard des Barres had done before him. Andre de Montbard diedsome months later, in October 1156.BERTRAND DE BLANQUEFORT A.D. 1156.De Montbard was succeeded (A.D. 1156) by Brother Bertrand deBlanquefort 31 , a knight of a noble family of Guienne, called byWilliam of Tyre a devout and God-fearing man.The Templars continued to be the leading element in everyencounter with the Moslems, and the Monkish writers take pride inthe number of infidels they sent to hell. A proportionate number ofthe fraternity must at the same time have ascended to heaven, forthe slaughter amongst them was terrific. On Tuesday, June 19, A.D.1156, they were drawn into an ambush while marching withBaldwin, king of Jerusalem, near Tiberias. Three hundred of thebrethren were slain on the field of battle, and eighty-seven fell intothe hands of the enemy, among whom was Bertrand de Blanqueforthimself, and Brother Odo, marshal of the kingdom 32 . [61] [62]Shortly afterwards, thirty Knights Templars put to flight,slaughtered, and captured, two hundred infidels 33 ; and in a nightattack on the camp of Nūr ad-Dīn, they compelled that famouschieftain to fly, without arms and half-naked, from the field of battle.63

In this last affair the names of Robert Mansel, an Englishman, andGilbert de Lacy, preceptor of the Temple of Tripoli, are honorablymentioned [63]. The services of the Templars were gratefullyacknowledged in Europe, and the Pope, in a letter written in theirbehalf to the Archbishop of Rheims, his legate in France,characterizes them as “New Maccabees, far famed and most valiantchampions of the Lord.” “The assistance,” says the Pope, “by thoseholy warriors to all Christendom, their zeal and valor, and untiringexertions in defending from the persecution and suitability of thefilthy Pagans, those sacred places which have been enlightened by thecorporal presence of our Savior, we doubt not have been spreadabroad throughout the world, and are known, not only to theneighboring nations, but to all those who dwell at the remotestcorners of the earth.” The holy pontiff exhorts the archbishop toprocure for them all the assistance possible, both in men and horses,and to exert himself in their favor among all his subordinate bishops[64].The fiery zeal and warlike enthusiasm of the Templars wereequaled, if not surpassed, by the unyielding fanaticism and religiousfervor of the followers of Mohammed. “Nūr ad-Dīn fought,” says hiseastern biographer, “like the meanest of his soldiers, saying, ‘Alas! it isnow a long time that I have been seeking martyrdom without beingable to obtain it.’ The Imaum Koteb-ed-din, hearing him on oneoccasion utter these words, exclaimed, ‘In the name of God do not putyour life in danger, do not thus expose Islam and the Moslems. Youare their stay and support, and if (but God preserve us therefrom) youshould be slain, it will be all up with us.’ ‘Ah! Koteb-ed-deen,’ he said,‘what have you said, who can save Islam 34 and our country, but thatgreat God who has no equal?’ ‘What,’ said he, on another occasion, ‘dowe not look to the security of our houses against robbers andplunderers, and shall we not defend religion?’” [65]Like the Templars, Nūr ad-Dīn fought constantly with spiritual andwith fleshly weapons. He resisted the world and its temptations byfasting and prayer, and by the daily exercise of the moral andreligious duties and virtues taught by the Koran. He fought with the64

sword against the foes of Islam, and employed his whole energies, tothe last hour of his life, in the enthusiastic and fanatic struggle forthe recovery of Jerusalem 35 . [66]The close points of resemblance, indeed, between the religiousfanaticism of the Templars and that of the Moslems are strikinglyremarkable. In the Moslem camp, we are told by the Arabianwriters, all profane and frivolous conversation was severelyprohibited; the exercises of religion were assiduously practiced, andthe intervals of action were engaged in prayer, meditation, and thestudy of the Koran.The Templars style themselves “The Avengers of Jesus Christ,” andthe “instruments and ministers of God for the punishment of infidels,”and the Pope and the holy fathers of the church proclaim that it isspecially entrusted to them “to blot out from the earth allunbelievers,” and they extend the joys of paradise as the gloriousreward for the dangers and difficulties of the task [67]. “In fightingfor Christ,” declares St. Bernard, in his address to the Templars, “thekingdom of Christ is acquired… Go forth, therefore, O soldiers, in noway mistrusting, and with a fearless spirit cast down the enemies ofthe cross of Christ, in the certain assurance that neither in life nor indeath can you be separated from the love of God which is in ChristJesus, repeating to yourselves in every danger, whether we live orwhether we die we are the Lord’s. How gloriously do the victorsreturn from the fight, how happy do the martyrs die in battle! Rejoice,valiant champion, if thou livest and conquerest in the Lord, but rejoicerather and glory if you should die and be joined to the Lord. … If thoseare happy who die in the Lord, how much more so are those who diefor the Lord! … Precious in the sight of God will be the death of hisholy soldiers.”BERTRAND DE BLANQUEFORT. A.D. 1156.“The sword,” says the prophet Mohammed, on the other hand, “is thekey of heaven and of hell; a drop of blood shed in the cause of God, anight spent in arms, is of more benefit than two months of fasting andof prayer. Whosoever falls in battle, his sins are forgiven him at the65

day of judgment. His wounds will be brilliant as vermilion 36 , andfragrant as musk, and the loss of limbs shall be resupplied by thewings of angels and of cherubims.”Thus writes the eminent Caliph Abubeker, the successor ofMohammed, to the Arabian tribes:“In the name of the most merciful GOD, Abdollah Athich Ib’n AbiKohapha, to the rest of the true believers.” … “This is to acquaint you,that I intend to send the true believers into Syria, to take it out of thehands of the infidels, and I would have you to know, that the fightingfor religion is an act of obedience to GOD.”“Remember,” said the same heir of the prophet and commander ofthe faithful, to the holy warriors who had assembled in obedience tohis mandate, “that you are always in the presence of God, on the vergeof death, in the assurance of judgment, and the hope of paradise.…When you fight the battles of the Lord, exonerate yourselves likemen, and turn not your backs.”The prowess and warlike daring of the Templars in the field aredescribed by St. Bernard:“When the conflict has begun, then at length they throw aside theirformer meekness and gentleness, exclaiming, ‘I do not I hate them, OLord, that hate you, and am I not grieved with those who rise upagainst you?’ They rush in upon their adversaries, they scatter themlike sheep, in no way fearing, though few in number, the fiercebarbarism or the immense multitude of the enemy. They have learnedindeed to rely, not on their own strength, but to count on victorythrough the aid of the Lord God Sabaoth 37 , to whom they believe iteasy enough, according to the words of Maccabees, to make an end ofmany by the hands of a few, for victory in battle depends not on themultitude of the army, but on the strength given from on high, which,indeed, they have very frequently experienced, since one of them willpursue a thousand, and two will put to flight ten thousand. Indeed,and lastly, in a wonderful and remarkable manner, they are observedto be both more gentle than lambs, and more fierce than lions, so that66

I almost doubt which I had better determine to call them, monks intruth, or soldiers, unless perhaps, as more fitting, I should name themboth the one and the other.” [68]At a later period, James of Vitry, Bishop of Acre, the frequentcompanion of the Knights Templars on their military expeditions,describes the religious and military enthusiasm of the Templars:“When summoned to arms they never demand the number of theenemy, but where are they? Lions they are in war, gentle lambs in theconvent; fierce soldiers in the field, hermits and monks in religion; tothe enemies of Christ ferocious and relentless, but to Christians kindand gracious. They carry before them, to battle, a banner, half blackand white, which they call Beau-seant, that is to say, in the Gallictongue, Bien-seant, because they are fair and favorable to the friendsof Christ, but black and terrible to his enemies 38 .” [17]BERTRAND DE BLANQUEFORT. A.D. 1158.Among the many instances of the fanatical zeal of the Moslemwarriors, are the following, extracted from The Conquest of Syriacommonly ascribed to Muḥammad ibn ‘Umar al- Wāqidī, Cadi ofBagdad. In the heat of battle against the Christians under the wallsof Emesa, a valiant Saracen youth says, “I think I see the black-eyedgirls looking upon me, one of whom, should she appear in this world,all mankind would die for love of her; and I see in the hand of one ofthem a handkerchief of green silk, and a cap made of precious stones,and she beckons me, and calls out, Come here quickly, for I love you.”With these words, charging the infidels, he made havoc wherever hewent, until he was at last struck down by a javelin. When heembraced for the last time his sister and mother, the dying Arabianwarrior said, “It is not the fading pleasure of this world that hasprompted me to devote my life in the cause of religion, I seek the favorof God and his apostle, and I have heard from one of the companionsof the prophet, that the spirits of the martyrs will be lodged in thecrops of green birds who taste the fruits and drink of the waters ofparadise. Farewell; we shall meet again among the groves and thefountains which God has prepared for his elect.” [69] [70] [71]67

The Master of the Temple, Brother Bertrand de Blanquefort, wasliberated from captivity at the request of Manuel Comnenus 39 ,Emperor of Constantinople [72]. After his release he wrote severalletters to Louis VII., king of France, describing the condition andprospects of the Holy Land; the increasing power and boldness ofthe infidels; and the ruin and desolation caused by a dreadfulearthquake, which had destroyed numerous castles, leveled thewalls and defenses of several towns, and swallowed up the homes ofthe citizens. He says, “The persecutors of the church make haste totake advantage of our misfortunes; they gather themselves togetherfrom the ends of the earth, and come forth as one man against thesanctuary of God.” [73] [74]BERTRAND DE BLANQUEFORT. A.D. 1159.It was during his mastership, that Geoffrey, the Knight Templar, andHugh of Cæsarea, were sent on an embassy into Egypt, and had aninterview with the Caliph. They were introduced into the palace ofthe Fatimites through a series of low passages and glitteringentryways, amid the singing of birds and the murmur of fountains;the scene was enriched by a display of costly furniture and rareanimals; and the lengthy order of hinged doors was guarded byblack soldiers and domestic eunuchs. The sanctuary of the presencechamber was veiled with a curtain, and the vizier 40 who conductedthe ambassadors laid aside his scimetar 41 , and prostrated himselfthree times on the ground; the veil was then removed, and they sawthe Commander of the Faithful [75].Brother Bertrand de Blanquefort, in his letters to the king of France,gives an account of the military operations undertaken by the Orderof Temple in Egypt, and of the capture of the populous andimportant city of Belbeis, the ancient Pelusium [73]. During theabsence of the Master with the greater part of the fraternity on thatexpedition, the sultan Nūr ad-Dīn invaded Palestine; he defeatedwith terrible slaughter, the serving brethren and Turcopoles 42 , orlight horse cavalry of the order, who remained to defend the68

country, and sixty of the knights who commanded them were leftdead on the plain [73].BERTRAND DE BLANQUEFORT. A.D. 1164.The zeal and devotion of the Templars in the service of Christcontinued to be the theme of praise and of admiration both in theeast and in the west. Pope Alexander III., in his letters, characterizesthem as the stout champions of Jesus Christ, who fought a divinewarfare, and daily laid down their lives for their brethren, “Webeseech and we chide your fraternity,” he says, addressing thearchbishops and bishops, “that out of love to God, and of reverence tothe blessed Peter and ourselves, and also out of regard for thesalvation of your own souls, you do favor, and support, and honorthem [the Templars], and preserve all their rights entire and intact,and afford them the benefit of your patronage and protection. [62]”Amalric I 43 , king of Jerusalem, the successor of Baldwin the Third, ina letter “to his dear friend and father,” Louis the Seventh, king ofFrance, implores the good offices of that monarch in behalf of all thedevout Christians of the Holy Land; “but above all,” he says, “weearnestly entreat your Majesty constantly to extend to the utmostyour favor and regard to the Brothers of the Temple, who continuallyrender up their lives for God and the faith, and through whom we dothe little that we are able to effect, for in them indeed, after God, isplaced the entire reliance of all those in the eastern regions who treadin the right path.” … [73] [76]PHILIP OF NAPLOUS. A.D. 1167.The Master, Brother Bertrand de Blanquefort, was succeeded (A.D.1167,) by Philip of Naplous 44 , the first Master of the Temple who69

had been born in Palestine 45 . He had been Lord of the fortresses ofKrak and Montreal in Arabia Petræa 46 , and took the vows and thehabit of the order of the Temple after the death of his wife [53].Arabia Petræa, also called Provincia Arabia or simply Arabia, was a frontierprovince of the Roman Empire beginning in the 2nd century; it consisted ofthe former Nabataean kingdom in modern Jordan, southern modern Syria, the70

Sinai Peninsula and northwestern Saudi Arabia. Its capital was Petra. It wasbordered on the north by Syria, on the west by Iudaea and Aegyptus.We now pause to take a glance at the rise of another great religiomilitaryinstitution which, from henceforth, takes a leading part inthe defense of the Latin kingdom.In the eleventh century, when pilgrimages to Jerusalem had greatlyincreased, some Italian merchants of Amalfi 47 , who carried on alucrative trade with Palestine, purchased from the CaliphMonstasser-billah 48 , a piece of ground in the Christian quarter of theHoly City 49 , near the Church of the Resurrection, whereon twohospitals were constructed, the one being appropriated for thereception of male pilgrims, and the other for females. Several piousand charitable Christians, chiefly from Europe, devoted themselvesin these hospitals to constant attendance to the sick and destitute.Two chapels were erected, the one annexed to the female institutionwas dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene, and the other to St. John theEleemosynary 50 , a canonized patriarch of Alexandria, remarkablefor his exceeding charity. The spiritual and kind-hearted peoplewho attended on the sick pilgrims here, clothed the naked and fedthe hungry, were called “The Hospitaliers of Saint John.” [77]Upon the conquest of Jerusalem by the Crusaders, these benevolentpeople were naturally regarded with the greatest esteem andreverence by their fellow-Christians from the west. Many of thesoldiers of the Cross, enamored with their piety and zeal, desired toparticipate in their good organization. The Hospitaliers, invigoratedby the religious enthusiasm of the day, decided to renounce theworld, and devote the remainder of their lives to spiritual dutiesand constant attendance upon the sick. They took the customarymonastic vows of obedience, chastity, and poverty, and assumed astheir distinguishing habit a black mantle with a white cross on thebreast. They were granted various lands and possessions by thelords and princes of the Crusade, both in Palestine and in Europe,and the order of the hospital of St. John swiftly became a great andpowerful institution [78].71

Gerard, a native of Provence, was the head of the society, with thetitle of “Guardian of the Poor.” He was succeeded (A.D. 1118) byRaymond Dupuy, a knight of Dauphiné, who drew up a series ofrules for the direction and government of his brethren. In theserules there are no traces of the military spirit which afterwardsanimated the order of the Hospital of St. John. The Abbé de Vertot,from a desire perhaps to pay tribute to the Order of Malta, carriedback the assumption of arms of the Hospitaliers in the year 1119,and describes them as fiercely engaged under the command ofRaymond Dupuy, in the battle fought between the Christians andZahir ad-Din Toghtekin 51 , Sultan of Damascus. However, none of thehistorians of the period make any mention whatever of theHospitaliers in that action. De Vertot quotes no authority in supportof his statement, and it appears to be a mere fiction [79].The first authentic communication of an intention on the part of theHospitaliers to occupy themselves with military matters, occurs inthe bull of Pope Innocent the Second, dated A.D. 1130. This bull isaddressed to the archbishops, bishops, and clergy of the churchuniversal, and informs them that the Hospitaliers then retained, attheir own expense, a body of horsemen and foot soldiers, to defendthe pilgrims in going to and in returning from the holy places. Thepope observes that the funds of the hospital were insufficient toenable them to fulfill effectively the devout and holy task, and heexhorts the archbishops, bishops, and clergy, to minister to thenecessities of the order out of their abundant property [79]. TheHospitaliers consequently at this period had resolved to add thetask of protecting to that of tending and relieving pilgrims 52 .After the accession (A.D. 1168) of Gilbert d’Assalit to theguardianship of the Hospital—a man described by De Vertot as“bold and enterprising, and of an extravagant genius”—a militaryspirit was infused into the Hospitaliers, which quickly outweighedtheir spiritual and charitable zeal in attending to the poor and thesick. Gilbert d’Assalit was the friend and confidant of Amalric I, kingof Jerusalem, and together they planned a malicious invasion ofEgypt in defiance of treaties. The Master of the Temple was72

consulted concerning the expedition, flatly refused to have anythingto do with it, or to allow a single brother of the order of the Templeto accompany the king in arms; “For it appeared a hard matter to theTemplars,” says William of Tyre, “to wage war without cause, indefiance of treaties, and against all honor and conscience, upon afriendly nation, preserving faith with us, and relying on our ownfaith.” [66] Consequently, Gilbert d’Assalit determined to obtain forthe king from his own brethren that aid which the Templars denied;and to seduce the Hospitaliers to arm themselves generally as agreat military society, in imitation of the Templars [17]. To join theexpedition to Egypt, Gilbert d’Assalit was authorized to promisethem, in the name of the king, the possession of the wealthy andimportant city of Belbeis 53 , the ancient Pelusium, in perpetualsovereignty [66].According to De Vertot, the senior Hospitaliers were greatlyopposed to the military projects of their chief: “They insisted,” hesays, “that they were a religious order, and that the church had notput arms into their hands to make conquests 54 ;” [79] but the youngerand more eager of the brethren, burning to exchange themonotonous life of the monastery for the enterprise and activity ofthe camp, received the proposals of their superior with enthusiasm,and a majority of the chapter decided in favor of the plans andprojects of their Guardian. They authorized him to borrow moneyfrom the Florentine and Genoese merchants, to take mercenariesinto the pay of the order, and to organize the Hospitaliers as a greatmilitary society.Gilbert d’Assalit roused himself with great energy in the executionof these schemes. He wrote letters to the king of France for aid andassistance [73], and borrowed money of the emperor ofConstantinople. De Vertot says, “Assalit, with this money, puttogether a great body of troops, which he took into the pay of theorder; and as his thought was entirely taken up with flattering hopesof conquest, he drew by his imprudent liberalities a great number ofvolunteers into his service, who like him already shared in dreams allthe riches of Egypt.” [79]73

PHILIP OF NAPLOUS. A.D. 1168.It was in the first year of the government of Philip of Naplous (A.D.1168) that the king of Jerusalem and the Hospitaliers marched forthon their memorable and unfortunate expedition. The Egyptianswere taken completely by surprise; the city of Belbeis was carriedby assault, and the defenseless inhabitants were brutallymassacred; “they spared,” says De Vertot, “neither old men norwomen, nor children at the breast,” after which the desolated citywas delivered up to the brethren of the Hospital of St. John. Theyheld it, however, for a very brief period. The immorality, thecruelty, and the injustice of the Christians, rapidly met with fittingpunishment. The king of Jerusalem was driven back into Palestine;Belbeis was abandoned with abrupt haste; and the Hospitaliers fledbefore the infidels in sorrow and disappointment to Jerusalem.There they vented their indignation and chagrin on the unfortunateGilbert d’Assalit, their superior, who had placed the order into debtto the extent of 100,000 pieces of gold; they compelled him to resignhis authority, and the unfortunate guardian of the hospital fled fromPalestine to England, and was drowned in the Channel [66] [80][79].During this period, however, the character of the order of theHospital of St. John was entirely changed; the Hospitaliers appearhenceforth as a great military body; their superior styles himselfMaster, and leads in person the brethren into the field of battle.Attendance to the poor and the sick still continued, indeed, one ofthe duties of the fraternity, but it must have been feebly exercisedamid the clash of arms and the excitement of war.Notes1 Hugues de Payens (also Hughes de Payns ([yɡ də pɛ̃]), Hughes de Pagan (English:Hugh of Payens or Hugh Pagan) (c. 1070–1136), a French knight from theChampagne region, was the co-founder and first Grand Master of the Knights74

Templar. With Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, he created the Latin Rule, the code ofbehavior for the Order.2 Robert de Craon (died January 13, 1147) was the second Grand Master of theKnights Templar, from June 1136 until his death. He was born around the turn ofthe 12th century, the youngest of the three sons of Renaud de Craon. He settled inAquitaine and was engaged to the daughter of the lord of Angoumois, but gave uphis wedding and travelled to Palestine after learning of the foundation of theTemplar Order by Hughes de Payens. He soon showed his military valour and hispiety, and in 1136, after the death of Hughes, he was chosen as the new GrandMaster. He proved to be a brilliant organizer and legislator, and turned the Orderinto a major force in the Crusader states. On March 29, 1139, Pope Innocent IIissued the Bull Omne Datum Optimum, which exempted the order from tithes andmade them independent of any ecclesiastical jurisdiction. The Templars were alsogranted the habit of a red cross over a white tunic, which has since become thepopular image of any crusader.3 A religious habit is a distinctive set of garments worn by members of a religiousorder. Traditionally some plain garb recognisable as a religious habit has also beenworn by those leading the religious eremitic and anachoritic life, although in theircase without conformity to a particular uniform style.4 “Miles eximius et in armis strenuus, nobilis carne et moribus, dominus Robertuscognomine Burgundio Magister militiæ Templi.” (tr. Latin: “Energetic and anexcellent soldier in arms, a noble and good manner of the flesh, the Lord Robert ofBurgundy, surnamed the host of the Master of the Temple.”) [36]5 Nūr ad-Dīn (Nuoradden)was the second son of Imad ad-Din Zengi, the Turkishatabeg of Aleppo and Mosul, who was a devoted enemy of the crusader presence inSyria. After the assassination of his father, Nūr ad-Dīn and his older brother Saifad-Din Ghazi I divided the kingdom among themselves, with Nūr ad-Dīn governingAleppo and Saif ad-Din Ghazi establishing himself in Mosul. The border betweenthe two new kingdoms was formed by the Nahr al-Khabur. Almost as soon as hebegan his rule, Nūr ad-Dīn attacked the Principality of Antioch, seizing severalcastles in the north of Syria, while at the same time he defeated an attempt byJoscelin II to recover the County of Edessa, which had been conquered by Zengi in1144. Nūr ad-Dīn exiled the entire Christian population of the city, in punishmentfor assisting Joscelin. According to William of Tyre, although Nūr ad-Dīn was "amighty persecutor of the Christian name and faith," he was also "a just prince,valiant and wise, and according to the traditions of his race, a religious man."6 “Vir eximius frater militiæ Templi Otto de Monte Falconis, omnes de morte suâmœrore et gemitu conficiens, occisus est.”(tr. Latin: “Super man, the brother of Ottothe host of the Temple Mount of the Falcons, all of the death of its own sorrow, andsighing, GIVING, was killed.”) [36].7 Present-day Hims, Syria, near Qattinah Lake.75

8 Near present-day Narif NE oh Hims, Syria.9 Present-day Baalbek, Lebanon.10 Located in present-day Armenia.11 Present-day Erfa, Turkey12 Near the Nahr 'lfrin River, Aleppo Governorate, Syria13 In the Jabal ‘Âmila mountains in the district of Halab, Syria.14 On Hwy. M5 about 25 mi. SBSE of Aleppo, Syria.15 Belfort Castle near present-day Deir Mimas, Lebenon.16 Near Bmahray, Lebanon.17 Tarikh Abu al-Fida (History of Abu al-Fida, his chief historical work is AnAbridgment of the History at the Human Race, in the form of annals extending fromthe creation of the world to the year 1329 (Constantinople, 2 vols. 1869). Thesection dealing with the pre-Islamitic period was edited with Latin translation byH. O. Fleischer under the title Abulfedae Historia Ante-Islamica (Leipzig, 1831).The part dealing with the Mahommedan period was edited, also with Latintranslation, by J. J. Reiske as Annales Moslemici (5 vols., Copenhagen, 1789-1794).18 Everard des Barres (also Eberhard von Barres or Eberhard De Bären) (died1174) was the third Grand Master of the Knights Templar from 1147 to 1151. AsPreceptor of the Templars in France from 1143, he was one of the highestdignitaries of the Order when Robert de Craon died in 1147. He was chosen tosucceed Robert, and as soon as he was elected, he accompanied Louis VII of Franceon the Second Crusade, and was among those sent ahead to Constantinople beforeLouis' arrival there. He later saved Louis during a battle with the Seljuk Turks inPisidia.19 Odo de Diogilo, a monk of St. Denis was the private chaplain to King Louis VIIduring the Second Crusade. In writing about his experiences, the Christian monkcommented in some detail about the conduct of his Muslim opponents during thiswar, specifically noting the manner in which Muslim soldiers treated the survivingCrusaders of the Second Crusade. He noted that the Muslims were moved to pity atthe sight of Crusaders' misery, tended the sick, gave money to the poor, and fed thestarving. De Diogilo contrasted that aid and comfort with the oppression theseCrusaders had received from their Christian co-religionists of the ByzantiumEmpire. As a result of the Islamic conduct of the Muslims, de Diogilo reported thatover 3,000 of the surviving Crusaders converted to Islam and joined the MuslimArmy [272].20 “In the name of the holy and undivided Trinity lords and all his friends, and of theHoly the children of the church of God, Bernard of Baliolo Greeting. I want to bemade known to all present and future as well, which is for the love of God and forthe salvation of my soul, my brethren, the soldiers of the temple of Solomon76

ancestors which Wedelee have given and granted, etc. ... This is a gift to the chapter,that in the octave of Easter was at Paris, I have done, apostolic lord Eugenius beingpresent, and the king of France and the Archbishop of Seuver him, and Bardell andat Rouen, and Frascumme, the soldiers of the Temple and his brothers clad in whitechlamide or cloak.”21 “Rex per aliquot dies in Palatio Templariorum, ubi olim Regia Domus, quæ etTemplum Salomonis constructa fuit manens, et sancta ubique loca peragrans, perSamariam ad Galilæam Ptolemaidam rediit. …. Convenerat enim cum regemilitibusque Templi, circa proximum Julium, in Syriam ad expugnationem Damasciexercitum ducere” (tr. Latin: “King of the Templars for several days in the palace,where in times past the royal palace, and it remains the temple of Solomon wasbuilt, and the holy places peragrans everywhere, to the Galilee through Samaria, hereturned to Ptolemais. ... Agreed with the king for soldiers of the Temple, aboutJulius neighbor, to lead an army of Damascus in Syria, the assault”).22 Vicegerent is the official administrative deputy of a ruler or head of state.23 The Battle of the Standard, sometimes called the Battle of Northallerton, in whichEnglish forces repelled a Scottish army, took place on 22 August 1138 on CowtonMoor near Northallerton in Yorkshire. The Scottish forces were led by King David Iof Scotland. The English were commanded by William of Aumale.24 Advowson is the right in English law of a patron (avowee) to present or appoint anominee to a vacant ecclesiastical benefice or church living, a process known aspresentation. In effect this means the right to nominate a person to hold a churchoffice in a parish. It is also known as advocation or patronage.25 Geoffrey of Clairvaur observes, however, that the second crusade could hardly becalled unfortunate, since, though it did not at all help the Holy Land, it served topeople heaven with martyrs.26 His head and right hand were cut off by Noureddin, and sent to the caliph atBagdad [51].27 History of the first in the book of Tacitus: “smooth things, the worst affections oftruth poison.” Arnulf, Bishop of Lexoviensis noted in the book published in hisletter to king Henry the second Spicilegii Dacheriani page 2. 497: “Better are thetruly severe counsels as the lover of seeming deceitful flattery.”28 Bernard de Tramelay (died August 16, 1153) was the fourth Grand Master of theKnights Templar. He was born in the castle of Tramelay near Saint-Claude in theJura. According to Du Cange, he succeeded a certain Hugues as Master of theTemple, although this Hugues is otherwise unknown. He was elected Grand Masterin June of 1151, after the abdication of Everard des Barres, who had returned toFrance following the Second Crusade. King Baldwin III of Jerusalem granted himthe ruined city of Gaza, which Bernard rebuilt for the Templars. In 1153 theTemplars participated in the Battle of Ascalon, a fortress at that time controlled byEgypt. The Templars constructed a siege tower, which was burned down by the77

Egyptian soldiers inside Ascalon. The wind caught the flames and part of the wallsof Ascalon burned down as well. According to William of Tyre, knights of the Orderrushed through the breach without Baldwin's knowledge while Bernard preventedother crusaders from following, as he did not want to share the spoils of the citywith the king. Bernard and about forty of his Templars were killed by the largerEgyptian garrison. Their bodies were displayed on the ramparts and their headswere sent to the sultan. Other more modern accounts say that William of Tyre'sversion may have been distorted, since it may have been based on the defensiveaccounts given by the army's commanders as to why they did not follow theTemplars into the breach.29 André de Montbard (5. November c. 1097 – 17 January 1156) was the fifth GrandMaster of the Knights Templar and also one of the founders of the Order. TheMontbard family came from Hochadel in Burgundy, and André was an uncle of St.Bernard of Clairvaux, being a half-brother of Bernard's mother Aleth de Montbard.He entered the Order in 1129 and went to Palestine, where he quickly rose to therank of seneschal, deputy and second-in-command to the Grand Master. After theSiege of Ascalon on 22 August 1153, André was elected Grand Master to replaceBernard de Tremelay, who had been killed during an assault on the city on 16August.30 Consanguinity ("con- (with/together) sanguine (blood) -ity (noun marker)")refers to the property of being from the same kinship as another person. In thatrespect, consanguinity is the quality of being descended from the same ancestor asanother person. Consanguinity is an important legal concept in that the laws ofmany jurisdictions consider consanguinity as a factor in deciding whether twoindividuals may be married or whether a given person inherits property when adeceased person has not left a will.31 Bertrand de Blanchefort (or Blanquefort) was the sixth Grand Master of theKnights Templar, from 1156 until his death in 1169. He is known as a greatreformer of the order. He was born around 1109, although no exact date isrecorded. The Obituary at Reims gives his death as 2 January 1169. He was theyoungest of a family of boys, the children of Lord Godfrey de Blanchefort ofGuyenne. He trained in combat from a young age, but during his time as GrandMaster, placed more emphasis on reform and negotiation. This helped to foster theTemplars image as guardians, not brutes.32 “Captus est inter cæteros ibi Bertrandus de Blanquefort, Magister Militiæ Templi,vir religiosus ac timens Deum” (tr. Latin: “Bertrand was taken there, among the restof Blanquefort, Master of the Soldiers of the Temple, a man of the religious andGod-fearing”).33 “Milites Templi circa triginta, ducentos Paganorum euntes ad nuphas verterent infugam, et divino præsidio comitante, omnes partim ceperunt, partim gladiotrucidarunt” (tr. Latin: “The soldiers of the temple about the thirty, two hundred78

Pagans nuphas going to turn to flight, and to divine, accompanied by the hold, alltook partly, and partly by the sword slew”). [62]34 Islam, the name of the Mahometan religion. The word signifies literally,delivering oneself up to God.35 The virtues of Noureddin are celebrated by the Arabic Historian Ben-Schunah, inhis Raoudhat Almenadhir, by Azzeddin Ebn-al-ather, by Khondemir, and in thework entitled, “The flowers of the two gardens,” by Omaddeddin Kateb.36 Vermilion is an opaque orangish red pigment, similar to scarlet. As a naturallyoccurring mineral pigment, it is known as cinnabar, and was in use around theworld before the Common Era began.37 Hosts; armies: the Lord of Sabaoth. [Latin sabaoth, from Greek sabaōth, fromHebrew ṣəbā'ôt, pl. of ṣābā', army, from ṣābā', to wage war.]38 “Vexillum bipartitum ex Albo et Nigro quod nominant Beau-seant id est Gallialinguâ Bien-seant; eo quod Christi amicis candidi sunt et benigni, inimicis veroterribiles atque nigri.” (tr. Latin: “The flag, be divided from the white and blacktongue which they call the Beau-Bien-Sean Sean Gaul, that is to say that for thatreason that the kind of Christ and his friends are white, black, and the enemies ofthe terrible.”) Jac. de Vitr. Hist. Hierosol. apud Gesta Dei, cap. lxv. The idea is quitean eastern one, black and white being always used among the Arabsmetaphorically, in the sense above described. Their customary salutation is, Mayyour day be white, i. e. may you be happy.39 John Cinnamus (c. 1144 – c. 1203), secretary to the Emporer Manuel, was in thebest position to be well informed about diplomatic relations between the empireand the Crusader States, but his Epitome, written in 1180-3, only covers the period1118-1176.40 The vizier was the highest official in Ancient Egypt to serve the king, or pharaohduring the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms.41 A scimitar is a backsword or sabre with a curved blade, originating in SouthwestAsia (Middle East). The Arabic term saif ‏(فيس)‏ translates to "sword" in general,but is normally taken to refer to the scimitar type of curved backsword inparticular.42 In the Holy Land, turcopoles, turcoples, turcopoli or turcopoliers (from theGreek: Τουρκόπουλοι, "sons of Turks") were locally recruited mounted archersemployed by the Christian states of the Eastern Mediterranean.43 Amalric I of Jerusalem (also Amaury or Aimery) (1136 – 11 July 1174) was Kingof Jerusalem 1163–1174, and Count of Jaffa and Ascalon before his accession.Amalric was the second son of Melisende of Jerusalem and Fulk of Jerusalem. Hewas the father of three rulers of Jerusalem, the eldest Sibylla, the second BaldwinIV, and the third Isabella I, who ruled after the Siege. He was also the father of twoother children: one, with his first wife Agnes de Courtenay, a child named Alix, who79

suffered an infant death, and the other with his second wife Maria Comnena, astillborn.44 Philip of Milly (c. 1120 – April 3, 1171), also known as Philip of Nablus, was abaron in the Kingdom of Jerusalem and the seventh Grand Master of the KnightsTemplar. He briefly employed the troubadour Peire Bremon lo Tort in the HolyLand. Philip was the son of Guy of Milly, a knight, probably from Normandy, whoparticipated in the First Crusade, and his wife Stephanie of Flanders. Guy andStephanie had three sons, all born in the Holy Land, of whom Philip was probablythe oldest. He was first mentioned as Guy's son in 1138, and must have becomelord of Nablus sometime between that date and 1144, when his name appears withthat title. By this time he had also married his wife Isabella. Philip's personal life islargely a mystery. William of Tyre describes him as one of the "brave men, valiantin arms and trained from their earliest years in the art of war" who accompaniedAmalric to Egypt. Sometime after he became lord of Oultrejordain, he made apilgrimage the monastery of St. Catherine on Mount Sinai. With his wife Isabella hehad a son, Rainier (who predeceased him), and two daughters, Helena andStephanie. Isabella died probably in 1166, which may have led to Philip's decisionto take vows as a brother of the Knights Templar. His lands were inherited by hiselder daughter, Helena, wife of Walter III of Brisebarre, lord of Beirut, and afterWalter's death, by Stephanie and her husbands.45 “Dominus fuit Arabiæ secundæ, quæ est Petracensis, qui locus hodie Crach dicitur,et Syriæ Sobal … factus est Magister Militiæ Templi” (tr. Latin: “The Lord was thesecond of Arabia, which is Petracensis, a place Krach this day it is said, and SyriaSobal … was made Master of the Soldiers of the Temple.”)46 Arabia Petræe (Petraea), also called Provincia Arabia or simply Arabia, was afrontier province of the Roman Empire beginning in the 2nd century; it consisted ofthe former Nabataean kingdom in modern Jordan, southern modern Syria, the SinaiPeninsula and northwestern Saudi Arabia. Its capital was Petra. It was bordered onthe north by Syria, on the west by Iudaea and Aegyptus.47 Amalfi is a town and comune in the province of Salerno, in the region ofCampania, Italy, on the Gulf of Salerno, c. 35 km southeast of Naples.48 Fatimid Caliph who led the Shi'a Caliphate to its zenith; Cairo was a center oftrade and intellectual activity during his reign.49 Commerce carried them frequently to Egypt, where, by means of presents, theyobtained access to the Kalif Monstaser-billah, and won him to consent to theerection of a Latin church within the Holy City [77].50 From Medieval Latin eleemosynarius (“alms dispenser”), from Late Latineleemosyna (“alms”), from Ancient Greek ἐλεημοσύνη (eleēmosynē, “alms”), fromἐλεέω (eleëō, “I have mercy”), from ἔλεος (eleos, “pity”).نيدلا رهاظ (Arabic: 51 Zahir ad-Din Toghtekin (also Tughtigin or Toghtekin)(died February 12, 1128) was a Turkish military leader, who was atabeg ) نيكتغط80

of Damascus from 1104 to 1128. He was the founder of the Burid dynasty ofDamascus. Allied with Ilghazi of Aleppo, he attacked Athareb in the ChristianPrincipality of Antioch, but was defeated at Hab on August 14, 1119. In June of thefollowing year he sent help to Ilghazi, who was again under peril of annihilation inthe same place. In 1122 the Fatimids, no longer able to defend Tyre, sold it toToghtekin, who installed a garrison there, but the garrison was unable to preventits capture by the Christians on July 7, 1124.52 “Fratres ejusdem domus non formidantes pro fratribus suis animas ponere; cumservientibus et equitaturis ad hoc officium specialiter deputatis et propriis sumptibusretentis, tam in eundo, quam redcundo ab incursibus Paganorum defensant.” (trLatin: “Friars of this same house do not lay down our lives fearing for his brethren,when, serving and riding at my own expense for this office specially designated andretained, both in going, redcundo than to defend them from the attacks of thePagans.”)53 Bilbeis (Coptic Phelbs; Arabic ‏(سيبلب is an ancient fortress city on the easternedge of the southern Nile delta in Egypt. The city played a role in the machinationsfor control of the Fatimid vizierate: first in 1164, when Shirkuh was besieged in thecity by the combined forces of Shiwar and Amalric I of Jerusalem for three months;then again in 1168 when the city was assaulted again by Amalric's army, who tookthe city after three days on November 4 and indiscriminately killed the inhabitants.This atrocity angered the Coptic Egyptians, who had seen the Crusaders asdeliverers but had suffered as much as the Muslim inhabitants of Bilbeis. The Coptsended their support of the Crusaders and united with their non-Christianneighbors against the foreigners.54 This assumption of arms by the Hospitallers was entirely at variance with theoriginal end and object of their institution. Pope Anastasius, in a papal bull datedA.D. 1154, observes, “omnia vestra sustentationibus peregrinorum et pauperumdebent cedere, ac per hoc nullatenus alas usibus ea convenit applicari.” (tr. Latin: “allyour support of strangers and the poor should be employed, and therefore no wayto use those wings to be applied.”)—De Vertot, liv. L preuve 13.81

CHAPTER 4. 1170 – 1185“The firmest bulwark of Jerusalem was founded on the knightsof the Hospital of St. John and of the Temple of Solomon; on thestrange association of a monastic and military life, whichfanaticism might suggest, but of which policy must approve.The flower of the nobility of Europe aspired to wear the crossand profess the vows of these respectable orders; their spiritand discipline were immortal; and the speedy donation oftwenty-eight thousand farms or manors enabled them tosupport a regular force of cavalry and infantry for the defenseof Palestine.”--Gibbon.ODO DE ST. AMAND. A.D. 1170.The Master, Philip of Naplous, resigned his authority after a shortadministration of three years, and was succeeded by Brother Odo deSt. Amand 1 , a proud and fiery warrior, of undaunted courage andresolution. He had, according to William, Archbishop of Tyre 2 , “thefear neither of God nor of man before his eyes” [54].The Templars were now destined to meet with a more formidableopponent than any they had yet encountered in the field, one whowas again to cause the crescent to triumph over the cross, and toplant the standard of the prophet upon the walls of the holy city.When the Fatimite caliph had received intelligence of Amalric’sinvasion of Egypt, he sent the hair of his women, one of the greatesttokens of distress known in the East, to the pious Nūr ad-Dīn, thesultan of Aleppo. Nūr ad-Dīn immediately dispatched a body oftroops to his assistance, headed by Sheerkoh, and his nephew,83

Youseef Ben-Acoub-Ben-Schadi, the famous Saladin. Sheerkoh diedimmediately after his arrival, and Saladin succeeded to hiscommand, and was appointed vizier 3 of the caliph. Saladin hadpassed his youth in pleasure and debauchery, sloth and indolence;he had resigned with regret the delights of Damascus for the dustyplains of Egypt. If not for the unjustifiable expedition of KingAmalric and the Hospitaliers against the infidels, the powerfultalents and the latent energies of the young Courdish chieftain,which altogether changed the face of affairs in the East, would in allprobability never have been developed.As soon as Saladin grasped the power of the sword, and obtainedthe command of armies, he threw off the follies of his youth, and leda new life. He renounced the pleasures of the world, and assumedthe character of a saint. His dress was a coarse woolen garment;water was his only drink; and he carefully abstained fromeverything disapproved of by the Moslem religion. Five times eachday he prostrated himself in public prayer, surrounded by hisfriends and followers, and his demeanor became grave, serious, andthoughtful. He fought vigorously with spiritual weapons against thetemptations of the world; his nights were often spent in watchingand meditation, and he was always diligent in fasting and in thestudy of the Koran. With the same zeal he combated with carnalweapons the foes of Islam, and his admiring brethren gave him thename of Salah-ed-deen, “Integrity of Religion,” crudely calledSaladin.At the head of forty thousand horse and foot soldiers, he crossed thedesert and ravaged the borders of Palestine. The wild Bedouins andthe enthusiastic Arabians of the far south were gathered togetherunder his standard, and hastened with holy zeal to obtain the crownof martyrdom in defense of the faith. The long remembered andgreatly dreaded Arab shout of commencement, Allah acbar, GOD isvictorious, again resounded through the plains and the mountains ofPalestine, and the grand religious struggle for the possession of theholy city of Jerusalem, equally reverenced by Moslems and byChristians, was once more vigorously begun. Saladin besieged the84

fortified city of Gaza, which belonged to the Knights Templars, andwas considered to be the key of Palestine on the way to Egypt. Theluxuriant gardens, the palm and olive groves of this city of thewilderness, were destroyed by the wild cavalry of the desert, andthe innumerable tents of the Arab host were thickly clustered on theneighboring sand-hills. The warlike monks of the Temple fastedand prayed, and invoked the aid of the God of battles; the gates ofthe city were thrown open, and in an unexpected sally upon theenemy’s camp they performed such wonders of valor, that Saladin,despairing of being able to take the place, abandoned the siege, andretired into Egypt [54] [66] [53].Saladin, played by Ghassan Massoud, rides with his army in Kingdom ofHeaven, directed by Ridley Scott.The year following, Pope Alexander’s famous bull, omne datumoptimum, A.D. 1139, confirming the previous privileges of theTemplars, and conferring upon them additional powers andimmunities, was published in England. It commences in thefollowing terms [81] [82] [76]:“Alexander, bishop, servant of the servants of God, to his beloved sons,Odo, Master of the religious chivalry of the Temple, which is situatedat Jerusalem, and to his successors, and to all the regularly professedbrethren”.“Every good gift and every perfect reward cometh from above,descending from the Father of light, with whom there is no change85

nor shadow of variety 4 . Therefore, O dearly loved children in the Lord,we praise the Almighty God, in respect of your holy fraternity, sinceyour religion and respected institution are celebrated throughout theentire world. For although by nature you are children of wrath, andslaves to the pleasures of this life, yet by a favoring grace you have notremained deaf hearers of the gospel, but, throwing aside all earthlypomps and enjoyments, and rejecting the broad road which leads todeath, you have humbly chosen the arduous path to everlasting life.Faithfully fulfilling the character of soldiery of the Lord, youconstantly carry upon your breasts the sign of the life-giving cross.Moreover, like true Israelites, and most instructed fighters of thedivine battle, inflamed with true charity, you fulfill by your works theword of the gospel which says, ‘Greater love has no man than this, thata man lay down his life for his friends;’ so that, in obedience to thevoice of the great Shepherd, you in no manner fear to lay down yourlives for your brethren, and to defend them from the inroad of thepagans; and you may well be termed holy warriors, since you havebeen appointed by the Lord defenders of the catholic church andcombatants of the enemies of Christ.”After this preamble, the pope earnestly exhorts the Templars topursue with unceasing diligence their high vocation; to defend theeastern church with their whole hearts and souls, and to strikedown the enemies of the Cross of Christ. “By the authority of God,and the blessed Peter prince of apostles,” says the holy pontiff, “wehave ordained and do determine, that the Temple in which you aregathered together to the praise and glory of God, for the defense of thefaithful, and the deliverance of the church, shall remain for evermoreunder the safeguard and protection of the holy apostolic see, togetherwith all the goods and possessions which you now lawfully enjoy, andall that you may hereafter rightfully obtain, through the liberality ofChristian kings and princes, and the alms and oblations of thefaithful.”“We moreover by these presents decree, that the regular discipline,which, by divine favor, has been instituted in your house, shall beinviolably observed, and that the brethren who have there dedicated86

themselves to the service of the omnipotent God, shall live together inchastity and without property; and making good their profession bothin word and deed, they shall remain subject and obedient in all thingsto the Master, or to him whom the Master shall have set in authorityover them.”“Moreover, as the chief house at Jerusalem has been the source andfountain of your sacred institution and order, the Master thereof shallalways be considered the head and chief of all the houses and placesappertaining thereunto. And we further decree, that at the decease ofOdo, our beloved son in the Lord, and of each one of his successors, noman shall be set in authority over the brethren of the same house,except he be of the religious and military order; and has regularlyprofessed your habit and fellowship; and has been chosen by all thebrethren unanimously, or, at all events, by the greater part of them.”“And from henceforth it shall not be permitted to any ecclesiastical orsecular person to infringe or diminish the customs and observances ofyour religion and profession, as instituted by the Master and brethrenin common; and those rules which have been put into writing andobserved by you for some time past, shall not be changed or alteredexcept by the authority authority of the Master, with the consent ofthe majority of the chapter.”“… No ecclesiastic or secular person shall dare to exact from theMaster and Brethren of the Temple, oaths, guarantees, or any suchsecurities as are ordinarily required from the laity.”“Since your sacred institution and religious chivalry have beenestablished by divine Providence, it is not fit that you should enter intoany other order with the view of leading a more religious life, for God,who is immutable and eternal, does not approve the inconstant heart;but rather wisdom of the good purpose, when once begun, to bepersevered in to the end of life.”“How many and great persons have pleased the lord of an earthlyempire, under the military girdle and habit! How many anddistinguished men, gathered together in arms, have bravely fought, in87

these our times, in the cause of the gospel of God, and in defense of thelaws of our Father; and, consecrating their hands in the blood of theunbelievers in the Lord, have, after their pains and toil in this world’swarfare, obtained the reward of everlasting life! Do you therefore,both knights and serving brethren, diligently pay attention to yourprofession, and in accordance with the saying of the apostle, ‘Let eachone of you steadfastly remain in the vocation to which you have beencalled.’ We therefore ordain, that when your brethren have oncetaken the vows, and have been received in your sacred college, andhave taken upon themselves your warfare, and the habit of yourreligion, they shall no longer have the power of returning again to theworld; nor can any, after they have once made profession, renouncethe cross and habit of your religion, with the view of entering anotherconvent or monastery of stricter or more lax discipline, without theconsent of the brethren, or Master, or of him whom the Master has setin authority over them; nor shall any ecclesiastic or secular person bepermitted to receive or retain them.”“And since those who are defenders of the church ought to besupported and maintained out of the good things of the church, weprohibit all manner of men from exacting tithes from you in respect ofyour moveables or immoveables, or any of the goods and possessionsappertaining unto your venerable house.”“And that nothing may be wanting to the perfection of your salvation,and the care of your souls; and that you may more convenientlyattend to divine service, and receive the sacraments in your sacredcollege; we in like manner ordain, that it shall be lawful for you toadmit within your fraternity, honest and godly clergymen and priests,as many as you may conscientiously require; and to receive them fromwhatever parts they may come, as well in your chief house atJerusalem, as in all the other houses and places depending upon it, sothat they do not belong to any other religious profession or order, andso that you ask them of the bishop, if they come from theneighborhood; but if perhaps the bishop should refuse, yetnevertheless you have permission to receive and retain them by theauthority of the holy apostolic witness.”88

“If any of these, after they have been professed, should turn out to beuseless, or should become disturbers of your house and religion, itshall be lawful for you, with the consent of the major part of thechapter, to remove them, and give them leave to enter any other orderwhere they may wish to live in the service of God, and to substituteothers in their places who shall undergo a probation of one year inyour society; which term being completed, if their morals render themworthy of your fellowship, and they shall be found fit and proper foryour service, then let them make the regular profession of lifeaccording to your rule, and of obedience to their Master, so that theyhave their food and clothing, and also their lodging, with thefraternity.”“But it shall not be lawful for them presumptuously to take part in thedeliberations of your chapter, or in the government of your house;they are permitted to do so, so far only as they are called for byyourselves. And as regards the cure of souls, they are to occupythemselves with that business so far only as they are required.Moreover, they shall be subject to no person, power, or authority,excepting that of your own chapter, but let them pay perfectobedience, in all matters and upon all occasions, to thee our belovedson in the Lord, Odo, and to thy successors, as their Master andBishop.”“We moreover decree, that it shall be lawful for you to send yourclerks, when they are to be admitted to holy orders, for ordination towhatever catholic bishop you may please, who, clothed with ourapostolical power, will grant them what they require; but we forbidthem to preach with a view of obtaining money, or for any temporalpurpose whatever, unless perhaps the Master of the Temple for thetime being should cause it to be done for some special purpose. Andwhosoever of these are received into your college, they must make thepromise of steadfastness of purpose, of reformation of morals, andthat they will fight for the Lord all the days of their lives, and renderstrict obedience to the Master of the Temple; the book in which thesethings are contained being placed upon the altar.”89

“We moreover, without detracting from the rights of the bishops inrespect of tithes, oblations, and buryings, concede to you the power ofconstructing oratories in the places bestowed upon the sacred houseof the Temple, where you and your retainers and servants may dwell;so that both you and they may be able to assist at the divine offices,and receive there the rite of burial; for it would be unbecoming andvery dangerous to the souls of the religious brethren, if they were tobe mixed up with a crowd of secular persons, and be brought into thecompany of women on the occasion of their going to church. But as tothe tithes, which, by the advice and with the consent of the bishops,you may be able by your zeal to draw out of the hands of the clergy orlaity, and those which with the consent of the bishops you may acquirefrom their own clergy, we confirm to you by our apostolicalauthority.”The above papal bull further provides, in various ways, for thetemporal and spiritual advantage of the Templars, and expresslyextends the special treatment and clemencies, and the apostolicalblessings, to all the serving brethren, as well as to the knights. Italso confers upon the fraternity the important privilege of causingthe churches of towns and villages lying under sentence of sanctionto be opened once a year, and divine service to be celebrated withinthem [83].A papal bull esimilar to the above appears to have been issued byPope Alexander, on the seventh id. Jan. A.D. 1162, addressed to theMaster Bertrand de Blanquefort [11]. Both the above instrumentsare to a great extent merely confirmatory of the privilegespreviously conceded to the Templars.The exercise or the abuse of these powers and immunities speedilybrought the Templars into collision with the clerics. At the generalcouncil of the church, held at Rome, (A.D. 1179,) called the Third ofLateran, a grave reprimand was addressed to them by the holyFathers. “We find,” say they, “by the frequent complaints of thebishops our colleagues, that the Templars and Hospitaliers abuse theprivileges granted them by the Holy See; that the chaplains and90

priests of their rule have caused parochial churches to be conveyedover to themselves without the ordinaries’ consent; that theyadminister the sacraments to excommunicated persons, and burythem with all the usual ceremonies of the church; that they likewiseabuse the permission granted the brethren of having divine servicesaid once a year in places under interdict, and that they admitseculars into their fraternity, pretending thereby to give them thesame right to their privileges as if they were really professed.” 5 Toprovide a remedy for these irregularities, the council forbade themilitary orders to receive for the future any transferals of churchesand tithes without the ordinaries’ 6 consent; that with regard tochurches not found by the Templar, nor served by the chaplains ofthe order, they should present the priests they considered for thepreservation of church to the bishop of the diocese, and reservenothing to themselves but the cognizance of the temporalis (ratherthan clerical or sacred) which belonged to the church; that theyshould not cause service to be held, in churches under interdict,more than once a year, nor give burial there to any personwhatsoever; and that none of their fraternity or associates should beallowed to partake of their privileges, if not actually professed [84].Several bishops from Palestine were present at this council,together with the archbishop of Cæsarea, and William archbishop ofTyre, the great historian of the Latin kingdom.The order of the Temple was, at this period, divided into the threegreat classes of knights, priests, and serving brethren, all boundtogether by their vow of obedience to the Master of the Temple atJerusalem, the chief of the entire fraternity. Every candidate foradmission into the first class must have received the honor ofknighthood in due form, according to the laws of chivalry, before hecould be admitted to the vows; and as no person of low degreecould be advanced to the honors of knighthood, the brethren of thefirst class, i. e. the Knights Templars, were all men of noble birth andof extraordinary valor. Prior to the council of Troyes, the orderconsisted of knights only, but the rule penned by the holy fathers91

directs the admission of esquires and retainers to the vows, in thefollowing terms.“LXI. We have known many out of various provinces, as well retainers 7as esquires 8 , fervently desiring the salvation of their souls to beadmitted for life into our household. It is expedient, therefore, thatyou admit them to the vows, lest perchance the old enemy shouldsuggest something to them while in God’s service by stealth orinappropriateness, and should suddenly drive them from the rightpath.”Hence, there arose the great class of serving brethren, (fratresservientes,) who attended the knights into the field both on foot andon horseback, and added vastly to the power and militaryreputation of the order. The serving brethren were armed withbows, banners, and swords; it was their duty to be always near theknight, to supply him with fresh weapons or a fresh horse in case ofneed, and to render him every assistance in the fight. The esquiresof the knights were generally serving brethren of the order, but theservices of secular persons might be accepted.The order of the Temple always had in its payroll a large number ofretainers, and mercenary troops, both cavalry and infantry, whichwere officered by the knights. These were clothed in black orbrown garments, that they might, in obedience to the rule 9 [85], beplainly distinguished from the professed soldiers of Christ, whowere clothed in white. The black or brown garment was directed tobe worn by all connected with the Templars who had not beenadmitted to the vows, that the holy soldiers might not suffer, incharacter or reputation, from the irregularities of secular men theirdependents 10 . [85]The white mantle of the Templars was a regular monastic habit 11 ,having the red cross on the left breast; it was worn over armor ofchain mail, and could be looped up so as to leave the sword-arm atfull liberty. On his head, the Templar wore a white linen coif 12 , andover that a small round cap made of red cloth. When in the field, an92

iron scull-cap was probably added. We now take a glance at themilitary organization of the order of the Temple, and of the chiefofficers of the society.Next in power and authority to the Master stood the Marshal, whowas charged with the execution of the military arrangements on thefield of battle. He was second in command, and in case of the deathof the Master, the government of the order was entrusted to himuntil the new superior was elected. It was his duty to provide arms,tents, horses, and mules, and all the necessary supplements of war.The Prior or Preceptor of the kingdom of Jerusalem, also called“Grand Preceptor of the Temple,” had the immediate oversight ofthe chief house of the order in the holy city. He was the treasurergeneral of the society, and had charge of all the receipts andexpenditures. During the absence of the Master from Jerusalem, theentire government of the Temple was delegated to him.The Draper was charged with the clothing department, and had todistribute garments “free from the suspicion of arrogance andsuperfluity” to all the brethren. He is directed to take special carethat the habits be “neither too long nor too short, but properlymeasured for the wearer, with equal measure, and with brotherlyregard, that the eye of the whisperer or the accuser may not presumeto notice anything.” 13 [85]The Standard Bearer (Balcanifer) bore the glorious Beauseant 14 , orwar-banner, to the field; he was supported by a certain number ofknights and esquires, who were sworn to protect the colors of theorder, and never to let them fall into the hands of the enemy.The Turcopilar was the commander of a body of light horse calledTurcopoles (Turcopuli). These were natives of Syria and Palestine,frequently the offspring of Turkish mothers and Christian fathers,brought up in the religion of Christ, and retained in the pay of theorder of the Temple. They were lightly armed, were clothed in theAsiatic style. The were accustomed to the climate, and wellacquainted with the country, and with the Moslem mode of warfare.93

They were extremely serviceable as light cavalry and skirmishers,and were always attached to the war-battalions of the Templars.The Guardian of the Chapel (Custos Capellæ) had charge of theportable chapel and the ornaments of the altar, which were alwayscarried by the Templars into the field. This portable chapel was around tent, which was pitched in the center of the camp; thequarters of the brethren were prepared around it, so that theymight, in the fullest and most convenient manner, participate in thedivine offices, and fulfill the religious duties of their profession.Besides the Grand Preceptor of the kingdom of Jerusalem, therewere the Grand Preceptors of Antioch and Tripoli, and the Priors orPreceptors of the different houses of the Temple in Syria and inPalestine, all of whom commanded in the field, and had variousmilitary duties to perform under the eye of the Master.The Templars and the Hospitaliers were the constituted guardiansof the “true cross” 15 when it was brought forth from its sacredrepository in the church of the Resurrection to be placed at the headof the Christian army. The Templars marched on the right of thesacred emblem, and the Hospitaliers on the left; and the sameposition was taken up by the two orders in the line of battle.” [17]An eye-witness of the conduct of the Templars in the field tells usthat they were always leading in the fight and the last in the retreat;that they proceeded to battle with the greatest order, silence, andcircumspection, and carefully attended to the commands of theirMaster. When the signal to engage had been given by their chief,and the trumpets of the order sounded to the charge, then,” says he,“they humbly sing the psalm of David, Non nobis, non nobis, Domine,sed nomini tuo da gloriam, ‘Not unto us, not unto us, O Lord, butunto thy name give the praise;’ and placing their lances in rest, theyeither break the enemy’s line or die. If any one of them should bychance turn back, or bear himself less manfully than he ought, thewhite mantle, the emblem of their order, is ignominiously strippedoff his shoulders, the cross worn by the fraternity is taken away94

from him, and he is cast out from the fellowship of the brethren; heis compelled to eat on the ground without a napkin or a table-clothfor the space of one year; and the dogs who gather around him andtorment him he is not permitted to drive away. At the expiration ofthe year, if he be truly penitent, the Master and the brethren restoreto him the military girdle and his pristine habit and cross, andreceive him again into the fellowship and community of thebrethren. The Templars do indeed practice the observance of astern religion, living in humble obedience to their Master, withoutproperty, and spending nearly all the days of their lives under tentsin the open fields 16 ” [86]. Such is the picture of the Templars drawnby one of the leading dignitaries of the Latin kingdom.ODO DE ST. AMAND. A.D. 1172.We now resume our narrative of the principal events connectedwith the order.In the year 1172, the Knight Templar Walter du Mesnil was guilty ofa foul murder, which created a great sensation in the East. Anodious religious sect, supposed to be descended from the Ismaeliansof Persia, was settled in the security of the mountains above Tripoli.They devoted their souls and bodies in blind obedience to a chiefwho is called by the writers of the crusades “the old man of themountain,” and were employed by him in the most extensive systemof murder and assassination known in the history of the world.Both Christian and Moslem writers enumerate with horror themany renowned victims that fell beneath their daggers. Theyassumed all shapes and disguises for the furtherance of their deadlydesigns, and carried, in general, no arms except a small poniard 17concealed in the folds of their dress, called in the Persian tongueassassin, from which these rogues were called assassins, their chiefthe prince of the assassins; and the word itself, in all its detestablesignificance, has passed into most European languages [87] [88][66].Raymond de Poitiers, son of the count of Tripoli, was slain by thesefanatics while kneeling at the foot of the altar in the church of the95

Blessed Virgin at Tartu’s (Circus or Tortola). The Templars flew toarms to avenge his death; they penetrated into the mountainfastnesses and strongholds of “the mountain chief,” and at lastcompelled him to purchase peace by the payment of an annualtribute of two thousand crowns into the treasury of the order. Aschronicled by Jacques de Vity 18 , in the ninth year of Amalric’s reign,Sinan Ben Suleiman, Iman 19 of the assassins, sent a trusty counselorto Jerusalem, offering, in the name of himself and his people, toembrace the Christian religion, provided the Templars wouldrelease them from the tribute money. The proposition wasfavorably received; the envoy was honorably entertained for somedays, and on his departure he was furnished by the king with aguide and an escort to conduct him in safety to the frontier. TheIsmaelite had reached the borders of the Latin kingdom, and wasalmost in sight of the castles of his brethren, when he was cruellymurdered by the Knight Templar Walter du Mesnil, who attackedthe escort with a body of armed followers [89].The king of Jerusalem, justly enraged at this treacherous action,assembled the barons of the kingdom at Sidon to determine the bestmeans of obtaining satisfaction for the injury; and it wasdetermined that two of their number should proceed to Odo de St.Amand to demand the surrender of the criminal. The arrogantMaster of the Temple 20 told them to inform his majesty the king,that the members of the order of the Temple were not subject to hisjurisdiction, nor to that of his officers; that the Templarsacknowledged no earthly superior except the Pope; and that to theholy pontiff alone belonged the assumption of jurisdiction in a caseof the offense. He declared, however, that the crime should meetwith due punishment; that he had caused the criminal to be arrestedand put in irons, and would straightway send him to Rome, but untiljudgment was given in his case, he prohibited all persons ofwhatsoever degree to interfere with him [66].Shortly afterwards, however, the Master found it expedient to alterhis resolve, and insist less strongly on the rights of his fraternity.96

Brother Walter du Mesnil was delivered to the king, and confined inone of the royal prisons, but his ultimate fate has not been recorded.ODO DE ST. AMAND. A.D. 1177.On the death of Noureddin, sultan of Damascus, (A.D. 1175,) Saladinraised himself to the sovereignty of both Egypt and Syria. He puttogether an immense army, and crossing the desert from Cairo, heagain planted the standard of Mohammed 21 upon the sacredterritory of Palestine. His forces were composed of twenty-sixthousand light infantry, eight thousand horsemen, a host of archersand spearmen mounted on camels 22 , and eighteen thousandcommon soldiers. Saladin was surrounded by a body-guard of athousand Maluku 23 emirs 24 , clothed in yellow cloaks worn over theirshirts of mail.In the great battle fought near Ascalon, (Nov. 1, A.D. 1177,) Odo deSt. Amand, the Master of the Temple, at the head of eighty of hisknights, broke through the guard of Mamlūks, slew theircommander, and penetrated to the imperial tent, from where thesultan escaped with great difficulty, almost naked, upon a convoy ofcamels. The infidels, thrown into confusion, were slaughtered ordriven into the desert, where they perished from hunger, fatigue, orthe unmerciful weather [54] [37]. The following year, Saladincollected a vast army at Damascus; and the Templars, in order toprotect and cover the road leading from that city to Jerusalem,began the construction of a strong fortress on the northern frontierof the Latin kingdom, close to Jacob’s ford on the river Jordan, at thespot where now stands Djiss’r Beni Yakoob, “the bridge of the sonsof Jacob.”Saladin advanced at the head of his forces to oppose the progress ofthe work, and the king of Jerusalem and all the chivalry of the Latinkingdom were gathered together in the plain to protect theTemplars and their workmen. The fortress was builtnotwithstanding all the efforts of the infidels, and the Templarsmoved into it a strong garrison. Saladin then redoubled the effortsto destroy the place.97

Jacob’s Ford Battlefield (1179) viewed from the Chastellet main gateway tothe east across the Jordan RiverODO DE ST. AMAND. A.D. 1179.At a given signal from the Moslem trumpets, “the defenders ofIslam” fled before “the avengers of Christ.” The Christian forces,rused by the withdrawal, became disordered in the pursuit, and theswift cavalry of the desert, wheeling upon both wings, defeated theentire army of the cross with immense slaughter. The Templars andthe Hospitaliers, with the count of Tripoli, stood firm on the summitof a small knoll, and for a long time presented a bold and undauntedfront to the victorious enemy. The count of Tripoli at last cut hisway through the infidels, and fled to Tyre. The Master of theHospital, after seeing most of his brethren slain, swam across theJordan, covered with wounds, and fled to the castle of Beaufort. TheTemplars, after fighting with their customary zeal and fanaticismaround the red-cross banner, which waved to the last over the fieldof blood, were all killed or taken prisoners, and the Master, Odo deSt. Amand, fell alive into the hands of the enemy 25 . [54] [37] Saladinthen laid siege to the newly-erected fortress, which was very strong,being defended by thick walls, flanked with large towers furnished98

with military apparatuses. After a gallant resistance on the part ofthe garrison, it was set on fire, and then stormed. “The Templars,”says Abu al-Fida, “flung themselves some into the fire, where theywere burned, some cast themselves into the Jordan, some jumpeddown from the walls on to the rocks, and were dashed to pieces: thuswere slain the enemy” [37]. The fortress was reduced to a heap ofruins, and the enraged sultan, it is said, ordered all the Templarstaken in the place to be sawn in two, excepting the mostdistinguished of the knights, who were reserved for a ransom, andwere sent in chains to Aleppo [37] [90] [91].ARNOLD DE TORROGE. A.D. 1180.Saladin offered Odo de St. Amand his liberty in exchange for thefreedom of his own nephew, who was a prisoner in the hands of theTemplars; but the Master of the Temple arrogantly replied, that hewould never, by his example, encourage any of his knights to bedespicable enough to surrender, that a Templar should eitherconquer or die, and that be had nothing to give for his ransom buthis girdle and his knife 26 . [92] The arrogant spirit of Odo de St.Amand could not tolerate the cruelty of confinement; he weakenedand died in the dungeons of Damascus, and was succeeded byBrother Arnold de Torroge 27 , who had filled some of the chiefpositions of the order in Europe 28 . [54] [93]During this period, the affairs of the Latin Christians were in adeplorable state. Saladin encamped near Tiberias, and extended hisattacks into almost every part of Palestine. His light cavalry sweptthe valley of the Jordan to within a day’s march of Jerusalem, andthe whole country as far as Banias 29 on the one side, and BeitShe’an 30 , D’Jenneen 31 , and Sebaste 32 , on the other, was destroyed by99

fire and the sword. The houses of the Templars were pillaged andburnt; various castles belonging to the order were taken by assault[37] [53]; but the immediate destruction of the Latin power wasprevented by some partial successes obtained by the Christianwarriors, and by the skillful generalship of their leaders. Saladinwas compelled to retreat to Damascus, after he had burnt Naplous(present-day Nablus), and depopulated the whole country aroundTiberias. A truce was proposed, (A.D. 1184,) and as the attention ofSaladin was then distracted by the scheming of the Turkic chieftainsin the north of Syria, and he was again engaged in hostilities inMesopotamia, he agreed to a suspension of the war for four years, inconsideration of payment of large sum of money by the Christians.Saladin‘s conquests in the Latin Kingdom c. 1180: as far as Panias on the oneside, and Beit She’an , D’Jenneen , and Sebaste (Samaria) , on the other.100

ARNOLD DE TORROGE. A.D. 1184.Immediate advantage was taken of this truce to secure the safety ofthe Latin kingdom. A grand council was assembled at Jerusalem,and it was determined that Heraclius, the patriarch of the Holy City,and the Masters of the Temple and Hospital, should immediatelyproceed to Europe, to obtain support from the western princes.According to Walter of Guisborough 33 , the sovereign most dependedupon for assistance was Henry the Second, king of England [94][95]. Henry was grandson of Fulk, the late king of Jerusalem, andfirst cousin to Baldwin, the then reigning sovereign. Henry hadreceived absolution for the murder of Thomas à Becket 34 , oncondition that he should proceed in person at the head of apowerful army to the relief of Palestine, and should, at his ownexpense, retain two hundred Templars for the defense of the holyterritory [96].The Patriarch and the two Masters landed in Italy, and afterequipping themselves with the letters of the Pope, threatening theEnglish monarch with the judgments of heaven if he did notimmediately perform the penance given him, they set out forEngland. At Verona, the Master of the Temple fell sick and died,according to Radulph de Diceto 35 , [97] but his companionsproceeding on their journey, landed in safety in England at thebeginning of the year 1185. They were received by the king atReading, and throwing themselves at the feet of the Englishmonarch, and with much weeping and sobbing, they saluted him inbehalf of the king, the princes, and the people of the kingdom ofJerusalem. They explained the objective of their visit, and presentedhim with the Pope’s letters, with the keys of the Holy Sepulcher, ofthe Tower of David, and of the city of Jerusalem, together with theroyal banner of the Latin kingdom 36 . [98] [80] Their eloquent andmoving narrative of the fierce advances of Saladin, and of themiserable condition of Palestine, drew tears from King Henry andall his court [99] [100]. The English sovereign gave encouragingassurances to the patriarch and his companions, and promised to101

ing the whole matter before the parliament, which was to meetthe first Sunday in Lent.The patriarch, in the mean time, proceeded to London, and wasreceived by the Knights Templars at the Temple in that city, thechief house of the order in Britain. In that place, in the month ofFebruary, he consecrated the beautiful Temple church, dedicated tothe blessed Virgin Mary, which had just then been erected [101].Notes1 Eudes de St. Amand (or Odo or Odon) was the 8th Grand Master of the KnightsTemplar, between 1171 and 1179. St Amand was born to a family from Limousin,France. He was Marshal of Jerusalem and later Viscount. He was a headstrongleader of the order, which earned him praise and resentment in equal measure. Anexample of this can be found 1172. When a Templar knight, Gauthier du Maisnil,was accused of murdering an Islamic dignitary by King Amaury I, St. Amandrefused to hand him over. He cited the Papal Bull which stipulated the only powerover the Templars was Rome. St Amand died in one of Saladin's jails sometimeduring 1180, although no exact date survives. His release was proposed, inexchange for one Saladin's captive nephews, but negotiations came too late.2 William of Tyre (c. 1130 – 29 September 1186) was a medieval prelate andchronicler. As archbishop of Tyre, he is sometimes known as William II todistinguish him from a predecessor, William of Malines. He grew up in Jerusalem atthe height of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, which had been established in 1099 afterthe First Crusade, and he spent twenty years studying the liberal arts and canonlaw in the universities of Europe. Following William's return to Jerusalem in 1165,King Amalric I made him an ambassador to the Byzantine Empire. William becametutor to the king's son, the future King Baldwin IV, whom William discovered to bea leper. After Amalric's death, William became chancellor and archbishop of Tyre,two of the highest offices in the kingdom, and in 1179 William led the easterndelegation to the Third Council of the Lateran. As he was involved in the dynasticstruggle that developed during Baldwin IV's reign, his importance waned when arival faction gained control of royal affairs. He was passed over for the prestigiousPatriarchate of Jerusalem, and died in obscurity, probably in 1186. William wrotean account of the Lateran Council and a history of the Islamic states from the timeof Mohammed. Neither work survives. He is famous today as the author of a historyof the Kingdom of Jerusalem. William composed his chronicle in excellent Latin forhis time, with numerous quotations from classical literature. The chronicle issometimes given the title Historia rerum in partibus transmarinis gestarum("History of Deeds Done Beyond the Sea") or Historia Ierosolimitana ("History of102

Jerusalem"), or the Historia for short. It was translated into French soon after hisdeath, and thereafter into numerous other languages. Because it is the only sourcefor the history of twelfth-century Jerusalem written by a native, historians haveoften assumed that William's statements could be taken at face value. However,more recent historians have shown that William's involvement in the kingdom'spolitical disputes resulted in detectable biases in his account. Despite this, he isconsidered the greatest chronicler of the crusades, and one of the best authors ofthe Middle Ages.3 Vizier, in some Islamic countries and especially in the former Ottoman Empire, ahigh-ranking government officer.4 “Omne datum optimum et omne donum perfectum desursum est, descendens a Patreluminum, apud quem non est transmutatio, nec vicissitudinis obumbratio” (tr. Latin:“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Fatherof lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning”).5 Introduction and translation taken from Decrees of the Ecumenical Councils, ed.Norman P. Tanner. [e-text version omits many footnotes found in the Tanner, butall variant readings are given.]6 An Ordinary in ecclesiastical language, denotes any person possessing orexercising ordinary jurisdiction, i.e., jurisdiction connected permanently or at leastin a stable way with an office, whether this connexion arises from Divine law, as inthe case of popes and bishops, or from positive church law, as in the casementioned below. Ordinary jurisdiction is contrasted with delegated jurisdiction, atemporary communication of power made by a superior to an inferior; thus wespeak of a delegated judge and an ordinary judge. A person may be an ordinarywithin his own sphere, and at the same time have delegated powers for certain actsor the exercise of special authority. The jurisdiction which constitutes an ordinaryis real and full jurisdiction in the external forum, comprising the power oflegislating, adjudicating, and governing.7 A person or thing that retains. 2. a servant or attendant who has served a familyfor many years.8 Esquire (abbreviated Esq.) is a term of British origin (ultimately from Latinscutarius in the sense of shield bearer via Old French "esquier"). Esquire is cognatewith the word squire, which originally meant an apprentice or assistant to a knight.Relics of this origin can still be found today associated with the word esquire. Forexample in the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem,"Esquire" is today the most junior grade of membership.9 La tête (heading) 27. Règle du Temple, Henri de Curzon, 1886, Paris, LibrairieRenouard10 La tête (heading) 28, 29. Règle du Temple103

11A religious habit is a distinctive set of garments worn by members of a religiousorder. Traditionally some plain garb recognisable as a religious habit has also beenworn by those leading the religious eremitic and anachoritic life, although in theircase without conformity to a particular uniform style. For instance, for someRoman Catholic or Anglican orders, the habit may comprise a tunic covered by ascapular and cowl, with a hood for monks and a veil for nuns; in other orders it maybe a distinctive form of cassock for men, or a distinctive dress and bonnet forwomen. Modern habits sometimes take the form of a distinctive clerical suit formen and a simple dress suit for women. Catholic Canon Law requires only that itbe in some way identifiable so that the person may serve as a witness to Gospelvalues, as simple as a mark of detachment from vanity and greed, and becoming.12 A coif is a close fitting cap that covers the top, back, and sides of the head. Coifswere worn by all classes in England and Scotland from the Middle Ages to the earlyseventeenth century. Coifs were also a type of armour, traditionally made of mail,which covered the head (face excluded), neck and shoulders.13 La tête (heading) 29, 31. Règle du Temple14 The vexillum belli, or war-banner of the ancient Templars, which is also used bythe modern Masonic Order. The upper half of the banner was black, and the lowerhalf white: black, to typify terror to foes, and white, fairness to friends. It bore thepious inscription, “Non nobis, Domine, non nobis sed nomini tuo da gloriam.” This isthe beginning of the first verse of Psalm cxv, “Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, butunto Thy name give glory.”15 The True Cross is the name for physical remnants which, by a Christian tradition,are believed to be from the cross upon which Jesus was crucified. According topost-Nicene historians, Socrates Scholasticus and others, the Empress Helena (c.AD 250 – c. AD 330), mother of Constantine, the first Christian Emperor of Rome,travelled to the Holy Land, dated by modern historians in 326-28, foundingchurches and establishing relief agencies for the poor. It was afterwards claimed,in the later fourth-century history by Gelasius of Caesarea followed by Rufinus'additions to Eusebius' Ecclesiastical History, that she discovered the hiding place ofthree crosses, believed to be used at the crucifixion of Jesus and the two thieves —St. Dismas and Gestas — who were executed with him, and that through a miracle itwas revealed which of the three was the True Cross. In 614 the Sassanid EmperorKhosrau II ("Chosroes") removed the part of the cross as a trophy, when hecaptured Jerusalem. Thirteen years later, in 628, the Byzantine Emperor Heracliusdefeated Khosrau and regained the relic from Shahrbaraz. He placed the cross inConstantinople at first, and took it back to Jerusalem on 21 March 630 [273].Around 1009, Christians in Jerusalem hid part of the cross and it remained hiddenuntil the city was taken by the European knights of the First Crusade. ArnulfMalecorne, the first Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, had the Greek Orthodox priestswho were in possession of the Cross tortured in order to reveal its position [274].The relic that Arnulf discovered was a small fragment of wood embedded in agolden cross, and it became the most sacred relic of the Latin Kingdom of104

Jerusalem, with none of the controversy that had followed their discovery of theHoly Lance in Antioch. It was housed in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre under theprotection of the Latin Patriarch, who marched with it ahead of the army beforeevery battle. It was captured by Saladin during the Battle of Hattin in 1187, andwhile some Christian rulers, like Richard the Lionheart [275], Byzantine emperorIsaac II Angelos and Tamar, Queen of Georgia, sought to ransom it from Saladin[276], the cross was not returned and subsequently disappeared from historicalrecords.16 The discourse of the Holy Patriarch of Jerusalem, before the most high Pontiffconcerning the status of the land from the MS Code Bigotiano (author unknown),with a new treasure Martens anecdota Tome iii. columns 276, 277. London: 1686.Amalric I of Jerusalem (also Amaury or Aimery) (1136 – 11 July 1174) was King ofJerusalem 1163–1174 and is possibly the eye-witness. Amalric was the second sonof Melisende of Jerusalem and Fulk of Jerusalem. He was the father of three rulersof Jerusalem, the eldest Sibylla, the second Baldwin IV, and the third Isabella I, whoruled after the Siege. Depending upon the date of the fragments included in the MS,Baldwin IV may have been Patriarch, but his leprosy may have limited his travels.At any rate, the eye-witness was either a patriarch or another royal dignitary.17 Poignard, or poniard, (Fr.), refers to a long, lightweight thrusting knife with acontinuously tapering, acutely pointed blade and crossguard, historically worn bythe upper class, noblemen, or the knighthood. Similar in design to a parryingdagger, the poignard emerged during the Middle Ages.18 Translated from Latin:- History of the Orient by Jacques de Virty collected fromthe tombs of various acts of the East: 1. The Muhammedismo, which his innkeeperthen begotten, then marked in planting, in the beginning of Mohammed, its Mayors,Parents, Father, Christmas, education, false prophecy, the rival of, dogmas, Hegira,battles, successors and death. 2. The Saracenismo, from the ancient religion of theArabs. 3. The Chaldaismo, from the superstition of Nabataeorum [cm. ancientpeoples of southern Jordan, Canaan and the northern part of Arabia], Chaldeans,and Charranaeorum [cannot translate], etc. 4. The State of the Jews and theChristians were born and raised in the time of Mohammed. 5. The Various,Mohammedanos between them, about the dogmas of religion and theadministration, different opinions were expressed, stirring up schism and heresy.6. He came near, on the occasion of Mohammed reckoned by genealogy, well dating[tr: Arabic] a fuller illustration of Adam, which, of them the writings of the Arabs,and a life and exploits I prophesied, that of patriarchs, also of some of the Apostles,Kings of Persia, which from the other birthdays in the world until Adam ofMohammed from the living and the ruler, are explained.19 Iman (Arabic: ناميإ ) is an Arabic term which denotes certitude or adherence to anidea. In Islamic theology, it refers to the inner aspect of the religion, and denotes abeliever's faith in the metaphysical realities of Islam [277]. The term Iman hasbeen delineated in both the Quran [Quran 2:285] as well as the famous Hadith ofGabriel. There exists a debate both within and outside Islam on the link between105

faith and reason in religion, and the relative importance of either. Several scholarscontend that faith and reason spring from the same source and hence must beharmonious [278]. According to the Quran, Iman must be accompanied byevidence of righteous deeds, and the two together are necessary for entry intoParadise [Quran 95:6]. Also, since Iman is a quality of the heart / belief, it isimpossible for anyone to judge who really is a believer. Iman is one of the threedimensions of the Islamic religion: islam, iman and ihsan.20 Translated from Latin: “Also are dicated other added traits by a spirit of pride, bywhich he most abounded, that is not necessary to insert the narration present.”21 Mohammed, variant spelling (e.g. Medieval Latin, Polish, or French).22 The camel refered to here is the dromedary or Arabian camel (Camelusdromedarius), a large, even-toed ungulate with one hump on its back.23 Mamlūk, also spelled Mameluke, slave soldier, a member of one of the armies ofslaves that won political control of several Muslim states during the Middle Ages.Under the Ayyūbid sultanate, Mamlūk generals used their power to establish adynasty that ruled Egypt and Syria from 1250 to 1517. The name is derived froman Arabic word for slave.24 Emir is a title of high office, used throughout the Muslim world. Emirs are usuallyconsidered high-ranking Sheikhs, but in monarchic states the term is also used forPrinces, with “Emirate” being analogous to a principality.25 “Capti sunt ibi de nostris, Otto de Sancto Amando militiæ Templi Magister, homonequaquam superbus et arrogans, spiritum furoris habens in naribus, nec Deumtimens, nec ad homines habens reverentiam” (tr. Latin: “Among our men who weretaken prisoner there, Otto by loving the host of the Temple of the Holy Master, aman by no means proud and the arrogant, the spirit of the fierceness of having intheir nostrils, who feared not God, nor reverence to men having”).26 “Dicens non esse consuetudiuis militum Templi ut aliqua redemptio daretur pro eispræter cingulum et cultellum” (tr. Latin: “Saying that it is not customary for theKnights of the Temple to possess anything besides a cord and a knife, so that somemight be given to redemption”).27 Arnold of Torroja (in Catalan, Arnau de Torroja) was a Catalan knight and theninth Grand Master of the Knights Templar from 1181 until his death in 1184.While no date of birth survives for Torroja, he was very old at his death, being inexcess of 70 years when he was elected as Grand Master. He had served in theorder for many years and was the Templar Master in both Crown of Aragon andProvence. Torroja's military career had mainly been focused on the Reconquista,fighting Muslims for the Crown of Aragon and for Portugal but was principallyactive in Aragon. His appointment as Grand Master was likely due to his image asan outsider i.e. an experienced Templar whose power base was outside the HolyLand. This appealed to the order as the previous Grand Master Odo de St Amandhad become embroiled in Jerusalem's politics but it did mean that Torroja was106

inexperienced in the “political situation of the Latin States”. He became the order'snew leader in 1181.28 “Eodem anno quo captus est in vinculis et squalore carceris, nulli lugendus, diciturobiisse’ (tr. Latin: “Same year in which bonds and squalor of the prison, was takenin, to no one in mourning, it is said died”).29 Banias (or Paneas; Greek: Πανειάς; Arabic: ةلوحلا سايناب ; Hebrew: סאינב ) is anarchaeological site by the ancient city of Caesarea Philippi, located at the foot ofMount Hermon in the Golan Heights. The city was located within the region knownas the "Panion" (the region of the Greek god Pan), and is named after the deityassociated with the grotto and shrines close to the spring called "Paneas", near thepresent-day town of Snir30 Beit She'an (help·info) (Hebrew: שְׁ‏ אָן בֵּית Beth Šəān; Arabic: ناسيب , Beesān(help·info), Beisan or Bisan) is a city in the North District of Israel which has playedan important role historically due to its geographical location at the junction of theJordan River Valley and Jezreel Valley.31 Present-day Jenin.32 Sebastia (or Samaria) is mentioned in the writings of Yaqut al-Hamawi (1179–1229), the Syrian geographer, who situates it as part of the Filastin Province ofJerusalem, located two days from that city, in the Nablus District, near present-dayNablus. He also writes, “There are here the tombs of Zakariyyah and Yahya, the sonof Zakariyyah (John the Baptist), and of many other prophets and holy men.” [279] In1187 the Latin Cathedral was transformed into a mosque and to the veneratedtombs was added that of the prophet Zacharia (pbuh).33 The Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough (previously edited as the Chronicle ofWalter of Hemingford or Hemingburgh), embraces the period of English historyfrom the Conquest (1066) to the nineteenth year of Edward III, with the exceptionof the years 1316-1326. It ends with the title of a chapter in which it was proposedto describe the battle of Crécy (1346); but the chronicler seems to have died beforethe required information reached him. There is, however, some controversy as towhether the later portions which are lacking in some of the manuscripts are byhim.34 He engaged in conflict with Henry II of England over the rights and privileges ofthe Church and was assassinated by followers of the king in Canterbury Cathedral.Soon after the death of Thomas Becket, Pope Alexander III canonized him.35 Ralph de Diceto (d. c. 1202) was archdeacon of Middlesex, dean of St Paul'sCathedral (from c. 1180). His two chief works, the Abbreviationes Chronicorumand the Ymagines Historiarum, cover the history of the world from the birth ofChrist to the year 1202. The former, which ends in 1147, is a work of learning andindustry, but almost entirely based upon extant sources. The latter, beginning as acompilation from Robert de Monte and the letters of Foliot, becomes an originalauthority about 1172, and a contemporary record about 1181. In precision and107

fullness of detail the Ymagines are inferior to the chronicles of the so-calledBenedict and of Hoveden.36 At the same year (1185), Baldwin king of Jerusalem, and Templares andHospitalares, they sent to the king of England Heraclius, the patriarch of Jerusalemthe holy city, and the Hospital of the highest standard, together with the teachersand the Temple of the king, and tomb of our Lord keys, and the tower of David, andof the city of Jerusalem; from him, asking for a speedy succor in it. … whoimmediately prostrate at the feet of the king's great and with weeping at the wordsof greeting on the part of the king of princes of the earth and to all the people ofJerusalem produced … . delivered to him the royal standard, etc.108

CHAPTER 5. LANDS, IMMUNITIES, AND OFFICESLi fiere, li Mestre du TempleQu’estoient rempli et ampleD’or et d’argent et de richesse,Et qui menoient tel noblesse,Ou sont-il? que sont devenu?Que tant ont de plait maintenu,Que nul a elz ne s’ozoit prendreTozjors achetoient sans vendreNul riche a elz n’estoit de prise;Tant va pot a eue qu’il brise.Chron. à la suite du Roman de Favel.Temple Church in LondonThe Knights Templars first established the chief house of their orderin England, outside Holborn Bars 1 , on the south side of the street,where Southampton House formerly stood, adjoined to whereSouthampton Buildings were afterwards erected [102]. Around thebeginning of the 18 th century, part of the ancient chapel, of a circularform and built of Caen stone, was discovered on pulling down someold houses near Southampton Buildings in Chancery Lane [103].The original Temple Church consisted of a Round Church of 1185(London’s oldest Gothic), with the larger “choir”, which was addedin 1240. This first house of the Temple was established by Hugh dePayens himself, before his departure from England, on his return toPalestine. It was then adapted to the wants and necessities of theorder in its infant state when the knights, instead of lingering in thepreceptories 2 of Europe, proceeded at once to Palestine, and whenall the resources of the society were strictly and faithfully sent toJerusalem, to be expended in defense of the faith. However, whenthe order had greatly increased in numbers, power, and wealth, andhad somewhat departed from its original purity and simplicity, wefind that the superior and the knights resident in London began tolook abroad for a more extensive and spacious place of habitation.They purchased a large space of ground, extending from the White109

Friars westward to Essex House outside Temple Bar 3 , [104] andinitiated the creation of a convent on a scale of statelinesscommensurate with the dignity and importance of the chief house ofthe great religio-military society of the Temple in Britain. It wascalled the New Temple, to distinguish it from the originalestablishment at Holborn, which afterward came to be known bythe name of the Old Temple 4 . [80] [105] [106]Temple Church London [106]Interior of the Round Church [106]110

Alanus Marcel, Master of the Temple 1218-28 [106]This New Temple was adapted for the residence of numerousmilitary monks and néophytes, serving brothers, retainers, andhouse workers. It contained the residence of the superior and of theknights, the cells and apartments of the chaplains and servingbrethren, the council chamber where the chapters were held, andthe refectory or dining-hall, which was connected, by a range ofhandsome cloisters, with the magnificent church, consecrated bythe patriarch. Alongside the river extended a spacious gratificationground for the recreation of the brethren, who were not permittedto go into the town without the leave of the Master. It was used alsofor military exercises and the training of the horses.In the year of the consecration of the Temple Church, Geoffrey, thesuperior of the order in England, caused an inquiry to be made of111

the lands of the Templars in this country, and the names of thedonors 5 . From this inquiry, it appears that the larger territorialdivisions of the order were then called bailiwicks, the principal ofwhich were London, Warwic, Couele, Meritune, Gutinge, Westune,Lincolnscire, Lindeseie, Widine, and Eboracisire, (Yorkshire). Thenumber of manors, farms, churches, advowsons 6 , demesne lands 7 ,villages, hamlets, windmills, and watermills, rents of assize 8 , rightsof common 9 and free warren 10 , and the amount of all kinds ofproperty, possessed by the Templars in England when this inquirywas made, are astonishing. On the great estates belonging to theorder, prioral 11 houses had been erected, where lived theprocurators, or stewards, charged with the management of themanors and farms in their neighbourhood, and with the collection ofthe rents. These prioral houses became regular monasticestablishments, inhabited chiefly by sick and aged Templars, whoretired to them to spend the remainder of their days, after a longperiod of honorable service against the infidels in Palestine. Theywere annexes of the principal house at London. Also under theTemple administration were certain smaller administrations,established for the management of the farms, consisting of a KnightTemplar, to whom were associated some serving brothers of theorder, and a priest who acted as almoner 12 . The commissions, ormandates, directed by the Masters of the Temple to the officers atthe head of these establishments, were called precepts, from thecommencement of them, “Præcipimus tibi,” we command or directyou… The knights to whom they were addressed were styledPræceptores Templi, or Preceptors of the Temple, and the districtsadministered by them Præceptoria, or preceptories.Now we consider a general survey of the possessions andorganization of the order both in Europe and Asia, “whosecircumstances,” said William archbishop of Tyre, writing fromJerusalem about the period of the consecration at London of theTemple Church, “are in so flourishing a state, that at this day theyhave in their convent (the Temple on Mount Moriah) more than threehundred knights robed in the white habit, besides serving brothers112

innumerable. Their possessions indeed beyond sea, as well as in theseparts, are said to be so vast, that there cannot now be a province inChristendom which does not contribute to the support of the aforesaidbrethren, whose wealth is said to equal that of sovereign princes 13 .”[40]The eastern provinces of the order were, 1. Palestine, the rulingprovince. 2. The principality of Antioch. 3. The principality ofTripoli.Possessions in Palestine.—Some account has already been given of the Temple at Jerusalem,the chief house of the order, and the residence of the Master. Inaddition to the strong garrison maintained there, the Templarspossessed numerous forces, distributed in various fortresses andstrongholds, for the preservation and protection of the holyterritory.Baldwin king of Jerusalem 14 granted to the Templar. [66] [107] thefortified city of Gaza, the key of the kingdom of Jerusalem on theside next Egypt, anciently one of the five satrapies 15 of the Lords ofthe Philistines, and the stronghold of Cambyses II 16 when heinvaded Egypt.“Placed where Judea’s utmost bounds extend,Towards fair Pelusium, Gaza‘s towers ascend.Fast by the breezy shore the city standsAmid unbounded plains of barren sands,Which high in air the furious whirlwinds sweep,Like mountain billows on the stormy deep,That scarce the affrighted traveler, spent with toil,Escapes the tempest of the unstable soil.”The following castles and cities of Palestine are enumerated by thehistorians of the Latin kingdom, as having belonged to the order ofthe Temple.113

• The castle of Safed (Saphet), in the territory of the ancient tribeof Naphtali; the great bulwark of the northern frontier of theLatin kingdom on the side next Damascus• The Château Pèlerin (the Pilgrim’s Castle), in the neighbourhoodof Mount Carmel• The Castle of Asur (Arsuf 17 ) near Jaffa (incorporated intopresent-day Tel Aviv), and the House of the Temple at Jaffa• The fortress of Faba 18 , or La Feue, the ancient Aphek 19 , not farfrom Tyre, in the territory of the ancient tribe of Asher• The hill-fort Docus (Dok), between Bethel and Jericho• The castles of La Cave (Schuf) [108]• Castelum Rouge 20• Castle Blanc 21 (Arabic: Burj Safita or Safita Tower )• Trapesach 22• Sommelleria 23 of the Temple, in the neighbourhood of Acca, nowSt. John d’Acre 24• Casal de Plains 25 (Castrum Planorum or The Castle of planes)• A place called Gerinum Parvum [109] [110] [111] [80]• Krak des Chevaliers in Syria 26In 1101 Arsuf fell to a Crusader army led by Baldwin I of Jerusalem. TheCrusaders, who called it Arsur, rebuilt the city’s walls and created the Lordshipof Arsur in the Kingdom of Jerusalem. In 1187 Arsuf was captured by theMoslems, but fell again to the Crusaders on September 7, 1191 after a battlebetween Richard I of England and Saladin.According to Marin 27 , the Templars purchased the castle ofBeaufort 28 and the city of Sidon 29 ; they also got into their hands a114

great part of the town of St. Jean d’Acre 30 , where they erected theirfamous temple, and almost all Palestine was in the end dividedbetween them and the Hospitaliers of Saint John [112].Castles and fortresses in Palestine115

Crusader ruins of Safed. Safed was a fortified city in the crusaderKingdom of Jerusalem known as Saphet.This castle was called "Migdal Aphek" (Tower of Aphek) and was builtover the site of a Jewish fort from the time of the First Jewish Revolt (66-70 A.D.). The castle is also known as "Mirabel" (beautiful view). Most ofthe ruins visible today are from the Turkish period.116

Chastel Blanc as it appeared in 1905 (photographed by Gertrude Bell). ChastelBlanc (Arabic: Burj Safita or Safita Tower ) was built by the Knights Templarduring the Crusades upon prior fortifications. Constructed on the middle hill ofSafita’s three hills, it offers a commanding view of the surroundingcountryside, and was a major part of the network of Crusader fortifications inthe area.Krak des Chevaliers from the south-west (Near Homs, Syria, Coordinates:34.756944; 36.294444). Also called Crac des Chevaliers, it is a Crusader castlein Syria and one of the most important preserved medieval castles in theworld. The site was first inhabited in the 11th century by a settlement ofKurds; as a result it was known as Hisn al Akrad, meaning the "Castle of theKurds". In 1142 it was given by Raymond II, Count of Tripoli, to the KnightsHospitaliers. It remained in their possession until it fell in 1271.117

Possessions in the Principality of Antioch.—The principal houses of the Temple in this province were atAntioch 31 itself, at Aleppo 32 , Haram (Harim), etc. The Templarswere given responsibility for securing the mountainous frontierbetween the Kingdom of Cilicia and the Prinicpality of Antioch. Toguard the Belen Pass through Amanas range they occupied thestrongholdof Barthes, which is called Gaston, “a castle towering onthe impenetrable summit, rising on an impregnable rock, itsfoundations touching the sky”. [113]Castles and fortresses in the Principality Of Antioch118

Ancient Roman road located in Syria which connected Antioch and ChalcisGaston Castle (Bakras Kalesi) surrounded by the mountainsPossessions in the Principality of Tripoli.—The chief establishments herein were at Tripoli, at Tortosa, theancient Antartus 33 ; Castle Blanc in the same neighbourhood;Laodicea and Beyrout—all under the immediate superintendence ofthe Preceptor of Tripoli. Besides these castles, houses, and119

fortresses, the Templars possessed farms and large tracts of land,both in Syria and Palestine.Castles and fortresses in the Principality of TripoliThe ancient cathedral of Our Lady of Tortosa.120

Citadel of Raymond de Saint-Gilles in Tripoli, LebanonThe western nations or provinces, on the other hand, from whencethe order derived its chief power and wealth, were:Possessions in Apulia and Sicily.—The principal houses whereof were at Palermo, Syracuse, Lentini,Butera, and Trapani. The house of the Temple at this last place hasbeen appropriated to the use of some monks of the order of St.Augustine. In a church of the city there was a celebrated statue ofthe Virgin 34 , which Brother Guerrege and three other KnightsTemplars brought from the East, with a view of placing it in theTemple Church on the Aventine hill in Rome, but which they wereobliged to deposit in the island of Sicily. This celebrated statue is ofthe most beautiful white marble, and represents the Virgin with theinfant Jesus reclining on her left arm; it is of about the naturalheight, and, from an inscription on the foot of the figure, it appearsto have been executed by a native of the island of Cyprus, A.D. 733[114] [115].121

The Templars possessed valuable estates in Sicily, around the baseof Mount Etna, and large tracts of land between Piazza andCalatagirone, in the suburbs of this last place there was a Templehouse. The church whereof, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, stillremains. They possessed also many churches in the island,windmills, rights of fishery, of pasturage, of cutting wood in theforests, and many important privileges and immunities. The chiefhouse was at Messina, where the Grand Prior resided [93].Possessions in Upper and Central Italy.—The houses or preceptories of the order of the Temple in thisprovince were very numerous, and were all under the immediatesuperintendence of the Grand Prior or Preceptor of Rome. Therewere large establishments at Lucca, Milan, and Perugia, at whichlast place the arms of the Temple are still to be seen on the tower ofthe holy cross. At Placentia there was a magnificent and extensiveconvent, called Santa Maria del Tempio, ornamented with a verylofty tower. At Bologna there was also a large Temple house, and ona clock in the city is the following inscription, “Magister Tosseolus deMiolâ me fecit .. Fr. Petrus de Bon, Procur. Militiæ Templi in curiâRomanâ, MCCCIII 35 .” In the church of St. Mary in the same place,which formerly belonged to the Knights Templars, is the interestingmarble monument of Peter de Rotis, a priest of the order. He isrepresented on his tomb, holding a chalice in his hands with thehost elevated above it, and beneath the monumental effigy is thefollowing epitaph“Stirpe Rotis, Petrus, virtutis munere clarus,Strennus ecce pugil Christi, jacet ordine charus;Veste ferens, menteque crucem, nunc sidera scandit,Exemplum nobis spectandi cælica pandit:Annis ter trinis viginti mille trecentisSexta quarte maii fregit lux organ mentis 36 .” [116] [117]122

Possessions in Portugal.—In the province or nation of Portugal, the military power andresources of the order of the Temple were exercised in almostconstant warfare against the Moors, and Europe derived criticaladvantage from the enthusiastic exertions of the warlike monks inthat quarter against the infidels. In every battle, indeed, fought inthe south of Europe, after the year 1130, against the enemies of thecross, the Knights Templars took an active and eminent part, and inall the conflicts against the infidels, both in the west and in the east,they were always in the leading rank, battling gallantly in defense ofthe Christian faith. With all the princes and monarchs of the greatSpanish peninsula, they were extremely popular, and they wereawarded with cities, villages, lordships, and splendid domains.Many of the most important fortresses and castles in the land wereentrusted to their safe keeping, and some were yielded to them inlasting authority. They possessed, in Portugal, the castles ofAlmourol 37 , Monsanto 38 , Pombal 39 , and Tomar 40 ; the citadel ofLangrovia 41 in the province of Beira, on the banks of the Riopisco;and the fortress of Miravel in Estremadura, taken from the Moors, astrong place perched on the summit of a lofty eminence. They hadlarge estates at Castromarin, Almural, and Tavira in Algarve, andhouses, rents, revenues, and possessions, in all parts of the country.The Grand Prior or Preceptor of Portugal resided at the castle ofTomar. It is seated on the river Narboan in Estremadura, and is stillto be seen towering in gloomy magnificence on the hill above thetown. The castle at present belongs to the order of Christ, and waslately one of the grandest and richest establishments in Portugal. Itpossessed a splendid library, and a handsome cloister, thearchitecture of which was much admired [118] [119].123

Linhares da Beira – PortugalThe Monsanto Castle was built in the 12th century by the Knights Templar, towhom Monsanto, as well as Idanha-a-Velha, had been donated by D. AfonsoHenriques. It was however modernized during the Napoleonic Invasions,evidence of which is the battery at the entrance.124

View of the Castle of Tomar. The Portuguese Templar Master, Gualdim Paisdecided to construct a new fortress in the area, which he commenced oneyear later in 1160. This fortress was to be built in nearby Tomar. This particularpiece of Templar architecture survives to this day and is not only a principletourist attraction in Portugal, but is considered by many to be both a mysticaland spiritual place.Almourol Castle, built c. 1171 on an island of the Tagus river by the TemplarKnights. The highest tower is the square-shaped keep of the castle.125

Possessions in Aragon, Castile and Leion.—The houses or preceptories of the Temple most known in thisprovince or nation of the order were those of Cuenca 42 andGuadalajara 43 , Tine and Aviles 44 in the diocese of Oviedo, andPontevreda 45 in Galicia. In Castile alone the order is said to havepossessed twenty-four bailiwicks [120].The rulers of Aragon, who had suffered grievously from theincursions of the Moors, were the first of the European princes torecognize the utility of the order of the Temple. They endowed thefraternity with vast revenues, and ceded to them some of thestrongest fortresses in the kingdom. The Knights Templarspossessed in Aragon the Templar Church in Segovia and the castlesof Ponferrada 46 , Peñiscola 47 , Granyena 48 , Tarragona 49 , Xivert 50 ,Castillo de Pola 51 (Pola Castle), Monzón 52 , and Momegastre 53 ,Castellote 54 , Miravet 55 , Horta de S. Joan 56 , and Corbins 57 , with theirterritories and dependencies. They were lords of the cities of Borgiaand Tortosa 58 ; they had a tenth part of the revenues of the kingdom,the taxes of the towns of Huesca and Saragossa, and houses,possessions, privileges, and immunities in all parts [93] [121].Temples’ and fortresses in Eastern Spain.126

Monzón Castle. The Templars received the Monzón castle in 1143 and, then,Saint John’s Royal Chapel. This rich commandry, on which they had civil,criminal and religious jurisdiction, had a network of farms and knightcommander representatives.Ponferrada Castle. In 1178, Ponferrada was governed by the Templar Knightsto provide shelter to pilgrims who were on the pilgrimage of the Way of StJames, because this castle was situated on a crossroads on the Way of StJames between León and Villafranca.127

Peñiscola on a hot and sunny spring day- it looked like a Fata Morgana floatingin the blue water of the Mediterranean-the castle was a Moorish strongholdbefore it was given to the Knights Templars in 1233. In 1414 it became thehome of Pope Benedict XIII, Papa Luna. Pedro Luna was born in Aragon,became what is known as the "Antipope" during the schism.... he died atPeñiscola. I took this shot on a hike in the Serra d’Irta, along the coast . Had touse my zoom because of the distance- but it turned out okay.Miravet, the Knights Templar castle—an apparition through an early morningfog. The first sunrays lit up the castle and the tiny town of Miravet.128

Miravet the Knights Templar castle/fortress towering over the tiny town ofMiravet on the Ebro river.Castle of Xivert the ruins of a Knights Templar fortress, the castle of Xivert inthe Serra d’Irta. There are remains of a Moorish castle outside the Templarcastle.129

The Templars likewise possessed lands and estates in the BalearicIsles, which were under the management of the Prior or Preceptorof the island of Majorca, who was subject to the Grand Preceptor ofAragon.Possessions in Germany and Hungary.—The houses most known in this territorial division of the orderare those in the electorate of Mainz 59 , at Homburg 60 (HohenburgCastle), Assenheim 61 , Roetgen 62 in the Rhingau 63 , Havelberg 64 in theMarché of Brandenberg 65 , Neuss 66 on the Rhine, TissiaAltenmünster 67 near Regensburg 68 in Bavaria, Bamberg, Halle 69 ,Brunswick 70 , etc. The Templars possessed the fiefs of Röhrich,Pausin 71 and Woldenberg 72 in Pomerania 73 , an establishment atBach 74 in Hungary, several lordships in Bohemia 75 and Moravia 76 ,and lands, tithes, and large revenues, the gifts of pious Germancrusaders [122] [123] [124] [125] [93]The Hohenburg Castle, nowadays a ruin, was in the 12th Century the seat ofthe counts of Homburg. In 1330 the village received the town status(Stadtrecht) by Louis the Bavarian.130

Possessions in Greece.—The Templars were possessed of lands and had establishments inthe Morea 77 , and in several parts of the Greek empire. Their chiefhouse was at Constantinople 78 , in the quarter called Ὀμόνοια(transliterated: homonoia), where they had an oratory dedicated tothe holy martyrs Martin 79 and Pentaleon 80 [126].Possessions in France.—The principal preceptories and houses of the Temple, in thepresent kingdom of France, were at Besançon 81 , Dole 82 , Salins 83 , à laRomagne 84 , à la ville Dieu 85 , Arbois 86 in Franche Comté 87 [127].Bomgarten, Temple Savigné near Corbeil, Dorlesheim 88 nearMolsheim 89 , where there still remains a chapel called Templehoff,Ribeauvillé 90 , and a Temple house in the plain near Bergheim 91 inAlsace 92 .Bure-les-Templiers 93 , Voulaine les Templiers 94 , Noiron-sous-Gevrey 95 , Tournas 96 , Dijon 97 , Fauverney 98 , where a chapel dedicatedto the Virgin still preserves the name of the Temple, Des Feuilles,situated in the parish of Villette 99 , near the chateau de Vernay, Saint-Martin-de-Belleville 100 , Saint-Pierre-le Chastel 101 , Macon 102 inBurgundy. [128]Montpelier 103 , Sertelage, Pamiers 104 , Narbonne 105 , Sainte-Eulalie 106 ,and Béziers 107 , Prugnanas, and the parish church of St. Martind’Ubertas in Languedoc 108 [129] [93] [130].Temple Cahor 109 in the town of Cohors on the Lot River, TempleMarigny 110 near Saint-Lô, Arras 111 , Sainte-Vaubourg 112 , andRouen 113 , in Normandy. There were two houses of the Temple atRouen; one of them occupied the site of the present maisonconsulaire, and the other stood in the street now called La Rue desHermites [93] [131]. The preceptories and houses of the Temple inFrance, indeed, were so numerous, that it would be a wearisomeand endless task to repeat the names of them. Hundreds of places inthe different provinces are mentioned by French writers as having131

elonged to the Templars. Between Joinville 114 and Saint Dizier 115may still be seen the remains of Temple Ruet, an old chateausurrounded by a moat; and in the diocese of Meaux 116 are the ruinsof the great manorial house of Choisy le Temple 117 . Many interestingtombs are there visible, together with the refectory of the knights,which has been converted into a sheepfold.Pont Valentré. This famous bridge (photo, above) was built in the beginning ofthe 14th century, but got its "modern" fortified aspect in 1879 when it wasrebuilt, with the three defensive towers.The chief house of the order for France, and also for Holland and theNetherlands, was the Temple at Paris 118 , an extensive andmagnificent structure, surrounded by a wall and a ditch. It extendedover all that large space of ground, now covered with streets andbuildings, which lies between the rue du Temple (Temple Street),the rue St. Croix (Saint Croix Street), and the environs de la Verrerie,as far as the walls and the fossés of the port du Temple. It wasornamented with a great tower, flanked by four smaller towers,erected by the Knight Templar Brother Herbert, almoner to the kingof France, and was one of the strongest edifices in the kingdom[132] [93]. Many of the modern streets of Paris which now traverse132

the site of this interesting structure, preserve in the names given tothem some memorial of the ancient Temple. For instance, La rue duTemple, La rue des fossés du Temple, Boulevard du Temple, Faubourgdu Temple, rue de Faubourg du Temple, Vieille rue du Temple, etc.Goats head. 9 Rue des Fontaines du Temple, Paris, Île-de-France, France.Address is approximate.Location of the ancient temple tower at Rue Dupetit-Thouars / Rue du Temple,Paris, Île-de-France, France. Address is approximate.133

All the houses of the Temple in Holland and the Netherlands wereunder the immediate jurisdiction of the Master of the Temple atParis. The preceptories in these kingdoms were very numerous,and the property dependent upon them was of great value. Thosemost known are the preceptories of Treves, which is about 50 kmeast-northeast of Luxembourg, and Dietrich 119 on the Soure, theruins of which last still remain 120 ; Koberne 121 , on the left bank of theMoselle, a few miles from Koblentz 122 ; Belisch, Temple Spelé,Temple Rodt near Vianden 123 , and the Temple at Luxembourg 124 ,where in the time of Broverus there existed considerable remains ofthe refectory, of the church, and of some stone walls covered withpaintings; Templehuis near Ghent 125 , the preceptory of Alphen 126 ,Braëckel, la maison de Slipes near Ostend 127 , founded by the countsof Flanders; Temple Caestre near Mount Cassel 128 ; Villiers le Templeen Condros 129 , between Liege and Huy; Walsberge 130 , Haut Avenesnear Arras 131 ; Temploux 132 near Fleuru in the department of Namur;Vernoi in Hainault 133 ; Temple Dieu at Douai 134 ; Maries nearValenciennes 135 ; St. Symphonier near Mons 136 , etc. [133] [134] [135][136]Trier Gate [Trier (Treves), Porta Nigra (Black Gate), Moselle, valley of,Germany]134

Kobern with Lower Castle Kobern from the other bank of the Moselle.Gardeny is a hill hosting a fortress built between the 12th and 13th centuries.Used by the Knights Templar in the Middle Ages.135

Villers-le-Temple / CondrozIn these countries, as well as in all parts of Europe wherever theywere settled, the Templars possessed vast privileges andimmunities, which were conceded to them by popes, kings, andprinces.Possessions in England.There were in former times the following preceptories of KnightTemplars in the present kingdom of Great Britain (see “TraditionalCounties of great Britain” map below):• Aslakeby, Temple Bruere, Egle, Malteby, Mere, Wilketon, andWitham, in Lincolnshire.136

• North Feriby, Temple Hurst, Temple Newsom, Pafflete,Flaxflete, and Ribstane, in Yorkshire.• Temple Cumbe in Somersetshire.• Ewell, Strode and Swingfield, near Dover, in Kent.• Hadescoe, in Norfolk.• Balsall and Warwick, in Warwickshire.• Temple Rothley, in Leicestershire.• Wilburgham Magna, Daney, and Dokesworth, inCambridgeshire.• Halston, in Shropshire.• Temple Dynnesley, in Hertfordshire.• Temple Cressing and Sutton, in Essex.• Saddlescomb and Chapelay, in Sussex.• Schepeley, in Surrey.• Temple Cowley, Sandford, Bistelesham, and Chalesey, inOxfordshire.• Temple Rockley, in Wiltshire.• Upleden and Garwy, in Herefordshire.• South Badeisley, in Hampshire.• Getinges, in Worcestershire.• Giselingham and Dunwich, in Suffolk. [47] [137] [138]137

• Traditional Counties of great Britain138

The Holy Sepulchre, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire (The Round Church inCambridge)There were also several smaller administrations established, asbefore mentioned, for the management of the farms and lands, andthe collection of rent and tithes. Among these were Liddele andQuiely in the diocese of Chichester; Eken in the diocese of Lincoln;Adingdon, Wesdall, Aupledina, Cotona, etc. The different preceptorsof the Temple in England had under their management lands andproperty in every county of the realm [138].In Leicestershire the Templars possessed the town and thejurisdiction 137 of Rotheley; the manors of Rolle, Babbegrave,Gaddesby, Stonesby, and Melton; Rothely wood, near Leicester; thevillages of Beaumont, Baresby, Dalby, North and South Mardefeld,Saxby, Stonesby, and Waldon, with land in above eighty others! Theyhad also the churches of Rotheley, Babbegrave, and Rolle; and thechapels of Gaddesby, Grimston, Wartnaby, Cawdwell, and Wykeham[139].In Hertfordshire they possessed the town and forest of Broxbourne,the manor of Chelsin Templars, (Chelsin Templariorum,) and themanors of Laugenok, Broxbourne, Letchworth, and TempleDynnesley; demesne 138 lands at Stanho, Preston, Charlton, Walden,139

Hiche, Chelles, Levecamp, and Benigho; the church of Broxbourne,two watermills, and a lock on the river Lea: also property at Hichen,Pyrton, Ickilford, Offeley Magna, Offeley Parva, Walden Regis,Furnivale, Ipolitz, Wandsmyll, Watton, Therleton, Weston, Gravele,Wilien, Leccheworth, Baldock, Datheworth, Russenden, Codpeth,Sumershale, Buntynford, etc., and the church of Weston [140] [138].In the county of Essex they had the manors of Temple Cressynge,Temple Roydon, Temple Sutton, Odewell, Chingelford, Lideleye,Quarsing, Berwick, and Witham; the church of Roydon, and houses,lands, and farms, both at Roydon, at Rivenhall, and in the parishes ofPrittlewall and Great and Little Sutton; an old mansion-house andchapel at Sutton, and an estate called Finchinfelde in the hundred ofHinckford [141] [138].In Lincolnshire the Templars possessed the manors of La Bruere,Roston, Kirkeby, Brauncewell, Carleton, Akele, with the jurisdictionof Lynderby Aslakeby, and the churches of Bruere, Asheby, Akele,Aslakeby, Donington, Ele, Swinderby, Skarle, etc. There wereupwards of thirty churches in the county, which made annualpayments to the order of the Temple, and about forty windmills.The order likewise received rents in respect of lands at Bracebrig,Brancetone, Scapwic, Timberland, Weleburne, Diringhton, and ahundred other places; and some of the land in the county wascharged with the annual payment of money towards the upkeep ofthe lights that were burning eternally on the altars of the Templechurch [142]. William Lord of Asheby gave to the Templars theperpetual advowson of the church of Asheby in Lincolnshire, andthey in return agreed to find him a priest to sing forever twice aweek in his chapel of St. Margaret [142].In Yorkshire the Templars possessed the manors of TempleWerreby, Flaxflete, Etton, South Cave, etc.; the churches ofWhitcherche, Kelintune, etc.; numerous windmills and lands andrents at Nehus, Skelture, Pennel, and more than sixty other places aswell [142].140

In Warwickshire they possessed the manors of Barston, Shirburne,Balshale, Wolfhey, Cherlecote, Herbebure, Stodleye,Fechehampstead, Cobington, Tysho and Warwick; lands atChelverscoton, Herdwicke, Morton, Warwick, Hetherburn,Chesterton, Aven, Derset, Stodley, Napton, and more than thirtyother places, the several donors, which are specified in Dugdale’shistory of Warwickshire; also the churches of Sireburne, Cardinton,etc., and more than thirteen windmills. William Earl of Warwickbuilt a new church for them at Warwick [142] [143].In Kent they had the manors of Lilleston, Hechewayton, Saunford,Sutton, Dartford, Halgel, Ewell, Cocklescomb, Strode, SwinkfieldMennes, West Greenwich, and the manor of Lydden, which nowbelongs to the archbishop of Canterbury; the advowsons (see note6) of the churches of West Greenwich and Kingeswode nearWaltham; extensive tracts of land in Romney marsh, and farms andassize rents (see note 8) in all parts of the county [47] [144].In Sussex they had the manors of Saddlescomb and Shipley; landsand tenements at Compton and other places; and the advowsons ofthe churches of Shipley, Wodmancote, and Luschwyke [145].Shipley Church seen from the windmill141

In Surrey they had the manor farm of Temple Elfand or Elfante, andan estate at Merrow in the hundred of Woking. In Gloucestershire,the manors of Lower Dowdeswell, Pegsworth, Amford, Nishange,and five others, which belonged to them exclusively or in part, thechurch of Down Ammey, and lands in Framton, Temple Guting, andLittle Rissington. In Worcestershire, the manor of Templars Lawern,and lands in Flavel, Temple Broughton, and Hanbury. [146] [147][148] In Northamptonshire, the manors of Asheby, Thorp,Watervill, etc.; they had the advowson of the church of the manor ofHardwicke in Orlington hundred, and we find that “Robert Saunford,Master of the soldiery of the Temple in England,” presented to it inthe year 1238 [149]. In Nottinghamshire, the Templars possessedthe church of Marnham, lands and rents at Gretton and NorthCarleton; in Westmoreland, the manor of Temple Sowerby; in theIsle of Wight, the manor of Uggeton, and lands in Kerne [150] [151][152]. It would be tedious to continue further with a dry detail ofancient names and places; the foregoing is sufficient to give an ideaof the enormous wealth of the order in this country, where it isknown to have possessed some hundreds of manors, theinnumerable advowson or right of presentation to churches, andthousands of acres of arable land 139 , pasture, and woodland, besidesvillages, farm-houses, mills, and tithes, rights of common, of fishing,of cutting wood in forests, etc.There were also several preceptories in Scotland and Ireland, whichwere dependent on the Temple at London.The annual income of the order in Europe has been roughlyestimated at six million sterling 140 . According to Matthew Paris, theTemplars possessed nine thousand manors or lordships inChristendom, besides a large revenue and immense riches arisingfrom the constant charitable inheritances and donations of sums ofmoney from religious people 141 . [153] “They were also endowed,”says James of Vitry, bishop of Acre, “with farms, towns, and villages,to an immense extent both in the East and in the West, out of therevenues of which they send yearly a certain sum of money for thedefense of the Holy Land to their head Master at the chief house of142

their order in Jerusalem 142 .” [17] The Templars, in imitation of theother monastic establishments, obtained from religious andcharitable people all the advowsons (see note 6) within their reach,and frequently retained the tithe and the glebe 143 in their ownhands, appointing a priest of the order to perform divine serviceand administer the sacraments.The manors of the Templars produced for them rent either inmoney, corn, or cattle, and the usual produce of the soil. By thecustom in some of these manors, the tenants were annually “to cutthree days in harvest, one at the charge of the house; and to ploughthree days, one at the like charge; to reap one day, at which time theyshould have a ram from the house, eight-pence 144 , twenty-four loaves,and a cheese of the best in the house, together with a pailful 145 ofdrink. The tenants were not to sell their horse-colts, if they werefoaled upon the land belonging to the Templars, without the consentof the fraternity, nor marry their daughters without their license.There were also various regulations concerning the cocks and hensand young chickens 146 .” [154]We have previously given an account of the royal donations of KingHenry the First, and of King Stephen and his queen, to the order ofthe Temple. These were far surpassed by the devout backings ofKing Henry the Second. That monarch, for the good of his soul andthe welfare of his kingdom, granted the Templars a place situatedon the river Fleet, near Bainard’s Castle, with the full current of theriver at London, for erecting a mill 147 ; [155] also a messuage ordwelling near Fleet-street; the church of St. Clement, “quæ diciturDacorum extra civitatem Londoniæ 148 ;” and the churches of Elle,Swinderby and Skarle in Lincolnshire, Kingeswode near Waltham inKent, the manor of Stroder in the county subdivision of Skamele, theparish of Kele in Staffordshire, the religious retreat of Flikeamstede,and all his lands at Lange Cureway, a house in Brosal, and themarket of Witham; lands at Berghotte, a mill at the bridge ofPembroke Castle, the parish of Finchingfelde, the manor of Rotheleywith its appurtenances 149 , and the advowson of the church and itsseveral chapels, the manor of Blalcolvesley, the park of Haleshall,143

and three fat bucks annually, either from Essex or Windsor Forest.He likewise granted them an annual fair at Temple Bruere, andadded many rich benefactions in Ireland [47].The principal benefactors to the Templars among the nobility wereWilliam Marshall, earl of Pembroke, and his sons William andGilbert; Robert, lord de Ros; the earl of Hereford; William, earl ofDevon; the king of Scotland; William, archbishop of York; PhilipHarcourt, dean of Lincoln; the earl of Cornwall; Philip, bishop ofBayeux; Simon de Senlis, earl of Northampton; Leticia and William,count and countess of Ferrara; Margaret, countess of Warwick;Simon de Montfort, earl of Leicester; Robert de Harecourt, lord ofRosewarden; William de Vernon, earl of Devon, etc. [47]Temple, Cornwall, derives its name from the hospice founded by KnightsTemplars who built a refuge for pilgrims and travelers, en route to the HolyLand, in the 12th century.[Privileges and ImmunitiesThe Templars, in addition to their amazing wealth, enjoyed vastprivileges and immunities within this realm. In the reign of KingJohn they were freed from all “amerciaments 150 in the144

Exchequer 151 ”, and obtained the privilege of not being compelled toplead, except before the king or his chief justice. King Henry theThird granted them free habitat in all their demesne lands; and byhis famous charter, dated the 9th of February, in the eleventh yearof his reign, he confirmed to them all the donations of hispredecessors and of their other benefactors; “with soc 152 and sac 153 ,tol 154 and theam 155 , infangenethef 156 , and unfangenethef 157 , andhamsoca 158 , and grithbrich 159 , and blodwite 160 , and flictwite 161 , andhengewite 162 , and learwite 163 , and flemenefrith 164 , murder, robbery,forestal 165 , ordel 166 , and oreste 167 ; and he acquitted them from theroyal and sheriff’s services, and from hidage 168 , carucage 169 ,danegeld 170 and hornegeld 171 , and from military and wapentake 172services, scutages 173 , tallages 174 , lastages 175 , stallages 176 , from shiresand hundreds, pleas and quarrels, from ward 177 and wardpeny 178 ,and averpeni 179 , and hundredespeni 180 …, and from the works ofparks, castles, bridges, the building of royal houses and all otherworks; and also from waste regard and view of foresters, and fromtoll in all markets and fairs, and at all bridges, and upon allhighways throughout the kingdom. And he also gave them thechattels 181 of felons and fugitives, and all waifs within their fee” [47][156] [157].In addition to these particular privileges, the Templars enjoyed,under the authority of the Papal bulls, various immunities andadvantages, which gave great exception to the clergy. They werefreed, as before mentioned, from the obligation of paying tithes, andmight, with the consent of the bishop, receive them. No brother ofthe Temple could be excommunicated by any bishop or priest, norcould any of the churches of the order be laid under injunctionexcept by virtue of a special mandate from the Pope. When anybrother of the Temple, appointed to make charitable collections forthe succor of the Holy Land, should arrive at a city, castle, or village,which had been laid under sanction, the churches, on their welcomecoming, were to be opened, (once within the year,) and divineservice was to be performed in honor of the Temple, and inreverence for the holy soldiers thereof. The privilege of sanctuary145

was given to their dwellings; and by various papal bulls, it issolemnly ordered that “no person shall lay violent hands eitherupon the persons or the property of those flying for refuge to theTemple houses” [138].Sir Edward Coke, in the second part of the Institute of the Laws ofEngland, observes, that “the Templars did so overspread throughoutChristendome, and so exceedingly increased in possessions, revenues,and wealth, and specially in England, as you will wonder to reade inapproved histories, and withall obtained so great and large privileges,liberties, and immunities for themselves, their tenants, and farmers,etc., as no other order had the like.” [138] He further observes, thatthe Knights Templars were cruce signati (Crossbearers)—since thecross was the emblem of their profession—and their tenantsenjoyed great privileges, when they erect crosses on their houses, tothe end that those inhabiting them might be known to be thetenants of the order, and thereby be freed from many duties andservices which other tenants were subject to; “and many tenants ofother lords, perceiving the state and greatnesse of the knights of thesaid order, and withall seeing the great priviledges their tenantsenjoyed, did set up crosses upon their houses, as their very tenantsused to doe, to the prejudice of their lords.” [138]This abuse led to the passing of the statute of Westminster, thesecond, chap. 33 [158], which recites, that “many tenants did set upcrosses or cause them to be set up on their lands in predisposition oftheir lords, that the tenants might defend themselves against the chieflord of the fee by the privileges of Templars and Hospitaliers, andenacts that such lands should be forfeited to the chief lords or to theking.”Sir Edward Coke observes, that the Templars were “freed fromtenths and fifteenths to be paid to the king; that they were dischargedof purveyance; that they could not be sued for any ecclesiastical causebefore the ordinary, sed coram conservatoribus suorumprivilegiorum; and that of ancient time they claimed that a felonmight take to their houses, having their crosses for his safety, as well146

as to any church” [159]. And concerning these conservers or keepersof their privileges, he remarks, that the Templars and Hospitaliers“held an ecclesiasticall court before a canonist, whom they termedconservator privilegiorum suorum, which judge had indeed moreauthority than was convenient, and did dayly, in respect of the heightof these two orders, and at their instance and direction, incroach uponand hold plea of matters determinable by the common law, for cuiplus licet quam par est, plus vult quam licet; and this was one greatmischiefe. Another mischiefe was, that this judge, likewise at theirinstance, in cases wherein he had jurisdiction, would make generalcitations as pro salute anima, and the like, without expressing thematter whereupon the citation was made, which also was against law,and tended to the grievous vexation of the subject.” [159] To remedythese evils, another act of parliament was passed, prohibitingHospitaliers and Templars from bringing any man in plea before thekeepers of their privileges, for any matter that belonged to theking’s court. It also commanded such keepers of their privileges tohenceforth grant no citations in the case of Hospitaliers andTemplars, before it be communicated upon what matter of thecitation [160].Templar Organization and GovernmentHaving given an outline of the great territorial possessions of theorder of the Temple in Europe, it now remains for us to present asketch of its organization and government. The Master of theTemple, the chief of the entire fraternity, ranked as a sovereignprince, and had primacy of all ambassadors and peers in the generalcouncils of the church. He was elected to his high office by thechapter of the kingdom of Jerusalem, which was composed of all theknights of the East and of the West who could manage to attend.The Master had his general and particular chapters. The first werecomposed of the Grand Priors of the eastern and western provinces,and of all the knights present in the holy territory. The assemblingof these general chapters, however, in the distant land of Palestine,was a useless and almost impracticable undertaking, and it is onlyon the journeys of the Master to Europe, that we hear of the147

convocation of the Grand Priors of the West to attending upon theirchief. The general chapters called together by the Master in Europewere held at Paris, and the Grand Prior of England always receivedan order to attend. The ordinary business and the government ofthe fraternity in secular matters were conducted by the Master withthe assistance of his particular chapter of the Latin kingdom, whichwas composed of such of the Grand Priors and chief dignitaries ofthe Temple as happened to be present in the East, and such of theknights as were deemed the wisest and most fit to give counsel. Inthese last chapters visitors-general were appointed to inspect theadministration of the western provinces.The western nations or provinces of the order were presided overby the provincial Masters 182 , [161] otherwise Grand Priors or GrandPreceptors, who were originally appointed by the chief Master atJerusalem, and were in theory mere trustees or simpleadministrators of the revenues of the fraternity, accountable to thetreasurer general at Jerusalem, and removeable at the pleasure ofthe Chief Master. However, the numbers, possessions, and wealth ofthe Templars increased, various abuses sprang up. The members ofthe order, after their admittance to the vows, very frequently settleddown on their property in Europe, instead of proceeding directly toPalestine to war against the infidels, and consumed at home a largeproportion of those revenues, which should have been faithfully andstrictly forwarded to the general treasury at the Holy City. Theyerected numerous convents or preceptories, with churches andchapels, and assembled in each western province a framework ofgovernment similar to that of the ruling province of Palestine.The chief house of the Temple in England, for example, after itsremoval from Holborn Bars to the banks of the Thames, wasregulated and organized after the model of the house of the Templeat Jerusalem. The superior is always styled “Master of the Temple,”and holds his chapters and has his officers corresponding to thoseof the chief Master in Palestine. The latter, consequently, came to becalled Magnus Magister, or Grand Master, 183 by our English writers,to distinguish him from the Master at London, and henceforth he148

will be described by that title to prevent confusion. The titles givento the superiors of the different nations or provinces into which theorder of the Temple was divided, are numerous and somewhatperplexing. In the East, these officers were known only, in the firstinstance, by the title of Prior, as Prior of England, Prior of France,Prior of Portugal, etc., and afterwards Preceptor of England,preceptor of France, etc.; but in Europe they were called GrandPriors and Grand Preceptors, to distinguish them from the Subpriorsand Sub-preceptors, and also Masters of the Temple. ThePrior and Preceptor of England, therefore, and the Grand Prior,Grand Preceptor, and Master of the Temple in England, were oneand the same person. There were also at the New Temple atLondon, in imitation of the establishment of the chief house inPalestine, in addition to the Master, the Preceptor of the Temple, thePrior of London, the Treasurer, and the Guardian of the church, whohad three chaplains under him, called readers [47].The Master at London had his general and particular, or hisordinary and extraordinary chapters. The first were composed ofthe grand preceptors of Scotland and Ireland, and all the provincialpriors and preceptors of the three kingdoms, who were summonedonce a year to deliberate on the state of the Holy Land, to forwardrelief, to give an account of their stewardship, and to frame newrules and regulations for the management of the temporalities. Theordinary chapters were held at the different preceptories, which theMaster of the Temple visited in succession. In these chapters newmembers were admitted into the order; lands were bought, sold,and exchanged; and presentations were made by the Master forvacant church offices. Many of the grants and other deeds of thesechapters, with the seal of the order of the Temple annexed to them,were to be met with in the public and private collections ofmanuscripts in this country. One of the most interesting and bestpreserved, is the Harleian charter (83, c. 39,) in the British Museum,which is a grant of land made by Brother William de la More, themartyr, the last Master of the Temple in England, to the Lord Milode Stapleton. It is conveyed to be made by him, with the common149

consent and advice of his chapter, held at the Preceptory ofDynneslee, on the feast of Saint Barnabas the Apostle, andconcludes, “In witness whereof, we have to this present indentureplaced the seal of our chapter 184 .” A fac-simile of this seal is givenbelow. On the reverse of it is a man’s head, decorated with a longbeard, and surmounted by a small cap, and around it are the lettersTESTISVMAGI. The same seal was to be met with on various otheragreements made by the Master and Chapter of the Temple [142].The earliest seals are surrounded with the words, Sigillum MilitisTempli, “Seal of the Knight of the Temple;” as in the case of the deedof exchange of lands at Normanton in the parish of Botisford, inLeicestershire, entered into between Brother Amadeus deMorestello, Master of the chivalry of the Temple in England, and hischapter, of the one part, and the Lord Henry de Colevile, Knight, ofthe other part. The seal annexed to this deed has the addition of theword Militis, but in other respects it is similar to the one abovedelineated [162].A Seal of the Knights TemplarThe Master of the Temple was controlled by the visitors-general ofthe order 185 , who were knights specially appointed by the GrandMaster and convent of Jerusalem to visit the different provinces, toreform abuses, make new regulations, and terminate such disputes150

as were usually reserved for the decision of the Grand Master.These visitors-general sometimes removed knights from theirpreceptories, and even suspended the masters themselves, and itwas their duty to expedite to the East all such knights as were youngand vigorous, and capable of fighting. Two regular voyages wereundertaken from Europe to Palestine in the course of the year,under the conduct of the Templars and Hospitaliers, called thepassagium Martis, and the passagium Sancti Johannis. These tookplace respectively in the spring and summer, when the newlyadmittedknights left the preceptories of the West, taking with themhired foot soldiers, armed pilgrims, and large sums of money, theproduce of the European possessions of the fraternity, by which acontinual aid was afforded to the Christian kingdom of Jerusalem.One of the grand priors or grand preceptors generally took thecommand of these expeditions, and was frequently accompanied bymany valiant secular knights, who craved permission to join hisstandard, and paid large sums of money for a passage to the far East.In the interval between these different voyages, the young knightswere diligently employed at the different preceptories in thereligious and military exercises necessary to fit them for their highvocation.On any sudden emergency, or when the ranks of the order had beengreatly thinned by the casualties of war, the Grand Master sentcircular letters to the grand preceptors or masters of the westernprovinces, requiring instant aid and assistance, on the receipt ofwhich collections were made in the churches, and all the knightsthat could be spared, directly embarked for the Holy Land.The Master of the Temple in England sat in parliament as first baronof the realm, (primus baro Angliæ) but that is to be understoodamong priors only. To the parliament held in the twenty-ninth yearof King Henry the Third, there were summoned sixty-five abbots,thirty-five priors, and the Master of the Temple [138]. The oathtaken by the grand priors, grand preceptors, or provincial Mastersin Europe, on their assumption of the duties of their highadministrative office, was drawn up in the following terms:--151

“I, A. B., Knight of the Order of the Temple, just now appointed Masterof the knights who are in …, promise to Jesus Christ my Savior, and tohis vicar the sovereign pontiff and his successors, perpetual obedienceand fidelity. I swear that I will defend, not only with my lips, but byforce of arms and with all my strength, the mysteries of the faith; theseven sacraments, the fourteen articles of the faith, the creed of theApostles, and that of Saint Athanasius; the books of the Old and theNew Testament, with the commentaries of the holy fathers, asreceived by the church; the unity of God, the plurality of the persons ofthe holy Trinity; that Mary, the daughter of Joachim and Anna, of thetribe of Judah, and of the race of David, remained always a virginbefore her delivery, during and after her delivery. I promise likewise tobe submissive and obedient to the Master-general of the order, inconformity with the statutes prescribed by our father Saint Bernard;that I will at all times in case of need pass the seas to go and fight;that I will always afford succor against the infidel kings and princes;that in the presence of three enemies I will fly not, but cope with them,if they are infidels; that I will not sell the property of the order, norconsent that it be sold or alienated; that I will always preservechastity; that I will be faithful to the king of …; that I will neversurrender to the enemy the towns and places belonging to the order;and that I will never refuse to the religious any succor that I am ableto afford them; that I will aid and defend them by words, by arms, andby all sorts of good offices; and in sincerity and of my own free will Iswear that I will observe all these things.” [163]Among the earliest of the Masters, or Grand Priors, or GrandPreceptors of England, whose names figure in history, is Richard deHastings, who was at the head of the order in his country on theaccession of King Henry the Second to the throne 186 , [164] (A.D.1140 and was employed by that monarch in various importantnegotiations. In the year 1160 he greatly offended the king ofFrance. The Princess Margaret, the daughter of that monarch, hadbeen betrothed to Prince Henry, son of Henry the Second, king ofEngland; and in the treaty of peace entered into between the twosovereigns, it was stipulated that Gizors and two other places, part152

of the dowry of the princess, should be consigned to the custody ofthe Templars, to be delivered into King Henry’s hands after thecelebration of the nuptials. The king of England (A.D. 1160) causedthe prince and princess, both of whom were infants, to be marriedin the presence of Richard de Hastings, the Grand Prior or Master ofthe Temple in England, and two other Knights Templars, who,immediately after the conclusion of the ceremony, placed thefortresses in King Henry’s hands 187 . [80] [165] The king of Francewas highly indignant at this proceeding, and some writers accusethe Templars of treachery, but from the copy of the treaty publishedby Lord Littleton [166] it does not appear that they acted with badfaith.The above Richard de Hastings was the friend and confidant ofThomas â Becket. During the disputes between that arrogantprelate and the king, the archbishop, we are told, withdrew from thecouncil chamber, where all his brethren were assembled, and wentto consult with Richard de Hastings, the Prior of the Temple atLondon, who threw himself on his knees before him, and with manytears besought him to give in his adherence to the famous councilsof Clarendon [166].Richard de Hastings was succeeded by Richard Mallebeench, whoconfirmed a treaty of peace and concord, which had been enteredinto between his predecessor and the abbot of Kirkested 188 ; [164]and the next Master of the Temple appears to have been Geoffreyson of Stephen, who received the Patriarch Heraclius as his guest atthe new Temple on the occasion of the consecration of the Templechurch, He styles himself “Minister of the soldiery of the Temple inEngland 189 .” [164]In consequence of the high estimation in which the Templars wereheld, and the privilege of sanctuary enjoyed by them, the Temple atLondon came to be made “a storehouse of treasure.” The wealth ofthe king, the nobles, the bishops, and of the rich citizens of London,was generally deposited therein, under the safeguard andprotection of the military friars. [164] The money collected in the153

churches and chapels for the succor of the Holy Land was also paidinto the treasury of the Temple, to be forwarded to its destination:and the treasurer was at different times authorized to receive thetaxes imposed upon the moveables of the ecclesiastics, also thelarge sums of money extorted by the greedy pontiffs from theEnglish clergy, and the annuities granted by the king to the nobles ofthe kingdom 190 . [138] [167] The money and jewels of Hubert deBurgh, earl of Kent, the chief justiciary, and at one time governor ofthe king and kingdom of England, were deposited in the Temple,and when that nobleman was disgraced and committed to theTower, the king attempted to lay hold of the treasure.Matthew Paris gives the following curious account of the affair:“It was suggested,” says he, “to the king, that Hubert had no smallamount of treasure deposited in the New Temple, under the custody ofthe Templars. The king, accordingly, summoning to his presence theMaster of the Temple, briefly demanded of him if it was so. He indeed,not daring to deny the truth to the king, confessed that he had moneyof the said Hubert, which had been confidentially committed to thekeeping of himself and his brethren, but of the quantity and amountthereof he was altogether ignorant. Then the king endeavored withthreats to obtain from the brethren the surrender to him of theaforesaid money, asserting that it had been fraudulently subtractedfrom his treasury. But they answered to the king, that money confidedto them in trust they would deliver to no man without the permissionof him who had intrusted it to be kept in the Temple. And the king,since the above-mentioned money had been placed under theirprotection, ventured not to take it by force. He sent, therefore, thetreasurer of his court, with his justices of the Exchequer, to Hubert,who had already been placed in fetters in the Tower of London, thatthey might exact from him an assignment of the entire sum to theking. But when these messengers had explained to Hubert the objectof their coining, he immediately answered that he would submithimself and all belonging to him to the good pleasure of his sovereign.He therefore petitioned the brethren of the chivalry of the Temple thatthey would, in his behalf, present all his keys to his lord the king, that154

he might do what he pleased with the things deposited in the Temple.This being done, the king ordered all that money, faithfully counted, tobe placed in his treasury, and the amount of all the things found to bereduced into writing and exhibited before him. The king’s clerks,indeed, and the treasurer acting with them, found deposited in theTemple gold and silver vases of inestimable price, and money andmany precious gems, an enumeration whereof would in truth astonishthe hearers.” [153] [168]The kings of England frequently resided in the Temple, and so alsodid the haughty legates of the Roman pontiffs, who there madecontributions in the name of the pope upon the English bishoprics.Matthew Paris gives a lively account of the exactions of the nuncioMartin, who resided for many years at the Temple, and came therearmed by the pope with powers such as no emissary had everbefore possessed. “He made,” he says, “while residing at London inthe New Temple, unheard of extortions of money and valuables. Heimperiously intimated to the abbots and priors that they must sendhim rich presents, desirable palfreys, sumptuous services for the table,and rich clothing; which being done, that same Martin sent back wordthat the things sent were insufficient, and he commanded the giversthereof to forward him better things, on pain of suspension andexcommunication.” [168]The convocations of the clergy and the great ecclesiastical councilswere frequently held at the Temple, and laws were there made bythe bishops and abbots for the government of the church andmonasteries in England [96].Notes1 Holborn is an area of Central London. Holborn is also the name of the area'sprincipal east-west street, running as High Holborn from St Giles's High Street toGray's Inn Road (the junction being roughly where Holborn Bar — the entrance tothe City of London — was) and then on to Holborn Viaduct. The street sinceboundary changes in 1994 runs along the boundary between the London Borough155

of Camden and the City of London; previously the boundary was less obvious in thearea and crossed the street at Holborn Bar. Today the Temple comprises two of thefour Inns of Court (Inner Temple and Middle Temple), providing barristers' offices(called "chambers"), training and dining facilities, a few residential flats, gardensand a church. Templar house is nestled on 81-87 on High Holborn Street, London,WC1V 6NU, and serves as headquarters for Metronet. This street connects theborders of London Borough of Camden, City of London and the Westminster City.2 A community of Knights Templars.3 “Yea, and a part of that too,” says Sir William Dugdale, in his origins juridiciales, asappears from the first grant thereof to Sir William Paget, Knight, Pat. ii. Edward VI.p. 2.4 Many old charters and deeds read, “Datum apud vetus Templum Londoniæ.” (tr.Latin: “Dated at the Old Temple of London”). Also, Hoveden speaks of the king'svisit to Hugh bishop of Lincoln, who lay sick of a fever at the Old Temple, and diedthere, the 16th of November, A.D. 1200.5 “Anno ab incarnatione Domini MCLXXXV. facta est ista inquisitio de terrarumdonatoribus, et earum possessoribus, ecclesiarum scil. et molendinorum, et terrarumassisarum, et in dominico habitarum, et de redditibus assisis per Angliam, per fratremGalfridum filium Stephani, quando ipse suscepit balliam de Anglia, qui summo studioprædicta inquirendo curam sollicitam exhibuit, ut majoris notitiæ posterisexpressionem generaret, et pervicacibus omnimodam nocendi rescinderetfacultatem.” (tr. Latin: “In the year of our Lord 1185. there was a donor of the landof this inquiry, and their owners, churches, namely. and mills, and lands the assize,and in the Lord's possessed, and of the rents, assizes throughout England, by hisbrother Geoffrey, the son of Stephen, when he took to himself bailiwick fromEngland, who have spoken before inquiring with great care the care of a solicitouspresented them to generate greater knowledge after this expression, andobstinately could injure the faculty to do harm in every way”) Ex. cod. MS. in Scacc.penes Remor. Regis. fol. i. a.; Dugd. Monast. Angl. vol. vi. part ii. p. 820.6 Advowson is the right in English law of a patron (avowee) to present or appoint anominee to a vacant ecclesiastical benefice or church living, a process known aspresentation. In effect this means the right to nominate a person to hold a churchoffice in a parish. It is also known as advocation or patronage. An advowson wasregarded as property and could be bought, sold, or bequeathed but followingreforms of parish administration in the 19th century it had little commercial value.Advowsons were valued for a number of reasons, including as a means for thepatron to influence the parish through the appointee or to simply reward theappointee for services rendered. A benefice could include a house as well as theincome, which would provide for the incumbent, and the value of the advowsonwould vary accordingly.7 In the feudal system the demesne (from Latin dominus, “lord, master of ahousehold”) was all the land, not necessarily all contiguous to the manor house,156

which was retained by a lord of the manor for his own use and support, under hisown management, as distinguished from land sub-enfeoffed by him to others assub-tenants. The system of manorial land tenure, broadly termed feudalism, wasconceived in Western Europe, initially in France but exported to areas affected byNorman expansion during the Middle Ages, for example the Kingdoms of Sicily,Scotland, Jerusalem, and England.8 Rents assize were certain established rents of free-holders and copy-holders ofmanors, which cannot be varied; called also quit-rents.9 Right of common was the legal right of a person to use the lands or waters ofanother, as for fishing.10 Waren is a privilege of keeping and killing certain kinds of animals (especiallyhares and rabbits) on a piece of ground. A warren in the hands of a private person(sometimes called a free warren) is a franchise; it may be claimed by royal grant orprescription, and may either exist in the lands of the owner of the warren, or inthose of another person.11 Belonging to a prior.12 An Almoner, in former times, was somebody who distributed alms to the needy,especially on behalf of a church, monastery, or wealthy family.13 “Quorum res adeo crevit in immensum, ut hodie, trecentos in conventu habeantequites, albïs chlamydibus indutos: exceptis fratribus, quorum pene infinitus estnumerus. Possessions autem, tam ultra quam citra mare, adeo dicuntur immensashabere, ut jam non sit in orbe christiano provincia quæ prædictis fratribus suorumportionem non contulerit, et regiis opulentiis pares hodie dicuntur habere copias.” (tr.Latin: “Of these grew into a thing so immense, that to-day, in the meeting is to bethree hundred horsemen, clothed in white cloak, with the exception of brothers ofwhom the number is almost infinite. The possession of him, so more than on thisside of the sea, are said to be so immense that he has now is not in the Christianworld is not the province contributed a portion of what was predicted of hisbrethren, and the wealth of kings this day are said to have equal forces.”)14 “Dominus Baldwinus illustris memoriæ, Hierosolymorum rex quartos, Gazammunitissimam fratribus militiæ Templi donavit.” (tr. Latin: “Baldwin to theremembrance of the illustrious Lord, the fourth king of Jerusalem, Gaza, the host ofthe brethren of the Temple has given the strong.”) [66] “Milites Templi Gazamantiquam Palæstinæ civitatem reædificant, et turribus eam muniunt.” (tr. Latin: “Thesoldiers of the temple of the ancient Palestines Gaza to rebuild the city, and itfortified towers.”) [280]15 A satrapy in ancient Persia, was a province or territory governed by a satrap.16 Cambyses II, (522 BCE) son of Cyrus the Great (r. 559–530 BCE), was a king ofkings of the Achaemenid Empire. Cambyses's grandfather was Cambyses I, king ofAnshan. Following Cyrus the Great's conquest of the Near East and Central Asia,157

Cambyses II further expanded the empire into Egypt during the Late Period bydefeating the Egyptian pharaoh Psamtik III during the battle of Pelusium in 525BCE. After the Egyptian campaign and the truce with Libya, Cambyses invaded theKingdom of Kush (located in what is now the Republic of Sudan) but with littlesuccess17 Arsuf (Hebrew: ‏,אַרְ‏ סוּף ‏,ףושרא "'aRShOoPh" , Arabic: "Arsaaf", فصرأ ) also knownas Arsur or Apollonia, was an ancient city and fortress located in Israel, about 15kilometres north of modern Tel Aviv, on a cliff above the Mediterranean Sea. Thecity site, Tel Arsuf, was intensively excavated from 1994. In 2002 it becameApollonia National Park. In 1995 a new village by the name of Arsuf wasestablished to the north of the ancient city.18 Tel Megiddo, in the Jezreel Valley, near the intersection of present-day highways65 and 66.19 Mirabel meaning “beautiful view”.20 Castellum Rouge (Red Castle) is located on the notth side of the modern highwayfrom (HWY 1) Jericho to Jerusalem, which follows the ancient route. Below thehigh fortress on other side of the road are ruins of the Inn of the Good Samaritan.21 Chastel Blanc (Arabic: Burj Safita or Safita Tower ) was built by the KnightsTemplar during the Crusades upon prior fortifications. Constructed on the middlehill of Safita's three hills, it offers a commanding view of the surroundingcountryside, and was a major part of the network of Crusader fortifications in thearea. From the roof, one can see from the Mediterranean Sea to the snow-coveredmountains of Lebanon, and Tripoli. From Chastel Blanc it would have beenpossible to see the Templar strongholds at Tartus and Ruad Island to thenorthwest, Chastel Rouge on the coastline to the southwest, Akkar to the south, andKrak des Chevaliers (the headquarters of the Syrian Knights Hospitallers) to thesoutheast. The tower is the remaining keep of the original castle. It has a height of28 metres (92 ft), a width of 18 metres (59 ft), and a length of 31 metres (102 ft). Alarge bell is on the western wall, and its sound can be heard up to 5 kilometres (3.1mi) from Safita. The castle had to be restored in 1170 and 1202 following damagesdue to earthquakes. The keep in its current shape probably dates from thereconstruction after 1202.22 Tr Latin: “We therefore, and the boy, beloved grandson of nosier, and havesought their conservatories this condition to be made for the acquisition of anothervillage, named Trapesach, with all belonging to them are in like manner to aid thenation, and by our own strength would.” [281]23 French, from Old French, officer in charge of provisions, pack-animal driver,alteration of sommerier, from sommier, beast of burden, from Vulgar Latinsaumārius.24 Saint John d'Acre oor Akko (Hebrew כּוֹ ‏,עַ‏ Standard Hebrew ʻAkko, TiberianHebrew ʻAkkô; Arabic اعكّ‏ ʻAkkā; also, Acre, Accho, Acco, and St.-Jean d'Acre), is a158

city in Western Galilee in the North District, Israel. According to the Israel CentralBureau of Statistics (CBS), at the end of 2003 the city had a total population of45,600. It stands on a low promontory at the northern extremity of the Bay of Acre,95 miles N.N.W. from Jerusalem. It was long regarded as the "Key of Palestine," onaccount of its commanding position on the shore of the broad coastal plain thatjoins the inland plain of Esdraelon, and so affords the easiest entrance to theinterior of the country.25 The ruins of Casal de Plains are located in Azor (Hebrew: אָזוֹר ) (also Azur), asmall town (local council) in the Tel Aviv District of Israel, on the old Jaffa-Jerusalem road southeast of Tel Aviv. Established in 1948, Azor was granted localcouncil status in 1951. It was named for the ancient city of Azur (lit. mighty,heroic), preserved in the name of the Arab village of Yazur.26 Krak des Chevaliers (also Crac des Chevaliers), is a Crusader castle in Syria andone of the most important preserved medieval castles in the world. The site wasfirst inhabited in the 11th century by a settlement of Kurds; as a result it wasknown as Hisn al Akrad, meaning the “Castle of the Kurds”. In 1142 it was given byRaymond II, Count of Tripoli, to the Knights Hospitaller. It remained in theirpossession until it fell in 1271. It became known as Crac de l'Ospital; the nameKrak des Chevaliers was coined in the 19th century.27 “Marin Sanut ou Sanudo , surnommé Torsells du nom d'un instrument dont on leditInventeur, natif de Rivoalti dans l'Etac de Venise, aprés avoir passé fa jeunesse àvoyager dans la Terre-fainte, composa un Ouvrage auquel il donna le titra de Secretsdes Fideles la Croix, dans lequel il entreprend de deduire les moyens par lesquels lesChretiens peuvent recouvrer la Terre-fainte, divise in trois Livres.” (tr. French: “MarinSanudo or Sanut, nicknamed Torsells the name of an instrument which is saidInventor, a native of Rivoalti Etac in Venice, after having spent his youth travelingto the holy Land, wrote a work to which he gave the title “Secrets of the faithful tothe Cross”, in which he undertakes to deduct the means by which Christians canrecover the holy Land, divided in three books.”)28 Beaufort or Belfort (Arabic: الشقيف ةعلق , Qala'at ash-Shqif, is a Crusader fortress inNabatiye Governorate, southern Lebanon, about 1-kilometer (0.62 mi) to the southsouth-eastof the village of Arnoun. The castle was named “bel fort” or “beau fort”(French for “beautiful fortress”) by the Crusaders who occupied the castle in thetwelfth century. Its Arabic name Qala'at ash-Shqif means Castle of the High Rockةعلق (shqif is the Aramaic word for “high rock”). The castle's full name in Arabic is(Qala'at ash-Shqif Arnoun), a combination of the Arabic word Qala'at نونرا فيقشلا(castle) and the Aramaic language|Aramaic Shqif Arnoun. The castle is alsosometimes referred to as Beaufort Castle in Arabic رصق)‏ ‏,تروفوبلا Qasr al-Bofort).29 Tunc Julianus Dominus Sydonis vendidit Sydonem et Belfort Templariis. (tr.Latin: Then the Lord Julian Sydonis sold the Templars Sidon and Belfort)159

30 Acre (Hebrew: עַ‏ כּוֹ , Akko; Arabic: عكّا , ‘Akkā), is a city in the Western Galileeregion of northern Israel at the northern extremity of Haifa Bay. Acre is one of theoldest continuously inhabited sites in the country. Historically, it was a strategiccoastal link to the Levant. Today, Acre is the holiest city of the Bahá'í Faith.31 Antioch on the Orontes (Greek: Ἀντιόχεια ἡ ἐπὶ Δάφνῃ, Ἀντιόχεια ἡ ἐπὶ Ὀρόντουor Ἀντιόχεια ἡ Μεγάλη; Georgian: ანტიოქია; Armenian: Անտիոք Antiok; Latin:Antiochia ad Orontem; ‏,هیکاطنا:‏Arabic Anṭākiya; also Great Antioch or SyrianAntioch) was an ancient city on the eastern side of the Orontes River. Modern dayHatay (coordinates: 36° 11' 56" North, 36° 9' 38" East). It is near the modern cityof Antakya, Turkey.32 Aleppo (Arabic: بلح Ḥalab [ˈħalæb], other names) (Coordinates 36°13′N37°10′E) is the largest city in Syria and the capital of Aleppo Governorate, the mostpopulous Syrian governorate. With an official population of 2,301,570 (2005official estimate), expanding to over 2.5 million in the metropolitan area, it is alsoone of the largest cities in the Levant. For centuries, Aleppo was Greater Syria'slargest city and the Ottoman Empire's third, after Constantinople and Cairo.Although relatively close to Damascus in distance, Aleppo is distinct in identity,architecture and culture, all shaped by a markedly different history and geography.Aleppo is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world; it has beeninhabited since perhaps as early as the 6th millennium BC.33 The Crusaders called the city Antartus, and also Tortosa (coordinates 34°53′N35°53′E). First captured by Raymond of Saint-Gilles, it was left in 1105 to his sonAlfonso Jordan and was known as Tortosa. In 1123 the Crusaders built the churchof Our Lady of Tortosa upon this site. It now houses this altar and has receivedmany pilgrims.34 Regrettably, in 1972, the original Romanesque chapel burned to the ground andthe statue was destroyed; today a distinctly modern, yet still attractive, churchstands on its footprint.35 Tr. Latin: “Master of Tosseolus Miolâ made me….Fr. Peter de Bon, Procur. Generalof the army of the Temple in the Roman Curia, 1303.”36 Tr. Latin: “The stock of the wheels, Peter, the function of important virtue, valor,a boxer [fighter], behold, the Lord of Christ, lies dear to order; bringing a garment,which cross the mind, now climbs the stars, for an example of the games from usopens wide our heavenly home: a thousand three hundred twenty-three yearsthree times broke the sixth of May the light of the fourth Organ of the mind [brain].”37 The Almourol Castle is situated in the small Almourol island, a rocky island, inthe middle of the Tagus river (rio Tejo), in Praia do Ribatejo, a parish in Vila Novada Barquinha, Central Portugal. The castle was a Knights Templar stronghold usedduring the Reconquista.38 Castelo de Monsanto is a castle in Portugal. It is classified as a NationalMonument.160

39 Pombal is a town in Pombal Municipality, Portugal. The population of the city isabout 16.000 inhabitants.40 Tomar (Portuguese pronunciation: [tuˈmaɾ]), also known in English as Thomar, isa city of some 20,000 in Portugal. It is located in Tomar Municipality, that has atotal area of 351.0 km² and a total population of 43,007 inhabitants. Later in 1159,the order was granted Castle Ceras. The Portuguese Templar Master, Gualdim Paisdecided to construct a new fortress in the area, which he commenced one year laterin 1160. This fortress was to be built in nearby Tomar.41 From the period of 1143-1190, the Knights Templar presence in Portugalbecame stronger by the year. The castle of Langrovia was donated by FernaoMendes and his wife the Infanta Sancha Henrique, who was the sister of KingHenrique, and with whom Templars had worked in previous times.42 Cuenca (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈkweŋka]) is a city in the autonomouscommunity of Castile-La Mancha in central Spain. It is the capital of the province ofCuenca.43 Guadalajara (Spanish pronunciation: [ɡwaðalaˈxaɾa]) is a city and municipality inthe autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha, Spain, and in the natural regionof La Alcarria. It is the capital of the province of Guadalajara. It is located roughly60 km northeast of Madrid on the Henares River, and has a population of 83,789(2010). In 1085, Guadalajara was taken by the Christian forces of Alfonso VI (kingof Leon and Castile). The chronicles say that the Christian army was led by AlvarFanez de Minaya, one of the lieutenants (and according to the legend, nephew) of ElCid. From 1085 until the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa in 1212, the city sufferedwars against the Almoravid and the Almohad Empires. In spite of the wars, thenew Christian population could definitely settle down in the area thanks to therepopulation with people from the North (Castilians from the mountains andMerindades, Basques and Navarreses mainly) who received their first fuero in1133 from Alfonso VII. In 1219, the king Fernando III gave a new fuero to the city(the one known as Fuero Largo or Big Fuero). During the reign of Alfonso X ofCastile, the protection of the king allowed the city to develop its economy byprotecting merchants and allowing markets.44 Avilés is a city in Asturias, Spain. Avilés is with Oviedo and Gijón, one of the maintowns in the Principality of Asturias. The town occupies the flattest land in themunicipality, in a land that belonged to the sea, surrounded by small promontories,all of them having an altitude of less than 140 metres. Situated in the Avilésestuary, in the Northern Central area of the Asturian coast, west of Peñas Cape, ithas an national seaport and is an industrial city. It is close to popular beaches suchas Salinas.45 Pontevedra (Galician: [ˌpɔnteˈβɛðɾa], Spanish: [ponteˈβeðɾa]) is a city in thenorth-west of the Iberian Peninsula. It is the capital of both the comarca (county)and province of Pontevedra, in Galicia (Spain). It is also the capital of its own161

municipality which is, in fact, often considered as an extension of the actual city.Pontevedra is the provincial district court seat.46 Located in El Bierzo, in the province of León, Spain, Ponferrada Castle is aTemplar Castle that looks as if it came out of a medieval knight's fairy tale. Built onthe site of an old Celtic castro, a Roman fort, and a Visigothic fort, the castle wasbuilt by the Templar Knights in the early 12th century to protect the pilgrims onthe Way of St. James, which leads to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.47 Peñiscola, Spain, this 13th century castle is the pride of the town and sits on theCosta del Ahazar overlooking the Mediterranean. Built in the Romanesque style,the Castle of Peñiscola was built atop an old Arab citadel on a rocky peninsula. Theolder parts of the town of Peñiscola is located within the castle walls. The castlewas built between 1294 and 1307 by the Knights Templar and was later garrisonedby the Knights of Montesa. In 1420, the castle reverted to the Crown.48 Granyena de Sagarra is a Spanish village (pop 217 [1981]; alt 636 m) at the footof the old castle of Granyena, first documented in 1054. Patrimony of the Counts ofBarcelona, it passed to the Knights Templar in the mid 12th century, whoestablished a community there in 1189.49 Tarragona (Catalan: [tərəˈɣonə], Spanish: [taraˈɣona]) is a city located in thesouth of Catalonia on the north-east of Spain, by the Mediterranean. It is the capitalof the Spanish province of the same name and the capital of the Catalan comarcaTarragonès. In the medieval and modern times it was the capital of the Vegueria ofTarragona.50 Its castle occupied a strong position for the control of the routes along theMediterranean coast. Here stood a Moorish castle (the name of the town derivesfrom Arabic al-qalat = "the castle") that was captured by James I of Aragon in 1234,who also resettled the place with Christian villagers.51 Pola Castle is in Remolinos is a municipality located in the province of Zaragoza,Aragon, Spain.52 Monzón is a small town in the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain. It has apopulation of 17,050. It is located in the northeast (specifically the Cinca Mediodistrict of the province of Huesca) and adjoins the rivers Cinca and Sosa. Monzón isnotable because of its relationship with the Knights Templar and for its role as aparliamentary centre in the Crown of Aragon, between the 13th and 17th centuries.The different realms of the Crown of Aragon each had their own laws andparliaments, but it was often convenient to hold joint sessions of a “generalparliament” as Monzón was an important staging post between Zaragoza andBarcelona, it was the usual location for such meetings.53 In the vicinity of Peralta Calasanz, Spain.54 Castellote is a municipality located in the province of Teruel, Aragon, Spain.According to the 2010 census, the municipality has a population of 804 inhabitants.162

Situated in a picturesque setting on the slope of a mountain crowned by a castleTemplar ruined in the Carlist Wars. The road enters the village through a tunnelthat pierces an impressive rock wall. At the entrance of the tunnel is the site ofLlovedor with the shrine of the Virgen del Agua. From its medieval past, linked tothe Knights Templar, it has retained a beautiful urban area of narrow streets andsteep, with an expansion along the road which is declared cultural interest. Are ofgreat interest the Gothic church of San Miguel, the town hall with arcades, theshrine of the Virgen del Agua, the Gothic fountain and some houses emblazoned.Near the town is the castle, the medieval aqueduct and the chapel of Llovedor.55 Miravet is a municipality in the comarca of Ribera d'Ebre in the province ofTarragona, Catalonia, Spain. The village and the caste was founded by the Moorsand rebuilt by the Knights Templar and transformed into a fortress-monastery,after the conquest of 1153. It is considered to be the largest fortified complex inCatalonia, and one of the best examples of Romanesque, religious and military,architecture of the Templar order in the whole Western world.56 Horta de Sant Joan is a municipality in the comarca of la Terra Alta in Catalonia,Spain. This town is located in a picturesque spot on a hill in view of the landscapeof the northwestern foothills of the Ports de Tortosa-Beseit. The Sant Salvadord'Horta monastery, also known as Convent dels Àngels, is located at the foot of theMuntanya de Santa Bàrbara, a rocky hill of striking appearance.57 Corbins is a municipality in the comarca of the Segrià in Catalonia, Spain. It issituated at the confluence of the Segre and Noguera Ribagorçana rivers and islinked to Lleida by a local road running parallel to the Segre.58 Tortosa (Catalan pronunciation: [turˈtozə], locally: [toɾˈtoza]. Latin: Dertusa orDertosa, Arabic: ةشوطرط Ṭurṭūšah) is the capital of the comarca of Baix Ebre, in theprovince of Tarragona, in Catalonia, Spain.59 Mainz (German: [maɪ̯nts]; English: /ˈmaɪnts/; French: Mayence) is a city inGermany and the capital of the German federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate. It wasa politically important seat of the Prince-elector of Mainz (see: Archbishopric ofMainz) under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city whichcommanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmostfrontier of the Roman Empire. Mainz is located on the river Rhine across fromWiesbaden, in the western part of the Frankfurt Rhine-Main Region; in the modernage, Frankfurt shares much of its regional importance.60 Homburg is a town in Saarland, Germany, the administrative seat of the Saarpfalzdistrict. With a population of c. 44,000 inhabitants, is the third city in its federalstate. The medical department of the University of Saarland is situated here.61 Hochdorf-Assenheim is a municipality in the Rhein-Pfalz-Kreis, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.62 Roetgen is a municipality in the district of Aachen, in North Rhine-Westphalia,Germany.163

63 The Rheingau (English: Rhine District) is the hill country on the north side of theRhine River between Wiesbaden and Lorch near Frankfurt, reaching from thewestern Taunus to the Rhine. It lies in the state of Hesse and is part of theRheingau-Taunus-Kreis administrative district. It is famous for Rheingau wines,especially the “Rheingauer Riesling,” and its many wine taverns.64 The Bishopric of Havelberg (German: Bistum Havelberg) was a Roman Catholicdiocese founded by King Otto I, King of the Germans, in 946. The diocese wassuffragan to the Archbishop of Magdeburg. Its most famous bishop was Anselm ofHavelberg. Its seat was in Havelberg in the Northern March and it roughly coveredthe Prignitz. The Holy Blood of Wilsnack became famous while Dietrich Man wasbishop. As a result of the Protestant Reformation, the bishopric was dissolved bythe Lutheran Margraviate of Brandenburg in 1598.65 The Northern March or North March (German: Nordmark) was created out of thedivision of the vast Marca Geronis in 965. It initially comprised the northern thirdof the Marca (roughly corresponding to the modern state of Brandenburg) and waspart of the territorial organisation of areas conquered from the Wends. A Luticianrebellion in 983 reversed German control over the region until the establishment ofthe March of Brandenburg by Albert the Bear in the 12th century.66 Neuss grew during the Middle Ages because of its prime location on severalroutes, by the crossing of the great Rhine valley, and with its harbour and ferry.During the 10th century, the remains of the martyr and tribune Saint Quirinus, notto be confused with the Roman god Quirinus, had been relocated to Neuss. Thisresulted in pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Quirinus even from countries beyond theborders of the Holy Roman Empire. Neuss was first documented as a town in 1138.67 Altenmünster is a municipality in the district of Augsburg in Bavaria in Germany.68 Regensburg (historically also Ratisbon, from Celtic Ratisbona, Latin: CastraRegina) is a city in Bavaria, Germany, located at the confluence of the Danube andRegen rivers, at the northernmost bend in the Danube. To the east lies theBavarian Forest. Regensburg is the capital of the Bavarian administrative regionUpper Palatinate.69 Halle is the largest city in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. It is also calledHalle an der Saale (literally Halle on the Saale river, and in some historic referencessimply Saale after the river) in order to distinguish it from the town of Halle inNorth Rhine-Westphalia. The current official name of the city is Halle (Saale).70 Brunswick High German “Braunschweig” (German: Brunswiek; English:Brunswick), is a city of 247,400 people, located in the federal-state of LowerSaxony, Germany. It is located north of the Harz mountains at the farthestnavigable point of the Oker river, which connects to the North Sea via the riversAller and Weser.71 Poznań (Latin: Posnania; German: Posen) is a city on the Warta river in westcentralPoland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest164

cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state,whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to bethe first capital of the kingdom of Poland.72 Woldenberg is now Dobiegniew, Poland, in the Netze River area (near Town ofPosen(now Poznan).73 Pomerania (German: Pommern, Polish: Pomorze, Kashubian: Pòmòrze orPòmòrskô, Latin: Pomerania or Pomorania) is a historical region on the south shoreof the Baltic Sea. Divided between Germany and Poland, it stretches roughly fromthe Recknitz River near Stralsund in the West, via the Oder River delta nearSzczecin, to the mouth of the Vistula River near Gdańsk in the East.[74 Bač is a town and municipality in South Bačka District of Vojvodina, Serbia.75 Bohemia (Czech: Čechy; German: Böhmen; Polish: Czechy; French: Bohême;Latin: Bohemia) is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western twothirdsof the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary CzechRepublic with its capital in Prague. In a broader meaning, it often refers to theentire Czech territory, including Moravia and Czech Silesia, especially in historicalcontexts, such as the Kingdom of Bohemia.76 Moravia (Czech: Morava; German: Mähren; Polish: Morawy; Latin: Moravia) is ahistorical region in Central Europe in the east of the Czech Republic, and one of theformer Czech lands, together with Bohemia and Silesia. It takes its name from theMorava River which rises in the northwest of the region. Moravia's largest city isBrno, its historical capital.77 The Morea (Greek: Μωρέας or Μωριάς, French: Morée, Italian: Morea, Turkish:Mora) was the name of the Peloponnese peninsula in southern Greece during theMiddle Ages and the early modern period. It also referred to a Byzantine provincein the region, known as the Despotate of Morea.78 Constantinople (Greek: Κωνσταντινούπολις, Kōnstantinoúpolis; Latin: NovaRoma or Constantinopolis; Ottoman Turkish: ‏,هینیطنطسق Kostantiniyye andmodern Turkish: İstanbul) was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman,Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages,Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.79 There are two categories of saints: martyrs and confessors. A Christian martyr isregarded as one who is put to death for his Christian faith or convictions.Confessors are people who died natural deaths. Date of Death: Saint Martin died inA.D. 397. Cause of Death: Natural Causes.80 Saint Pantaleon (Greek: Παντελεήμων [Panteleimon], "all-compassionate"),counted in the West among the late-medieval Fourteen Holy Helpers and in theEast as one of the Holy Unmercenary Healers, was a martyr of Nicomedia inBithynia during the Diocletian persecution of 303 AD. Though there is evidence to165

suggest that a martyr named Pantaleon existed, the various stories told of his lifeand death are considered by some to be purely legendary.[81 Besançon (French and Arpitan: [bəzɑ̃ ˈsɔ̃]; archaic German: Bisanz, Spanish:Besanzón), is the capital and principal city of the Franche-Comté region in easternFrance. Located close to the border with Switzerland, it is the capital of thedepartment of Doubs.82 Dole (pronunciation: [dɔl], sometimes wrongly pronounced [dol], probably dueto the incorrect orthography “Dôle” sometimes encountered) is a commune in theJura department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France.83 Salins is a commune in the Cantal department in south-central France.84 La Romagne is a commune in the Maine-et-Loire department in western France.85 La Villedieu-du-Clain is a commune in the Vienne department in the Poitou-Charentes region in western France.86 Arbois is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.The Cuisance River passes through the town, which has some pretty streets linedwith ancient houses. The town centers on an arcaded central square where onecan sample the local wines.87 Franche-Comté (Franc-Comtois: Fraintche-Comtè; Arpitan: Franche-Comtât) theformer “Free County” of Burgundy, as distinct from the neighbouring Duchy, is anadministrative region and a traditional province of eastern France. It is composedof the modern departments of Doubs, Jura, Haute-Saône and Territoire de Belfort.88 Dorlisheim is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-easternFrance.89 Molsheim (French pronunciation: [mɔlzaim]) is a commune in the Bas-Rhindepartment in Alsace in north-eastern France.90 Ribeauvillé (French pronunciation: [ʁibovije]; Alsatian: Rappschwihr; German:Rappoltsweiler) is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in northeasternFrance.91 Bergheim is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-easternFrance.92 Alsace is located on France's eastern border and on the west bank of the upperRhine adjacent to Germany and Switzerland.93 Bure-les-Templar is a French commune, located in the department of Cote-d'Orand Burgundy.94 Voulaines-les-Templiers is a commune in the Côte-d'Or department in easternFrance.166

95 Noiron-sous-Gevrey is a city of France, located in the department Cote d'Or inBurgundy.96 Tournus is a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department in the region ofBourgogne in eastern France.97 Dijon is a city in eastern France, the capital of the Côte-d'Or département and ofthe Burgundy region. Dijon is the historical capital of the region of Burgundy.98 Fauverney is a commune in the Côte-d'Or department in eastern France.99 Villette-lès-Dole is a commune in the Jura department in the Franche-Comtéregion in eastern France.100 Saint-Martin-de-Belleville is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.101 Saint-Pierre-le-Chastel is a commune in the Puy-de-Dôme department inAuvergne in central France.102 Mâcon is a small city (commune) in central France. It is prefecture of the Saôneet-Loiredepartment, in the region of Bourgogne, and the capital of the Mâconnaisdistrict.103 Montpellier is a city in southern France. It is the capital of the Languedoc-Roussillon region, as well as the Hérault department.104 Pamiers is a commune in the Ariège department in the Midi-Pyrénées region insouthwestern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department. Although Pamiers isthe largest city in Ariège, the capital is the smaller town of Foix. The seat of theBishop of Pamiers is at the Pamiers Cathedral,105 Narbonne (Latin: Narbo) is a commune in southern France in the Languedoc-Roussillon region.106 Sainte-Eulalie is a commune in the Gironde department in Aquitaine insouthwestern France.107 Béziers is a town in Languedoc in the south-east of France.108 Languedoc is a former province of France, now continued in the modern-dayrégions of Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées in the south of France, andwhose capital city was Toulouse, now in Midi-Pyrénées.109 The Templars settled at Cahors in 1196, under the episcopate of Gerald. HectorIV. Today Cahors is the capital of the Lot department in south-western France. Itssite is dramatic being contained on three sides within an udder shaped twist in theriver Lot known as a ‘presqu'île’ or peninsula. Today it is perhaps best known asthe centre of the famous AOC ‘black’' wine known since the Middle Ages andexported via Bordeaux, long before that region had developed its own viticultureindustry.167

110 Marigny is a commune in the Manche department in Normandy in northwesternFrance.111 Arras (Dutch: Atrecht) is the capital of the Pas-de-Calais department in northernFrance. The historic centre of the Artois region, its local speech is characterized asa Picard dialect. Unlike many French words, the final “s” in the name should bepronounced. The town was granted a commercial charter by the French crown in1180 and became an internationally important location for banking and trade.112 Sainte-Vaubourg is a commune in the Ardennes department in northern France.113 Rouen, in northern France on the River Seine, is the capital of the Haute-Normandie (Upper Normandy) region and the historic capital city of Normandy.Once one of the largest and most prosperous cities of medieval Europe[citationneeded], it was the seat of the Exchequer of Normandy in the Middle Ages. It wasone of the capitals of the Anglo-Norman dynasties, which ruled both England andlarge parts of modern France from the 11th to the 15th centuries. It was here thatJoan of Arc was burnt in 1431. People from Rouen are called Rouennais.114 Joinville is a commune in the Haute-Marne department in north-eastern France.Its medieval château-fort, which gave to members of the House of Guise their title,duc de Joinville, was demolished during the Revolution of 1789, but the 16thcenturyChâteau du Grand Jardin built by Claude de Lorraine, duc de Guise, hasbeen restored.115 Saint-Dizier is a commune in the Haute-Marne department in north-easternFrance. The town originated as a fortified settlement around a thirteenth centurychâteau, eventually becoming a royal fortress to guard the French kingdom'seastern approaches.116 Meaux (French pronunciation: [mo]) is a commune in the Seine-et-Marnedepartment in the Île-de-France region in the metropolitan area of Paris, France. Itis located 41.1 km (25.5 mi) east-northeast from the center of Paris.117 Choisy-le-Temple was once, as its name tells us, an establishment of the KnightsTemplar, became and remained constantly under the Priory Hospital room. Thearchivist Jacquemin, in 1741, drew an accurate history of the Commandery, for mylord the Grand Prior of France, the then Duke of Orleans. He tells us that the land ofChoisy was one of the former strongholds of the Knights Templar and, althoughthere was more songs on the primary origin of this area, it was common groundthat the 1168 brothers of the knighthood of the Temple were in possession ofmuch.118 The Temple was a medieval fortress in Paris, located in what is now the IIIearrondissement. It was built by the Knights Templar from the 12th century, as theirEuropean headquarters. In the 13th century it replaced earlier works of the VieilleTemple (Old Temple) in Le Marais. Parts of the fortress were later used as a prison.The enclosure (called enclos du Temple) originally featured a number of buildingsimportant to the running of the order, and included a church and a massive168

turreted keep known as Grosse Tour (great tower), and a smaller tower called Tourde César (Caesar's Tower). The fortress was destroyed in 1808 to avoid thepilgrimage of royalists (since this was the prison of Louis XVI for some time); todaythe Temple Paris metro stop stands on the old location. The heavy doors of theGrosse Tour still exist and are kept at Château de Vincennes whose great keep(attributed to Raymond du Temple) is speculated to have been inspired by thenearby Templar fortress.119 Dietrich Willingen (Dietrichingen) is located near the French border inHornbachtal. Dietrich and Wellingen among the hamlet and the farmKirschbacherhof Monbijou near at Zweibrücken airport.120 Monbijou Lustschloss (Summer Palace). Today Hofgut Monbijou is located atthe site of the former hamlet Elbingen Leich, which was mentioned as Leichelvinga(1258) for the first time, and belonged to Pfalz-Zweibrücken. It lies on theboundary of Dietrich at Wettingen Zweibrücken airport.121 Kobern-Gondorf is a municipality and a wine town on the lower Moselle inRhineland-Palatinate district of Mayen-Koblenz since 1976 and the administrativeseat of the municipality Untermosel. Kobern-Gondorf is a nationally recognizedtourist destination and reported in accordance with national planning as a basiccenter. The site was written, at least officially ground to 1928 Cobern-Gondorf.The Lower Castle Kobern, even low-castle, the castle village, called New Castle, ahilltop castle above the town of Kobern-Gondorf in the district of Mayen-Koblenz inRhineland-Palatinate.122 Where Rhine and Moselle join, lies a city that pays tribute to both famous rivers:Koblenz. The former small settlement at the intersection of old military roads andgreat European streams emerged as a modern, vibrant city. The Schloss Stolzenfels(Stolzenfels Castle) is huge construction high above Koblenz and is wellmaintained.123 Vianden (Luxembourgish: Veianen) is a commune with city status in the Oesling,north-eastern Luxembourg, with over 1,500 inhabitants. It is the capital of thecanton of Vianden, which is part of the district of Diekirch. Vianden lies on the Ourriver, near the border between Luxembourg and Germany.124 The city of Luxembourg (Luxembourgish: Lëtzebuerg, German: Luxemburg),also known as Luxembourg City (Luxembourgish: Stad Lëtzebuerg, French: Ville deLuxembourg, German: Stadt Luxemburg), is a commune with city status, and thecapital of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It is located at the confluence of theAlzette and Pétrusse Rivers in southern Luxembourg. The city contains the historicLuxembourg Castle, established by the Franks in the Early Middle Ages, aroundwhich a settlement developed. With the arrival of political stability Luxembourgbecame home to the Benedictine, Cistercian, Dominican, Franciscan, and thePenitents monastic orders and the Knights Templar and the Teutonic Knights.169

125 Ghent (from the Classic Latin term Candia or Gandia meaning landlock by theconfluence of rivers by the union of the Celtic term “Cand” and Latin “ia” land) is acity and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. Until the 13thcentury Ghent was the biggest city in Europe after Paris.126 Alphen was a municipality in the Dutch province of South Holland. It consistedof the village of Alphen; now called Alphen aan den Rijn. That village was muchsmaller than the current town; the municipality only contained the part south ofthe Oude Rijn.127 Ostend (Dutch: Oostende; French: Ostende; German: Ostende) is a Belgian cityand municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders.128 Cassel (Dutch: Kassel) is a commune in the Nord départment in northernFrance. Built on a prominent hill overlooking French Flanders, the town has existedsince Roman times. The hill of Cassel was occupied during the late Iron Age by theMenapii, a Belgic tribe, who made it the capital of a large territory extending frommodern Calais to as far as the Rhine. Cassel was the capital of a chatellany (anadministrative district) during the Middle Ages, serving as the administrativecentre for an area comprising about fifty towns and villages.129 Villers-le-Temple is named after two great historical events: the romanizationand the installation of a Commandery of the Order of the Temple. Located near theRoman road from Tongeren in Arlon, which was to be a small hamlet saw moving aRoman villa which gave him the surname of “Villers” which became, according tosome documents “Villers in Liège” and also “in Villers Condroz”. In 1118, duringthe First Crusade, eight knights companions of Godfrey of Bouillon based inJerusalem, a House of the Order of the Temple so named because it adjoined theTemple of Solomon. The religious and military order called “Templar” mission wasto keep the Holy Places.130 This place is situated in Noord-Brabant, Netherlands, its geographicalcoordinates are 51° 28' 0" North, 5° 48' 0" East and its original name (withdiacritics) is Walsberg.131 Arras (Dutch: Atrecht) is the capital of the Pas-de-Calais department in northernFrance. The historic centre of the Artois region, its local speech is characterized as aPicard dialect. Unlike many French words, the final “s” in the name should bepronounced.132 Temploux (Timplou in Walloon) is a section of the Belgian city of Namur in theWalloon region located in the province of Namur.133 Hainaut (Dutch: Henegouwen; German: Hennegau; Walloon: Hinnot) province ofWallonia, one of the three regions of Belgium. It borders (clockwise from theNorth) in Belgium on the provinces of West Flanders, East Flanders, FlemishBrabant (Flanders) and those of Walloon Brabant and Namur (Wallonia), and onFrance. Its capital is Mons.170

134 Douai (Dutch: Dowaai) is a commune in the Nord département in northernFrance. It is a sub-prefecture of the department. Located on the river Scarpe some40 km from Lille and 25 km from Arras, Douai is home to one of the region's mostimpressive belfries.135 Valenciennes (French pronunciation: [valɑ̃ sjɛn]; Dutch: Valencijn, Latin:Valentianae) is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. It lies onthe Scheldt (French: Escaut) river.136 Mons (Dutch and German: Bergen; Picard: Mont) is a Walloon city andmunicipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut, of which it is the capital.137 The term used here is soke ( /ˈsoʊk/; in Old English: soc, connected ultimatelywith secan (to seek)), which at the time of the Norman Conquest of Englandgenerally denoted “jurisdiction”, but due to vague usage probably lacks a singleprecise definition.138 In the feudal system the demesne ( /dɨˈmeɪn/ de-main; from Old Frenchdemeine ultimately from Latin dominus, “lord, master of a household”) was all theland, not necessarily all contiguous to the manor house, which was retained by alord of the manor for his own use and support, under his own management, asdistinguished from land sub-enfeoffed by him to others as sub-tenants. The systemof manorial land tenure, broadly termed feudalism, was conceived in WesternEurope, initially in France but exported to areas affected by Norman expansionduring the Middle Ages, for example the Kingdoms of Sicily, Scotland, Jerusalem,and England.139 In geography and agriculture, arable land (from Latin arare, to plough) is landthat can be used for growing crops.140 Approximately 15 million U.S. dollars in 2009.141 “Habuerunt insuper Templarii in Christianitate novem millia maneriorum …præter emolumenta et varios proventus ex fraternitatibus et prædicationibusprovenientes, et per privilegia sua accrescentes.” (tr. Latin: “In addition, theTemplars had nine thousand in the Christianity of the manor … besides the variousadvantages and issues arising from the fraternities and the preaching, and by hisaccrescentes privileges.”) Mat. Par. p. 615, ed. Lond. 1640.142 “Amplis autem possessionibus tam citra mare quam ultra ditati sunt inimmensum, villas, civitates et oppida, ex quibus certain pecuniæ summam, prodefensione Terræ Sanctæ, summo eorum magistro cujus sedes principalis erat inJerusalem, mittunt annuatim.” (tr. Latin: “The more so on this side of possessionsbeyond the sea, than that they were enriched in the immense, villages, cities andtowns, from which certain sum of money, for the defense of the Holy Land, theprincipal seat of the highest of which their master was in Jerusalem, they sentannually to.”) [Jac. de Vitr. Hist. Hierosol. p. 1084]171

143 Glebe (also known as Church furlong or parson's closes) is an area of landwithin a manor and parish used to support a parish priest.144 A penny is a coin (pl. pennies) or a type of currency (pl. pence) used in severalEnglish-speaking countries. It is often the smallest denomination within a currencysystem.145 The amount that a pail can hold.146 “Masculum pullum, si natus sit super terram domus, vendere non possunt sinelicentiâ fratrum. Si filiam habent, dare non possunt sine licentiâ fratrum.” Inquisitioterrarum, ut supr. fol. 18 a. (tr. Latin: “Male colt, if, upon the earth was born of thehouse, they can not sell without the permission of the friars. If they have adaughter, can not give without the permission of the friars.” Inquiry of land, asabove. fol. 18 a.)147 The Templars, by diverting the water, created a great nuisance. In A.D. 1290, thePrior et fratres de Carmelo (the white friars) complained to the king in parliamentof the putrid exhalations arising from the Fleet river, which were so powerful as toovercome all the frankincense burnt at their altar during divine service, and hadoccasioned the deaths of many of their brethren. They beg that the stench may beremoved, lest they also should perish. The Friars preachers (black friars) and thebishop of Salisbury (whose house stood in Salisbury-court) made a similarcomplaint; as did also Henry Lacy, Earl of Lincoln, who alleges that the Templars(ipsi de novo Templo) had turned off the water of the river to their mills at CastleBaignard.148 Out of the city of London which is called the Dacians.149 The word ultimately derives from Latin appertinere, "to appertain". That whichbelongs to something else. Something annexed to another thing more worthy.150 An amercement is a financial penalty in English law, common during the MiddleAges, imposed either by the court or by peers.151 The Exchequer is a government department of the United Kingdom responsiblefor the management and collection of taxation and other government revenues.The historical Exchequer developed judicial roles. It was named after the chequerpatternedtable used in the medieval period for financial calculations.152 Power to hold courts.153 To impose and levy fines and amerciaments upon their tenants154 To buy and sell, or to hold a kind of market155 To judge and punish their villains and vassals156 To try thieves and malefactors belonging to their manors, and taken within theprecincts thereof157 To judge foreign thieves taken within the said manors. &c.172

158 The privilege of a person's house; a fine for forcible entry.159 Breaking of the peace.160 Shedding their blood for muleta (making red cloth).161 Not found.162 Acquittance for hanging a thief without process, or for his escape out of yourcustody.163 A fine paid by a villein to the lord of the manor after his daughter committedfornication or adultery.164 Not found.165 To prevent or hinder normal sales in (a market) by buying up merchandise,discouraging persons from bringing their goods to market, or encouraging anincrease in prices in goods already on sale.166 Believed to refer to trial by ordeal, which was used to decide the guilt orinnocence of a suspected criminal by invoking divine justice. There were severalforms of ordeal in Anglo-Saxon and Norman England. In one the accused held a redhot iron or put his hand in a flame. The hand was then bound up and examinedafter several days. If the wound was healing, the accused was deemed innocent butif it festered, this was believed to show guilt.167 Believed to refer to killing one’s mother, from Orestes from Greek mythology.168 A tax formerly paid to the kings of England for every hide of land.169 Carucage was a medieval English land tax introduced by King Richard I in 1194,based on the size—variously calculated—of the estate owned by the taxpayer.170 The Danegeld ("Danish tax", literally "Dane's gold") was a tax raised to paytribute to the Viking raiders to save a land from being ravaged.171 A tax within a forest to be paid for horned beasts.172 A subdivision of certain northern counties originally under Norse domination,corresponding to the hundred in other counties and a law court in such asubdivision173 A payment exacted by a lord in lieu of military service due to him by the holderof a fee.174 Tallage or talliage (from the French tailler, i.e. a part cut out of the whole) mayhave signified at first any tax, but became in England and France a land use or landtenure tax. Later in England it was further limited to assessments by the crownupon cities, boroughs, and royal domains. In effect, tallage was a land tax.175 A duty exacted, in some fairs or markets, for the right to carry things where onewill.173

176 Tax levied for the privilege of erecting a stall at a market or fair.177 A district of some English and Scottish counties corresponding roughly to thehundred or the wapentake.178 Money paid in lieu of performing this service was known as ‘ward-peny.’179 A payment made in commutation of carrying services.180 The Hundred-Pennies A custom of paying to the king 'hundredespeni', penniesfrom the hundred, the local division of the shire or county and the seat of localadministration.181 Personal property, roughly speaking, is private property that is moveable, asopposed to real property or real estate. In the common law systems personalproperty may also be called chattels or personalty.182 The title Master of the Temple was so generally applied to the superiors of thewestern provinces, that we find in the Greek of the lower empire, the wordsΤέμπλου Μαιστὼρ. Ducange. Gloss.183 Also summus magister, magister generals184 “In cujus rei testimonium huic præsenti scripto indentato sigillum capituli nostriapposuimus.” (tr. Latin: “In witness whereof to this present writing indented, haveset the seal of our chapter.”)185 Two of these visitors-general have been buried in the Temple Church.186 “Ricardus de Hastinges, Magister omnium militum et fratrum Templi qui sunt inAngliâ, salutem. Notum vobis facimus quod omnis controversia quæ fuit inter nos etmonachos de Kirkested … terminata et finita est assensu et consilio nostro et militumet fratrum, &c., anno ab incarnatione Domini 1155, 11 die kal. Feb. The archbishop ofCanterbury, the papal legate, the bishop of Lincoln, and several abbots, are witnessesto this instrument.” (tr. Latin: “Richard of Hastings, Master of the Temple of all thetroops and brothers who are in England, greeting. We make known to you thatevery dispute that was between us and the monks from Kirkested. . . . is terminatedand ended with the assent of our council, and the soldiers and friars, & c., in theyear of our Lord 1155, on the Kalends of day 11. Feb. The archbishop ofCanterbury, the papal legate, the bishop of Lincoln, and several Abbott, arewitnesses to this instrument.”)--Lansdown MS. 207 E, fol. 467, p. 162, 163; see alsop. 319, where he is mentioned as Master, A.D. 1161.187 “Et paulo post rex Angliæ fecit Henricum filium suum desponsare Margaritamfiliam regis Franciæ, cum adhuc essent pueruli in cunis vagientes; videntibus etconsentientibus Roberto de Pirou et Toster de Sancto Homero et Ricardo deHastinges, Templariis, qui custodiebant præfata castella, et statim tradiderunt iliacastella regi Angliæ, unde rex Franciæ plurimum iratus fugavit illos tres Templariosde regno Franciæ, quos rex Angliæ benigne suscipiens, multis ditavit honoribus.” (tr.Latin: “And a little after the king of England made to betroth his son Henry,174

Margaret, daughter of the king of France, when I was yet little boy crying in thecradle; and the consent of those who see the Robert de roasted pear and of the holyof Homer and Richard of Hastings, Templars, who kept the aforesaid villages, andimmediately handed down to those the towns, the king of England, from whence hewas angry the king of France put to flight the most part these three Templars fromthe kingdom of France, whom the King of England kindly received, and enriched itwith many honors.”)--Rog. Hoveden, script. post Bedam, p. 492. GuilielmeiNeubrigiensis hist. lib. ii. cap. 4, apud Hearne.188 “Ricardus Mallebeench, magister omnium pauperum militum et fratrum TempliSalomonis in Angliâ, &c … Confirmavimus pacem et concordiam quam Ricardus deHastings fecit cum Waltero abbate de Kirkested.” (tr. Latin: “Mallebeench Richard,brothers of the Temple of Solomon, the master of all the soldiers and the poor inEngland, etc. … Richard de Hastings confirmed the peace and harmony than he didwith Walter abbot of Kirkested.”)--Lansdown MS. 207 E., fol. 467189 “Gaufridus, filius Stephan, militiæ Templi in Angliâ Minister, assensu totius capitulinostri dedi, &c., totum illud tenementum in villâ de Scamtrun quod Emma uxorWalteri Camerarii tenet de domo nostrâ, &c.” Ib. fol. 201 (tr. Latin: “Geoffrey, the sonof Stephan, the host of the minister of the Temple in England, the assent of thewhole of our chapter, have given, &c., the whole of that tenement in the vill ofEmma, the wife of Walter Camerlengo Scamtrun that he holds of our houses, etc.”Pounds. fol. 201)190 The money is ordered to be paid “dilecto filio nostro Thesaurario domus militiæTempli Londonien.”(tr. Latin: “Treasurer general of the army of the temple of thehouse of our beloved son Londonien”) Acta Rymeri, tom. i. p. 442, 4, 5. WilkinsConcilia, tom. ii. p. 230.175

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CHAPTER 6. 1185 – 1190“Glorious city of God O Jerusalem, where the Lord suffered andwas buried there, where the glory of the Resurrection shown;the enemy subject is a polluting bastard, and there is nosorrow like this, those who possess the tomb of the cross,crucified to persecute and despise those of the tomb. “—TheLamentation of Geoffrey de Visnisauf over the Fall ofJerusalem.“The earth quakes and trembles because the king of heavenhas lost his land, the land on which his feet once stood. The foesof the Lord break into his holy city, even into that glorioustomb where the virgin blossom of Mary was wrapped up inlinen and spices, and where the first and greatest flower onearth rose up again.”—St. Bernard, epist. cccxxii.GERARD DE RIDERFORT. A.D. 1185.The Grand Master, Arnold de Torroge, who died on his journey toEngland, as before mentioned, was succeeded by Brother Gerard deRiderfort 1 [169] [41].On the tenth of April, a month after the consecration by thepatriarch Heraclius of the Temple church, the grand council orparliament of the kingdom, composed of the bishops, earls, andbarons, assembled in the house of the Hospitaliers at Clerkenwell inLondon. It was attended by William king of Scotland and David hisbrother, and many of the counts and barons of that distant land[168] [170] [98]. The august assembly was familiar with the objectof the sober delegation just sent to the King from Jerusalem, and177

with the desire of the King to fulfill his vow and perform hispenance; however, the barons were at the same time reminded ofthe old age of their sovereign, of the bad state of his health, and ofthe necessity of his presence in England. They accordinglyrepresented to King Henry that the solemn oath taken by him on hiscoronation was a greater obligation than the penance imposed onhim by the Pope; that by that oath he was bound to stay at homeand govern his dominions, and that, in their opinion, it was morewholesome for the king’s soul to defend his own country against thebarbarous French, than to desert it for the purpose of protecting thedistant kingdom of Jerusalem. They, however, offered to raise thesum of fifty thousand marks for the levying of troops to be sent intoAsia, and recommended that all such prelates and nobles as desiredto take up the cross should be permitted freely to leave the kingdomon so devout an enterprise [110] [80] [168]Fabian gives the following quaint account of the king’s answer tothe patriarch, from the Chronicles of Joan Brocton: “At last, the kinggave an answer, and said that he might not leave his land withoutkeeping it, nor yet leave it to the prey and robbery of Frenchmen. Buthe would give largely of his own to such as would take upon them onthat voyage. With this answer the patriarch was discontent, and said,‘We seek a man, and not money; nearly every Christian region sendsunto us money, but no land sends to us a prince. Therefore, we ask aprince that needs money, and not money that needs a prince.’ But theking laid for him such excuses, that the patriarch departed from himdiscontented and comfortless, whereof the king being abandoned,intending somewhat to recomfort him with pleasant words, followedhim to the seaside. But the more the king thought to satisfy him withhis fair speech, the more the patriarch was discontented, so much thatat the last he said to him, ‘Hitherto you have reigned gloriously, buthere after you shall be forsaken by him whom you at this time forsake.Think on him what he has given to you, and what you have yielded tohim, again: how first you were false to the king of France, and thenyou slayed that holy man Thomas of Canterbury, and lastly youforsake the protection of Christ’s faith.’ The king was moved with178

these words, and said to the patriarch, ‘Though all the men of my landwere one body, and spoke with one mouth, they do not speak to mesuch words.’ ‘No wonder,’ said the patriarch, ‘for they love yours andnot you; that is to mean, they love your temporal goods, and fear theloss of promotion, but they do not love your soul.’ And when he hadsaid this, he offered his head with neck extended to the king, saying,‘Do to me in England, as if by the Saracen in Syria, as you did willinglyput to death that blessed man Thomas of Canterbury, for you areworse than any Saracen.’ But the king kept his patience, and said, ‘Imay not wonder out of my land, for my own sons will arise against mewhen I am absent.’ ‘No wonder,’ said the patriarch, ‘for of the devilthey come, and to the devil they shall go,’ and so departed from theking in great rage 2 .” [171]According to Roger de Hoveden, however, on the 17 th of May, thepatriarch accompanied King Henry to Normandy, where aconference was held between the sovereigns of France and Englandconcerning the proposed support to the Holy Land. Both monarchswere liberal in promises and rational speeches; however, as nothingshort of the presence of the king of England, or of one of his sons, inPalestine, would satisfy the patriarch, the overconfident priestfailed in his negotiations, and returned in disgust anddisappointment to the Holy Land [80]. On his arrival at Jerusalemwith intelligence of his ill success, the greatest consternationprevailed amongst the Latin Christians; and it was generallyobserved that the true cross, which had been recovered from thePersians by the Emperor Heraclius, was about to be lost under thepontificate, and by the fault of a patriarch of the same name.GERARD DE RIDERFORT. A.D. 1185.A resident in Palestine has given us some curious biographicalnotices of this worthy consecrator of our Temple church at London.He says that he was a very handsome parson, and, in consequence ofhis beauty, the mother of the king of Jerusalem fell in love with him,and made him archbishop of Cæsarea, (biau clerc estoit, et par sabeauté l’ama la mere de roi, et le fist arcevesque de Cesaire.) He then179

describes how he came to be made patriarch, and how he wassuspected to have poisoned the archbishop of Tyre. After his returnfrom Rome he fell in love with the wife of a haberdasher (men’soutfitter) who lived at Naplous, twelve miles from Jerusalem. Hewent to see her very often, and, not long after the acquaintanceshipcommenced, the husband died. Then the patriarch brought the ladyto Jerusalem, and bought for her a very fine stone house. “Toutd’abord, le patriarche est venu à Jérusalem, et a acheté une maison enpierre bien. Il a sauvé, pour une période de temps jusqu’à ce qu’il avaitfait sa renommée, l’enregistrer comme une économie pour part.. Puiscomme elle l’mûrit, il l’a préparée sa, étant radicalement riches, àpremière impératrice, et donc une première dame devant lui. Commeavec tout les gens qui connaissent mal le passé, il exigé qu’elle est unedame. Ceux qui la connaissaient, dit qu’elle est la gloire du patriarche.Elle avoit nom Pasque de Riveri. Le patriarche a eu des enfants, et lesbarons qui sont ses conseillers, est venu le père avide, et lui dit: ‘MaîtrePatriarche, me donner un bon cadeau, parce que je vous apporte debonnes nouvelles de la Rivière Pasque, votre femme, c’est une bellefille!’” 3 [172] Translated from Old French, to French and then toEnglish: “First, the patriarch came to Jerusalem, and bought a goodstone house. He saved for a period of time until he had made hisreputation, saving it as an economy to share. Then as she matured, heprepared her being drastically rich, the first empress, and therefore afirst lady before him. As with any people who are poorly acquaintedwith the past, he demanded that she is a lady. Those who knew her,said she is the glory of the patriarch. She had the name of PasqueRiver. The patriarch had children, and the barons who are hisadvisers, came to the eager father, and said, ‘Master Patriarch, giveme a good gift, because I bring you good news of the River Pasque,your wife, it is a beautiful girl!’ “When Jesus Christ,” says the learnedauthor, “saw the iniquity and wickedness which they committed in thevery place where he was crucified, he could no longer suffer it.” [172]GERARD DE RIDERFORT. A.D. 1186.The order of the Temple was at this period all-powerful in Palestine,and the Grand Master, Gerard de Riderfort, coerced the authority180

the nobles of the kingdom with the heavy hand, and even the kinghimself. Shortly after the return of Heraclius to Palestine, KingBaldwin IV died, and was succeeded by his infant nephew, BaldwinV, who was crowned in the church of the Resurrection, and wasafterwards royally entertained by the Templars in the Temple ofSolomon, according to ancient custom 4 . [172] [173] The young kingdied at Acre after a short reign of only seven months, and theTemplars brought the body to Jerusalem, and buried it in the tombsof the Christian kings. The Grand Master of the Temple then raisedSibylla, the mother of the deceased monarch, and her secondhusband, Guy of Lusignan, to the throne. Gerard de Riderfortsurrounded the palace with troops; he closed the gates of Jerusalem.and delivered the regalia to the Patriarch. He then conductedSibylla and her husband to the church of the Resurrection, wherethey were both crowned by Heraclius, and were afterwardsentertained at dinner in the Temple. Guy de Lusignan was a princeof handsome person, but of such base renown, that his own brotherGeoffrey was heard to exclaim, “Since they have made him a king,surely they would have made me a God!” These proceedings led toendless discord and dissension; Raymond, Count of Tripoli,withdrew from court; many of the barons refused to do homage,and the state was torn by faction and dissension at a time when allthe energies of the population were required to defend the countryfrom the Moslems. [174] [175]Saladin, on the other hand, had been carefully consolidating andstrengthening his power, and was vigorously preparing for thereconquest of the Holy City, the long-cherished enterprise of theMoslems. The Arabian writers enthusiastically recount his piousexhortations to the true believers, and describe with vastenthusiasm his glorious preparations for the holy war. Bohadin F.Sjeddadi Bahāʾ al-Dīn, his friend and secretary, and greatbiographer, before venturing upon the sublime task of describinghis famous and sacred actions, makes a solemn confession of faith,and offers up praises to the one true God.181

“Praise be to GOD,” says he, “who hath blessed us with Islam, and hathled us to the understanding of the true faith beautifully put together,and hath befriended us; and, through the intercession of our prophet,hath loaded us with every blessing … I bear witness that there is noGod but that one great God who hath no partner, (a testimony thatwill deliver our souls from the smoky fire of hell,) that Mohammed ishis servant and apostle, who hath opened unto us the gates of theright road to salvation. …”“These solemn duties being performed, I will begin to writeconcerning the victorious defender of the faith, the tamer of thefollowers of the cross, the lifter up of the standard of justice andequity, the Savior of the world and of religion, Saladin AboolmodafferJoseph, the son of Job, the son of Schadi, Sultan of the Moslems, ay, andof Islam itself; the deliverer of the holy house of God (the Temple)from the hands of the idolaters, the servant of two holy cities, whosetomb may the Lord moisten with the dew of his favor, affording to himthe sweetness of the fruits of the faith.” [176]GERARD DE RIDERFORT. A.D. 1187.On the 10th of May, A.D. 1187, Malek-el-Afdal, “Most excellentprince,” one of Saladin’s sons, crossed the Jordan at the head ofseven thousand Moslem soldiers. The Grand Master of the Templeimmediately dispatched messengers to the nearest convents andcastles of the Order, commanding all such knights as could bespared to mount and come to him with speed. At midnight, ninetyknights of the garrison of La Feue or Faba, forty knights from thegarrison of Nazareth, with many others from the convent of Caco,were assembled around their chief, and began their march at thehead of the serving brothers and the light cavalry of the Order.They joined themselves to the Hospitaliers, rashly engaged theseven thousand Moslems, and were cut to pieces in a bloody battlefought near the brook Kishon. The Grand Master of the Temple andtwo knights broke through the dense ranks of the Moslems, andmade their escape. Roger de Molines, the Grand Master of the182

Hospital, was left dead upon the field, together with all the otherbrothers of the Hospital and of the Temple.Jacqueline de Mailly, the Marshal of the Temple, performedphenomena of valor. He was mounted on a white horse, and clothedin the white habit of his order, with the blood-red cross, the symbolof martyrdom, on his breast; he became, through his gallant bearingand demeanor, an object of respect and of admiration even to theMoslems. He fought, say the writers of the crusades, like a wildboar, sending on that day an amazing number of infidels to hell! TheMoslems severed the heads of the slaughtered Templars from theirbodies, and attaching them with cords to the points of their lances,they placed them in front of their assembly, and marched off in thedirection of Tiberias [177] [17].The following interesting account is given of the march of anotherband of holy warriors, who, in obedience to the summons of theGrand Master of the Temple, were hastening to rally around thesacred banners of their faith.“When they had travelled two miles, they came to the city of Saphet 5 .It was a lovely morning, and they determined to march no furtheruntil they had heard mass. They accordingly turned towards thehouse of the bishop and awoke him up, and informed him that the daywas breaking. The bishop accordingly ordered an old chaplain to puton his clothes and say mass, after which they hastened forwards.Then they came to the castle of La Feue, (a fortress of the Templars,)and there they found, outside the castle, the tents of the convent ofCaco pitched, and there was no one to explain what it meant. Avarlet 6 was sent into the castle to inquire, but he found no one withinbut two sick people who were unable to speak. Then they marchedtowards Nazareth, and after they had proceeded a short distancefrom the castle of La Feue, they met a brother of the Temple onhorseback, who galloped up to them at a furious rate, calling out, ‘Badnews, bad news’; and he informed them how that the Master of theHospital had had his head cut off, and how of all the brothers of theTemple there had escaped but three, the Master of the Temple and183

two others, and that the knights whom the king had placed ingarrison at Nazareth, were all taken and killed.” [174] [177]Horns of Hattin, 2005, as viewed from the eastIn the great battle of Tiberias or of Hittin 7 , fought on the 4th of July,which decided the fate of the holy city of Jerusalem, the Templarswere in the vanguard of the Christian army, and led the attackagainst the infidels. The march of Saladin’s host, which amounted toeighty thousand horse and foot, over the hilly country, is comparedby an Arabian writer, an eye-witness, “to mountains in movement, orto the vast waves of an agitated sea.” The same author speaks of theadvance of the Templars against them at early dawn in battle array,“horrible in arms, having their whole bodies cased with triple mail.”He compares the noise made by their advancing squadrons to the loudhumming of bees!” and describes them as animated with “a flamingdesire of vengeance.” [178] [179] Saladin had behind him the lake ofTiberias, his infantry was in the center, and the swift cavalry of thedesert was stationed on either wing, under the command of Faki-eddeen(teacher of religion.) The Templars rushed, we are told, likelions upon the Moslem infidels, and nothing could withstand theirheavy and impetuous charge. “Never,” says an Arabian doctor of the184

law, “have I seen a bolder or more powerful army, nor one more to befeared by the believers in the true faith.”Saladin set fire to the dry grass and dwarf shrubs which lay betweenboth armies, and the wind blew the smoke and the flames directlyinto the faces of the military friars and their horses. The fire, thenoise, the gleaming weapons, and all the trappings of the horridscene, have given full scope to the descriptive powers of the orientalwriters. They compare it to the last judgment; the dust and thesmoke obscured the face of the sun, and the day was turned intonight. Sometimes gleams of light darted like the rapid lightningamid the horde of combatants; then you might see the densecolumns of armed warriors, now immovable as mountains, and nowsweeping swiftly across the landscape like the rainy clouds over theface of heaven. “The sons of paradise and the children of fire,” theysay, “then decided their terrible quarrel; the arrows rustled throughthe air like the wings of innumerable sparrows, the sparks flew fromthe coats of mail and the glancing sabers, and the blood spurting forthfrom the bosom of the throng deluged the earth like the rains ofheaven.” …“The avenging sword of the true believers was drawn forthagainst the infidels; the faith of the UNITY was opposed to the faith ofthe TRINITY, and speedy ruin, desolation, and destruction, overtookthe miserable sons of baptism!”The cowardly patriarch Heraclius, whose duty it was to bear theholy cross in front of the Christian array, confided his sacred chargeto the bishops of Ptolemais and Lydda [109]—a circumstance whichgave rise to many gloomy forebodings among the superstitioussoldiers of Christ. In consequence of the treachery, as it is alleged,of the count of Tripoli, who fled from the field with his retainers,both the Templars and Hospitaliers were surrounded, and were to aman killed or taken prisoners. The bishop of Ptolemais was slain,the bishop of Lydda was made captive, and the holy cross, togetherwith the king of Jerusalem, and the Grand Master of the Temple, fellinto the hands of the Saracens. “Quid plura?” says Radulph, abbot ofthe monastery of Coggleshale in Essex, who was then on apilgrimage to the Holy Land, and was wounded in the nose by an185

arrow. “Is taken, cross and the king, and the host of the Master of theTemple, and the Bishop of Liddensis, and brother of King and theTemplars, and Hospitalarii, and the marquis of Montferrat, and alleither dead or were captured. Worshipers of the cross upon it, all oflament, and weep; was taken up of the tree of our salvation, worthyfrom unworthily, alas! alas! carrying away. Woe is me to thewretched, miserable In the days of my life I am forced to see suchthings. ... Oh, sweet wood, and sweet, roratum, and wash the blood ofthe sons of God! Oh kindly the cross, in which our salvation was hungup! etc.” 8 [177]“I saw,” says the secretary 9 and companion of Saladin, who waspresent at this terrible fight, and is unable to restrain himself frompitying the disasters of the vanquished—“I saw the mountains andthe plains, the hills and the valleys, covered with their dead. I sawtheir fallen and deserted banners sullied with dust and with blood. Isaw their heads broken and battered, their limbs scattered abroad,and the blackened corpses piled one upon another like the stones ofthe builders. I called to mind the words of the Koran, ‘The infidel shallsay, What am I but dust?’ …. I saw thirty or forty tied together by onecord. I saw in one place, guarded by one Moslems, two hundred ofthese famous warriors gifted with amazing strength, who had but justnow walked forth amongst the mighty; their proud bearing was gone;they stood naked with downcast eyes, wretched and miserable…. Thelying infidels were now in the power of the true believers. Their kingand their cross were captured, that cross before which they bow thehead and bend the knee; which they bear aloft and worship with theireyes; they say that it is the identical wood to which the God whomthey adore was fastened. They had adorned it with fine gold andbrilliant stones; they carried it before their armies; they all bowedtowards it with respect. It was their first duty to defend it; and he whoshould desert it would never enjoy peace of mind. The capture of thiscross was more grievous to them than the captivity of their king.Nothing can compensate them for the loss of it. It was their God; theyprostrated themselves in the dust before it, and sang hymns when itwas raised aloft!” [180]186

Among the few Christian warriors who escaped from this terribleencounter, was the Grand Master of the Hospital; with sword, hefought his way from the field of battle, and reached Ascalon insafety, but died of his wounds the day after his arrival. Themultitude of captives was enormous, ropes could not be found tobind them, the tent-ropes were all used for that purpose, but wereinsufficient. The Arabian writers tell us that, on seeing the dead,one would have thought that there could be no prisoners, and onseeing the prisoners, that there could be no dead. As soon as thebattle was over, Saladin proceeded to a tent, where, in obedience tohis commands, the king of Jerusalem, the Grand Master of theTemple, and Reginald de Chatillon, had been conducted. This lastnobleman had greatly distinguished himself in various daringexpeditions against the caravans of pilgrims travelling to Mecca, andhad become on that account particularly obnoxious to the devoutSaladin. The sultan, on entering the tent, ordered a bowl ofsherbet 10 , the sacred pledge among the Arabs of hospitality andsecurity, to be presented to the fallen monarch of Jerusalem, and tothe Grand Master of the Temple; but when Reginald de Chatillontried to drink from the bowl, Saladin prevented him, andreproaching the Christian nobleman with treachery andwickedness, he commanded him to instantly acknowledge theprophet whom he had blasphemed, or be prepared to meet thedeath he had so often deserved. On Reginald’s refusal, Saladinstruck him with his scimitar, and he was immediately dispatched bythe guards [174] [169].Bahāʾ al-Dīn, Saladin‘s friend and secretary, an eye-witness of thescene, gives the following account of it: “Then Saladin told theinterpreter to say thus to the king, ‘It is thou, not I, who gives drink tothis man!’ Then the sultan sat down at the entrance of the tent, andthey brought Prince Reginald before him, and after refreshing theman’s memory, Saladin said to him, ‘Now then, I myself will act thepart of the defender of Mohammed!’ He then offered the man theMohammedan faith, but he refused it; then the king struck him on theshoulder with a drawn scimitar, which was a hint to those that were187

present to do for him; so they sent his soul to hell, and cast out hisbody before the tent-door!” [178] [181]Two days afterwards, Saladin proceeded in cold blood to enact thegrand concluding tragedy. The warlike monks of the Temple and ofthe Hospital, the bravest and most zealous defenders of theChristian faith, were, of all the warriors of the cross, the mostobnoxious to zealous Moslems. Saladin determined that death orconversion to Mohammedanism should be the portion of everycaptive of either order, except the Grand Master of the Temple, forwhom it was expected a heavy ransom would be paid. Accordingly,on the Christian Sabbath, at the hour of sunset, the appointed timeof prayer, the Moslems were drawn up in battle array under theirrespective leaders. The Maluku emirs stood in two ranks clothed inyellow, and, at the sound of the holy trumpet, all the captive knightsof the Temple and of the Hospital were led on to the prominenceabove Tiberias, in full view of the beautiful sea of Galillee 11 , whosebold and mountainous shores had been the scene of so many oftheir Savior’s miracles. There, as the last rays of the sun werefading away from the mountain tops, they were called upon to denyhim who had been crucified, to choose God for their Lord, Islam fortheir faith, Mecca for their temple, the Moslems for their brethren,and Mohammed for their prophet. To a man they refused, and wereall decapitated in the presence of Saladin by the devout zealots ofhis army, and the doctors and expounders of the law. An orientalhistorian, who was present, says that Saladin sat with a smilingcountenance viewing the execution, and that some of theexecutioners cut off the heads with a degree of dexterity thatexcited great applause [180] [182] [178] [183] [184] [37]. “Oh,” saysOmad’eddin Muhammad, “how beautiful an ornament is the blood ofthe infidels sprinkled over the followers of the faith and the truereligion!” [185]If the Moslems displayed a foregoing zeal in the decapitation andannihilation of the infidel Templars, these executions revealed a noless admirable eagerness for martyrdom by the swords of theunbelieving Moslems. The Knight Templar, Brother Nicolas,188

endeavored vigorously, we are told, with his companions to be thefirst to suffer, and with great difficulty accomplished his purpose 12[186]. It was believed by the Christians, in accordance with thesuperstitious ideas of those times, that heaven testified its approvalby a visible sign, and that for three nights, during which the bodiesof the Templars remained unburied on the field, celestial rays oflight played around the corpses of those holy martyrs [186].The government of the order of the Temple, in consequence of thecaptivity of the Grand Master, was entrusted to the Grand Preceptorof the kingdom of Jerusalem, who addressed letters to all thebrethren in the West, imploring instant aid and assistance. One ofthese letters was duly received by Brother Geoffrey, Master of theTemple at London, as follows:--“Brother Terric, Grand Preceptor of the poor house of the Temple, andevery poor brother, and the whole convent, now, alas! almostannihilated, to all the preceptors and brothers of the Temple to whomthese letters may come, salvation through him to whom our ferventaspirations are addressed, through him who caused the sun and themoon to reign marvelous.”“The many and great calamities wherewith the anger of God, excitedby our manifold sins, hath just now permitted us to be afflicted, wecannot for grief unfold to you, neither by letters nor by our sobbingspeech. The infidel chiefs having collected together a vast number oftheir people, fiercely invaded our Christian territories, and we,assembling our battalions, hastened to Tiberias to arrest their march.The enemy having hemmed us in among barren rocks, fiercelyattacked us; the holy cross and the king himself fell into the hands ofthe infidels, the whole army was cut to pieces, two hundred and thirtyof our knights were beheaded, without reckoning the sixty who werekilled on the 1st of May. The Lord Reginald of Sidon, the LordBallovius, and we ourselves, escaped with vast difficulty from thatmiserable field. The Pagans, drunk with the blood of our Christians,then marched with their whole army against the city of Acre, and tookit by storm. The city of Tyre is at present fiercely besieged, and189

neither by night nor by day do the infidels discontinue their furiousassaults. So great is the multitude of them, that they cover like antsthe whole face of the country from Tyre to Jerusalem, and even untoGaza. The holy city of Jerusalem, Ascalon, and Tyre, and Beyrout, arealone left to us and to the Christian cause, and the garrisons and thechief inhabitants of these places, having perished in the battle ofTiberias, we have no hope of retaining them without succor fromheaven and instant assistance from yourselves.” [187] [170]Saladin, on the other hand, sent triumphant letters to the caliph.“God and his angels,” he says, “have mercifully succored Islam. Theinfidels have been sent to feed the fires of hell! The cross is fallen intoour hands, around which they fluttered like the moth round a light;under whose shadow they assembled, in which they boldly trusted asin a wall; the cross, the center and leader of their pride, theirsuperstition, and their tyranny.” … [180]After the conquest of between thirty and forty cities and castles,many of which belonged to the order of the Temple were seized.Saladin then laid siege to the holy city. On the 20th of Septemberthe Moslem army encamped on the west of the town, and extendeditself from the tower of David to the gate of St. Stephen. The Templecould no longer supply its brave warriors for the defense of the holysanctuary of the Christians; two miserable knights, with a fewserving brethren, alone remained in its now silent halls anddeserted courts.After a siege of fourteen days, a breach was achieved in the walls,and ten banners of the prophet waved in triumph on the ramparts.In the morning a barefoot procession of the queen, the women, andthe monks and priests, was made to the holy sepulcher, to implorethe Son of God to save his tomb and his inheritance from ungodlydesecration. The females, as a mark of humility and distress, cut offtheir hair and cast it to the winds; and the ladies of Jerusalem madetheir daughters do penance by standing up to their necks in tubs ofcold water placed upon Mount Calvary. But it did not avail; “for ourLord Jesus Christ,” says a Syrian Frank, “would not listen to any190

prayer that they made; for the filth, the luxury, and the adultery whichprevailed in the city, did not suffer prayer or supplication to ascendbefore God. 13 ” [174]On the surrender of the city (October 2, A.D. 1187) the Moslemsrushed to the Temple in thousands. “The Imauns and the doctorsand expounders of the wicked errors of Mohammed,” says AbbotCoggleshale, who was then in Jerusalem suffering from a woundwhich he had received during the siege, “first ascended to the Templeof the Lord, called by the infidels Beit Allah, (the house of God,) inwhich, as a place of prayer and religion, they place their great hope ofsalvation. With horrible bellowings they proclaimed the law ofMohammed, and vociferated, with polluted lips, ALLAH Acbar--ALLAHAcbar, (GOD is victorious.) They defiled all the places that arecontained within the Temple; i. e. the place of the presentation, wherethe mother and glorious virgin Mary delivered the Son of God into thehands of the just Simeon; and the place of the confession, lookingtowards the porch of Solomon, where the Lord judged the womantaken in adultery. They placed guards that no Christian might enterwithin the seven atria of the Temple; and as a disgrace to theChristians, with vast clamor, with laughter and mockery, they hurleddown the golden cross from the pinnacle of the building, and draggedit with ropes throughout the city, amid the exulting shouts of theinfidels and the tears and lamentations of the followers of Christ. 14 ”[182] [109]When every Christian had been removed from the precincts of theTemple, Saladin proceeded with immense ceremony to say hisprayers in the Beit Allah, the holy house of God, or “ Temple of theLord,” erected by the Caliph Omar [182]. He was preceded by fivecamels laden with rose-water, which he had procured fromDamascus 15 [174], and he entered the sacred courts to the sound ofmartial music, and with his banners streaming in the wind. The BeitAllah, “the Temple of the Lord,” was then again consecrated to theservice of one god and his prophet Mohammed; the walls andpavements were washed and purified with rose-water; and a pulpit,the labor of Nor ad-Din, was erected in the sanctuary [179] [178]191

[180]. The following account of these transactions was forwardedto Henry the Second, king of England.“To the beloved Lord Henry, by the grace of God, the illustrious king ofthe English, duke of Normandy and Guienne, and count of Anjou,Brother Terric, formerly Grand Preceptor of the house of the TempleAT JERUSALEM, sends greeting,--salvation through him who saveskings”.“Know that Jerusalem, with the citadel of David, hath beensurrendered to Saladin. The Syrian Christians, however, have thecustody of the holy sepulcher up to the fourth day after Michaelmas,and Saladin himself hath permitted ten of the brethren of the Hospitalto remain in the house of the hospital for the space of one year, to takecare of the sick. … Jerusalem, alas, hath fallen; Saladin hath caused thecross to be thrown down from the summit of the Temple of the Lord,and for two days to be publicly kicked and dragged in the dirt throughthe city. He then caused the Temple of the Lord to be washed withinand without, upwards and downwards, with rose-water, and the lawof Mohammed to be proclaimed throughout the four quarters of theTemple with wonderful clamor. …” [80]Bahāʾ al-Dīn, Saladin‘s secretary, mentions as a remarkable andhappy circumstance, that the holy city was surrendered to thesultan in a most devout commemoration, and that God restored tothe faithful their sanctuary, on the twenty-seventh of the monthRegeb, on the night of which their most glorious prophetMohammed performed his wonderful nocturnal journey from theTemple, through the seven heavens, to the throne of God. He alsodescribes the sacred congregation of the Moslems gathered togetherin the Temple and the solemn prayer offered up to God; theshouting and the sounds of applause, and the voices lifted up toheaven, causing the holy buildings to resound with thanks andpraises to the most bountiful Lord God. He glories in the castingdown of the golden cross, and exults in the very splendid triumph ofIslam [176].192

Saladin restored the sacred area of the Temple to its originalcondition under the first Moslem conquerors of Jerusalem. Theancient Christian church of the Virgin (otherwise the mosque AlAcsa, otherwise the Temple of Solomon) was washed with rosewater,and was once again dedicated to the religious services of theMoslems. On the western side of this revered structure theTemplars had erected, according to the Arabian writers, animmense building in which they lodged, together with granaries ofcorn and various offices, which enclosed and concealed a greatportion of the edifice. Most of these were pulled down by the sultanto make a clear and open area for the convenience of the Moslemsto pray. Some new constructions placed between the columns inthe interior of the structure were taken away, and the floor wascovered with the richest carpets. “Lamps innumerable,” says Ali ibnal-Athir, “were suspended from the ceiling; verses of the Koran wereagain inscribed on the walls; the call to prayer was again heard; thebells were silenced; the exiled faith returned to its ancient sanctuary;the devout Mussulmen again bent the knee in adoration of the oneonly God, and the voice of the imaun was again heard from the pulpit,reminding the true believers of the resurrection and the lastjudgment.” [188] [189] [190]The Friday after the surrender of the city, the army of Saladin andcrowds of true believers, who had flocked to Jerusalem from allparts of the East, assembled in the Temple of the Lord to assist inthe religious services of the Moslem sabbath. Imad ad-din al-Isfahani, Saladin’s secretary, who was present, gives the followinginteresting account of the ceremony, and of the sermon that waspreached. “On Friday morning at daybreak,” he says, “every bodywas asking whom the sultan had appointed to preach. The Templewas full; the congregation was impatient; all eyes were fixed on thepulpit; the ears were on the stretch; our hearts beat fast, and tearstrickled down our faces. On all sides were to be heard rapturousexclamations of ‘What a glorious sight! What a congregation! Happyare those who have lived to see the resurrection of Islam.’ At lengththe sultan ordered the judge (doctor of the law) Mohieddin193

Aboulmehali-Mohammed to fulfill the sacred function of imaun. Iimmediately lent him the black vestment which I had received as apresent from the caliph. He then mounted into the pulpit and spoke.All were hushed. His expressions were graceful and easy; and hisdiscourse eloquent and much admired. He spake of the virtue and thesanctity of Jerusalem, of the purification of the Temple; he alluded tothe silence of the bells, and to the flight of the infidel priests. In his Iprayer he named the caliph and the sultan, and terminated hisdiscourse with that chapter of the Koran in which God orders justiceand good works. He then descended from the pulpit, and prayed inthe Mihrah. Immediately afterwards a sermon was preached beforethe congregation.” [180]This sermon was delivered by Mohammed Ben Zeky. “Praise be toGod,” said the preacher, “who by the power of his might hath raisedup Islamism on the ruins of Polytheism; who governs all thingsaccording to his will; who overthrows the devices of the infidels, andcauses the truth to triumph. … I praise God, who hath succored hiselect; who hath rendered them victorious and crowned them withglory, who hath purified his holy house from the filthiness of idolatry.… I bear witness that there is no God but that one great God whostands alone and hath no partner; sole, supreme, eternal; who begatnot and is not begotten, and hath no equal. I bear witness thatMohammed is his servant, his envoy, and his prophet, who hathdissipated doubts, confounded polytheism, and put down LIES,” etc.“O men, declare ye the blessings of God, who hath restored to you thisholy city, after it has been left in the power of the infidels for ahundred years …. This holy house of the Lord hath been built, and itsfoundations have been established, for the glory of God. … This sacredspot is the dwelling place of the prophets, the kebla, (place of prayer,)towards which you turn at the commencement of your religiousduties, the birth-place of the saints, the scene of the revelation. It isthrice holy, for the angels of God spread their wings over it. This isthat blessed land of which God hath spoken in his sacred book. In thishouse of prayer, Mohammed prayed with the angels who approachGod. It is to this spot that all fingers are turned after the gates of194

heaven; the angels rejoice, and the eyes of the prophets glisten withjoy …” [180]Imad informs us that the marble altar and chapel which had beenerected over the sacred rock in the Temple of the Lord, or mosqueof Omar, was removed by Saladin, together with the stalls for thepriests, the marble statues, and all the abominations which had,been placed in the venerated building by the Christians. TheMoslems discovered with horror that some pieces of the holy stoneor rock had been cut off by the Franks, and sent to Europe. Saladincaused it to be immediately surrounded by a grate of iron. Hewashed it with rose-water and Malek-Afdal covered it withmagnificent carpets [180].After the conquest of the holy city, and the loss of the Temple atJerusalem, the Knights Templars established the chief house of theirorder at Antioch, to which place they retired with Queen Sibylla, thebarons of the kingdom, and the patriarch Heraclius [17].The following account of the condition of the few remainingChristian possessions immediately after the conquest of Jerusalemwas conveyed by the before-mentioned Brother Terric, GrandPreceptor of the Temple and Treasurer General of the order, toHenry the Second, king of England.“The brothers of the hospital of Belvoir as yet bravely resist theSaracens; they have captured two convoys, and have valiantlypossessed themselves of the munitions of war and provisions whichwere being conveyed by the Saracens from the fortress of La Feue. Asyet, also, Carach, in the neighbourhood of Mount Royal, Mount Royalitself, the Temple of Saphet [Safed], the hospital of Carach, Margat,and Castellum Blancum, and the territory of Tripoli, and the territoryof Antioch, resist Saladin. … From the feast of Saint Martin up to thatof the circumcision of the Lord, Saladin hath besieged Tyreincessantly, by night and by day, throwing into it immense stones fromthirteen military engines. On the vigils of St. Silvester, the LordConrad, the Marquis of Montferrat, distributed knights and foot195

soldiers along the wall of the city, and having armed seventeen galleysand ten small vessels, with the assistance of the house of the Hospitaland the brethren of the Temple, he engaged the galleys of Saladin, andvanquishing them he captured eleven, and took prisoners the greatadmiral of Alexandria and eight other admirals, a multitude of theinfidels being slain. The rest of the Moslems galleys, escaping thehands of the Christians, fled to the army of Saladin, and being runaground by his command, were set on fire and burnt to ashes. Saladinhimself, overwhelmed with grief, having cut off the ears and the tail ofhis horse, rode that same horse through his whole army in the sight ofall. Farewell!” [80] [180]Tyre was valiantly defended against all the efforts of Saladin untilthe winter had set in, and then the disappointed sultan, despairingof taking the place, burnt his military engines and retired toDamascus. In the mean time, negotiations had been initiated for therelease from captivity of Guy king of Jerusalem, and Gerard deRiderfort, the Grand Master of the Temple. No less than eleven ofthe most important of the cities and castles remaining to theChristians in Palestine, including Ascalon, Gaza, Jaffa, and Naplous,were yielded up to Saladin by way of ransom for these illustriouspersonages; and at the commencement of the year 1188, the GrandMaster of the Temple again appeared in arms at the head of theremaining forces of the order [89] [92].GERARD DE RIDERFORT. A.D. 1188.The apathetic responsiveness of Christendom had at this time beenaroused by the intelligence of the fall of Jerusalem, and of thesacrilege of the holy places by the conquering infidels. Threehundred knights and a considerable naval force were immediatelydispatched from Sicily, and all the Templars of the West capable ofbearing arms hurried from their preceptories to the sea-ports of theMediterranean, and embarked for Palestine in the ships of Genoa,Pisa, and Venice. The king of England forwarded a large sum ofmoney to the order for the defense of the city of Tyre. However, asthe siege had been raised before its arrival, and as Conrad, the196

valiant defender of the place, claimed a title to the throne ofJerusalem in opposition to Guy de Lusignan, the Grand Master of theTemple refused to deliver the money into Conrad’s hands. As aconsequence, the Grand Master wrote letters filled with bittercomplaints to King Henry and the archbishop of Canterbury [98][168].In the spring of the year 1189, the Grand Master of the Templemarched out of Tyre at the head of the newly-arrived brethren ofthe order, and, in conjunction with a large army of crusaders, laidsiege to Acre. The “victorious defender of the faith, tamer of thefollowers of the cross,” hastened to its relief, and pitched his tents onthe mountains of Carouba.On the 4th of October, the newly-arrived warriors from Europe,eager to demonstrate their skill against the infidels, marched out toattack Saladin‘s camp. The Grand Master of the Temple, at the headof his knights and the forces of the order, and a large body ofEuropean nobility who had arranged themselves under the bannerof the Templars, formed a reserve. The Moslem array was brokenby the impetuous charge of the soldiers of the cross, who penetratedto the imperial tent, and then abandoned themselves to pillage. Theinfidels rallied, they were led on by Saladin in person; and theChristian army would have been annihilated but for the Templars.Firm and immovable, they presented, for the space of an hour, anunbroken front to the advancing Moslems, and gave time for theembarrassed and panic-stricken crusaders to recover from theirterror and confusion. However, before they had been rallied, andhad returned to the charge, the Grand Master of the Temple wasslain; he fell pierced with arrows at the head of his knights; theseneschal 16 of the order shared the same fate, and more than halfthe Templars were numbered with the dead [109] [17] [98].WALTER. A.D. 1190.To Gerard de Riderfort succeeded the Knight Templar, BrotherWalter [191]. Never did the flame of enthusiasm burn with fierceror more destructive power than at this famous siege of Acre. Nine197

pitched battles were fought, with various outcomes, in theneighbourhood of Mount Carmel. During the first year of the siege ahundred thousand Christians are estimated to have perished. Thetents of the dead, however, were replenished by newcomers fromEurope; the fleets of Saladin supported the town, the Christian shipsbrought continual aid to the besiegers, and the contest seemedendless [186] [109] [181]. Saladin’s exertions in the cause of theprophet were incessant. The Arab authors compare him to amother wandering with desperation in search of her lost child, to alioness who has lost its young. “I saw him,” says his secretary Bahāʾal-Dīn, “in the fields of Acre afflicted with a most cruel disease, withboils from the middle of his body to his knees, so that he could not sitdown, but only recline on his side when he entered into his tent, yet hewent about to the stations nearest to the enemy, arranged his troopsfor battle, and rode about from dawn till eve, now to the right wing,then to the left, and then to the center, patiently enduring the severityof his pain.” … “O God,” says his enthusiastic biographer, “you knowthat he put forth and lavishly expended all his energies and strengthtowards the protection and the triumph of thy religion; do thoutherefore, O Lord, have mercy upon him.” [178]At this famous siege, Patriarch Heraclius died [192].Notes1 Gerard of Ridefort (died October 1, 1189) was Grand Master of the KnightsTemplar from the end of 1184 until his death in 1189. Gerard of Ridefort is thoughtprobably to have been of Flemish origin, although some nineteenth-century writerssuggested an Anglo-Norman background, apparently through misreading hisdesignation as “of Bideford”. It is uncertain when he arrived in the Kingdom ofJerusalem. He appears in the charter record in the service of Baldwin IV ofJerusalem in the late 1170s, and by 22 October 1179 held the rank of Marshal of thekingdom. In 1189, he again joined forces with Guy, taking the Templars to theSiege of Acre. He was either killed in battle or executed after being taken prisonerby Saladin again on October 1.2 I have liberally translated this passage for an unfamiliar for of “old English”, whichappears to be some for om “kitchen-Latin”. I have tried to stay true to the context.198

Chronicon Joannis Brompton, abbatis Jornalensis, sub annum MCLXXXVI. CottonianMS. Tiberius, c. xiii. folio 36 b. Printed in Twisden's Decern Scriptores, London, 1652,col. 814. The earliest MS. of this Chronicle extant, i. e. that in the Cottonian collection,is written to all appearance in a rather late fifteenth century hand, and being one of thosewhich suffered in the fire, no traces are left of any reference to the history of the MS., bywhom copied, or any date by which to ascribe it to any particular monastery.n It isprobably not a contemporary: “Hactenus gloriose regnasti, sed amodo ipse te deseretquem tu deseruisti. Recole quæ dominus tibi contulit, et qualia illi reddidisti;quomodo regi Franciæ infidus fuisti, beatum Thomam occidisti, et nunc protectionemChristianorum abjecisti. Cumque ad hæc rex excandesceret, obtulit patriarcha caputsuum et collum extensum, dicens, 'Fac de me quod de Thomá fecisti. Adeo libenter voloa te occidi in Anglia, sicut a Saracenis in Syria, quia tu omni Saraceno pejor es.' Cuirex, 'Si omnes hommes mei unum corpus essent, unoque ore loquerentur, talia mihidicere non auderent.' Cui ille, 'Non est mirum, quia tu et non te diligunt, prædametiam et non hominem sequitur turba ista.' 'Recedere non possum, quia filii meiinsurgerent in me absentem.' Cui ille, 'Nec mirum, quia de diabolo venerunt, et addiabolum ibunt.' Et sic demum patriarcha navem ascendens in Galliam reversus est.”3 “Le patriarche la fist venir en Jerusalem, et li acheta bonne maison de pierre. Si latenoit voiant le siecle ausi com li hons fait sa fame, fors tant que ele n'estoit mie aveclui. Quant ele aloit au mostier, ele estoit ausi atornée de riches dras, com ce fust unemperris, et si serjant devant lui. Quant aucunes gens la veoient qui ne laconnoissoient pas, il demandoient qui cele dame estoit. Cil qui la connoissoient,disoient que cestoit la fame du patriarche. Ele avoit nom Pasque de Riveri. Enfansavoit du patriarche, et les barons estoient, que là où il se conseilloient, vint un fol oupatriarche, si li dist; 'Sire Patriarche, dones moi bon don, car je vous aport bonesnovelles Pasque de Riveri, vostre fame, a une bele fille!'”4 The following Vulger Latin (or Kitchen Latin) has been liberally translated.“Quand le roi avoit offert sa corone au Temple Dominus, si avaloit uns degrès qui sontdehors le Temple, et entroit en son pales au Temple de Salomon, ou li Templiersmanoient. La etoient les tables por mengier, ou le roi s’asseoit, et si baron et tuit cilqui mengier voloient.”5 Safed, is a city in the Northern District of Israel. Located at an elevation of 900metres (2,953 ft), Safed is the highest city in the Galilee and of Israel.6 An attendant or servant. [Middle English, from Old French, variant of vaslet; seevalet.]7 Hittin (Arabic: حطّين , transliterated Ḥiṭṭīn or Ḥaṭṭīn) was a Palestinian village,located approximately 8 kilometers (5.0 mi) west of Tiberias. The site of the Battleof Hattin in 1187, in which Saladin conquered most of interior Palestine from theCrusaders, Hittin is a nationalist symbol for Arabs and Palestinians. Within thevillage lands is the shrine of Nabi Shu'ayb, venerated especially by the Druze as thetomb of Jethro.199

8 Latin: “Capta est crux, et rex, et Magister militiæ Templi, et episcopus Liddensis, etfrater Regis, et Templarii, et Hospitalarii, et marchio de Montferrat, atque omnes velmortui vel capti sunt. Plangite super hoc omnes adoratores crucis, et plorate;sublatum est lignum nostræ salutis, dignum ab indignis indigne heu! heu!asportatum. Væ mihi misero, quod in diebus miseræ vitæ meæ talia cogor videre. … Odulce lignum, et suave, sanguine filii Dei roratum atque lavatum! O crux alma, in quasalus nostra pependit! &c.”9 Omad’eddin Kateb-Abou-hamed-Mohamed-Benhamed, one of Saladin'ssecretaries.10 A traditional Middle Eastern cold drink prepared with rose hips, corneliancherries, rose or licorice and a variety of spices.11 The Sea of Galilee, also Kinneret, Lake of Gennesaret, or Lake Tiberias (Hebrew:), is the largest freshwater ةيربط ةريحب Arabic: ‏,אירבטד יַמּא Judeo-Aramaic: , תרנכ םיlake in Israel, and it is approximately 53 km (33 mi) in circumference, about 21 km(13 mi) long, and 13 km (8.1 mi) wide. The lake has a total area of 166 km2 (64 sqmi), and a maximum depth of approximately 43 m (141 feet). At 214 metres (702ft) below sea level, it is the lowest freshwater lake on Earth and the second-lowestlake in the world (after the Dead Sea, a saltwater lake). The lake is fed partly byunderground springs although its main source is the Jordan River which flowsthrough it from north to south.12 “O zelus fidei! O fervor animi!” (tr. Latin: “Oh zeal for the faith! Oh, a fervor ofspirit!”) says that admiring historian, cap. xv. p. 251.13 “Les dames de Jerusalem firent prendre cuves et mettre en la place devant le monteCauviaire, et emplir d’eue froide, et firent lors filles entrer jusqu’au col, et couper fortreices et jeter les.” (Lit tr. French: “The ladies of Jerusalem did make tanks and putin place before the Cauviaire up and had to fill cold, and made when girls come upto the neck, and cut for treices and discard.”)14 “flentibus christianis, trines et vestes rumpentibus, pectora et capita tundentibus,says the worthy abbot.” (tr. Latin: them that weep Christians, and the garments oftrinune is broken, beat their breasts and heads, says the worthy Abbot.)15 “Saladin ot mandé a Damas por euë rose assés por le Temple laver . . . il avoitquatre chamiex ou cinq tous charges.” (tr. Latin: Saladin was summoned toDamascus for a rose enough to wash the temple. . . he had four or five chamiex allloaded.)16 A seneschal was an officer in the houses of important nobles in the Middle Ages.200

CHAPTER 7. 1191 – 1242“Therefore, friends, As far as to the sepulcher of Christ(Whose soldier now under whose blessed crossWe are impressed and engag’d to fight,)Forthwith a power of English shall we levy,Whose arms were moulded in their mother’s womb,To chase these pagans, in those holy fields,Over whose acres walked those blessed feet,Which, fourteen hundred years ago, were nail’d,For our advantage, on the bitter cross.”WALTER. A.D. 1191.In the mean time, a third crusade had been preached in Europe.William, archbishop of Tyre, had proceeded to the courts of Franceand England, and had represented in glowing colors the wretchedcondition of Palestine, and the horrors and abominations, which hadbeen committed by the infidels in the holy city of Jerusalem. TheEnglish and French monarchs laid aside their private animosities,and agreed to fight under the same banner against the infidels.Near the close of the month of May, in the second year of the siege ofAcre, the royal fleets of Philip Augustus and Richard Cœur de Lion 1floated in triumph in the bay of Acre. At the period of the arrival ofking Richard, the Templars had again lost their Grand Master, andBrother Robert de Sablé 2 , or Sabloil, a valiant knight of the order,who had commanded a division of the English fleet on the voyageout, was placed at the head of the fraternity [193].ROBERT DE SABLÉ A.D. 1191.201

The proudest of the nobility, and the most valiant of the chivalry ofEurope, on their arrival in Palestine, manifested an eager desire tofight under the banner of the Temple. Many secular knights werepermitted by the Grand Master to take their station by the side ofthe military friars, and even to wear the red cross on their breastswhile fighting in the ranks.The Templars performed marvels of valor; “The name of theirreputation, and the fame of their sanctity,” says James of Vitry,bishop of Acre, “like a chamber of perfume sending forth a sweetodor, was diffused throughout the entire world, and all thecongregation of the saints will recount their battles and glorioustriumph over the enemies of Christ, knights indeed from all parts ofthe earth, dukes, and princes, after their example, casting off theshackles of the world, and renouncing the pomps and vanities of thislife and all the lusts of the flesh for Christ’s sake, hastened to jointhem, and to participate in their holy profession and religion.” [89]On the morning of the twelfth of July, six weeks after the arrival ofthe British fleet, the kings of England and France, the Christianoverlords, and the Turkish emirs with their green banners,assembled in the tent of the Grand Master of the Temple, tonegotiate of the surrender of Acre.The city of Acre from the sea. The ruins of the fortification as well as theancient sea walls are still present.202

On the following day, the gates were thrown open to the exultingwarriors of the cross. The Templars took possession of threelocalities within the city by the side of the sea, where theyestablished their famous Temple, which became from thereafter thechief house of the order. Richard Cœur de Lion, we are told, took uphis residence with the Templars, while Philip resided in the citadel 3 .[173]When the fiery monarch of England tore down the banner of theduke of Austria from its staff and threw it into the ditch, it was theTemplars who, interposing between the indignant Germans and thehaughty Britons, preserved the peace of the Christian army [194][195].During his voyage from Messina to Acre, King Richard had revengedhimself on Isaac Comnenus, the ruler of the island of Cyprus, for theinsult offered to the beautiful Berengaria, princess of Navarre, hisbetrothed bride. The sovereign of England had disembarked histroops, stormed the town of Limisso, and conquered the wholeisland; and shortly after his arrival at Acre, he sold it to theTemplars for three hundred thousand livres d’or 4 [174] [92] [186].During the famous march of Richard Cœur de Lion from Acre toAscalon, the Templars generally led the van of the Christian army,and the Hospitaliers brought up the rear 5 . [186] Saladin, at the headof an immense force, exerted all his energies to oppose theirprogress, and the march to Jaffa formed a perpetual battle of elevendays. On some occasions Cœur de Lion himself, at the head of achosen body of knights, led the van, and the Templars were formedinto a rear-guard 6 . [186] They sustained immense loss, particularlyin horses, and this latest calamity, we are told, rendered themnearly desperate 7 . [186]The Moslem as well as the Christian writers speak with admirationof the feats of heroism performed. “On the sixth day,” says Baha d-Bin, “the sultan rose at dawn as usual, and heard from his brotherthat the enemy were in motion. They had slept that night in suitable203

places about Cæsarea, and were now dressing and taking their food.A second messenger announced that they had begun their march; ourbrazen drum was sounded, all were alert, the sultan came out, and Iaccompanied him: he surrounded them with chosen troops, and gavethe signal for attack.” …. “Their foot soldiers were covered with thickstrungpieces of cloth, fastened together with rings so as to resemblecoats of mail. I saw with my own eyes several who had not one nortwo but ten darts sticking in their backs, and yet marched on with acalm and cheerful step, without any trepidation!” [181]Every exertion was made to sustain the courage and enthusiasm ofthe Christian warriors. When the army halted for the night, and thesoldiers were about to take their rest, a loud voice was heard fromthe midst of the camp, exclaiming, “ASSIST THE HOLY SEPULCHRE,”which words were repeated by the leaders of the host, and wereechoed and re-echoed along their extended lines 8 . [186]The Templars and the Hospitaliers, who were well acquainted withthe country, employed themselves by night in marauding andforaging expeditions. They frequently started off at midnight, sweptthe country with their turcopoles or light cavalry, and returned tothe camp at morning’s dawn with rich prizes of oxen, sheep, andprovisions [186].In the great plain near Ramleh, when the Templars led the vanguardof the Christian army, Saladin made a last grand effort to arrest theirprogress, which was followed by one of the greatest battles of theage. Geoffrey de Vinisauf, the companion of King Richard on thisexpedition, gives a lively and enthusiastic description of theappearance of the Moslem array in the great plain around Jaffa andRamleh. On all sides, far as the eye could reach, from the sea-shoreto the mountains, nothing was seen but a forest of spears, abovewhich waved banners and standards innumerable. The wildBedouins 9 , [186] the children of the desert, mounted on their swiftArab mares, surged with the rapidity of the lightning over the vastplain, and darkened the air with clouds of projectiles. Furious andunrelenting, of a horrible aspect, with skins blacker than soot, they204

strove by rapid movement and continuous assaults to penetrate thewell-ordered array of the Christian warriors. They advanced to theattack with horrible screams and bellowings, which, with thedeafening noise of the trumpets, horns, cymbals, and brazen kettledrums,produced a clamor that resounded through the plain, andwould have drowned even the thunder of heaven.The engagement commenced with the left wing of the Hospitaliers,and the victory of the Christians was mainly due to the personalcompetency of King Richard. Amid the disorder of his troops,Saladin remained on the plain without lowering his standard orsuspending the sound of his brazen kettle-drums, he rallied hisforces, retired upon Ramleh, and prepared to defend the roadleading to Jerusalem. The Templars and Hospitaliers, when thebattle was over, went in search of Jacques d’Asvesnes, one of themost valiant of King Richard‘s knights, whose dead body, placedupon their spears, they brought into the camp amid the tears andlamentations of their brethren [186] [178].The Templars, on one of their foraging expeditions, weresurrounded by a superior force of four thousand Moslem cavalry.The Earl of Leicester, with a chosen body of English, was sent byCœur de Lion to their assistance, but the whole party wasoverpowered and in danger of being cut to pieces, when Richardhimself hurried to the scene of action with his famous battle-axe,and rescued the Templars from their perilous situation 10 . [178] Bythe valor and exertions of the lion-hearted king, the city of Gaza, theancient fortress of the order, which had been taken by Saladin soonafter the battle of Tiberias, was recovered by the Christian army, thefortifications were repaired, and the place was restored to theKnights Templars, who again garrisoned it with their soldiers.ROBERT DE SABLÉ A.D. 1192.As the army advanced, Saladin fell back towards Jerusalem, and thevanguard of the Templars was pushed on to the small town ofRamleh.205

At midnight of the festival of the Holy Innocents, a party of themstruck out of the camp in company with some Hospitaliers on aforaging expedition; they scoured the mountains in the direction ofJerusalem, and at morning’s dawn returned to Ramleh with morethan two hundred oxen [186] [79].When the Christian army went into winter quarters, the Templarsestablished themselves at Gaza, and King Richard and his armywere stationed in the neighboring town of Ascalon, the walls andhouses of which were rebuilt by the English monarch during thewinter. While the Christian forces were reposing in winter quarters,an arrangement was made between the Templars, King Richard, andGuy de Lusignan, “the king without a kingdom,” for the cession 11 tothe latter of the island of Cyprus, previously sold by Richard to theorder of the Temple. By virtue of which arrangement, Guy deLusignan took possession of the island and ruled the country by themagnificent title of emperor [174].When the winter rains had subsided, the Christian forces were againput in motion, but both the Templars and Hospitaliers stronglyadvised Cœur de Lion not to march upon Jerusalem, and the latterappears to have had no strong inclination to undertake the siege ofthe holy city, having clearly no chance of success. The Englishmonarch declared that he would be guided by the advice of theTemplars and Hospitaliers, who were acquainted with the country,and were hopeful of recovering their ancient inheritances. Thearmy, however, advanced within a day’s journey of the holy city, andthen a council was called together, consisting of five KnightsTemplars, five Hospitaliers, five eastern Christians, and five westernCrusaders, and the expedition was abandoned [186].The Templars took part in the attack upon the great Egyptianconvoy, wherein four thousand and seventy camels, five hundredhorses, provisions, tents, arms, and clothing, and a great quantity ofgold and silver, were captured, and then fell back upon Acre. Theywere followed by Saladin, who immediately commenced offensiveoperations, and laid siege to Jaffa. The Templars marched by land to206

the relief of the place, and Cœur de Lion hurried by sea. Manyvaliant exploits were performed, the town was relieved, and thecampaign was concluded by the ratification of a treaty whereby theChristians were to enjoy the privilege of visiting Jerusalem aspilgrims. Tyre, Acre, and Jaffa, with all the sea-coast between them,were yielded to the Latins, but it was stipulated that thefortifications of Ascalon should be demolished 12 .Artist depiction of the Battle of Jaffa in 1192 A.D.After the conclusion of this treaty, King Richard being anxious totake the shortest and swiftest route to his territories by traversingthe continent of Europe, and to travel in disguise to avoid the maliceof his enemies, made an arrangement with his friend Robert deSablé, the Grand Master of the Temple. Robert commenced to placea galley of the order at the disposal of the king, and it wasdetermined that while the royal fleet pursued its course with QueenBerengaria through the Straits of Gibraltar to Britain, Cœur de Lionhimself, disguised in the habit of a Knight Templar, should secretlyembark and make for one of the ports of the Adriatic. The plan was207

carried into effect on the night of the 25th of October, and KingRichard set sail, accompanied by some attendants, and four trustyTemplars [174]. The habit he had assumed, however, did notprotect him, as is well known, from the cowardly vengeance of thecorrupt duke of Austria.The lion-hearted monarch was one of the many benefactors to theorder of the Temple. He granted to the fraternity his manor ofCalow, with various powers and privileges 13 . [196]GILBERT HORAL. A.D. 1195.Shortly after his departure from Palestine, the Grand Master, Robertde Sablé, was succeeded by Brother Gilbert Horal 14 or Erail, whohad previously filled the high office of Grand Preceptor of France[197] [198]. The Templars, to retain and strengthen theirprotectorate in Palestine, commenced the construction of variousstrong fortresses, of which the stupendous ruins of many remain tothis day. The most famous of these was the Pilgrim’s Castle 15 , [89][168] which commanded the coast-road from Acre to Jerusalem. Itderived its name from a solitary tower erected by the earlyTemplars to protect the passage of the pilgrims through adangerous pass in the mountains bordering the sea-coast, and wascommenced shortly after the removal of the chief house of the orderfrom Jerusalem to Acre. A small promontory which juts out into thesea a few miles below Mount Carmel, was converted into a fortifiedcamp. Two gigantic towers, a hundred feet in height and seventyfourfeet in width, were erected, together with enormous bastionsconnected together by strong walls furnished with all kinds ofmilitary engines. The vast enclosure contained a palace for the useof the Grand Master and knights, a magnificent church, houses and208

offices for the serving brethren and hired soldiers, together withpasturages, vineyards, gardens, orchards, and fishponds. On oneside of the walls was the salt sea, and on the other, within the camp,delicious springs of fresh water. The garrison amounted to fourthousand men in time of war 16 . [89] [199] [200] [201] Considerableremains of this famous fortress are still visible on the coast, a fewmiles to the south of Acre. It is still called by the Levantines 17 , CastelPellegrino. Pococke describes it as “very magnificent, and so finelybuilt, that it may be reckoned one of the things that are best worthseeing in these parts.” “It is encompassed,” says he, “with two wallsfifteen feet thick, the inner wall on the east side cannot be less thanforty feet high, and within it there appear to have been some verygrand apartments. The offices of the fortress seem to have been at thewest end, where I saw an oven fifteen feet in diameter. In the castlethere are remains of a fine lofty church of ten sides, built in a lightgothic taste: three chapels are built to the three eastern sides, each ofwhich consists of five sides, excepting the opening to the church; inthese it is probable the three chief altars stood.” [202]Château Pèlerin, also known as Atlit Castle and Castle Pilgrim, is located on thenorthern coast of Israel about 13 kilometers (8.1 mi) south of Haifa. TheKnights Templar began building it in 1218 during the Fifth Crusade. One of themajor Crusader fortresses, it could support up to 4,000 troops in siegeconditions. It was lost to the Maluku in August 1291, shortly after the Fall ofAcre. It remained intact for several hundred years, until being damaged in theGalilee earthquake of 1837. In modern times, the castle is part of a training209

zone for Israeli Naval commandos. According to historian Roni Ellenblum, thecastle was “the crowning example of Crusader military architecture”.Irby and Mangles, referring at a subsequent period to the ruins ofthe church, describe it as a double hexagon, and state that the halfthen standing had six sides. Below the cornice 18 are human headsand heads of animals in alto relievo 19 , and the walls are adornedwith a double line of arches in the gothic style, the architecture lightand elegant. To narrate all the exploits of the Templars, and all theincidents and events connected with the order, would be to writethe history of the Latin kingdom of Palestine, which was preservedand maintained for the period of ninety-nine years after thedeparture of Richard Cœur de Lion, solely by the exertions of theTemplars and the Hospitaliers. No action of importance was everfought with the infidels, in which the Templars did not take anactive and distinguished part, nor was the drum of the Moslemsever sounded in defiance on the frontier, without the trumpets ofthe Templars receiving and answering the challenge.PHILIP DUPLESSIES A.D. 1201.The Grand Master, Gilbert Horal, was succeeded by PhilipDuplessies 20 or De Plesseis [203]. We must now refer to a fewevents connected with the order of the Temple in England.Brother Geoffrey, who was Master of the Temple at London at theperiod of the consecration of the Temple Church by the Patriarch ofJerusalem, died shortly after the capture of the holy city by Saladin,and was succeeded by Brother Amaric de St. Maur, who was anattesting witness to the deed executed by King John, A.D. 1203,granting a dowry to his young queen, the beautiful Isabella ofAngouleme [138]. Philip Augustus, king of France, placed a vast210

sum of gold and silver in the Temple at Paris, and the treasure ofJohn, king of England, was deposited in the Temple at London [204][205]. King John, indeed, frequently resided, for weeks together, atthe Temple in London, and many of his injunctions and instructionsto his lieutenants, sheriffs, and bailiffs, are dated from there 21 . [206]PHILIP DUPLESSIES A.D. 1213.The orders for the concentration of the English fleet at Portsmouth,to resist the formidable French invasion instigated by the pope, aredated from the Temple, and the convention between the king andthe count of Holland, whereby the latter agreed to assist king Johnwith a body of knights and men-at-arms, in case of the landing of theFrench, was published at the same place [205].In all the conferences and negotiations between the mean-spiritedking and the imperious and overbearing Roman pontiff, the KnightsTemplars took an active and distinguished part. Two brethren ofthe order were sent by Pandulph, the papal legate, to king John, toarrange that famous conference between them which ended in thecomplete submission of the latter to all the demands of the holy see.By the advice and persuasion of the Templars, king John repaired tothe preceptory of Temple Ewell, near Dover, where he was met bythe legate Pandulph, who crossed over from France to confer withhim. Thus the mean-hearted king was frightened into thatcelebrated resignation of the kingdoms of England and Ireland, “toGod, to the holy apostles Peter and Paul, to the holy Roman church hismother, and to his lord, Pope Innocent the Third, and his catholicsuccessors, for the remission of all his sins and the sins of all hispeople, as well the living as the dead 22 .” [168] [205] [207] Thefollowing year the commands of King John for the destruction of theheretics in Gascony, addressed to the seneschal 23 of that province,were issued from the Temple at London [205], and about the sameperiod, the Templars were made the depositaries of various privateand confidential matters pending between King John and hisillustrious sister-in-law, “the royal, eloquent, and beauteous”211

Berengaria of Navarre, the youthful widowed queen of RichardCœur de Lion 24 . [208] [205]PHILIP DUPLESSIES A.D. 1215.The Templars in England managed the money transactions of thatfair princess. She directed her dowry to be paid in the house of theNew Temple at London, together with the arrears due to her fromthe king, amounting to several thousand pounds 25 . [209] [205]John was resident at the Temple when he was compelled by thebarons of England to sign MAGNA CHARTA. Matthew Paris tells usthat the barons came to him, while he was residing in the NewTemple at London, “in a very resolute manner, clothed in theirmilitary dresses, and demanded the liberties and laws of king Edward,with others for themselves, the kingdom, and the church of England”[207].King John was a considerable benefactor to the order. He granted tothe fraternity the Isle of Lundy, at the mouth of the river Severn; allhis land at Radenach and at Harewood, in the county of Hereford;and he conferred on the Templars numerous privileges [47].WILLIAM DE CHARTRES A.D. 1217.The Grand Master Philip Duplessies was succeeded by BrotherWilliam de Chartes 26 , as appears from the following letter to thePope:“To the very reverend father in Christ, the Lord Honorius, by theprovidence of God chief pontiff of the Holy Roman Church, William deChartres, humble Master of the poor chivalry of the Temple, profferethall due obedience and reverence, with the kiss of the foot.”212

“By these our letters we hasten to inform your paternity of the state ofthat Holy Land which the Lord hath consecrated with his own blood.Know that, at the period of the departure of these letters, an immensenumber of pilgrims, both knights and foot soldiers, marked with theemblem of the life-giving cross, arrived at Acre from Germany andother parts of Europe. Saphadin, the great sultan of Egypt, hathremained closely within the confines of his own dominions, not daringin any way to molest us. The arrival of the king of Hungary, and of thedukes of Austria and Moravia, together with the intelligence justreceived of the near approach of the fleet of the Friths, has not a littlealarmed him. Never do we recollect the power of the Pagans so low asat the present time; and may the omnipotent God, O holy father, makeit grow weaker and weaker day by day. But we must inform you thatin these parts corn and barley, and all the necessaries of life, havebecome extraordinarily dear. This year the harvest has utterlydisappointed the expectations of our husbandmen, and has almosttotally failed. The natives, indeed, now depend for support altogetherupon the corn imported from the West, but as yet very little foreigngrain has been received; and to increase our uneasiness, nearly all ourknights are dismounted, and we cannot procure horses to supply theplaces of those that have perished. It is therefore of the utmostimportance, O holy father, to advertise all who design to assume thecross of the above scarcity, that they may furnish themselves withplentiful supplies of grain and horses.”“Before the arrival of the king of Hungary and the duke of Austria, wehad come to the determination of marching against the city ofNaplous, and of bringing the Saracen chief Coradin to an engagementif he would have awaited our attack, but we have all now determinedto undertake an expedition into Egypt to destroy the city of Damietta,and we shall then march upon Jerusalem. …” [210]WILLIAM DE CHARTRES A.D. 1218.It was in the month of May, A.D. 1218, that the galleys of theTemplars set sail from Acre on the above-mentioned memorableexpedition into Egypt. They cast anchor in the mouth of the Nile,213

and, in conjunction with a powerful army of crusaders, laid siege toDamietta. A pestilence broke out shortly after their arrival, andhurried the Grand Master, William de Chartres, to his grave [17].He was succeeded by the veteran warrior, Brother Peter deMontaigu 27 , Grand Preceptor of Spain [93].Frisian 28 crusaders attack the tower of Damietta in a painting by CornelisClaesz van Wieringen.PETER DE MONTAIGU A.D. 1218.James of Vitry, bishop of Acre, who accompanied the Templars onthis expedition, gives an enthusiastic account of their famousexploits, and of the tremendous battles fought upon the Nile, in oneof which a large vessel of the Templars was sunk, and every soul onboard perished. He describes the great assault on their camptowards the middle of the year 1219, when the trenches wereforced, and all the infantry put to flight. “The insulting shouts of theconquering Saracens,” he says, “were heard on all sides, and a panicwas rapidly spreading through the disordered ranks of the wholearmy of the cross, when the Grand Master and brethren of the Temple214

made a desperate charge, and bravely routed the first ranks of theinfidels. The spirit of Gideon animated the Templars, and the rest ofthe army, stimulated by their example, bravely advanced to theirsupport. … Thus did the Lord on that day, through the valor of theTemplars, save those who trusted in Him.” [89] [169] Immediatelyafter the surrender of Damietta, the Grand Master of the Templereturned to Acre to repel the forces of the sultan of Damascus, whohad invaded the Holy Land, as appears from the following letter tothe bishop of Ely.PETER DE MONTAIGU A.D. 1222.“Brother Peter de Montaigu 29 , Master of the Knights of the Temple, tothe reverend brother in Christ, N., by the grace of God bishop of Ely,health. We proceed by these letters to inform your paternity how wehave managed the affairs of our Lord Jesus Christ since the capture ofDamietta and of the castle of Taphneos.” The Grand Masterdescribes various military operations, the great number of galleysfitted out by the Saracens to intercept the supplies and succor fromEurope, and the arming of the galleys, galliots, and other vessels ofthe order of the Temple to oppose them, and clear the seas of theinfidel flag. He states that the sultan of Damascus had invadedPalestine, had ravaged the country around Acre and Tyre, and hadventured to pitch his tents before the castle of the Pilgrims, and hadtaken possession of Cæsarea. “If we are disappointed,” he says, “ofthe succor we expect in the ensuing summer, all our newly-acquiredconquests, as well as the places that we have held for ages past, will beleft in a very doubtful condition. We ourselves, and others in theseparts, are so impoverished by the heavy expenses we have incurred inprosecuting the affairs of Jesus Christ, that we shall be unable tocontribute the necessary funds, unless we speedily receive succor andsubsidies from the faithful. Given at Acre, xii. kal. October, A.D. 1222.”[211]The troops of the sultan of Damascus were repulsed and drivenbeyond the frontier, and the Grand Master then returned toDamietta, to superintend the preparations for a march upon Cairo.215

The results of that disastrous campaign are detailed in the followingletter to Brother Alan Marcel, Preceptor of England, and Master ofthe Temple at London.“Brother Peter de Montaigu, humble Master of the soldiers of Christ,to our vicegerent and beloved brother in Christ, Alan Marcel,Preceptor of England.”“Hitherto we have had favorable information to communicate untoyou touching our exertions in the cause of Jesus Christ; now, alas! suchhave been the reverses and disasters which our sins have broughtupon us in the land of Egypt, that we have nothing but ill news toannounce. After the capture of Damietta, our army remained forsome time in a state of inaction, which brought upon us frequentcomplaints and reproaches from the eastern and the westernChristians. At length, after the feast of the holy apostles, the legate ofthe holy pontiff, and all our soldiers of the cross, put themselves inmarch by land and by the Nile, and arrived in good order at the spotwhere the sultan was encamped, at the head of an immense number ofthe enemies of the cross. The river Taphneos, an arm of the great Nile,flowed between the camp of the sultan and our forces, and beingunable to ford this river, we pitched our tents on its banks, andprepared bridges to enable us to force the passage. In the mean time,the annual inundation rapidly increased, and the sultan, passing hisgalleys and armed boats through an ancient canal, floated them intothe Nile below our positions, and cut off our communications withDamietta.” …“ Nothing now was to be done but to retrace our steps.The sultans of Aleppo and Damascus, the two brothers of the sultan,and many chieftains and kings of the pagans, with an immensemultitude of infidels who had come to their assistance, attempted tocut off our retreat. At night we commenced our march, but theinfidels cut through the embankments of the Nile, the water rushedalong several unknown passages and ancient canals, andencompassed us on all sides. We lost all our provisions, many of ourmen were swept into the stream, and the further progress of ourChristian warriors was forthwith arrested. The waters continued toincrease upon us, and in this terrible inundation we lost all our horses216

and saddles, our carriages, baggage, furniture, and moveables, andeverything that we had. We ourselves could neither advance norretreat, and knew not whither to turn. We could not attack theEgyptians on account of the great lake which extended itself betweenthem and us; we were without food, and being caught and pent up likefish in a net, there was nothing left for us but to treat with the sultan.”“We agreed to surrender Damietta, with all the prisoners which wehad in Tyre and at Acre, on condition that the sultan restored to usthe wood of the true cross and the prisoners that he detained at Cairoand Damascus. We, with some others, were deputed by the wholearmy to announce to the people of Damietta the terms that had beenimposed upon us. These were very displeasing to the bishop of Acre 30 ,to the chancellor, and some others, who wished to defend the town, ameasure which we should indeed have greatly approved of, had therebeen any reasonable chance of success; for we would rather have beenthrust into perpetual imprisonment than have surrendered, to theshame of Christendom, this conquest to the infidels. But after havingmade a strict investigation into the means of defense, and findingneither men nor money wherewith to protect the place, we wereobliged to submit to the conditions of the sultan, who, after havingexacted from us an oath and hostages, accorded to us a truce of eightyears. During the negotiations the sultan faithfully kept his word, andfor the space of fifteen days furnished our soldiers with the bread andcorn necessary for their subsistence.”“Do you, therefore, pitying our misfortunes, hasten to relieve them tothe utmost of your ability. Farewell. [207]”PETER DE MONTAIGU A.D. 1223.Brother Alan Marcell, to whom the above letter is addressed,succeeded Amaric de St. Maur, and was at the head of the order inEngland for the space of sixteen years. He was employed by kingHenry the Third in various important negotiations; and was Masterof the Temple at London, when Reginald, king of the island of Man 31 ,by the advice and persuasion of the legate Pandulph, solemnlysurrendered his island to the pope and his catholic successors, and217

consented to hold the same from thereafter as the feudatory of thechurch of Rome [205].At the commencement of the reign of Henry the Third, the Templarsin England appear to have been on bad terms with the king. Thelatter made heavy complaints against them to the pope, and the holypontiff issued (A.D. 1223) the bull “DE INSOLENTIATEMPLARIORUM REPRIMENDA,” in which he states that his verydear son in Christ, Henry, the illustrious king of the English, hadcomplained to him of the encroachments of the Templars on theroyal domains; that they had placed their crosses upon houses thatdid not belong to them, and prevented the customary dues andservices from being rendered to the crown; that they undutifully setat naught the customs of the king’s manors, and involved the bailiffsand royal officers in lawsuits before certain judges of their ownappointment. The pope directs two abbots to inquire into thesematters, preparatory to further proceedings against the guiltyparties [205]; but the Templars soon became reconciled to theirsovereign, and on the 28th of April of the year following, the Master,Brother Alan Marcell, was employed by king Henry to negotiate atruce between himself and the king of France.PETER DE MONTAIGU A.D. 1224.The king of England appears at that time to have been resident atthe Temple, the letters of credence being made out at that place, inthe presence of the archbishop of Canterbury, several bishops, andHubert, the chief justiciary 32 [205]. The year after, the same AlanMarcell was sent into Germany, to negotiate a treaty of marriagebetween king Henry and the daughter of the duke of Austria [205].At this period, Brother Hugh de Stocton and Richard Ranger, knightsof the convent of the New Temple at London, were the guardians ofthe royal treasure in the Tower, and the former was made thedepositary, of the money paid annually by the king to the count ofFlanders. He was also entrusted by Henry the Third with largesums of money, out of which he was commanded to pay tenthousand marks to the emperor of Constantinople [205].218

Among the many illustrious benefactors to the order of the Templeat this period was Philip the Second, king of France, whobequeathed the sum of one hundred thousand pounds to the GrandMaster of the Temple [212].HERMANN DE PERIGORD A.D. 1232.The Grand Master, Peter de Montaigu, was succeeded by BrotherHermann de Perigord 33 [212].HERMANN DE PERIGORD A.D. 1236.In 1236, on the border between Syria and Cilicia, 120 knights, alongwith some archers and Turcopoles, were ambushed near the townof Darbsâk (Terbezek). In the first phase of the battle, the Templarsreached the town but they met fierce resistance. Whenreinforcements from Aleppo arrived, the Templars were massacred.Fewer than twenty of them returned to their castle in Bagras, fifteenkm from the battle.HERMANN DE PERIGORD A.D. 1237.Shortly after his accession to power, William de Montserrat,Preceptor of Antioch, being “desirous of extending the Christianterritories, to the honor and glory of Jesus Christ,” besieged a fortressof the infidels in the neighborhood of Antioch. He refused to retreatbefore a superior force, and was surrounded and overwhelmed; ahundred knights of the Temple and three hundred cross-bowmenwere slain, together with many secular warriors, and a largenumber of foot soldiers. The Balcanifer, or standard-bearer, on thisoccasion, was an English Knight Templar, named Reginaldd’Argenton, who performed wonders of valor. He was disabled and219

covered with wounds, yet he unflinchingly bore the Beauseant, orwar-banner, aloft with his bleeding arms into the thickest of thefight, until he at last fell dead upon a heap of his slaughteredcomrades. The Preceptor of Antioch, before he was slain, “sentsixteen infidels to hell. 34 ” [207]As soon as the Templars in England heard of this disaster, they sent,in conjunction with the Hospitaliers, instant support to theirbrethren. “The Templars and the Hospitaliers,” says Matthew Paris,“eagerly prepared to avenge the blood of their brethren so gallantlypoured forth in the cause of Christ. The Hospitaliers appointedBrother Theodore, their prior, a most valiant soldier, to lead a band ofknights and of stipendiary troops, with an immense treasure, to thesuccor of the Holy Land. Having made their arrangements, they allstarted from the house of the Hospitaliers at Cleekenwell in London,and passed through the city with spears held aloft, shields displayed,and banners advanced. They marched in splendid pomp to the bridge,and sought a blessing from all who crowded to see them pass. Thebrothers indeed uncovered, bowed their beads from side to side, andrecommended themselves to the prayers of all. 35 ” [207]HERMANN DE PERIGORD A.D. 1239.While the Knights Templars were thus valiantly sustaining thecause of the cross against the infidels in the East, one of the holybrethren of the order, the king’s special counselor, named Geoffrey,was manifesting his zeal against infidels 36 at home in England, (A.D.1239,) by a fierce destruction and extermination of the Jews.According to Matthew Paris, he seized and incarcerated theunhappy Israelites, and extorted from them immense sums ofmoney 37 [207]. Shortly afterwards, Brother Geoffrey fell intodisgrace and was banished from court, and Brother Roger, anotherTemplar, the king’s almoner, shared the same fate, and wasforbidden to approach the royal presence 38 [207]. Some of thebrethren of the order were always about the court, and when theEnglish monarch crossed the seas, he generally wrote letters to the220

Master of the Temple at London, informing him of the state of theroyal health [205].It was at this period, (A.D. 1240,) that the oblong portion of theTemple church was completed and consecrated in the presence ofKing Henry the Third [207].In September 1239, Armand arrived at Acre. He made a treaty withSultan of Damascus, in parallel with the Hospitalier treaty with theSultan of Egypt, whereby the holy city was again surrendered to theChristians. The patriarch returned to the place with all his clergy,the churches were reconsecrated, and the Templars andHospitaliers emptied their treasuries in rebuilding the walls.HERMANN DE PERIGORD A.D. 1242.The following account of these gratifying events was transmitted bythe Grand Master of the Temple to Robert de Sanford, Preceptor ofEngland, and Master of the Temple at London.“Brother Hermann de Perigord, humble minister of the knights of thepoor Temple, to his beloved brother in Christ, Robert de Sanford,Preceptor in England, salvation in the Lord.”“Since it is our duty, whenever an opportunity offers, to make knownto the brotherhood, by letters or by messengers, the state andprospects of the Holy Land, we hasten to inform you, that after ourgreat successes against the sultan of Egypt, and Nassr his supporterand abettor, the great persecutor of the Christians, they werereluctantly compelled to negotiate a truce, promising us to restore tothe followers of Jesus Christ all the territory on this side Jordan. Wedispatched certain of our brethren, noble and discreet personages, toCairo, to have an interview with the Sultan upon these matters. …”The Grand Master proceeds to relate the progress of thenegotiations, and the surrender of the holy city and the greater partof Palestine to the soldiers of Christ… “whence, to the joy of angelsand of men,” he say, “Jerusalem is now inhabited by Christians alone,all the Saracens being driven out. The holy places have been221

econsecrated and purified by the prelates of the churches, and inthose spots where the name of the Lord has not been invoked for fiftysixyears, now, blessed be God, the divine mysteries are dailycelebrated. To all the sacred places there is again free access to thefaithful in Christ, nor is it to be doubted but that in this happy andprosperous condition we might long remain, if our Eastern Christianswould from henceforth live in greater concord and unanimity. But,alas! opposition and contradiction arising from envy and hatred haveimpeded our efforts in the promotion of these and other advantagesfor the land. With the exception of the prelates of the churches, and afew of the barons, who afford us all the assistance in their power, theentire burthen of its defense rests upon our house alone. …”"For the safeguard and preservation of the holy territory, we proposeto erect a fortified castle near Jerusalem, which will enable us themore easily to retain possession of the country, and to protect itagainst all enemies. But indeed we can in nowise defend for any greatlength of time the places that we hold, against the sultan of Egypt,who is a most powerful and talented man, unless Christ and hisfaithful followers extend to us an efficacious support." [207]Notes1 Richard I (8 September 1157 – 6 April 1199) was King of England from 6 July1189 until his death. He also ruled as Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Dukeof Gascony, Lord of Cyprus, Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Count of Nantes, andOverlord of Brittany at various times during the same period. He was known asCœur de Lion, or Richard the Lionheart, even before his accession, because of hisreputation as a great military leader and warrior. The Saracens called him Melek-Ric or Malek al-Inkitar - King of England.2 Robert de Sablé was the Grand Master of the Knights Templar from 1191 to 1193and Lord of Cyprus from 1191 to 1192. No exact record of his birth date exists, butit is believed he was relatively old at the time of his death. He was born to arespected military family in Anjou and was “a leading Angevin vassal of the King”.His lordship was based in a cluster of lands in the River Sarthe valley, which heinherited in the 1160s. He married Clemence de Mayenne (died before 1209), thedaughter of Geoffroy, Seigneur de Mayenne and Isabelle de Meulan. He was222

succeeded in Anjou by his daughter Marguerite de Sablé, who by marriage passedthe entire honor to William des Roches, also a knight of the Third Crusade. Robertdied in the Holy Land on 23 September 1193.3 “Le roi de France ot le chastel d’Acre, ot le fist garnir et le roi d’Angleterre seherberja en la maison du Temple.” (tr. French/Old French: “The king of France hadthe castle of Acre, had the fist garnish and the King of England is host to the houseof the Temple.”)4 Rendered literally, “guestbook”. The livre was the currency of France until 1795.Several different livres existed, some concurrently. The livre was the name of bothunits of account and coins. The livre was established by Charlemagne as a unit ofaccount equal to one pound of silver. It was subdivided into 20 sous (also sols),each of 12 deniers. The word livre came from the Latin word libra, a Roman unit ofweight. This system and the denier itself served as the model for many of Europe'scurrencies, including the British pound, Italian lira, Spanish dinero and thePortuguese dinheiro.5 “Primariam aciem deducebant Templarii et ultimam Hospitalarii, quorum utriquestrenue agentes magnarum virtutum prætendebant imaginem” (tr Latin: “Theprimary and the final battle brought the Templars Hospitalarii, both of whom workhard to pretend, giving the image of great virtues”).6 “Ibi rex præordinaverat quod die sequenti primam aciem ipse deduceret, et quodTemplarii extremæ agminis agerent custodiam.” (tr. Latin: “There the king on theday following the front foreordained that he bring into contempt, and that theywere doing in their rear the custody of the Templars.”)7 “Deducendæ extremæ legioni præfuerant Templarii, qui tot equos eâ die Turcisirruentibus, a tergo amiserunt, quod fere desperati sunt.” (tr. Latin: “Presided overthe last legion bringing it into the Templars, who so many Turks breaking horseson the day, at their back they have lost, which it usually past hope.”)8 “Singulis noctibus antequam dormituri cubarent, quidam ad hoc deputatus vocemagnâ clamaret fortiter in medio exercitu dicens, ADJUVA SEPULCHRUM SANCTUM;ad hanc vocem clamabant universi eadem verba repetentes, et manus suas cumlacrymis uberrimis tendentes in cælum, Dei misericordiam postulantes etadjutorium.” (tr. Latin: “Dormituri every night before bed, some to the voice of thisDeputy, cried out bravely in the midst of a great army, saying, help HOLY GRAVE, tothis voice cried out again by the same words of the universe, and his hands withtears uberrimis that tend towards heaven, and God's mercy, asking for help.”)9 “Bedewini horridi, fuligine obscuriores, pedites improbissimi, arcus gestantes cumpharetris, et ancilia rotunda, gens quidem acerrima et expedita.” (tr. Latin:“Bedewini rough, obscure soot, infantry and most wicked, when they carry the bowquivers, and shields the round, the nation, indeed, very diligent and easy.”)10 “Expedite descenderunt (Templarii) ex equis suis, et dorsa singuli dorsis sociorumhabentes hærentia, facie versâ in hostes, sese viriliter defendere cœperunt. Ibi videri223

fuit pugnam acerrimam, ictus validissimos, tinniunt galeæ a percutientium collisionegladiorum, igneæ exsiliunt scintillæ, crepitant arma tumultuantium, perstrepuntvoces; Turci se viriliter ingerunt, Templarii strenuissime defendunt.” (tr. Latin: “Wentdown with ease (the Templars) from their horses, and having the backs of each ofthe allies still clinging to his back, turned into the face of the enemy, they began todefend themselves manfully. There bitterest fight was to be seen, its very strongestblows, the rattling of swords striking from the tinniunt with helmets, fire sparksleap, arms rattle noise, noise from words; Turks themselves manfully They loadedthem, vigorously defend the Templars.”)11 The act of Cession, or to cede, is the assignment of property to another entity. Ininternational law it commonly refers to land transferred by treaty.12 King Richard was the first to enter the town. “Tunc rex per coc[h]leam quandam,quam forte prospexerat in domibus Templariorum solus primus intravit villain.” (tr.Latin: “Then the king by winding stairs to a kind of, perhaps, than prospexeratentered only the first town in the houses of the Templars.”)13 “Concessimus omne jus, omne dominium quod ad nos pertinet et pertineat,omnem potestatem, omnes libertates et liberas consuetudines quas regia potestasconferre potest.”(tr. Latin: “We have granted all right, everything that pertains to usand belongs dominion, all power, all the liberties and free customs which may notconfer the power of the royal.”)14 Gilbert Horal (died December 1200) was the 12th Grand Master of the KnightsTemplar. He was born an Aragonaise (from Aragon in Spain), and entered theTemplars at a young age. He stayed in the provinces of Provence and Aragon,where he took part in the battles of Reconquista, and became Grand Master of theprovince until 1190. In 1193, after the death of Robert de Sablé, he became GrandMaster of the Order, and in 1194, Pope Céléstin III gave the Templars moreprivileges. Horal was known for wanting peace between the Christians and theMoslems, though some disagreed and thought that this showed treason andcollusion with the enemy. During his leadership the quarrel between the Templarsand Hospitaliers increased. The arbitration of Pope Innocent III was in favor of theHospitaliers because the Pope could not forgive the Templars for making theagreements that they had with Malek-Adel, brother of Saladin. Another of GilbertHoral's accomplishments was that he took the time to organize and consolidate thepossessions of the Templars in France and Apulia.15 “Castrum nostrum quod Peregrinorum dicitur” (tr. Latin: “It is said that ourPilgrim's Castle”).16 “Opus egregium,” says James of Vitry, “ubi tot et tantas effuderunt divitias, quodmirum est unde eas accipiunt.” (tr. Latin: “An excellent work,” says James of Vitry,“where they have shed so many and so great riches, what is wonderful is, fromwhich they receive them.”)224

17 Levantines or Franco-Levantines (French: Levantines, Italian: Levantini, Greek:Φραγκολεβαντίνοι, Turkish: Levantenler or Tatlısu Frenkleri) are Latin Christianswho lived under the Ottoman Empire. The term is also applied to theirdescendants living in modern Turkey and the Middle East.18 Cornice molding is generally any horizontal decorative molding that crowns anybuilding or furniture element: the cornice over a door or window, for instance, orthe cornice around the edge of a pedestal. A simple cornice may be formed justwith a crown molding.19 There are different degrees of relief depending on the degree of projection of thesculpted form from the field, for which the Italian appellations are still sometimesused. The full range includes high relief (alto-rilievo), where more than 50% of thedepth is shown and there may be undercut areas, mid-relief (mezzo-rilievo), lowrelief(basso-rilievo, or French: bas-relief), and shallow-relief or rilievo schiacciato,where the plane is scarcely more than scratched in order to remove backgroundmaterial. There is also sunk relief, which was mainly restricted to Ancient Egypt.20 Phillipe de Plessis (1165–1209) was the 13th Grand Master of the KnightsTemplar. He was born in the fortress of Plessis-Macé, Anjou, France. In 1189 hejoined the Third Crusade as a simple knight, and discovered the Order of theTemple in Palestine. After the death of Gilbert Horal he became Grand Master. Hehelped uphold the treaty between Saladin and Richard I. In the renewal of thistreaty in 1208 he suggested that the Teutonic Order and Hospitallers should makea new peace treaty offer with Malek-Adel. The accord was criticised by PopeInnocent III. There were few military actions during his rule; the Fourth Crusadenever arrived in the Holy Land. The German King was in opposition to the Knightsregarding the Gastein stronghold. The Templars were initially expelled fromGermany, but the pope intervened in the dispute. Relations with the Hospitalierswere tense. During his rule the Order of the Temple reached its greatest height inEurope. His name is last documented in 1209. The Obituary of Reims gives thedate of his death as 12 November 1209.21 Sir Thomas Hardy edited the Patent Rolls, Rotuli litterarum patentium, 1201-1316 (1835), with introduction, “A Description of the Patent Rolls, to which isadded an Itinerary of King John.” He also edited the Rotuli de oblatis etsinibus(1835), which deal also with the time of King John; the Rotuli Normanniae, 1200–1205, and 1417-1418 (1835), containing letters and grants of the English kingsconcerning the duchy of Normandy; the Charter Rolls, Rotuli chartarum, 1295-1216 (1837), giving with this work an account of the structure of charters; theLiberate Rolls, Rotuli de liberate ac de misis et praestitis regnante Johanne (1844);and the Modus tenendi parliamentum, with a translation (1846)22 King John resided at Temple Ewell from the 7th to the 28th of May.23 A seneschal was an officer in the houses of important nobles in the Middle Ages.225

24 Original letter from John, King of England to his sister, Berengaria of Navarre,queen of England: “Rex sorori suae illustri Reginae B. salutem. Suscepimus nunciosvestros, praesentium latores, per quos voluntatem nostram vobis significamus superhiis quae nobis significastis; a quibus etiam securitatem cepimus quod ea, quaeprolocuta sunt inter nos et ipsos, nulli revelabuntur nisi vobis; accepta etiamsecuritate a vobis, quod nulli alii per nos revelabuntur, si ea non acceptaveritis.Formam autem rei prolocutae inter nos et ipsos, scriptam, et sigillo nostro sigillatam,per manus eorundem nunciorum et vestram, in custodiam Templar' commisimusapud Havering j die Novembris.” (tr. Latin: “The king to his illustrious sister queenB[erengaria], greetings. We have received your messengers, the bearers of thepresents, through whom we indicate our will to you on those things which youindicated to us. We have also received assurance from them that those things whichwere spoken between us will be revealed to no one but you. And they havereceived assurance from us that they will not be revealed by us to any one if you donot accept them. We have however committed the written terms discussedbetween us and them, sealed with our seal and yours, through the hands of thosemessengers, to the care of the Temple at Havering, on the first of November.”)25 Letter from Berengaria of Navarre, queen of England (first paragraph):“Berengaria, Dei gratia, quondam humilis Angliae Regina, omnibus, etc., salutem.Sciatis ita convenisse inter dominum Angliae Johannem illustrem, et nos de dotenostra quam petebamus, et de quadam compositione quae quondam inter ipsum etnos facta fuerat super eadem dote, de qua mille marc' de ipso recipere debebamusannuatim, videlicet, quod ipse, ad praesens, dat nobis duo mill' mar' pro omnibusarreragiis, et pro solutione anni praesentis, et de caetero dabit nobis annuatim millelibr' bonorum et legalium sterlingorum, scilicet, quingentas libr' in festo OmniumSanctorum: et quingentas libr' in festo Ascensionis. Hanc pecuniam solvet in domoNovi Templi apud London.” (tr. Latin: “Know ye that the Lord so assembled betweenthe illustrious John of England, and us out of our dowry demanded, and to a kind ofcomposition which once had been made between him and us on the same dowry, ofwhich a thousand Marc 'of him were to receive annually, to wit, which he, to thepresent, gives us two thousand 'martyrs' for all arrears, and for the solution of thepresent year, and annually for the future will give us a thousand pounds' sterling ofgood and lawful, to wit, the book of five hundred "on the feast of all Saints, and thebook of five hundred" on the feast of the Ascension . Will pay this money in thehouse of the New Temple in London.”)26 Guillaume de Chartres (Guillielmus de Carnoto, Willemus de Carnoto) was agrand master of the Knights Templar 1210 – 26 August 1218. In 1210, he assistedat the coronation of Jean de Brienne as King of Jerusalem. In 1211, he arbitratedbetween Leo I of Armenia and the Templars, regarding the castle of Bagras. Duringhis rule, the order flourished in Spain, achieving important victories against theMoors. Guillaume died of pestilence, (possibly endemic typhus), secondary tobeing wounded during the siege of Damietta, in Seborga in the Holy Land.226

27 Pedro de Montaigu was Grand Master of the Knights Templar from 1218 to 1232.He took part in the Fifth Crusade and was against the Sultan of Egypt's conditionsfor raising the siege of Damietta. He was Master of the Crown of Aragon from 1211,until his death.28 The Frisians are a Germanic ethnic group native to the coastal parts of theNetherlands and Germany.29 Peter de Montaigu was responsible for the renewed ties between his order andthe Hospitallers. This was probably due to the close ties that Peter had with theirmaster, Guérin de Montaigu, which is said to be brothers. At that time Peter hisOrder in the Fifth Crusade to Egypt. Peter died in 1232 and was succeeded byArmand de Périgord.30 Our historian, James of Vitry, subsequently became one of the hostages. HistoriaOrientalis (1240), apud Martene, tom. v. col. 698]31 The Isle of Man, otherwise known simply as Mann, is a self-governing CrownDependency of the United Kingdom, located in the Irish Sea between the islands ofGreat Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles.32 “Mittimus ad vos dilect, nobis in Christo, fratrem Alanum Marcell Magistrummilitiae Templi in Angliâ, &c. ... Teste meipso apud Novum Templum London coramDomino Cantuar—archiepiscopo, Huberto de Burgo justitiario et J. Bath.” (tr. Latin:“will send to you beloved, to us in Christ, the brother of the captain of the Temple inEngland Alan Marcellus, etc. ... Witness the new temple in London myself before theLord Canterbury - Archbishop, Hubert de Burgh and J. justitiario Bath.”)33 Armand de Périgord (or Hermann de Pierre-Grosse) (1178–1247?) was adescendant of the Counts of Périgord and a Grand Master of the Knights Templar.He was master of the Province of Apulia and Sicily from 1205 to 1232. In 1232, hewas elected Grand Master of the Templars. He organized attacks on Cana, Safita,and Sephoria, and against the Muslim positions around the Sea of Galilee. All ofthese expeditions were failures and diminished the Templars' effectiveness.34 “Cecidit autem in illo infausto certamine illustris miles Templarii, Anglicus natione,Reginaldus de Argentomio, eâ die Balcanifer; ... indefessus vero vexillum sustinebat,donec tibiæ cum cruribus et manibus frangerentur. Solus quoque eorum Preceptorpriusquam trucidaretur, sexdecim hostium ad inferos destinavit.” (tr. Latin: “Fell tothe contest as unlucky in that illustrious soldier of the Templars, English by nation,of Reginald Argentomio, EA Balcanifer day; ... standard, however, endured atireless, until the legs with broken legs and hands. And their command alone beforehe massacred, sixteen of the enemy determined to hell.”)35 “A Clerkenwelle domo sua, quæ est Londoniis, per medium civitatis, clypeis circitertriginta detectis, hastis elevatis, et prævio vexillo, versus pontem, ut ab omnibusvidentibus, benedictionem obtinerent, perrexerunt eleganter. Fratres verò inclinatiscapitibus, hinc et inde caputiis depositis, se omnium precibus commendaverunt.” (tr.Latin: “A Clerkenwelle his own house, which is London, through the midst of the227

city, about thirty shields had been detected and lifted up his spears, and the priorstandard, towards the bridge, so that all who saw it held the blessing, wentelegantly. Indeed let the friars, inclined heads, here and there, set aside a hood,commended herself to prayers.”)36 Infidel is an ecclesiastical term in Christianity around which the Churchdeveloped a body of theology that deals with the concept of infidelity; which makesa clear differentiation between those who were baptized and followed theteachings of the Church vs. those who are outside the faith. The term infidel wasused by Christians to describe non-Christians or those perceived as the enemies ofChristianity.37 “Et eodem anno (1239) ... passi sunt Judæi exterminium magnum et destructionem,eosdem arctante et incarcerante, et pecuniam ab eisdem extorquente GalfridoTemplario, Regis speciali consiliario.” (tr. Latin: “And in the same year (1239) ... theysuffered great destruction and the destruction of the Jews, and the same arctanteincarcerante, and the money from the same Geoffrey extorquente the Templars, theking's special counselor.”)38 “In ipsâ irâ deponere fratrem Rogerum Templarii ab officio eleemosynarae, et acuriâ jussit elongari.” (tr. Latin: “In the Meditation itself to lay down the wrath of hisbrother Roger Charities from the office of the Templars, and the court orderedthem to be farther removed.”)228

CHAPTER 8. 1242 – 1291“The Knights of the Temple ever maintained their fearless and fanaticcharacter; if they neglected to live they were prepared to die in theservice of Christ.”—Gibbon.HERMANN DE PERIGORD A.D. 1242.Shortly after the recovery of the holy city, Djemal’eddeen, theMoslem paid a visit to Jerusalem . “I saw,” says he, “the monks andthe priests masters of the Temple of the Lord. I saw the vials of wineprepared for the sacrifice. I entered into the Mosque al Acsa, (theTemple of Solomon,) and I saw a bell suspended from the dome. Therites and ceremonies of the Moslems were abolished; the call to prayerwas no longer heard. The infidels publicly exercised their idolatrouspractices in the sanctuaries of the Moslems.” [180]HERMANN DE PERIGORD A.D. 1243.By the advice of Benedict, bishop of Marseilles, who came to theholy city on a pilgrimage, the Templars rebuilt their ancient andformidable castle of Saphet (Safed). Eight hundred and fiftyworkmen, and four hundred slaves were employed in the task. Thewalls were sixty French feet in width, one hundred and seventy inheight, and the circuit of them was two thousand two hundred andfifty feet. They were flanked by seven large round towers,. sixty feetin diameter, and seventy-two feet higher than the walls. The trenchsurrounding the fortress was thirty-six feet wide, and was carved inthe solid rock to a depth of forty-three feet. The garrison, in time ofpeace, amounted to one thousand seven hundred men, and to twothousand two hundred in time of war [213].229

ISRAEL: Lake Tiberias, from Saphet Castle-Bartlett,1847. Antique steelengraving Date of printing: 1847. Artist, cartographer or engraver: Artist: WHBartlett, Engraved by C CousenThe fortress of Safed and Saphet was a Templar fortress in the Holy Land. Itwas located east of the city of Acre (now Israel), and north of Lake Tiberias, ona prominent overlooking the ancient city. It is badly damaged by earthquakes.The ruins of this famous castle crowning the summit of a loftymountain, torn and shattered by earthquakes, still present astupendous appearance. In Pococke’s time “two particularly fine230

large round towers” were entire, and Van Egmont and Heymandescribe the remains of two moats lined with freestone, severalfragments of walls, bulwarks, and turrets, together with corridors,winding staircases, and internal apartments. Before this fortresswas completed, the Templars again lost the holy city, and werenearly exterminated in a bloody battle fought with theKhwarezmian 1 . [212] These were a fierce, pastoral tribe of Tartars,who, descending from the north of Asia, and abandoning theirabodes in the neighbourhood of the Caspian, rushed headlong uponthe nations of the south. They overthrew with frightful speed, andthe most terrific slaughter, all who had endeavored to oppose theirprogress; and, at the instigation of Saleh Ayoub, sultan of Egypt,with whom they had formed an alliance, they turned theirarmaments against the Holy Land. In October 1244, the Templars,Hospitaliers and Teutonic Knights, together with the Sultan ofDamas, confronted with Sultan of Egypt and his Carizmians allies atthe Battle of La Forbie. In this great battle fought near Gaza, whichlasted two days, the Grand Masters of the Temple 2 and the Hospitalwere both slain, together with three hundred and twelve KnightsTemplars, and three hundred and twenty-four serving brethren,besides hired soldiers in the pay of the Order [212]. The followingaccount of these disasters was forwarded to Europe by the Vice-Master of the Temple, and the bishops and abbots of Palestine 3 .“To the reverend Fathers in Christ, and to all our friends, archbishops,bishops, abbots, and other prelates of the church in the kingdoms ofFrance and England, to whom these letters shall come;--Robert, by thegrace of God, patriarch of the holy church of Jerusalem; Henry,archbishop of Nazareth; J. elect of Cæsarea; R. bishop of Acre; Williamde Rochefort, Vice-Master of the house of the soldiery of the TEMPLE,and of the convent of the same house; H. prior of the sepulcher of theLord; B. of the Mount of Olives, etc. Health and prosperity.”“The cruel barbarian, issuing forth from the confines of the East, hasturned his footsteps towards the kingdom of Jerusalem, that holy land,which, though it has at different periods been grievously harassed bythe Saracen tribes, has yet in these latter days enjoyed ease and231

tranquility, and been at peace with the neighboring nations. But, alas!the sins of our Christian people have just now raised up for itsdestruction an unknown people, and an avenging sword from afar ...”They proceed to describe the destructive progress of the Carizmiansfrom Tartary, the devastation of Persia, the fierce extermination bythose savage hordes of all races and nations, without distinction ofreligion, and their sudden entry into the Holy Land by the side ofSaphet and Tiberias, “when,” say they, “by the common advice, and atthe unanimous desire of the Masters of the religious houses of thechivalry of the Temple and the Hospital, we called in the assistance ofthe sultans of Damascus and Carac, who were bound to us by treaty,and who bore especial hatred to the Carizmians; they promised andsolemnly swore to give us their entire aid, but the succor came slowand tardy; the Christian forces were few in number, and were obligedto abandon the defense of Jerusalem. …”HERMANN DE PERIGORD A.D. 1244.After detailing the barbarous and horrible slaughter of fivethousand three hundred Christians, of both sexes—men, women,children, monks, priests, and nuns—they thus continue their simpleand affecting narrative:“At length, the before-mentioned perfidious savages havingpenetrated within the gates of the holy city of Israel, the smallremnant of the faithful left therein, consisting of children, women, andold men, took refuge in the church of the sepulcher of our Lord. TheCarizmians rushed to that holy sanctuary; they butchered them allbefore the very sepulcher itself, and cutting off the heads of the priestswho were kneeling with uplifted hands before the altars, they said oneto another, ‘Let us here shed the blood of the Christians on the veryplace where they offer up wine to their God, who they say was hangedhere.’ Moreover, in sorrow be it spoken, and with sighs we inform you,that laying their sacrilegious hands on the very sepulcher itself, theysadly disturbed it, utterly battering to pieces the marble shrine whichwas built around that holy sanctuary. They have defiled, with everyabomination of which they were capable, Mount Calvary, where Christ232

was crucified, and the whole church of the resurrection. They havetaken away, indeed, the sculptured columns which were placed as adecoration before the sepulcher of the Lord, and as a mark of victory,and as a taunt to the Christians, they have sent them to the sepulcherof the wicked Mohammed. They have violated the tombs of the happykings of Jerusalem in the same church, and they have scattered, to thehurt of Christendom, the ashes of those holy men to the winds,irreverently profaning the revered Mount Zion. The Temple of theLord, the church of the Valley of Jehoshaphat, where the Virgin liesburied, the church of Bethlehem, and the place of the nativity of ourLord, they have polluted with enormities too horrible to be related, farexceeding the iniquity of all the Saracens, who, though they frequentlyoccupied the land of the Christians, yet always reverenced andpreserved the holy places. …”They then describe the subsequent military operations, the marchof the Templars and Hospitaliers, on the 4th of October, A.D. 1244,from Acre to Cæsarea; the junction of their forces with those of theMoslem sultans; the retreat of the Carizmians to Gaza, where theyreceived aid from the sultan of Egypt; and the preparation of theHospitaliers and Templars for the attack facing that place.“Those holy warriors,” they, say “boldly rushed in upon the enemy, butthe Saracens who had joined us, having lost many of their men, fled,and the warriors of the cross were left alone to withstand the unitedattack of the Egyptians and Carizmians. Like stout champions of theLord, and true defenders of catholicity, whom the same faith and thesame cross and passion make true brothers, they bravely resisted; butas they were few in number in comparison with the enemy, they atlast succumbed, so that of the convents of the house of the chivalry ofthe Temple, and of the house of the Hospital of Saint John atJerusalem, only thirty-three Templars and twenty-six Hospitaliersescaped; however, the archbishop of Tyre, the bishop of Saint George,the abbot of Saint Mary of Jehoshaphat, and the Master of the Temple,with many other clerks and holy men,[for the most part still in doubtwhether the war should die, or whether there are detained incaptivity, nor of them still have been able to know the truth Master,233

however, from the Hospital and the earl of Brent Galterus with manyothers are led away captives taken in Babylon. We ourselves, havingby our sins provoked this dire calamity, as unworthy of martyrdomappointed by the Lord, fled half dead to Ascalon with noble men,constable Acconensi, Phillippo de Montfort, and infantry soldiers, whoescaped from the battle, desiring to receive again…. Finally, wereturned to the city of Acre, and found that city and the adjoiningprovince filled with sorrow and mourning, misery and death. Therewas not a house or a family that had not lost an inmate or a relation.…”“The Carizmians, who in the greatest audacity advancing towardAcre, have now pitched their tents in the plain about two miles fromthe city. And to the parts of the whole land from Saphet to Nazareth,they run to and fro freely without any resistance… so that thechurches of Jerusalem and the Christian kingdom have now noterritory, except a few fortifications, which are defended with greatdifficulty. It is also said that the Carizmians together with themultitude of existing Gaza Babylonians with an infinite number ofparts, they will come to the Acre and besiege the city. Messengers alsoreceived a letter, on the twenty-second day of the month of November,from the Hospitalier Gerinum de Castellano and his brethren, who arein the castle Ascalon saying that the army of the Saracens held him,and besieged the castle and are laying siege now, implored his helpand assistance from us, and Christianity hastily.”It is also said that the Carizmians together with the multitude ofexisting Gaza Babylonians with an infinite number of parts, they willcome to the Acre and besiege the city..“To you, dearest Fathers, upon whom the burthen of the defense of thecause of Christ justly rests, we have caused these sad tidings to becommunicated, earnestly beseeching you to address your prayers tothe throne of grace, imploring mercy from the Most High; that he whoconsecrated the Holy Land with his own blood in redemption of allmankind, may compassionately turn towards it and defend it, andsend it succor. Do you yourselves, dearest Fathers, as far as you are234

able, take sage counsel and speedily assist us, that you may receive aheavenly reward. But know, assuredly, that unless, through theinterposition of the Most High, or by the aid of the faithful, the HolyLand is succored in the next spring passage from Europe, its doom issealed, and utter ruin is inevitable.”“Since it would be tedious to explain by letter all our necessities, wehave sent to you the venerable father bishop of Beirout, and the holyman Arnulph, of the Order of Friars Preachers, who will faithfully andtruly unfold the particulars to your venerable fraternity. We humblyentreat you liberally to receive and patiently to hear the aforesaidmessengers, who have exposed themselves to great dangers for thechurch of God, by navigating the seas in the depth of winter. Given atAcre, this fifth day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousandtwelve hundred and forty-four. 4 ” [207]The above letter was read before a general council of the church,which had been assembled at Lyons by Pope Innocent IV., and it wasresolved that a new crusade should be preached. It was providedthat those who assumed the cross should assemble at particularplaces to receive the Pope’s blessing; that there should be a truce forfour years between all Christian princes; that during all that timethere should be no tournaments, feasts, nor public rejoicings; thatall the faithful in Christ should be exhorted to contribute, out oftheir fortunes and estates, to the defense of the .Holy Land; and thatecclesiastics should pay towards it the tenth, and cardinals thetwentieth, of all their revenues, for the term of three yearssuccessively. The ancient enthusiasm, however, in favor of distantexpeditions to the East had died away; the addresses andexhortations of the clergy now fell on unwilling ears, and theTemplars and Hospitaliers received only some small assistance inmen and money.The temporary alliance between the Templars and the Moslemsultans of Syria, for the purpose of insuring their common safety,did not escape criticism. The emperor Frederick the Second, thenominal king of Jerusalem, in a letter to Richard earl of Cornwall,235

the brother of Henry the Third, king of England, accuses theTemplars of making war upon the sultan of Egypt, in defiance of atreaty entered into with that monarch, of compelling him to call inthe Carizmians to his assistance; and he compares the union of theTemplars with the infidel sultans, for purposes of defense, to anattempt to extinguish a fire by pouring a quantity of oil upon it.“The proud religion of the Temple,” says Frederick, in continuation,“nurtured amid the luxuries of the barons of the land, waxes wanton.It has been made manifest to us, by certain religious persons latelyarrived from parts beyond sea, that the aforesaid sultans and theirtrains were received with pompous alacrity within the gates of thehouses of the Temple, and that the Templars suffered them to performwithin them their superstitious rites and ceremonies, with invocationof Mohammed, and to indulge in secular delights.” [207] TheTemplars, notwithstanding their disasters, successfully defended alltheir strong fortresses in Palestine against the efforts of theCarizmians, and gradually recovered their footing in the Holy Land.The galleys of the Order kept the command of the sea, and succorspeedily arrived to them from their western brethren. A generalchapter of knights was assembled in the Pilgrim’s Castle, and theveteran warrior, brother William de Sonnac, was chosen GrandMaster of the Order 5 . [214]WILLIAM DE SONNAC A.D. 1245.Circular mandates were, at the same time, sent to the westernpreceptories 6 , summoning all the brethren to Palestine, anddirecting the immediate transmission of all the money in thedifferent treasuries to the head-quarters of the Order at Acre. Thesecalls appear to have been promptly attended to, and the Popepraises both the Templars and Hospitaliers for the zeal and energy236

displayed by them in sending out the newly-admitted knights andnovices with armed bands and a large amount of treasure to therelief of the holy territory 7 . [215] The aged knights, and thosewhose duties rendered them unable to leave the westernpreceptories, beseeched the blessings of heaven upon the exertionsof their brethren; they observed astonishing fasts and humiliation,and directed continual prayers to be offered up throughout theOrder [207]. While the proposed crusade was slowly progressing,the holy pontiff wrote to the sultan of Egypt, as-Salih Ayyub 8 , theally of the Carizmians, proposing a peace or a truce, and receivedthe following grand and magnificent reply to his communication:WILLIAM DE SONNAC A.D. 1246.“To the Pope, the noble, the great, the spiritual, the affectionate, theholy, the thirteenth of the apostles, the leader of the sons of baptism,the high priest of the Christians, (may God strengthen him, andestablish him, and give him happiness!) from the most powerful sultanruling over the necks of nations; wielding the two great weapons, thesword and the pen; possessing two pre-eminent excellencies—that isto say, learning and judgment; king of two seas; ruler of the South andNorth; king of the region of Egypt and Syria, Mesopotamia, Media,Idumea, and Ophir; King Saloph Beelpbeth, Jacob, son of Sultan Camel,Hemevafar Mehameth, son of Sultan Hadel, Robethre, son of Jacob,whose kingdom may the Lord God make happy.”“IN THE NAME OF GOD THE MOST MERCIFUL ANDCOMPASSIONATE.”“The letters of the Pope, the noble, the great, etc. … have beenpresented to us. May God favor him who earnestly seeks afterrighteousness and does good, and wishes peace and walks in the waysof the Lord. May God assist him who worships him in truth. We haveconsidered the aforesaid letters, and have understood the matterstreated of therein, which have pleased and delighted us; and themessenger sent by the holy Pope came to us, and we caused him to bebrought before us with honor, and love, and reverence; and webrought him to see us face to face, and inclining our ears towards him,237

we listened to his speech, and we have put faith in the words he hasspoken unto us concerning Christ, upon whom be salvation and praise.But we know more concerning that same Christ than you know, andwe magnify him more than you magnify him. And as to what you sayconcerning your desire for peace, tranquility, and quiet, and that youwish to put down war, so also do we; we desire and wish nothing tothe contrary. But let the Pope know, that between ourselves and theEmperor (Frederick) there has been mutual love, and alliance, andperfect concord, from the time of the sultan, my father, (whom mayGod preserve and place in the glory of his brightness;) and betweenyou and the Emperor there is, as you know, strife and warfare;whence it is not fit that we should enter into any treaty with theChristians until we have previously had his advice and assent. Wehave therefore written to our envoy at the imperial court upon thepropositions made to us by the Pope’s messenger, etc. …”“This letter was written on the seventh of the month Maharan. Praisebe to the one only God, and may his blessing rest upon our masterMohammed. 9 ” [207]WILLIAM DE SONNAC A.D. 1247.The year following, (A.D. 1247,) the Carizmians were annihilated;they were defeated in detail by the Templars and Hospitaliers, andwere at last slain to a man. Their very name perished from the faceof the earth, but the traces of their existence were long preserved inthe ruin and desolation they had spread around them [207]. TheHoly Land, although happily freed from the destructive presence ofthese barbarians, had yet everything to fear from the powerfulsultan of Egypt, with whom hostilities still continued. BrotherWilliam de Sonnac, the Grand Master of the Temple, purposed tostimulate the lethargic energies of the English nation, and revivingtheir holy zeal and enthusiasm in the cause of the Cross. Hedispatched a distinguished Knight Templar to England, chargedwith the duty of presenting to king Henry the Third a magnificentcrystal vase, containing a portion of the blood of our Lord Jesus238

Christ, which had been spilled upon the sacred soil of Palestine forthe remission of the sins of all the faithful.WILLIAM DE SONNAC A.D. 1249.A solemn testimony of the authenticity of this precious relic, signedby the patriarch of Jerusalem, and the bishops, the abbots, and thebarons of the Holy Land, was forwarded to London for thesatisfaction of the king and his subjects, and was deposited, togetherwith the vase and its immeasurable contents, in the cathedralchurch of Saint Paul [207].In the month of June, A.D. 1249, the galleys of the Templars left Acrewith a strong body of forces on board, and joined the expeditionundertaken by the French king, Louis IX., against Egypt. Thefollowing account of the capture of Damietta 10 was forwarded to theMaster of the Temple at London.Damietta was also the object of the Seventh Crusade, led by Louis IX of France.His fleet arrived there in 1249 and quickly captured the fort, though herefused to hand it over to the nominal king of Jerusalem, to whom it had beenpromised during the Fifth Crusade. However, Louis too was eventuallycaptured and defeated and was forced to give up the city. Because of itsimportance to the Crusaders, the Maluku Sultan Baibars destroyed the cityand rebuilt it with stronger fortifications a few kilometers from the river.“Brother William de Sonnac, by the grace of God Master of the poorchivalry of the Temple, to his beloved brother in Christ, Robert deSanford, Preceptor of England, salvation in the Lord.”239

“We hasten to unfold to you by these presents agreeable and happyintelligence … (He details the landing of the French, the defeat of theinfidels with the loss of one Christian soldier, and the subsequentcapture of the city.) Damietta, therefore, has been taken, not by ourdeserts, nor by the might of our armed bands, but through the divinepower and assistance. Moreover, be it known to you that king Louis,with God’s favor, proposes to march upon Alexandria or Cairo for thepurpose of delivering our brethren there detained in captivity, and ofreducing, with God’s help, the whole land to the Christian worship.Farewell.” [207]The Lord de Joinville, the friend of King Louis, and one of thebravest of the French captains, gives a lively and most interestingaccount of the campaign, and of the famous exploits of theTemplars. During the march towards Cairo, they led the vanguardof the Christian army, and on one occasion, when the King of Francehad given strict orders that no attack should be made upon theinfidels, and that an engagement should be avoided, a body ofTurkish cavalry advanced against them. “One of these Turks,” saysJoinville, “gave a Knight Templar in the first rank so heavy a blowwith his battle-axe, that it felled him under the feet of the LordReginald de Vichier’s horse, who was Marshall of the Temple; theMarshall, seeing his man fall, cried out to his brethren, ‘At them in thename of God, for I cannot longer stand this.’ He instantly stuck spursinto his horse, followed by all his brethren, and as their horses werefresh, not a Saracen escaped.” On another occasion, the Templarsmarched forth at the head of the Christian army, to make trial of aford across the Tanitic branch of the Nile. “Before we set out,” saysJoinville, “the king had ordered that the Templars should form thevan, and the Count d’Artois, his brother, should command the seconddivision after the Templars; but the moment the Compte d’Artois hadpassed the ford, he and all his people fell on the Saracens, and puttingthem to flight, galloped after them. The Templars sent to call theCompte d’Artois back, and to tell him that it was his duty to marchbehind and not before them; but it happened that the Count d’Artoiscould not make any answer by reason of my Lord Foucquault du240

Melle, who held the bridle of his horse, and my Lord Foucquault, whowas a right good knight, being deaf, heard nothing the Templars weresaying to the Count d’Artois, but kept bawling out, ‘Forward!forward!’ (“Or a eulz! or a eulz!”) When the Templars perceived this,they thought they should be dishonored if they allowed the Countd’Artois thus to take the lead; so they spurred their horses more andmore, and faster and faster, and chased the Turks, who fled beforethem, through the town of Massoura, as far as the plains towardsBabylon; but on their return, the Turks shot at them plenty of arrows,and attacked them in the narrow streets of the town. The Countd’Artois and the Earl of Leicester were there slain, and as many asthree hundred other knights. The Templars lost, as their chiefinformed me, full fourteen score men-at-arms, and all his horsemen. 11 ”[216]WILLIAM DE SONNAC A.D. 1250.The Grand Master of the Temple also lost an eye, and cut his waythrough the infidels to the main body of the Christian army,accompanied only by two Knights Templars 12 . [207] [217] [218]There he again mixed in the fight, took the command of a vanguard,and was found fighting by the side of the Lord de Joinville at sunset.In his account of the great battle fought on the first Friday in Lent,Joinville thus commemorates the gallant bearing of the Templars:--“The next battalion was under the command of Brother William deSonnac 13 , Master of the Temple, who had with him the small remnantof the brethren of the order who survived the battle of ShroveTuesday 14 . In his front, the Master of the Temple made a sort oframpart from the engines which had been taken from the Saracens,but when the Saracens marched up to the assault, they threw Greekfire 15 upon it, and as the Templars had piled up many planks of firwoodamongst these engines, they caught fire immediately; and theSaracens, perceiving that the brethren of the Temple were few innumber, dashed through the burning timbers, and vigorouslyattacked them. In the preceding battle of Shrove Tuesday, BrotherWilliam, the Master of the Temple, lost one of his eyes, and in this241

attle the said lord lost his other eye, and was slain. God have mercyon his soul! And know that immediately behind the place where thebattalion of the Templars stood, there was a good acre of ground, socovered with darts, arrows, and missiles, that you could not see theearth beneath them, such showers of these had been dischargedagainst the Templars by the Saracens! 16 ” [216]REGINALD DE VICHIER A.D. 1252.The Grand Master, William de Sonnac, was succeeded by theMarshall of the Temple, Brother Reginald de Vichier. As soon asKing Louis 17 arrived at Acre that year, he proceeded to ensure thatReginald of Vichiers was elected Grand Master of The Templars, aswe are told by Joinville in his records of those times [216]. KingLouis, after his release from captivity, proceeded to Palestine, wherehe remained two years. He repaired the fortifications of Jaffa andCæsarea, and assisted the Templars in putting the country into adefensible state 18 . The Lord de Joinville remained with him thewhole time, and relates some curious events that took place duringhis stay. It appears that the sheik of the assassins still continued topay tribute to the Templars; and during the king’s residence at Acre,the chief sent ambassadors to him to obtain a reduction of thetribute. He gave them an audience, and declared that he wouldconsider of their proposal. “When they came again before the king,”says Joinville, “it was about vespers, and they found the Master of theTemple on one side of him, and the Master of the Hospital on theother. The ambassadors refused to repeat what they had said in themorning, but the Masters of the Temple and the Hospital commandedthem so to do. Then the Masters of the Temple and Hospital told themthat their lord had very foolishly and impudently sent such a messageto the king of France, and had they not been invested with the242

character of ambassadors, they would have thrown them into thefilthy sea of Acre, and have drowned them in despite of their master.‘And we command you, ‘continued the masters, ‘to return to your lord,and to come back within fifteen days with such letters from yourprince, that the king shall be contented with him and with you.’“REGINALD DE VICHIER A.D. 1254.The ambassadors accordingly did as they were bid, and broughtback from their sheik a shirt, the symbol of friendship, and a greatvariety of rich presents, “crystal elephants, pieces of amber, withborders of pure gold,” etc. [216] “You must know that when theambassadors opened the case containing all these fine things, thewhole apartment was instantly embalmed with the odor of theirsweet perfumes.”The Lord de Joinville accompanied the Templars in several marchesand expeditions against the infidel tribes on the frontiers ofPalestine, and was present at the storming of the famous castle ofBanias, situate near the source of the Jordan.In the defenses of Galilee, the Banias castle, built on the southern slopes ofMount Hermon, defended the road which came from Damascus. Entry fromthe north was guarded by the Montfort castle. From the top of the easternborder of the Galilean highlands the Belvoir castle controlled the Jordan valleyto the south of Lake Galilee.243

At the period of the return of the king of France to Europe, (A.D.1254,) Henry the Third, king of England, was in Gascony withBrother Robert de Sanford, Master of the Temple at London, whohad been previously sent by the English monarch into that provinceto appease the troubles which had there broken out [205]. KingHenry proceeded to the French capital, and was magnificentlyentertained by the Knights Templars at the Temple in Paris, whichMatthew Paris tells us was of such immense extent that it couldcontain within its precincts a numerous army.Sketch of the Temple property about 1440. The Knights Templar were locatedin Paris, near the ‘Place de Grève’, where they occupied a house given to themby King Louis VII in 1137. This house was located in a swamp area, north ofParis and outside the city walls. In 1805 the Temple of Paris was actuallybought by a royalist and the pilgrimages continued. Eventually one ofNapoleon’s ministers completely forbade them and ordered the demolition ofthe fortification walls. In an extension of this demolition Napoleon himselfordered the destruction of the “Tour du Temple” by a decree dated 16thMarch 1808. The destruction of the tower meant all the ancient Templarremnants disappeared, except the Great Prior’s Palace. Between 1805 and1810 most of the remaining buildings (the church and the towers)disappeared. In 1823 the Palace of the Grand Prior became the seat of theBenedictines of the Perpetual Adoration of the Holy Sacrament. Howeverhalfway through the 19th century Napoleon III destroyed the Palace and the244

with it the last piece of a bygone era. The “Villeneuve du Temple”, was nownothing more than an architectural memory.The day after his arrival, king Henry ordered an innumerablequantity of poor people to be regaled at the Temple with meat, fish,bread, and wine; and at a later hour the king of France and all hisnobles came to dine with the English monarch. “Never,” saysMatthew Paris, “was there at any period in bygone times so noble andso celebrated an entertainment. They feasted in the great hall of theTemple, where hang the shields on every side, as many as they canplace along the four walls, according to the custom of the orderbeyond sea…” [207] The Knights Templars in this country likewiseexercised a magnificent hospitality, and constantly entertainedkings, princes, nobles, prelates, and foreign ambassadors, at theTemple. Immediately after the return of king Henry to England,some illustrious ambassadors from Castile came on a visit to theTemple at London; and as the king “greatly delighted to honor them,”he commanded three pipes of wine to be placed in the cellars of theTemple for their use 19 , [205] and ten fat bucks to be brought them atthe same place from the royal forest in Essex 20 . [205] He, moreover,commanded the mayor and sheriffs of London, and the commonaltyof the same city, to take with them a respectable assemblage of thecitizens, and to go forth and meet the said ambassadors without thecity, and courteously receive them, and honor them, and conductthem to the Temple [205].THOMAS BERARD A.D. 1256.The Grand Master, Reginald de Vichier, was succeeded by BrotherThomas Berard 21 , [174] who wrote several letters to the king ofEngland, displaying the miserable condition of the Holy Land, and245

earnestly imploring succor and assistance [205]. The Englishmonarch, however, was too poor to assist him, being obliged toborrow money upon his crown jewels, which he sent to the Templeat Paris. The queen of France, in a letter “to her very dear brotherHenry, the illustrious king of England,” gives a long list of goldenwands, golden combs, diamond buckles, chaplets, and circlets, goldencrowns, imperial beavers, rich girdles, golden peacocks, and ringsinnumerable, adorned with sapphires, rubies, emeralds, topazes, andcarbuncles, which she says she had inspected in the presence of thetreasurer of the Temple at Paris, and that the same were safelydeposited in the coffers of the Templars” [205].THOMAS BERARD A.D. 1262.The military power of the orders of the Temple and the Hospital inPalestine was at last completely broken by Baibars al-Bunduqdari 22 ,nicknamed Abu l-Futuh 23 , the fourth Maluku sultan of Egypt, who,from the humble station of a Tartar 24 slave, had raised himself to thesovereignty of that country, and through his valor and militarytalents had acquired the title of “the Conqueror.” He invadedPalestine (A.D. 1262) at the head of thirty thousand cavalry, anddefeated the Templars and Hospitaliers with immense slaughter.[174] After several years of continuous warfare, during which themost horrible extremes were committed by both parties, all thestrongholds of the Christians, with the solitary exception of thePilgrim’s Castle (Château Pèlerin) and the city of Acre, fell into thehands of the infidels.THOMAS BERARD A.D. 1265.On the last day of April, (A.D. 1265,) after 40 days of siege, Baibarsal-Bunduqdari stormed Arsuf, one of the strongest of the castles ofthe Hospitaliers; he slew ninety of the garrison, and led away athousand into captivity. The Mamlūks razed the city walls and thefortress to their foundations, fearing a return of the Crusaders. Theyear following, he stormed Castle Blanc, a fortress of the KnightsTemplars, and immediately after laid siege to their famous andimportant castle of Safed 25 . After an obstinate defense, the246

Preceptor, finding himself deprived of provisions, agreed tosurrender, on condition that the surviving brethren and theirretainers, amounting to six hundred men, should be conducted insafety to the nearest fortress of the Christians. The terms wereagreed to, but as soon as Baibars al-Bunduqdari had obtainedpossession of the castle, he imposed upon the whole garrison thesevere alternative of the Quran 26 or death, and allowed only untilthe next night to decide. They chose the latter, and, according to theChristian writers, execution was swift 27 by cutting off the heads ofall the captured men 28 ; and selling all the women and children intoslavery. [212] [174] [88] The Arabian historian Shāfī Ib’n Alī,however, in his life of Baibars, or Baybars, states that one of thegarrison named Effreez Lyoub, embraced the Mahommetan faith,and was circumcised, and that another was sent to Acre toannounce the fall of the place to his brethren. This writer attemptsto excuse the slaughter of the remainder, on the ground that theyhad themselves first broken the terms of the surrender, byattempting to carry away arms and treasure [219] [180]. “By thedeath of so many knights of both orders,” says Pope Clement IV., inone of his epistles, “the noble college of the Hospitaliers, and theillustrious chivalry of the Temple, are almost destroyed, and I knownot how we shall be able, after this, to find gentlemen and persons ofquality sufficient to supply the places of such as have perished.” [220]The year after the fall of Safed (A.D. 1267,), Baibars captured thecities of Hims, Beaufort, Bagras 29 , and Sidon 30 , which belonged tothe order of the Temple. The maritime towns of Laodicea, Gabala,Tripoli, Beirout, and Jaffa, successively fell into his hands, and thefall of the princely city of Antioch was made notable by theslaughter of seventeen and the captivity of one hundred thousand ofher inhabitants 31 [221] [212] [180] [174].THOMAS BERARD A.D. 1268.The utter ruin of the Latin kingdom, however, was averted by thetimely assistance brought by Edward Prince of Wales 32 , son ofHenry the Third, king of England, who appeared at Acre with a fleetand an army. The infidels were once more defeated and driven back247

into Egypt, and a truce for ten years between the sultan and theChristians was agreed upon [212] [174]. Prince Edward thenprepared for his departure, but before encountering the perils of thesea on his return home, he made his will; it is dated at Acre, June18th, A.D. 1272, and Brother Thomas Berard, Grand Master of theTemple, appears as an attesting witness [205]. While the princewas pursuing his voyage to England, his father, the king of England,died, and the council of the realm, composed of the archbishops ofCanterbury and York, and the bishops and barons of the kingdom,assembled in the Temple at London, and swore allegiance to theprince. They there caused him to be proclaimed king of England,and, with the consent of the queen-mother, they appointed WalterGiffard, archbishop of York, and the earls of Cornwall andGloucester, guardians of the realm. Letters were written from theTemple to inform the young sovereign about the death of his father,and many of the acts of the new government emanated from thesame place [92] [205].King Henry the Third was a great benefactor to the Templars. Hegranted them the manors of Lilleston, Hechewayton, Saunford,Sutton, Dartfeld, and Halgel, in Kent; several lands, and churchesand annual fairs at Baldok, Walnesford, Wetherby, and other places,and various weekly markets [47].WILLIAM DE BEAUJEU A.D. 1273.The Grand Master, Thomas Berard, was succeeded by BrotherWilliam de Beaujeu 33 [201], who came to England for the purpose ofobtaining support, and called together a general chapter of theorder at London. While resident at the Temple in that city, hereceived payment of a large sum of money which Edward, the young248

king, had borrowed from the Templars during his residence inPalestine [205]. The Grand Master of the Hospital also came toEurope, and every exertion was made to stimulate the lethargicenergies of the western Christians, and revive their holy zeal in thecause of the Cross. A general council of the church was opened atLyons by the Pope in person; the two Grand Masters were present,and took precedence of all the ambassadors and peers at thatillustrious assembly. It was determined that a new crusade shouldbe preached, that all ecclesiastical offices and parishes should betaxed to support an armament, and that the sovereigns of Europeshould be compelled by ecclesiastical censures to suspend theirprivate quarrels, and afford succor to the desolate city of Jerusalem.The Pope, who had been himself resident in Palestine, took a strongpersonal interest in the promotion of the crusade, and inducedmany nobles, princes, and knights to assume the Cross; but the holypontiff died in the midst of his exertions, and with him expired allhope of effectual assistance from Europe. A vast change had comeover the spirit of the age; the fiery enthusiasm of the holy war hadexpended itself, and the Grand Masters of the Temple and Hospitalreturned without relief, in sorrow and disappointment, to the East.WILLIAM DE BEAUJEU A.D. 1275.William de Beaujeu arrived at the Temple of Acre on Saint Michael’sDay, A.D. 1275, and immediately assumed the government ofPalestine [174]. As there was now no hope of recovering the lostcity of Jerusalem, he bent all his energies to the preservation of thefew remaining possessions of the Christians in the Holy Land. At theexpiration of the ten years’ truce he entered into a further treatywith the infidels, called “the peace of Tortosa.” It was said to bemade between sultan Al Mansur Qalawun 34 and his son Al-AshrafKhalil 35 , “honor of the world and of religion,” of the one part, andAfryz Dybadjouk (William de Beaujeu) Grand Master of the order ofthe Templars, of the other part. The truce was further prolonged forten years and ten months from the date of the execution of thetreaty, (A.D. 1282;) and the contracting parties strictly boundthemselves to make no irruptions into each other’s territories249

during the period. To prevent mistakes, the towns, villages, andterritory belonging to the Christians in Palestine are specified anddefined, together with the contiguous possessions of the Moslems[222]. This treaty, however, was quickly broken, the war wasrenewed with various successes, and another treaty was concluded,which was again violated by an unpardonable outrage. SomeEuropean adventurers, who had arrived at Acre, plundered andhung nineteen Egyptian merchants, and the sultan of Egyptimmediately resumed hostilities, with the avowed determination ofcrushing for ever the Christian power in the East. The fortress ofMargat 36 was besieged and taken(1285); the city of Tripoli 37 sharedthe same fate (1289); and in the third year from the recommencementof the war, the Christian dominions in Palestinewere reduced within the narrow confines of the strong city of Acreand the Pilgrim’s Castle.Margat is located on a hill about 360 meters above sea level, formed by anextinct volcano on the road between Tripoli and Latakia, overlooking theMediterranean Sea.250

The Citadel of Raymond de Saint-Gilles, also known as Qala’at Sanjil in Arabic,is a citadel and fort in Tripoli, Lebanon. It takes its name from Raymond deSaint-Gilles, the Count of Toulouse and Crusader commander who started itsconstruction on a hilltop outside Tripoli in 1103 in order to lay siege to thecity. Later, Raymond enlarged the fortress, which he named Mont Peregrinus(Mt Pilgrim).WILLIAM DE BEAUJEU A.D. 1291.In the spring of the year 1291, the sultan Khalil marched againstAcre at the head of sixty thousand horse and a hundred and fortythousand foot.“An innumerable people of all nations and every tongue,” says achronicle of the times, “thirsting for Christian blood, were assembledtogether from the deserts of the East and the South; the earthtrembled beneath their footsteps, and the air was rent with the soundof their trumpets and cymbals. The sun’s rays, reflected from theirshields, gleamed on the distant mountains, and the points of theirspears shone like the innumerable stars of heaven. When on themarch, their lances presented the appearance of a vast forest risingfrom the earth, and covering all the landscape 38 .” … [223] On the 5thof April 1291, the sultan of Egypt arrived with a large army andmany siege engines. By the beginning of May, the Mamlūks hadmanaged to weaken one of the major towers of the city. No rationalhope of saving it could be entertained; the sea was open; the harborwas filled with Christian vessels, and with the galleys of the Temple251

and the Hospital; yet the two great monastic and military ordersscorned to retire to the neighboring and friendly island of Cyprus.They refused to desert, even in its last extreme, that cause whichthey had sworn to maintain with the last drop of their blood. For ahundred and seventy years their swords had been constantlyemployed in defending the Holy Land from the profane tread of theunbelieving Moslem; the sacred territory of Palestine had beeneverywhere moistened with the blood of the best and bravest oftheir knights, and, faithful to their vows and their chivalrousengagements, they now prepared to bury themselves in the ruins ofthe last stronghold of the Christian faith [223].William de Beaujeu, the Grand Master of the Temple, a veteranwarrior of a hundred fights, took the command of the garrison,which amounted to about twelve thousand men, exclusive of theforces of the Temple and the Hospital, and a body of five hundredfoot and two hundred horse, under the command of the king ofCyprus. These forces were distributed along the walls in fourdivisions, the first of which was commanded by Hugh de Grandison,an English knight. The old and the feeble, women and children,were sent away by sea to the Christian island of Cyprus, and noneremained in the devoted city but those who were prepared to fightin its defense, or to suffer martyrdom at the hands of the infidels.The siege lasted six weeks, during the whole of which period thesorties and the attacks were incessant. Neither by night nor by daydid the shouts of the assailants and the noise of the military enginescease; the walls were battered from without, and the foundationswere weakened by miners, who were incessantly laboring toadvance their works. More than six hundred catapults, balistæ 39 ,and other instruments of destruction, were directed against thefortifications; and the battering machines were of such immensesize and weight, that a hundred wagons were required to transportthe separate timbers of one of them 40 . [190] Moveable towers wereerected by the Mamlūks, so as to scale over the walls; theirworkmen and advanced parties were protected by hurdles 41covered with raw hides, and all the military machines which the art252

and the skill of the age could produce, were used to facilitate theassault. For a long time their utmost efforts were foiled by the valorof the besieged, who made constant sorties upon their works, burnttheir towers and machines, and destroyed their miners. Day by day,however, the numbers of the garrison were thinned by the sword,while in the enemy’s camp the places of the dead were constantlyfilled by fresh warriors from the deserts of Arabia, animated withthe same wild fanaticism in the cause of their religion as that whichso eminently distinguished the military monks of the Temple. Onthe fourth of May, after thirty-three days of constant fighting, thegreat tower, considered the key of the fortifications, and called bythe Moslems the cursed tower, was severely damaged by the militaryengines. To increase the terror and distraction of the besieged,sultan Khalil mounted three hundred drummers, with their drums,upon as many dromedaries 42 , and commanded them to make asmuch noise as possible whenever a general assault was ordered.From the 4th to the 14th of May, the attacks were incessant. On the15th, the double wall was forced, and the king of Cyprus, panicstricken,fled in the night to his ships, and made sail for the island ofCyprus, with all his followers, and with near three thousand of thebest men of the garrison. On the nest day, the Saracens attacked thepost he had deserted; they filled up the ditch with the bodies ofdead men and horses, piles of wood, stones, and earth, and theirtrumpets then sounded to the assault. Ranged under the yellowbanner of Mohammed, the Mamlūks forced the breach, andpenetrated sword in hand to the very center of the city; but theirvictorious career and insulting shouts were stopped there by thewail-clad 43 Knights of the Temple and the hospital, who charged onhorseback through the narrow streets, drove them back withimmense carnage, and forced them headlong from the walls.At sunrise the following morning the air resounded with thedeafening noise of drums and trumpets, and the breach was carriedand recovered several times, the military friars at last closing up thepassage with their bodies, and presenting a wall of steel to theadvance of the enemy. Loud appeals to God and to Mohammed, to253

heaven and the saints, were to be heard on all sides; and after anobstinate engagement from sunrise to sunset, darkness put an endto the slaughter. On the third day, (the 18th,) the infidels made thefinal assault on the side next the gate of St. Anthony. The GrandMasters of the Temple and the Hospital fought side by side at thehead of their knights, and for a time successfully resisted all theefforts of the enemy. They engaged hand to hand with the Mamlūks,and pressed like the most callous of the soldiers into the thick of thebattle. But as each knight fell beneath the powerful scimitars of theMoslems, there were none in reserve to supply his place, while thevast hordes of the infidels pressed on with untiring energy andperseverance. The Marshall of the Hospital fell covered withwounds, and William de Beaujeu, as a last resort, requested theGrand Master of that order to venture out of an adjoining gateway atthe head of five hundred horse, and attack the enemy’s rear.Immediately after the Grand Master of the Temple had given theseorders, he was himself struck a javelin of the enemy. Dropping hissword and mounting his horse, the knights feared he was fleeing.Beaujeu replied: “Je ne m’enfuis pas; je suis mort. Voici le coup.” (“I’mnot running away; I am dead. Here is the blow.”) He raised his armto show the mortal wound he had received and before he fell fromhis horse, his men caught him and carried him to the Templarfortress. He lingered there till evening before dying. “And God hashis soul—but what great harm was caused by his death.” [223]Sensing that the city was about to fall, the panic-stricken garrisonfled to the port, and the infidels rushed on with tremendous shoutsof Allah acbar! Allah acbar! “GOD is victorious.” Three hundredTemplars, the sole survivors of their illustrious order in Acre, werenow left alone to withstand the shock of the victorious Mamlūks. Ina close and compact column they fought their way, accompanied byseveral hundred Christian fugitives, to the Temple, and shuttingtheir gates, they again undertook defiance to the advancing foe.254

The Crusaders fortress was built in the 12th-13th Centuries. After the fall ofJerusalem, the Crusaders ruled their smaller Kingdom from the Crusaders’Citadel from 1191 to 1291. The citadel is located at the north-west corner ofthe old city.GAUDINI A.D. 1291.The surviving knights now assembled together in solemn chapter,and appointed the Knight Templar Brother Thibaud Gaudin 44 GrandMaster [223]. The Temple at Acre was a place of great strength, andsurrounded by walls and towers of immense extent. It was dividedinto three quarters, the first and principal of which contained thepalace of the Grand Master, the church, and the quarters of theknights; the second, called the Bourg of the Temple, contained thecells of the serving brethren; and the third, called the Cattle Market,255

was devoted to the officers charged with the duty of procuring thenecessary supplies for the order and its forces.The following morning very favorable terms were offered to theTemplars by the victorious sultan, and they agreed to evacuate theTemple on condition that a galley should be placed at their disposal,and that they should be allowed to retire in safety with the Christianfugitives under their protection, and to carry away as much of theireffects as each person could load himself with. The Moslemconqueror pledged himself to the fulfillment of these conditions,and sent a standard to the Templars, which was mounted on one ofthe towers of the Temple. A guard of three hundred Moslemsoldiers, charged to see the articles of surrender properly carriedinto effect, and was afterwards admitted within the walls of theconvent. Some Christian women of Acre, who had refused to quittheir fathers, brothers, and husbands, the brave defenders of theplace, were amongst the fugitives, and the Moslem soldiers,attracted by their beauty, broke through all restraint, and violatedthe terms of the surrender. The enraged Templars closed andbarricaded the gates of the Temple; they set upon the treacherousinfidels, and put every one of them, “from the greatest to thesmallest,” to death. [212] [223] Immediately after this massacre theMoslem trumpets sounded to the assault, but the Templarssuccessfully defended themselves until the next day (the 20th). TheMarshall of the order and several of the brethren were thendelegated by Gaudini with a flag of truce to the sultan, to explain thecause of the massacre of his guard. The enraged monarch, however,had no sooner got them into his power than he ordered every one ofthem to be decapitated, and pressed the siege with renewed vigor.In the night, Gaudini, with a chosen band of his companions,collected together the treasure of the order and the ornaments ofthe church, and striking out of a secret postern 45 of the Templewhich connected with the harbor, they got on board a small vessel,and escaped in safety to the island of Cyprus [212] [223]. Theremainder of the Templars retired into the large tower of theTemple, called “The Tower of the Master,” which they defended256

with desperate energy. The bravest of the Mamlūks were drivenback in repeated assaults, and the little fortress was everywheresurrounded with heaps of the slain. The sultan, at last, despairing oftaking the place by assault, ordered it to be undercut. As theworkmen advanced, they propped the foundations with beams ofwood, and when the excavation was completed, these woodensupports were consumed by fire; the huge tower then fell with atremendous crash, and buried the brave Templars in its ruins. Thesultan set fire to the town in four places, and the last stronghold ofthe Christian power in Palestine was swiftly reduced to a smokingsolitude [212] [88] [180]. A few years back the ruins of theChristian city of Acre were well worthy of the attention of thecurious. You might still trace the remains of several churches; andthe quarter occupied by the Knights Templars continued to presentmany interesting memorials of that proud and powerful order.Notes1 Probably the Khwarazmian dynasty or Khwarezmian dynasty, also known asKhwarezmids, dynasty of Khwarazm Shahs or Khwarezm-Shah dynasty (andspelling variants, from Persian نایهاشمزراوخ Khwārazmshāhiyān, "Kings ofKhwarezmia") was a Persianate Sunni Muslim dynasty of Turkic Mamlūk origin.They ruled Greater Iran in the High Middle Ages, in the period of about 1077 to1231, first as vassals of the Seljuqs, Kara-Khitan, and later as independent rulers,up until the Mongol invasions of the 13th century. The dynasty was founded byAnush Tigin Gharchai, a former Turkish slave of the Seljuq sultans, who wasappointed the governor of Khwarezm. His son, Qutb ad-Din Muhammad I, becamethe first hereditary Shah of Khwarezm.2 Armand de Périgord may have been killed during the battle, but may have beencaptured and survived until 1247.3 A letter of lamentations (in Latin) from Matthæi Parisiensis, monachi Sancti Albani,Chronica majora, Volume 4, pages 337-344.4 “Huic scripto originali, quod erat hujus exemplum, appensa fuerunt duodecimsigilla.” (tr. Latin: “This writing the original, which was an example of this, thetwelve seals were affixed to.”)5 “vir discretus et circumspectus; in negotiis quoque bellicis peritus.” (tr. Latin: “a mandiscreet and circumspect; expert in matters of war also.”)257

6 A preceptor was historically in charge of a preceptory, the headquarters of certainorders of monastic Knights, such as the Knights Hospitaller and Knights Templar,within a given geographical area. The preceptor had supreme control of hisbrethren and was only answerable to the Grand Master of his particular order. Apreceptory's main focus would be its church and accommodation for the brethren.7 “Hospitalarii et Templarii milites neophitos et manum armatam cum thesauro nonmodico illuc ad consolationem et auxilium ibi commorantium festinantertransmiserunt.” (tr. Latin: “Soldiers armed with the treasure of the Templars andthe hand neophitos Hospitalarii and thither to no small consolation and assistancein haste resident there, they transmitted.”)) بويا نيدلا مجن حلاصلا كلملا (Arabic: 8 Al-Malik as-Salih Najm al-Din Ayyub(Nickname: Abu al-Futuh حوتفلا وبأ ) (Cairo, c. 1205 – 22 November 1249 in AlMansurah), also known as al-Malik al-Salih was the Ayyubid ruler of Egypt from1240 to 1249. In 1238 al-Kamil died and was succeeded by his son Al-Adil II, as-Salih's brother; by 1240 as-Salih had overthrown him and taken control of Egypt. In1244 the Khwarezmians sacked Jerusalem, which had been handed over toFrederick II, Holy Roman Emperor by al-Kamil during the Sixth Crusade. Later thatyear as-Salih and the Khwarezmians defeated as-Salih's uncle in Syria, who hadallied with the crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem, at the Battle of La Forbie. In 1245as-Salih captured Damascus, and was awarded the title of sultan by the caliph al-Musta'sim in Baghdad. The next year the combined forces of the Ayyubids defeatedthe unruly Khwarezmians, who no longer recognized as-Salih as their lord.9 As appears in Matthew Paris, “Literæ Soldani Babyloniæ ad Papam missæ, aquodam Cardinali ex Arabico translatæ” (tr. Latin: “Soldan of Babylon letter to thePope of the Mass, by a certain Cardinal was transferred from the Arabian.”)10 Damietta (Arabic: دمياط Dumyāṭ), also known as Damiata, or Domyat, is a port andthe capital of the Damietta Governorate in Egypt. It is located at the intersectionbetween the Mediterranean Sea and the Nile, about 200 kilometres (120 mi) northof Cairo.11 The orginal phrase is written in with a combination of Old French and Latin:“Quant les Templiers virent-ce, it se penserent que it seroient honniz se it lessoient leCompte d’Artois aler devant eulz; si ferirent des esperons qui plus plus, et qui miexmiex, et chasserent les Turcs.” (tr. Old French: “Quant les Templiers virent-ce, it sepenserent que it seraient honnis se it les soient le Comte d’Artois aller devant elles; simeurtriers des esperons qui plus, et plus, ils qui mieux mieux, et chasserent lesTurcs.”) (tr. French: “As the Templars saw it, it was thought that they would havehated it to be the Count d'Artois going before them, so that most deadly of hopemore and more they vied, and drove the Turks.”)12 “Nec evasit de totâ illâ gloriosâ militiâ nisi duo Templarii.” (tr. Latin: “I cannot tell,but no one escaped exept the glory of the soldiers, and two Templars.”) Recored byWilliam of de Nange, a medieval chronicler, who takes his name from the City ofNancy, France. All that is known of him is that he was a Benedictine monk and lived258

in the thirteenth century in the Abbey of Saint-Denis at Paris. According to somescholars he died before 22 July, 1300; according to others not until after 1303. Achronicle by him exists, extending from the creation to the year 1300, but whichbefore the year 1133 has little independent value, as up to this point it dependscompletely upon the chronicle of Sigbertus of Gemblours. Even for the succeedingperiod it is only of subordinate importance. After William's death the chroniclewas continued to 1340 by an unknown monk of Saint-Denis, and was then carriedto 1368 by Johannes of Venette. The best edition is that of Hercule Geraud issuedunder the title: "Chronique latine de G. de Nangis de 1113 a' 1300 avec lescontinuations de cette chronique de 1300 à 1368" (2 vols., Paris, 1843).13 Sonnac was born to a noble family in the French region of Rouergue. No date ofbirth survives for the Grand Master. He was described by Matthew Paris as “adiscreet and circumspect man, who was also skilled and experienced in the affairs ofwar”. De Sonnac was an established member of the order before his election asGrand Master. He was the Preceptor of Aquitaine in France for the Templars andarrived in the Holy Land around autumn of 1247, finding “the remnants of theKingdom of Jerusalem in a precarious state.” Grand Master Armand de Périgord hadbeen taken prisoner at the Battle of La Forbie in 1244, and after negotiations for hisrelease failed two years later, De Sonnac was proposed as a replacement. Beforehis first year in the East was out, he was the order's new leader.14 Shrove Tuesday (also known as Pancake Day, Pancake Tuesday, Fat Tuesday, andMardi Gras) is a term used in English-speaking countries, especially in Ireland,United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Germany, and partsof the United States for the day preceding Ash Wednesday, the first day of theseason of fasting and prayer called Lent.15 Greek fire was an incendiary weapon used by the Byzantine Empire. TheByzantines typically used it in naval battles to great effect as it could continueburning while floating on water. The impression made by Greek fire on theEuropean Crusaders was such that the name was applied to any sort of incendiaryweapon, including those used by Arabs, the Chinese, and the Mongols. These,however, were different mixtures and not the Byzantine formula, which was aclosely guarded state secret, whose composition has now been lost. As a result, itsingredients are a much debated topic, with proposals including naphtha, quicklime,sulphur, and niter. What set the Byzantine usage of incendiary mixtures apart wastheir use of pressurized siphons to project the liquid onto the enemy.16 “Et à celle bataille frere Guillaume le Maître du Temple perdi l’un des yeux, etl’autre avoit il perdu le jour de quaresm perma, et en fut mort ledit seigneur. Que Dieuabsolve son âme.” (tr. French: “And one brother William the Battle Master of theTemple lost one eye and one he had lost permanently the day of Lent, and the saidLord was slain. May God absolve his soul.”)17 On 6 April 1250 Louis lost his army at the Battle of Fariskur and was captured bythe Egyptians. His release was eventually negotiated, in return for a ransom of259

400,000 livres tournois (at the time France's annual revenue was only about1,250,000 livres tournois), and the surrender of the city of Damietta.18 “Et sachez que il avoit bien un journellement de terre derrière les Templiers, qui ilsest si chargé de piles que les Sarrazins leur avoient lanceurs, que il ni paroits point deterre pour la grande foison de piles.” (tr. French: “And know that he had a good dailyground behind the Templars, who they are so full of launcher batteries than theSaracens had theirs, as it appears no point of land for the vast abundance ofbatteries.”)19 “…Mandatum est Johanni de Eynfort, camerario regis London, quod sine dilationecapiat quatuor dolia boni vini, et ea liberet Johanni de Suwerk, ponenda in cellariaNovi Templi London. ad opus nuntiorum ipsorum.” (tr. Latin: “…was commandedJohn de Eynfort, chamberlain of the king of London, that without delay, shall takethe four jars of good wine, and deliver it to John de Suwerk, to be placed in thestorerooms of the Temple of the New London, the work of messengers.”)20 “Et mandatum est Ricardo de Muntfichet, custodi forestæ Regis Essex, quod eademforestâ sine dilatione capiat X. damos, et eos usque ad Novum Templum Londoncariari faciat, liberandos prædicto Johanni, ad opus prædictorum nuntiorum.” (tr.Latin: “Muntfichet of Richard and the commandment is, keep the king's forestEssex, without delay, let him take it that the same forest the tenth bucks, and makethem even to the new temple cariari London, deliver the aforesaid John, to thework of the messengers of the aforesaid”)21 “MCCLVI. morut frère Renaut de Vichieres Maístre du Temple. Apres lui fu faitMaistre frère Thomas Berard.” (tr. French: “MCCLVI. death of brother RenautVichieres Master of the Temple. After Brother Thomas Berard he was madeMaster.”)22 Baibars or Baybars (Arabic: يرادقدنبلا سربيب نيدلا نكر رهاظلا كلملا , al-Malik al-Zahir Rukn al-Din Baibars al-Bunduqdari) was a commander of the Mamlūks inaround 1250, when he defeated the Seventh Crusade of Louis IX of France. He wasstill a commander under Sultan Qutuz at the Battle of Ain Jalut in 1260, when hedecisively defeated the Mongols. After the battle Sultan Qutuz was assassinatedwhile on a hunting expedition. It was said that Baibars was involved in theassassination because he expected to be rewarded with the governorship of Aleppofor his military success; but Qutuz, fearing his ambition, refused to give such a postand disappointed him. Baibars succeeded Qutuz as Sultan of Egypt. He continuedwhat was to become a lifelong struggle against the Crusader kingdoms in Syria,starting with the Principality of Antioch, which had become a vassal state of theMongols, and participated in attacks against Islamic targets in Damascus and Syria.In 1263, Baibars attacked Acre, the capital of the remnant of the Kingdom ofJerusalem, but was unable to take it. Nevertheless, he defeated the Crusaders inmany other battles (Arsuf, Athlith, Haifa, Safad, Jaffa, Ashkalon, Caesarea).23 Baibars was nicknamed Abu l-Futuh and Abu l-Futuhat which means father ofconquests, pointing to his victories.260

24 The Tatars originate with the Tatar confederation in the north-eastern Gobidesert in the 5th century. After subjugation in the 9th century by the Khitans, theymigrated southward. In the 13th century, they were subjugated by the MongolEmpire under Genghis Khan. Under the leadership of his grandson Batu Khan, theymoved westwards, forming part of the Golden Horde which dominated theEurasian steppe during the 14th and 15th centuries. In Europe, they wereassimilated by the local populations or their name spread to the conqueredpeoples: Kipchaks, Kimaks and others; and elsewhere with Uralic-speakingpeoples, as well as with remnants of the ancient Greek colonies in the Crimea andCaucasians in the Caucasus.25 In the 12th century, Safed was a fortified city in the crusader Kingdom ofJerusalem known as Saphet. The Knights Hospitaller built a castle there. In 1266,the Mamlūk sultan Baybars wiped out the Christian Templar population and turnedit into a Muslim town called Safed or Safat.26 The Quran (English pronunciation: kor-ahn; Arabic: نآرقلا al-qurʾān, literallymeaning “the recitation”), also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran,Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims considerthe verbatim word of God27 According to Abbot de Vertot, the sultan, enraged with resolve of the Templarpeior in his zeal to refuse the Quran, ordered him flayed alive, and fearing he mightsurvive, that his head be chopped off.28 Thomas Bérard (also Béraud or Bérault) was the 20th Grand Master of theKnights Templar, from 1256 to 1273. He wrote several letters to the King Henry IIIof England describing miserable situation in the Holy Land. He initiatedcooperation with other two military orders since there had been much rivalryamong them before. This was agreed upon by their Grand Masters: Hugo de Revelof Hospitaliers and Anno von Sangershausen of Teutonic Knights. In 1266 the largeTemplar fortress Safed was besieged by Egyptian Mamlooks (or Mamlūks) after afailed attempt to conquer Pilgrim’s Castle. It appears that the garrison werebetrayed by a hired Syrian soldier. All Templars (Hospitallers as well) werebeheaded after they refused to convert to Islam.29 Bagras or Baghras is the name of a town and nearby castle in İskenderun districtof present-day Turkey, in the Amanus Mountains. The castle, properly known asGastun (or Gaston, Guascon, Gastim) provided a base for a force to cover the SyrianGates, the passes between İskenderun and Antioch. After the fall of Antioch toBaibars in 1268, the garrison lost heart, and one of the brothers deserted andpresented the keys of the castle to him. The remaining defenders decided todestroy what they could and surrender the castle.30 The Sea Castle at Sidon did not fall until the fall of Acre in 1291.31 “Facta est civitas tam famosa quasi solitudo desert.” (tr: Latin: “City was soremarkable as it were, a desolate wilderness.”)261

32 Edward I (17 June 1239 – 7 July 1307), also known as Edward Longshanks andthe Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son ofHenry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign,which included an outright rebellion by the English barons. In 1259, he brieflysided with a baronial reform movement, supporting the Provisions of Oxford. Afterreconciliation with his father, however, he remained loyal throughout thesubsequent armed conflict, known as the Second Barons' War. After the Battle ofLewes, Edward was hostage to the rebellious barons, but escaped after a fewmonths and joined the fight against Simon de Montfort. Montfort was defeated atthe Battle of Evesham in 1265, and within two years the rebellion wasextinguished. With England pacified, Edward left on a crusade to the Holy Land.The crusade accomplished little, and Edward was on his way home in 1272 whenhe was informed that his father had died. Making a slow return, he reachedEngland in 1274 and he was crowned king at Westminster on 19 August.33 Guillaume de Beaujeu, aka William of Beaujeu, was the 21st Grand Master of theKnights Templar, from 1273 until his death during the siege of Acre in 1291. Atone point during the siege, he dropped his sword and walked away from the walls.His knights remonstrated. Beaujeu replied: “Je ne m'enfuis pas; je suis mort. Voici lecoup.” (“I’m not running away; I am dead. Here is the blow.”) He raised his arm toshow the mortal wound he had received.) يحلاصلا نووالق (Arabic: 34 Saif ad-Dīn Qalawun aṣ-Ṣāliḥī (also Qalāʾūn or Kalavun)(epithet: al-Malik al-Manṣūr Saif ad-Dīn Qalāʾūn al-Alfi as-Ṣālihī an-Najmī al-ʿAlāʾī(Arabic: ىمجنلا ىحلاصلا ىفلألا نووالق نيدلا فيس روصنملا كلملا ‏((ىءالعلا .c) 1222– November 10, 1290) was the seventh Mamlūk sultan of Egypt . He was in theBaḥrī line and ruled Egypt from 1279 to 1290. Undeterred by the terms of thesenewly formed peace treaties, Qalawun sacked the "impregnable" Hospitallerfortress of Margat in 1285, and established a Mamlūk garrison there. He alsocaptured and destroyed the castle of Maraclea. He captured Latakia in 1287 andTripoli on April 27, 1289, thus ending the Crusader County of Tripoli. The siege ofTripoli in 1289 was spurred by the Venetians and the Pisans, who opposed risingGenoese influence in the area. In 1290, reinforcements of King Henry arrived inAcre and drunkenly slaughtered peaceable merchants and peasants, Christians andMuslims alike. Qalawun sent an embassy to ask for an explanation and above all todemand that the murderers be handed over for punishment. The Frankishresponse was divided between those who sought to appease him and those whosought a new war. Having received neither an explanation nor the murderersthemselves, Qalawun decided that the ten-year truce he had formed with Acre in1284 had been broken by the Franks. He subsequently besieged the city that sameyear. He died in Cairo on November 10, before taking the city, but Acre wascaptured the next year by his son Al-Ashraf Khalil.حالص فرشألا كلملا (Arabic: 35 Al-Malik al-Ashraf Salāh al-Dīn Khalil ibn Qalawūn(b. c. 1262, Cairo – d. 14 December 1293, Kom Turuga) was ); نووالق نب ليلخ نيدلاthe eighth Mamlūk sultan of Egypt from 1290 until his assassination in December,262

1293. He is most famous for conquering the last of the Crusader states in Palestinewith the capture of Acre in 1291.‏,بقرملا ةعلق)‏ 36 Margat, also known as Marqab from the Arabic Qalaat al-Marqab“Castle of the Watchtower”) is a castle near Baniyas, Syria, which was a Crusaderfortress and one of the major strongholds of the Knights Hospitaller. It is locatedaround 2 km from the Mediterranean coast, approximately 6 km south of Baniyas.The Mamlūk sultan of Egypt Qalawun besieged it beginning on April 25, 1285, andcaptured it after a month when sappers mined the north wall. Qalawun respectedthe size of the fortress and the courage of its defenders, and allowed theHospitallers to leave with everything they could carry. Rather than destroy it as hedid with other fortresses, he placed a Mamlūk garrison in it.37 Tripoli (Standard Arabic: سلبارط Ṭarābulus, and Arabic: طَرَابُلُس Trâblos, Greek:Τρίπολις Tripolis) is the largest city in northern Lebanon and the second-largestcity in Lebanon. Situated 85 km north of the capital Beirut, Tripoli is the capital ofthe North Governorate and the Tripoli District. Geographically located on the eastof the Mediterranean, the city's history dates back to the 14th century BC. In 1289,it fell to the Mamlūks and the old port part of the city was destroyed. A new inlandcity was then built near the old castle.38 This quote is taken from De Excidio Urbis Acconis (tr. Latin: The destruction of thecity Acconis), by an anonymous author. The text is exaggerated for propagandapurposed and the author was not an eyewitness. We now believe that the only eyewitness to record these event was aslo anonymous but used the pen-name of“Templar of Tyre”, a secretary and confidant of the Templar Master William ofBeaujeu, although not a Templar himself.39 The ballista (Latin, from Greek βαλλίστρα - ballistra and that from - βάλλω ballō,“throw”), plural ballistae, was an ancient missile weapon which launched a largeprojectile at a distant target.40 The famous Abul-feda, prince of Hamah, surnamed Amod-ed-deen, (Pillar ofReligion,) the great historian and astronomer, superintended the transportation ofthe military engines from Hasn-el-Akrah to St. Jean d’Acre.41 A hurdle is a protable rectangular frame strengthens with withes and woodenbars, used for the eraction of a temporay fence or barricade.42 The one-humped domesticated camel (Camelus dromedarius), widely used as abeast of burden.43 Armed with a coat of mail.44 Thibaud Gaudin (1229? – April 16, 1292) was the Grand Master of the KnightsTemplar from August 1291 until his death in April 1292. The history of ThibaudGaudin within the Order is rather mysterious. Born to a noble family in the area ofChartres or Blois, France, he entered the Knights Templar well before 1260,263

ecause on that date he was taken prisoner during an attack on Tiberias. His greatpiety was deemed worthy of the nickname of “Gaudin Monk”.45 A postern is a secondary door or gate, particularly in a fortification such as a citywall or castle curtain wall. Posterns were often located in a concealed location,allowing the occupants to come and go inconspicuously. In the event of a siege, apostern could act as a sally port, allowing defenders to make a sortie on thebesiegers.264

CHAPTER 9. 1297 – 1310In the year or what have distant place,And no one knows is wrong or right,The Templars were, without doubt,All taken by the kingdom of France.In the month of October, at daybreak,And one day fate Friday.Chron. MS. 1JACQUES DE MOLAY A.D. 1297.It now only remains for us to describe the wretched fate of thesurviving brethren of the order of the Temple, and to tell of theingratitude they encountered from their fellow Christians in theWest. Shortly after the fall of Acre, a general chapter of thefraternity was called together, and Jacques de Molay 2 , the Preceptorof England, was chosen Grand Master [224] [225]. He attemptedonce more (A.D. 1302) to plant the banners of the Temple upon thesacred soil of Palestine, but was defeated by the sultan of Egypt withthe loss of a hundred and twenty of his brethren [212] [88]. Thisdisastrous expedition was speedily followed by the downfall of thefraternity. Many circumstances contributed to this notorious event.JACQUES DE MOLAY A.D. 1302.With the loss of all the Christian territory in Palestine every serioushope and expectation of recovering and retaining the Holy City hadexpired in Christendom. The services of the Templars wereconsequently no longer required, and men began to regard with aneye of envy and of covetousness the vast wealth and immense265

possessions of the Order. The privileges conceded to the fraternityby the popes now made the church their enemy. The great body ofthe clergy regarded with jealousy and indignation their exemptionfrom the ordinary ecclesiastical jurisdiction. The bull omne datumoptimum 3 was considered a great unfriendly incursion on the rightsof the church, and broke the union which had originally subsistedbetween the Templars and the members of the clergy. Theirexemption from tithe was a source of considerable loss to theclerics, and the privilege they possessed of celebrating divineservice during interdict brought abundance of offerings and alms tothe priests and chaplains of the order, which the clergy looked uponas so many robberies committed upon themselves. Disputes arosebetween the fraternity and the bishops and priests, and the hostilityof the latter to the order was manifested in repeated acts ofinjustice, which drew forth many severe bulls and indignantreproaches from the Roman pontiffs. Pope Alexander, in a bullfulminated 4 against the clergy, tells them that if they wouldvigilantly reflect upon the challenges, which his beloved sons, thebrethren of the chivalry of the Temple, continually sustain inPalestine for the defense of Christianity, and their kindness to thepoor, they would not only cease from annoying and injuring them,but would strictly restrain others from doing so. He expressesgrieved and astonished demeanor to hear that many ecclesiasticshad vexed the Order with grievous injuries, had treated hisapostolic letters with contempt, and had refused to read them intheir churches; that they had subtracted the customary alms 5 andoblations 6 from the fraternity, and had admitted antagonists againstthe property of the brethren to their familiar friendship,insufferably endeavoring to press down and discourage thosewhom they ought continuously to uphold. From other bulls, itappears that the clergy interfered with the right enjoyed by thefraternity of collecting alms; that they refused to bury the brethrenof the Order when deceased without being paid for it, andarrogantly claimed a right to be entertained with extravaganthospitality in the houses of the Temple. For these delinquencies, thebishops, archdeacons, priests, and the whole body of the clergy,266

were threatened with severe measures by the Roman pontiff [205][226].The Templars, moreover, towards the close of their vocation,became unpopular with the European sovereigns and their nobles.The revenues of the former were somewhat diminished through theimmunities conceded to the Templars by their antecedents, and thepaternal estates of the latter had been diminished by the grant ofmany thousand manors, lordships, and fair estates to the Order bytheir pious and enthusiastic ancestors. Considerable dislike alsobegan to be exhibited by the annual transmission of large sums ofmoney, the revenues of the order, from the European states to beexpended in a distant warfare in which Christendom now tookcomparatively no interest. Shortly after the fall of Acre, and thetotal loss of Palestine, Edward the First, king of England, seized andconfiscated to his own use the monies which had been accumulatedby the Templars, to forward to their brethren in Cyprus, allegingthat the property of the order of the Temple had been granted to itby the kings of England, his predecessors, and their subjects, for thedefense of the Holy Land, and that since its forfeiture, no better usecould be made of the money than by appropriating it to thepreservation of the poor. At the earnest request of the pope,however, the king afterwards permitted their revenues to betransmitted for them in the island of Cyprus in the usual manner[205]. King Edward had previously demonstrated a strong desire tolay hands on the property of the Templars. On his return from hisvictorious campaign in Wales, finding himself unable to disburse thearrears of pay due to his soldiers, he went with Sir Robert Waleranand some armed followers to the Temple, and calling for thetreasurer, he pretended that he wanted to see his mother’s jewels,which were there kept. Having been admitted into the house, hedeliberately broke open the treasuries of the Templars, and carriedaway ten thousand pounds with him to Windsor Castle [227] [228].His son, Edward the Second, on his accession to the throne,committed a similar act of injustice. He went with his favored, PiersGavaston, to the Temple, and took away with him fifty thousand267

pounds of silver, with a quantity of gold, jewels, and preciousstones, belonging to the bishop of Chester 7 [229]. The impunitywith which these acts of viciousness were committed, establishesthat the Templars no longer enjoyed the power and respect whichthey possessed in ancient times.As the enthusiasm, too, in favor of the holy war diminished, largenumbers of the Templars remained at home in their westernpreceptories, and took an active part in the politics of Europe. Theyinterfered in the quarrels of Christian princes, and even drew theirswords against their fellow-Christians. Thus we find the membersof the order taking part in the war between the houses of Anjou andAragon, and aiding the king of England in his warfare against theking of Scotland. In the battle of Falkirk, fought on the 22nd of July,A.D. 1298, seven years after the fall of Acre, both the Master of theTemple at London, and his vicegerent the Preceptor of Scotlandperished [94] [230]. All these circumstances, together with the lossof the Holy Land, and the extinction of the enthusiasm of thecrusades, diminished the popularity of the Templars in Europe.At the period of the fall of Acre, Philip the Fair 8 , son of St. Louis 9 ,occupied the throne of France. He was a needy and materialisticmonarch 10 , [231] and had at different periods resorted to the mostviolent expedients to replenish his exhausted Exchequer 11 . On thedeath of Pope Benedict XI., (A.D. 1304,) he succeeded, through theintrigues of the French Cardinal Dupré, in raising the archbishop ofBourdeaux, a man of his own, to the pontifical chair. The new poperemoved the Holy See from Rome to France; he summoned all thecardinals to Lyons, and was there consecrated, (A.D. 1305,) by thename of Clement V., in the presence of king Philip and his nobles. Ofthe ten new cardinals then created nine were Frenchmen, and inmost of his acts, the new pope manifested himself the obedientslave of the French monarch.The character of this pontiff has been painted by the Romish 12ecclesiastical historians in the darkest colors: they represent him aswedded to pleasure, eaten up with ambition, and greedy for money;268

they accuse him of indulging in a criminal intrigue with the beautifulcountess of Perigord 13 , and of marketing in holy things [232] [233][234]. However, recent history does not portray him in suchmanner, as we will see soon enough.JACQUES DE MOLAY A.D. 1306.On the 6th of June, A.D. 1306, a few months after his coronation, thisnew French pontiff addressed letters from Bourdeaux to the GrandMasters of the Temple and Hospital, expressing his earnest desire toconsult them with regard to the measures necessary for therecovery of the Holy Land. He tells them that they are the personsbest qualified to give advice upon the subject, and to conduct andmanage the enterprise, both from their great military experienceand the interest they had in the success of the expedition. “We orderyou,” he says, “to come hither without delay, with as much secrecy aspossible, and with a very little entourage, since you will find on thisside the sea a sufficient number of your knights to attend upon you.”[235] [236] The Grand Master of the Hospital declined obeying thissummons; but the Grand Master of the Temple instantly accepted it,and wholeheartedly placed himself in the power of the pope and theking of France. He landed in France, attended by sixty of his knights,at the beginning of the year 1307, and deposited the treasure of theorder which he had brought with him from Cyprus, in the Temple atParis. He was received with distinction by the king, and then tookhis departure for Pointiers to have an interview with the pope. Hewas there detained with various conferences and negotiationsrelative to a pretended expedition for the recovery of the Holy Land.JACQUES DE MOLAY A.D. 1307.Among other things, the pope proposed an union between theTemplars and Hospitaliers, and the Grand Master handed in hisobjections to the proposition. He says, that after the fall of Acre, thepeople of Italy and of other Christian nations clamored loudlyagainst Pope Nicholas, for having afforded no relief to the besieged,and that Nicholas, by way of screening himself, had laid all theblame of the loss of the place on pretended dissensions between the269

Templars and Hospitaliers, and projected an union between them.The Grand Master declares that there had been no dissensionsbetween the orders prejudicial to the Christian cause; that therewas nothing more than a spirit of rivalry and emulation, thedestruction of which would be highly injurious to the Christians,and advantageous to the Saracens; for if the Hospitaliers at any timeperformed a brilliant feat of arms against the infidels, the Templarswould never rest quiet until they had done the same or better, and econverso (the other way around). So also if the Templars made agreat shipment of brethren, horses, and other beasts across sea toPalestine, the Hospitaliers would always do the like or more. He atthe same time positively declares, that a member of one order hadnever been known to raise his hand against a member of the other[237]. The Grand Master complained that the reverence andrespect of the Christian nations for both orders had undeservedlydiminished, that everything was changed, and that most personswere then more ready to take from them than to give to them, andthat many powerful men, both clergy and laypeople, broughtcontinual injuries upon the fraternities.In the mean time, the secret agents of the French king industriouslycirculated various dark rumors and loathsome reports concerningthe Templars, and it was said that they would never have lost theHoly Land if they had been good Christians. These rumors andaccusations were soon put into a tangible shape.According to some writers, Esquin de Florian, a citizen of Bezieres,who had been condemned to death or perpetual imprisonment inone of the royal castles for his iniquities, was brought before Philip,and received a free pardon, and was well rewarded in return, for anaccusation on oath, charging the Templars with heresy, and with thecommission of the most horrible crimes [238]. In a badly spelt andsemi-literate letter, dated 28 January 1308, [239] after the Templarshad been arrested and sweeping confessions extracted from them,Esquin wrote to King James II of Aragon, recounting his role.270

“Let it be manifest to your royal majesty, that I am the man who hasshown the deeds of the Templars to the lord king of France, and know,my lord, that you were the first prince of the whole world to whom, atLérida, in the presence of Brother Martin Detecha, your confessor, Ipreviously revealed their activities. For which you, my lord, did notwish to give full credence to my words at that time, which is why Ihave resorted to the lord king of France, who has investigated theactivity and found [it] clear as the sun, certainly in his kingdom, sothat the pope has been convinced fully of the affair, and the otherprinces, namely the king of Germany, and the king of England andKing Charles, and also the other princes.” [239]“My lord, remember what you have promised to me when I left yourchamber at Lérida, that if the deeds of the Templars were found to beevident, you would give to me 1,000 livres in rents and 3,000 livres inmoney from their goods. And now that it is verified and when there isa place, think fit to remember.” [239]According to others, Noffo Dei 14 , a Florentine and an apostateTemplar, who had been condemned by the Grand Preceptor andchapter of France to perpetual imprisonment for impiety and crime,made in his dungeon a voluntary confession of the sins andabominations charged against the order [237] [240].Villani’s Chronicle relates the following episode: “In the said year1307, before the king of France departed from the court of Poitiers, heaccused and denounced to the Pope, incited thereto by his officers andby desire of gain, the master and the Order of the Temple, chargingthem with certain crimes and errors, whereof as the king had beeninformed the Templars were guilty. The first movement came from aprior of the said Order, of Monfaucon in the region of Toulouse, a manof evil life and a heretic, and for his faults condemned to perpetualimprisonment in Paris by the grand master. And finding himself inprison with one Noffo Dei, of our city of Florence, a man full of allvices, these two men, despairing of any salvation, evilly andmaliciously invented the said accusation in hope of gain, and of beingset free from prison by aid of the king. But each of them a little while271

after came to a bad end; forasmuch as Noffo was hanged and theprior stabbed.” [232]Be this as it may, upon the strength of information sworn to by acondemned criminal, king Philip, on the 14th of September,dispatched secret orders to all the baillis 15 of the different provincesin France, couched in the following extravagant and absurd terms:“Philip, by the grace of God king of the French, to his beloved andfaithful knights. … etc.“A deplorable and most lamentable matter, full of bitterness and grief,a monstrous business, a thing that one cannot think on withoutaffright, cannot hear without horror, transgressions unheard of,enormities and atrocities contrary to every sentiment of humanity,etc., have reached our ears.” After a long and most extraordinarytirade of this kind, Philip accuses the Templars of insulting JesusChrist, and making him suffer more in those days than he hadsuffered formerly upon the cross; of renouncing the Christianreligion; of mocking the sacred image of the Savior; of sacrificing toidols; and of abandoning themselves to impure practices andunnatural crimes. He characterizes them as ravishing wolves insheep’s clothing; a perfidious, ungrateful, idolatrous society, whosewords and deeds were enough to pollute the earth and infect theair; to dry up the sources of the celestial dews, and to put the wholechurch of Christ into confusion.“We being charged,” he says, “with the maintenance of the faith; afterhaving conferred with the pope, the prelates, and the barons of thekingdom, at the instance of the inquisitor, from the informationalready laid, from violent suspicions, from probable conjectures, fromlegitimate presumptions, conceived against the enemies of heaven andearth; and because the matter is important, and it is expedient toprove the just like gold in the furnace by a rigorous examination, havedecreed that the members of the order who are our subjects shall bearrested and detained to be judged by the church, and that all theirreal and personal property shall be seized into our hands, and be272

faithfully preserved,” etc. To these orders are attached instructionsrequiring the baillis and seneschals accurately to informthemselves, with great secrecy, and without exciting suspicion, ofthe number of the houses of the Temple within their respectivejurisdictions; they are then to provide an armed force sufficient toovercome all resistance, and on the 13th of October are to surprisethe Templars in their preceptories, and make them prisoners. Theinquisition is then directed to assemble to examine the guilty, and toemploy torture if it be necessary. “Before proceeding with theinquiry,” says Philip, “you are to inform them (the Templars) that thepope and ourselves have been convinced, by irreproachable testimony,of the errors and abominations which accompany their vows andprofession; you are to promise them pardon and favor if they confessthe truth, but if not, you are to acquaint them that they will becondemned to death.” [241]As soon as Philip had issued these orders, he wrote to the principalsovereigns of Europe, urging them to follow his example [242][243], and sent a confidential agent, named Bernard Peletin, with aletter to the young king, Edward the Second, who had just thenascended the throne of England, representing in frightful colors thepretended sins of the Templars. On the 22nd of September, KingEdward replied to this letter, observing that he had considered ofthe matters mentioned therein, and had listened to the statementsof that discreet man, Master Bernard Peletin; that he had causedthe latter to unfold the charges before himself, and many prelates,earls, and barons of his kingdom, and others of his council; but thatthey appeared so astonishing as to be beyond belief; that suchabominable and deplorable deeds had never before been heard ofby the king and the aforesaid prelates, earls, and barons, and it wastherefore hardly to be expected that an easy credibility could begiven to them. The English monarch, however, informed king Philipthat by the advice of his council he had ordered the seneschal 16 ofAgen, from whose lips the rumors were said to have ensued, to besummoned to his presence, that through him he might be furtherinformed concerning the evidences; and he states that at the fitting273

time, after due inquiry, he would take such steps as would bring tothe praise of God, and the honor and preservation of the catholicfaith [205].On the night of the 13th of October, all the Templars in the Frenchdominions were simultaneously arrested. Monks were appointed topreach against them in the public places of Paris, and in the gardensof the Palais Royale; and advantage was taken of the folly, thesuperstition, and the naivety of the age, to propagate the mosthorrible and extravagant charges against the order. They wereaccused of worshipping an idol covered with an old skin, embalmed,having the appearance of a piece of polished oil-cloth. “In this idol,”we are assured, “there were two carbuncles for eyes, bright as thebrightness of heaven, and it is certain that all the hope of theTemplars was placed in it; it was their sovereign god, and they trustedin it with all their heart.” They were accused of burning the bodiesof the deceased brethren, and making the ashes into a powder,which they administered to the younger brethren in their food anddrink, to make them hold fast their faith and idolatry; of cooking androasting infants, and anointing their idols with the fat; of celebratinghidden rites and mysteries, to which young and tender virgins wereintroduced, and of a variety of abominations too absurd andhorrible to be named [241]. Guillaume Paradin, in his history ofSavoy, seriously repeats these monstrous accusations, and declaresthat the Templars had “a hollow place or cave in the earth, mostobscure, in which they had an image as a man, on which they hadapplied to the skin of a human body, and set it placed without lightand two emeralds instead of both eyes . To this horrible statue wereforced to sacrifice those who wanted to be in their damnable religion,which prior to all ceremonies they were compelled to renounce JesusChrist, and trample the cross with their feet; and after that accursedconsecration, which is attended by women and girls (to be seduced ofthis sect) they grasped the lamps and lights they had in the cellar. ...And if it happened that a Templar and a maiden bore a son, theyarranged themselves all in one round, and threw the child from handto hand, and never ceased to throw until it was dead in their hands:274

they died roasted it (execrable thing) and with the fat they anointedtheir great statue! 17 ” [241] The character of the charges preferredagainst the Templars attests that their enemies had no seriouscrimes to allege against the order. Their very virtues indeed wereturned against them, for we are told that “to conceal the iniquity oftheir lives they made much almsgiving, constantly frequented church,comported themselves with edification, frequently partook of the holysacrament, and manifested always much modesty and gentleness ofdeportment in the house, as well as in public.” [240]During twelve days of severe imprisonment, the Templars remainedconstant in the denial of the horrible crimes ascribed to thefraternity. The king’s promises of pardon extracted from them noconfession of guilt, and they were, therefore, handed over to the“tender mercies” of the brethren of St. Dominic, who were the mostrefined and expert torturers of the day.On the 19th of October, the grand inquisitor proceeded with hismyrmidons 18 to the Temple at Paris, and a hundred and fortyTemplars were put to the torture one after another. Days andweeks were spent in the examination, and thirty-six Templarsperished in the hands of their tormentors, maintaining withunshaken constancy to the very last the complete innocence of theirorder. Many of them lost the use of their feet from the application ofthe torture of fire, which was inflicted in the following manner: theirlegs were fastened in an iron frame, and the soles of their feet weregreased over with fat or butter; they were then placed before thefire, and a screen was drawn backwards and forwards, so as tomoderate and regulate the heat. Such was the agony produced bythis roasting operation, that the victims often went raving mad.Brother Bernarde de Vado, a priest from Albi, on subsequentlyrevoking a confession of guilt, wrung from him by this description oftorment, says to the commissary 19 of constabularies, before whomhe was brought to be examined, “They held me so long before a fiercefire that the flesh was burnt off my heels, two pieces of bone cameaway, which I present to you.” [244] [245] Another Templar, onpublicly revoking his confession, declared that four of his teeth were275

drawn out, and that he confessed himself guilty to save theremainder [245]. Others of the fraternity were inflicted with themost revolting and indecent torments 20 [245]; and, in addition to allthis, it appears that forged letters from the Grand Master wereshown to the prisoners, exhorting them to plead guilty. Many of theTemplars were accordingly compelled to acknowledge whateverwas required of them, and to plead guilty to the commission ofcrimes, which in the previous interrogatories they had positivelydenied [241].These violent proceedings excited the astonishment andamazement of Europe.On the 20th of November, the king of England summoned theseneschal of Agen to his presence, and examined him concerning thetruth of the horrible charges preferred against the Templars; and onthe 4th of December the English monarch wrote letters to the kingsof Portugal, Castile, Aragon, and Sicily, to the following effect:“To the magnificent prince the Lord Dionysius, by the grace of God theillustrious king of Portugal, his very dear friend Edward, by the samegrace king of England, etc. Health and prosperity.”“It is fit and proper, inasmuch as it for instance to the honor of Godand the exaltation of the faith, that we should prosecute withbenevolence those who come recommended to us by strenuous laborsand incessant exertions in defense of the Catholic faith, and for thedestruction of the enemies of the cross of Christ. Of course, a certainclerk, (Bernard Peletin,) recently came to our presence, appliedhimself, with all his might, to the destruction of the order of thebrethren of the Temple of Jerusalem. He dared to publish before usand our council certain horrible and detestable wickednessunacceptable to the Catholic faith, to the prejudice of the aforesaidbrothers, endeavoring to persuade us, through his own allegations, aswell as through certain letters which he had caused to be addressed tous for that purpose, that by reason of the evidences, and without a dueexamination of the matter, we ought to imprison all the brethren of276

the aforesaid order abiding in our dominions. But, considering thatthe order, which has been renowned for its religion and its honor, andin times long since passed was instituted, as we have learned, by theCatholic Fathers, exhibits, and has from the period of its firstfoundation exhibited, a becoming devotion to God and his holy church,and also, up to this time, has afforded succor and protection to theCatholic faith in parts beyond sea; it appeared to us that a ready beliefin an accusation of this kind, hitherto altogether unheard of againstthe fraternity, was scarcely to be expected. We affectionately ask, andrequire of your royal majesty, that you, with due diligence, consider ofthe premises, and turn a deaf ear to the slanders of ill-natured men,who are animated, as we believe, not with the zeal of righteousness,but with a spirit of greed and envy, permitting no injury unadvisedlyto be done to the persons or property of the brethren of the aforesaidorder, dwelling within your kingdom, until they have been legallyconvicted of the crimes laid to their charge, or it shall happen to beotherwise ordered concerning them in these parts. 21 ” [138] [205]A few days after the transmission of this letter, king Edward wroteto the pope, expressing his disbelief of the horrible and detestablerumors spread abroad concerning the Templars. He representsthem to his holiness as universally respected by all men in hisdominions for the purity of their faith and morals. He expressesgreat sympathy for the affliction and distress suffered by the masterand brethren, by reason of the scandal circulated concerning them;and he strongly urges the holy pontiff to clear, by some fair courseof inquiry, the character of the order from the unjust and infamousslanders cast against it [205]. On the 22nd of November, however, afortnight previously, the Pope had issued the following bull to kingEdward 22 .“Clement, bishop, servant of the servants of God, to his very dear son inChrist, Edward, the illustrious king of England, health and apostolicalblessing.”“Presiding, though unworthy, on the throne of pastoral preeminence,by the disposition of him who disposes all things, we fervently seek277

after this one thing above all others; we with ardent wishes aspire tothis, that shaking off the sleep of negligence, while watching over theLord’s flock, by removing that which is hurtful, and taking care of suchthings as are profitable, we may be able, by the divine assistance, tobring souls to God.”“In truth, a long time ago, about the period of our first promotion tothe summit of the apostolic dignity, there came to our ears a lightrumor, to the effect that the Templars, though fighting ostensiblyunder the guise of religion, have hitherto been secretly living intreacherous apostasy, and in detestable heretical depravity. But,considering that their order, in times long since passed, shone forthwith the grace of much nobility and honor, and that they were for alength of time held in vast reverence by the faithful, and that we hadthen heard of no suspicion concerning the premises, or of evil reportagainst them; and also, that from the beginning of their religion, theyhave publicly abided the cross of Christ, exposing their bodies andpossessions against the enemies of the faith, for the acquisition,retention, and defense of the Holy Land, consecrated by the preciousblood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we were unwilling to yield aready belief to the accusation. 23 …” [138]Moreover, the holy pontiff then states, that afterwards, the samedreadful intelligence was conveyed to the king of France, who,animated by a lively zeal in the cause of religion, took immediatesteps to ascertain its truth. He describes the various confessions ofthe guilt of idolatry and heresy made by the Templars in France, andrequires the king straightway to cause all the Templars in hisdomains to be taken into custody on the same day. He directs himto hold them, in the name of the pope, at the disposition of the HolySee, and to commit all their real and personal property to the handsof certain trustworthy persons, to be faithfully preserved until theholy pontiff should give further directions concerning it [138] [205].King Edward received this bull immediately after he had dispatchedhis letter to the pope, exhorting his holiness not to give ear to theaccusation against the order. The young king was now eitherconvinced of the guilt of the Templars, on the high authority of the278

sovereign pontiff, or hoped to turn the proceedings against them toa profitable account, as he produced a ready and promptcompliance with the pontifical commands.An order in council was made for the arrest of the Templars, and theseizure of their property. Inventories were directed to be taken oftheir goods and holdings, and provision was made for the sowingand tilling of their lands during the period of their imprisonment[205]. This order in council was carried into effect in the followingmanner:On the 20th of December, the king’s injunctions were directed toeach of the sheriffs throughout England, commanding them to makesure of certain trustworthy men of their juridictions—ten or twelvein each county—such as the king could best confide in; and havethem at a certain place in the county, under penalty of forfeiture ofeverything that could be forfeited to the king. Furthermore, hecommanded the sheriffs, on pain of the like forfeiture, to be inperson at the same place, on the Sunday before the feast ofEpiphany, to do certain things stirring the king’s peace, which thesheriff would find contained in the king’s summons about to bedirected to him. And afterwards the king sent sworn clergymenwith his summonses, containing the said order to the sheriffs, who,before they opened them, were to take an oath that they would notdisclose the contents of such injunctions until they proceeded toexecute them [205]. The same orders, to be acted upon in a similarmanner in Ireland, were sent to the justiciary of that country, and tothe treasurer of the Exchequer at Dublin; also, to Jean deRichmond 24 , guardian of Scotland; and to Walter de Pederton, andHugh de Aldithelegh, judicial officers in Wales 25 ; and to Robert deHolland 26 , a judicial officer of Chester, who were strictlycommanded to carry the orders into execution before the king’sproceedings against the Templars in England were heard abroad.All the king’s faithful subjects were commanded to aid and assist theofficers in the fulfillment of their duty [138] [205]. On the 26th ofDecember the king wrote to the Pope, informing his holiness that he279

would carry out his commands in the best and swiftest way that hecould.JACQUES DE MOLAY A.D. 1308.On the 8th of January, A.D. 1308, the Templars were suddenlyarrested in all parts of England, and their property was seized intothe king’s hands [233]. Brother William de la More was at thisperiod Master of the Temple, or Preceptor of England 27 . Hesucceeded the Master Brian le Jay, who was slain in the battle ofFalkirk 28 . William was arrested at Temple Ewell and taken to Castleat Canterbury, together with all his brethren of the Temple atLondon. English Templar estates were placed in the hands ofspecial keepers. He was afterwards liberated on bail at the instanceof the bishop of Durham [138] [205].On the 12th of August, the Pope addressed the bull faciensmisericordiam 29 to the English bishops as follows:--“Clement, bishop,servant of the servants of God, to the venerable brethren thearchbishop of Canterbury and his suffragans 30 , health and apostolicalbenediction. The Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, using mercy withhis servant, would have us taken up into the eminent mirror of theapostleship, to this end, that being, though unworthy, his vicar uponearth, we may, as far as human frailty will permit in all our actionsand proceedings, follow his footsteps.” He describes the rumorswhich had been spread abroad in France against the Templars, andhis unwillingness to believe them, “because it was not likely, nor didseem credible, that such religious men, who particularly often shedtheir blood for the name of Christ, and were thought very frequentlyto expose their persons to danger of death for his sake; and who oftenshowed many and great signs of devotion, as well in the divine officesas in fasting and other observances, should be so unmindful of theirsalvation as to perpetrate such things; we were unwilling to give earto the insinuations and impeachments against them, being taught soto do by the example of the same Lord of ours, and the writings ofcanonical doctrine. But afterwards, our most dear son in Christ,Philip, the illustrious king of the French, to whom the same crimes had280

een made known, not from motives of avarice, (since he does notdesign to apply or to appropriate to himself any portion of the estatesof the Templars, nay, has washed his hands of them!) but inflamedwith zeal for the orthodox faith, following the renowned footsteps ofhis ancestors, getting what information he properly could upon thepremises, gave us much instruction in the matter by his messengersand letters.” The holy pontiff then gives a long account of thevarious confessions made in France, and of the absolution grantedto such of the Templars as were truly contrite and penitent; heexpresses his conviction of the guilt of the order, and makesprovision for the trial of the fraternity in England [205] [246]. KingEdward, in the mean time, had begun to make free with theirproperty, and the Pope, on the 4th of October, wrote to him to thefollowing effect:“Your conduct begins again to afford us no slight cause of affliction,inasmuch as it has been brought to our knowledge from the report ofseveral barons, that in contempt of the Holy See, and without fear ofoffending the divine Majesty, you have, of your own sole authority,distributed to different persons the property which belonged formerlyto the order of the Temple in your dominions, which you had got intoyour hands at our command, and which ought to have remained atour disposition. … We have therefore ordained that certain fit andproper persons shall be sent into your kingdom, and to all parts of theworld where the Templars are known to have had property, to takepossession of the same conjointly with certain prelates speciallydeputed to that end, and to make an inquisition concerning theexecrable excesses which the members of the order are said to havecommitted.” [205] [237]To this letter of the supreme pontiff, king Edward sent the followingshort and pithy reply:“As to the goods of the Templars, we have done nothing with them upto the present time, nor do we intend to do with them aught but whatwe have a right to do, and what we know will be acceptable to theMost High.” [205] [237]281

On the 13th of September, A.D. 1309, the king granted letters of safeconduct “to those discreet men, the abbot of Lagny, in the diocese ofParis, and Master Sicard de Vaur, canon of Narbonne,” the inquisitorsappointed by the Pope to examine the Grand Preceptor andbrethren of the Temple in England; [205] [237] and the same day hewrote to the archbishop of Canterbury, and the bishops of Londonand Lincoln, directing them to be personally present with the papalinquisitors, at their respective sees, as often as such inquisitors, orany one of them, should proceed with their inquiries against theTemplars. [205] [237]On the 14th of September summonses were sent, in pursuance of anorder in council, to the sheriffs of Kent and seventeen othercounties, commanding them to bring all their prisoners of the orderof the Temple to London, and deliver them to the constable of theTower; also to the sheriffs of Northumberland and eight othercounties, enjoining them to convey their prisoners to York Castle;and to the sheriffs of Warwick and seven other counties, requiringthem, in like manner, to conduct their prisoners to the Castle ofLincoln. [205] [237] Summonses were also sent to John deCumberland, constable of the Tower, and to the constables of thecastles of York and Lincoln, commanding them to receive theTemplars, to keep them in safe custody, and hold them at thedisposition of the inquisitors. [205] The total number of Templarsin custody was two hundred and twenty-nine. Many, however, werestill at large, having successfully evaded capture by eliminating allmarks of their previous profession, and some had escaped indisguise to the wild and mountainous parts of Wales, Scotland, andIreland. Among the prisoners confined in the Tower were brotherWilliam de la More, Knight, Grand Preceptor of England, otherwiseMaster of the Temple; Brother Himbert Blanke, Knight, GrandPreceptor of Auvergne, one of the veteran warriors who had foughtto the last in defense of Palestine, had escaped the slaughter at Acre,and had accompanied the Grand Master from Cyprus to France,from where he crossed over to England, and was rewarded for hismeritorious and memorable services, in defense of the Christian282

faith, with a dungeon in the Tower [224]. Brother Radulph deBarton, priest of the order of the Temple, custodians or guardian ofthe Temple church, and prior of London; Brother Michael deBaskeville, Knight, Preceptor of London; Brother John de Stoke,Knight, Treasurer of the Temple at London; together with manyother knights and serving brethren of the same house. There werealso in custody in the Tower the knights preceptors of thepreceptories of Ewell in Kent, of Daney and Dokesworth inCambridgeshire, of Getinges in Gloucestershire, of Cumbe inSomersetshire, of Schepeley in Surrey, of Samford and Bisteleshamin Oxfordshire, of Garwy in Herefordshire, of Cressing in Essex, ofPafflet, Hippleden, and other preceptories, together with severalpriests and chaplains of the order [137]. A general scrambleappears to have taken place for possession of the goods and chattelsof the imprisoned Templars; and the king, to check the robberiesthat were committed, appointed Alan de Goldyngham and John deMedefeld to inquire into the value of the property that had beencarried off, and to inform him of the names of the parties who hadobtained possession of it. The sheriffs of the different counties werealso directed to summon juries, through whom the truth might bebetter obtained [205].The Tower with the River Thames and Tower Bridge to the south. The outercurtain walls were erected in the 13th century.283

JACQUES DE MOLAY A.D. 1309.On the 22nd of September, the archbishop of Canterburytransmitted apostolic letters 31 to all his bishops, enclosing copies ofthe bull faciens misericordiam 32 , which contains the pope’s versionof the proceedings thus far. About the time he had become pope hehad heard secretly that the Templars “had lapsed into anunspeakable wicked apostasy, the vice of detestable idolatry, theexecrable act of sodomites and various heresies”. He was at firstunwilling to listen to these accusations since to be exhibited againstthe Templars. Furthermore, they were directed to copy and deliveragain, under their seals, to the bearer, taking special care not toreveal its contents [137]. At the same time the archbishop, acting inobedience to the papal commands, before a single witness had beenexamined in England, initiated the publication of the papal bull in allchurches and chapels 33 . In this bull, the Pope declared himselfpersuaded of the guilt of the Order, and solemnly denounces thepenalty of excommunication against all persons, of whatever rank,station, or condition in life, whether clergy or laity, who shouldknowingly afford, either publicly or privately, assistance, counsel, orkindness to the Templars, or should dare to shelter them, or givethem countenance or protection, and also laying under interdict allcities, castles, lands, and places, which should harbor any of themembers of the proscribed order [245]. At the beginning of themonth of October, the inquisitors arrived in England, andimmediately published the bull appointing the commission,directing the citation of the criminals, and of witnesses, andproclaiming the heaviest ecclesiastical censures against thedisobedient, and against every person who should dare to impedethe inquisitors in the exercise of their functions [47]. Citations weremade in St. Paul’s Cathedral, and in all the churches of theecclesiastical province of Canterbury, at the end of high mass,requiring the Templars to appear before the inquisitors at a certaintime and place, and the articles of accusation were transmitted tothe constable of the Tower, in Latin, French, and English, to be readto all the Templars imprisoned in that fortress. On Monday, the20th of October, after the Templars had been languishing in the284

English prisons for more than a year and eight months, the tribunalconstituted by the Pope to take the inquisition in the province ofCanterbury assembled in the episcopal hall of London. It wascomposed of the bishop of London, Dieudonné, abbot of themonastery of Lagny, in the diocese of Paris, and Sicard de Vaur,Archbishop of Narbonne, the Pope’s chaplain, and hearer of causesin the pontifical palace. They were assisted by several foreignnotaries. After the reading of the papal bulls, and some preliminaryproceedings, the monstrous and ridiculous articles of accusation, amonument of human folly, superstition, and credulity, weresolemnly exhibited as follows:“Item. At the place, day, and hour aforesaid, in the presence of theaforesaid lords, and before us the above-mentioned notaries, thearticles enclosed in the apostolic bull were exhibited and openedbefore us, the contents whereof are as underwritten”.“These are the articles upon which inquisition shall be made againstthe brethren of the military order of the Temple, etc. 34 ”“1. That at their first reception into the order, or at some timeafterwards, or as soon as an opportunity occurred, they wereinduced or admonished by those who had received them withinthe bosom of the fraternity, to deny Christ or Jesus, or thecrucifixion, or at one time God, and at another time the blessedvirgin, and sometimes all the saints.”“2. That the brothers jointly did this.”“3. That the greater part of them did it.”“4. That they did it sometimes after their reception.”“5. That the receivers told and instructed those that were received,that Christ was not the true God, or sometimes Jesus, orsometimes the person crucified.”“6. That they told those they received that he was a false prophet.”285

“7. That they said he had not suffered for the redemption ofmankind, nor been crucified but for his own sins.”“8. That neither the receiver nor the person received had any hopeof obtaining salvation through him, and this they said to thosethey received, or something equivalent, or like it.”“9. That they made those they received into the order spit upon thecross, or upon the sign or figure of the cross, or the image ofChrist, though they that were received did sometimes spit aside.”“10. That they caused the cross itself to be trampled under foot.”“11. That the brethren themselves did sometimes trample on thesame cross.”“12. Also, sometimes they urinate, and others he did urinate on thatsame cross, and urinate have done this several times in the dayof the holy places!”“13. Also, some of them, the selfsame day, or for any other of the holyweek, and for treading down urinating those mentioned above,are wont to assemble!”“14. That they worshipped a cat which was placed in the midst of thecongregation.”“15. That they did these things in contempt of Christ and theorthodox faith.”“16. That they did not believe the sacrament of the altar.”“17. That some of them did not.”“18. That the greater part did not.”“19. That they believed not the other sacraments of the church.”“20. That the priests of the order did not utter the words by whichthe body of Christ is consecrated in the canon of the mass.”286

“21. That some of them did not.”“22. That the greater part did not.”“23. That those who received them enjoined the same.”“24. That they believed, and so it was told them, that the GrandMaster of the order could absolve them from their sins.”“25. That the visitor could do so.”“26. That the preceptors, of whom many were laymen, could do it.”“27. That they in fact did do so.”“28. That some of them did.”“29. That the Grand Master confessed these things of himself, evenbefore he was taken, in the presence of great persons.”“30. That in receiving brothers into the order, or when about toreceive them, or some time after having received them, thereceivers and the persons received kissed one another on themouth, the navel…!!”…“36. That the receptions of the brethren were made clandestinely.”“37. That none were present but the brothers of the said order.”“38. That for this reason there has for a long time been a vehementsuspicion against them.”The succeeding articles proceed to charge the Templars with crimesand abominations too horrible and disgusting to be named.“46. That the brothers themselves had idols in every province, viz.heads; some of which had three faces, and some one, and some aman’s skull.”287

“47. That they adored that idol, or those idols, especially in theirgreat chapters and assemblies.”“48. That they worshipped it.”“49. As their God.”“50. As their Savior.”“51. That some of them did so.”“52. That the greater part did.”“53. That they said that that head could save them.”“54. That it could produce riches.”“56. That it had given to the order all its wealth.”“56. That it caused the earth to bring forth seed.”“57. That it made the trees to flourish.”“58. That they bound or touched the head of the said idols withcords, wherewith they bound themselves about their shirts, ornext their skins.”“59. That at their reception the aforesaid little cords, or others of thesame length, were delivered to each of the brothers.”“60. That they did this in worship of their idol.”“61. That it was enjoined them to gird themselves with the said littlecords, as before mentioned, and continually to wear them.”“62. That the brethren of the order were generally received in thatmanner.”“63. That they did these things out of devotion.”“64. That they did them everywhere.”288

“65. That the greater part did.”“66. That those who refused the things above mentioned at theirreception, or to observe them afterwards, were killed or castinto prison.” [137] [244] [247]…The remaining articles, twenty-one in number, are directedprincipally to the mode of confession practiced among thefraternity, and to matters of heretical depravity. Such an accusationas this, remarks Voltaire, “destroys itself”.Brother William de la More, and thirty more of his brethren, beinginterrogated before the inquisitors, positively denied the guilt of theorder, and affirmed that the Templars who had made theconfessions alluded to in France had lied. They were ordered to bebrought up separately to be examined.On the 23rd of October, brother William Raven, being interrogatedas to the manner of his reception into the order, states that he wasadmitted by brother William de la More, the Master of the Temple atTemple Coumbe, in the diocese of Bath; that he petitioned thebrethren of the Temple that they would be pleased to receive himinto the order to serve God and the blessed Virgin Mary, and to endhis life in their service; that he was asked if he had a firm wish to doso; and replied that he had; that two brothers then explained to himthe strictness and severity of the order, and told him that he wouldnot be allowed to act after his own will, but must follow the will ofthe preceptor; that if he wished to do one thing, he would beordered to do another; and that if he wished to be at one place, hewould be sent to another; that having promised so to act, he sworeupon the holy gospels of God to obey the Master, to hold noproperty, to preserve chastity, never to consent that any manshould be unjustly despoiled of his heritage, and never to lay violenthands on any man, except in self-defense, or upon the Saracens. Hestates that the oath was administered to him in the chapel of thepreceptory of Temple Coumbe, in the presence only of the brethren289

of the order; that the rule was read over to him by one of thebrothers, and that a learned serving brother, named John deWalpole, instructed him, for the space of one month, upon thematters contained in it. The prisoner was then taken back to theTower, and was directed to be strictly separated from his brethren,and not to be suffered to speak to any one of them 35 . [137]The two next days (Oct. 24 and 25) were taken up with a similarexamination of Brothers Hugh de Tadecastre and Thomas leChamberleyn, who gave precisely the same account of theirreception as the previous witness. Brother Hugh de Tadecastreadded, that he swore to succor the Holy Land with all his might, anddefend it against the enemies of the Christian faith; and that after hehad taken the customary oaths and the three vows of chastity,poverty, and obedience, the mantle of the order and the cross withthe coif on the head were delivered to him in the church, in thepresence of the Master, the knights, and the brothers, all secularsbeing excluded. Brother Thomas le Chamberleyn added, that therewas the same manner of reception in England as beyond sea, andthe same mode of taking the vows; that all seculars are excluded,and that when he himself entered the Temple church to beprofessed, the door by which he entered was closed after him; thatthere was another door looking into the cemetery, but that nostranger could enter that way. On being asked why none but thebrethren of the order were permitted to be present at the receptionand profession of brothers, he said he knew of no reason, but that itwas so written in their book of rules.Between the 25th of October and the 17th of November, thirty-threeknights, chaplains, and serving brothers, were examined, all ofwhom positively denied every article imputing crime or infidelity totheir order. When Brother Himbert Blanke was asked why they hadmade the reception and profession of brethren secret, he replied,“Through their own unaccountable folly.” They avowed that theywore little cords round their shirts, but for no bad end; theydeclared that they never touched idols with them, but that theywere worn by way of penance, or according to a knight of forty-290

three years’ standing, by the instruction of the holy father St.Bernard. Brother Richard de Goldyngham says that he knowsnothing further about them than that they were called girdles ofchastity. They stated that the receivers and the party receivedkissed one another on the face, but everything else regarding thekissing was false, abominable, and had never been done.Brother Radulph de Barton, priest of the order of the Temple, andguardian of the Temple church at London, stated, with regard toArticle 24, that the Grand Master in chapter could absolve thebrothers from offences committed against the rules andobservances of the order, but not from private sin, as he was not apriest; that it was perfectly true that those who were received intothe order swore not to reveal the secrets of the chapter, and thatwhen any one was punished in the chapter, those who were presentat it did not reveal it to such as were absent; but if any brotherrevealed the mode of his reception, he would be deprived of hischamber, or else stripped of his habit. He declares that the brethrenwere not prohibited from confessing to priests not belonging to theorder of the Temple; and that he had never heard of the crimes andiniquities mentioned in the articles of inquiry previous to his arrest,except as regarded the charges made against the order by BernardPeletin, when he came to England from king Philip of France. Hestates that he had been guardian of the Temple church for ten years,and for the last two years had enjoyed the dignity of preceptor atthe same place. He was asked about the death of Brother Walter leBachelor, knight, formerly Preceptor of Ireland, who died at theTemple at London, but be declares that he knows nothing about it,except that the said Walter was fettered and placed in prison, andthere died; that he certainly had heard that great severity had beenpracticed towards him, but that he had not meddled with the affairon account of the danger of so doing; he admitted also that theaforesaid Walter was not buried in the cemetery of the Temple, ashe was considered excommunicated on account of his disobedienceof his superior, and of the rule of the order.291

Many of the brethren thus examined had been from twenty to thirty,forty, forty-two, and forty-three years in the order, and some wereold veteran warriors who had fought for many a long year in theEast, and richly merited a better fate. Brother Himbert Blanke,knight, Preceptor of Auvergne, had been in the order thirty-eightyears. He was received at the city of Tyre in Palestine, had beenengaged in constant warfare against the infidels, and had fought tothe last in defense of Acre. He makes in substance the samestatements as the other witnesses; declares that no religious orderbelieves the sacrament of the altar better than the Templars; thatthey truly believed all that the church taught, and had always doneso, and that if the Grand Master had confessed the contrary, he hadlied. Brother Robert le Scott, knight, a brother of twenty-six years’standing, had been received at the Pilgrim’s Castle, the famousfortress of the Knights Templars in Palestine, by the Grand Master,Brother William de Beaujeu, the hero who died so gloriously at thehead of his knights at the last siege and storming of Acre. He statesthat from levity of disposition he quitted the order after it had beendriven out of Palestine, and absented himself for two years, duringwhich period he came to Rome, and confessed to the Pope’spenitentiary, who imposed on him a heavy penance, and enjoinedhim to return to his brethren in the East, and that he went back andresumed his habit at Nicosia in the island of Cyprus, and was readmittedto the order by command of the Grand Master, Jacques deMolay, who was then at the head of the convent. He adds, also, thatBrother Himbert Blanke (the previous witness) was present at hisfirst reception at the Pilgrim’s Castle. He fully corroborates all theforegoing testimony.Brother Richard de Peitevyn, a member of forty-two years’ standing,deposes that, in addition to the previous oaths, he swore that hewould never bear arms against Christians except in his own defense,or in defense of the rights of the order; he declares that theenormities mentioned in the articles were never heard of beforeBernard Peletin brought letters to his lord, the king of England,against the Templars.292

On the 22nd day of the inquiry, the following entry was made on therecord of the proceedings:--“Memorandum. Brothers Philip de Mewes, Thomas de Burton, andThomas de Staundon, were advised and earnestly exhorted toabandon their religious profession, who severally replied that theywould rather die than do so.” [137]On the 19th and 20th of November, seven lay witnesses,unconnected with the order, were examined before the inquisitorsin the chapel of the monastery of the Holy Trinity, but could provenothing against the Templars that was criminal or tainted withheresy.Master William le Dorturer, notary public, declared that theTemplars rose at midnight, and held their chapters before dawn,and he thought that the mystery and secrecy of the receptions wereowing to a bad rather than a good motive, but declared that he hadnever observed that they had acquired, or had attempted to acquire,anything unjustly. Master Gilbert de Bruere, clerk, said that he hadnever suspected them of anything worse than an excessivecorrection of the brethren. William Lambert, formerly a “messengerof the Temple(nuntius Templi),” knew nothing bad of the Templars,and thought them perfectly innocent of all the matters alluded to.And Richard de Barton, priest, and Radulph de Rayndon, an oldman, both declared that they knew nothing of the order, or of themembers of it, but what was good and honorable.On the 25th of November, a provincial council of the church,summoned by the archbishop of Canterbury, in obedience to a papalbull, assembled in the cathedral church of St. Paul. It was composedof the bishops, abbots, priors, heads of colleges, and all the principalclergy, who were called together to treat of the reformation of theEnglish church, of the recovery and preservation of the Holy Land,and to pronounce sentence of absolution or of condemnationagainst singular persons of the order of the chivalry of the Templein the province of Canterbury, according to the tenor of the293

apostolical mandate. The council was opened by the archbishop ofCanterbury, who rode to St. Paul’s on horseback. The bishop ofNorwich celebrated the mass of the Holy Ghost at the great altar,and the archbishop preached a sermon in Latin upon the 20thchapter of the Acts of the Apostles; after which a papal bull wasread, in which the holy pontiff dwells most pathetically upon theawful sins of the Templars, and their great and tremendous fall fromtheir previous high estate. Up till then, he says, they have beenrenowned throughout the world as the special champions of thefaith, and the chief defenders of the Holy Land, whose affairs havebeen mainly regulated by those brothers. The church, followingthem and their order with the plenitude of its especial favor andregard, armed them with the emblem of the cross against theenemies of Christ, exalted them with much honor, enriched themwith wealth, and fortified them with various liberties and privileges.The holy pontiff presented the unhappy report of their sins andiniquities which reached his ears, filled him with bitterness andgrief, disturbed his repose, smote him with horror, injured hishealth, and caused his body to waste away! He gave a long accountof the crimes imputed to the order, of the confessions anddepositions that had been made in France, and then bursts out intoa paroxysm of grief, declares that the melancholy affair deeplymoved all the faithful, that all Christianity was shedding bitter tears,was overwhelmed with grief, and clothed with mourning. Heconcluded by decreeing the assembly of a general council of thechurch at Vienne to pronounce the abolition of the order, and todetermine on the disposal of its property, to which council theEnglish clergy are required to send representatives [137].After the reading of the bulls and the closing of the preliminaryproceedings, the council occupied themselves for six days withecclesiastical matters; and on the seventh day, being Tuesday,December 2nd, all the bishops and members assembled in thechamber of the archbishop of Canterbury in Lambeth palace, incompany with the papal inquisitors, who displayed before them thedepositions and replies of the forty-three Templars, and of the294

seven witnesses previously examined. It was decreed that a copy ofthese depositions and replies should be furnished to each of thebishops, and that the council should stand adjourned until the nextday, to give time for deliberation upon the premises.On the following day, accordingly, (Wednesday, December the 3rd,)the council met, and decided that the inquisitors and three bishopsshould seek an audience of the king, and beseech him to permitthem to proceed against the Templars in the way that should seemto them the best and most expedient for the purpose of eliciting thetruth. On Sunday, the 7th, the bishops petitioned his majesty inwriting, and on the following Tuesday they went before him withthe inquisitors, and implored him that they might proceed againstthe Templars according to the ecclesiastical constitutions, and thathe would instruct his sheriffs and officers to that effect. The kinggave a written answer complying with their request, which wasread before the council [137], and, on the 16th of December, orderswere sent to the jailers, commanding them to permit the prelatesand inquisitors to do with the bodies of the Templars that whichshould seem expedient to them according to ecclesiastical law.Many Templars were at this period wandering about the countrydisguised as secular persons, successfully evading pursuit, and thesheriffs were strictly commanded to use every exertion to capturethem [205]. On Wednesday, the ecclesiastical council again met,and adjourned for the purpose of enabling the inquisitors toexamine the prisoners confined in the castles of Lincoln and of York.In Scotland, in the mean time, similar proceedings had beeninstituted against the order [205]. On the 17th of November,Brother Walter de Clifton being examined in the parish church ofthe Holy Cross at Edinburgh, before the bishop of St. Andrews andJohn de Solerio, the pope’s chaplain, states that the brethren of theorder of the Temple in the kingdom of Scotland received theirorders, rules, and observances from the Master of the Temple inEngland, and that the Master in England received the rules andobservances of the order from the Grand Master and the chiefconvent in the East; that the Grand Master or his deputy was in the295

habit of visiting the order in England and elsewhere; of summoningchapters, and making regulations for the conduct of the brethrenand the administration of their property. Being asked as to themode of his reception, he states that when William de la More, theMaster, held his chapter at the preceptory of Temple Bruere in thecounty of Lincoln, he sought of the assembled brethren the habitand the fellowship of the order; that they told him that he littleknew what it was he asked, in seeking to be admitted to theirfellowship; that it would be a very hard matter for him, who wasthen his own master, to become the servant of another, and to haveno will of his own; but notwithstanding their representations of therigor of their rules and observances, he still continued earnestly toseek their habit and fellowship. He states that they then led him tothe chamber of the Master, where they held their chapter, and thatthere, on his bended knees, and with his hands clasped, he againprayed for the habit and the fellowship of the Temple; that theMaster and the brethren then required him to answer questions tothe following effect:--Whether he had a dispute with any man, orowed any debts? whether he was betrothed to any woman? andwhether he had any secret infirmity of body? or knew of anything toprevent him from remaining within the bosom of the fraternity?And having answered all those questions satisfactorily, the Masterthen asked of the surrounding brethren, “Do you give your consent tothe reception of brother Walter?” who unanimously answered thatthey did; and the Master and the brethren then standing up,received him the said Walter in this manner. On his bended knees,and with his hands joined, he solemnly promised that he would bethe perpetual servant of the Master, and of the order, and of thebrethren, for the purpose of defending the Holy Land. Having donethis, the Master took out of the hands of a brother chaplain of theorder the book of the holy gospels, upon which was depicted across, and laying his hands upon the book and upon the cross, heswore to God and the blessed Virgin Mary to be for ever thereafterchaste, obedient, and to live without property. And then the Mastergave to him the white mantle, and placed the coif on his head, andadmitted him to the kiss on the mouth, after which he made him sit296

down on the ground, and admonished him to the following effect:that from thenceforth he was to sleep in his shirt, drawers, andstockings, girded with a small cord over his shirt; that he was neverto tarry in a house where there was a woman in the family way;never to be present at a marriage, nor at the purification of women;and likewise instructed and informed him upon several otherparticulars. Being asked where he had passed his time since hisreception, he replied that he had dwelt three years at the preceptoryof Blancradok in Scotland; three years at Temple Newsom inEngland; one year at the Temple at London, and three years atAslakeby. Being asked concerning the other brothers in Scotland,he stated that John de Hueflete was Preceptor of Blancradok, thechief house of the order in that country, and that he and the otherbrethren, having heard of the arrest of the Templars, threw off theirhabits and fled, and that he had not since heard aught concerningthem.Brother William de Middleton, being examined, gave the sameaccount of his reception, and added that he remembered thatbrother William de la More, the Master in England, went, inobedience to a summons, to the Grand Master beyond sea, as thesuperior of the whole order, and that in his absence Brother Hughde Peraut, the visitor, removed several preceptors from theirpreceptories in England, and put others in their places. He furtherstates, that he swore he would never receive any service at thehands of a woman, not even water to wash his hands with.After the examination of the above two Templars, forty-onewitnesses, chiefly abbots, priors, monks, priests, and serving men,and retainers of the order in Scotland, were examined upon variousinterrogatories, but nothing of a criminal nature was elicited. Themonks observed that the receptions of other orders were public,and were celebrated as great religious solemnities, and the friends,parents, and neighbors of the party about to take the vows wereinvited to attend; that the Templars, on the other hand, shroudedtheir proceedings in mystery and secrecy, and therefore theysuspected the worst. The priests thought they were guilty, because297

they were always against the church! Others condemned thembecause (as they say) the Templars closed their doors against thepoor and the humble, and extended hospitality only to the rich andthe powerful. The abbot of the monastery of the Holy Cross atEdinburgh declared that they appropriated to themselves theproperty of their neighbors, right or wrong. The abbot of Dumferlynknew nothing of his own knowledge against them, but had heardmuch, and suspected more. The serving men and the tillers of thelands of the order stated that the chapters were held sometimes bynight and sometimes by day, with extraordinary secrecy; and someof the witnesses had heard old men say that the Templars would“never have lost the Holy Land, if they had been good Christians 36 !”[167]JACQUES DE MOLAY A.D. 1310.On the 9th of January, A.D. 1310, the examination of witnesses wasresumed at London, in the parish church of St. Dunstan’s West, nearthe Temple. The rector of the church of St. Mary de la Strodedeclared that he had strong suspicions of the guilt of the Templars;he had, however, often been at the Temple church, and hadobserved that the priests performed divine service there just thesame as elsewhere. William de Cumbrook, of St. Clement’s church,near the Temple, the vicar of St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields, and manyother priests and clergymen of different churches in London, alldeclared that they had nothing to allege against the order [167].On the 27th of January, Brother John de Stoke, a serving brother ofthe order of the Temple, of seventeen years’ standing, beingexamined by the inquisitors in the chapel of the Blessed Mary ofBerkyngecherche at London, states, amongst other things, thatsecular persons were allowed to be present at the burial ofTemplars; that the brethren of the order all received the sacramentsof the church at their last hour, and were attended to the grave by achaplain of the Temple. Being interrogated concerning the deathand burial of the Knight Templar Brother Walter le Bachelor, hedeposes that the said knight was buried like any other Christian,298

except that he was not buried in the burying-ground, but in thecourt, of the house of the Temple at London; that he confessed toBrother Richard de Grafton, a priest of the order, then in the islandof Cyprus, and partook, as he believed, of the sacrament. He statesthat he himself and Brother Radulph de Barton carried him to hisgrave at the dawn of day, and that the deceased knight was inprison, as he believes, for the space of eight weeks; that he was notburied in the habit of his order, and was interred without thecemetery of the brethren, because he was considered to beexcommunicated, in pursuance, as he believed, of a rule or statuteamong the Templars, to the effect that every one who privatelymade away with the property of the order, and did not acknowledgehis fault, was deemed excommunicated. Being asked in whatrespect he considered that his order required reformation, hereplied, “By the establishment of a probation of one year, and bymaking the receptions public.”Two other Templars were examined on the same 27th day ofJanuary, from whose depositions it appears that there were at thattime many brethren of the order, natives of England, in the island ofCyprus.On the 29th of January, the inquisitors exhibited twenty-four fresharticles against the prisoners, drawn up in an artful manner. Theywere asked if they knew anything of the crimes mentioned in thepapal bulls, and confessed by the Grand Master, the heads of theorder, and many knights in France; and whether they knew ofanything sinful or dishonorable against the Master of the Temple inEngland, or the preceptors, or any of the brethren. They were thenrequired to say whether the same rules, customs, and observancesdid not prevail throughout the entire order; whether the GrandPreceptors, and especially the Grand Preceptor of England, did notreceive all the observances and regulations from the Grand Master;and whether the Grand Preceptors and all the brethren of the orderin England did not observe them in the same mode as the GrandMaster, and visitors, and the brethren in Cyprus and in Italy, and inthe other kingdoms, provinces, and preceptories of the order;299

whether the observances and regulations were not commonlydelivered by the visitors to the Grand Preceptor of England; andwhether the brothers received in England or elsewhere had not oftheir own free will confessed what these observances were. Theywere, moreover, required to state whether a bell was rung, or othersignal given, to notify the time of the assembling of the chapter;whether all the brethren, without exception, were summoned and inthe habit of attending; whether the Grand Master could relaxpenances imposed by the regular clergy; whether they believed thatthe Grand Preceptor or visitor could absolve a layman who hadbeen excommunicated for laying hands on a brother or lay servantof the order; and whether they believed that any brother of theorder could absolve from the sin of perjury a lay servant, when hecame to receive the discipline in the Temple-hall, and the servingbrother scourged him in the name of the Father, and of the Son, andof the Holy Ghost, etc.Between the 29th of January and the 6th of February, thirty-fourTemplars, many of whom appeared for the first time before theinquisitors, were examined upon these articles in the churches of St.Botolph without Aldgate, St. Alphage near Cripplegate, and St.Martin de Ludgate, London. They denied everything of a criminalnature, and declared that the abominations mentioned in theconfessions and depositions made in France were not observancesof the order; that the Grand Master, Preceptors, visitors, andbrethren in France had never observed such things, and if they saidthey had, they lied. They declared that the Grand Preceptor andbrethren in England were all good men, worthy of faith, and wouldnot deviate from the truth by reason of hatred of any man, for favor,reward, or any other cause; that there had been no suspicion inEngland against them, and no evil reports current against the orderbefore the publication of the papal bull, and they did not think thatany good man would believe the contents of the articles to be true.From the statements of the prisoners, it appears that the bell of theTemple was rung to notify the assembling of the chapter, that thediscipline was administered in the hall, in the presence of the300

assembled brethren, by the Master, who punished the delinquent onthe bare back with a scourge made of leathern thongs, after whichhe himself absolved the offender from the guilt of a transgressionagainst the rule of the order; but if he had been guilty of immoralconduct, he was sent to the priest for absolution. It appears also,that Brother Jacques de Molay, before his elevation to the office ofGrand Master, was visitor of the order in England, and had heldchapters or assemblies of the brethren, at which he had enforcedcertain rules and regulations; that all the orders came from theGrand Master and chief convent in the East to the Grand Preceptorof England, who caused them to be published at the differentpreceptories [167].On the 1st of March, the king sent orders to the constable of theTower, and to the sheriffs of Lincoln and of York, to obey thedirections of the inquisitors, or of one bishop and of one inquisitor,with regard to the confinement of the Templars in separate cells,and he assigns William de Diene to assist the inquisitors in theirarrangements. Similar orders were shortly afterwards sent to allthe jailers of the Templars in the English dominions [205].On the 3rd of March five fresh interrogatories were exhibited by theinquisitors, upon which thirty-one Templars were examined at thepalace of the bishop of London, the chapel of St. Alphage, and thechapter-house of the Holy Trinity. They were chiefly concerning thereception and profession of the brethren, the number that eachexaminant had seen received, their names, and as to whether theburials of the order were conducted in a clandestine manner. Fromthe replies it appears that many Templars had died during theirimprisonment in the Tower. The twenty-sixth prisoner examinedwas the Master of the Temple, Brother William de la More, whogives an account of the number of persons he had admitted into theorder during the period of his mastership, specifying their names. Itis stated that many of the parishioners of the parish adjoining theNew Temple had been present at the interment of the brethren ofthe fraternity, and that the burials were not conducted in aclandestine manner.301

In Ireland, in the mean time, similar proceedings against the orderhad been carried on. Between the 11th of February and the 23rd ofMay, thirty Templars were examined in Saint Patrick’s Church,Dublin, by Master John de Mareshall, the pope’s commissary, but noevidence of their guilt was obtained. Forty-one witnesses were thenheard, nearly all of whom were monks. They spoke merely fromhearsay and suspicion, and the gravest charges brought by themagainst the fraternity appear to be, that the Templars had beenobserved to be inattentive to the reading of the holy Gospels atchurch, and to have cast their eyes on the ground at the period ofthe elevation of the host [205].On the 30th of March the papal inquisitors opened their commissionat Lincoln, and between that day and the 10th of April twentyTemplars were examined in the chapter-house of the cathedral,amongst whom were some of the veteran warriors of Palestine, menwho had moistened with their blood the distant plains of the farEast in defense of that faith which they were now so infamouslyaccused of having repudiated. Brother William de Winchester, amember of twenty-six years’ standing, had been received into theorder at the castle de la Roca Guille in the province of Armenia,bordering on Palestine, by the valiant Grand Master William deBeaujeu. He states that the same mode of reception existed there asin England, and everywhere throughout the order. Brother Robertde Hamilton declares that the girdles were worn from an honorablemotive, that they were called the girdles of Nazareth, because theyhad been pressed against the column of the Virgin at that place, andwere worn in remembrance of the blessed Mary; but he says thatthe brethren were not compelled to wear them, but might make useof any girdle that they liked. With regard to the confessions made inFrance, they all say that if their brethren in that country confessedsuch things, they lied 37 ! [167]At York the examination commenced on the 28th of April, and lasteduntil the 4th of May, during which period twenty-three Templars,prisoners in York Castle, were examined in the chapter-house of thecathedral, and followed the example of their brethren in302

maintaining their innocence. Brother Thomas de Stanford, amember of thirty years’ standing, had been received in the East bythe Grand Master William de Beaujeu, and Brother Radulph deRostona, a priest of the order, of twenty-three years’ standing, hadbeen received at the preceptory of Lentini in Sicily by BrotherWilliam de Canello, the Grand Preceptor of Sicily. Brother Stephende Radenhall refused to reveal the mode of reception, because itformed part of the secrets of the chapter, and if he discovered themhe would lose his chamber, be stripped of his mantle, or becommitted to prison [167].On the 20th of May, in obedience to the mandate of the archbishopof York, an ecclesiastical council of the bishops and clergyassembled in the cathedral. The mass of the Holy Ghost wassolemnly celebrated, after which the archbishop preached a sermon,and then caused to be read to the assembled clergy the papal bullsfulminated against the order of the Temple. [248] He exhibited tothem the articles upon which the Templars had been directed to beexamined; but as the inquiry was still pending, the council wasadjourned until the 23rd of June of the following year, when theywere to meet to pass sentence of condemnation, or of absolution,against all the members of the order in the province of York, inconformity with ecclesiastical law [167].On the 1st of June the examination was resumed before the papalinquisitors at Lincoln. Sixteen Templars were examined uponpoints connected with the secret proceedings in the general andparticular chapters of the order, the imposition of penances therein,and the nature of the absolution granted by the Master. From thereplies it appears that the penitents were scourged three times withleathern thongs, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of theHoly Ghost, after which they were absolved either by the Master orby a priest of the order, according to the particular circumstances ofeach case. It appears, also, that none but preceptors were present atthe general chapters of the order, which were called togetherprincipally for the purpose of obtaining money to send to the GrandMaster and the chief convent in Palestine [167].303

After closing the examinations at Lincoln, the abbot of Lagny andthe canon of Narbonne returned to London, and immediatelyresumed the inquiry in that city. On the 8th and 9th days of June,Brother William de la More, the Master of the Temple, and thirtyeightof his knights, chaplains, and sergeants, were examined by theinquisitors in the presence of the bishops of London andChichester 38 , and the before-mentioned public notaries, in thepriory of the Holy Trinity. They were interrogated for the most partconcerning the penances imposed, and the absolution pronouncedin the chapters. The Master of the Temple was required to statewhat were the precise words uttered by him, as the president of thechapter, when a penitent brother, having bared his back andacknowledged his fault, came into his presence and received thediscipline of the leathern thongs. He swore that after a brother hadconfessed his faults and bared his back before those in the chaptermeeting, the presiding officer flagellated him three times telling theoffender to ask God to pardon him, and telling him to say apaternoster. He warned him to take care not to repeat the sin. Heinsisted, nevertheless, that as master he never said ‘I absolve you inthe name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit’. [249] BrotherWilliam de Sautre, however, declares that the president of thechapter, after he had finished the flagellation of a penitent brother,said, “I forgive you, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and ofthe Holy Ghost,” and then sent him to a priest of the order forabsolution; and the other witnesses vary in their account of theexact words uttered, either because they were determined, inobedience to their oaths, not to reveal what actually did take place,or else (which is very probable) because the same form ofproceeding was not always rigidly adhered to [167].When the examination was closed, the inquisitors drew up amemorandum, showing that, from the apostolical letters, and thedepositions and attestations of the witnesses, it was to be collectedthat certain practices had crept into the order of the Temple, whichwere not consistent with the orthodox faith [167].304

Notes1 “En celle an qu’ai lointains or endroit, Et ne sait a tort ou a droit, Furent leTempliers, sans douter, Tous pris par le royaume de France. Au mois d’Octobre, aupoint du jour, Et un vendredi fate le jour.” Chron. MS.2 Jacques de Molay (c. 1240/1250 – March 1314[1]) was the 23rd and last GrandMaster of the Knights Templar, leading the Order from 20 April 1292 until it wasdissolved by order of Pope Clement V in 1312. Though little is known of his actuallife and deeds except for his last years as Grand Master, he is the best knownTemplar, along with the Order's founder and first Grand Master, Hugues de Payens(1070–1136). Jacques de Molay's goal as Grand Master was to reform the Order,and adjust it to the situation in the Holy Land during the waning days of theCrusades. As European support for the Crusades had dwindled, other forces wereat work which sought to disband the Order and claim the wealth of the Templars astheir own. King Philip IV of France, deeply in debt to the Templars, had de Molayand many other French Templars arrested in 1307 and tortured into making falseconfessions. When de Molay later retracted his confession, Philip had him burnedat the stake on an island in the River Seine in Paris, in March 1314. The sudden endof both the centuries-old order of Templars, and the dramatic execution of its lastleader, turned de Molay into a legendary figure. The fraternal order ofFreemasonry has also drawn upon the Templar mystique for its own rituals andlore, and today there are many modern organizations which draw their inspirationfrom the memory of de Molay.3 Omne Datum Optimum (Latin for “Every perfect gift”, a quotation from the Epistleof James) was a Papal Bull issued by Pope Innocent II in 1139 that initiallyendorsed the Order of the Poor Knights of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon(Knights Templar), in which the Templar Rule was officially approved, and papalprotection given. Additionally, Omne Datum Optimum promised all spoils fromMuslim conquest to the Order, and made the Order exempt from tithes and taxes:4 To issue a thunderous verbal attack or denunciation.5 Charitable donations of money or goods to the poor or needy.6 Something offered, especially the bread and wine of the Eucharist, or any offeringmade for religious or charitable purposes.7 “Ipse vero Rex et Petrus thesaurum ipsius episcopi, apud Novum Templum Londoniisreconditum, ceperunt, ad summam quinquaginta millia librarum argenti, præteraurum multum, jocalia et lapides preciosos. . . . Erant enim ambo præsentes, cumcistæ frangerentur, et adhuc non erat sepultum corpus patris sui.” (tr. Latin: “PeterKing and his treasure, but he was the bishop of London in the new temple hiddenaway, took it to the sum of fifty thousand pounds of silver, in addition to much gold,jewels and precious stones. ... For they were both present, with broken chest, butnot the body of his father was buried.”)305

8 Philip the Fair French: Philippe le Bel (April-June 1268 – 29 November 1314) was,as Philip IV, King of France from 1285 until his death. He was the husband of Joan Iof Navarre, by virtue of which he was, as Philip I, King of Navarre and Count ofChampagne from 1284 to 1305.9 Louis IX (25 April 1214 – 25 August 1270), commonly Saint Louis, was King ofFrance from 1226 until his death. He was also styled Louis II, Count of Artois from1226 to 1237. Born at Poissy, near Paris, he was an eighth-generation descendantof Hugh Capet, and thus a member of the House of Capet, and the son of Louis VIIIand Blanche of Castile. He worked with the Parliament of Paris in order to improvethe professionalism of his legal administration.10 Dante styles him “il mal di Francia” (tr. Latin: of those evil gods France).11 The Exchequer is a government department of the United Kingdom responsiblefor the management and collection of taxation and other government revenues.The historical Exchequer developed judicial roles. It was named after the chequerpatternedtable used in the medieval period for financial calculations.12 Of or relating to the Roman Catholic Church.13 Questo Papa sue uomo molto cupido di moneta, e sue lussuria, si dices the tenea peramica la contessa di Paragordo, bellissima donna!! (tr: Latin/Italian: This Pope'sman very greedy for money, and its luxurious, it dices the Girls I held the Countessof Paragordo, beautiful Woman!). “bellissima donna” is Italian, meaning “beautifulwoman”.14 Noffo Dei, a Florentine, was an unpleasant fellow described by a contemporarywriter as ‘a man full of all iniquity’.15 One of the royal officials of medieval France. The position of the bailli as thehighest administrative figure in the region of his jurisdiction (bailliage) wasestablished in northern France in the late 12th century. The bailli had very broadpowers, chiefly judicial. In the 15th and 16th centuries the bailli’s range offunctions was narrowed, and his significance declined. During the FrenchRevolution the bailli’s post was abolished.16 A seneschal was an officer in the houses of important nobles in the Middle Ages.17 Translated from a combination of Fench and Old French: “un lieu creux ou cave enterre, fort obscur, en laquelle ils avoient un image en forme d’un homme, sur lequel ilsavoient appliqué la peau d’un corps humain, et mis deux clairs et lui sansescarboucles au lieu des deux yeux. A cette horrible statue etoient contraints desacrifier ceux qui vouloient etre de leur damnable religion, lesquels avant toutesceremonies ils contragnoient de renier Jesus Christ, et fouler la croix avec les pieds, etapres ce maudit sacre auquel assistoient femmes et filles (seduites pour etre de cesecte) ils estegnoient les lampes et lumieres qu’ils avoient en cett cave. … Et s’iladvenoit que d’un Templier et d’un pucelle nasquit, un fils, ils se rangoit tous en unrond, et se jettoient cet enfant de main en main, et ne cessoient de le jetter jusqu’a ce306

qu’il fu mort entre leurs mains: etant mort ils se rotissoient (chose execrable) et de lagraisse ils en ognoient leur grand statue!”18 In pre-industrial Europe the word “myrmidon” carried many of the sameconnotations that “minion” does today. Myrmidon later came to mean “hiredruffian” (according to the Oxford English Dictionary) or “a loyal follower, especiallyone who executes orders without question, protest, or pity - unquestioningfollowers.” (Dictionary.com).19 A commissary is someone delegated by a superior to execute a duty or an office;in a formal, legal context, one who has received power from a legitimate superiorauthority to pass judgment in a certain cause or to take information concerning it.20 “Fuit quæstionibus ponderibus appensis in genitalibus, et in alibi membris usque adexanimationem.” (tr. Latin: “questions weights was nailed to the genitals, and inother places, even to the members exanimationem.”)21 In Thomas Rymer’s Foedera, volume 3, pp. 35-37, dated at Redyng, 4th day ofDecember. Similar letters were directed to the Dinis king of Portugal, belovedfriend, Ferdinand IV king Castillo, kinsman of the king, Frederick III king of Sicily,and James II king of Aragon: “Magnifico Principi, Domino Dionisio, Dei gratia, RegiPortugalliae illustri, amico suo karissimo, Edwardus, eadem gratia, Rex Angliae, &c.salutem & felices ad vota successus. / Illos, quos, pro defensione fidei Catholicae acimpugnatione hostium Crucis Christi, actus strenui laborisque prolixitasrecommendant, decet, & convenit, prout ad honorem Dei &; exaltationem fidei fidei,prosequi cum favore. Sane nuper , ad nostram accedens praesentiam, qui damClericus, qui ad subvertendum ordinem fratrum Militiae Templi Jerosalem apposuit,ut videbatur, omni studio, quo potuit, vires suas, / Nonnulla horrenda, & detestabilia,ac fidei Catholicae repugnantia coram nobis, in Consilio nostro, in diffamationem[diffamare] fratrum Praedicatorum, proponere tunc praesumpsit; cupiens nosinducere, tum per ea quae sic proposuit, tum etiam per litteras quorumdam, quasnobis dirigi procura verat ex hac causa, ut fratres ordinis praedicti, infra nostrumDominium commorantes, occasione praemissorum, fine debita causae cogoitione ,carcerali custodiae traderemus. / Considerantes autem quod ordo praedictus, quireligione & honestate praeclarus, & ab olim a Catholicis Patribus extitit, ut didicimus,institutus, devotionem debitam exhibet, &, a tempore suae fundationis, exhibuit Deo &Ecclesiae suae Sanctae : Necnon magnum hucusque , pro salvatione fidei Catholicae,in ultramarinis panibus subsidium praestitit & tutelam ; / Hujusmodi suggestioni, defratribus ordinis praedicti propositae, & hactenos inauditae, fidem credulamadhibendam fuisse nobis minime videbatur. / Vestram igitur Regiam Majestatemaffectuose requirimus & rogamus, quatinus, praemissis cum diligentia debitaponderatis, aures vestras a perversorum detractionibus, qui, ut credimus, non zelorectitudinis, set cupiditatis & invidiae spiritibus excitantur, advertere velitis ; /Nullam indeliberate fratribus ordinis praedicti, in Regno vestro commorantibus, adcujusquam suggestionem, si placet, in personis, aut rebus eorum molestiam inserendo,seu ab aliis inferri permittendo, quousque eos super sibi impetitis Iegaliter convinci ,307

seu aliud contra eos ordinari contigerit in hac parte. / Datum apud Redyng, 4 dieDecembris.” [138]22 Bulla dementis Papae V, directa Regi Angliae, pro captione Templariorum faciendasagaciter uno die, inquisitam eidem Begi quod eodem modo processit Rex Francicecirca captionem Templariorum in regno suo. (tr. Latin: “Bull of Pope 5 a furious man,straight to the King of England, for accurate captivity Templars to be done in oneday, the required of the French King proceeded to the same trap in the same waythat the King's Templars in his kingdom.”)23 Regi Bulla pro captionre Templariorum facienda uno die; quod eodem modoprocessit Rex Franciae, in Thomas Rymer’s Foedera, volume 3, pp. 30-32; full text incorrected modern Latin: “Regi Bulla pro captione Templariorum sacienda uno die;quod eodtm modo processit Rex Franciae / Clemens Episcopus, fervus servorum Dei,Carissimo in Christo Filio, E. Regi Angliae Illustri, salutem & ApostolicamBenedictionem. / Pastoralis praeminentiae Solio, disponente illo qui cuncta disponit,licet immeriti, praesidentes, hoc votis ardentibus affectamus ut, excusso a nobisnegligentiae fomeo circa Gregis Dominici Custodiam, submovendo noxia, & agendoprofutura, animas Deo lūcrifacio, sua nobis cooperante gratia valeamus. / Sanedudum, circa promotionis nostrae principium ad apicem Apostolicae dignitaris, adnostrum quadam levi suggestione pervenit audium. quod abolm de slatu SathanaeTemplariorum ordine, sparso pestiferos generis femine, suberevit ex illo messisodibilis, fructus pestis cros ex sui natura producens, viz, quod templarii, sub religionis,ligioniw pallio Militantes exaerins, in Apostasae persidia intus vixerunt hactenus indetestabili haeretics pravitate. / Caeterum, nunc attendentes quod Ordo ipsorumlongis retro temporibus multae refulsit nobilitatis gratia & decoris, ac magnafidelium devotio di viguit apud eos, quodque tune nullam audiveramus superpraemissis suspicionem, vel infamiam contra ipsoa, & nichilominus, quod a suaeReligionis exordio portaverunt publice signum Crucis, corpora exponentes & bonacontra inimicos fidei pro acquisitione, retentione, ac dēfensione Terrae Sanctae,Domini & Salvatoris nostri Iesum Christi pretioso sanguine consecrate, suggestionipraedicte noluimus aures credulas exhibere. / Verum postea auribus Carissimi inChristo Filii nostri Philippi Reg. Franc. Illustris insonui, quod singuli fratres dictiOrdinis in sui professione, cum ordinem ipsum ingrediuntur, expressis verbisabnegant Dominum Iesum, necnon idolum adorant in sus Capitulis, & alia nefandacommittunt, quae ob ruborem exprimendi sub timēmus ad praesens ; / Propter quodidem Rex, ad requisitionem Inquisitoris haereticae pravitatis, in Regno suogeneraliter a Sede Apostilica deputati, de Praelatorum, Baronum, ac aliorumsapientum deliberatione sollempni, Magistrum, Majorem, & alias singulares personasdicti ordinis, quae tunc erant in Regno suo, una die cum magni excogitata diligentiacapi fecit, Ecclesiae judicio praesentandas, & corem bon mobilia & immobilia salvaeCustodiae assignari damnetur, alioquin pro ipso Ordine fideliter conservanda. /Deinde praefatus Magister dicti Ordinis spontanee conseitus est palam, praesentibusmajoribus Personis Ecclesiasticis Parisius, Magistris in Theologia, & aliiscorruptionem erroris abnegationis Christi in Fratrum professionibus contra primaminstitutionem Ordinis praefati, instigante Sathand, introductam. / Quamplurimi308

etiam Fratres dicti Ordinis, ex diversis partibus dicti Regni Franc. dicta scelera suntconfessi, veram & non simulatam agentes poenitentiam de commistis, prout haecdictus Rex nobis per suas litteras intimavit, & ad nos etiam postmodum pervenerunt,fama publica defferente. / Nos quoque Fratrem unum Milirem dicti Ordinis, magnasgenerositatis & auctoritatis virum, super pravitate jam dicta personaliterexaminavimus., qui dictum facinus abnegationis Jesum Christi;. in ingressu dictiOrdinis, a fe commissum, sponte confesius fuit plenarie coram nobis ; / Et adjecit sevidisse, quod quidam Nobilis. in praesentia ducentorum Fratrum, vel plurium dictiOrdinis, inter quos erant Centum Milites,. vel circa, ultra mare viz. in Regno Cypri, perpraefatum Magistrum dicti Ordinis in Capitulo suo in fratem Templi receptus fuit; /Et ibi, in dictorum Magistri & fratrum praesentia, idem Nobilis, ad mandatum ipsiusMagistri; dictum facinas in sua receptione commisit. / Ex quibus,si in agroplantationis dicti Ordinis, qui ager putabatur esse virtutum, & grandis sublimitatisspeculo prae lucebat, diabolica, quod absit, sint semina feminala, gravi nostra visceracera commotione turbantor. / Sed, si praemissa veritate non nitantur, ea comperia,cessabit turbatio, & secund Deum jocunditas orietur; unde ad investigandumverirattum hujusmodi & mali sine mora proponimus intendere, &, quantum Deusdederit, efficaciter vigilare. / Ea propter, quia, sicut insinuatione multorumaccepimus, super praetextis criminibus conua Templarios ipsos fama seu veriusinfamia quasi continuo suscipit incrementum, & ob hoc urget nos ut in biisconscientia, Officii nostri debitum exeqaamur, / Magnitudinem regiam requirimus;rogamus & hortamur attente, quatinis, quam citius, post receptione praesentium,comode poteris, praedictis omnibus intentia meditatione pensaris, sic prudenter, siccaute, sic secrene, de sapientum Secretariorum tuorum consilio, studeas ordinare,quod omnes, & singulos Templarios Regni tui, & alios qui reperientur in eo, & eorumbona mobilia & immobilia per bonas personas, omni, maxime quo ad bona ipsa,suspicione carentes, meliore modo, quo fieri poterit, capi facias uno die: / Personaseorum faciens, donec tuae Magnificentia scribamus aliud, nostro, & Sedis Apostolicaenomine, in locis, tutis sub fida custodia detineri. / Bona vero ipsorum mobilia &immobilia aliquibus bonis personis, de quibus non sit verisimile quod in hiis, vel insimilibus velint fraudem aliquam adhibere, facias commendari nostro nominefideliter conservanda, quousque per nos aliud fuerit ordinatum. / Quae quidempersonae de dictis bonis omnibus & singulis teneantur in praesentia fratrumquorumlibet domorum dicti Ordinis, & aliarum plurium bonarum Perfonarum, &maxime dictis domibus vicinarum, inventaria facere, &, cum tempus fuerit, plenam deipsis reddere rationem. / Quarum personarum depositariarum, propter honoremtuum, ut melius negotum sine bonorum direptionis & dissipationis suspicioneprocedat, nullae sint de tuis Officialibus servientibus, vel aliis servitor ibusquibuscumque. / Provisorus quod Terrae, ac Vineae Templariorum ipsorum, eorumexpensis more solito excolantur; ut bona ipsa dictis Templariis, si reperianturinnocentes, alioquin pro Terrae Sancta integre conserventur. / Taliter te super hiishabiturus , quod exinde, praeter humanae laudis praeconium, apud Deum, cujus inhac parte negotium agitur, gratiae tibi proveniat incrementum : Et nichilominus exhoc nostram, & Apostolicae Sedis gratiam plenius merearis. / Quicquid autem superpraemissis fieri jusseris, & quicquid fuerit executioni mandatum, nobis, quod celerius309

fieri pofiit, tuis literis intimare procures. / Dat. Pictavis, 10 Kal. Dec. Pontific. nostriAnno tertio.” [138]24 John of Brittany or Jean de Bretagne (c. 1266 – 17 January 1334) 3rd Earl ofRichmond, was an English nobleman of Breton origin. He entered royal serviceunder Edward I, and fought in the Scottish Wars. On 15 October 1306 he receivedhis father's title of Earl of Richmond. Although he was generally loyal to Edward IIduring the times of baronial opposition, he eventually supported the coup ofIsabella and Mortimer. He then retired to his estates in France, and for the rest ofhis life remained politically inactive.25 When is was determined to suppress the Templars in England, an Order inCouncil was made for their arrest and the seizure of their property; and on the 20thof December, A.D. 1307, secret instructions were sent to Walter de Pederton andHugh de Aldithelegh, the two Justiciaries of Wales, to hols at the King's service acertain number of men in whom he could confide. But when the writs wereafterwards issued for the bringing in of the prisoners, it was found that some of theTemplars had escapes in disquise into the wild and mountainous parts of wales.(from Archaeologia cambrensis, Cambrian Archaeological Association, 1898)26 Robert de Holland, 1st Baron Holand (c. 1283 – 1328) was an English nobleman,born in Lancashire.27 William de la More was one of the few Templars in England who refusedabsolution. As was the case with many of his French brethren, he was prepared todie for Order and its cause. He claimed complete innocence and died in the Towerof London in February of1311 .28 The Battle of Falkirk, which took place on 22 July 1298, was one of the majorbattles in the First War of Scottish Independence. Led by King Edward I of Englandthe English army defeated the Scots led by William Wallace and shortly after thebattle Wallace resigned as Guardian of Scotland.29 Faciens misercordiam (Granting forgiveness) was a papal bull issued by PopeClement V on August 12, 1308, as part of the trial against the Knights Templar. Itcalled for a new Ecumenical council to be held in 1310, and set out some structurefor the collection of depositions from the arrested Templars.30 A suffragan bishop is a bishop subordinate to a metropolitan bishop or diocesanbishop. He or she may be assigned to an area which does not have a cathedral of itsown.31 Various documents issued by the Pope or in his name, e.g. Papal bulls and -briefs.32 Faciens misericordiam describes the interrogation of the leaders at Chinon whichwas not completed until 20 August. Many bulls of about this time are dated 12August, and it appears that a scribe in the papal chancery, perhaps working310

through a large number of undated bulls a few days later, dated them en bloc,probably choosing 12 August because it was the day before Clement left Poitiers.33 “ROBERTUS, permissione divina Cantuariensis archiepiscopus, totius Anglimprimas, venerabilibus fratribus R. Dei gratia London. H. Winton. S. Sarum, I. Lincoln. I.Cicestren. R. Hereford en. W. Wigom. W. Conventren. et Lichefelden. I. Landaven. W.Exonien. R. Elien. I. Norwicen. T. Roffen. D. Meneven. L. Assaven. episcopis; acvenerabilibus viris dominis I. Bathon. et Wellen. et Amario Bangoren. electis,confirmatis, nostrae Cantuarien. ecclesiae, et nostris suffraganeis, salutem, etfraternam in Domino caritatem. Noverit vestra fraternitas, nos literas apostolicasnon cancello, non abolitas, nec in aliqua sui parte, ut prima parte apparuit, vicinitas,vera bulla plumbea pendente, bullae recepisse, tenorem qui sequitur continentes.”34 The first ten items are listed here in Latin as derived from Dugdale [247]: (1)Primo, quod in receptione sua, quandoque post, et quamcito ad hoc commoditatemhabere poterant, abnega-bant Christum, vel Jesum, vel crucifixum, vel quandoqueDeum, et quandoque beatam Virginem, et aliquando omnes sanctos Det, inducti seumoniti per eos, qui ipsos recipiebant. (2) Item, quod communiter fratres hocfaciebant. (3) Item, quod major pars eorum. (4) Item, quod etiam post ipsamreceptionem aliquando. (5) Item, quod receptores dicebant, et dogmatizabant illis,qui reciptebantur, Christum non esse verum Deum;vel quandoque Jesum, velquandoque crucifixum. (6) Item, quod dicebant illis, quos recipiebant, ipsum essefalsum prophetam. (7) Item, quod dicebant ipsum non fuisse passum pro redemptionebumani generis; nee crucifixum, sed pro sceleribus suis. (8) Item, quod nee receptores,nee recepti habebant spem salvationis habendae per ipsum ; et hoc dicebant illis quosrecipiebant; vel equipollens, vel simile. (9) Item, quod faciebant illos, quos recipiebant,conspuent super crucem, sive super sinum vel sculpturam crucis, et imaginem Christi,licet qui recipiebantur interdum conspuent juxta. (10) Item, quod ipsam crucempedibus conculcari faciebant.35 This is a partial transcription of the Templar proceedings based on Bodleian Ms.454, from Conciliae Magnae Britanniae et Hiberniae, ed. D. Wilkins, vol. 2, London,1737, p. 334. There are, however, many important omissions, and a new and fulltext is being prepared by Helen Nicholson.36 “Et ad evidentius præmissorum testimonium reverendus in Christo pater dominusWillielmus, providentiâ divinâ S. Andrew episcopus, et magister Johannes de Solerioprædicti sigilla sua præsenti inquisition appenderunt, et eisdem sigillis postsubscriptionem meam eandem inquisitionem clauserunt. In quorum etiam firmiustestimonium ego Willielmus de Spottiswod auctoritate imperiali notarius quiprædictæ inquisitioni interfui die, anno, et loco prædictis, testibus præsentibus supradictis, signum meum solitum eidem apposui requisitus, et propriâ manu scripsirogatus.” (tr. Latin: “And the testimony of the premises to the more evident theLord William reverend father in Christ, divine providence St. Andrew Bishop, andteacher of the aforesaid John de Solerio hung up their seals to this present inquiry,and my signature to the same after the seals have closed the investigation of thesame. In their testimony even more firmly I was present the day of inquiry311

aforesaid William de Spottiswod the authority of the imperial notary, who, in theyear, and to the place aforesaid, by the witnesses present what has been said above,I applied my standard used to being asked the same, and I have written at therequest of the hand of its own.”)37 “Terrore tormentorum confessi sunt et mentiti.” (tr. Latin: Have confessed theterror of torture and lied.)38 Chichester (Sussex dialect: Chiddester) is a cathedral city in West Sussex, withinthe historic County of Sussex, South-East England. It has a long history as asettlement; its Roman past and its subsequent importance in Anglo-Saxon timesare only its beginnings. It is the seat of a bishopric, with a 12th century cathedral,and is home to some of the oldest churches and buildings in Great Britain.312

CHAPTER 10. 1310 – 1313I see the new Pilate so cruel,That this does not sate him, but no decreeDoor in the Temple bears his sordid sails.Dante. Del Purgatorio. Canto xx. 91 1 .JACQUES DE MOLAY A.D. 1310.Meanwhile, in France, the proceedings against the order hadassumed a most brutal character. Many Templars, both in thecapital and the provinces, had made confessions of guilt whilesuffering upon the rack, but they had no sooner been released fromthe hands of their tormentors, and had recovered their health, thanthey disavowed their confessions, maintained the innocence of theirorder, and appealed to all their gallant actions, in ancient andmodern times, in refutation of the defamations of their enemies.The enraged Philip caused these Templars to be brought before anecclesiastical tribunal convoked at Paris, and the sentence of deathwas passed upon them by the archbishop of Sens 2 , in the followingterms:--“You have avowed,” said he, “that the brethren who are received intothe order of the Temple are compelled to renounce Christ and spitupon the cross, and that you yourselves have participated in thatcrime: you have thus acknowledged that you have fallen into the sin ofheresy. By your confession and repentance you had meritedabsolution, and had once more become reconciled to the church. Asyou have revoked your confession, the church no longer regards youas reconciled, but as having fallen back to your first errors. You are,therefore, relapsed heretics (!) and as such, we condemn you to thefire.” [234]The following morning, (Tuesday, May 12,) in pursuance of thisabsurd and atrocious sentence, fifty-four Templars were handedover to the secular arm, and were led out to execution by the king’sofficers. They were conducted into the open country, in the313

environs of the Porte St. Antoine des Champs at Paris, and wereburnt to death in a most cruel manner before a slow fire. Allhistorians speak with admiration of the heroism and intrepiditywith which they met their fate [241] [244].Many hundred other Templars were dragged from the dungeons ofParis before the archbishop of Sens and his council. Those whomneither the agony of the torture nor the fear of death couldovercome, but who remained steadfast amid all their trials in themaintenance of the innocence of their order, were condemned toperpetual imprisonment as unreconciled heretics; while those who,having made the required confessions of guilt, continued topersevere in them, received absolution, were declared reconciled tothe church, and were set at liberty. Notwithstanding the terrorinspired by these executions, many of the Templars still persisted inthe revocation of their confessions, which they branded as the resultof insufferable torture, and boldly maintained the innocence of theirorder.On the 18th of August, four other Templars were condemned asrelapsed heretics by the council of Sens, and were likewise burnedby the Porte St. Antoine; and it is stated that in summation, ahundred and thirteen Templars were burnt at the stake in Paris.Many others were burned in Lorraine; in Normandy; at Carcassone,and nine, or, according to some writers, twenty-nine, were burnt bythe archbishop of Rheims at Senlis 3 . King Philip’s officers, indeed,not content with their inhuman cruelty towards the living, invadedthe sanctity of the tomb; they dragged a dead Templar, who hadbeen Treasurer of the Temple at Paris, from his grave, and burnt thedecaying corpse as a heretic [240] [241] [244]. In the midst of allthese gruesome atrocities, the examinations continued before theecclesiastical tribunals. Many aged and illustrious warriors, whomerited a better fate, appeared before their judges pale andtrembling. At first they revoked their confessions, declared theirinnocence, and were remanded to prison; and then, panic-stricken,they demanded to be led back before the papal commissioners,where they abandoned their retractions, persisted in their previous314

avowals of guilt, humbly expressed their sorrow and repentance,and were then pardoned, absolved, and reconciled to the church!The torture still continued to be applied, and out of thirty-threeTemplars confined in the chateau d’Alaix, four died in prison, andthe remaining twenty confessed, amongst other things, thefollowing absurdities:--that in the provincial chapter of the orderheld at Montpelier, the Templars set up a head and worshipped it;that the devil often appeared there in the shape of a cat, andconversed with the assembled brethren, and promised them a goodharvest, with the possession of riches, and all kinds of temporalproperty. Some asserted that the head worshipped by the fraternitypossessed a long beard; others that it was a woman’s head; and oneof the prisoners declared that as often as this wonderful head wasadored, a great number of devils made their appearance in theshape of beautiful women ...! [244]We now turn our attention back to the dark page in the history ofthe order in England. All the Templars in custody in this countryhad been examined separately and apart, and had, notwithstanding,agreed in substance to the same effect, and given the same accountof their reception into the order, and of the oaths that they took.Any reasonable and impartial mind would consequently have beensatisfied of the truth of their statements; but it was not the object ofthe inquisitors to obtain evidence of the innocence; but proof of theguilt, of the Order. At first, king Edward the Second, to his honor,forbade the infliction of torture upon the illustrious members of theTemple in his domains—men who had fought and bled forChristendom, and of whose piety and morals he had, a short timebefore, given such ample testimony to the principal sovereigns ofEurope. But the virtuous resolution of the weak king was speedilyovercome by the dominant influence of the Roman pontiff, whowrote to him in the month of June, chastising him for preventing theinquisitors from submitting the Templars to the discipline of therack 4 . [244] Influenced by the admonitions of the pope, and thesolicitations of the clergy, king Edward, on the 26th of August, sentorders to John de Crumbewell, constable of the Tower, to deliver up315

all the Templars in his custody, at the request of the inquisitors, tothe sheriffs of London, in order that the inquisitors might be able toproceed more conveniently and effectually with their inquisition[205]. And on the same day he directed the sheriffs to receive theprisoners from the constable of the Tower, and cause them to beplaced in the custody of jailers appointed by the inquisitors. Once incustody, they were confined in prisons or such other convenientplaces in the city of London as the inquisitors and bishops shouldthink expedient, and generally to permit them to do with the bodiesof the Templars whatever should seem fitting, in accordance withecclesiastical law. He directed, also, that from thenceforth theTemplars should receive their sustenance at the hands of suchnewly-appointed jailers [205].On the Tuesday after the feast of St. Matthew, (Sept. 21st,) theecclesiastical council again assembled at London, and caused theinquisitions and depositions taken against the Templars to be read,which being done, great disputes arose affecting variousmodifications apparent in them. At length, it was ordered that theTemplars should be again confined in separate cells in the prisons ofLondon; that fresh interrogatories 5 should be prepared, to see if bysuch means the truth could be extracted, and if by restrictions andconfinement they would confess nothing further, then the torturewas to be applied; however, it was provided that the examination bytorture should be conducted without the “PERPETUAL MUTILATIONOR DISABLING OF ANY LIMB, AND WITHOUT A VIOLENT EFFUSIONOF BLOOD!” and the inquisitors and the bishops of London andChichester were to notify the result to the archbishop of Canterbury,that he might again convene the assembly for the purpose ofpassing sentence, either of absolution or of condemnation. Havingadopted these resolutions, the council was prorogued 6 , on thefollowing Saturday, de die in diem, until the feast of the Exaltation ofthe Holy Cross, A.D. 1311 7 . [167]On the 6th of October, a fortnight 8 after the above resolution hadbeen formed by the council, the king sent fresh instructions to theconstable of the Tower, and the sheriffs of London, directing them316

to deliver up the Templars, one at a time, or altogether, and receivethem back in the same way, at the will of the inquisitors [205]. Thejailers of these unhappy gentlemen seem to have been moremerciful and considerate than their judges, and to have manifestedthe greatest reluctance to act upon the orders sent from the king.On the 23rd of October, additional peremptory commands 9 wereforwarded to the constable of the Tower, distinctly informing himthat the king, due to his respect for the holy apostolic see, had latelyconceded to the prelates and inquisitors appointed to theinvestigation against the order of the Temple, the power of orderingand disposing of the Templars and their bodies, of examining themby TORTURE or otherwise, and of doing to them whatever theyshould deem expedient, according to the ecclesiastical law; and heagain strictly enjoins the constable to deliver up all the Templars inhis custody, either together or separately, or in any way that theinquisitors or one bishop and one inquisitor may direct, and toreceive them back when required so to do 10 . [205] Correspondingorders were again sent to the sheriffs, commanding them, at therequisition of the inquisitors, to get the Templars out of the hands ofthe constable of the Tower, to guard them in convenient prisons,and to permit certain persons delegated by the inquisitors to seethat the imprisonment was properly carried into effect, to do withthe bodies of the Templars whatever they should think fit accordingto ecclesiastical law. When the inquisitors, or the personsappointed by them, had done with the Templars what they pleased,they were to deliver them back to the constable of the Tower, or hislieutenant, there to be kept in custody as before [205]. Orders werelikewise sent to the constable of the castle of Lincoln, and to themayor and bailiffs of the city of Lincoln, to the same effect. The kingalso directed Roger de Wyngefeld, clerk, guardian of the lands of theTemplars, and William Plummer, sub-guardian of the manor ofCreasing, to furnish to the king’s officers the sums required for thekeep, and for the expenses of the detention of the brethren of theorder [205].317

On the 22nd of November the king disdained to inform the mayor,aldermen, and commonalty of his faithful city of London, that out ofreverence to the pope he had authorized the inquisitors, sent overby his holiness, to question the Templars by TORTURE; he providesthem with the orders he had sent to the constable of the Tower, andto the sheriffs; and he commands them, in case it should be notifiedto them by the inquisitors that the prisons provided by the sheriffswere insufficient for their purposes, to procure fit and convenienthouses in the city, or nearby, for carrying into effect thecontemplated measures; and he graciously informs them that hewill reimburse them all the expenses that may be incurred by themor their officers in fulfilling his commands [205]. Shortlyafterwards, the king again wrote to the mayor, aldermen, andcommonalty of London, informing them that the sheriffs had made areturn to his injunction, to the effect that the four gates (prisons) ofthe city were not under their charge, and that they could nottherefore obtain them for the purposes required; and he commandsthe mayor, aldermen, and commonalty, to place those four gates atthe disposal of the sheriffs [205].On the 12th of December, all the Templars in custody at Lincolnwere, by command of the king, brought up to London, and placed insolitary confinement in different prisons and private housesprovided by the mayor and sheriffs. Shortly afterwards orders weregiven for all the Templars in custody in London to be laden withchains and fetters; the myrmidons of the inquisitors were to beallowed to make periodical visits to see that the imprisonment wasproperly carried into effect, and were to be allowed to TORTURE thebodies of the Templars in any way that they might think fit [205].JACQUES DE MOLAY A.D. 1311.On the 30th of March, A.D. 1311, after some months’ trial of theabove severe measures, the examination was resumed before theinquisitors, and the bishops of London and Chichester, at the severalchurches of St. Martin’s, Ludgate, and St. Botolph’s, Bishopsgate.The Templars had now been in prison in England for the space of318

three years and some months. During the whole of the previouswinter, they had been confined in chains in the dungeons of the cityof London, compelled to receive their scanty supply of food from theofficers of the inquisition, and to suffer from cold, from hunger, andfrom torture. They had been made to endure all the horrors ofsolitary confinement, and had none to comfort or to cheer themduring the long hours of their melancholy captivity. They had beenalready condemned collectively by the pope, as members of aheretical and idolatrous society, and as long as they continued topersist in the truth of their first confessions, and in the avowal oftheir innocence, they were treated as obstinate, unreconciledheretics, living in a state of excommunication, and doomed, whendead, to everlasting punishment in hell. They had heard of themiserable fate of their brethren in France, and they knew that thosewho had confessed crimes of which they had never been guilty, hadbeen immediately declared reconciled to the church, had beenabsolved and set at liberty, and they knew that freedom, pardon,and peace could be immediately purchased by a confession of guilt.Notwithstanding, every Templar enduring this last investigation,persisted in the assertion of his innocence, and in the denial of allknowledge of, or participation in, the crimes and heresies imputedto the order. They declare that everything that was done in theirchapters, in respect of absolution, the reception of brethren, andother matters, was honorable and truthful, and might well andlawfully be done; that it was in no manner heretical or vicious; andthat whatever was done was from the appointment, approbation,and ruling of all the brethren [167]. From their statements, itappears that the Master of the Temple in England was in the habit ofsummoning a general chapter of the order once a year, at which thepreceptors of Ireland and of Scotland were present. These werealways called together to take into consideration the affairs of theHoly Land, and to govern on sending support to their brethren inthe East. At the close of their examination the Templars were againsent back to their dungeons, and laden with chains; and theinquisitors, disappointed of the desired confessions, turned their319

attention to the enemies of the order for the necessary proofs ofguilt.During the month of April, seventy-two witnesses were examined inthe chapter-house of the Holy Trinity. They were nearly all monks,Carmelites, Augustinians, Dominicans, and Franciscans (orMinorites 11 ); their evidence is all hearsay, and the nature of it willbe seen from the following choice cases.“Henry Thanet, an Irish brother, had heard that Brother Hugh deNipurias, who was in this place Mareschal, deserted from the castle ofTortosa in Palestine, and went over to the Saracens by denying thefaith; Said also that he heard, when he was in the parts beyond thesea, that a certain preceptor of the Mount Pelerin [the Pilgrim’sCastle] in Syria was in the habit of making all the brethren he receivedinto the order practice self denial; however, the names of the brothersor of precepts received he does not know. Again, he says, many willsay of the order, which he saw in Cyprus, who did not believe well ofthe sacrament of the altar, or for any other sacraments. Likewise, hehad heard that a certain Templar had in his custody a brazen headwith two faces, which would answer all questions put to it. Also, henever heard that any knight worshipped an idol, except the apostateto Mohammedanism! and the aforesaid Preceptor 12 .” [137]“Master John de Nassington declared that Milo de Stapelton andAdam de Everington, soldiers, told him that they had once beeninvited to a great feast at the city of York together with certain othersoldiers of the preceptory of Templehurst, by a great commander, andthere had been said on the side, that many of the brethren wereassembled there, called for a certain solemn feast, which they held, inthey which a worshiped certain calf 13 .” [137]John de Eure, knight, sheriff of the county of York, deposed that hehad once invited Brother William de la Fenne, Preceptor of Wesdall,to dine with him, and that after dinner the preceptor drew a bookout of his bosom, and delivered it to the knight’s lady to read, whofound a piece of paper fastened into the book, on which were320

written abominable, heretical doctrines, to the effect that Christ wasnot the Son of God, nor born of a virgin, but conceived of the seed ofJoseph, the husband of Mary, after the manner of other men, andthat Christ was not a true but a false prophet, and was not crucifiedfor the redemption of mankind, but for his own sins, and manyother things contrary to the Christian faith. On the production ofthis important evidence, Brother William de la Fenne was called inand interrogated; he admitted that he had dined with the sheriff ofYork, and had lent his lady a book to read, but he swore that he wasignorant of the piece of paper fastened into the book, and of itscontents. It appears that the sheriff of York had kept this dangeroussecret to himself for the space of six years 14 . [137]William de la Forde, a priest, rector of the church of Crofton in thediocese of York, had heard William de Reynbur, priest of the orderof St. Augustine, who was then dead, say, that the Templar, BrotherPatrick of Rippon, son of William of Gloucester, had confessed tohim, that at his entrance into the order, he was led, clothed only inhis shirt and trousers, through a long passage to a secret chamber,and was there made to deny his God and his Savior; that he wasthen shown a representation of the crucifixion, and was told thatsince he had previously honored that emblem he must nowdishonor it and spit upon it, and that he did so. “Item dictum fuit eiquod, depositis brachia, dorsum verteret ad crucifixum (it was alsohim who turned his back on the Crucified),” and this he did bitterlyweeping. After this they brought an image, as it were, of a calf,placed upon au altar, and they told him he must kiss that image, andworship it, and he did so, and after all this they covered up his eyesand led him about, kissing and being kissed by all the brethren, buthe could not recollect in what part. The worthy priest was askedwhen he had first heard all these things, and he replied after thearrest of the brethren by the king’s orders 15 . [137]Robert of Oteringham, senior of the order of Minorites, stated thaton one occasion he was partaking of the hospitality of the Templarsat the preceptory of Ribstane in Yorkshire, and that when grace hadbeen said after supper, the chaplain of the order reprimanded the321

ethren of the Temple, saying to them, “The devil will burn you,” orsome such words; and hearing a bustle amongst them, he got up tosee what was the matter, and, as far as he recollects, he saw one ofthe brothers of the Temple, “brachia depositis, tenentem faciemversus occidentem et posteriora versus altare! (arms down, holdinghis face towards the west and back towards the altar).” Being askedwho it was that did this, he says he does not exactly remember. Hethen goes on to state, that about twenty years before that time, hewas again the guest of the Templars, at the preceptory of Wetherby(query Feriby) in Yorkshire, and when evening came he heard thatthe preceptor was not coming to supper, as he was arranging somerelics that he had brought with him from the Holy Land, andafterwards at midnight he heard a confused noise in the chapel, andgetting up he looked through the keyhole, and saw a great lighttherein, either from a fire or from candles, and on the morrow heasked one of the brethren of the Temple the name of the saint inwhose honor they had celebrated so grand a festival during thenight, and that brother, aghast and turning pale, thinking he hadseen what had been done amongst them, said to him, “Go thy way,and if you love me, or have any regard for your own life, never speakof this matter.” This same “Senior of the Minorites” declares also thathe had seen, in the chapel of the preceptory of Ribstane, a cross,with the image of our Savior nailed upon it, thrown carelessly uponthe altar, and he observed to a certain brother of the Temple, thatthe cross was in a most indecent and improper position, and he wasabout to lift it up and stand it erect, when that same brother calledout to him, “Lay down the cross and depart in peace.” [137]Brother John de Wederal, another Minorite, sent to the inquisitors awritten paper, wherein he stated that he had lately heard in thecountry, that a Templar, named Robert de Baysat, was once seenrunning about a meadow uttering, “Alas! alas! that ever I was born,seeing that I have denied God and sold myself to the devil!” Brother N.de Chinon 16 , another Minorite, had heard that a certain Templar hada son who peeped through a chink in the wall of the chapter-room,and saw a person who was about to be professed, slain because he322

would not deny Christ, and afterwards the boy was asked by hisfather to become a Templar, but refused, and he immediately sharedthe same fate. Twenty witnesses, who were examined in eachother’s presence, merely repeated the above absurdities, or relatedsimilar ones 17 . [137] [167]At this stage of the proceedings, the papal inquisitor, Sicard de Vaur,exhibited two rack-extorted confessions of Templars, which hadbeen obtained in France. The first was from Robert (Berengar) deSt. Just, who had been received into the order by brother Himbert,Grand Preceptor of England, but had been arrested in France, andthere tortured by the myrmidons 18 of Philip. In this confession,Robert de St. Just states that, on his admission to the vows of theTemple, he denied Christ, and spat beside the cross. The secondconfession had been extorted from Geoffrey de Gonneville, Knight ofthe Order of the Temple, Preceptor of Aquitaine and Poitou, and hadbeen given on the 15th of November, A.D. 1307, before the grandinquisitor of France. In this confession, (which had been afterwardsrevoked, but of which revocation no notice was taken by theinquisitors,) Sir Geoffrey de Gonneville states that he was receivedinto the order in England in the house of the Temple at London, byBrother Robert de Torvibe, knight, the Master of all England, abouttwenty-eight years before that time; that the master showed him ona missal the image of Jesus Christ on the cross, and commanded himto deny him who was crucified; that, terribly alarmed, he exclaimed,“ Alas! my lord, why should I do this? I will on no account do it.” Butthe master said to him, Do it boldly;I swear to thee that the act shallnever harm either thy soul or thy conscience;” and then proceeded toinform him that the custom had been introduced into the order by acertain bad Grand Master, who was imprisoned by a certain sultan,and could escape from prison only on condition that he wouldestablish that form of reception in his order, and compel all whowere received to deny Christ Jesus! But, the deponent remainedinflexible; he refused to deny his Savior, and asked where were hisuncle and the other good people who had brought him there, andwas told that they were all gone; and at last a compromise took323

place between him and the Master, who made him take his oath thathe would tell all his brethren that he had gone through thecustomary form, and never reveal that it had been dispensed with!He states also that the ceremony was instituted in memory of St.Peter, who three times denied Christ. 19 [137]Ferinsius Mareschal, a secular knight, being examined, declared thathis grandfather entered into the order of the Temples active,healthy, and blithesome as the birds and the dogs, but on the thirdday from his taking the vows he was dead, and, as he now suspects,was killed because he refused to participate in the iniquitiespractised by the brethren. An Augustine monk declared that he hadheard a Templar say that a man after death had no more soul than adog. Roger, rector of the church of Godmersham, swore that aboutfifteen years before he had an intention of entering into the order ofthe Temple himself, and consulted Stephen Queynterel, one of thebrothers, on the subject, who advised him not to do so, and statedthat they had three articles amongst themselves in their order,known only to God, the devil, and the brethren of the Temple, andthe said Stephen would not reveal to the deponent what thosearticles were. [137]The vicar of the church of Saint Clement at Sandwich had heard thata boy had secreted himself in the large hall where the Templars heldtheir chapter, and beard the Master preach to the brethren, andexplain to them in what mode they might enrich themselves; andafter the chapter was concluded, one of the brothers, in going out ofthe hall, dropped his girdle, which the boy found and carried to thebrother who had so dropped it, when the latter drew his sword andinstantly slew him! But to crown all, Brother John de Gertia, aMinorite, had heard from a certain woman called Cacocaca, who hadit from Exvalettus, Preceptor of London, that one of the servants ofthe Templars entered the hall where the chapter was held, andsecreted himself, and after the door had been shut and locked by thelast Templar who entered, and the key had been brought by him tothe superior, the assembled Templars jumped up and went intoanother room, and opened a closet, and drew therefrom a certain324

lack figure with shining eyes, and a cross, and they placed the crossbefore the Master, and the “culum idoli vel figuræ” (the receipt of theidol or figure) they placed upon the cross, and carried it to theMaster, who kissed the said image(in ano, or in the anus), and all theothers did the same after him; and when they had finished kissing,they all spat three times upon the cross, except one, who refused,saying, “I was a bad man in the world, and placed myself in this orderfor the salvation of my soul; what could I do worse? I will not do it;”and then the brethren said to him, “Take heed, and do as you see theorder do;” but he answered that he would not do so, and then theyplaced him in a well which stood in the midst of their house, andcovered the well up, and left him to perish. Being asked as to thetime when the woman heard this, the deponent stated that she toldit to him about fourteen years back at London, where she kept ashop for her husband, Robert Cotacota! This witness also knew acertain Walter Salvagyo of the family of Earl Warrenne, grandfatherof the then earl, who, having entered into the order of the Temple,was about two years afterwards entirely lost sight of by his family,and neither the earl nor any of his friends could ever learn what hadbecome of him. [137]John Walby de Bust, another Minorite, had heard John de Dingestonsay that he had heard that there was in a secret place of the house ofthe Templars at London a gilded head, and that when one of theMasters was on his deathbed, he summoned to his presence severalpreceptors, and told them that if they wished for power, anddominion, and honor, they must worship that head. [137]Brother Richard de Koefeld, a monk, had heard from John de Borna,who had it from the Knight Templar Walter le Bacheler, that everyman who entered into the order of the Temple had to sell himself tothe devil; he had also heard from the priest Walter, rector of thechurch of Hodlee, who had it from a certain vicar, who was a priestof the said Walter Bacheler, that there was one article in theprofession of the Templars which might not be revealed to anyliving man. [137]325

Gasper de Nafferton, chaplain of the parish of Ryde, deposed thatthree years back he was in the employ of the Templars for about sixmonths, during which period William de Pokelington was receivedinto the order; that he well recollected that the said William madehis appearance at the Temple on Sunday evening, with the equipageand habit of a member of the order, accompanied by BrotherWilliam de la More, the Master of the Temple, Brother William deGrafton, Preceptor of Ribbestane and Fontebriggs; and otherbrethren: that the same night, during the first watch, theyassembled in the church, and caused the deponent 20 to be awakenedto say mass; that, after the celebration of the mass, they made thedeponent with his clerk go out into the hall beyond the cloister, andthen sent for the person who was to be received; and on his entryinto the church one of the brethren immediately closed all the doorsopening into the cloister, so that no one within the chambers couldget out, and thus they remained till daylight; but what was done inthe church the deponent knew not; the next day, however, he sawthe said William clothed in the habit of a Templar, looking verysorrowful. The deponent also declared that he had threatened topeep through a secret door to see what was going on, but waswarned that it was inevitable death so to do. He states that the nextmorning he went into the church, and found the books and crossesall removed from the places in which he had previously left them;that he afterwards saw the knight Templar Brother William deliverto the newly-received brother a large roll of paper, containing therule of the order, which the said newly-received brother wasdirected to transcribe in private; that after the departure of the saidBrother William, the deponent approached the said newly-receivedbrother, who was then diligently writing, and asked to be allowed toinspect the roll, but was told that none but members of the ordercould be allowed to read it; that be was then about to depart, whenBrother William made his appearance, and, astonished andconfounded at the sight of the deponent, snatched up the roll andwalked away with it, declaring, with a great oath, that he wouldnever again allow it to go out of his hands. [137]326

Brother John de Donyngton, of the order of the Minorites, theseventy-sixth witness examined, being sworn, deposed that someyears back an old veteran of the Temple (whose name he could notrecollect) told him that the order possessed four chief idols inEngland, one at London in the sacristy of the Temple; another at thepreceptory of Bistelesham; a third at Bruere in Lincolnshire; and thefourth in some place beyond the Humber, (the name of which hehad forgotten;) that Brother William de la More, the Master of theTemple, introduced the melancholy idolatry of the Templars intoEngland, and brought with him into the country a great roll,whereon were inscribed in large characters the wicked practicesand observances of the order. The said old veteran also told thedeponent that many of the Templars carried idols about with themin boxes, etc. [137]The deponent further states that he recollected well that a privategentleman, Master William de Shokerwyk, a short time back, hadprepared to take the vows of the order, and carried his treasuresand all the property he had to the Temple at London; and that as hewas about to deposit it in the treasury, one of the brethren of theTemple heaved a profound sigh, and Master William de Shokerwykhaving asked what ailed him, he immediately replied, “It will be theworse for you, brother, if you enter our order;” that the said MasterWilliam asked why, and the Templar replied, “You see us externally,but not internally; take heed what you do; but I shall say no more;”and the deponent further declares, that on another occasion the saidMaster William entered into the Temple Hall, and found there an oldTemplar, who was playing at the game called Daly; and the oldTemplar observing that there was no one in the hall besides himselfand the said Master William, said to the latter, “If you enter into ourorder, it will be the worse for you.” [137]The witness then goes into a rambling account of varioustransactions in the East, tending to show that the Templars were inalliance with the Saracens, and had acted with treachery towardsthe Christian cause! [137] [167]327

After the delivery of all this hearsay, these vague suspicions andmonstrous improbabilities, the notaries proceeded to arrange thevaluable testimony adduced, and on the 22nd of April all theTemplars in custody in the Tower and in the prisons of the city wereassembled before the inquisitors and the bishops of London andChichester, in the church of the Holy Trinity, to hear the depositionsand attestations of the witnesses publicly read. The Templarsrequired copies of these depositions, which were granted them, andthey were allowed eight days from that period to bring forward anydefenses or privileges they wished to make use of. Subsequently,before the expiration of the eight days, the officer of the bishop ofLondon was sent to the Tower with scriveners and witnesses, toknow if they would then set up any matters of defense, to whom theTemplars replied that they were unlettered men, ignorant of law,and that all means of defense were denied them, since they were notpermitted to employ those who could afford them fit counsel andadvice. They observed, however, that they were desirous of publiclyproclaiming the faith, and the religion of themselves and of theorder to which they belonged, of showing the privileges conceded tothem by the chief pontiffs, and their own depotions taken before theinquisitors, all which they said they wished to make use of in theirdefense.On the eighth day, being Thursday the 29th of April, they appearedbefore the papal inquisitors and the bishops of London andChichester, in the church of All Saints of Berkyngecherche, andpresented to them the following declaration, which they had drawnup amongst themselves, as the only defense they had to offeragainst the injustice, the tyranny, and the persecution of theirpowerful oppressors; adding, that if they had in any way donewrong, they were ready to submit themselves to the orders of thechurch.This declaration is written in the Norman French of that day, and isas follows:328

“Conue chese seit a nostre honurable pere, le ercevesque deCanterbiere, primat de toute Engletere, e a touz prelaz de seinteEglise, e a touz Cristiens, qe touz les freres du Temple que sumes iciassemblez et chescune singulere persone par sen sumes cristien nostreseignur Jesu Crist, e creoms en Dieu Pere omnipotent, qui fist ciel eterre, e en Jesu soen fiz, qui fust conceu du Seint Esperit, nez de laVirgine Marie, soeffrit peine e passioun, morut sur la croiz pour touzpeccheours, descendist e enferns, e le tierz jour releva de mort en vie, emounta en ciel, siet au destre soen Pere, e vendra au jour de juise,juger les vifs e les morz, qui fit saunz commencement, e serra saunzfyn; e creoms comme seynte eglise crets, e nous enseigne. E que nostrereligion est foundee sus obedience, chastete, vivre sans propre, aider aconquere la seint terre de Jerusalem, a force e a poer, qui Dieu nous adpreste. E nyoms e fermement en countredioms touz e chescunesingulere persone, par sei toutes maneres de heresies e malvaistes, quesount encountre la foi de Seinte Eglise. E prioms pour Dieu e pourcharite a vous, que estes en lieu nostre seinte pere l’apostoile, quenous puissoms aver lez drettures de seinte eglise, comme ceus quecount les filz de sainte eglise, que bien avoms garde, e tenu la foi, e lalei de seinte eglise, e nostre religion, la quele est bone, honeste e juste,solom les ordenaunces, e les privileges de la court de Rome avonsgrauntez, confermez, e canonizez par commun concile, les qelspriviliges ensemblement ou lestablisement, e la regle sount en la ditecourt enregistrez. E mettoms en dur e en mal eu touz Cristiens saunenoz anoisourz, par la ou nous avoms este conversaunt, comment nousavoms nostre vie demene. E se nous avoms rien mesprys de aucunparole en nos examinacions par ignorance de seu, si comme noussumes genz laics prest sumes, a ester a lesgard de seint eglise, commecely que mourust pour nouz en la beneite de croiz. E nous creomsfermement touz les sacremenz de seinte eglise. E nous vous priomspour Dieu e pour salvacioun de vous almes, que vous nous jugez sicomme vous volez respoundre pour vous et pour nous devaunt Dieu: eque nostre examinement puet estre leu e oii devaunt nous e devaunt lepeople, solom le respouns e le langage que fust dit devaunt vous, eescrit en papier [167].329

“Be it known to our honorable father, the archbishop of Canterbury,primate of all England, and to all the prelates of holy church, and toall Christians, that all we brethren of the Temple here assembled, andevery of one of us are Christians, and believe in our Savior Jesus Christ,in God the Father omnipotent, etc. …”“And we believe all that the holy church believes and teaches us. Wedeclare that our religion is founded on vows of obedience, chastity,and poverty, and of aiding in the conquest of the Holy Land ofJerusalem, with all the power and might that God affords us. And wefirmly deny and contradict, one and all of us, all manner of heresy andevil doings, contrary to the faith of holy church. And for the love ofGod, and for charity, we beseech you, who represent our holy fatherthe pope, that we may be treated like true children of the church, forwe have well guarded and preserved the faith and the law of thechurch, and of our own religion, the which is good, honest, and just,according to the ordinances and the privileges of the court of Rome,granted, confirmed, and canonized by common council; the whichprivileges, together with the rule of our order, are registered in thesaid court. And we would bring forward all Christians, (save ourenemies and slanderers,) with whom we are conversant, and amongwhom we have resided, to say how and in what manner we have spentour lives. And if, in our examinations, we have said or done anythingwrong through ignorance of a word, since we are unlettered men, weare ready to suffer for holy church like him who died for us on theblessed cross. And we believe all the sacraments of the church. Andwe beseech you, for the love of God, and as you hope to be saved, thatyou judge us as you will have to answer for yourselves and for usbefore God; and we pray that our examination may be read and heardbefore ourselves and all the people, in the very language and words inwhich it was given before you, and written down on paper.” [137]The above declaration was presented by Brother William de laMore, the Master of the Temple; the Knights Templars Philip deMewes, Preceptor of Garwy; William de Burton, Preceptor ofCumbe; Radulph de Maison, Preceptor of Ewell; Michael deBaskeville, Preceptor of London; Thomas de Wothrope, Preceptor of330

Bistelesham; William de Warwick, Priest; and Thomas de Burton,Chaplain of the Order; together with twenty serving brothers. Thesame day the inquisitors and the two bishops proceeded to thedifferent prisons of the city to demand if the prisoners confinedtherein wished to bring forward anything in defense of the order,who severally answered that they would adopt and abide by thedeclaration made by their brethren in the Tower.It appears that in the prison of Aldgate there were confined BrotherWilliam de Sautre, Knight, Preceptor of Samford; Brother William dela Forde, Preceptor of Daney; Brother John de Coningeston,Preceptor of Getinges; Roger de Norreis, Preceptor of Cressing;Radulph (Ralph) de Barton, priest, Prior of the New Temple; andseveral serving brethren of the order. In the prison of Crepelgatewere detained William de Egendon, Knight, Preceptor of Schepeley;John de Moun, Knight, Preceptor of Dokesworth; and four servingbrethren. In the prison of Ludgate were five serving brethren; andin Newgate was confined Brother Himbert (Imbert) Blanke, Knight,Grand Preceptor of Auvergne.The above declaration of faith and innocence was far from agreeableto the papal inquisitors, who required a confession of guilt, and thetorture was once more directed to be applied. The king sentrenewed orders to the mayor and the sheriffs of the city of London,commanding them to place the Templars in separate dungeons; toladen them with chains and fetters; to permit the myrmidons of theinquisitors to pay periodical visits to see that the wishes andintentions of the inquisitors, with regard to the severity of theconfinement, were properly carried into effect; and, lastly, to inflictTORTURE upon the bodies of the Templars, and generally to dowhatever should be thought fitting and expedient in the facts,according to ecclesiastical law 21 . [205] In conformity with theseorders, we learn from the record of the proceedings, that theTemplars were placed in solitary confinement in despicabledungeons; that they were placed on a short allowance of bread andwater, and periodically visited by the agents of the inquisition; thatthey were moved from prison to prison, and from dungeon to331

dungeon; were now treated with rigor, and later with pity; and werethen visited by learned prelates, and important doctors in theology,who, by exhortation, persuasion, and by menace, attempted in everypossible mode to wring from them the required confessions. Welearn that all the engines of terror wielded by the church were putin force, and that torture was unsparingly applied “usque adjudicium sanguinis! (unit the judgement of)” The places in whichthese atrocious scenes were enacted were the Tower, the prisons ofAldgate, Ludgate, Newgate, Bishops-gate, and Crepelgate, the houseformerly belonging to John de Banguel, and the tenements once theproperty of the brethren of penitence [167] [205]. It appears thatsome French monks were sent over to administer the torture to thehopeless captives, and that they were questioned and examined inthe presence of notaries while suffering under the torments of therack. The relentless perseverance and the incessant exertions of theforeign inquisitors were at last rewarded by a splendid triumphover the powers of endurance of two poor serving brethren, andone chaplain of the order of the Temple, who were at last induced tomake the long-desired admissions.On the 23rd of June, Brother Stephen de Stapelbrugge, described asan apostate and fugitive of the order of the Temple, captured by theking’s officers in the city of Salisbury, removed to the house of thehead jailer of Newgate, finally confessed. In the presence of thebishops of London and Chichester, the chancellor of the archbishopof Canterbury, Hugh de Walkeneby, doctor of theology, and otherclerical witnesses, he admitted that there were two modes ofprofession in the order of the Temple, the one good and lawful, andthe other contrary to the Christian faith; that he himself wasreceived into the order by Brother Brian le Jay, Grand Preceptor ofEngland at Dynneslee, and was led into the chapel, the door ofwhich was closed as soon as he had entered; that a cross was placedbefore the Master, and that a brother of the Temple, with a drawnsword, stood on either side of him; that the Master said to him, “Doyou see this image of the crucifixion?” to which he replied, “I see it,my lord;” that the Master then said to him, “You must deny that332

Christ Jesus was God and man, and that Mary was his mother; and youmust spit upon this cross;” which the deponent 22 , through fear ofimmediate death, did with his mouth, but not with his heart, and hespat beside the cross, and not on it; and then falling down upon hisknees, with eyes uplifted, with his hands clasped, with bitter tearsand sighs, and sincere, exclamatory utterances, he pleaded themercy and the favor of holy church, declaring that he cared not forthe death of the body, or for any amount of penance, but only for thesalvation of his soul. [137]On Saturday, the 25th of June, Brother Thomas Tocci de Thoroldeby,serving brother of the order of the Temple, described as an apostatewho had escaped from Lincoln after his examination at that place bythe papal inquisitors, but had afterwards surrendered himself to theking’s officers, was brought before the bishops of London andChichester, the archdeacon of Salisbury, and others of the clergy inSt. Martin’s Church in Vinetriâ. Upon reexamination, he repeatedthe statement made in his first deposition, but added someparticulars with regard to penances imposed and absolutionspronounced in the chapter, showing the difference between sinsand defaults, the priest having to deal with the one, and the Masterwith the other. He declared that the little cords were worn fromhonorable motives, and relates a story of his being engaged in abattle against the Saracens, in which he lost his cord, and waspunished by the Grand Master for a failure to return home with it.He gives the same account of the secrecy of the chapters as all theother brethren, states that the members of the order wereforbidden to confess to the friars mendicants 23 , and were charged toconfess to their own chaplains; that they did nothing contrary to theChristian faith, and as to their endeavoring to promote theadvancement of the Order by any means, right or wrong, thatexactly the contrary was the ease, as there was a statute in the orderto the effect, that if any one should be found to have acquiredanything unjustly, he should be deprived of his habit, and beexpelled the order. Being asked what induced him to become anapostate, and to fly from his order, he replied that it was through333

fear of death, because the abbot of Lagny, (the papal inquisitor,)when he examined him at Lincoln, asked him if he would notconfess anything further, and he answered that he knew of nothingfurther to confess, unless he were to say things that were not true;and that “the abbot, laying his hand upon his breast, swore by theword of God that he would make him confess before he had done withhim!”, and that being terribly frightened he afterwards bribed thejailer of the castle of Lincoln, giving him forty florins to let him makehis escape. [137]The abbot of Lagny, indeed, was as good as his word, for on the 29thof June, four days after this imprudent avowal, Brother ThomasTocci de Thoroldeby was brought back to Saint Martin’s Church, andthere, in the presence of the same parties, he made a thirdconfession, in which he declares that, coerced by two Templars withdrawn swords in their hands, he denied Christ with his mouth, butnot with his heart; and spat beside the cross, but not on it; that hewas required to spit upon the image of the Virgin Mary, butcontrived, instead of doing so, to give her a kiss on the foot. Hedeclares that he had heard Brian le Jay, the Master of the Temple atLondon, say a hundred times over, that Jesus Christ was not the trueGod, but a man, and that the smallest hair out of the beard of oneSaracen was of more worth than the whole body of any Christian.He declares that he was once standing in the presence of BrotherBrian, when some poor people besought charity of him for the loveof God and our lady the blessed Virgin Mary; and he answered, “Quedame, alez vous pendre a vostre dame”—“What lady? go and behanged to your lady,” and violently casting a halfpenny into themud, he made the poor people hunt for it, although it was in thedepth of a severe winter. He also relates that at the chapters thepriest stood like a beast, and had nothing to do but to repeat thepsalm, “God be merciful unto us, and bless us,” which was read at theclosing of the chapter. (The Templars, by the way, must have beenstrange idolaters to have closed their chapters, in which they areaccused of worshipping a cat, a man’s head, and a black idol, withthe reading of the beautiful psalm, “God be merciful unto us, and334

less us, and show us the light of thy countenance, that thy way maybe known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations,” etc.Psalm lxvii.) This witness further states, that the priest had nopower to impose a heavier penance than a day’s fast on bread andwater, and could not even do that without the permission of thebrethren. He is made also to relate that the Templars alwaysfavored the Saracens in the holy wars in Palestine, and oppressedthe Christians, and he declares, speaking of himself, that for threeyears before he had never seen the body of Christ without thinkingof the devil, nor could he remove that evil thought from his heart byprayer, or in any other way that he knew of; but that very morninghe had heard mass with great devotion, and since then had thoughtonly of Christ, and thinks there is no one in the order of the Templewhose soul will be saved, unless a reformation takes place [137][167].Previous to this period, the ecclesiastical council had againassembled, and these last depositions of Brothers Stephen deStapelbrugge and Thomas Tocci de Thoroldeby having beenproduced before them, the following solemn farce was immediatelypublicly enacted. It is thus described in the record of theproceedings:“To the praise and glory of the name of the most high Father, and ofthe Son, and of the Holy Ghost, to the confusion of heretics, and thestrengthening of all faithful Christians, begins the public record of thereconciliation of the penitent heretics, returning to the orthodox faithpublished in the council, celebrated at London in the year 1311.”[137]“In the name of God, Amen. In the year of the incarnation of our Lord1311, on the twenty-seventh day of the month of June, in the hall ofthe palace of the bishop of London, before the venerable fathers theLord Robert by the grace of God archbishop of Canterbury, primate ofall England, and his suffragans in provincial council assembled,appeared Brother Stephen de Stapelbrugge, of the order of thechivalry of the Temple; and the denying of Christ and the blessed335

Virgin Mary his mother, the spitting upon the cross, and the heresiesand errors acknowledged and confessed by him in his deposition beingdisplayed, the same Stephen asserted in full council, before the peopleof the City of London, introduced for the occasion, that all those thingsso deposed by him were true, and that to that confession he wouldwholly adhere; humbly confessing his error on his bended knees, withhis hands clasped, with much lamentation and many tears, he againand again besought the mercy and pity of holy mother church,offering to abjure all heresies and errors, and praying them to imposeon him a fitting penance, and then the book of the holy gospels beingplaced in his hands, he abjured the aforesaid heresies in this form:”[137]“I, brother Stephen de Stapelbrugge, of the order of the chivalry of theTemple, do solemnly confess,” etc. (he repeats his confession, makeshis abjuration, and then proceeds;) “and if at any time hereafter Ishall happen to relapse into the same errors, or deviate from any ofthe articles of the faith, I will account myself ipso factoexcommunicated; I will stand condemned as a manifest perjuredheretic, and the punishment inflicted on perjured relapsed hereticsshall be forthwith imposed upon me without further trial orjudgment!” [137]He was then sworn upon the holy gospels to stand to the sentence ofthe church in the matter, after which Brother Thomas Tocci deThoroldeby was brought forward to go through the same monstrousceremony, which being concluded, these two poor serving brothersof the order of the Temple, who were so ignorant that they couldnot write, were made to place their mark (loco subscriptionis) on therecord of the abjuration.“And then our lord the archbishop of Canterbury, for the purpose ofabsolving and reconciling to the unity of the church the aforesaidThomas and Stephen, conceded his authority and that of the wholecouncil to the bishop of London, in the presence of me the notary,specially summoned for the occasion, in these words: ‘We grant to youthe authority of God, of the blessed Mary, of the blessed Thomas the336

Martyr our patron, and of all the saints of God (sanctorum atquesanctarum Dei) to us conceded, and also the authority of the presentcouncil to us transferred, to the end that you may reconcile to theunity of the church these miserables, separated from her by theirrepudiation of the faith, and now brought back again to her bosom,reserving to ourselves and the council the right of imposing a fitpenance for their transgressions!’ And as there were two penitents,the bishop of Chichester was joined to the bishop of London for thepurpose of pronouncing the absolution, which two bishops, putting ontheir miters and pontificals, and being assisted by twelve priests insacerdotal vestments, placed themselves in seats at the westernentrance of the cathedral church of Saint Paul, and the penitents, withbended knees, humbly prostrating themselves in prayer upon the stepsbefore the door of the church, the members of the council and thepeople of the city standing around; and the psalm, ‘Have mercy uponme, O God, after thy great goodness,’ having been chaunted from thebeginning to the end, and the subjoined prayers and sermon havingbeen gone through, they absolved the said penitents, and receivedthem back to the unity of the church in the following form:” [137]“In the name of God, Amen. Since by your confession we find that you,Brother Stephen de Stapelbrugge, have denied Christ Jesus and theblessed Virgin Mary, and have spat beside the cross, and now takingbetter advice wishes to return to the unity of the holy church with atrue heart and sincere faith, as you assert, and all heretical depravityhaving for that purpose been previously abjured by you according tothe form of the church, we, by the authority of the council, absolve youfrom the bonds of excommunication wherewith you were held fast,and we reconcile you to the unity of the church, if you shall havereturned to her in sincerity of heart, and shall have obeyed herinjunctions imposed upon you.” [137]Brother Thomas Tocci de Thoroldeby was then absolved andreconciled to the church in the same manner, after which variouspsalms (Gloria Patri, Kyrie Eleyson, Christe Eleyson, etc.) were sung,and prayers were offered up, and then the ceremony was concluded[167].337

On the 1st of July, an avowal of guilt was wrung by the inquisitorsfrom Brother John de Stoke, chaplain of the order, who, beingbrought before the bishops of London and Chichester in St. Martin’schurch, admitted that he was received in the mode mentioned byhim on his first examination; but a year and fifteen days after thatreception, being at the preceptory of Garwy in the diocese ofHereford, he was called into the chamber of Brother Jacques deMolay, the Grand Master of the order, who, in the presence of twoother Templars of foreign domains, informed him that he wished tomake proof of his obedience, and commanded him to take a seat atthe foot of the bed, and the deponent did so. The Grand Master thensent into the church for the crucifix, and two serving brothers, withbare swords in their hands, stationed themselves on either side ofthe doorway. As soon as the crucifix made its appearance, theGrand Master, pointing to the figure of our Savior nailed thereon,asked the deponent whose image it was, and he answered, “Theimage of Jesus Christ, who suffered on the cross for the redemption ofmankind;” but the Grand Master exclaimed, “You say wrong, and aremuch mistaken, for he was the son of a certain woman, and wascrucified because he called himself the Son of God, and I myself havebeen in the place where he was born and crucified, and you must nowdeny him whom this image represents.” The deponent exclaimed,“Far be it from me to deny my Savior;” but the Grand Master told himhe must do it, or he would be put into a sack and be carried to aplace which he would find by no means agreeable, and there wereswords in the room, and brothers ready to use them, etc.; and thedeponent asked if such was the custom of the order, and if all thebrethren did the same; and being answered in the affirmative, he,through fear of immediate death, denied Christ with his tongue, butnot with his heart. Being asked in whom he was told to put his faithafter he had denied Christ Jesus, he replies, “In that greatOmnipotent God who created the heaven and the earth 24 .” [167]Such, in substance, was the whole of the criminal evidence thatcould be wrung by torture, by a long imprisonment, and byhardships of every kind, from the Templars in England. It amounts338

simply to an assertion that they compelled all whom they receivedinto their order to renounce the Christian religion, a thing perfectlyincredible. Is it to be supposed that the many good Christians ofhigh birth, and honor, and exalted piety, who entered into the orderof the Temple, taking the cross for their standard and their guide,would thus suddenly have cast their faith and their religion to thewinds? Would they not rather have denounced the impiety andiniquity to the officers of the Inquisition, and to the pope, thesuperior of the order?“And virtue, see the crime levelsAnd never have we seen the timid innocenceSkip to sudden extreme license.One day does not a mortal virtuousA treacherous apostate, a traitor bold.”- Phedre 25 , act iv. Scene 2On Saturday, the 3rd of July, the archbishop of Canterbury, and thebishops, the clergy, and the people of the city of London, were againassembled around the western door of Saint Paul’s cathedral, andBrother John de Stoke, chaplain of the order of the Temple, made hispublic recantation of the heresies confessed by him, and was thenabsolved and reconciled to the church in the same manner asBrothers Thomas de Stapelbrugge and Tocci de Thoroldeby, afterwhich a last effort was made to bend the remaining Templars to thewishes of the papal inquisitors.On Monday, July 5th, at the request of the ecclesiastical council, thebishop of Chichester had an interview with Sir William de la More,the Master of the Temple, taking with him certain learned lawyers,theologians, and notaries. He exhorted and earnestly pressed himto repudiate the heresies of which he stood convicted, by his ownconfessions and those of his brethren, respecting the absolutionspronounced by him in the chapters, and submit himself to thedisposition of the church; but the Master declared that he had neverbeen guilty of the heresies mentioned, and that he would not deny339

crimes which he had never committed; so he was sent back to hisdungeon.The next day, (Tuesday, July the 6th,) the bishops of London,Winchester, and Chichester, had an interview in Southwark with theKnight Templar, Philip de Mewes, Preceptor of Garwy, and someserving brethren of the New Temple at London. They told them thatthey were manifestly guilty of heresy, as appeared from the pope’sbulls, and the depositions taken against the order both in Englandand France, and also from their own confessions regarding theabsolutions pronounced in their chapters. They explained to themthat they had grievously erred in believing that the Master of theTemple, who was a mere layman, had power to absolve them fromtheir sins by pronouncing an absolution in the mode previouslydescribed. Moreover, they warned them that if they persisted inthat error they would be condemned as heretics, and that as theycould not clear themselves therefrom, it behooved them to abjureall the heresies of which they were accused. The Templars repliedthat they were ready to reject the error they had fallen intorespecting the absolution, and all heresies of every kind, before thearchbishop of Canterbury and the prelates of the council, wheneverthey should be required so to do, and they humbly and reverentlysubmitted themselves to the orders of the church, begging pardonand grace.A sort of compromise was then made with most of the Templars incustody in London. They were required publicly to repeat a form ofconfession and abjuration drawn up by the bishops of London andChichester, and were then solemnly absolved and reconciled to thechurch in the following terms:--“In the name of God, Amen. Since you have confessed in due formbefore the ecclesiastical council of the province of Canterbury that youhave gravely erred concerning the sacrament of repentance, inbelieving that the absolution pronounced by the Master in chapterhad as much efficacy as is implied in the words pronounced by him,that is to say, ‘The sins which you have omitted to confess through340

shamefacedness, or through fear of the justice of the order, we, byvirtue of the power delegated to us by God and our lord the pope,forgive you, as far as we are able;’ and since you have confessed thatyou cannot entirely purge yourselves from the heresies set forth underthe apostolic bull, and taking sage counsel with a good heart andunfeigned faith, have submitted yourselves to the judgment and themercy of the church, having previously abjured the aforesaid heresies,and all heresies of every description, we, by the authority of thecouncil, absolve you from the chain of excommunication wherewithyou have been bound, and reconcile you once more to the unity of thechurch, etc.” [137]On the 9th of July, Brother Michael de Baskeville, Knight, Preceptorof London, and seventeen other Templars, were absolved andreconciled in full council, in the Episcopal Hall of the see of London,in the presence of a vast concourse of the citizens.On the 10th of the same month, the Preceptors of Dokesworth,Getinges, and Samford, the guardian of the Temple church atLondon, Brother Radulph de Evesham, chaplain, with other priests,knights, and serving brethren of the order, were absolved by thebishops of London, Exeter, Winchester, and Chichester, in thepresence of the archbishop of Canterbury and the wholeecclesiastical council.The next day many more members of the fraternity were publiclyreconciled to the church on the steps before the south door of SaintPaul’s cathedral, and were afterwards present at the celebration ofhigh mass in the interior of the sacred edifice, when they advancedin a body towards the high altar bathed in tears, and falling down ontheir knees, they devoutly kissed the sacred emblems ofChristianity.The day after, (July 12,) nineteen other Templars were publiclyabsolved and reconciled to the church at the same place, in thepresence of the earls of Leicester, Pembroke, and Warwick, andafterwards assisted in like manner at the celebration of high mass.341

The priests of the order made their confessions and renunciationsin Latin; the knights pronounced them in Norman French, and theserving brethren for the most part repeated them in English [167].The vast concourse of people collected together could havecomprehended but very little of what was uttered, while theappearance of the penitent brethren, and the public spectacle oftheir recantation, answered the views of the papal inquisitors, anddoubtless impressed the commonalty with a conviction of the guiltof the order. Many of the Templars were too sick (sufferingdoubtless from the effect of torture) to be brought down to St.Paul’s, and were therefore absolved and reconciled to the church bythe bishops of London, Winchester, and Chichester, at Saint Mary’schapel near the Tower.Among the prisoners absolved at the above chapel were many oldveteran warriors in the last stage of decrepitude and decay. “Theywere so old and so infirm,” says the public notary who recorded theproceedings, “that they were unable to stand;” their confessionswere consequently made before two masters in theology; they werethen led before the west door of the chapel, and were publiclyreconciled to the church by the bishop of Chichester; after whichthey were brought into the sacred building, and were placed ontheir knees before the high altar, which they devoutly kissed, whilethe tears trickled down their furrowed cheeks. All these penitentTemplars were now released from prison, and directed to dopenance in different monasteries. Precisely the same form ofproceeding was followed at York: the reconciliations and absolutionbeing there carried into effect before the south door of the cathedral[137] [167].Thus terminated the proceedings against the order of the Temple inEngland.Similar measures had, in the mean time, been prosecuted againstthe Templars in all parts of Christendom, but no better evidence oftheir guilt than that above mentioned was ever discovered. Thecouncils of Tarragona and Aragon, after applying the torture,342

pronounced the order free from heresy. In Portugal and in Germanythe Templars were declared innocent, and in no place situatebeyond the sphere of the influence of the king of France and hiscreature the pope was a single Templar condemned to death [32][242] [244].On the 16th of October a general council of the church, which hadbeen convened by the pope to pronounce the abolition of the order,assembled at Vienne near Lyons in France. It was opened by theholy pontiff in person, who caused the different confessions andavowals of the Templars to be read over before the assemblednobles and prelates, and then moved the suppression of an orderwherein had been discovered such crying iniquities and sinfulabominations; but the entire council, with the exception of an Italianprelate, nephew of the pope, and the three French bishops ofRheims, Sens, and Rouen, all creatures of Philip, who had severallycondemned large bodies of Templars to be burnt at the stake intheir respective dioceses, were unanimously of opinion, that beforethe suppression of so celebrated and illustrious an order, which hadrendered such great and signal services to the Christian faith, themembers belonging to it ought to be heard in their own defense 26 .[250] Such a proceeding, however, did not suit the views of thepope and king Philip, and the assembly was abruptly dismissed bythe holy pontiff, who declared that since they were unwilling toadopt the necessary measures, he himself, out of the plenitude ofthe papal authority, would supply every deficiency. Accordingly, atthe commencement of the following year, the pope summoned aprivate consistory; and several cardinals and French bishops havingbeen gained over, the holy pontiff abolished the order by anapostolical ordinance, perpetually prohibiting every one fromthenceforth entering into it, or accepting or wearing the habitthereof, or representing themselves to be Templars, on pain ofexcommunication [242] [244].343

JACQUES DE MOLAY A.D. 1312.On the 3rd of April, the second session of the council was opened bythe pope at Vienne. King Philip and his three sons were present,accompanied by a large body of troops, and the papal decreeabolishing the order was published before the assembly [240]. Themembers of the council appear to have been called together merelyto hear the decree read. History does not inform us of anydiscussion with reference to it, nor of any votes having been taken.A few months after the close of these proceedings, Brother Williamde la More, the Master of the Temple in England, died of a brokenheart in his solitary dungeon in the Tower, persisting with his lastbreath in the maintenance of the innocence of his order. KingEdward, in pity for his misfortunes, directed the constable of theTower to hand over his goods and chattels, valued at the sum of 4pounds(£). 19shillings (s), 11 pennies (d), to his executors, to beemployed in the liquidation of his debts, and he commandedGeoffrey de la Lee, guardian of the lands of the Templars, to pay thearrears of his prison pay (2s. per diem) to the executor, RogerHunsingon. [205]Among the Cotton MS is a list of the Masters of the Temple,otherwise the Grand Priors or Grand Preceptors of England,compiled under the direction of the prior of the Hospital of SaintJohn at Clerkenwell, to the intent that the brethren of that fraternitymight remember the antient Masters of the Temple in their prayers[48] [225]. A few names have been omitted which are supplied inthe following list:--Magister R. de Pointon [251].Rocelinus de Fossa [251].Richard de Hastings [251], A.D. 1160.Richard Mallebeench [251].Geoffrey, son of Stephen [251], A.D. 1180.Thomas Berard, A.D. 1200.Amaric de St. Maur 27 [205] [207].Alan Marcel [207], A.D. 1224.344

Amberaldus, A.D. 1229.Robert Mountforde 28 [205], A.D. 1234.Robert Sanford [207], A.D. 1.141.Amadeus de Morestello, A.D. 1254.Himbert Peraut [167], A.D. 1270.Robert Turvile [167], A.D. 1290.Guido (Guy) de Foresta [167], A.D. 1292.Jacques de Molay, A.D. 1293.Brian le Jay [205], A.D. 1295.William de le More, THE MARTYR.The only other Templar in England whose fate merits particularattention is Brother Himbert Blanke, the Grand Preceptor ofAuvergne. He appears to have been a knight of high honor and ofstern unbending pride. From first to last he had boldly protestedagainst the violent proceedings of the inquisitors, and had fearlesslymaintained, amid all trials, his own innocence and that of his order.This illustrious Templar had fought under four successive GrandMasters in defense of the Christian faith in Palestine, and after thefall of Acre, had led in person several daring expeditions against theinfidels. For these meritorious services he was rewarded in thefollowing manner:—After having been tortured and half-starved inthe English prisons for the space of five years, he was condemned,as he would make no confession of guilt, to be shut up in aloathsome dungeon, to be loaded with double chains, and to beoccasionally visited by the agents of the inquisition, to see if hewould confess nothing further 29 ! [167] In this miserable situationhe remained until death at last put an end to his sufferings.JACQUES DE MOLAY A.D. 1313.Jacques de Molay, the Grand Master of the Temple, Guy, the GrandPreceptor, a nobleman of illustrious birth, brother to the prince ofDauphiny, Hugh de Peraut , the Visitor-general of the Order, and theGrand Preceptor of Aquitaine, had now languished in the prisons ofFrance for the space of five years and a half. The Grand Master hadbeen compelled to make a confession which he afterwards345

disowned and stigmatized as a forgery, swearing that if thecardinals who had subscribed it had been of a different cloth, hewould have proclaimed them liars, and would have challenged themto mortal combat [241] [244]. The other knights had also madeconfessions which they had subsequently revoked. The secrets ofthe dark prisons of these illustrious Templars have never beenbrought to light, but on the 18th of March, A.D. 1313, a publicscaffold was erected before the cathedral church of Notre Dame, atParis, and the citizens were summoned to hear the Order of theTemple convicted by the mouths of its chief officers, of the sins andiniquities charged against it. The four knights, loaded with chainsand surrounded by guards, were then brought upon the scaffold bythe provost, and the bishop of Alba read their confessions aloud inthe presence of the assembled populace. The papal legate then,turning towards the Grand Master and his companions, called uponthem to renew, in the hearing of the people, the avowals which theyhad previously made of the guilt of their order. Hugh de Peraut, theVisitor-General, and the Preceptor of the Temple of Aquitaine,signified their assent to whatever was demanded of them, but theGrand Master raising his arms bound with chains towards heaven,and advancing to the edge of the scaffold, declared in a loud voice,that to say that which was untrue was a crime, both in the sight ofGod and man. “I do,” said he, “confess my guilt, which consists inhaving, to my shame and dishonor, suffered myself, through the painof torture and the fear of death, to give utterance to falsehoods,imputing scandalous sins and iniquities to an illustrious order, whichhath nobly served the cause of Christianity. I disdain to seek awretched and disgraceful existence by engrafting another lie upon theoriginal falsehood.” He was here interrupted by the provost and hisofficers, and Guy, the Grand Preceptor, having commenced withstrong asseverations of his innocence, they were both hurried backto prison.King Philip was no sooner informed of the result of this strangeproceeding, upon the first impulse of his indignation, withoutconsulting either pope, or bishop, or ecclesiastical council, he346

commanded the instant execution of both these gallant noblemen.The same day at dusk they were led out of their dungeons, and wereburned to death in a slow and lingering manner upon small fires ofcharcoal which were kindled on the little island in the Seine,between the king’s garden and the convent of St. Augustine, close tothe spot where now stands the equestrian statue of Henri IV [232][234] [242] [241]. Thus perished the last Grand Master of theTemple.The fate of the persecutors of the order is not unworthy of notice.A year and one month after the above horrible execution, the popewas attacked by a dysentery, and speedily hurried to his grave. Thedead body was transported to Carpentras, where the court of Romethen resided; it was placed at night in a church which caught fire,and the mortal remains of the holy pontiff were almost entirelyconsumed. His relations quarreled over the immense treasures heleft behind him, and a vast sum of money, which had been depositedfor safety in a church at Lucca, was stolen by a daring band ofGerman and Italian freebooters.Before the close of the same year, king Philip died of a lingeringdisease which baffled all the art of his medical attendants, and thecondemned criminal, upon the strength of whose information theTemplars were originally arrested, was hanged for fresh crimes.“History attests,” says Monsieur Raynouard, “that all those who wereforemost in the persecution of the Templars, came to an untimely andmiserable death.” The last days of Philip were embittered bymisfortune; his nobles and clergy leagued against him to resist hisexactions; the wives of his three sons were accused of adultery, andtwo of them were publicly convicted of that crime. The misfortunesof Edward the Second, king of England, and his horrible death inBerkeley Castle, are too well known to be further alluded to.To save appearances, the pope had published a bull transferring theproperty, late belonging to the Templars, to the order of theHospital of Saint John [205], which had just then acquired additional347

enown and popularity in Europe by the conquest from the infidelsof the island of Rhodes. This bull, however, remained for aconsiderable period nearly a dead letter, and the Hospitaliers neverobtained a twentieth part of the antient possessions of theTemplars.The kings of Castile, Aragon, and Portugal, created new militaryorders in their own dominions, to which the estates of the late orderof the Temple were transferred, and, annexing the GrandMasterships thereof to their own persons, by the title of PerpetualAdministrators, they succeeded in drawing to themselves animmense revenue [32]. The kings of Bohemia, Naples, and Sicily,retained possession of many of the houses and strongholds of theTemplars in their dominions, and various religious orders of monkssucceeded in installing themselves in the convents of the fraternity.The heirs of the donors of the property, moreover, claimed a title toit by escheat, and in most cases where the Hospitaliers obtained thelands and estates granted them by the pope, they had to pay largefines to adverse claimants to be put into peaceable possession [125][124].“The chief cause of the ruin of the Templars,” justly remarks Fuller,“was their extraordinary wealth. As Naboth’s vineyard was the chiefground of his blasphemy, and as in England Sir John Cornwall LordFanhope said merrily, not he, but his stately house at Ampthill inBedfordshire was guilty of high treason, so certainly their wealth wasthe principal cause of their overthrow … We may believe that kingPhilip would never have taken away their lives if he might have takentheir lands without putting them to death, but the mischief was, hecould not get the honey unless he burnt the bees.” [252]King Philip, the pope, and the European sovereigns, appear to havedisposed of all the personalty of the Templars, the ornaments,jewels, and treasure of their churches and chapels, and during theperiod of five years, over which the proceedings against the orderextended, they remained in the actual receipt of the vast rents andrevenues of the fraternity. After the promulgation of the bull,348

assigning the property of the Templars to the Hospitaliers, kingPhilip put forward a claim upon the land to the extent of twohundred thousand pounds for the expenses of the prosecution, andLouis Hutin, his son, required a further sum of sixty thousandpounds from the Hospitaliers, before he would consent to surrenderthe estates into their hands. [241] “J’ignore,” says Voltaire, “ce quirevint au pape, mais je vois evidemment que les frais des cardinaux,des inquisiteurs déléguès pour faire ce procès épouvantablemonterent à des sommés immenses. 30 ” [253] The holy pontiff,according to his own account, received only a small portion of thepersonalty of the order [79], but others make him a largeparticipator in the good things of the fraternity [244].On the imprisonment of the Templars in England, the Temple atLondon, and all the preceptories dependent upon it, with themanors, farms, houses, lands, and revenues of the fraternity, wereplaced under the survey of the Court of Exchequer, and extents 31were directed to be taken of the same, after which they wereconfided to the care of certain trustworthy persons, styled“Guardians of the lands of the Templars,” who were to account forthe rents and profits to the king’s exchequer. The bishop ofLichfield and Coventry had the custody of all the lands andtenements in the county of Hants. John de Wilburgham had those inthe counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, and there were thirty-two otherguardians entrusted with the care of the property in the remainingcounties of England [143] [205]. These guardians were directed topay various pensions to the old servants and retainers of theTemplars dwelling in the different preceptories [205], also theexpenses of the prosecution against the order, and they were atdifferent times required to provide for the exigencies of the publicservice, and to victual the king’s castles and strongholds. On the12th of January, A.D. 1312, William de Slengesby, guardian of themanor of Ribbestayn in the county of York, was commanded toforward to the constable of the castle of Knaresburgh a hundredquarters of corn, ten quarters of oats, twenty fat oxen, eighty sheep,and two strong carts, towards the victualling of the said fortress,349

and the king tells him that the same shall be duly deducted when herenders his account to the exchequer of the rents and profits of thesaid manor [205]. The king, indeed, began to dispose of theproperty as if it was wholly vested in the crown, and mademunificent donations to his favorites and friends. In the month ofFebruary of the same year, he gave the manors of Etton and Cave toDavid Earl of Athol, directing the guardians of the lands andtenements of the Templars in the county of York to hand over to thesaid earl all the corn in those manors, the oxen, calves, ploughs, andall the goods and chattels of the Templars existing therein, togetherwith the ornaments and utensils of the chapel of the Temple [205].On the 16th of May, however, the pope addressed bulls to the king,and to all the earls and barons of the kingdom, setting forth theproceedings of the council of Vienne and the publication of thepapal decree, vesting the property late belonging to the Templars inthe brethren of the Hospital of St. John, and he commands themforthwith to place the members of that order in possession thereof,Bulls were also addressed to the archbishops of Canterbury andYork and their suffragans, commanding them to enforce byecclesiastical censures the execution of the papal commands [205].King Edward and his nobles very properly resisted this decree, andon the 21st of August the king wrote to the Prior of the Hospital ofSt. John at Clerkenwell, telling him that the pretensions of the popeto dispose of property within the realm of England, without theconsent of parliament, were derogatory to the dignity of the crownand the royal authority; and he commands him, under severe painsand penalties, to refrain from attempting to obtain any portion ofthe possessions of the Templars [205]. The king, indeed, continuedto distribute the lands and rents amongst his friends and favorites.At the commencement of the year 1313, he granted the Temple atLondon, with the church and all the buildings therein, to Aymer deValence earl of Pembroke; and on the 5th of May of the same year hecaused several merchants, from whom he had borrowed money, tobe placed in possession of many of the manors of the Templars[205].350

Yielding, however, at last to the exhortations and menaces of thepope, the king, on the 21st of Nov. A.D. 1313, granted the propertyto the Hospitaliers [205], and sent orders to all the guardians of thelands of the Templars, and to various powerful barons who were inpossession of the estates, commanding them to deliver them up tocertain parties deputed by the Grand Master and chapter of theHospital of Saint John to receive them [205] [47]. At this period,however, many of the heirs of the donors, whose title had beenrecognized by the law, were in possession of the lands, and thejudges held that the king had no power of his own sole authority totransfer them to the order of the Hospital [254]. The thunders ofthe Vatican were consequently vigorously made use of, and all thedetainers of the property were doomed by the Roman pontiff toeverlasting damnation [167] [247]. Pope John, in one of his bulls,dated A.D. 1322, bitterly complains of the disregard by all the king’ssubjects of the papal commands. He laments that they hadhardened their hearts and despised the sentence ofexcommunication fulminated against them, and declares that hisheart was riven with grief to find that even the ecclesiastics, whoought to have been as a wall of defense to the Hospitaliers, hadthemselves been heinously guilty in the premises [205].At last (A.D. 1324) the pope, the bishops, and the Hospitaliers, bytheir united exertions, succeeded in obtaining an act of parliament,vesting all the property late belonging to the Templars in thebrethren of the Hospital of Saint John, in order that the intentions ofthe donors might be carried into effect by the appropriation of it tothe defense of the Holy Land and the succor of the Christian cause inthe East [255]. This statute gave rise to the greatest discontent. Theheirs of the donors petitioned parliament for its repeal, alleging thatit had been made against law and against reason, and contrary tothe opinion of the judges [254]; and many of the great barons whoheld the property by a title recognized by the common law,successfully resisted the claims of the order of the Hospital,maintaining that the parliament had no right to interfere with the351

tenure of private property, and to dispose of their possessionswithout their consent.This struggle between the heirs of the donors on the one hand, andthe Hospitaliers on the other, continued for a lengthened period;and in the reign of Edward the Third it was found necessary to passanother act of parliament, confirming the previous statute in theirfavor, and writs were sent to the sheriffs (A.D. 1334) commandingthem to enforce the execution of the acts of the legislature, and totake possession, in the king’s name, of all the property unjustlydetained from the brethren of the Hospital [47].While the vast possessions, late belonging to the Templars, thuscontinued to be the subject of contention, the surviving brethren ofthat dissolved order continued to be treated with the utmostinhumanity and neglect. The ecclesiastical council had assigned toeach of them a pension of fourpence a day for subsistence, but thissmall pittance was not paid, and they were consequently in greatdanger of dying of hunger. The king, pitying their miserablesituation, wrote to the prior of the hospital of St. John atClerkenwell, earnestly requesting him to take their hard lot into .hisserious consideration, and not suffer them to come to beggary in thestreets [205]. The archbishop of Canterbury also exerted himself intheir behalf, and sent letters to the possessors of the property,reproving them for the non-payment of the allotted stipends. “Thisinhumanity,” says he, “awakens our compassion, and penetrates uswith the most lively grief. We pray and conjure you in kindness tofurnish them, for the love of God and for charity, with the means ofsubsistence.” [167] The archbishop of York caused many of them tobe supported in the different monasteries of his diocese [250].Many of the quondam Templars, however, after the dissolution oftheir order, assumed a secular habit; they blended themselves withthe laity, mixed in the pleasures of the world, and even presumed tocontract matrimony, proceedings which drew down upon them thesevere indignation of the Roman pontiff. In a bull addressed to thearchbishop of Canterbury, the pope stigmatizes these marriages as352

unlawful concubinages; he observes that the late Templarsremained bound, notwithstanding the dissolution of their order, bytheir vows of perpetual chastity, and he orders them to be separatedfrom the women whom they had married, and to be placed indifferent monasteries, where they are to dedicate themselves to theservice of God, and the strict performance of their religious vows[47].The Templars adopted the oriental fashion of long beards, andduring the proscription of the fraternity, when the fugitives whohad thrown off their habits were hunted out like wild beasts, itappears to have been dangerous for laymen to possess beards ofmore than a few weeks’ growth.Papers and certificates were granted to men with long beards, toprevent them from being molested by the officers of justice assuspected Templars, as appears from the following curiouscertificate given by king Edward the Second to his valet, who hadmade a vow not to shave himself until he had performed apilgrimage to a certain place beyond sea.“Rex, &c. Cum dilectus valettus noster Petrus Auger, exhibitorpræsentium, nuper voverit quod barbam suam radi non faciat,quousque peregrinationem fecerit in certo loco in partibustransmarinis; et idem Petrus sibi timeat, quod aliqui ipsum, rationebarbæ sum prolixæ fuisse Templarium imponere sibi velint, et eiinferre impedimenta seu gravamina ex hac causa; Nos veritativiolentes testimonium pertulere, vobis tenore præsentium intimamus,quod prædictus Petrus est valettus cameræ nostræ, nec unquam fuitTemplarius, sed barbam suam sic prolixam esse permittit, ex causasuperius annotata, etc. Teste Rege, &c. 32 ” [247]Notes353

1 “Veggio ‘l nuovo Pilato sì crudele, Che cio nol sazia, ma, senza decreto; Porta nelTEMPIO le cupide vele.” Dante. Del Purgatorio. Canto xx. 91.2 William of Paris, the confessor of Philip IV of France, was made inquisitor ofFrance in 1305, and began a campaign against the Templars in 1307. The arrest ofthe Templars led to Pope Clement V to suspend William’s powers after a complaintfrom Edward II of England, but King Phillip's "bold and comtemptuous" writtenreply caused the Pope to back down and re-instate William3 Senlis is a French commune located in the Oise department near Paris. It has along and rich heritage, having traversed centuries of history. This medieval townhas welcomed some of the most renowned figures in French history, includingHugh Capet, Louis IX, the Marshall of France, Anne of Kiev and Séraphine de Senlis.The monarchs of the early French dynasties lived here, attracted by the proximityof the Chantilly forest. It is renowned for the gothic Senlis Cathedral and its vasthistorical monuments.Its habitants are called “Senlisiens” and “Senlisiennes”.4 “Inhibuisti ne contra ipsas personas et ordinem per quæstiones ad inquirendumsuper eisdem criminibus procedatur, quamvis iidem Templarii diffiteri dicuntur supereisdem articulis veritatem…. Attende, quæsumus, fili carissime, et prudentideliberatione considera, si hoc tuo honori et saluti conveniat, et statui congruat regnitui.” (tr. Latin: “Do not put up against the persons and the order of the questions tobe asked to go over the same crimes, even though they are on the same articles ofthe Templars deny the truth .... Take heed to keep, we beseech Thee, O son of mydearest friend, and the prudent deliberation, consider, if this is suitable for yourhonor and the salvation of, and am determined to be suitable for of thy kingdom.”)5 In law, interrogatories (also known as requests for further information) are aformal set of written questions propounded by one litigant and required to beanswered by an adversary, in order to clarify matters of fact and help to determinein advance what facts will be presented at any trial in the case.6 From late Middle English proroge, to discontinue a session of (the BritishParliament or a similar body).7 “Et si per hujusmodi arctationes et separationes nihil aliud, quam prius, vellentconfiteri, quod extunc quæstionarentur; ita quod quæstiones illæ fierent ABSQUEMUTILATIONE ET DEBILITATIONE PERPETUA ALICUJUS MEMBRI, ET SINEVIOLENTA SANGUINIS EFFUSIONE.” (tr. Latin: “And separations of this kind byarctationes. And if nothing else, than it was before, they wished to confess,quæstionarentur thenceforth, so that those questions might be made weakening ofALL TIME AND WITHOUT mutilation of any of its members and the shedding ofblood WITHOUT violence.”)8 The fortnight is a unit of time equal to fourteen days, or two weeks. The wordderives from the Old English fēowertyne niht, meaning “fourteen nights”.9 Peremptory challenge usually refers to a right in jury selection for the defenseand prosecution to reject a certain number of potential jurors who appear to have354

an unfavorable bias without having to give any reason. Other potential jurors maybe challenged for cause: i.e., by giving a reason why they might be unable to reach afair verdict.10 “Cum nuper, ob reveri entiam SEDIS APOSTOLICÆ, concessimus prælatis etinquisitoribus ad inquirendum contra ordinem Templariorum, et contra MagnumPræceptorem ejusdem ordinis in regno nostro Angliæ, quod iidem prælati etinquisitores, de ipsie Templariis et eorum corporibus IN QUÆSTIONIBUS, et aliis adhoc convenientibus ordinent et faciant, quoties voluerint, id quod eis secundum legemecclesiasticam, videbitur faciendum, &c.” (tr. Latin: “When recently, in fact beingsbecause of the Apostolic See, granted to prelates and inquisitors to inquire againstthe order of Templars, and against the great master of the same order in ourkingdom of England, that the same prelate and JUROR, His Templars and theirbodies in the question, which conform to this and other do ordain and, as often asthey wish, that which to them according to ecclesiastical law, will be seen to bedone, etc.”)11 Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded bySaint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also OldCatholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscancommunities. The most prominent group is the Order of Friars Minor (Minorites),commonly called simply the “Franciscans”. They seek to follow most directly themanner of life that Saint Francis led. This Order is a mendicant religious order ofmen tracing their origin to Francis of Assisi. It comprises three separate groups,each considered a religious order in its own right. These are the Observants, mostcommonly simply called “Franciscan friars”, the Capuchins, and the ConventualFranciscans. They all live according to a body of regulations known as “The Rule ofSt. Francis”.12 “Frater Henricus Tanet Hibernus dicit, quod audivit, quod quidam frater Hugo deNipurias, qui fuit in loco Marefcalli, reliquit castrum Torrofac, et ivit ad Saracenosnegando fidem. Dicit etiam quod audivit, cum fuit in partibus transmarinis, quod quidam praeceptor caftri Pelcrini de partibus Syriae, multos recepit sub dictaabnegatione; nomina tamen praeceptorum vel fratrum sic receptorum ignorat. Item,dicit quod vidit in Cypro quamplurimos dicti ordinis, qui non credebant bene desacramento altaris, nec de aliis sacramcmis. Item, quod multi ex fratribus non benecredunt, ut vidit, et audivit in conventu de Cypro praedicto. Item deponit, quod quidam Templarius habebat quoddam caput aeneum bifrons in custodia, et dicebat,quod illud respondebat ad omnia interrogata. Item, quod nunquam audivit, quodaliquis frater ordinis adoraret idolum, nisi praeceptor castri Pelerinl, et frater Hugopraedictus, et confratres per eos recepti.”13 “Magister Johannes de Nassington, officae Ebor. deposuit, quod domini Milo deStapelton, et Adam de Everingham, milites, retulerunt ei, quod semel per magnumpraeceptorem civitatis Ebor. suerunt una cum quibusdam aliis militibus de Patrickapud Templchurst ad quoddam magnum convivium invitati, et ibi cis dictum fuerar,355

quod multi fratres diCli illic convenerant pro quodam solenni festo, quod habebant, inquo vitulum quendam adorabant.”14 “Dominus Johannes de Eure, miles, vicecom. Ebor. dixit, quod ante captionemTemplariorum in Anglia factam, et infamiam contra eos obortam, frater Willielmusde Ia Fenne, ordinis Templi, tunc praeceptor de Wesdall, per eundem militem semelfuit invitatus, qui posi prandium de sinu suo extraxit quendum librum, et eundemtradidit legendum uxori dieti militis; ipsa vero in venit in eodem quandam schedulamannexam, in qua scripta erant quaedam sapicntia haereticam pravitatem: scilicet,quod Chrisius non erat filius Dei, nee de virgine natus; sed ex femine Josephi viriMariae more aliorum hominum conceptus; quodque Chrisius non erat verus sed salsusprophcta, et non pro redemptione humani generis, sed pro suis propriis flagitiiscrucifixus ; ac multa alia contraria fidei christianae. Eandem schedulam ditto militi,domino suo, administrationis causa legendam ostendit, qui lecta ea, dictum fratremsuper contentis in eadem, ut dixit, allocutas est; ipse que sub ridendo respondit, quodmagnus Ribaldus, qui dictam schedulam composuit, librum ibidem dimittere noluit,sed secum ad domum reportavit. Cumque dictus miles coram dictis inquisitoribusdicto fratre praesente praemissa per ordinem recitasset, idem frater de libro, utpraemissum est, fatebatur. Sed quid esset in eo, et in praedicta schedula scriptum,cum esset laicus, dixit se penitus ignorare.”15 “Dominus Willielmus de la Forde, rector ecclesiae de Crofton, Ebor. dioec. juratus,dixit, quod Willielmus de Reynbur, presby. ter de ordine santi Augusiini, qui jamdefunctus est, dixit sibi, quod ipse audiverat confessionem fratris Patricii de Rippon deordine Templi, filii Willielmi de Gloucere, qui Patricius jam defunctus est ; et idemPatricius inter caetera confessus fuit, quod in ingressu suo ductus suit indutuscamisia, et bracciis tantum, per longum adicum usque ad secretiorem domum; et ibi,cum a recipiente, astantibus fratribus, pete ret habitum et religionem sibiconcedi,dictum suit ei,quod juraret, quod nunquam revelaret ea, quae sibi fierent, veldicerentur; et ita fecit. Quo juramento praestito, dictum suit ei, quod negaret Deum etChrisium, quem antea coluerat; quod et fecit. Item ostendebatur ei imago crucifixi, etdicebatur ei, quod sicut antea honorav erat ipsum, etc modo vito peraret, etconspueret in cum; quod et fecit. Item dictum fuit ei, quod depositis bracciis, verteretdorsum ad crucifixum ; quod lachrymando fecit. Postmodum ostensa suit. sibiquaedam imago quasi cujuidam vituli, super imposita quasi cuidam altari, etdicebatur ei, quod illam imaginem oscularetur, et veneraretur; quod ct fecit. Etpostmodum velatis oculis fuis ducebatur osculando per singulos fratres, nefciebatramen in qua parte. Interrogatus, quando audivit ista, et ubi; dixit, quod postcaptionem dictorum fratrum in domo deponent et in civitate Ebor. Item, dixit, quodidem frater retulit ei, quod fratres ordinis Templi carnaliter invicem commiscentur.”16 Chinon is a castle located on the bank of the Vienne river in Chinon, France. In1308, three senior officers of the Knights Templar, including the GrandMaster,Jacques du Molay, were incarcerated before their condemnation andexecution in Paris. Except for The History of the Knights Templar, by Charles G.356

Addison, [1842], I can find no record of a N. de Chinon. It seems to have been acommon practice during the Inquisition to fabricate witnesses having aliases.17 Wilkins 1 c. 359: suspicion (which place a witness 21. In MS. Mentioned) seemsto prove that all examined in some dejernaverant, as appears from an observationof the process.18 The Myrmidons of Greek myth were known for their skill in battle and loyalty totheir leaders. In pre-industrial Europe the word “myrmidon” carried many of thesame connotations that “minion” does today. Myrmidon later came to mean “hiredruffian” (according to the Oxford English Dictionary) or “a loyal follower, especiallyone who executes orders without question, protest, or pity - unquestioningfollowers.” (Dictionary.com).19 This knight had been tortured in the Temple at Paris, by the brothers of St.Dominic, in the presence of the grand inquisitor, and he made his confession whensuffering on the rack; he afterwards revoked it, and was then tortured into awithdrawal of his revocation, notwithstanding which the inquisitor made theunhappy wretch, in common with others, put his signature to the followinginterrogatory, “Interrogatus utrum vi vel metu carceris aut tormentorum immiscuitin suâ depositione aliquam falsitatem, dicit quod non!”20 Deponent may refer to: A person who makes a deposition.21 “Vobis, præfati vicecomites, mandamus quod illos, quos dicti prælati et inquisitores,seu aliquis eorum, cum uno saltem inquisitore, deputaverint ad supervidendum quoddicta custodia bene fiat, id supervidere; et corpora dictorum Templariorum inQUÆSTIONIBUS et aliis ad hoc convenientibus, ponere; et alia, quæ in hac partesecundum legem ecclesiasticam fuerint facienda, facere permittatis.” (tr. Latin: “Toyou, the aforesaid sheriffs, We command that those whom the said prelates andJUROR, or any one of them, at least with one inquisitore, deputaverintsupervidendum to be done well, that the said guard, that supervidere, and cometogether for this and other bodies in the question of the said Templars, and to lay;and other, which in this part of the Church according to the law were to be made,permit to do.”)22 A witness; especially one who gives information under oath, in a depositionconcerning facts known to him or her.23 In the Catholic Church, followers of Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Dominicbecame known as mendicants, as they would beg for food while they preached tothe villages.24 “Acta fuerunt hæc die et loco prædictis, præsentibus patribus antedictis, etvenerandæ discretionis viris magistris Michaele de Bercham, cancellario dominiarchiepiscopi Cantuar. … et me Ranulpho de Waltham, London, episcoporum notariispublicis.” (tr. Latin: “Journal of these things were on the day and place aforesaid, thepresence of the aforesaid fathers, teachers and venerated men of discretion357

Bercham of Michael, the Lord Chancellor, Archbishop of Canterbury. ... me andRanulph of Waltham, London, bishops notaries public.”)25 Phèdre (originally Phèdre et Hippolyte) is a dramatic tragedy in five acts writtenin alexandrine verse by Jean Racine, first performed in 1677. “Ainsi que la vertu, lecrime a see degrés; Et jamais on n’a vu la timide innocence; Passer subitement àl’extreme licence. Un seul jour ne fait point d’un mortel vertueux, Un perfideapostat, un traitre audacieux.” Phedre, Acte iv. Scene 2.26 “Ut det Templariis audientiam sive defensionem. In hac sententiâ concordantomnes prælati Italiæ præter unum, Hispaniæ, Theutoniæ, Daniæ, Angliæ, Scotiæ,Hiberniæ, etc. etc., ex secund.” (tr. Latin: “Templars in order to give a hearing or adefense. Agree to this effect, all prelates of Italy, except one, of Spain, Theutoniæ,the Danes, England, Scotland, Ireland, etc.. etc.., from the second.”)27 He was one of those who advised king John to sign Magna Charta.28 He was employed to negotiate a marriage between king Henry the Third and thefair Eleanor of Provence.29 “In vilissimo carcere, ferro duplici constrictus, jussus est recludi, et ibidem, donecaliud ordinatum extiterit, reservari; et interim visitari, ad videndum si vellet alteriusaliqua confiteri!” (tr. Latin: “In a most wretched prison, bound with iron, a double,was ordered to SHUT UP, and even there, until another ordained for existence, tobe reserved; be visited and in the meantime, some of the other to see if he wishedto confess!”)30 “I do not know,” says Voltaire, “which returned to the Pope, but I can seeobviously that the costs of cardinals, inquisitors delegates to this terrible trial cameup to enormous sums.”31 The extents of the lands of the Templars are amongst the unarranged records inthe Queen's Remembrancer's office, and various sheriffs' accounts are in the thirdchest in the Pipe Office.32 Tr Latin: “King, and so on. Though, you are our Peter Auger, giving presents,recently vowed that he does not shave his beard until he made a pilgrimage in acertain place in foreign parts, and Peter to fear, that some of it, the beard, I havelong been on the meaning of the Templars, and him to the baggage or burdens ofthis case, we force the truth of disaster, you communicate the tenor of thesepresents, that the aforementioned Peter is suffering from our chamber, was notever the Templars, but his beard so long that it allows, for the reason above stated,and so on. Witness the king, and so on.”358

EPILOGUEInside the LegendThe story of the Templars is one of the most desolate and obscure inthe history of the medieval West: created as a military-religiousorder to defend the Holy Land, after becoming one of the mostpowerful and influential institutions of all Christianity, the Templewas put under procedure at the beginning of the fourteenth centuryand then suspended in 1312 because of the serious charges thatweighed on its members. The last Grand Master Jacques de Molay,along with one of the highest dignitaries of the Order, chose to dieas a testimony of his innocence, contrasting the guilt of brotherswho had been imputed to them, heresy, adherence to an anti-Christian beliefs, corruption of morals, and idolatry.Condemned to the stake for trying to defend the honor to the end ofthe Temple, shortly before his death would de Molay summonClement V and Philip the Fair before the Court of God to giveaccount of their responsibility. Both died before the turn of theyear: the story, handed down in a contemporary chronicle probablywritten by an eyewitness to the execution, soon became the fatherof two legends of great fortune passed down over time inspiring theimagination of the creators of secret sects and novelist of theromantic era.It was the Renaissance, with its passion for magic and the occult, todust off the old records of the trial of those fantasizing confessionsextracted by the Inquisition, where he read the secrets of strangerituals, which however had never charmed the men of earlyfourteenth century who really lived the story. This is the case ofDante Alighieri, which is expressed by the sentence Hugh Capet toPhilip IV‘s heir “for the Temple was destroyed for profit, or that ofBoccaccio, father who was in Paris to pursue mercantile andwitnessed the burning of the last”. [256] As the trials continued, ageneral sentiment developed in Western Europe that the Templars359

were innocent. Dante, observed these events in Italy and criticizedPhilip IV for his actions in in Canto of XX Purgatorio:O Avarice, what more harm can you do?You have so fascinated all my heirs,they have no care for their own flesh and blood.That past and future cromes may seem as naught,I see the fleur-de-lis enter AlagnaAnd in His vicar Christ made prisoner.I see the gall and vinegar renewed;I see Him being mocked a second time,Killed once again between the living thieves.I see this second Pilate so full of spiteThat, still unsatisfied, his greedy sailsHe drives, unchartered, into Holy Temple.Excerpt taken from Canto XX [256]Historical studies have shown that these alleged esotericsubsidiaries belong to a romantic dream, however, is a trend thathas its own importance and constitutes a relevant page in thehistory of European culture, especially the interest that the tragicstory of the Templars is able to provoke even today, after almostseven hundred years after its fine [257].The primary cause of the attack against the Temple, solidlyidentified, is the need of capital by Philip the Fair of France, whichwas also evident for the society of the time, but there are manyaspects of the long process, which technically lasted seven years,that are still waiting to be clarified.The Chinon ParchmentIronically, in September 2001-nearly 700 years after the arrest ofthe Templars—Barbara Frale, an Italian paleographer at the VaticanSecret Archives, discovered a historical document, which claimedthat in 1308, Pope Clement V secretly absolved the last GrandMaster Jacques de Molay and the rest of the leadership of theKnights Templar from charges brought against them by the360

Medieval Inquisition. Known as the Chinon Parchment, it is datedfrom Chinon, 17-20 August 1308 and was written by Bérenger,cardinal priest of St. Nereus and Achileus, Stephanus, cardinal priestof St. Cyriac in Thermis, and Landolf, cardinal deacon of Sant’Angeloin Pescheria; it is a scroll containing the absolution granted, byauthority of Pope Clement V, to Jacques de Molay and the leadingdignitaries of the Temple held by the King of France in the dungeonof his fortress of Chinon. The papal document is an integral part ofthe investigation that took place in Poitiers in the summer of 1308,which constitutes a sort of special session established separately forreasons of force majeure 1 , in this publication is published for thefirst time inserting it back into the context to which it belongs.In A.D. 2007, the Vatican made public this document, producing alimited edition of 799 copies, each priced at $8,377 (US). An APIarticle entitled “Long-lost text lifts cloud from Knights Templar”,read, “The Vatican has published secret documents about the trial ofthe Knights Templar, including a parchment — long ignored becauseof a vague catalog entry in 1628 — showing that Pope Clement Vinitially absolved the medieval order of heresy.” [258]The Vatican work reproduces the entire documentation of the papalhearings convened after Philip arrested and tortured Templarleaders in 1307 on charges of heresy and immorality. The Frale haspublished her discoveries in the Journal of Medieval History [259]and wrote a book on the subject, Il papato e il processo ai templari.[260]Philip was heavily indebted to the Templars, who had helped himfinance his wars, and getting rid of them was a convenient way ofcancelling his debts, some historians say. “Pope Clement wasconvinced”, Frale says, “that while the Templars had committed somegrave sins, they were not heretics”. [258] Yet, Clement V was ahostage in French territory on the eve of the arrest, having movedthe Holy See from Rome, and had been appointed through theschemes of Philip. The king, knowing that the Templars had greattreasures that would liberate the crown from insolvency and endow361

for its future endeavors, greatly desired the fortunes of the Order.The Pope, as well as the Philip, realized that if the Templars wereabsolved, liberated, and continued as an Order, that their greatholdings in land, goods, artifacts, and currency, would have beenalready expended by the French crown."Parchment of Chinon", nearly 1 yard wide — "the size of a small tabletop", asFrale put it — details the 1308 decision by Clement to save the Templars andtheir order. [258]An investigation was carried out by agents of the Pope to verifyclaims against the accused in the castle of Chinon in the diocese ofTours. According to this document and another Chinon Parchment(see below), Pope Clement V instructed cardinals to conduct theinvestigation of the accused Knights Templar. The cardinals thus:362

"…declare through this official statement directed to all who will readit... the very same lord Pope wishing and intending to know the pure,complete and uncompromised truth from the leaders of the saidOrder, namely Brother Jacques de Molay, Grandmaster of the Order ofKnights Templar, Brother Raymbaud de Caron, Preceptor (of) thecommandrys of Templar Knights in Outremer, Brother Hugo dePérraud, Preceptor of France, Brother Geoffroy de Gonneville,Preceptor of Aquitania and Poitou, and Geoffroy de Charney,Preceptor of Normandy, ordered and commissioned us specifically andby his verbally expressed will in order that we might with diligenceexamine the truth by questioning the grandmaster and theaforementioned preceptors—one by one and individually, havingsummoned notaries public and trustworthy witnesses."(ChinonParchment dated 17-20 August 1308)The castle Chinon viewed from across the Vienne. The castle is divided, alongits length, into three enclosures, each separated by a deep dry moat. Theeasternmost is known as Fort St.-Georges, the central called the Château deMilieu, while the westernmost is known as the Fort du Coudray. In the early13th century, following the Capetian annexation of Anjou in 1205, a cylindricalkeep similar to those at Rouen and the Louvre, was added by Philip Augustus,King of France, to the entrance of the Fort du Coudray363

The AcquittalWhat Clement V had done to discharge the Templar leaders of theexcommunication was known from indirect sources; however,historians, who have always shown a commendable diffidence: theabsence of the original, combined with the subsequent events of thedissolution of the Order and the firing of last Grand Master, rightlypushed to doubt that such a document had never been written 2 .[261]Immediately after the identification of the parchment, four scholarswere consulted, internationally renowned specialists in the historyof the Temple, from which the Vatican could be of sure comfort in itauthenticity or otherwise, but also for the verification questionposed by researchers: Malcolm Barber Cambridge lecturer and thenReading, Alain Demurger the Sorbonne, Franco Cardini University ofFlorence, and Francesco Tommasi of the University of Perugia. Ithas been confirmed by them that, at least according to currentliterature, the document is passed to the sieve unpublished (inedito)analysis diplomatic, paleographic and codicological. The Chinonparchment was genuine in every aspect and has no doubt points.Two major reasons for misgivings about the parchment existedbefore the historic news of the acquittal of the Pope: first, becausethe Curia still retains much of the documentation produced duringthe trial, it appeared unlikely that is what had been lost, wasperhaps the most significant of the entire procedure, but rather,expressed a clear choice by the Vatican; and second, if thatdocument had really existed, how could the Pope remain quietlyand completely devoid of effect?The way to understand why the secret scroll remained hidden for solong after the Archives was opened, ordered by Pope Leo XIII(1878-1903), is revealed through the work of scholars. Theadjective “secret” is now only an incorrect revision of the ancientsecretum, i.e., depriving the pope access, and the papal archives wasnever really impenetrable as evidenced by the numerous entryvouchers issued from the sixteenth century. But scholars have364

always been faced with an obstacle far more difficult, that is, thequantity of the documentation, which often is even likely to preventthe research because it would require years and piles of index cardscontaining only what matters: the Hall Indices is now the size of acomfortable apartment, and inventories, where each binder orregister containing millions of historical information appears onlyas a name and date, and amount to thousands of volumes.So the vast quantity of documents, resulting in managementdifficulties unimaginable to an outside observer, in fact counters theefforts of disclosure made by those who have followed in thedirection of the Archives after Leo XIII. Even today, despite therapid computerization and systematic program, more efficientscanning and electronic sources, it is often impossible to find aspecific document in a timely fashion, if you do not have the precisemapping of a source, after years of patient search. These are thereasons that made the of Chinon Parchment unavailable to the greatscholars in the past, and that unfortunately make it only so now, ininexperienced hands.The Templar RitualThe initiation ceremony of the Order is believed to have includeddenying Christ and spitting on the cross. Frale said they justifiedthis as a ritual of obedience in preparation for possible capture andtorture by Moslems, to convert them to the Saracen religion, andmake the apostates of the Christian faith. [258] They were also saidto have practiced sodomy. “Simply put, the pope recognized thatthey were not heretics but guilty of many other minor crimes—suchas abuses, violence and sinful acts within the order,” she said. “Butthat is not the same as heresy.” [258]Studying the secret life of the Templars—their internal traditionscloaked by a rigid code of silence typical of a military order—is anarduous task for historians. Most of the sources pertain to theirtrial, which produced an abundance of tampered documents andtestimony extracted under torture. It is a potential minefield, one365

that requires proceeding with great prudence. Nevertheless, it isextremely fertile and practically unexplored terrain.Through twenty years of research, I have examined a compilation ofavailable Templar testimony, over the course of the entire trial.This made it possible to compare the behavior of various brothersin identical situations and to verify if there were acts or omissionsthat were repeated systematically or if certain dignitariescustomarily behaved in a manner different from others. I was ableto juxtapose numerous scattered pieces of information, whichrevealed that a number of secret rituals were regularly performedin the Temple, handed down by oral tradition and about which thewritten rule of the order contained nothing more than animperceptible allusion. On the one hand, we have a wide range ofinformation gathered from trial testimony, which provides clearevidence of certain recurrent practices, and on the other, the bodyof Templar rules and regulations preserved in original manuscriptswritten prior to 1291. The manuscripts allow us to draw someinteresting comparisons, and they are above any suspicion of havingbeen manipulated for purposes involving the trial since they datefrom the period when the order still enjoyed great powerthroughout Christendom.When Bernard of Clairvaux defined the rigid ethical and disciplinarycode of the Templars, he was perfectly aware that this way of lifewould not be accessible to everyone. For this reason, he insisted oninserting into the text of the rule a clause exhorting the leaders ofthe order not to accept new recruits too hurriedly, but rather tosubject candidates to a test to ascertain their character andcommitment. The exact nature of the test is unclear. Bernardelegantly alluded to Saint Paul’s advice to “put them to the test to seeif they come from God.” This referred to a training period, ornovitiate, during which the aspirant lived with the Templars andshared their life in every aspect, experiencing combat against theMoslem enemy but also the harsh discipline of the order to confirmwhether or not he could meet the severe demands of its code ofhonor.366

A cardinal point of the Templars’ ethical code was absoluteobedience to one’s immediate superiors, which was essential to thesuccess of military operations. In a religious sense, absoluteobedience meant a Templar must give up his free will and entrusthimself completely to his superior, who was enlightened and guidedby God.The Templars’ hierarchical statutes, which regulated the rules ofengagement for combat, declared that the knights of the Templecould not abandon the battlefield even if they had been completelydisarmed. The honor of the order required that they sacrifice theirlives. We learn from a Moslem source that in 1188, as Saladin‘sarmy broke through the walls of the city of Darbsák, near Antioch,the Templars filled the breach with their own bodies, and as soon asone fell, another stepped in to take his place. Such a capacity forself-sacrifice required not only the strongest possible ideologicalcommitment to the ethical code but also the proper psychologicalconditioning to prepare the knights for battle. Training them in theconcept of absolute obedience was clearly a key element of theirrigorous discipline.The written statutes of the Temple, which date back to the secondhalf of the thirteenth century, contain the complete text of theinitiation ceremony. In the two centuries after the founding of theorder, the moment at which a man gave up his secular life and tookthe religious vows to become a Templar had been rigidly codified,and both the leaders who officiated at the ritual and the postulantfollowed a precise script. The preceptor or commander of theTemplar house where the ceremony was held, or alternatively ahigher-ranking visiting dignitary who was invited to preside at theceremony, examined the recruit three times to verify that he was fitfor the Temple. Isolated in a separate room, the postulant 3 wasbrought before the officiator, who showed him the rule of theTemple and warned him of its severity: “Sir, you see us well clothedand provided with the best horses, but very few know what our soulsmust withstand. If you become a Templar, you will have to facedifficult challenges, hear outrageous words and accept them with367

patience, and obey your superiors no matter what they command youto do. Will you be able to bear the unbearable?”The postulant responded, “Sir, with God’s help, I can bear anything!”The written rule offers no details as to how the preceptor mightdiscourage postulants who were less than totally convincing,leaving it up to the discretion of whoever was presiding to do “asbest he could and knew how.” Then the candidate recited the threemonastic vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, removed his laygarments, and donned his religious dress. Once the preceptorfastened the clasp of the mantle of the Temple around thecandidate’s neck, he was a member of the order in all respects. Thiswas the end of the ceremony as described in the written rule, butnot of the actual ceremony, which included a part that can bereconstructed only from the testimony given at the trial. All theTemplars who testified at the trial recounted the first part of theirinduction exactly as it is described in the rule, with its liturgy, theinterrogation, the vows, and the change of dress. After donning themantle, the new Templar was led to an isolated place (in thesacristy, behind the altar, or in another room), and here thepreceptor said: “Sir, all the vows you have made to us are emptywords. Now you will have to prove yourself with deeds,” and, withoutproviding any explanation, the preceptor ordered the new Templarto deny Christ and spit on the cross, showing him a cross painted ina missal or using a liturgical cross. The novice Templar was oftenleft speechless, and, having regained his senses after the shock,refused to obey. At that point the preceptor said: “You have swornto obey any command from your superiors, and now you dare displayyour disobedience?”A systematic analysis of all the testimony revealed that at this pointmost of the brothers resigned themselves to doing what had beencommanded, perhaps attempting to spit in the direction of the crosswithout actually hitting it, while others adamantly refused. Theyhad taken a vow to defend the faith and they would not soilthemselves with such profanations. Sometimes a candidate’s368

firmness was respected, and he was asked nothing more, but moreoften his brothers threatened him with prison or death, beating himbrutally with their bare fists or holding a sword to his throat. Thenthe preceptor gave him the kiss of monastic brotherhood—on themouth. Often this kiss, common to all religious orders, was followedby two more kisses on the belly and the posterior, which wasusually covered by the tunic, but at times there were officiators whoexposed their bottoms and, according to some witnesses, evenobscenely proposed kisses on the penis. Most postulants obeyedwithout arguing when the request was moderately humiliating, suchas a kiss on the behind, and refused in more extreme cases. Whilethe preceptors demanded that a postulant at least deny Christ orspit on the cross, they usually overlooked a refusal of kisses, andunwilling candidates were not forced to comply.Finally, the preceptor exhorted the new Templar not to have sexualrelations with women, inviting him, should he absolutely not be ableto live chastely, to unite with his brothers and not to refuse themshould they request sexual favors from him. The novice oftenreacted angrily, but there were no consequences because the ritualsequence did not provide for any concrete application of this“precept of homosexuality.” In practice, all the candidate had to dowas submit to those words in silence with no signs of rebellion, asproof of his obedience.The surviving trial testimony consists of approximately onethousand depositions with only six attesting to homosexualrelations, all of which were described as long-term relationshipsthat almost always had a dimension of affection. In the Temple,such relationships involved a small number of individuals. Thepractice of homosexuality was not widespread, not least becausethe rule punished such conduct with life imprisonment.At the end of the ceremony, the “victim” of all these impositions wasinvited to report to the chaplain of the order to confess the sins hehad just committed and ask for forgiveness. The priests of theTemple comforted these penitents by telling them that they had not369

committed grave offenses and that if they demonstrated remorseand shame, they would be absolved. Often, however, the brothersconfessed to priests outside the Temple, generally Franciscans orDominicans, who, naturally, were dumbfounded and amplified thebrothers’ moral disquiet by telling them they had committed mortalsins, sometimes encouraging them to leave the order. Theindiscretions of these honest priests, who were totally ignorant ofthe real function of the secret ceremony within the Temple,undoubtedly contributed to the gossip circulating in the secularworld about the “dark side” of the order.ClosureDespite his conviction that the Templars were not guilty of heresy,in 1312 Pope Clement ordered the Templars disbanded for whatFrale called “the good of the Church” following his repeated clasheswith the French king. Frale depicted the trials against the Templarsbetween 1307 and 1312 as a battle of political wills betweenClement and Philip, and said the document means Clement’sposition has to be reappraised by historians [258].The Templars were an interesting group, as they were devoutChristians, embracing poverty and obedience. On the other hand,they were also commanded to take up their swords in defense ofpilgrims, and as they did later, Christianity itself. “Knights of theCross” was an accurate description of their purpose and charter.While most of the Knights came from royalty and noble birth, theystill renounced their wealth, and even their privileges in Westernsociety, submitting to the Order and to the Temple. The supportingpersonnel of the Knights were not usually of noble birth, but servedto ensure the Knights were ready for battle.CAPTAIN of arts, in this thy Holy WarMy muse deaires to be thy trumpeter,In thy just praise to sp!’nd a blast or two,For this is all that she (poor thing) can do.Peter the Hermit, like an angry owl,370

Would needs go fight all armed in his cowl.What, had the holy man nought else to do,But thus to lose his blood and credit too?Seeking to win Christ’s sepulcher, God wot,He found his own ; this was the ground he got.Except he got more ground, when he one dayBesieging Antioch fiercely ran away.Much wiser was the Pope: at home he stayed,And made the world believe he wept and prayed.Meanwhile (behold the fruit of feigned tears)He sets the world together by the ears.His head serves him, whilst others use their hands :Whilst princes lose their lives, he gets their lands.To win the Holy Land what need kings roam?The pope can make a Holy Land at homeBy making it his own: then for a fashion,‘Tis said to come by Constantine’s donation.For all this fox·craft, I have leave (I hope)To think my friend far wiser than the popeAnd hermit both : he deals in holy wars,Not as a stickler in those fruitless jars,But a composer rather : hence this book;Whereon whilst I with greedy eyes do look,Methinks I travel through the Holy Land,Viewing the sacred objects on each hand.Here mounts (methinks), like Olivet, brave sense;There tlows a Jordan of pure eloquence:A temple rich in ornament I findPresented here to my admiring mind.Strange force of Art! the ruined holy cityBreeds admiration in me now, not pity.To testify her liking, here my museMakes solemn vows, as holy pilgrims use.I vow, dear friend, the Holy War is hereFar better writ than ever fought elsewhere.Thousands have fought and died : but all this while,371

I vow, there nothing triumphs but thy style.Thy wit bath vanquished barbarism moreThan ever Godfrey’s valour did before.Might I but choose, I rather would by farBe author of thy book thau of that war.Let others fight; I vow to read thy works,Prizing thy ink before the blood of Turks. [252]J. Booth, B.D.C.C.C.Notes1 Force majeure (French; pronounced: [fɔrs maʒœr], approximately fors ma-zhur)or vis major (Latin) “superior force”, also known as cas fortuit (French) or casusfortuitus (Latin) “chance occurrence, unavoidable accident”, is a common clause incontracts that essentially frees both parties from liability or obligation when anextraordinary event or circumstance beyond the control of the parties, such as awar, strike, riot, crime, or an event described by the legal term act of God (such ashurricane, flooding, earthquake, volcanic eruption, etc.), prevents one or bothparties from fulfilling their obligations under the contract.2 See Barber, The Trial of the Templars, p. 275, footnote 50, the absence of a writingoriginal investigation of Chinon, “There is no proper transcription of Thesehearings. The information derivates from a letter of the cardinals to King Philip(Baluze, III, pp.. 98-100), an extract from the register of the Vatican Archive inAvignon Popes Given Finke, ii. 324-8, and the bull faciens misericordiam, Port (ed.),Guillaume Le Maire, pp.. 438-40.”3 A postulant (from the Latin postulare, to ask) was originally one who makes arequest or demand; hence, a candidate.372

APPENDIX: CHINON, AUGUST 17-20, 1308In the name of the Lord, amen. We, Berengar, by the mercy of Godcardinal presbyter of SS. Nereus and Achileus, and Stephanus,cardinal presbyter of St. Ciriacus in Therminis, and Landolf, cardinaldeacon of St. Angel, declare through this official statement directed toall who will read it that since our most holy father and lord Clement,by divine providence the supreme pontific of the holy Roman anduniversal church, after receiving the word of mouth and alsoclamorous reports from the illustrious king of France and prelates,dukes, counts, barons and other subjects of the said kingdom, bothnoblemen and commoners, along with some brothers, presbyters,knights, preceptors and servants of the Templar order, had initiatedan inquiry into matters concerning the brothers, [questions ofCatholic faith] and the Rule of the said Order, because of which itsuffered public infamy, the very same lord Pope wishing and intendingto know the pure, complete and uncompromised truth from theleaders of the said Order, namely brother Jacques de Molay,grandmaster of the Order of Knights Tempar, brother Raymbaud deCaron, preceptor the commandaries of Templar Knights in Outremer,brother Hugo de Pérraud, preceptor of France, brother Geoffroy deGonneville, preceptor of Aquitania and Poitou, and Geoffroy of Charny,preceptor of Normandy, ordered and commissioned us specifically andby his verbally expressed will in order that we might with diligenceexamine the truth by questioning the grandmaster and theaforementioned preceptors – one by one and individually, havingsummoned notaries public and trustworthy witnesses.And having acted according to the mandate and commissioned by thesaid Lord Supreme Pontific, we questioned the aforementionedgrandmaster and the preceptors and examined them concerning thematters described above. Their words and confessions were writtendown exactly the way they are included here by the notaries whosenames are listed below in the presence of witnesses listed below. Wealso ordered these things drawn up in this official form and validatedby the protection of our seals.373

In the year of our Lord 1308, the 6th indiction, on the 17th day ofAugust, in the 3d year of the pontificate of the said Pope Clement V,brother Raymbaud de Caron, preceptor the commandaries of TemplarKnights in Outremer, was brought in front of us, the aforementionedfathers, to the town of Chinon of the Tours diocese. With his hand onthe Holy Gospel of the Lord he took an oath that he would speak pureand complete truth about himself as well individuals and brothers ofthe Order, and about the Order itself, concerning questions of Catholicfaith and the Rule of the said Order, and also about five particularindividuals and brothers of the Order. Diligently interrogated by usabout the time and circumstances of his initiation in the order he saidthat it was been forty-thee years or thereabouts since he had beenknighted and admitted into the Templar Order by brother Roncelin deFos, at the time preceptor of Provence, in the town of Richarenchess,in the diocese of Carpentras or Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux, in thechapel of the local Templar commandery. During the ceremony thepatron said nothing to the novice that was not proper, but after theadmittance a servant-brother came up to him whose name he doesnot recall, for he has been dead for a long time. He took him asideholding a small cross under his cloak, and when all the brothers exitedand they remained alone, that is this brother-servant and the speaker,this brother-servant showed this cross to the speaker who does notrecall whether it bore the effigy of the crucifix or not, but believeshowever, that there was a crucifix either painted or carved. And thisbrother-servant told the speaker: “You must denounce this one.” Andthe speaker, not believing himself to be committing a sin, said: “Andso, I denounce.” That brother-servant also told the speaker that heshould preserve purity and chastity, but if he could not do so, it wasbetter to be done secretly than publicly. The speaker also said that hisdenunciation did not come from the heart, but from the mouth. Thenhe said that the next day he revealed this to the bishop of Carpentras,his blood relative, who was present in the said place, and the bishoptold him that he had acted wrongly and committed a sin. Then theinterrogated confessed on this account to the same bishop and wasassigned penances with he completed, according to him.374

When asked about the sin of sodomy, he said that he never was a partof it neither performing or enduring, and that he never heard thatknights Templar engaged in this sin, apart from those three knightswho had been punished by perpetual incarceration in Castle Pilgrim.When asked whether the brothers of the said Order were received intothe order in the same manner he was received into it, he replied thathe did not know that, because he never initiated anyone himself anddid not see anyone being accepted in the Order other than two orthree brothers. Regarding them he did not know whether theydenounced Christ or not. When he was asked about the names of thesebrothers he said that one had the name of Peter, but that he did notremember his family name. When he was asked how old he was whenhe was made brother of the said Order he replied that he wasseventeen years of age or thereabouts. When he was asked about thespitting on the cross and about the worshipped head, he said that heknew nothing, adding that he had never heard any mention of thathead until he heard the lord Pope Clement speak of it this past year.When he was asked about the practice of kissing, he replied that theaforementioned brother Roncelin kissed him on the mouth when hereceived him as a brother; he said that he knew nothing about otherkisses. When he was asked whether he wanted to maintain what hehad said during the confession, whether it was done according to thetruth, and whether he had added anything untruthful or withheldanything that is truthful, he replied that he wanted to maintain whathe had previously said in his confession, that it was truthful and thathe neither added anything that was untruthful nor omitted anythingthat was truthful. When he was asked whether he had confessed dueto a request, reward, gratitude, favor, fear, hatred or persuasion bysomeone else, or the use of force, or fear of impending torture, hereplied that he did not.Afterwards, this very brother Raymbaud standing on his knees withhis hands folded asked for our forgiveness and mercy regarding theabovementioned deeds. And as he pleaded so, brother Raymbauddenounced in our presence the abovementioned heresy, as well as anyother heresy. For the second time he took an oath with his hand upon375

the Holy Gospel of our Lord in that he will obey the teachings of theChurch, that he will maintain, uphold and observe the Catholic faithwhich the Roman Church maintains, upholds and proclaims, as well asteaches and requires of others to observe it, and that he will live anddie as a faithful Christian. After this oath, by the authority of lordPope specifically granted to us for that purpose, we extended to thishumbly asking brother Raymbaud, in a form accepted by the Churchthe mercy of absolution from the verdict of excommunication that hadbeen incurred by the aforementioned deeds, restoring him to unitywith the Church and reinstating him for communion of the faithfuland sacraments of the Church.Also, on the same day, brother knight Geoffroy of Charny, preceptor ofcommanderies of the Templar Order in Normandy, appearingpersonally in the previously described manner and form, in ourpresence, and in the presence of notaries, as well as witnesses,modestly swore with his hand on the Gospel of the Lord and wasquestioned about the manner of his reception into the said Order. Hetestified that it has well been forty years or thereabouts since he wasaccepted into the Order of Knights Templar by brother Amaury de laRoche, the preceptor of France in Étamps of the diocese of Sens, in thechapel of the local Templar commandery. Present at the ceremonywere brother Jean le Franceys, preceptor of Pédenac, and nine, ten orso brothers of the said Order whom he all believed to be dead now.And then, once he had been accepted in the order and the cloak of theorder had been placed on his shoulders, the brother who performedthe ceremony took him aside within the same chapel and showed hima crucifix with an effigy of Christ, and told him that he should notbelieve in the Crucified, but should in fact denounce Him. Then thenewly accepted brother at the demand of the said recipientdenounced Him verbally, but not in his heart. Also, he said that at thetime of his induction, the novice kissed the recipient on the mouth andin his chest through the garment as a sign of reverence.When asked whether brothers of the Templar Order while beinginitiated into the order were accepted in the same manner that hewas, he said that he did not know. He also said that he himself376

eceived one brother into the said Order through the same ceremonythrough which he himself was accepted. Afterwards he accepted manyothers without the denunciation described earlier and in goodmanner. He also said that he confessed about the denunciation of thecross which he had done during the ceremony of induction and aboutbeing forced to do so by the brother performing the ceremony, to thePatriarch of Jerusalem of the time, and was absolved by him.When diligently questioned regarding the spitting on the cross, thepractice of kissing, the vice of sodomy and the worshipped head, hereplied that he knew nothing of it. Further interrogated, he said thathe believed that other brothers had been accepted into the Order inthe same manner that he was. He said however that he did not knowthat for sure since when these things took place the newly receivedwere taken aside so that other brothers who were present in thebuilding would neither see nor hear what went on with them. Askedabout the age that he was in when accepted into the said Order, hereplied that he was sixteen, seventeen or thereabouts.When he was asked whether he had said these things due to a request,reward, gratitude, favor, fear, hatred or persuasion by someone else,or the use of force, or fear of impending torture, he replied that he didnot. When he was asked whether he wanted to maintain what he hadsaid during the confession, whether it was done according to thetruth, and whether he had added anything untruthful or withheldanything that is truthful, he replied that he wanted to maintain whathe had previously said in his confession during which he had only saidwhat was true, that what he said was according to the truth and thathe neither added anything that was untruthful nor omitted anythingthat was truthful.After this, we concluded to extend the mercy of absolution for theseacts to brother Geoffroy, who in the form and manner described abovehad denounced in our presence the described and any other heresy,and swore in person on the Lord’s Holy Gospel, and humbly asked forthe mercy of absolution, restoring him to unity with the Church and377

einstating him for communion of the faithful and sacraments of theChurch.On the same day, in our presence and the presence of notaries, as wellas the witnesses listed below, brother Geoffroy de Gonnevillepersonally appeared and was diligently questioned about the timeand circumstances of his reception and about other matters describedabove. He replied that it has been twenty eight years or thereaboutssince he was received as a brother of the Order of the Knights Templarby brother-knight Robert de Torville, preceptor of the commandariesof the Templar order in England , in the city of London , at the chapelof the local commandery. And this receptor, after bestowing the cloakof the Knights Templar upon the this newly received member, showedhim the cross depicted in some book and said that he should denouncethe one whose image was depicted on that cross. When the newlyreceived did not want to do so, the receptor told him multiple timesthat he should do so. And since he completely refused to do it, thereceptor, seeing his resistance, said to him: “Will you swear to me thatif asked by any of the brothers you would say that you had made thisdenouncement, provided that I allow you not to make it?” And thenewly received answered “yes”, and promised that if he wasquestioned by any of the brother of the said Order he would say thathe had performed the said denouncement. And, as he said, he made nodenouncement otherwise. He also said that the said receptor told himthat she should spit on the described cross. When the newly receiveddid not wish to do so, the receptor placed his own hand over thedepiction of the cross and said:“At least spit on my hand!” And sincethe received feared that the receptor would remove his hand andsome of this spit would get on the cross, he did not want to spit on thehand with the cross being near.When diligently questioned regarding the sin of sodomy, theworshipped head, about the practice of kissing and other things forwhich the brothers of the said order received a bad reputation, he saidthat he knew nothing. When asked whether other brothers of theOrder were accepted into the Order in the same way as he was, he said378

that he believed that the same was done to others as it was done tohim at the time of his described initiation.When he was asked whether he had said these things due to a request,reward, gratitude, favor, fear, hatred or persuasion by someone else,or the use of force, or fear of impending torture, he replied that he didnot. After this, we concluded to extend the mercy of absolution forthese acts to brother Geoffroy de Goneville, who in the form andmanner described above had denounced in our presence the describedand any other heresy, and swore in person on the Lord’s Holy Gospel,and humbly asked for the mercy of absolution, restoring him to unitywith the Church and reinstating him for communion of the faithfuland sacraments of the Church.Then on the nineteenth day of the month, in our presence, and in thepresence of notaries and the same witnesses, brother Hugo dePérraud, preceptor of Templar commanderies in France appearedpersonally and took an oath on the Holy Gospel of the Lord, placinghis hand upon it in the manner described above. This brother Hugo,having sworn as indicated, and being diligently questioned said aboutthe manner of his initiation that he was received in London at localTemplar commandary, in its church. It was forty six years ago thispast feast of St. Magdalene. He was inducted as a brother of the Orderby brother Hubet de Perraud, his own father, a Visitator of theTemplar commanderies in France and Poitou , who placed upon hisshoulders the cloak of the said Order. This having been done, somebrother of the said Order, by the name of John, who afterwardsbecame preceptor of de La Muce, took him to a certain part of thatchapel, showed him a cross with an effigy of Christ, and ordered himto denounce the One whose image was depicted there. He refused, asmuch as he could, according to him. Eventually, however, overcome byfear and menaces of brother John, he denounced the One whose imagewas depicted there only once. And although brother John multipletimes demanded that he spit on that cross, he refused to do so.When asked whether he had to kiss the receptor, he said that he did,only on the mouth.379

When asked about the sin of sodomy, he replied that it was neverimposed on him and he never committed it.When asked whether he accepted others into the Order, he repliedthat he did many times, and that he accepted more people than anyother living member of the Order.When asked about the ceremony through which he accepted them, hesaid that after they were received and given the cloaks of the Order,he ordered them to denounce the crucifix and to kiss him at thebottom of the back, in the navel and then on the mouth. He also saidthat he imposed on them to abstain from partnership with women,and, if they were unable to restrain their lust, to join themselves withbrothers of the Order.He also said under oath that the aforementioned denunciation, whichhe performed during initiation, as well as other things described thathe demanded from those received by him, was done in word only, andnot in spirit. When asked why he felt pained and did not perform inspirit the things that he did, he replied that such were the statutes orrather traditions of the Order and that he always hoped that thiserror would be removed from the said Order.When asked whether any of the members newly received by himrefused to perform the described spitting and other dishonest thingslisted above, he replied that only few, and eventually all did asordered. He also said that although he himself instructed brothers ofthe order whom he initiated to join with other brothers, neverthelesshe never did that, nor heard that anyone else commit this sin, exceptfor the two or three brothers in Outremer who were incarcerated forthis in Castle Pilgrim.When asked whether he knew if all brothers of the said Order wereinitiated in the same manner as he initiated others, he said that he didnot know for sure about others, only about himself and those whom heinitiated, because brothers are initiated in such secrecy that nothingcan be known other than through those who are present. When askedwhether he believed that they were all initiated in this manner, he380

said that he believed that the same ritual is used while initiatingothers as it was used in his case and as he himself administered whenhe received others.When asked about the head of an idol that was reportedly worshipedby the Templars, he said that it was shown to him in Montpellier bybrother Peter Alemandin, preceptor of that place, and that this headremained in possession of brother Peter.When asked how old he was when accepted into the said Order, hereplied that he heard his mother say that he was eighteen. He alsosaid that previously he had confessed about these things in thepresence of brother Guillaume of Paris, inquisitor of heretical actions,or his deputy. This confession was written down in the hand of theundersigning Amise d’Orleans and some other notaries public. Hewishes to maintain that confession, just as it is, as well as maintain inthe present confession that which is in concord with the previous one.And if there is anything additional in this confession in front of theInquisitor or his deputy, as has been said above, he ratifies, approvesand confirms it.When he was asked whether he had confessed to these things due to arequest, reward, gratitude, favor, fear, hatred or persuasion bysomeone else, or the use of force, or fear of impending torture, hereplied that he did not. When he was asked whether he, after beingapprehended, was submitted to any questioning or torture, he repliedthat he did not.After this, we concluded to extend the mercy of absolution for theseacts to brother Hugo, who in the form and manner described abovehad denounced in our presence the described and any other heresy,and swore in person on the Lord’s Holy Gospel, and humbly asked forthe mercy of absolution, restoring him to unity with the Church andreinstating him to communion of the faithful and sacraments of theChurch.Then on the twentieth day of the month, in our presence, and in thepresence of notaries and the same witnesses, brother-knight Jacques381

de Molay, grandmaster of the Order of Knights Templar appearedpersonally and having sworn in the form and manner indicated above,and having been diligently questioned, said it has been forty-two yearsor thereabouts since he was received as a brother of the said Order bybrother-knight Hubert de Pérraud, at the time Visitator of France andPoitou, in Beune, diocese of Autun, in the chapel of the local Templarcommandery of that place.Concerning the way of his initiation into the Order, he said thathaving given him the cloak the receptor showed to him and told him that he should denounce the God whose image wasdepicted on that cross, and that he should spit on the cross. Which hedid, although he did not spit on the cross, by near it, according to hiswords. He also said that performed this denunciation in words, not inspirit. Regarding the sin of sodomy, the worshipped head and thepractice of illicit kisses, he, diligently questioned, said that he knewnothing of that.When he was asked whether he had confessed to these things due to arequest, reward, gratitude, favor, fear, hatred or persuasion bysomeone else, or the use of force, or fear of impending torture, hereplied that he did not. When he was asked whether he, after beingapprehended, was submitted to any questioning or torture, he repliedthat he did not.After this, we concluded to extend the mercy of absolution for theseacts to brother Jaques de Molay, the grandmaster of the said order,who in the form and manner described above had denounced in ourpresence the described and any other heresy, and swore in person onthe Lord’s Holy Gospel, and humbly asked for the mercy of absolution,restoring him to unity with the Church and reinstating him tocommunion of the faithful and sacraments of the Church.On the same twentieth day of the month, in our presence, and in thepresence of notaries and the same witnesses, brother Geoffroy deGonneville freely and willingly ratified, approved and confirmed hissigned confession that was read to him in his native tongue, and gave382

assurances that he intended to stand by and maintain both thisconfession and the confession he made on a different occasion in frontof the Inquisitor or inquisitors regarding the aforementioned heretictransgressions, in as much as it was in concordance with theconfession made in front of us, the notaries and the aforementionedwitnesses; and that if there is something extra contained in theconfession made in front of the Inquisitor and inquisitors, as it wassaid earlier, he ratifies, approves and confirms that.On the same twentieth day of the month, in our presence, and in thepresence of notaries and the same witnesses, brother-preceptor Hugode Perraud in a similar way freely and willingly ratified, approved andconfirmed his signed confession that was read to him in his nativetongue.We ordered Robert de Condet, cleric of the diocese of Soissons, anotary by apostolic power, who was among us together with notariesand witnesses listed below, to record and make public as evidencethese confessions, as well as each and every thing described abovethat occurred in front of us, the notaries and the witnesses, and alsoeverything done by us, exactly as it is shown above, and to validate itby attaching our seal.This was done on the year, indiction, month, day, pontificate and theplace indicated above, in our presence and the presence of UmbertoVercellani, Nicolo Nicolai de Benvenuto and the aforementionedRobert de Condet, and also master Amise d’Orleans le Ratif, notariespublic by the apostolic power, as well as pious and distinguishedbrother Raymond, abbot of the Benedictine monastery of St. Theofred,Annecy diocese, master Berard de Boiano, archdeacon of Troia, Raoulde Boset, confessor and canon from Paris, and Pierre de Soire,overseer of Saint-Gaugery in Cambresis, who were gatheredspecifically as witnesses.And I, Robert de Condet, cleric of the diocese of Soissons, notary byapostolic power, observed with other notaries and witnesses each andevery thing described above that occurred in the presence of the383

aforementioned reverend fathers lords cardinal presbyters, myselfand other notaries and witnesses, as well as what was done by theirlordships. On the orders from their lordships the cardinal presbyters, Imade this record, and put in the official form, and sealed it with myseal, having been asked to do so.And also I, Umberto Vercellani, cleric of Béziers, notary by apostolicpower, observed with other notaries and witnesses each and everything described above that occurred in the presence of theaforementioned lords cardinal presbyters, as well as what was doneby their lordships cardinal presbyters just as it is shown above infuller detail. On the orders from these cardinal presbyters, for furtherassurance, I wrote underneath this record and sealed it with my seal.And also I, Nicolo Nicolai di Benevento, notary by apostolic decree,observed with other aforementioned notaries and witnesses each andevery thing described above that occurred in the presence of theaforementioned lords cardinal presbyters, as well as what was doneby their lordships just as it is shown above in fuller detail. On theorders from these cardinal presbyters, for further assurance, I wroteunderneath this record and sealed it with my seal.And also I, Arnulphe d’Orléans called le Ratif, notary by the power ofthe Holy Roman Church, observed with other aforementioned notariesand witnesses confessions, depositions and other each and every thingdescribed above that occurred in the presence of the aforementionedreverend fathers lords cardinal presbyters, as well as what was doneby their lordships just as it is shown above in fuller detail. On theorders from these cardinal presbyters, as a testimony of truth, I wroteunderneath this record and sealed it with my seal, having been askedto do so.384

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INDEXAAcre ..... 4, 6, 8, 11, 19, 59, 67, 114,142, 158, 160, 181, 189, 197,198, 201, 202, 203, 206, 208,209, 213, 214, 215, 217, 221,223, 230, 231, 233, 234, 235,236, 239, 242, 246, 247, 249,251, 255, 256, 260, 261, 262,263, 268, 269, 282, 292, 345Acre, fall of ...... 254, 265, 267, 268Al Mansur Qalawun ................ 249Alan Marcell .................... 217, 218Al-Ashraf Khalil .............. 249, 262Aleppo . 59, 75, 76, 80, 83, 99, 118,160, 216, 219, 260Alexander III, Pope ..... 69, 85, 107Almourol Castle ................ 125, 160Amalric I, King of Jerusalem ... 69,72, 79, 81, 102, 105Amaric de St. Maur . 210, 217, 344Andre de Montbard ............ 62, 63Antioch .... 8, 21, 59, 61, 75, 81, 94,105, 113, 118, 119, 160, 195,219, 247, 260, 261, 367, 371apostate ... 271, 320, 332, 333, 339archbishop of Canterbury ..... 141,174, 197, 218, 280, 282, 284,293, 294, 316, 330, 332, 335,336, 339, 340, 341, 352Arnold de Torroge ............ 99, 177Arsuf ................. 114, 158, 246, 260Ascalon ......62, 77, 78, 79, 97, 187,190, 196, 203, 206, 207, 234as-Salih Ayyub ........................ 237BBabylon .................... 234, 241, 258Bagras .............. 219, 226, 247, 261Bahāʾ al-Dīn ..... 181, 187, 192, 198Baibars al-Bunduqdari .. 239, 246,247, 260, 261Baldwin I, King of Jerusalem ..... 114Baldwin II, king of Jerusalem ... 16Baldwin II, King of Jerusalem ... 22Baldwin III, King of Jerusalem 69,77Baldwin IV, King of Jerusalem ... 79,102, 105, 181, 198Baldwin V, King of Jerusalem . 181Banias ........................ 99, 107, 243Beaufort ..................... 54, 159, 247Belbeis ........................... 68, 73, 74Benedict XI, Pope .................... 268Bérenger, Cardinal of St. Nerus . 7,361Bernard de Tremelay ... 61, 62, 78Bernard Peletin ...... 273, 276, 291,292Bernarde de Vado ................... 275Bertrand de Blanquefort ... 63, 68,69, 90Bourg of the Temple ............... 255Brian le Jay ...... 280, 332, 334, 345Brother Thibaud Gaudin ........ 255Brother Walter .......... 97, 197, 298CCairo 3, 80, 97, 160, 215, 217, 221,240, 258, 262409

Carizmians...... 231, 232, 233, 234,236, 237, 238Casal de Plains ................ 114, 159Castle Blanc 8, 114, 117, 119, 158,195, 246Castle Kobern ................... 135, 169Castle of Asur .......................... 114castle of Beaufort .............. 98, 114castle of Safed ......... 114, 116, 246Castle of Safed ............................. 8Castle of Tomar ........................ 125Castle of Xivert ......................... 129Castle Rouge .................... 114, 158Château Pèlerin ......... See Pilgrim’sCastleChinon 7, 310, 322, 356, 360, 362,364, 365, 373, 374Chinon Parchment ..... 7, 361, 362,363, 365Church of the Holy Sepulchre . 13,105Church of the Resurrection ...... 71Citadel of Raymond de Saint-Gilles..................................... 121, 251Clement V, Pope . 7, 268, 277, 278,280, 284, 305, 310, 347, 354,359, 360, 361, 362, 364, 374Conrad, emperor of Germany .. 57Constantinople .. 24, 57, 68, 73, 76,104, 131, 160, 165, 218Council of Troyes ................ 13, 29Crusaders ... 15, 16, 26, 71, 76, 81,114, 159, 160, 199, 206, 239,246, 255, 259, 260Cyprus... 6, 23, 121, 203, 206, 222,252, 256, 267, 269, 282, 292,299, 320DDamascus .... 57, 72, 77, 80, 84, 97,99, 100, 114, 160, 191, 196,200, 215, 216, 217, 221, 232,243, 258, 260Damietta . 213, 214, 215, 216, 217,226, 227, 239, 240, 258EEdessa ..................................54, 75Edward I, king of England .... 248,267Edward II, king of England ... 267,273, 277, 278, 281, 315, 318,331, 344, 347, 350, 353Esquin de Florian ................... 270Eugenius the Third, Pope ........ 55Eugenius, Pope ......................... 57Everard des Barres 55, 56, 57, 59,76, 77FFaba ..................................114, 182Ferinsius Mareschal ............... 324Fifth Crusade ............ 209, 227, 239First Crusade ...... 1, 11, 20, 62, 80,102, 104, 170GGardeny ................................... 135Gasper de Nafferton ............... 326Gaza ..... 3, 8, 77, 85, 113, 157, 190,196, 205, 206, 231, 233, 234Geoffrey de Gonneville .......... 323Geoffrey de St. Aldemar ......20, 22Geoffrey de Vinisauf ............... 204Gerard de Riderfort 177, 180, 196,197410

Gilbert d’Assalit ............ 72, 73, 74Gilbert de Bruere .................... 293Gilbert de Lacy .......................... 64Gilbert Horal ... 208, 210, 224, 225Guillaume de Chanaleilles ........ 62Guy de Lusignan ..... 181, 197, 206HHenry II, king of England . 62, 107Henry III, king of England ..... 145,151, 217, 218, 221, 236, 238,244, 247, 248, 358Henry Thanet ........................... 320Heraclius, Patriarch of TempleChurch 101, 104, 108, 153, 177,179, 181, 185, 195, 198heresy ... 1, 23, 105, 270, 278, 284,293, 313, 319, 329, 330, 336,339, 340, 341, 343, 359, 361,365, 370, 375, 377, 379, 381,382Hermann de Perigord..... 219, 221Himbert Blanke ..... 282, 290, 292,345Hims ............................. 75, 76, 247Hohenburg Castle .................... 130Holy City ................. See JerusalemHoly Land ............. See Kingdom ofJerusalemHonorius, Pope ..... 22, 31, 33, 212Hospitaliers ...3, 71, 72, 74, 83, 84,90, 94, 147, 151, 185, 203, 205,206, 210, 220, 221, 224, 225,233, 235, 236, 246, 247, 261,270, 348, 349, 350, 351, 352Hugh de Grandison ................. 252Hugh de Payens 20, 22, 43, 44, 45,46, 53, 109Hugh de Peraut ....................... 345Hugh de Peraut ....................... 297Hugh de Peraut ....................... 346Hugh de Stocton ...................... 218Hugh de Tadecastre ................ 290IImad al-Din Zangi ....................... 54Imbert Blanke ......................... 331Innocent IV, Pope .................... 235JJacob’s ford ................................ 97Jacqueline de Mailly ................ 183Jacques de Molay 7, 265, 292, 301,305, 338, 345, 359, 360, 363,373, 382Jaffa ... 79, 114, 159, 196, 203, 204,206, 207, 242, 247, 260James of Vitry 11, 19, 67, 142, 202,214, 224, 227Jean Michel .................... 24, 29, 32Jerusalem . ii, 2, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15, 16,17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25,26, 28, 31, 33, 44, 45, 53, 54,57, 58, 59, 61, 63, 65, 69, 71,72, 74, 77, 79, 80, 81, 83, 84,85, 87, 88, 91, 93, 94, 96, 97,99, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105,106, 107, 108, 109, 112, 113,114, 143, 147, 148, 150, 157,158, 159, 170, 171, 177, 179,181, 184, 185, 187, 189, 190,191, 192, 193, 195, 196, 198,199, 200, 201, 205, 206, 207,208, 210, 213, 221, 222, 226,229, 231, 233, 234, 235, 239,411

249, 255, 258, 265, 276, 329,330, 377John de Borna .......................... 325John de Coningeston ............... 331John de Dingeston ................... 325John de Donyngton ................. 327John de Eure ............................ 320John de Gertia.......................... 324John de Hueflete ...................... 297John de Moun .......................... 331John de Nassington .................. 320John de Stoke .. 283, 298, 338, 339John de Wederal...................... 322John Walby de Bust................. 325John, king of England ...... 211, 212KKingdom of Jerusalem 1, 6, 11, 17,23, 24, 26, 40, 56, 60, 69, 77,80, 102, 104, 105, 106, 114,116, 142, 145, 149, 151, 154,171, 179, 185, 198, 213, 215,220, 221, 223, 225, 226, 230,231, 232, 234, 235, 236, 238,239, 245, 249, 252, 258, 259,260, 261, 262, 267, 268, 269,270, 278, 290, 293, 294, 296,298, 305, 319, 322, 330, 351,359, 371Krak des Chevaliers ..... 8, 70, 114,117, 158, 159LLatin kingdom .... 2, 19, 20, 53, 54,71, 91, 95, 96, 97, 101, 113,114, 148, 210, 247Lebanon .. 8, 18, 76, 121, 158, 159,251, 263Leo XIII, Pope ..................364, 365Linhares da Beira ..................... 124Lord de Joinville ..... 240, 241, 242,243Louis IX, king of France .... 239, 240,242, 260, 306, 354Louis VII, king of France .... 55, 56,57, 58, 59, 62, 68, 69, 76, 244MMAGNA CHARTA .................... 212Malek-el-Afdal ........................ 182Mamlūks ... 97, 246, 251, 252, 254,257, 260, 261, 263Margat .............. 195, 250, 262, 263Michael de Baskeville .... 283, 330,341Mirabel .......... See Tower of AphekMiravet ............. 126, 128, 129, 163Mohammed . 16, 26, 54, 64, 65, 66,102, 105, 106, 182, 187, 188,191, 192, 194, 233, 236, 238,253Monsanto Castle ...................... 124Monzón Castle ......................... 127Moslems 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26,54, 63, 64, 65, 67, 84, 93, 95,98, 114, 181, 182, 183, 184,186, 188, 190, 191, 192, 193,195, 196, 197, 203, 204, 205,210, 224, 229, 233, 235, 250,252, 253, 254, 256, 365, 366,367Mount Moriah ..... 8, 16, 17, 18, 19,112Muḥammad ibn ‘Umar al- Wāqidī.............................................. 67412

NNaplous ........... 100, 180, 196, 213New Temple, at London 110, 111,149, 154, 155, 212, 218, 226,301, 331, 340Noffo Dei ......................... 271, 306Noureddin .................................. 77Nūr ad-Dīn ..54, 57, 59, 63, 64, 68,75, 83, 97OOdo de Diogilo .............. 55, 56, 76Odo de St. Amand .. 83, 96, 97, 98,99PPalestine 2, 3, 4, 15, 53, 56, 58, 60,68, 70, 71, 74, 75, 78, 83, 84,91, 93, 94, 97, 99, 101, 109,113, 115, 120, 147, 148, 151,159, 179, 180, 196, 199, 201,202, 208, 210, 215, 221, 225,231, 236, 239, 242, 243, 246,249, 252, 257, 263, 265, 267,270, 282, 292,302, 303, 320,335, 345Papal bull ....43, 72, 75, 81, 85, 90,218, 266, 277, 278, 280, 284,285, 293, 294, 300, 310, 341,347, 348, 352, 372Peñiscola .................. 126, 128, 162Peter de Montaigu .. 214, 215, 216,219, 227Peter the Hermit ............... 14, 370Philip de Mewes ....... 293, 330, 340Philip Duplessies ............ 210, 212Philip II, king of France .......... 219Philip IV, king of France ...... 7, 23,268, 270, 272, 273, 291, 313,343, 344, 346, 347, 348, 349,359, 360, 362Philip IV, King of France ... 305, 306,354Philip of Naplous ........... 69, 74, 83Philip the FairSee Philip IV, king ofFrancePigrim’s Castle ............................ 8Pilgrim’s Castle ...... 114, 208, 209,236, 246, 250, 292, 320Ponferrada Castle ............. 127, 162Pont Valentré ........................... 132RRadulph de Barton .. 283, 291, 299Radulph de Evesham .............. 341Radulph de Maison ................. 330Radulph de Rayndon .............. 293Radulph de Rostona ............... 303Raimond de Poitiers ................. 95Ramleh ..................... 204, 205, 206Raymond Dupuy ....................... 72Reginald d’Argenton ............... 219Reginald de Chatillon ............. 187Reginald de Vichier . 240, 242, 245Richard Cœur de Lion See Richardthe LionheartRichard de Barton ................... 293Richard de Goldyngham ......... 291Richard de Grafton ................. 299Richard de Hastings ....... 152, 153,175, 344Richard de Koefeld ................. 325Richard de Peitevyn ................ 292Richard Mallebeench ...... 153, 344Richard Ranger ....................... 218413

Richard the Lionheart ... i, iii, 173,201, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207,208, 210, 212, 224Robert de Hamilton ................ 302Robert de Sablé ...... 201, 207, 208,222, 224Robert de Sanford ... 221, 239, 244Robert de St. Just..................... 323Robert de Torvibe ................... 323Robert Decraon ......................... 53Robert le Scott ......................... 292Robert Mountforde ................. 345Robert of Oteringham ............. 321Roger de Molines .................... 182Roger de Mowbray ................... 58Roger de Norreis ..................... 331Rule of the Templar ...... 19, 22, 29Rule of the Templars ................ 13SSafed.... 8, 116, 195, 199, 229, 230,247, 261Saladin ...... 23, 84, 97, 98, 99, 100,101, 102, 105, 114, 181, 182,184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 190,191, 192, 193, 195, 196, 197,198, 199, 200, 203, 204, 205,206, 210, 224, 225, 367Saracens .... 27, 185, 195, 214, 215,221, 233, 234, 240, 241, 253,260, 270, 289, 320, 327, 333,335Second Crusade . 54, 55, 58, 59, 76,77seneschal of Agen ................... 276Seventh Crusade .............. 239, 260Sicard de Vaur, inquisitor...... 282,285, 323Sidon ..... 8, 96, 114, 159, 189, 247,261St. Bernard, of Clairvaux .... 21, 22,29, 32, 46, 54, 61, 65, 66, 75,78, 152, 177, 291, 366Stephen de Radenhall ............ 303Stephen de Stapelbrugge ...... 332,335, 336, 337Stephen, king of England ......... 58Syria .. 8, 11, 57, 66, 67, 70, 75, 76,77, 80, 93, 94, 97, 100, 106,114, 117, 119, 120, 159, 160,179, 199, 219, 235, 237, 258,260, 263, 320TTemple Church, London ............ 9Temple Church, of London ... 109,111Temple House, London .......... 153Temple Mount . 22, 23, 58, 75, 113Temple of Solomon 16, 19, 23, 29,37, 58, 83, 170, 175, 181, 193,229, 305Temple, at Paris...... 132, 133, 134,211, 246, 269, 275, 314, 357Third Crusade ...... iii, 201, 223, 225Third of Lateran ....................... 90Thomas Berard 245, 248, 260, 344Thomas de Burton ...........293, 331Thomas de Stanford ............... 303Thomas de Staundon .............. 293Thomas de Wothrope ............ 330Thomas le Chamberleyn ........ 290Thomas Tocci de Thoroldeby 333,334, 335, 336, 337414

Tiberias ...... 63, 99, 183, 184, 188,189, 199, 200, 205, 230, 232,264Tortosa ..... 96, 119, 120, 126, 160,163, 249, 320Tower of Aphek .. 8, 114, 116, 158Tower of London ..... 283, 315, 316,318, 328Trier Gate ................................. 134Tripoli ..... 64, 94, 95, 98, 113, 117,119, 120, 121, 158, 159, 181,185, 195, 247, 250, 251, 262,263Turcomen ............................ 14, 15Turcopoles .................. 68, 93, 219Tyre ......................................... 292Tyre ..... 81, 98, 114, 190, 195, 196,207, 215, 217VVillers-le-Temple .............. 136, 170WWalter de Clifton .................... 295Walter du Mesnil .......... 95, 96, 97Walter le Bachelor .................. 291white mantle ............... 92, 94, 296William de Beaujeu 248, 249, 252,254, 292, 302, 303William de Burton .................. 330William de Canello .................. 303William de Chartes ......... 212, 214William de Egendon ............... 331William de la Forde ........ 321, 331William de la More . 149, 280, 282,289, 296, 297, 301, 304, 310,326, 327, 330, 339, 344William de Middleton ............. 297William de Montserrat ........... 219William de Pokelington .......... 326William de Sautre ........... 304, 331William de Shokerwyk, .......... 327William de Sonnac . 236, 238, 239,241, 242William de Warrenne ............... 58William de Warwick ............... 331William de Winchester ........... 302William Lambert, .................... 293William le Dorturer ................ 293William Raven ......................... 289William, Archbishop of Tyre . 3, 4,6, 17, 19, 26, 63, 73, 75, 78, 80,83, 91, 102, 112, 180, 189, 201,233, 263YYouseef Ben-Acoub-Ben-Schadi................................. See Saladin415

416