Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Chivalet,
Accordingly , calling for the governor of the prison , he told him that he had . a discovery to make to the king which would be more for his advantage than the acquisition of a new kingdom , but that he would only reveal it to the king iii person . Squin was immediatelyconveyed to Paris , and brought before the king , to whom he declared the alleged crimes of the Order .
The charges he made against the Order were as follow : ~ " 1 . Each Templar , on his admission , is sworn never to quit the Order , and to further its interests , by right or by wrong . " 2 . The heads of the Order are in secret alliance with the Saracens , and hold more with Mohammedan infidelity than Christian faith ; in proof of which they make every novice spit and trample on the cross of Christ , and blaspheme the faith in various ways . " 3 . The heads of the Order are heretical , cruel , and sacrilegious
men . Whenever any novice , on discovering the iniquity oi the Order , attempts to quit it rt they put him to death , and bury him privately by night ; They teach women who are pregnant )> y them how to procure abortion , and secretly murder the new-born babes . " 4 . The Templars are affected by the errors of the Fraticelli ; they despise the Pope and the authority of the Church ; they con ^ temn the sacraments , especially those ofpenance and confession . They feign compliance with the rites of the Church merely to escape detection .
" 5 . The superiors are addicted to the most infamous excesses of debaiichery , to which , if any one expresses his repugnance , he is punished by perpetual captivity . " 6 . The houses of the Order are the receptacles of every crime and abomination that can be committed . " 7 . The Order labours to put the Holy Land into the hands of the Saracens , and favours them more than the Christians . " 8 . The installation of the Master takes place in secret , the
younger brethren are not present at it ; whence there is a strong suspicion that he denies the Christian faith , or promises or does something contrary to right . " 9 . Many statutes of the Order are unlawful , profane , and contrary to the Christian religion ; the members are therefore forbidden , under pain of perpetual confinement , to reveal them to any one . " 10 . No vice or crime committed for the honour or benefit of the Order is held as a sin . "
Such were the charges brought against this noble Order , by the degraded prior of Montfaucon—charges in general absurd , or founded on gross exaggeration of some of the rules of the society . On somewhat similar grounds , with respect to one or more clauses , charges might , with as much reason , be laid against the institution of Masonry . Other charges more incredible were subsequently brought forward in the examination of the witnesses produced by the king . The cruel tortures to which the unhappy men were subjected almost exceed belief . Sometimes the prisoner was stripped naked , his hands were tied behind his back , heavy weights were fastened to
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Chivalet,
Accordingly , calling for the governor of the prison , he told him that he had . a discovery to make to the king which would be more for his advantage than the acquisition of a new kingdom , but that he would only reveal it to the king iii person . Squin was immediatelyconveyed to Paris , and brought before the king , to whom he declared the alleged crimes of the Order .
The charges he made against the Order were as follow : ~ " 1 . Each Templar , on his admission , is sworn never to quit the Order , and to further its interests , by right or by wrong . " 2 . The heads of the Order are in secret alliance with the Saracens , and hold more with Mohammedan infidelity than Christian faith ; in proof of which they make every novice spit and trample on the cross of Christ , and blaspheme the faith in various ways . " 3 . The heads of the Order are heretical , cruel , and sacrilegious
men . Whenever any novice , on discovering the iniquity oi the Order , attempts to quit it rt they put him to death , and bury him privately by night ; They teach women who are pregnant )> y them how to procure abortion , and secretly murder the new-born babes . " 4 . The Templars are affected by the errors of the Fraticelli ; they despise the Pope and the authority of the Church ; they con ^ temn the sacraments , especially those ofpenance and confession . They feign compliance with the rites of the Church merely to escape detection .
" 5 . The superiors are addicted to the most infamous excesses of debaiichery , to which , if any one expresses his repugnance , he is punished by perpetual captivity . " 6 . The houses of the Order are the receptacles of every crime and abomination that can be committed . " 7 . The Order labours to put the Holy Land into the hands of the Saracens , and favours them more than the Christians . " 8 . The installation of the Master takes place in secret , the
younger brethren are not present at it ; whence there is a strong suspicion that he denies the Christian faith , or promises or does something contrary to right . " 9 . Many statutes of the Order are unlawful , profane , and contrary to the Christian religion ; the members are therefore forbidden , under pain of perpetual confinement , to reveal them to any one . " 10 . No vice or crime committed for the honour or benefit of the Order is held as a sin . "
Such were the charges brought against this noble Order , by the degraded prior of Montfaucon—charges in general absurd , or founded on gross exaggeration of some of the rules of the society . On somewhat similar grounds , with respect to one or more clauses , charges might , with as much reason , be laid against the institution of Masonry . Other charges more incredible were subsequently brought forward in the examination of the witnesses produced by the king . The cruel tortures to which the unhappy men were subjected almost exceed belief . Sometimes the prisoner was stripped naked , his hands were tied behind his back , heavy weights were fastened to