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Article THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS. ← Page 3 of 3 Article THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS. Page 3 of 3
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Knights Templars.
which the Templars , as possessors of fiefs and benefices in France , were obliged to render to the crown , in the same manner as the other proprietors , such as fidelity and homage , military services , rents , and lords' rights . This claim Avas perfectly
ust , and the Pope confirmed it by a Bull . There Avas , however , more difficulty in confirming the administrators named by the King , since , as churchmen , the Pope Avas entitled to the Templars ' lands as their superior , and his right was a better
one than the King ' s . The Pope , however , was unable to take advantage of this , and afraid to enrage Philip by insisting upon it . He accordingly permitted the King ' s administrators to remain in office , contenting himself with
appointing others on his behalf , but AVIIO Avere possessed of no authority , and subordinate to Philip's . Among the administrators Avere William de Gisors , Archdeacon of Audi ; Gerard de Cabanol and John Petri , Doctors of LaAV ; William Pisdore and
Eene Bourdon , Valets-de-Chambre to the King ; ancl Eaymond Barrany , Toulousain . The Pope being thus disposed to enter eagerl y into the projects of the King for the abolitioa of the Order , he issued , ou the 29 th December , a Bull , which enjoined every person , in whatever
place they might be , to arrest the Templars still at large , ancl to place them in the hands of the ordinaries , forbidding any one , under pain of excommunication , to afford them shelter or concealment . By a second Bull he ordered that the
commissioners , Avho should be appointed to instruct the processes , should be assisted by two canons of the cathedral , two Dominicans , and two monks of the girdle , adding , that if , in the action any matter presented itself Avhich was not relative
to the charge of heresy , the commissioners should always acknowledge it by the Pontifical authority , according to the canons of the church . The process then commenced against the Templars , and the Pope issued no less than seven Bulls to clear
aAvay the difficulties Avhich presented themselves to the progress of the action , and which occurred not only ou the side of the king , but also on that of the bishops and the administrators of the Order ' s lands . The bishops commenced the
instruction of the action , but instead of examining the Templars afresh , they contented themselves Avith the former depositions , a someAvhat novel proceeding , seeing that the interrogation at Paris and in the provinces had proceeded Avithout the sanction of the Pope , under Avhose
The Knights Templars.
authority they now held their sittings . But it Avas neither the intention nor the interest of the enemies of the Order to examine the Templars again , as they had it in their power when re-interrogated , to retract all their former confessions .
The commissioners did not permit themselves to be embarrassed by the revocation of the confessions made by several in France and Provence . An assembly Avas held at Paris , at which the Legates presided . There Avere present at this
meeting the Inquisitor of the Faith , and the Ministers of the King , Avho were as zealous as Imbert in attending to Philip's interests . The assembly examined the revocations , and decided " , that no attention should be paid to them . They
resolved to vieAV them as punishable falsehood , and that the original depositions should alone be considered the true ones . The prisoners Avere to be enjoined to keep to these , to acknowledge their truth , as they Avere confirmed by many Templars .
Avho had not retracted , under no less a penalty than that of being proceeded against as relapsed , should they persist in maintaining their innocenceand retracting their original depositions . They furthermore established as a base for investigation the interrogations made before the action .
The Pope , hoAvever , at the same time , did not neo-lect the interests of the Church , Avith regard O * CI to the riches of the Order . He issued a fresh . Bull , by which he appointed commissioners , Avhose . duties Avere to render an account of these to his .
chamberlain and the archbishops , as his delegates .. By these means he hoped , at some future day ,, to Avrest the wealth from the King , and apply it to the recovery of the Holy Land . This appointment , hoAvever , was a vain scheme , for the royal
commissioners being in full possession , at the instigation of the King , declined to render such , states . Philip , to keep the Pope quiet till he should have destroyed the Order , wrote him a letter , in which he promised , Avhen the process ,
against the Templars should have been brought to a termination , to render an account of all the wealth . With this promise the Pope Avas forced to be contented . ( To be continued )
REASONS of a personal or private nature should never be . allowed to debar an individual from becoming a member , or to prevent his advancing when a member of a lodge . AA ' HAT is becoming is honest , and whatever is honest must always be becoming . — Cicero .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Knights Templars.
which the Templars , as possessors of fiefs and benefices in France , were obliged to render to the crown , in the same manner as the other proprietors , such as fidelity and homage , military services , rents , and lords' rights . This claim Avas perfectly
ust , and the Pope confirmed it by a Bull . There Avas , however , more difficulty in confirming the administrators named by the King , since , as churchmen , the Pope Avas entitled to the Templars ' lands as their superior , and his right was a better
one than the King ' s . The Pope , however , was unable to take advantage of this , and afraid to enrage Philip by insisting upon it . He accordingly permitted the King ' s administrators to remain in office , contenting himself with
appointing others on his behalf , but AVIIO Avere possessed of no authority , and subordinate to Philip's . Among the administrators Avere William de Gisors , Archdeacon of Audi ; Gerard de Cabanol and John Petri , Doctors of LaAV ; William Pisdore and
Eene Bourdon , Valets-de-Chambre to the King ; ancl Eaymond Barrany , Toulousain . The Pope being thus disposed to enter eagerl y into the projects of the King for the abolitioa of the Order , he issued , ou the 29 th December , a Bull , which enjoined every person , in whatever
place they might be , to arrest the Templars still at large , ancl to place them in the hands of the ordinaries , forbidding any one , under pain of excommunication , to afford them shelter or concealment . By a second Bull he ordered that the
commissioners , Avho should be appointed to instruct the processes , should be assisted by two canons of the cathedral , two Dominicans , and two monks of the girdle , adding , that if , in the action any matter presented itself Avhich was not relative
to the charge of heresy , the commissioners should always acknowledge it by the Pontifical authority , according to the canons of the church . The process then commenced against the Templars , and the Pope issued no less than seven Bulls to clear
aAvay the difficulties Avhich presented themselves to the progress of the action , and which occurred not only ou the side of the king , but also on that of the bishops and the administrators of the Order ' s lands . The bishops commenced the
instruction of the action , but instead of examining the Templars afresh , they contented themselves Avith the former depositions , a someAvhat novel proceeding , seeing that the interrogation at Paris and in the provinces had proceeded Avithout the sanction of the Pope , under Avhose
The Knights Templars.
authority they now held their sittings . But it Avas neither the intention nor the interest of the enemies of the Order to examine the Templars again , as they had it in their power when re-interrogated , to retract all their former confessions .
The commissioners did not permit themselves to be embarrassed by the revocation of the confessions made by several in France and Provence . An assembly Avas held at Paris , at which the Legates presided . There Avere present at this
meeting the Inquisitor of the Faith , and the Ministers of the King , Avho were as zealous as Imbert in attending to Philip's interests . The assembly examined the revocations , and decided " , that no attention should be paid to them . They
resolved to vieAV them as punishable falsehood , and that the original depositions should alone be considered the true ones . The prisoners Avere to be enjoined to keep to these , to acknowledge their truth , as they Avere confirmed by many Templars .
Avho had not retracted , under no less a penalty than that of being proceeded against as relapsed , should they persist in maintaining their innocenceand retracting their original depositions . They furthermore established as a base for investigation the interrogations made before the action .
The Pope , hoAvever , at the same time , did not neo-lect the interests of the Church , Avith regard O * CI to the riches of the Order . He issued a fresh . Bull , by which he appointed commissioners , Avhose . duties Avere to render an account of these to his .
chamberlain and the archbishops , as his delegates .. By these means he hoped , at some future day ,, to Avrest the wealth from the King , and apply it to the recovery of the Holy Land . This appointment , hoAvever , was a vain scheme , for the royal
commissioners being in full possession , at the instigation of the King , declined to render such , states . Philip , to keep the Pope quiet till he should have destroyed the Order , wrote him a letter , in which he promised , Avhen the process ,
against the Templars should have been brought to a termination , to render an account of all the wealth . With this promise the Pope Avas forced to be contented . ( To be continued )
REASONS of a personal or private nature should never be . allowed to debar an individual from becoming a member , or to prevent his advancing when a member of a lodge . AA ' HAT is becoming is honest , and whatever is honest must always be becoming . — Cicero .