The Knights Templar.

The inhabitants of Paris are convoked in the king ' s garden * All the communities and parishes of the capital assemble there ; commissaries and friars harangue the people against the proscribed knig hts . Why thus prejudice the people against the Order without previously affording it a fair and impartial trial ? The very Jews are more just . Doth the Jewish law condemn any man unheard , says the Gospel ?

The Templars were in irons . The inquisitor , Gillaume de Paris , interrogates them : they are incarcerated from all advice or consultation with others . They are left in want of the common necessaries of life . " We inform you , " say they to those in authority , " that the twelve deniers , that are allowed us , cannot suffice- us . Out of those twelve deniers we are compelled to pay each day for our bed three deniers .

" For our cookery , & c . " For getting our irons taken off each time that we are brought before the commissaries , and putting them on again , two sous , & c , & c . " Such the treatment of those warriors , who , by their privileges , used to accompany princes into the field of battle . They are denied spiritual assistance , under pretence of being heretics , and

considered unworthy of participating of it . f The Grand Master asked permission to attend mass , and the other divine offices : Quod posset audire missam et alia officia divina . % If they wished to have any act or writing performed or accomplished in due form of law , no notary dared to attend them . § Twenty-six princes or grandees of the court of Philip the Fairbecame

, then- accusers . From all parts the archbishops , bishops , abbots , princes , chapters , communities of citieSj towns , and castles , send in their adhesions . The king and the pope prevail on several princes to reduce the Templars throughout most of the states of Europe to a similar state of misery with the Templars in France .

Before the Templars are tried by the tribunals ; before they are examined by the council of Vienne , the pontiff issues a bull of excommunication against all persons who afford assistance , relief , asylum , or advice to those unfortunate sufferers . [| Life , liberty , fortune , are promised to the chevaliers who will confess the crimes whereof the Order is accused .