The Knights Templars.

at Preston , that they should find a Chaplain to perform divine service at Dinnesley three days in the week , and pay to the said Nuns certain tithes . King Stephen confirmed the grant of Bernard Baliol of lands worth £ 15 a year at Hitchin .

William Marshal , Earl of Pembroke , gave to the Templars the church of Weston and the borough of Baldock . King Stephen confirmed to them the church of Laugford , the gift of Simon Wahul . Philip Harcourt , Dean of Lincoln , conferred on

them the lands of Heschapeley , and the church of the same . Philip , Bishop of Baieux , William de Braisu , and William Harcourt , the church of Saplings ; Earl Simon , the church of Suthwike , and by another deed , that of Wodemoncote .

King Stephen granted aud confirmed to them the manor of Cressing- , aud by another charter , that of Witham ; as did King John , in the first year of his reign , his lands at Beresholt .

In the year 118 o , inquisition was taken of the donors and possessors of lands , of churches , and mills , and of lands taken in assize and in lordship , and of the revenues throughout England , by Bro . Geoffrey , the son of Stephen , when he was bailiff

in England , " who was very careful in inquiring after the same , that there might remain a more perfect knowledge thereof to posterity , and the wicked be deprived of the opportunity of doing harm . "

The particulars thereof are many and minute , and will not bear any abridging , nor would they give much satisfaction to the reader . We shall only , therefore , mention the names of the bailiwicks therein particularised , viz ., of London , Kent ,

Warwick , Cowele , Meriton , Guting , Weston , Lincolnshire , Lindsey , Widin , and Yorkshire . See ail in the Monastieon .

In 1434 , Bro . John Stillingfleet " compiled a book of the names of the founders of the hospital of St . John of Jerusalem , in England , and of the churches , chapels , preceptories , manors , houses , lands , revenues , places , and other special goods

given , as well to the said hospital and its preceptories , and members , as to the former house of the Knights Templars , in the kingdom of England , and how much they contributed for the benefit of their souls ; he also added certain names

of the Masters of the said Order of Kni ghts Templars and Hospitallers , as also the names of the priors of the said hospital in England , and of the priors and sub-priors of the church of the same

hospital , and other preceptors and priests of the said Order , deceased , with the names of their other benefactors ; and for a perpetual memorial of the same , what they conferred on the church of the said hospital , as he could with much labour

and trouble find out the same to the end , that the souls ot all those whose names are contained in the same book mig ht be more particularly remembered in the prayers of all the brethren of the said hospital , that the brothers might , according

totheir duty , be mindful not only of these , but also ,, in general , of ail others their benefactors . " From this book we do not quote anything , as it merely recapitulates a vast number of names , and principally concerns the Hospitallers . Thomas Saunford .

gave to the Brothers Templars , for a supply to the Holy Land , and for maintaining of a Chaplain tosay mass for the faithful departed in the church of Bustlisham , all his land at Saunford , with the advowson of the church of Blebyry , confirmed by

Adam Pyriton . Queen Maud gave them all her land at Coveley , confirmed by King Stephen - William Marshal , Earl of Pembroke , the church of Spenes , confirmed by a second deed . William . Vernon , the land and house at Eremne , for

founding of a house of Templars . Baldwin , Archbishop of Canterbury , ratified that foundation . The same , was done by Godfrey , Bishop of Winchester , whoalso mentions the gift of the land of Milneford , by Hugh "Wedwill . Ralph Maskarel , by his deed ,, confirmed the donation of the House of God of

Eremne , made by his brother William to the house of the Temple of Solomon , viz ., the land of Melefort , as held by his grandfather aud uncle ; that of Querne , or Kerne , in the Isle of Wight , as mentioned in the deed of Rodger Hall ; that of Chelke

or Chalk , in Wiltshire , with the mill , & c , as in the deed of Walter Chelke ; and the chapel of Broke , as in his own and his brother ' s deeds , on . condition that the said brothers should

acknowledge those alms of him and his heirs ; wherefore ,, if it should happen that he would restore himself tothe house of the Temple aforesaid , the said brothers should receive him upon this condition , saving one salt-pit at Nordfont . William Vernon ,

Earl of Devonshire , confirmed all the donations made by William and Ralph Maskarel to tha Temple of Solomon . Henry Alney gave to the Knights Templars his chapel of Sibbeford , one rood of land , with the meadow jand a croft near the church-yard , and his men or tenants gave another rood and ten acres with common pasture . King