Book Ii—Chapter Vii.

belonging to the Order was present , and any one guilty of such an offence was very severely punished . The strictest secresy was enjoined as to the time of the meeting and the transactions of the chapter . The Grand Master then delivered a

discourse , exhorting the brethren to amendment of life , during which no one on any pretence was allowed to quit the chapel . . If any one had any offences to confess , on this discourse being ended , he went up to the Master , and kneeling at his

feet , confessed the same . He then retired out of ¦ si ght and hearing of the chapter , and the opinion ¦ of fche Knights was taken in regard to his fault and its punishment . Punishment immediatel y ensued , it being generally some blows from a

scourge or girdle . The sick were not punished till after their recovery . Any Knight could impeach another , and while the impeachment was

under consideration , both accuser aud accused retired . If the impeachment was found valid , the impeacher received the thanks of the chapterbut if false , he was severely punished . A false accusation was often punished by death or

expulsion from the Order . The discipline was severe in the extreme . For a light offence the Templar was withdrawn from the companionship of his fellows , and not permitted to eat at the same table with them ; for graver offences , in addition to this ,

he was deprived of his lod ging and compelled to : sleep with the beasts in the open court . Adam de Valaincourt , who quitted the Order , struck by remorse , desired fco return fco ifc again , - bufc before this was granted he was compelled to eat for a

year with the dogs , to fast four days in the week ou bread and water , and every Sunday to present himself naked in the church before the High Altar and receive chastisement from the hands of the

officiating priest . But even sterner punishment was awarded in the case of Sir Walter le Bachelor , Grand Preceptor of Ireland , guilty of misconduct and disobedience to the Master . This Knight was confined eight weeks in the penefcential cell , in the

Temple , London , where finally he was starved to -death , not having confessed his fault . He . was buried at morning ' s dawn by two brethren , John ¦ de Stoke and Randulph de Barton , without the habit of the Order , and not in the cemetery of

the brethren , because he was considered to be excommunicated . This was done in pursuance of a statute of the Templars , to the effect , that any one who should privily make away with the property of the Order , and did not confess his fault ,

' should be considered as excommunicated . " The penitential cell , which is still to be seen in the Temple , London , is formed within the thick wall of the church . Ifc is four feet six inches long , and two feet six inches wide , and so narrow and small

that a grown person cannot lie down in it . Two small apertures afforded light and air to the captive , and one of these looked eastward towards the High Altar , so that the brother might have the consolation of religion . Brethren were

confined here , that , by the chastisement of their bodies their souls might escape from the eternal prison of hell . Chapter lxviii . of the rule referred to punishment , care to be taken that . no brother , } : > owei * ful or weak , strong or feeble , desirous of

exalting * himself , becoming proud by degrees , or defending his own fault , should remain unchastened . If he showed a disposition to amend , a stricter system of correction was to be added but if by godly admonition and earnest reasoning he

would not be amended , but would go on more and more lifting himself up with pride , then he was to be cast out of the holy flock in obedience to the words of the aposfcie , " Take away evil from among you . " "It is necessary , " continues the rule , " that from the societv of the faithful brethren

the dying sheep be removed . But let the Master , who ought to hold the staff and rod in his hand , that is to say , the staff that he may support the infirmities of the weak , and the rod that he may , with the zeal of rectitude , saike down the vices of

delinquents ,- let him studj * with fche counsel of the patriarch , aud with spiritual circumspection , to act , so that , as blessed Maximus sayeth , ' The sinner be nofc encouraged by easy lenity , nor hardened in his iniquity by immoderate severity . " '

After mass was sung , the Grand Master explained a further portion of the statutes , aud exhorted all present to live suitably thereto . He then said , " Beloved brethren , we may now close our chapter , for praise be to God , all is well ¦ and

may God and our dear Lady grant that it may so continue , and goodness be every day increased . Beloved brethren , ye must know how it is with , pardon in our chapter , and who has not part therein . Know then , that those have no part either in

the pardon of our chapter , or in the other good works of the chapter , who live as they should nofc who depart from the rig hteousness of the Order , who do not acknowledge their offences and do penance in the mode prescribed by the Order , who treat the alms of the Order as their own pro-