The Knights Templars.

sent to Poictiers , on behalf of the King , to treat ¦ of the affairs of the Templars Avith Clement , and by his advice , the Pope had consented to pursue them as heretics . Thus , when the appearance of the Grand Master before the Commission could

no longer be delayed , the King sent him to attend the meeting , and gave him instructions , by all means , to work upon the feelings of De Molai , so as to nullify his endeavours to prove the innocence of the Order . It may readily be judged , that

his advice would have some Aveight with the Grand Master , Avho still vieAved him in the light of a friend , and Avas ignorant and unsuspicious of his share in the persecution of the Templars . It is also Avorthy of remark , that the Commissioners

recorded " that they had not requested his presence . " The Grand Master informed De Placian of his determination to defend the Order ; but De

Placian advised him against the step , pointing out the almost insurmountable difficulties which would attend it , and to take the utmost care not to lose himself , and destroy the chances of successfully vindicating the Order , by acting now imprudently .

He implored him to do nothing rashly , for , if the -defence proved unsuccessful , it Avould only add to the dangerous position of the Templars and bring discredit on himself . The Grand Master said that he saw clearly that he Avould require to proceed

Avith the utmost caution . Thereupon he returned to the Commissioners , aud demanded time to deliberate upon the defence . They allowed him till Friday , the 28 th for that purpose . Let us consider for a little the first appearance of the Grand Master before what may be

considered impartial judges . He cried out at once against the avowals Avhich had been inserted in the apostolic letters , and solemnly denied them ; and , in regard to these apostolic letters , one circumstance requires some little consideration . The

confessions Avhich Avere imputed to De Molai , and which he stated Avere fabrications , were inserted in the Bull Faciens Mkericordiam , addressed to all the Courts in Christendom . This Ball is dated the 12 th August , although the Festival of the

Assumption—that is , the 16 th August—id given as the day on Avhich the Grand Master is declared to have made them ; in fact , four days after the Bull Avas issued . This very important circumstance was first noticed by Fieuri ( Hist . Eccles ., lib . xci ) . It Avas therein declared that the heads of the Order had confessed , and been absolved

The Knights Templars.

yet , before the Commissioners , Ave find De Molai still treated as a heretic , and unreconciled to the Church , and as such sent back to his prison at Paris , and denied both pecuniary and spiritual aid , being a heretical and unreconciled Templar . *

Chapter Xiii.

CHAPTER XIII .

Ponsard de Gisl appears before the Commissioners , and undertakes the defence ofthe Order . —Second appearance of Le Molai before the , Commission . — -He decline * to defend the Order before it , and claims to be taken before the Pope . —Le Nogaret present , and accuses the Order . — The Grand Master rebuts the charge . —The

Commissioners order new proclamations . —The Templars begin to arrive in Paris—Their statements wh-eii brought before the . Commissi mors—The Grand Master a third time before them— -They assemble the Templars desirious of undertaking the defence—Deputies chosen , -with Le Boulogne at their head , for that purpose—A . D . 1309—1310 .

On the 27 th , the Commissioners issued a fresh proclamation , inviting such Templars as Avere Avilling , to appear before them and defend the Order . Only one appeared , Ponsard de Gisi , Preceptor of Payens . The Commissioner asked

him if he was Avilling to defend the Order ? He replied , " Yes . The imputations cast upon us of denying Jesus Christ , of spitting upon the Cross , of authorising the propagation of infamous morals , and all similar accusations , are false . If I , myself ,

or any other Templar , have made such avowals before the Bishop of Paris or others , we have betrayed the truth , Ave have succumbed to fear , to peril , and to violence . We Avere tortured by

Squin de Flexian , t the deposed Preceptor of Montfaucon , and by the friar William Robert ( Im'bert ) , our enemies . Several of the prisoners made such avowals , as they confessed afterwards to evade death , and because during the application of the

torture at Paris thirty-six Knights died under it , besides a large number in other places . As for me , I am ready to defend the Order in my own name , and in the name of those Avho will make common cause with me , if , out of the riches of

the Order , I am allowed sufficient funds to defray the necessary expenses . Furthermore , I demand the assistance of Raynaud d'Orleans and Peter de Boulogne , Priests of the Order . In this schedule Avhich I present to yon , I have written down Avith