Chapter Xiv.

the public , pitied them , aud applauded those efforts ; but above them , like a hideous incubus , paralysing any attempts to rescue his victims , stood the King . Public opinion , and even the Commissions , might have desired that the accused and accusers should be brought face to face , but

the King forbade it . He knw too well that at the sight of that heroic band of defenders , the accusers would have trembled , and the accusations have broken clown . When we consider the profound subtlety of Phillip ' s character , the boldness and success of his schemes , the unscrupulous

audacity of his ministers , we cannot but pity the fate of the Templars . Their very innocence obliged the King ' s agents to resort to extraordinary charges and violent measures , and the depth of iniquity of the mind which schemed the fearful charges , ranks with the most diabolic of the human race . We shudder at the hate and power of the King ; we shudder at the courage of his victims .

• On the eve of Palm Sunday , the 11 th April , the Commissioners assembled in the Episcopal Hall , for the examination of witnesses against the Order . Boulogne and the other deputies were present . The witnesses were of two classes , Templars and strangers ; the latter pretending to

know of the disorders which were said to exist in the Order . The Templars were under the care of two of the King ' s most abject creatures—the Provost of Poictiers and John de Jainville . It was permitted them to answer either for or against the Order ; but they had been informed ,

before they appeared in the presence of the Commissioners , that they were expected to testify against it . Among the members of the Order were John de Seminiac , of the diocese of Sens , and John de Falege , both Templar priests . They appeared in secular habit , indicating that they were witnesses against the Order . i . John de Javeni and John de

Chevreceeur , of the diocese of Beauvais , wore the habit and mantle of the Order ; John de Taillefer , Hugo deBury , of the diocese of Langres , Geoffrey Thanton , of Tours , and John Langlois , of London , had the beard , as won by the Knights . They wore also the habit , and carried over their arms

the cloaks of the Order , which , on entering the hall , they threw at the feet of the Commissioners , saying , that they did not desire to wear them any longer . The Commissioners , however , commanded them to take up the cloaks , saying , that it was not to them they should deliver them up ;

but when they left their presence , they might do with them what they pleased . There came also the following Knights : —John de Bolere , of the diocese of Sens ; John de Catoloii , Arnold de Marnay , Robert de Layme , aud John de Valtrebran , all of the diocese of Langres ;

Henry de Dandes , of Laon ; Walter de Belne , ¦ of Autun ; John d'Eneze , of Beauvais ; William de Saint-Suplet , of Meaux ; Peter de

Chapter Xiv.

Manton and Gerard de Passage of Paris . They all wore the beard of the Knights , except Passage ; but none of them had the cloak . Besides these Templars , four strangers presented themselves , Radolph de Prele , jurisconsult of London ; Guichar de Moezac and John de Vassege , military officers ;

and Nicolas Simon , Esquire . These four were examined ; but , although their evidence has not come down entire to us , there can be little doubt that it was to the disadvantage of the Order . However , as far as we can . judge from what is extant , exceptingthe evidence of De PrGle , which to have contained

some heresay information concerning certain secret statutes , and without doubt criminal , which the Knight Gervaise de Beauvaise had told him about five years before , it could not have materially hurt the cause of the Order . Other evidence , however , did it damage ; for a great number of

Templars , whom the Commissioners examined declared themselves guilty . They had been interrogated at the Councils of Paris aud Rheims , had been there reconciled to the Church , declaring themselves no longer members of the Temple . Boulogne denied that their evidence was worthy

of credence , as , by their own showing , they had undergone the torture , ancl which the fear of being again subjected to made them persist in their falsehood .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

. " MASONIC DISCIPLINE , ' 13 V CRUX . I think Masons will do well to peruse and consider the many well-written articles on this subject by Crux . A new field of inquiry is opened up as to the selection and appointment of officers , and I hope to be able shortly to give my reasons for agreeing

generally with several of the suggestions made by the writer , which would tend bo advance pure Ereemasonry . —W . J . HUGHAN . BRO . HYDE CLARKE ON THE " lIIOIIER DEOREES ' ' ANO FREEMASONRY . In carefully perusing and re-perusing the excellent

inaugural address to the Masonic Ai-chteological Institute , I have been particularly struck with Bro . Clarke ' s estimate of degrees beyond Craft Masonry . i For one so high as lie is in the " Ancient aud Accepted Rite " to state that " The several degrees and orders other than those of the simple Craft degrees neither

explain their own relations nor those of the Craftdegrees , and rather augment the perplexities of the inquirer and feed his dissatisfaction , '' must really tend to weaken the authority ancl influence of that " Rite " as also of the Chivalric Masonic Orders . I certainly think the present multiplicity of degrees ,

and the paucity of genuine Masonic research , augurs ill for the progress of tho Craft ; aud unless Masons worthy of the name really look into our position , investigate our failings , and remedy our defects , we shall soon become nominal Masons , composed of jewels , badges , and grand aprons , but really wanting in every other respect .