The historie of the holy vvarre by Thomas Fuller ...

Chap. 1.

The executing of the Templars in France.

MY task is done.* 1.1 Whatsoever remaineth is vo∣luntary and over-measure, onely to hemme the end of our historie that it ravel not out: As to shew, What became of the Templars, the Teutonick Order, and the Hospitallers; What were the hindrances of this warre; What nation best deserved in it; What of∣fers were afterwards made to recover Jeru∣salem; By how many challengers that title at this day is claimed; What is the present strength of Jerusalem; What hope to regain it; with some other passages which offer attendance on these principall heads.

Know then, Some nineteen yeares after the Christians had lost all in Palestine, the Templars, by the cruel deed of Pope Clement the fifth, and foul fact of Philip the Fair King of France,* 1.2 were finally* 1.3 exstirpared out of all Christendome. The historie thereof is but in twilight, not clearly delivered, but dar∣kened with many doubts and difficulties: We must pick out let∣ters and syllables here and there aswell as we may; all which put together spell thus much.

Pope Clement having long sojourned in France, had received many reall courtesies from Philip the King; yea, he owed little lesse then himself to him. At last, Philip requested of him a boon, great enough for a King to ask and a Pope to grant; name∣ly, all the lands of the Knights Templars through France, for∣feited

by reason of their horrible heresies and licentious living. The Pope was willing to gratifie him in some good proportion for his favours received (as thankfulnesse is alwayes the badge of a good nature) and therefore being thus long the Kings guest, he gave him the Templars lands and goods to pay for his enter∣tainment.

On a sudden all the Templars in France they clapt into prison, wisely catching those Lions in a net, which had they been fairly hunted to death, would have made their part good with all the dogs in France. Damnable sinnes were laid to their charge; as, sacrificing of men to an idol they worshipped, rosting of a Tem∣plars bastard and drinking his bloud, spitting upon the crosse of Christ, conspiring with Turks and Saracens against Christiani∣tie, Sodomie, bestialitie, with many other villanies out of the rode of humane corruption, and as farre from mans nature as Gods law.

Well; the Templars thus shut in prison, their crimes were half-proved. The sole witnesse against them was one of their own Order, a notorious malefactour; who at the same time be∣ing in prison and to suffer for his own offenses, condemned by the Master of their Order, sought to prove his own innocency by charging all his own Order to be guiltie. And his case stand∣ing thus, he must either kill or be killed, die or put others to death, he would be sure to provide water enough to drive the mill, and fwore most heartily to whatsoever was objected a∣gainst the Order. Besides, the Templars being brought upon the rack, confessed the accusations to be true wherewith they were charged. Hereupon all the Templars through France were most cruelly burned to death at a stake, with James the grand Master of their Order.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Anno Dom.
• * 1.2

  1310
• * 1.3

  Sabellicus, Enn. 9. lib. 7. Platina, in vita Clem. V.