Sketch of the History of the Knights Templars

22

Mills' Chivalry, Vol. I. Chap. 7.

An extract from the Bull, in the original Latin, will be found in the Appendix.

23

Besides appropriating to himself all the moveable property of the Order, three hundred thousand livres of France were retained by the King, ostensibly to repay the expense of the prosecution. No doubt the treasure brought by De Molay from Cyprus would be amongst the first booty seized, as well as the rich gold and silver utensils and plate, with which the chapel and palace of the Temple at Paris were furnished.

24

On the 28th March 1310, no fewer than 546 Templars were assembled under a strong guard, in the gardens of the Bishop of Paris, who had been conveyed thither to make the defence of the Order, and hear read the accusations against them. This shew of justice was, of course, a mere pretence of their persecutors, to save appearances. The number of the Templars in Paris afterwards encreased to nearly 900. Ferrati of Vicenza has reckoned the entire members of the Order throughout Europe at 15,000 persons.

25

Histoire des Chevaliers Hospitaliers de Saint Jean de Jerusalem, par l'Abbe Vertot, tom. ii. pp. 101, 102.

26

So dreadful and impressive an event could not fail to be the source of many strange stories with the vulgar. Among these, chroniclers report, that the venerable martyr, ere life was extinct, summoned Pope Clement to answer before the bar of the Almighty Judge, within forty days, and King Philip before the same tribunal, within the space of a year. Certain it is, that the Pope did suddenly die in the night between the 19th and 20th of the following month; and the church in which his body was placed taking fire, one-half of the corpse was consumed, – a circumstance which naturally confirmed the people in the belief that his death was a special judgment of Heaven for the burning of the knights, and which probably also suggested the prediction. In the month of July following, a tumult arose in the town where the half consumed corpse was kept, during which the populace tried to get forcible possession of the remains; but whether from some superstitious motive, or with a view of avenging on the Pope's body the murder of De Molay, is not known. Philip of France expired within the year, in consequence of a fall from his horse, and others of the persecutors of the Order met a violent death.

27

A copy of this remarkable Charter, the original of which I had an opportunity of examining through the kindness of the Grand Master and Sir Sidney Smith, at Paris, will be found in the Appendix. The Charter was submitted to the inspection of nearly 200 Knights of the Order, at the Convent-General held at Paris in 1810.

28

The following anecdote of Sir Sidney Smith may not be inappropriate here, as relating to a Soldier of the Cross: —

After the signal defeat of Buonaparte at Acre, the tyrant Djezzar, to avenge himself upon the Franks, inflicted severe punishment on the Jewish and Christian inhabitants of Saphet, and, it is said, had resolved to massacre all the believers in Moses and Jesus Christ, who might be found within his dominions. But Sir Sidney Smith, on being apprized of his intention, instantly caused the Turk to be informed, that if a single Christian head should fall, he would bombard Acre, and burn it about his ears. This decisive interposition of the gallant Admiral is still remembered in the hearts of the inhabitants.

Such was the confidence placed by them in their deliverer, that Burckhardt, alluding to Sir Sidney, says, – "His word, I have often heard both Turks and Christians exclaim, was like God's word – it never failed;" and Professor Loěwe, recently returned from Palestine, affirmed, that the Firmaun of Sir Sidney at once procured for him, both from the Sultan and the Pacha of Egypt, every assistance and facility in pursuing his learned hieroglyphical and mythological researches.

In connection with our subject, it may be mentioned as a singular fact, that Sir Sidney Smith was the first Christian ever permitted to enter the Holy City of Jerusalem armed, since the days of the Crusaders, which he was allowed to do as a special compliment, after the surrender of the French army in Egypt. By his means, also, his followers were granted the like privilege.

Several official documents, relating to Sir Sidney as a Knight Templar, are inserted in the Appendix.

29

The exact condition, or relative position, of the serving Brothers in ancient times is not very perfectly known. That they sometimes held a responsible, and even high command, is proved by the following passage from Michaud's "Bibliographie des Croisades," referring to the work of an old Latin annalist, – "A la page 540 se trouve une lettre d'un Chevalier Servant (Dapiferi) de la milice du Temple, addressée au Grand Maître Eberard des Barres, qui était revenu en France avec le roi Louis VII. Dans cette lettre sont peints les malheurs de la Terre Sainte après la morte du prince d'Antioche. Le Chevalier Servant prie le Grand Maître de revenir promptement porter du secours au Chrétiens, reduit à l'extremité. Cette Lettre est de 1149 ou 1150." A serving Brother here appears acting the part of chief officer in the East.

30

Equal to about 50 Francs.

31

For the Vow, vide Appendix.

32

The Order of the Hospitallers of Malta, although in these days almost unheard of, still exists through its members, scattered over Europe. Few, if any, of the old Knights who belonged to the Order in its palmy days are now alive. One of the last of these was the Chevalier Grěche, who died at Malta in 1838, where he had continued to linger amid the scenes of his Order's former greatness and glory. He was of a French family, and, it is said, spoke French of the time of Louis XIV. He was page to the last Grand Master at Malta, in which capacity there is a full-length portrait of him in the palace of a Portuguese Knight. He often used to look at this picture; pointing the while to his wrinkles and white hair, and laughing at the change from the fair face and flowing locks represented in the painting. Until he became very infirm, he was fond of society, and was frequently to be met with at the houses of the English, by whom he was much esteemed on account of his interesting recollections and traditions. It is believed that there now remains only one member of the Order as it existed before the dispersion, and he belongs to the Langue d'Italie. The Vow of the Knights of St John will be found in the Appendix.

33

We give the following extracts from the statutes themselves: – Art. 308 – Nullus ad novitiatum armigerorum accedit, nisi genere in quarto gradu sit nobilis. Art. 310. – Si quis, virtute præstantissimus, novitiatum armigerorum postulans, non sit nobili natus genere, audita Conventus relatione petitoria, a Commendariæ, Ballivatus et Linguæ congressibus, sicut et a Comitiis Statutariis Curiaque Præceptoriali, sancita, illum ordini nobilium, in quarto gradu, adscribendi potestatem solus habet in Militia Templi Supremus Magister. Art. 315. – Quacumque de causa, ab Ordine deficere Equiti nefas est. Si autem honoribus Equestribus vel Militia indignus, judicatus fuerit Eques, in proprii Conventus albo, singulisque Conventuum, Abbatiarum, Postulantiarum initiationisque Cœtuum albis, pro sententia, adnotatur: Vel ab Equestribus Honoribus suspensus: vel, ab Equestri Militia interdictus: vel Utraque Militia indignus. Art. 390. – Nullus ad initiationem accedit, nisi Christianus, liberaliter institutus, civili ordine insignis, virtute, moribus, fide et urbanitate præstantissimus. Art. 391. – In militia inferiori aggregari possunt minoris conditionis viri qui, propter artem, Ordini perutiles esse possunt. Art. 392. – Ad quemcumque Ordinis gradum quemlibet cooptare potest Supremum Magister. Cooptatus autem frater vel in Conventu, vel in Capitulo, vel in Cœtu, sicut et in Abbatiâ cooptata soror, juxta Magistrale Decretum, recipitur, solemniumque rituum et usuum in receptione solitorum immunis fieri, potest, Equestri Consecratione excepta, qua nullus donatur nisi votis solemnibus susceptis. Art. 408. – Templi Commilitonum Posteri; Equites Christi; Equites Teutonici; Patres a mercede; Patres a redemptione captivorum, si jubeat Lingualis Congressus, in inferioribus domibus admittuntur, sicut et ad Novitiatum armigerorem illico provehuntur, tenenturque tantum fide dare jusjurandum

Statuta Commilitonum Ordinis Templi e regulis sancitis in Conventibus Generalibus prosertim in Conventu Generali Versaliano, Anno Ordinis 586, et in Conventibus Generalibus Lutetianis, A. O. 693, et 695, confecta et in unum codicem coacta.

34

We shall be excused referring to this subject, considering that it engaged so much of the attention of the pious St. Bernard. Respecting the habit of the early Templars, he says, chap, xxii and xxv, "It is granted unto none to wear white tunics or mantles, but to the Knights of Christ. – If any brother wish to have the handsomest or best mantle, either as of due or out of pride, for such presumption, he will, without doubt, deserve the very worst."

35

Pro Deo et Patria. This is one of the present mottoes of the Order. The other, Ferro non auro se muniunt, is taken from the following striking expressions of St. Bernard, – "Equites Christi intus fide, foras ferro non auro se muniunt, non turbulenti aut impetuosi, et quasi ex levitate præcipites, sed consulte atque cum omni cautela et providentia se ipsos ordinentes, et disponentes in aciem, juxta quod de patribus scriptum est. Ita denique vero, quodam ac singulare modo, cernuntur et agnis mitiores et leonibus ferociores: " – Ex. Lib. Sanct. Bernard, Abbat Milit. Templ. cap. 4, No. 8.

36

La société des Templiers vient d'en offrir une preuve éclatante, à l'occasion du mariage de S. M. l'Empereur et Roi avec Marie Louise, d'Autriche. Le 16 Août 1810, elle a donné une fête, terminée par une distribution de vêtemens, des vivres et d'argent à des vieillards indigens choisis dans les douze municipalités des Paris. On peut voir dans le proces verbal qu'ils en out fait imprimer les témoignages flatteurs d'estime qu'ils ont reçu de M. M. les Maires des arrondissemens de Paris et des membres de plusieurs bureaux de bienfaisance. – Thory.

37

En 1811, Napoleon, empereur, revenant a ses idées sur l'importance de cet ordre, tant sous le rapport civil que sous le rapport religieux, fit appeler le grand-maitre Bernard-Raymond, et après plusieurs questions a sa maniere sur l'êtat actuel de l'ordre, sur ses statuts, etc. il s'informa des époques de ses assemblées. Apprenant qu'il y en aurait bientôt une pour la célébration de l'anniversaire du martyre de Jacques de Molay, l'empereur s'empara de cette circonstance, et donna des ordres pour que cette ceremonie se fit publiquement avec une grand pompe religieuse et militaire. Une place d'honneur était réservée pour le grand-maitre et ses lieutenans generaux. M. Clouet, chanoine de Notre-Dame, coadjuteur-general du primat du Temple, et revêtu du camail primatial, prononça l'oraison funèbre du grand-maitre martyr, dont le catafalque était richement orné des insignes de la souveraineté magistrale et patriarcale. On peut se souvenir de l'étonnement que produisit cette grande ceremonie par sa publicité, ainsi que des conjectures auxquelles elle donna lieu; tout porte à croire que l'empereur se proposait de tirer bon parti de l'ordre du Temple et de son culte s'il ne pouvait parvenir a maîtriser a cour de Rome.

L'empereur don Pedro, après avoir accepté le titre de premier chevalier d'honneur du Temple, autorisa un de ses ministres a recevoir le brevet de grand-prieur titulaire du Bresil; et l'on ne peut douter, d'après la correspondance de ce ministre avec le grand-maitre Bernard-Raymond, que don Pedro n'eut l'intention de faire refleurir l'ordre du Temple au Bresil, comme aussi il avait êté sauvé de sa destruction en 1312 par le roi Denis, qui créa l'ordre des chevaliers proscrits par le décret de Clement V. —

Biographie des Hommes du Jour. Paris, 1836.

38

The original name of Temple on the Southesk, according to Chalmers, was Balantrodach. In the Chartular of Aberdeen the Preceptory is styled "domus Templi de Balantradock;" and in the Chartular of the Abbey of Newbattle we find mentioned, "Magister et Fratres Templi de Blentodoch," which is a contraction or corruption of the same term. The place became known by the designation of Temple only after the establishment of the Order there. This was the head-quarters of the Grand Preceptors of Scotland, and became, at the suppression of the Templars, attached to the Hospital of St. John. In the 15th century, Sir William Knolls, Grand Preceptor of St. John's, obtained an Act of Parliament, changing the old name into that of the barony of St. John. But the people never conformed to the alteration. Part of the foundations of the original convent were dug up about a century ago. The ancient chapel of the Temple continued till lately to be used as the parish kirk. It is now partly dilapidated, in consequence of a new church being built. On the eastern gable there is an antique inscription, formed with lead run into the letters, which appears to be as follows: —

V Æ S A C

M T H M.

These letters, when extended, may signify, Vitæ Sacrum Militiæ Templi Hierosolymitani; or, Virgini Ædem Sacram Militiæ Templi Hierosolymæ Majister; supplying condidit or consecravit. The Virgin Mary, it is well known, was the patroness of the Order. What monstrous mysteries would not the ingenious Von Hammer make these letters the vehicle of revealing! In the second line the learned German could not fail to discover the presence of the Metis or Tau of the Gnostics, whose doctrines, he insists, the Templars held, as attested by their monumental remains, and by coins or medals imagined to refer to them.

39

Book of Cupar quoted in Father Hay's MS.

40

This gallant Templar, – worthy to have fallen in a holier cause, – is thus strangely vilified, after death, by some miscreant, at the trial of the Templars: – "Brian le Jāy dixit quod Jesus Christus non fuit verus Deus et vérus homo; quod minimus pilus barbæ unius Saraceni fuit majoris valoris quam totum corpus istius qui loquitur. Pauperibus quibusdam eleemosynam a Briane petentibus pro amore Dei et beatæ Mariæ Virginis respondit, 'Que dame, allez vous pendre à votre dame;' et projiciens impetuose unum quadrantem in luto, fecit pauperes musare in eodem et hoc tempore frigidæ hyemis." Such is a sample of the evidence against the Order.

41

It appears by the following extract from Clifton's examination, that the Preceptor of Scotland was a subordinate officer to the Master, or Grand Prior in England. "Interrogatus; quis recepit eum ad dictum ordinem et dedit ei habitum? dixit, quod Frater Willielmus de la More oriundus de Comitatu Ebor. tunc et nunc Magister dicti Ordinis in Anglia et Scotia."

42

"Après la mort de Jacques de Molay, des Templiers Ecossais étant devénus apostats, a l'instigation du roi Robert Bruce, se rangérent sous les banniéres d'un nouvel Ordre institué par ce prince, et dans lequel les réceptions furent basées sur celles de l'Ordre du Temple. C'est là qu'il faut chercher l'origine de la Maçonnerie Ecossaise, et même celle des autres Rites maçoniques. – Du schisme qui s'introduisit en Ecosse naquit un grand nombre de sectes. Presque toutes ont la prétention de dériver du Temple, et quelques unes celle de se dire l'Ordre lui-meme."

Manuel des Chevaliers de L'Ordre du Temple. Paris, 1825.

The historian, Raymouard, thus formally excuses himself from speculating on the fate of the disbanded Scottish Knights: – "Que devinrent-ils? Ce n'est pas à moi de soulever le voile mystérieux de ces infortunés: l'histoire publique se tait, mon devoir est de me taire comme elle." – Monumens Historiques.

43

An attempt has been very recently made to revive this Order, by the initiation of a number of new members, chiefly Brethren of the Lodge of St. David, Edinburgh.

44

The medal alluded to was struck at the expense of the Chapitre du Choix at Paris, to celebrate the establishment in France of a Provincial Grand Lodge of Heredom de Kilwinning, by a Charter, dated Edinburgh the 1st of May 1786, constituting Mr. John Mattheus, a distinguished merchant of Rouen, Provincial Chief, with very ample powers, to disseminate the Order. The Chapitre du Choix was itself erected by a charter from Edinburgh in the same year, addressed to Nicholas Chabouille, avocat en parlement, and other brethren. Both these documents bear the signatures of William Charles Little, Deputy Grand Master, William Mason, and William Gibb. At a later date, a Provincial Grand Master was also appointed for Spain, in the person of Mr. James Gordon, a merchant at Xeres de la Frontera, whose commission was signed by Deputy Grand Master Dr. Thomas Hay, and Messrs. Charles Moor and John Brown, as heads of the Royal Order. In 1811, there were no less than twenty-six Chapters of Heredom holding of the Provincial Grand Lodge of the Order in France, including some in Belgium and Italy.

– Histoire de la Fondation du Grand Orient de France.

Paris, 1812.

45

An abstract of this interesting document will be found in the Appendix.

46

The reader will find the Preceptor's motives and proceedings explained in an authentic family document printed from a manuscript copy in the Advocates Library, in a little work named, "Templaria. Edinburgh, 1828." We extract from it the following account of the surrender of the Preceptory: – "He personally compeirit in presence of the Queen's Majesty, the Lord Chancelour, the Earles of Murray, Marischall, and diuers others of her Hiehnes Privy Council, and there, as the only lawful undoubted Titular, and present possessor of the Lordship and Preceptorie of Torphephen, which was never subject to any Chapter or Conuent whatsomever, except only the Knights of Jerusalem and Temple of Solomon, Genibus flexis et reverentia qua decuit, resigned and ouergave in the hands of our Souerane Lady, his undoubted Superior, ad perpetuam remanentiam, all Right, Property, and Possession, which he had, or any way could pretend to the said Preceptorie, or any part thereof, in all time Coming; to the effect the same might remain perpetually, with her Hyeness and her Successours, as a Part of Property and Patrimony of her Crown for ever. After this resignation in the Queen's Majesty's hands, ad Remanentiam, of this Benefice, be the lawful Titular thereof, her Hyeness, in remembrance of the good service of the said Sir James Sandilands, gave and grantid and dispon'd, in feu-farme, heritably, to the said Sir James, his heirs and assignies, All and Haill, the said Preceptorie and Lordship."

That the payment of the above sum of ten thousand crowns of the Sun subsequently involved Sandilands in serious difficulties and embarrassments, we are instructed by the works referred to, in which it is stated that – "albeit the charter bears present payment of ten thousand crowns, that the money was paid at divers times, partly upon Her Majesty's precepts to her servants, French Paris, Sir Robert Melvin, Sir James Balfour, and Captain Anstruther; and the rest of the sum to Mr. Robert Richardson, treasurer for the time, whereof there is a receipt under the privy seal. That a great part of that money, numbered in gold and silver, was borrowed from Timothy Corneoli, an Italian gentleman of the Preceptor's acquaintance at Genoa, and a banker of the house of – resident in Scotland for the time. That this nobleman being burthened with great debts, for his exoneration and relief, was forced to let in feu-farm his own roumes for a reasonable composition," &c.; and he was afterwards obliged to part with some of the larger baronies of the estate.

47

To satisfy the curious, a copy of the translated document is inserted in the Appendix.

48

Il est certain que l'invention des hauts grades maçonniques a fait le plus grand tort á l'institution, en dènaturant son objet, et en l'affublant de titres pompeux et de cordons qui ne lui appartiennent pas. On conviendra que jamais elle n'eût êté proscrite, dans une partie d'Allemagne, si les dissentions occasioneés par la Stricte-Observance, les pretentions de soidisant successeurs des Frères de la Rose-Croix, et surtout l'invention de l'illuminatisme qu'on introduisit dans quelques L. n'eussent rendu "l'association suspecté aux gouvernemens." – Acta Latomorum.

49

There have been at least a hundred grades of Continental Masonry denominated "Ecossais."

50

On this subject we shall let the Baron de Hund speak for himself: – Les Frères de la Stricte-Observance se disent les successeurs des Templiers, et leur doctrine consiste a perpétuer l'existence de l'Ordre sous le voile de la Franche Maçonnerie. Voici l'Histoire de l'Institution, selon le Baron de Hund; Dans l'année 1303, deux Chevaliers, nommés Noffodoi et Florian, furent punis pour crimes. Tous deux perdirent leurs commanderies et particulièrement, le dernier, celle de Montfaucon. Ils en demandérent de nouvelles au Gr. – Maître provincial de Mont-Carmel; et comme il les leur refusa, ils l'assassinérent dans sa maison de campagne, prés de Milan, et cachérent son corps dans le jardin, sous des arbrisseaux. Ils se refugiérent ensuite á Paris, ou ils accusérent l'Ordre des crimes les plus horribles, ce qui entraina sa perte, et par suite le supplice de J. Molay. Après la catastrophe, le Grand-Maître provincial de l'Auvergne, Pierre d'Aumont, s'enfuit avec deux Commandeurs et cinq Chevaliers. Pour n'être point reconnus, ils se deguisérent en ouvriers maçons, et se refugiérent dans une ile Ecossaise, ou ils trouvérent le Grand-Commandeur Haupton-court, Georges de Hasris, et plusieurs autres Frères avec lesquels ils resolurent de continuer l'Ordre. Ils tinrent, le jour de St. – Jean 1313, un Chapitre dans lequel Aumont, premier du nom, fut nommé Grand-Maitre. Pour'se soustraire aux persécutions, ils empruntèrent des symboles pris dans l'art de la Maçonnerie, et se denommérent Maçons libres… En 1361, le Grand-Maitre du Temple transporta son siege a Aberdeen, et par suite l'Ordre se repandit, sous le voile de la Fr. – Maçonnerie, en Italie, en Allemagne, en France, en Portugal, en Espagne et ailleurs. Der Signatsterne, etc., p. 178.

51

It is stated in the Freemason's Review, that, according to authentic documents, the Aberdeen Lodge has existed since 1541.