New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-09
NEWYORK DAILY TRIBUNE SATURDAY MARCH 9 1907

scenes OF "Ivanhoe." The order was so rich that
II rlvaIied In possessions and in power a mod
ern magnate OF finance. 1t was practically
regiment of brave men who were equipped and
enrlched that it might fight the Saracen instead
OF other princes and MOBILES, who had begun to
lose interest in the affair Of crusading. BY the
fourteenth century there was no longer any
possibility Of crusade. The Holy Land was
no longer accessible. all the fortified ports held
by the knights had fallen They still drew
thelr great revenues in England and did moth
ing III return for these or for the extraordinary
privileges and immunities which had been be-
slowed upon them. They became very unpop-
uiar' and the public mind was prepared TO ac-
cePt without pity the persecution Instituted by
Edward the Second at the request of his father
in-law, Philippe lie Bel of France, and Of Clement
the Fifth. Sir Walter points out that no evil
dence has ever been recorded in support OF the
charges of heresy, magic and evil living brought
against the Templars, that good reason Is
known for the terrible enmity of King Philippe
an enmity which found vent in the terrible
cruelties practised upon the Templars in Paris.
The enormous wealth of the order, which was
taken from them, was not seized either by Pope
or knight went to the rival order, the knights
Hospltallers. Here IS one of the great mysteries
of history. The Templars were thrown into
prison in London and there. as in France and
Spain. torture was applied TO them. They dis
claimed any heretcal intentions, and the author
notes that ali mention of the five charges
brought by King Philippe avoided by the
prosecutors. The Templars were thereupon
publicly reconciled to the Church:
All but William de Moray tho Master lie died
IN prison OF broken heart. At the same time IN
Aragon, Portugal TarragOna and Germany, the
order, though examined under torture. was pro-
nounced innocent of the charges brought against
II II Was sad long afterward mat Win pms ms
and King TO meet him before the Judgment seat
body it is reported ana it was believed connected
With the trials and the Cruelties came TO a ms
charges. Squin de Florlan hanged for some
new crime. And as for the ngontzing death OF
thus had it been done unto him in return for his
treatment of the Templars The voice of the peo-
iourteehth century otherwise one Woua me 10
know what they thought of the Introduction or
torture as judicial instrument For until these
trials torture unknown in England. To be
tried. to be hanged, 70 have the hand struck on,
but torture they did not understand Nay. so ig-
norant We're they of the art and method Of torture
executioners Torture was always regarded not
only by the English people generally nut py INC
which did not exist on the Continent, where tnsg
continued to torture prisoners until well into the
eighteenth century
The illustrations, nearly all of which are de-
rived from old prints illuminated MSS, are
valuable accomplishments of the text. Yet we
would gladly dispense with them in some future
edition of the work If that edition were. for the
sake of convenience and comfort. made smaller
than the present one II Is difficult for the
general reader TO handle to house books so
bulky as these. and to that general reader Sir
Walter Besants historical sketches Of the great
English city undoubtedly appeal