Europe's inner demons

For a time Clement stood firm; but his resolution, never very strong, collapsed when some captive Templars, carefully chosen by the royal officials, were brought before him and renewed their confessions. Pope and king entered on secret negotiations; and early in July they reached an agreement. In effect, Clement capitulated, but — as weak, wellmeaning men commonly do in such situations — he also set about salving his conscience and saving his face. On the one hand he persuaded himself that some Templars, at least, were guilty; this justified him in ordering the bishops to use inquisitional procedure, including torture, against the Templars in their dioceses. On the other hand he set up papal commissions in the various countries to investigate the extent to which the order, as distinct from individual Templars, was involved in the alleged offences; this enabled him to pretend that papal rights had been respected.

The French bishops had always hated the Templars, and their inquisition proved merciless — in Paris alone thirty-six prisoners died under torture.⁽²⁸⁾

But few in any age are equipped to endure such martyrdom; so confessions came in plenty, to confirm and amplify those previously extorted by the royal officials. However, the pope’s command was addressed not simply to the French bishops but to the episcopate throughout western Christendom; and in countries other than France it produced quite different results. In Portugal the king simply refused to sanction the arrest of his Templars; in Castile an investigation was begun, but petered out; in Aragon the bishops carried through an investigation, but remained unconvinced of the Templars’ guilt; in England a face-saving compromise was devised; in Germany, it seems, the Templars were acquitted; and that was certainly the case in Cyprus, where there were Templars from all over Europe. The reason is plain: in none of these countries were the authorities interested in destroying the order. Only in France and in those parts of Italy and Sicily which were controlled either by Philip or by Clement was torture used ruthlessly; and only there were confessions forthcoming.

As for the papal commissions — even the commission operating in France — these came up with results which must have surprised Pope Clement and which were certainly unwelcome to King Philip. By the time the commissions started work, in September 1309, inquisitorial interrogations had been going on for nearly two years and many hundreds of confessions had been extorted; and this naturally made any fresh investigation of the order very difficult. Moreover, the king had considerable influence in deciding the membership of the commissions. Yet despite all this, truth would out. When the commission announced that it would hear any Templars who would volunteer to give evidence, more than 500 at once came forward. Though they were still prisoners of the king, worn with hardship, hunger and torture, these men took on new life at the prospect of defending the honour of the Temple. In Paris in 1307, 134 Templars had affirmed the guilt of the order; in 1310, 81 of those same 134 appeared as defenders. In Bayeux, 12 Templars had confessed; now 10 of those 12 appeared as defenders.

A defence submitted in writing by a group of Templars has survived, and it overflows with innocence, indeed with naivety.⁽²⁹⁾ Why, it asks, will nobody listen to those who tell the truth, even though they die under the torture and so earn the palm of martyrdom? How does it come that former Templars, who have been expelled from the order, can now earn money and privilege by slandering it? Quite unaware of the part played by King Philip, the defenders argue that he must have been deceived by those lying witnesses. Until the arrests, no hint was ever heard of the scandalous accusations. But now their captors keep telling them that, if they go back on their confessions, they will be burned alive. Therefore they ask that while they or any of their brethren are giving evidence, laymen (meaning the royal officials) shall not be allowed to hear it; for “in general the brethren are so struck with fear and terror that it is astonishing, not that some have lied, but that any at all have sustained the truth”.