25 



monastic establishments of the province. To these were added some 

 learned lawyers. The Templars denied all the most odious of the 

 charges against them ; but they appear to have been aware that 

 their suppression was predetermined, and when, after various pro- 

 ceedings, they were brought up before a Council which again met 

 at York in May 1311, they confessed that they could not clear them- 

 selves respecting the accusations contained in the bull of the Pope, 

 and prayed, on their bended knees, that they might be restored to the 

 communion of the Church. They abjured all heresies, and promised 

 to keep holy the catholic and orthodox faith, and to observe the 

 Church's mandates ; and proceeding from the Chapter House to the 

 south door of the Minster, they there received absolution from the 

 Bishop of Whithern. The possessions of the Templars in Yorkshire 

 were partially transferred to the Knights of St. John, but the Crown 

 retained some of the most valuable, and granted them to the nobility. 

 It is probable that much light might be thrown on this subject by 

 documents, yet unpublished, among the national Records, and Mr. 

 Kenrick expressed a hope that on some future occasion he should 

 be able to lay a list of these before the Society, if not copies at full 

 length. 



