34 i Proceedings of the Royal Irhh Academy. 



thirteenth century, a strong, rich corporation of men who had fallen 

 from the high ideal with which they had started their Order, and 

 whose original purpose had been rendered useless. A body of 15,000 

 knights, many of the fine flower of the nobility of the land, subject 

 only to their Grand Master and the Popes, constituted a formidable 

 body of men, and their riches could not now be excused on the ground 

 that they were for the defence of the Holy Land. Founded, as they 

 had been, for the protection of the Christian pilgrims, they had 

 degenerated into the bankers of the Popes and Kings. The con- 

 stables of the Cross had become the cashiers of Christendom. 

 Rumours also were current of their infidelity, idolatry, and bestiality. 

 Some curious verses are to be found about them in the Eook of Howth, 

 and I quote two verses, depicting their fall from their high estate. 



While they lived in wilful poverty 



These crossed Knights in mantles clad in white, 



Their names spread in many far country, 



For in their perfection was set all their delight. 

 Folk of devotion caught an appetite ; 



Therefore to increase gave them great almes, 



By which they gen increase in great riches. 



By process within a few yeares, 



The numher great of their religion, 

 And the fame of the said Templers, 



Gan spread wide in many region, 

 With towers, castles, they gave them to delices, 

 Appelled in virtue, which brought in many vices. ^ 



The Order might yet have continued to exist for many years, had 

 not Philip le Bel, King of France, determined on their downfall, for 

 it must be remembered that the Hospitallers also enjoyed large 

 exemptions, and considerable property, yet they continued for cen- 

 turies before their existence was terminated in different lands. Eut 

 Philip was a poor as well as a masterful man, and his necessities had 

 not been satisfied by his recent pillage of the Jews. The powerful 

 Order of the^Templars had, on several occasions, come into conflict with 

 him. It is clear that he had some time before come to the deter- 

 mination^to destroy this imperium in imperio," and, while getting 

 rid of this obstacle, also refill his impoverished exchequer ; but this 

 could not be done without the consent of the Pope. Accordingly, 

 on the death of Benedict XI, he used his influence to obtain the 



1 Book of Howth, p. 235 



