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markets, multure from windmills and watermills, advowsons of 
churches, services from tenants of so many days’ ploughing, harrow¬ 
ing, haymaking, sheepshearing and sheep washing. Even tributes of 
fowls and eggs are not overlooked. The order possessed also many 
valuable immunities; they were exempt from tythes ; service might 
be performed in their churches when the rest of the parish was under 
an interdict; no Templar could be required to take an oath. They 
had courts of separate jurisdiction, and endeavoured to compel those 
with whom they or their tenants had disputes, to bring their causes 
before these courts, instead of the established tribunals. They were 
an important element in the state. The Master of the Temple was 
summoned to parliament with bishops and priors, and Amaric de 
St. Maur joined the great barons in urging on King John the signa¬ 
ture of Magna Charta. In the thirteenth century they had attained 
the maximum of their prosperity and power; yet towards its close, 
causes were in operation which in the beginning of the fourteenth 
brought about their suppression. The circumstances attending this 
event in Yorkshire, the author reserved for another communication. 
January 5.— The Key. John Kenrick read the conclusion of 
his paper, begun at the preceding monthly meeting. Among the 
causes which led to the suppression of the Order of the Templars he 
mentioned, the failure of the Crusades, which showed the hopelessness 
of the recovery of Palestine ; the jealousy of their power entertained 
both by Church and State, and their own wealth, pride and luxury. 
The charges of immorality and impiety which were made the ground 
of the cruel measures taken against them, were not supported by 
satisfactory evidence, and though individuals might be guilty, were 
no sufficient ground for the destruction of the order. Edward II., 
when solicited by Philip the Fair of France, to co-operate with him 
in his measures against them, at first declined, not believing the 
crimes imputed to them, but a letter from the Pope seems to have 
altered his views, and as he was at the time a suitor for the hand of 
the French Princess, Isabella of Valois, a desire to gain the favour 
of Philip may also have influenced him. He accordingly ordered an 
investigation to be made. Archbishop Grenefeld, who then filled 
the see of York, commenced the trial of twenty-four Templars who 
had been seized and committed to the Castle, on the 19th of May, 
1310. He was attended by his sufi*ragans, the Bishops of Durham, 
and Whithern in Galloway, and by a numerous assemblage of 
ecclesiastics, from the different deaneries and archdeaconries, and the 
