325 THE KSIOIITS TEMPLARS. dwells most pathetically upon the awful sine of the Templars, and .IAMI» m their great and tremendous fall from their previous high estate. „. 4i Hitherto, says he, they have been renowned throughout the world as the special ehampions of the faith, and the chief defenders of the Holy Land, whose affairs have been mainly regulated by those brothers. The church, following them and their order with the plenitude of its especial favour and regard, armed them with the emblem of the cross against the enemies of Christ, exalted them with much honour, enriched them with wealth, and fortified them with various liberties and privileges. The holy pontiff displays the sad report of their sins and iniquities which reached his ears, filled him with bitterness and grief, disturbed his repose, smote him with horror, injured his health, and caused his body to waste awayj! He gives a long account of the crimes imputed to the order, of the confessions and depositions that had been made in France, and .then bursts out into a paroxysm of grief, declares that tbe melancholy affair deeply moved all the faithful, that all Christianity was shedding bitter tears, was overwhelmed with grief, and clothed with mourning. He concludes by decreeing the assembly of a general council of the church at Vienne to pronounce the abolition of the order, and to determine on the disposal of its property, to which council the English clergy are required to send representatives.* After the reading of the bulls and the closing of tbe preliminary proceedings, the council occupied themselves for six days with ecclesiastical matters; and on the seventh day, being Tuesday, Dec. 2nd, all tbe bishops and members assembled in the chamber of the archbishop of Canterbury in Lambeth palace, in company with the papal inquisitors, who displayed before them the deposi tions and replies of the forty-three Templars, and of the seven witnesses previously examined. It was decreed that a copy • Condi. Mag. Brit, torn. ii. p. 30f— 308.