THE ARREST OF THE TEMPLARS IN FRANCE 245
tion came from members of the Order. James was not much
impressed, but the news reached the ears of the French
ministers and Sequin de Florian was carefully examined and,
in return for a heavy bribe, made a detailed statement on
oath. Philip is said to have introduced spies into the Temple
to obtain confirmation of the charges; but, if so, his minions
were completely unsuccessful in gathering evidence which
could be used against the fraternity.
Although the statement was not made public, news of
irregularities among the Templars spread quickly—perhaps
by the king's instructions3 and when Jacques de Molay
reached France at the beginning of 1307 he soon heard of the
charges. De Molay was alarmed. He denied that there
was the slightest truth in the accusations and urged that, in
justice to the Order, Clement should authorise an investiga-
tion. The Pope assured de Molay that he put no credence
in the rumours, and the Grand Master, apparently quite
content with the words of the pontiff, returned to Paris,
where he was entertained by Philip and took his place among
the first men of the kingdom.
Before the autumn of 1307, Philip had made all his
arrangements for proceeding against the Temple. His
ministers drew up an indictment in which they specified a
number of the charges against the Order, and a copy was
sent to the Pope with a demand for an investigation.
Clement at first would take no steps, but Philip pressed the
matter and cracked the whip over his tool in the papal chair.
Since his election, Clement had complied with most of the
conditions imposed by the king. He had accepted Philip into
the bosom of the Church once more; had cancelled several
of the Bulls of Boniface to which Philip objected5 had restored
the two Colonna to their former honours and appointed a
number of French priests to the cardinalate; and had allowed
the king to take the tithes of the Church in France for
five years. But there remained another condition—the