THE TEMPLARS AND THE INQUISITORS 263
That all Templars must bind themselves to put the wealth
and power of the Order above everything else and were
taught that it was no sin to use every means, however
unworthy, for the aggrandisement of the fraternity.
Every prisoner, William Imbert instructed, was to be
examined by the Inquisition regarding the identity of the
Receiver, the place where the reception took place, and the
manner of the proceedings, and then questioned one by one
on the charges in the indictment. It was important, the
Grand Inquisitor concluded, that the Templars should be
made to say by whom these abuses were introduced into the
Order and the reason for their introduction, and more
especially that the brethren should be closely examined about
the idols, who had charge of such idols and where these
were now to be found.
The results of the inquisition in the provinces was to
incriminate the Order more deeply. Such records as are
available show that outside Paris by far the greater number
of Templars confessed that on their reception they had
denied Christ and spat on the cross. Indecent kisses to the
Receiver were also admitted almost unanimously. But when
questioned about the worship of an idol, the brethren, with
a very few exceptions, denied having seen an idol in the
chapters and swore that they had never heard of idolatry in
the Order until their arrest.
Although idolatry was one of the charges which both
Imbert and Philip were most anxious to prove, the outcome
of the investigation did not dissatisfy them. There now
existed a large number of confessions of heresy and indecency
and immorality with which Philip believed that he could
force the hand of Pope Clement. The Inquisition had tried
to establish that the heretical practices at the reception of new
members were in accordance with the secret statutes of the
Temple. In this they had not wholly succeeded, but