THE TEMPLARS AND THE INQUISITORS 267
to the view that the Temple was a corrupt and depraved
institution—an institution, incidentally, whose extinction
would be of material benefit to the clergy.
Faced with so many determined opponents, Clement
meekly bowed to the demands of Philip. He reinstated
William of Paris as Grand Inquisitor of France, remarking
that, although William had justly incurred censure by sub-
mitting the Templars to examination without authority, yet
at the request of his " dear son Philip " the Pope had decided
to exercise leniency towards the offender. In a Bull dated
November 22nd, Clement announced that, since his pro-
nouncement of October 2yth, evidence had been laid before
him which justified a strong belief that the brethren were
guilty of the most odious crimes, and he could not therefore
resist an investigation. The Pope not only retracted his
his criticisms of Philip, but praised him fulsomely for his
zeal in defence of the holy faith!