284 THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS
Templars, but to collect evidence that the Rule of the Order
contained heretical teachings. Forty prisoners, including
William de la More, the Grand Preceptor of England, were
examined. All proved steadfast in rebutting the charges.
Asked if the Master had pardoned them for their sins, the
prisoners explained that at the end of a chapter the Master
absolved them for their offences against discipline, or some-
times begged the brethren to pray to God for the absolution
of an offender j none of the brethren had ever known a
superior of the Order give absolution in the form adopted
by priests. The examinations which took place in various
churches in London lasted until June. There were
frequently considerable intervals between the sessions, as
the papal inquisitors went to Lincoln and York to assist at
the questioning of the prisoners in those towns. The pro-
vincial Templars were as staunch in their denials as the
brethren in the capital. In all 228 Templars and seventy-
two outside witnesses were heard. The outside witnesses
who testified against the Temple were principally members
of the Dominicans and Franciscans and other religious
organisations which had long been antagonistic to the
Temple.
In view of the lack of confessions and of trustworthy testi-
mony, the investigators could not condemn the Order as
guilty of most of the charges specified in the papal Bulls.
They were satisfied, however, that the Grand Preceptor and
other high officers had given absolution, that the brethren
had sworn an oath to work for the aggrandisement of the
Order by fair means or foul, and that no Templar was per-
mitted to confess to priests other than those of the Order.
They confirmed that the chapters were held in secret—which
was never in doubt—and that the form of reception was the
same everywhere. Whether the reception was heretical or
indecent, they did not say, pointing out that no reliable evi-
dence could be obtained since the brethren were vowed to