296 THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS
of their previous testimony, declared themselves innocent of
the charges, and contested the accusations that the Order was
heretical and immoral. The attitude of the commission
during its sessions encouraged the confidence of the prisoners.
There was an attempt to be fair in questioning, and members
often intervened to help witnesses to express themselves and
to save them from bullying. Some of the commissioners
were not impartial, but the commission as a whole seemed
determined to ascertain the truth rather than force confessions
of guilt.
In his previous examinations, Jacques de Molay had
cowered before his questioners, but when he appeared before
the commission he conducted himself like a haughty prince
dealing with insolent inferiors. u I challenge your jurisdic-
tion over the Order of the Temple ", he answered, when asked
if he wished to defend the Order. "As it is under the authority
of the Pope, he alone can be its judge. The Order which is
accused of such grave crimes was confirmed by Pope Honorius,
and, through the holiness of its members, was accorded great
privileges by Pope Alexander IIL Whether the members
are no longer worthy of these privileges, whether they have
failed in their duty, only the Pope can decide, and it is for
him to make enquiry." The Grand Master could neither
read nor write and he protested that it was unfair to expect
him to undertake the defence when he had no opportunity to
prepare for such a duty or to consult his brethren. Was the
matter so trifling, were the charges so unimportant that the
process should be rushed like this? He reminded the com-
missioners of the case of Frederick, Emperor of Germany,
who, when charged by the papacy with great crimes against
the Church, had been allowed ample time to prepare his
defence, and on whom judgment was suspended for thirty-two
years! " I have neither the knowledge nor ability to enable
me adequately to present a defence, yet I shall do my best
For I should be a poor creature and rightly reviled as such