304 THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS
explained the powers conferred on them and warned the
brethren that this might be their last chance to put forward
a defence. After much discussion, a number of the Templars
agreed on two priests and two knights of the Order to repre-
sent them. The knights, William de Chambonnet and
Bertrand de Sartiges, took a very minor part in the proceed-
ings, but the priests, Peter de Boulogne, last Preceptor of
the Temple at Rome, and Reynald de Pruino, Preceptor of
Orleans, were remarkable men. Both had confessed to some
of the charges in examination by the Inquisition, but had
since retracted. They conducted the defence of the Temple
before the commission with tenacity, ingenuity and consider-
able eloquence. Peter de Boulogne especially is a highly
interesting character. He appeared before the court on
April 7th and, acting as spokesman for the other representa-
tives, entered a vigorous protest against the whole process.
That the Templars had consented to plead must not, he said,
be taken to imply that they acknowledged the jurisdiction
of the commission or waived their undoubted right to appeal
to the Pope and a general council of the Church. If he
and the other brethren were brought before Clement, they
could easily show the falsity of the charges, by oral testimony
and by unimpeachable documentary proof. But before such
a trial, the Templars ought in equity to be given their liberty
and permitted to use the possessions of the Temple so that
their case could be adequately prepared. " Each and all of
us declare the accusations to be utterly unfounded ", went
on de Boulogne. " It is unbelievable that such scandalous
charges should be taken seriously by anyone. It is true that
some Templars have admitted them, but only because of
torture and suffering." De Boulogne offered to prove the
use of torture and referred to the fact that thirty-six
Templars had died in the prisons of Paris alone* Every
law had been violated, and the Templars had been treated
worse than convicted criminals. Forged letters had been