50 HISTORY OF FRANCE. [chap. to the torture to extort a confession. Most denied with horror all these charges, and many died on the rack ; but some few were brought to say whatever their tormentors put into their mouths. This served as enough excuse for burning the more resolute as obstinate heretics, and fifty-nine thus suffered un the I2th of May, 1310, all declaring their innocence to the last. Nine more were burnt at Senlis. The pope now decreed the dissolution of the order and gave their lands to the Hospitallers. But he did not prevent Philip from keeping all for himself, notably the great tower of the Temple at Paris. For six years longer the gi'and-master, James de Molay, and three others of the chief officers of the order, were kept in prison, and they were then tried in secret by three cardinals. It was said that, worn out by imprisonment and torture, they confessed everything ; but when they were brought forth on a platform before the cathedral of Notre Dame to receive sentence of captivity for life, the grand- master, yar$7//i?j- De Molay, and Guy D'Auve?-g!ie, grand- master of Normandy, retracted, and declared themselves and their dead brethren to be clear from all the horrible charges against them. The three cardinals put off the examination to the next day, but the king was before- hand with them, and at nightfall the two Templars were led out and burnt on the island of the Seine, on the nth March, 13 14. James de Molay is said to have summoned Pope Clement to meet him before the judgement-scat of God in forty days time, and King Philip within a year, to answer for his death and that of his knights. 26. Annexation of Lyons, 13 14. — Clement actually died on the fortieth day, and Philip in less than a year. They had between them carried out another act of injustice. The imperial city of Lyons stood on the very- borders of France, and the French kings claimed jurisdic- tion in that part of the city which lay west of the Rhone. There were many disputes between the archbishops and the citizens, and the citizens at last appealed to Philip. He took advantage of the weakness of the empire to send his eldest son Lewis, with an army, to seize the city in his name, and thus add it to his dominions. This was the beginning of the process by which nearly all the old kingdom of Burgundy had been added to France. It is the tirst case of annexation of territory which had nothing to do with France, as distinguislicd from the incorpora- tion of fiefs held of the French crown. Philip's exactions
