A HISTORY OF LONDON could absolve them from their sins, to make sacrilegious mockery of absolution, and to be guilty of the vilest immorality.^^ Misconception of symbolic ceremonies may account for some of the accusations, most of which, however, can- not be explained in this way, and seem too improbable to be true,*" since it is difficult to see how such acts imputed, not to a few individuals, but to the whole body, could have long remained undiscovered, especially when the hospitality exercised at the various houses is remembered. The examination lasted until i8 March, i^io,^^ but elicited nothing derogatory to the order. The king then, urged by the pope, ordered the constable of the Tower to deliver his prisoners to the sheriffs of London *' to be disposed of by them in various places in the City so that the in- quisitors might have easy access to them.'" In spite of the tortures inflicted, only three, of whom one, John de Stoke," appears to have been the treasurer of the New Temple, confessed the truth of the articles. Testimony obtained by torture is always doubtful, and that given volun- tarily must on this occasion be regarded with suspicion, for it was supplied by secular priests, monks and friars,'* the enemies and rivals of the accused,'^ and even then it was often mere hear- say. The majority of the Templars, among them those of the New Temple, acknowledged themselves guilty of heresy, especially as to the efficacy of the absolution given by the master, submitted, and were reconciled to the Church.** The master, William de la More, however, refused to confess crimes of which he was innocent,^* and remained in the Tower until his death.'* The number of Templars belonging to the New Temple at the time of their arrest may have been thirteen," excluding the master. Of ^ Wilkins, Conci^a, ii, 331-2. Chronicles of Edw. I and Edw. 11 (Rolls Ser.), i, i 80-2. " See, however, Hallam, Middle Ages, , 138-42.
- Wilkins, Concilia, ii, 346.
- ' Addison, op. cit. 243.
'" Sharps, CaL of Letter Book D, 248, 259. " The John de Stoke who confessed evidently resided at one time at the New Temple, see Wilkins, Concilia, ii, 345, 387. '^ Ibid 359-63. " The Templars had received many privileges that had made them unpopular with the clergy, and ill- feeling can be traced as far back as 1228, see Rymer, Foedera (3rd ed. 1737), i (i), 103 ; i (2), 8, 9. " Wilkins, Concilia, ii, 390. " Ibid. ** Addison, op. cit. 276. ■' The sheriffs of London account for wages to fourteen brothers besides six chaplains, four clerks and four servants, &c. L.T.R. Enr. Accts. 18, rot. 7. Himbert Blanke, one of these brothers, was, how- ever, preceptor of Auvergne, and therefore did not really belong to the London House. From the list of the Templars sent to the Tower there would seem to have been only eight at the New Temple besides the master (Wilkins, Concilia, ii, 346), but two had cer- tainly died before this time. L.T.R. Enr. Accts. 18, rot. 7. these, three were serving brethren, two, brothers, John de Stoke was treasurer, Michael de Basker- vile, preceptor, and Ralph de Barton, priest, prior and warden of the chapel." Some of these probably survived the suppression of the order in 1312 to subsist as best they could, for the pen- sions of ^d. a day were not regularly paid,'* until they were received into various monasteries." The Templars at the time of the suppression owned in London and the neighbourhood the manor of Cranford '"* which had been given to them by John de Cranford,'"' the manor of Lilestone or Lisson Green '"- granted by Otho son of William in 1237,'°^ lands in Hampstead and Hendon belonging to that manor,'"* the manor of Hampton the gift of Lady Joan Grey,'"* and land in Hampton and ' Wyke ' given by Cristiana Haiwode ; '"* pastureland in Isleworth,'"^ meadowland in Hackney, co. Middle- sex,'"* a tenement at Charing,'"' which appears to have been granted by Gilbert Basset before 1185;"° tenements in Southwark valued in 1308 at £() <)s. 8d. net per annum;"' landsand rents in the parishes of St. Clement Danes,"* St. Dunstan West,'" where they had a holding in the 12th century,"* St. Bride,"' St. Mary Somerset,"^ St. Sepulchre,'" a messuage in ' Godrunlane ' in the parish of St. John Zachary, the bequest of John de Valescines in 1 256,"* and" a tenement in Holborn,'" and a quay and mills on the Fleet,'*" probably the most valuable of their property in London. They seem to have received a further grant of land here shortly after 1 185, since the gift of Walter son of Robert of land under Castle Baynard is not mentioned in the return to the inquisition of Fitz Stephen.'*"* "^ Wilkins, op. cit. ii, 346-7.
- Addison, op. cit. 286.
" Dugdale, Mon. Angl. vi, 848, Nos. liii, liv. "» L.T.R. Enr. Accts. 20. "" Dugdale, op. cit. vi, 832. "" L.T.R. Enr. Accts. 20. '" Dugdale, op. cit. vi, 832 ; Cott. MS. Nero, E. vi, fol. 73. "« L.T.R. Enr. Accts. 20. "» Dugdale, op. cit. vi, 832. •«« Ibid. "" Cott. MS. Nero, E. vi, fol. 66. "» Ibid. "» L.T.R. Enr. Accts. 20. "" Dugdale, op. cit. vi, 821. '" Cott. MS, Nero, E, vi, fol. 59^. "» Cal. of Close, 1307-13, p. 468. "' Ibid. 532. "* Doc. of D. and C. of Westm. Lond. "' L.T.R. Enr. Accts. 1 8, rot. 7. »« Ibid. "' Doc. of D. and C. of St. Paul's, A. Box 23, No. 267. "» Anct. D. (P.R.O.), A. 2136. '" L.T.R. Enr. Accts. 1 8, rot. 7. "° A complaint was made in Parliament in 1306 about the diversion of the water for these mills. Pari. R. (Rec. Com.), i, 200. "'= Doc. of D. and C. of Westm. Lond. B. Box i. D. 488
