would have taken that revenge before had he not been so immersed in papal affairs. Now he saw a means of satisfying two cravings at the same time. He could gain a great deal of money while taking revenge.
About two years before when there had been riots in Paris, he had been in danger and it had been necessary for him to seek a refuge. This had been offered to him by the Templars in the Temple Palace and during his stay there he had become aware of the amount of treasure which was stored in their vaults.
Isabella had heard a great deal about the Knights Templars― The Order of the Knights of the Temple of Jerusalem. They were a military religious order of knighthood which had been formed to protect the pilgrims to the Holy Land.
They had done good service during the Crusades and they had been maintained and rewarded in many countries and this had been the foundation of their great wealth.
Lately stories been circulated about the order. Being a rich and successful one, it had generated a great deal of envy. Isabella listened wide-eyed to the gossip. Her women talked of the Templars in hushed whispers while they assisted at her toilette.
The stories grew more and more outrageous.
“They have strange ceremonies. They have a Grand Master who is all- powerful. They say that what goes on at the initiation is too evil to be spoken of.’
‘But I wish to know,’ Isabella had said.
Glances were exchanged, reproving ones. ‘These things should not be spoken of before the Princess. ‘They are not for my lady’s ears,’ said one.
Nothing could anger Isabella more. She wanted to hear everything and the more shocking the more necessary was it for her to hear about it. When her temper was aroused, she had been known to administer many a painful slap or nip.
‘You will tell me,’ she said.
There was moment’s hesitation but only a moment’s, for her attendants had learned it was unwise to offend their imperious mistress. One of them whispered: ‘They spit on the crucifix and deny God.’
‘What else?’ demanded Isabella.
‘They have to behave― indecently on the altar― with each other.’
Isabella wrinkled her brows trying to imagine what acts were performed and as she saw that some of her women had a notion of this she was loath to show her ignorance so she repeated: ‘What else?’
‘They make obscene images and they worship goats and cats. And there are indecent acts with animals. They kiss them― in all manner of places―’
This was easier to understand and Isabella stared round-eyed with wonder.
‘They have children,’ whispered one woman, ‘when they should not according to law have them. Then they seek to destroy them.’
‘How?’
‘They roast them alive over a pan into which the fat drips and this fat they smear over their idols. It is a sort of sacrifice― an offering.’
‘It makes me feel sick,’ said Isabella.
‘I know we should not have told you, my lady.’
‘When I command you to tell me you will tell me, but I do not believe knights would behave so.’
The women fell silent and then Isabella said: ‘But perhaps they do. My father hates them. He is going to make them sorry for these evil deeds.’
Then the women shivered for they knew some evil would befall the Knights Templars.
And they were right.
They were filling the prisons now; they were confessing their sins. There was only one way of dealing with such wickedness, declared the King. From the squares in Ile de la Cité, the smoke could be seen rising and in the air was the acrid smell of burning flesh. The persecution of the Templars was providing a rich haul, for when a Knight was condemned for his sins his treasures fell naturally into the hands of the King.
‘We must impress the English,’ he told Isabella, ‘and as my daughter you must have a dowry worthy of you. We must make much of your bridegroom when he comes to marry you because he is the King of England.’
She liked to gloat over her treasures
About two years before when there had been riots in Paris, he had been in danger and it had been necessary for him to seek a refuge. This had been offered to him by the Templars in the Temple Palace and during his stay there he had become aware of the amount of treasure which was stored in their vaults.
Isabella had heard a great deal about the Knights Templars― The Order of the Knights of the Temple of Jerusalem. They were a military religious order of knighthood which had been formed to protect the pilgrims to the Holy Land.
They had done good service during the Crusades and they had been maintained and rewarded in many countries and this had been the foundation of their great wealth.
Lately stories been circulated about the order. Being a rich and successful one, it had generated a great deal of envy. Isabella listened wide-eyed to the gossip. Her women talked of the Templars in hushed whispers while they assisted at her toilette.
The stories grew more and more outrageous.
“They have strange ceremonies. They have a Grand Master who is all- powerful. They say that what goes on at the initiation is too evil to be spoken of.’
‘But I wish to know,’ Isabella had said.
Glances were exchanged, reproving ones. ‘These things should not be spoken of before the Princess. ‘They are not for my lady’s ears,’ said one.
Nothing could anger Isabella more. She wanted to hear everything and the more shocking the more necessary was it for her to hear about it. When her temper was aroused, she had been known to administer many a painful slap or nip.
‘You will tell me,’ she said.
There was moment’s hesitation but only a moment’s, for her attendants had learned it was unwise to offend their imperious mistress. One of them whispered: ‘They spit on the crucifix and deny God.’
‘What else?’ demanded Isabella.
‘They have to behave― indecently on the altar― with each other.’
Isabella wrinkled her brows trying to imagine what acts were performed and as she saw that some of her women had a notion of this she was loath to show her ignorance so she repeated: ‘What else?’
‘They make obscene images and they worship goats and cats. And there are indecent acts with animals. They kiss them― in all manner of places―’
This was easier to understand and Isabella stared round-eyed with wonder.
‘They have children,’ whispered one woman, ‘when they should not according to law have them. Then they seek to destroy them.’
‘How?’
‘They roast them alive over a pan into which the fat drips and this fat they smear over their idols. It is a sort of sacrifice― an offering.’
‘It makes me feel sick,’ said Isabella.
‘I know we should not have told you, my lady.’
‘When I command you to tell me you will tell me, but I do not believe knights would behave so.’
The women fell silent and then Isabella said: ‘But perhaps they do. My father hates them. He is going to make them sorry for these evil deeds.’
Then the women shivered for they knew some evil would befall the Knights Templars.
And they were right.
They were filling the prisons now; they were confessing their sins. There was only one way of dealing with such wickedness, declared the King. From the squares in Ile de la Cité, the smoke could be seen rising and in the air was the acrid smell of burning flesh. The persecution of the Templars was providing a rich haul, for when a Knight was condemned for his sins his treasures fell naturally into the hands of the King.
‘We must impress the English,’ he told Isabella, ‘and as my daughter you must have a dowry worthy of you. We must make much of your bridegroom when he comes to marry you because he is the King of England.’
She liked to gloat over her treasures
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