Holy Places

"...it came into Sir William Sinclair's mind to build a house for
Gods service, of most curious worke, the which, that it might be
done with greater glory and splendor, he caused artificers to be
brought from other regions and forraigne kingdomes..."
     - Father Hay, On William St Clair and Rosslyn Chapel, 1722.

VALLETA, MALTA

     Among its original features were a series of auberges (inns), each
representing areas of Europe from which conscripts were drawn
such as Aragon, France, Germany, Provence, Castile, Italy and
England.
     On the northern coast of the island is the bay where St Paul was
shipwrecked on his way to trial in Rome. The presence of the
knights remains, with several structures and fortifications
commemorating the areas religious significance.
     But most prominent are the sea castle of Sant'Angelo, the fort of
St Elmo and the walled suburb of Vittoriosa, embracing two
prominentories which provided an easily defended natural
harbor. All were part of what was to become the city of Valleta.
     The city was named after Grand Master Jean de la Valette,
veteran of the siege of Rhodes and successful defender of Malta
against the Ottoman Turks.
     In the centre of the fortifications built to defend Grand Harbor is
St Johns Cathedral, built by the Knights Hospitaller as the centre
of their worship in 1578. The exterior of the Cathedral is austere,
but inside is it is surprisingly extravagant. On the floors of one
room are 375 marble tablets, each highly decorated and recording
the deeds of the Order. This room is known as the mausoleum of
chivalry.
     The great hospital - containing one of the largest rooms in all
Europe - is the highpoint of Hospitaller medical construction. The
main ward is 185ft long by 35ft wide with ceilings of 31ft. Built
in the 1570s, it still stands today. Strict standards of cleanliness
and hygiene were enforced, long before this was generally
accepted. Knights themselves tended the patients, using
implements of silver to ensure hygiene, and the Order's surgeons
were the best trained in all Europe.
     The city was taken by Napoleon Bonaparte n 1798 without a
fight. Reduced to a few scattered land holdings and a building in
Rome, the Hospitallers sought solace in the origins of their
Order, returning to the strictures of their Rule. In time, with the
re-emergence of their power and prestige, their property within
Valleta has been returned.

MARIENBURG CASTLE, POLAND

     The headquarters of the Teutonic Knights in East Prussia (now
Poland), Marienburg castle was originally built in 1276 under
Grand Master Winrich von Kniprode as a functional fortress, its
strategic importance leading it to become the headquarters of the
Teutones by 1309. As the knights extended their territories and
brought peace to the area, the castle "sprawled" to became a
magnificent hotel for visiting noblemen and knights who wanted
to take part in the Order's campaigns.
     Restored to full height during the 19th century, Allied bombing
reduced it to ruins during World War II. The Polish Government
has returned the castle to the Teutones as a means of restoring
and maintaining the historic site.

ROSSLYN CHAPEL, SCOTLAND

     Three miles south of Edinburgh and seven miles from the old
Templar headquarters in Scotland, Balantrodoch, stands the
village called Rosslyn.
     Perched on the edge of a gorge above the town is Rosslyn Chapel
- so heavily dripping with Gothic, Nordic and Celtic carvings that
it appears to be part of something greater. That was the intention.
Rosslyn Chapel was originally intended to be the Lady Chapel,
part of a much larger structure intended to be the greatest
Cathedral in Europe. A lack of funds and a need of attention
elsewhere prevented the massive work from being completed.
     The interior of the chapel, which had its foundations laid in 1446,
is a riot of carved images and geometric patterns. Symbols which
later found popularity among the Freemasons abound. It is a
chapel full of Christian - and pagan - motifs. There are dozens of
carvings showing the Green Man of Celtic mythology, his wild
head poking through a wide variety of foliage. On some
columns, North American aloe cactus is represented - even
though the Chapel was built 40 years before Columbus (in a
mission sponsored by the Knights of Christ - a Templar remnant)
"discovered" America. Other profuse images include those of the
Temple of Solomon and the Holy Grail.
     The original, incomplete design is said to represent the highest
achievement of Sacred Geometry - the domain of a secret society
known as the Masons. The Apprentice Pillar, an ornate column in
a wing of the chapel, is a central piece of Masonic myth. The
apprentice that built the masterwork is said to have been killed by
his Master - a recurring theme in Masonic theology. Above the
west door of the chapel is a carved head of a young man - his
head gashed on the right temple. Legend has it that this is the
image of the slain apprentice.
     The vaults of the cathedral contain the graves of each Baron of
Rosslyn, all said to have been buried in their armor rather than a
coffin.
     Rosslyn Castle was destroyed in 1650 by General Monks. Only
ruins now remain. Rosslyn Chapel was spared - and still stands
as a monument to the philosophy of Gothic architecture.

NEW TEMPLE CHURCH, LONDON

     The first Temple Church in London was built about 1128. It had
a house, a garden, an orchard, a cemetery and a round church of
Caen stone. It was protected by a ditch and mound of earth. By
1161 it had become too small and was replaced by  a larger site
on the north bank of the River Themes. This sight, to become
known simply as "New Temple" was consecrated in 1185 by
Heraclius, the patriarch of Jerusalem.
     The distinctive, circular design building is now hidden among the
structures of two Inns of Court and currently serves as the
lawyer's chapel. Once again in the possession of the Templars,
the traditional "crossing to the bar" by London's "barristers" is
still permitted.
     The Temple Church contains a choir 65ft by 100ft long. At its
western end is the impressive circular structure, 65ft in diameter.
This is the original 12th century portion of the building.
     From the buildings about the Church, the knights administered an
international financial and military network - the likes of which
was not to be seen again until centuries later. The Church
contains effigies of knights, though they are not all `Templars. At
best, they were affiliates of the Order.
     Round churches are very rare: only 10 are believed to have been
built in England. The shape is based on that of the Church of the
Holy Schepulchre - the Templars mother-house in Jerusalem.

CHATRES CATHEDRAL, FRANCE  

     Widely considered the architectural masterpiece of its time,
Chatres Cathedral is also linked to another outstanding figure -
that of St Bernard of Clairvaux. St Bernard had played a
formative role in the evolution and dissemination of the Gothic
architectural formula in his early days (it had been at the height of
his powers in 1134 that the soaring tower of Chatres cathedral
had been built).
     It was he who constantly stressed the principle of Sacred
Geometry which had been put into practice in the tower and
throughout the wonderful building.
     Bernard said "there must be no decoration, only proportion". But
his eloquent sermons inspired artists to create new heights of
leadlight ornamentation! It was this philosophy of harmony,
proportion and balance that was the main influence on the
Cathedral's architecture.
     St Bernard said: "What is God. . . He is length, width, height
and depth." Apparently St Bernard had a strong relationship with
the Bishop of Chatres, Geoffrey, - "inspiring him with and
uncommon enthusiasm for the Gothic formula and holding
almost daily negotiations with the builders themselves."
     Chatres had been an important Christian site since the sixth
century and the central point for the cult of Madonna after being
given responsibility for a veil said to have been worn by Mary
when she gave birth to Jesus. In the 11th century the original
church was burnt down - and its Romanesque replacement also
severely damaged by fire.  This shell was renewed as the first
example of the ornate, upward striving style to become known as
Gothic.
     The north tower was completed by 1134, the south during the
next two decades. The Cathedral is a vast construction, with so
much sculpture on its external walls as to be confusing. Many
say the sculptures contain many secrets - waiting to be decoded
by those who understand "sacred geometry".
     Remarkable stained glass windows, each depicting a biblical
story, flood the enigmatic inner labyrinths with strange patterns
of light.  The tall flying buttresses which support the ceilings,
pointed arches and columns all combine in an overwhelming
sense of proportion and harmony.
     The whole structure has been specifically designed to express
religious messages - acting as a mystical "book of stone".

TROYES, CHAMPAGNE
     The region of Troyes, Champagne, France is of great
significance to Church Knight tradition and history. The first
King of Jerusalem came from here, as did most of the original
nine Templars. St Bernard de Clairvaux was probably its most
famous resident. The Templars were officially recognised at the
Council of Troyes, and St Bernard began his campaign for the
Second Crusade there. The Grail Legends originated from here in
1180 (Chretien de Troyes, Le Conte del Grall). The region is also
strongly associated with the Celestial Chorus.
     Just how all these places, people and events are linked is
unknown - though highly suspicious. (It is the subject of the first
campaign I am designing - JS)

Important Personages

"Their praiseworthy state and their memorable holiness of life
attract us; they suffer heavy and unbearable labors and expenses
for the extension of the faith, and have made themselves into an
unbreakable wall to defend the faith against pestilential enemies
of Christ"
     - Chronicler Froissart, 1328, in Knights, Andrea Hopkins.

Order of the Temple

ST BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX
     The most influential spiritual leader of the early 1100s was a
humble monk, living in a rugged monastery of his own creation
near the town of Clairvaux in southern France. Bernard of
Clairvaux also happened to the be nephew of Andre de
Montbard, one of the founding members of the Poor Knights of
Christ and the Temple of Jerusalem (Templars).
     Bernard was a slightly built man with a short brown beard. In
1126, then aged 36, Bernard appeared as frail as that of an old
man. He had a chronic gastric disorder that kept him perpetually
weak. Yet through this physical frailty shone a spiritual strength
that caused even Popes and Kings to seek his advice.
     Legend has it that before his birth, his mother dreamed that she
bore a barking dog within her. A monk interpreted the dream as
meaning her child would be a healer and watch-dog of the
Church.
     By the age of 21, Bernard had joined the monastery of Citeaux -
persuading 29 others to take the vow with him and four of his
five brothers. His youngest brother joined him later.
     By the time Bernard was 35, the austere Citeaux monastery had
grown to include three daughter-houses. Bernard was abbot of a
monastery he had built-up from nothing, in an isolated valley
called Absinth.
     His faith was simple, direct and uncompromising. Many of his
letters survive, giving a clear picture of a man totally devoted to
his faith, but with love and compassion. His letters and sermons
saw his reputation as a visionary spread quickly and far.
     Even before 10 years as abbot had passed, Bernard had been
called upon to resolve international disputes, chastise kings,
advise those who asked and inspire the population to piety.
     Bernard slept little, and ate minimally because of his condition.
Anything less than complete worship was, to him, a waste of
time. He feared no mans anger and was eminently practical in his
decisions.
     King Baldwin sent Montbard and Gondemare of the Templars to
petition St Bernard's support for a new Militant Order. Bernard
leapt upon the idea, convincing the Pope and the Holy Council of
the Church Knights merit. On January 13, 1128, St Bernard
addressed the assembly at Troyes cathedral - presenting the Rule
of the Knights Templar which was to defend the Holy Land for
almost 200 years.
     St Bernard was forced by Pope Eugenius III to throw much of
his reputation and status into raising the disastrous Second
Crusade. He did this, despite failing health and great reluctance.
After Christendom's defeat, he returned to his monastery where
he composed a series of sermons which have since become
literary classics.
     He died at Clairvaux in 1153. By the time of his death, his
monastery at Clairvaux had grown to include more than 160
affiliated daughter-houses.

HUGH DE PAYENS OF BURGUNDY
     On the death of King Baldwin in 1118, a small group of knights -
veterans of the First Crusade - banded together to defend
travellers and pilgrims on the roads to Jerusalem. Among the nine
knights were Hugh de Payns (their leader from the lower nobility
of Champagne), Geoffre de St Omer, Payen de Montdidier,
Archambaud de St-Agnan, Andre de Montbard, Geoffrey Bisol,
Rossal and Gondemare. The ninth member's identity is
unknown. These knights had spent nearly half their lives in the
east and were dedicated to securing it for Christendom.
     Under the new king, Baldwin II, Hugh de Payns obtained for his
new Poor knights of Christ accommodation near the Dome of the
Rock - the supposed site of the Temple of Solomon. But before
long they obtained a new name - the Knights of the Temple of
Solomon, or simply: the Knights Templar.
     In 1125, the knights received official recognition from Baldwin II
who granted his new friend Hugh de Payns the title Master and
Count of the Temple. By now the knights resources were
increasing - no small part the cause of Hugh's negotiations with
the landed gentry. In 1127 Hugh travelled from Syria to Europe
(including England) in a surprisingly successful quest for funds
and support.
     Hugh also convinced Baldwin to write a letter of commendation
to St Bernard of Clairvaux, exhorting the knights abilities and
cause.  The letter also called for papal recognition as an
independent monastic Order - Hugh de Payns' ultimate dream.
Hugh was St Bernard's cousin, and seems to have shared his
vision for a greater Christendom founded in practicality. When
Hugh de Payns attended the papal court for the proclamation of
the Knights monastic status, he found his cousin to be a
enthusiastic supporter of his cause with a wealth of ideas for its
foundation.
     The idea of uniting the callings of worship and warrior turned out
to be master-stroke of medieval-world public relations. In short
time the knights were a recognised religious Order with gifts of
land, money and service flooding in. Christendom saw the
Templars as the vessel through which the boundaries of the
Church could be strengthened and extended - and controlling the
fighting spirit of the growing knightly class.
     Hugh died in 1136 - aged about 66 - two years before his Order
received the highest status on earth - being removed from the
yolk of all authority other than the pope himself.
Hugh had a dream - and lived to see it fulfilled

JACQUES DE MOLAY
     On the banks of the river Doubs, near one of the Templars oldest
commanderies - Temple-les-Dole, is the small hamlet of Molay.
Here, about 1244, Jacques de Molay - who was to become the
last Grand Master of the Order - was born.
     De Molay was elected 23rd and final Grand Master in a heated
contest immediately after the Order was thrown out of the Holy
Land. The political division evident in the elections probably
contributed toward the Orders eventual downfall.
With the morale of the Order at an all-time low, its resources
stretched and ranks thinned by battle, Jacques travelled to France
for negotiations with Philip IV. Originally lead to expect support,
this move led the Order into a carefully laid trap - contrived to
remove its international power and gain its wealth for the French
crown.
     The degree of Jacques competence is difficult to understand.
Generally he is recognised as not being an especially intelligent
man - but rather as narrow minded, critical, intolerant and
conservative minded.
     Upon returning the European commanderies of the Order, he
strictly enforced The Rule which had become lax in these
peaceful lands.
     One major mistake was to deny King Philip IV honorary
membership of the Order - yet another factor the King would
hold in grudge. Perhaps worse, de Molay requested the French
Crown repay its already overdue debt.
     But the apparent surprise with which arrests were made on
members of the Order may not have actually been the case. De
Molay apparently had sufficient warning to remove much of the
Templar's treasury from Paris and send it with the Orders entire
fleet to an unknown destination. Only 500 members of the Order
were arrested in all France, suggesting many others may have
escaped. Many tomes of Templar records also disappeared.
     Jacques de Molay and the senior commanders of the Order were
arrested. After 12 days of torture, he and his officers made a full
confession to the Paris university.
     Later, de Molay is said to have been "astounded" when his
confession was read back to him. When a cardinal envoy from
pope Clement IV arrived, he and his officers revoked their
confession - sparking six years of violent debate.
     During this time de Molay proved to be a poor leader. He refused
to answer questions of the French Inquisition - insisting the
Templars were only responsible to the pope and that no earthly
king held power over him.
     His illiteracy and lack of legal knowledge forced him to rely upon
member knights to pose a defence. One by one, these "learned
knights" disappeared - killed or removed by Philip's followers.
     After the Order had been dissolved, Jacques de Molay and his
officers were given one more chance to confess their heresy - and
to serve their lives in a penitent monastery. Several knights took
up the option, but de Molay and Geoffrey de Charney asserted
their innocence and that of the Order.
     They were dragged in chains to slow and agonising deaths, burnt
at the stake.
     It is said that, from the flames of his pyre, de Molay cursed pope
Clement and Philip to eternal damnation - beseeching Christ
himself to prove the Orders innocence.
     Clement died 40 days later. Philip died within six months. The
Capetian dynasty, which had ruled France for more than three
centuries, endured only 14 more years.

Order of the Hospital

BROTHER GERARD OF AMALFI
     Even before the First Crusade, Christian pilgrims were regular
visitors of the Holy places in Jerusalem. About 1080 a small
hospice was built and run by a group of Benedictine monks to
provide a place of rest and succour for the steady stream of
devoted travellers.
     The hospital was established by a small group of merchants from
an Italian shipping city known as Amalfi. Brother Gerard was
also from this city, and it was he who dedicated the hospice to St
John.
     During the siege of Jerusalem, Brother Gerard was one of a very
few Christians that were not expelled from the city. Rather, he
stayed in the city to treat the civilian wounded - and covertly
supplied the Crusading army with bread.
     Whatever the true form of his assistance was, Brother Gerard
became highly regarded by the Christian leaders - in particular
Godfrey of Bouillon who became the first ruler of Jerusalem.
Godfrey gifted the hospice some land for revenue, and his
example was soon taken up by other supporters.
     There is no doubt Brother Gerard was a good and noble man -
but he was also eminently practical and a good organiser.
In 1113 Gerard rejected the Benedictine for that of St Augustine.
Seven years before his death, the Papacy granted the hospice
status as a fully independent monastic Order. By this time, the
Hospitallers held large properties in France, Spain and Italy -
each country benefiting from the Order's medical knowledge.
     By the time he died in 1120, Gerard had laid the firm foundations
of the Hospitallers that was to survive 800 years. His epitaph
says: "Here lies Gerard, the most humble man in the East and
servant of the poor. He was hospitable to all strangers, a gentle
man with a courageous heart. One can judge within these walls
just how good he was. Provident and active in every way, he
stretched out his arms to many lands in order to obtain whatever
was needed to feed his people."

DIEUDONNE DE GOZON
     In 1311, two years after the Hospitallers successfully occupied
Rhodes, trouble emerged in a valley below Mt St Stephen. In the
only recorded incidence of its kind, a "dragon" was preying upon
the local peasantry - particularly young maidens - and wreaking
havoc among livestock.
     Several knights at one time or another had given battle to the
"dragon", but all had lost their lives. Grand Master Fulk de
Villaret gave the order that the creature was to be left alone, not
wanting to loose any more promising young warriors.
However, a young knight from Provence called Dieudonne de
Gozon was determined to rid Rhodes of the menace. He had a
model of the creature made from the descriptions of peasants and
trained his dogs to attack it. Once ready, Dieudonne rode to the
valley alone and without permission. While the "dragon" was
being attacked on all sides by the dogs, Dieudonne approached
the creature and slew it.
     He was dismissed from the Order for direct disobedience of a
Grand Master's. However, great public outcry forced the Grand
Master to reinstate him. From then on, Hospitaller records
referred to him as "The Dragon Slayer".
     Assisted by his popular acclaim among both the Rhodes
population and the knights themselves, Dieudonne de Gozon was
elected Grand Master in 1346.

Order of the Teutones

HERMAN VON SALZA
     The Teutones did not remain a nursing order for long. Within
nine years of their establishment in 1190, Pope Innocent had
granted the new organisation full recognition as a Militant Order.
     The first Grand Master was Herman von Salza, elected to the
position in 1210. By this time he had already risen to positions of
prominence, most notably as ministeriale at the court of Emperor
Henry Vi and his son, Frederick II.
     Contemporary sources attribute him with unflinching loyalty,
stable judgement and political good sense. He became a close
personal friend of Frederick II and was often forced to act as a
mediary between the Holy Roman Emperor and the Papacy -
which he managed to do without loosing the respect of either.
     The Order flourished under his leadership. In 1220 the Teutones
boasted 12 houses in Palestine, Greece, Italy and Germany and
could field some 600 military brethren. By the 1270s there were
some 2000 members of the Order. He won the support of the
Cistercian monks, and together both Orders represented the
pillars of missionary work in the north-east.
     Von Salza survived a disastrous defeat in 1216 in which the
second-in-command and most of the Order's militant monks were
killed.
     As Grand Master, Von Salza did not see the Order's main role as
being in the Holy Land - though the mother-house remained in
Acre until it fell to the Mameluks. Rather, much of the Orders
resources were committed to fighting pagans in Hungary and
Transylvania.
     Bitterly disappointed when King Andrew of Hungary reneged his
promise of granting the Teutones land, Van Salza ambitiously
decided to carve out  the Order's own principality from among
the pagan Prussians.
     Van Salza was not willing to undertake such a campaign without
the support of the papacy and guarantees that they would retain
any  land they captured. Once this support was provided, the
Teutone's own great Crusade began.
     In 1226 the Emperor Frederick II honored the Order by making
the Hochmeister (Grand Master) and all his successors princes of
the German Empire - with the right to display the Imperial Eagle
on their arms. When Frederick was crowned king of Jerusalem in
1229, it was the Teutones which provided the guard of honor in
the Holy Sepulchre.
     The Teutones cleared the Baltic coast, driving their enemies into
the wilderness, destroying heathen shrines, subduing and
converting the natives at the point of their swords. It was at the
height of this action, in 1239, that Von Salza died.

Others of Influence

KING PHILIP IV - "THE FAIR"
     Philip IV was a king who believed his own propaganda. He was
convinced his word was the word of God - that he was the
absolute authority both in spiritual and earthly matters.
     But he was a very private and aloof man. He never revealed his
inner thoughts or desires to anyone. Such was his wall of silence
that one contemporary wrote of him: "He is neither a man nor a
beast: he is a statue."
     What is known is that he was a very handsome man of high
intelligence. His apparent lack of humanity may also have been a
deliberate ploy to emphasise his "divine" nature. He
demonstrated repeatedly that he understood the basics of human
psychology and motivation.
     His advisers were among the most cunning and devious men in
France - men whom Philip recognised would get the job done for
their own motives, as well as his own.
     Philip's need for cash prompted him to tax the Church - a move
that was strongly resisted by Pope Bonaface VIII. After nine
years of diplomatic conflict, Boniface attempted to
excommunicate Philip. The king replied by accusing the Pope of
sodomy, sorcery, heresy, simony and blasphemy - and had him
kidnapped, fighting the small Hospitaller and Templar
bodyguard.
     The people of Anagni prevented French success, freeing the Pope
and offering him protection. But the 86-year-old Pope died a
month later.
     Benedict XI, Boniface's successor, was equally as stern against
Philip. He died shortly after his ascension - a surprising and
sudden  onset of agonising internal pains.
     In 1305, Philip applied to become a member of the Knights
Templar upon the death of wife. But the Templars refused him -
the secrecy of the Chapter not revealing the reason, even to
Philip. About this time Philip suddenly began to support the
merger of the Hospitallers and Templars into a single Order,
presided over by a new position - "Bellator Rex", or warrior
king. The idea was never accepted.
     In November 1305, Philip gave Clement IV support in his
election for the papacy.
     Continued economic strife within France prompted Philip to grab
money from the Jews. In a carefully pre-planned surprise action,
every Jew in France was arrested, their money and property
confiscated for the crown.
     About the same time, Philip had twelve of his men accepted into
the Order - one for each of the Templars 12 French preceptories.
Clement called the Hospitaller and Templar Grand Masters to
France to discuss a new crusade. The Hospitaller Grand Master
declined, but Jacques de Molay responded. The trap was set,
ready to be sprung at Philip's command.
     Philip's masquerade continued right to the end. The morning
after giving de Molay and some senior knights the honor of
acting as pall-bearers at the funeral of his sister-in-law, Philip had
them all arrested - denouncing them as heretics, blasphemers,
usurers, traitors, sodomites and idolaters.

POPE CLEMENT IV
     The ascension of Clement IV (Bertrand de Got) to the papacy
was an ill-omened one. After his coronation, He rode in
procession through Lyons, with King Philip IV of France, the
kings brother and another duke. As they rode, King Philip
noticed a wall collapsing and reined in his horse. The wall
collapsed upon the procession, narrowly missing the king.
Clement was thrown from his horse, though unharmed. The
duke was not so lucky, he received mortal injuries. Philip's
brother, Prince Charles of Valois was also seriously injured.
That Philip played a major role in Clement's election is not
doubted. The extent of his influence is not known - though
Clement certainly owed him "favors".
     Clement, as bishop of Bordeaux, was known as a weak and
greedy man, honor-bound and averse to responsibility. He hid
behind his comprehensive training in Roman and Canon law.
     It is recorded that Clement caved in on several of Philip's
demands - appointing numerous French cardinals, revoking
Philip's crusader vow and rescinding the move to place France
under Church edict. He resisted Philip's desire for the absolution
of an excommunicated friend and the posthumous trial of
Boniface.
     When Philip told Clement of his plans to accuse the Templars,
the pope was apparently astonished and incredulous. Clement's
order for a full papal investigation may have been intended to
prove such accusations ridiculous - only to be hijacked by
Philip's puppet cardinals that Clement had himself appointed.
Clement's confusion and uncertainty was probably the single
greatest cause of the success of Philip's accusations. While
initially publicly declaring his support for the Templars, he failed
to act. Frightened to resist openly (remembering previously
poisoned and kidnapped popes), he took a path of resistance -
causing delaying and legal hurdles, but nothing definite. Finally,
he was left with no choice but to dissolve the Order, or loose all
credibility.
     Clement died one month after Jacques de Molay and Geoffrey de
Charney were burnt at the stake. Both he and Philip had been
cursed from the flames - a curse that proved lethal.