and in the gardens of the Palais Royale ; and advantage was Jim DI taken of the folly, the superstition, and the credulity of the age, ji^txj. to propagate the most horrible and extravagant charges against the order. They were accused of worshipping an idol covered with an old skin, embalmed, having the appearance of a piece of polished oil-cloth. " In this idol," we are assured, " there were two carbuncles for eyes, bright as the brightness of heaven, and it is certain that all the hope of the Templars was placed in it ; it was their sovereign god, and they trusted in it. with all their heart." They are accused of burning the bodies of the deceased brethren, and making the ashes into a powder, which they administered to the younger brethren in their food and drink, to make them hold fast their faith and idolatry ; of cooking and roasting infants, and anointing their idols with the fat; of celebrating hidden rites and mysteries, to which young and tender virgins were introduced, and of a variety of abominations too absurd and horrible to be named.* Guillaume Paradin, in his history of Savoy, seriously repeats these monstrous accusations, and declares that the Templars had " un lieu creux ou cave en tórre, fort obscur, en laquelle ils avoïent un image en forme d'un homme, sur lequel ils avoient appliqué la peau d'un corps humain, et mie deux clairs et lui sans escarboucles au lieu des deux yeux. A cette horrible statue etoient contraints de sacrifier ceux qui vouloient être de leur damnable religion, lesquels avant toutes ceremonies ib contragnoient de renier Jesus Christ, et fouler la croix avec les pieds, et après ce maudît sacre auquel assistoient femmes et filles (séduites pour être de ce secte) ils estegnoient les lampes et lumières qu'ils avoient en cett cave Et s'il advenoit que d'un Templier et d'un pucelle nasquit, un fils, ils se rangoit tous en un rond, et se jettoient cet enfant de main en main, * Xe*forfaits pourquoi les Templiers furent a» et condamnes, pris et contre eux approura. Ckrm. S. Denis. Sexta Titn, Clem. V. Dupuy, p. 2i. edition de 1713.