THE KNIGHT* TEMPLAIÌS. 258 JAMBS M and of the order to which they belonged, of showing the privi A.n. iai'i. leges conceded to them by the chief pontiffs, and their own dépotions taken before the inquisitors, all which they said they wished to make use of in their defence. On the eighth day, being Thursday the 29th of April, they appeared before the papal inquisitors and the bishops of London and Chichester, in the church of All Saints of Berkyngecherche, and presented to them the following declaration, which they had drawn up amongst themselves, as the only defence they had to offer against the injustice, the tyranny, and the persecution of their powerful oppressors ; adding, that if they had in any way done wrong, they were ready to submit themselves to the orders of the church. This declaration is written in the Norman French of that day, and is as follows : Φ Coxite chete seti a nostre konurable pere, le ercevesque de Canterbiere, primat de toute Engletere, e a touzprelaz de scinte Eglise, e a touz Cristiens, qe touz lesfrères du. Temple que sûmes ici assembles et ckescune sivgulerepersonepar sen sûmes cristien nostre seigiatr Jesu Crisi, e créons en Dieu Pere omnipotent, qui fist ciel e terre, e en Jesu soenfiz, rjuifust conceu du Seint Esperii, nez de la Virgine Marie, soeffrit peine e passioun, morut sur la croiz pour touz pcccheours, descendist e enferns, e le tierz jour releva de mort en vie, e mounts en ciel, siet au destre soen Pere, e vendra au jour de juise, juger les vifs e les morz, qui fu saunz commencement, e serra saunzfgn; e creoms comme seynte église crets, e nous enseigne. E que nostre religion est foundee sus obedience, chasteté, vivre sans propre, aider a conquere la seint terre de Jerusalem, a force e a poer, qui Dieu nous ad preste. E nyoms e firmement en countredioms touz e chescune singulere persone, par sei toutes maneres de heresies β mahaistes, que sount encountre la fai de Scinte Eglise. Epriomspour Dieu e pour charité a vous, que estes en lieu nostre