The Templars' Last Days (11 page)

William's first night at Chinon had seen him talk late into the evening with Robert, they had drank a little too much wine, and the journey and heat had proved more tiring than William had realised. That, combined with the four poster bed proving to be most comfortable, he decided to take a late breakfast. His room offered magnificent views over the river Vienne and beyond, and, seated by the window, he took his time over eating to ensure in his own mind exactly what he wanted today from the prisoners incarcerated just across the castle courtyard. William found both the royal accommodation and the location of the prisoners much to his liking as he could conduct his business within the privacy of the Castle walls.

The brilliance of the morning sunlight hit William as he left the main entrance of the Royal quarters and descended the stairs to the Chateau courtyard where Robert had been patiently waiting for some time. As they strode across the expanse towards the north wall, William could not help but be caught up in the liveliness of the marketplace. Street traders seemed to be everywhere he looked, offering goods of all sorts and anything that a person could wish to buy could be found here. In the centre of the courtyard were several animal pens with farmers deep in negotiations – those who were trying to sell at the highest price, whilst others were trying to buy at the lowest.

An aroma of cooked boar wafted across the courtyard carried by the breeze coming off the river Vienne. The makeshift beer taverns were as always doing brisk business, and a small troop of musicians had settled themselves next to the taverns in the hope of getting more money by playing requests.

William mused at the normality of these lives, for he knew that the world they now lived in would be changed forever once he had entered the doors that were now in front of him.

This bright and happy atmosphere of the courtyard was in sharp contrast to the dark sullen interior of the Tour du Chiens where the dungeons were to be found. Being only lit by the loopholes towards the top of the turret, it took William some moments to adjust his eyes to the dimness of his new surroundings, although he immediately recognised the awful stench of death that filled the room into which he had just entered.

A large, overweight and scruffily dressed jailer, who smelt almost as bad as death itself, led William and Robert as they descended down the narrow, winding staircase towards the lower levels which held the prisoners. The width of the stairs meant they could only descend in single file, and it was lit by the occasional rushlight mounted on the walls. William was glad that it did not take too long to reach the floor where his prisoners were being kept.

The narrowness of the staircase now behind him, the room took on larger proportions than it probably was. The expanse of space was extremely welcome to William, who took the whole of the room in with one glance. The entire length of the walls opposite and to his right were the cells and he quickly counted ten doors. In the middle of the floor was a wooden table and a bench, upon which was sat an equally scruffy and overweight guard, who upon seeing that he had important visitors, jumped to his feet and attempted some sort of salute.

At William’s request, Robert curtly dismissed both guards instructing them to wait on the upper floor. Once they had left, Robert proceeded to work his way along the cells, peering through the small grill in each of the cell doors, in order to identify the prisoner inside. At the third cell, Robert turned to William and informed him that in this cell was held a prisoner that they only knew as Sequin Balenx, who had been a squire to a Knight from Florian, during the eighth Crusade. His Master had died shortly after returning from the Holy Land, and, being unable to find work at home, he had made his way to the Chateau. Due to his iniquities he had been sentenced and imprisoned for life.

William thanked Robert and peered into the cell through the grille. He had to cover his nose, for the stench of human excrement that met him as he leaned against the grille was virtually unbearable. As his eyes finally adjusted to the darkness within the cell, he could just make out a frail, almost skeleton figure who was hanging with both his arms above his head, secured by a set of heavy manacles from the ceiling, whilst his feet were secured in manacles from the floor. He was dressed only in a dirty loin cloth
and bore the marks of having taken some severe punishment.

By the time William had stepped back from the door, Robert had located the second prisoner whom he felt would be of interest. Beckoning William to the door, he informed him that in this cell was housed a Monk from Florentine called Rosso, who had left the Templar Order after becoming disillusioned with his faith. He was jailed for life for his impiety.

William did not need to see Rosso, for his background told him everything. Although he had initially intended to interview the prisoners in their cells, the appalling stench was so bad that it was making William feel nauseous and he had an immediate urge for the sunlight and fresh air that he knew was above.

He led Robert quickly back up the narrow staircase, raced across the floor passing the two bewildered guards and burst through the doors into the fresh air and sunlight of the day. As the clean air filled William’s lungs, he regained his decorum and allowed Robert to accompany him back to his quarters.

Over a welcome goblet of wine, William instructed Robert that these two prisoners were to be cleaned up, fed with as much decent food and drink as they wanted, clothed in clean new clothes and allowed to sleep in a proper bed before being brought before him in the morning. After dismissing Robert to carry out his wishes, he reached for his quill and started to write the confessions which Sequin and Rosso would admit to in the morning.

There was no particular reason why I found the small Chapel in our Parisian preceptory so pleasant and relaxing. It was in many ways much the same as the Chapels found in every Knight Templar preceptory. Maybe it was because it was in here that I was ordained and it held many happy memories of my years here in Paris. I really could not explain the reason why I always felt more uplifted than usual after visiting this particular Chapel. Following my morning prayers and breakfast, I wandered out of the preceptory and into the busy centre of Marais. It was a bright sunny morning, and the streets were already bustling with the shopkeepers and craftsmen preparing for another day’s trading. The smell of fresh bread from the baker’s shop always added to the pleasure of any morning’s walk, and today was no different.

I quickly reached my destination of our carpenter’s workshop. He was just setting out his stall, ready no doubt for another busy and profitable day. After exchanging the usual pleasantries, I moved onto the real reason for my unannounced visit, and enquired as to how the Grand Master’s order was progressing. Putting to one side the work in hand, he took me around to the back room where stood six of the extra large barrels that he had been commissioned to build. They were exactly as the Grand Master had specified, standing some five feet high and reinforced by six steel bands around them for extra strength and ease of identification.

Happy with all that I had seen, I thanked the carpenter for his diligence and fine work and bade him good morning before briskly walking back to the security of the Templar preceptory. Once within the safety of its walls, I headed directly for the Master’s office, where I knew that even at this early an hour, Giles and the Grand Master would already be at work. I was admitted into the room without any delay and reported that I had now inspected the first batch of our specially commissioned barrels and I was pleased to say that they were more than suitable for our purposes.

Our Grand Master stood, looked at Giles and myself and without saying anything, he simply handed over to me the scrolls of instruction I had prepared for him over the last few days which now bore both his signature and his seal. With a wave of his right arm and with a grim smile, he gestured that I should get on with what was now expected of me.

Within the hour two despatch riders had been fully briefed as to their mission and left the walls of the preceptory, one heading west and the other east. Later that day, two more despatch riders left the security of the preceptory walls, this time one heading north and the other south.

To avoid arousing the suspicions of King Philip’s agents who we knew would be watching, they were garbed in the usual Knight Templar clothes. For we were gambling on the fact that by being dressed in our highly visible and distinctive garbs, that to any of Philip’s agents our despatch riders would have the appearance of simply carrying out our business as usual. Whilst the facts of the matter could not be more different.

There was no turning back now; everything had now been set in motion. We were now all in the hands of God.

Chapter 8

Robert knocked on the door that led into the office where William would interrogate the two ex-Templars, and was given permission to enter. William was glad that he had chosen to interrogate the two prisoners before eating his breakfast, for even after they had been cleaned up, shaved and put into fresh clothes, their emaciated faces and bodies still repulsed him.

For this reason, he had Robert sit them down as far away from his desk as he felt practicable and then dismissed Robert so that only the three of them remained in the room – so only these three would know the truth of what was said and what went on here today. Once alone William explained the choices that the King had instructed him to offer to them, and he was confident which option they would both take.

Under normal circumstances William would enjoy the teasing and bartering such meetings would entertain him with. Like a cat playing with a mouse, there was never any doubt about the final outcome, but it was always just when the cat would decide he wanted to end matters. Today, it would be as quickly as possible.

William put it to the two prisoners in the most candid of tones: sign this confession and the King will grant you a full pardon, provide you with a small estate in which to live in any part of the country you wish to choose, together with a comfortable income for the rest of your days. Finally, the King has instructed that he would allow you to stay here in the Chateau to recover your strength and that from the moment that you sign your confessions, you will be treated as the personal guests of King Philip IV. The alternative will be to throw you back into the cells you have just come from – we would simply throw away the key and you can rot and die in prison.

Without either looking up from his desk or waiting for any kind of an answer, William proceeded to read the prepared confessions to the two prisoners, as he assumed they were both illiterate, but more importantly he did not want to get any closer to them than he now was.

I, Sequin Balenx , loyal squire to the Templar Knight known as Julien of Florian, do hereby confess that whilst in his service, I witnessed the following acts of heresy being committed by the Knight Templars.

1. That the Master of the Temple, and all of his Knights, swore allegiance to a false idol head which was covered in an old skin, embalmed, and having two carbuncles for eyes, bright as the brightness of heaven and which carried all the hopes of those who placed their trust in it as it being their Sovereign God, whom they loved with all their heart.

2. They burnt the bodies of the deceased brethren, and making the ashes into powder, which they then administered to the younger brethren in their food and drink, to make them hold fast their faith and idolatry.

3. They cooked and roasted infants and anointed their idols with the fat.

4. They celebrated hidden rites and mysteries, to which young and tender virgins were introduced.

5. And a variety of abominations too horrible to be named.

All of the above I swear by Almighty God to be a true account of the heresy I witnessed whilst in the service of that Holy Order.

The confession of the ex-monk Rosso was, other than his name and profession, identical to that of the squire Balenx, and as such William saw no need to read out the full confession again. Being
in no mind to wait for their answer, he moved quickly from behind the desk, and forced himself forward to where the two prisoners were sat. They willingly made their mark, and, just as quickly, William returned to the safety of his desk and called for Robert to have these two repulsive individuals removed from his presence.

Once he was alone, William reviewed the testimonies which now lay signed on his desk, and when satisfied that the ink was dry, rolled and sealed the two scrolls. William allowed himself a smile of satisfaction at a job well done, for he knew only too well that these documents contained the means which would bring about the total destruction and downfall of one of the most feared fighting organisations within the known Christian world.

He allowed himself a few more moments to wallow in his masterful achievement, though these reflections on his success brought into sharp focus just how hungry he had become, and so he called for his breakfast and summoned Robert to join him. Over the meal William told Robert that these two prisoners had served the King well, and outlined their reward for their duty and it was now up to him to ensure that they fully recovered whilst under his care.

Because William knew that he would need to stay over for one further night and in addition to that it would take another few days for him to return to Fontainebleau, he prepared a note for the King informing him that the required confessions were now in his possession and sent a despatch rider to deliver the good news to the King.

I was concerned by the fact that, at this point in time I had no way of gauging the speed of progress being made across our preceptories, so I had to assume that they were all working at the same pace as our carpenter here in Paris. The contents and instructions within the notes dispatched to all the Masters of preceptories across the lands held by King Philip were identical.