272 POLITICAL HERESY.— THE STATE. speak of the sacrilegious rites imputed to them, they flounder among almost every variation that could suggest itself to their imagina- tions. Usually renunciation of God or Christ and spitting on the cross are both required, but in many cases renunciation without spitting suffices, and in as many more spitting without renuncia- tion.* Occasionally spitting is not sufficient, but trampling is added, and even urination ; indeed some over-zealous witnesses declared that the Templars assembled yearly to perform the latter cere- mony, while others, while admitting the sacrilege of their reception rites, say that the yearly adoration of the cross on Good Friday, prescribed in the Rule, was also observed with great devotion.f Generally a plain cross is described as the object of contempt, but sometimes a crucifix is used, or a painting of the crucifixion in an illuminated missal ; the cross on the preceptor's mantle is a com- mon device, and even two straws laid crosswise on the ground suf- fices. In some cases spitting thrice upon the ground was only required, without anything being said as to its being in disrespect of Christ.^ Many witnesses declared that the sacrilege was per- formed in full view of the assembled brethren, others that the neophyte was taken into a dark corner, or behind the altar, or into another room carefully closed ; in one case it took place in a field, in another in a grange, in another in a cooper-shop, and in another opened it, when a sudden storm burst over the ship and sank it with all on board, except a few sailors who escaped to tell the tale. Since then no fish have been found in that part of the sea (lb. 223-4). Guillaume Avril had been seven years beyond seas without hearing of the head, but had been told that in the whirlpool of Setalias a head sometimes appeared, and then all the vessels there were lost (lb. 238). All this rubbish was sent to the Council of Vienne as part of the evidence against the Order
- Proces, I. 233, 242, 250, 414, 423, 429, 533, 536, 546, etc.
t Proces, I. 233 ; II. 219, 232, 237, 264,— Raynouard, 274-5, 279-80.— Bini, pp. 463, 497. At the feast of the Holy Cross in May and September, and on Good Friday, the Templars all assembled, and, laying aside shoes and head-gear and swords, adored the cross, with the hymn — Ador te Crist et benesesc te Crist Qui per la sancta tua crou nos resemist. — (Proces, II. 474, 491, 503.) X Proces, I. 233, 250, 536, 539, 541, 546, 606 ; II. 226, 232, 336, 360, 369.— Piaynouard, p. 275.
