Link, please?
Knights Templar Inquisition, 1185 DD\SAS\C/795/SX/25 1926
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Contents:
Transcript of the Inquisition of the Templars' lands in England made by Geoffrey FitzStephen in 1185 (Exchequer K.R., Miscellaneous Book no.16). [Borrowed by Beatrice A.Lees for publication by British Academy, and returned to S.A.S. in Nov. 1926].
[Qto.sheets.]
Source: Knowledge Rush (I have no idea if that is any better or worse than Wikipedia)
* Templars in England
The history of the Templars in England starts when Hughes de Payens, Grandmaster of the order visited the country in 1128 to raise men and money for the crusade. The first house was in London and early patrons include Earl Robert de Ferrers, Bernard de Balliol, King Stephen of England and Queen Matilda. Henry II granted them land across England, including some land by Castle Barnard on the River Fleet where they built a round church. They were also given the advowson of St Clement Danes. In 1184 their headquarters was transferred to the New Temple where once again they built a round church.
An inventory by Geoffrey Fitz Stephen reveals that by 1185 they had extensive holdings in London, Essex, Kent, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Salop, Oxfordshire, Cornwall, lincolnshire and Yorkshire. The involvement of Templars in financial matters is shown by Walter of Coventry's story of Gilbert de Ogrestan, the knight Templar accused of embezzling taxes in 1188. He was severly punished by the current Master. In 1200 Pope Innocent III issued a Papal Bull declaring the immunity of persons and goods within the houses of the order. This ensured that the New Temple became a royal treasury as well as the repository for the orders accumulated revenues. These financial resources provided the basis for the development of the Templar's banking faciluities.
Richard I confirmed their land holdings and granted them immunity from all pleas, suits danegeld and from murdrum and latrocinium.
King John of England had substatial financial dealings with the Knights Templar. At the time of Runnymede, not only was Aymeric de St Maur present, but King John was also resident at the Temple when the Barons first presented their demands. he gave them the Isle of Lundy as well as land at Huntspill, Cameley, Harewood, Radenach and Northampton.
King Henry III of England also had substantial dealing with them, the king's Wardrobe being located their in 1225. He entrusted Templars with military, financial and diplomatic commissions, and even considered being buried in the Temple. He did infact establish a chantry there in 1231.
King Edward I of England accorded them a slighter role in public affairs, financial issues often being handled by Italian merchants and diplomacy by mendicant orders. Indeed Edward I raided the treasury in 1283.
When Philip the Fair, King of France suppressed the order on October 13, 1307, Edward II of England at first refused to believe the accusations. But after the intercession of Pope Clement V he ordered the seizure of members of the order in England on January 8, 1308. The trial ran from October 22, 1309 until March 18, 1310 in front of Deodatus, Abbot of Lagny and Sicard de Vaur. Most of the Templars acknowledged that their belief that the mastter could give absolution as heretical and were reconciled with the church. However, Willian de la More refused to do so and remained prisoner in the Tower of London until his death.
The papal Bull of Clement V granting the lands of the Templars to the Knights Hospitaller was ignored until 1324. From 1347 the priests started letting part of the Temple to lawyers, from which the evolution of the Inner Temple and Middle Temple as Inns of Court derives.
Masters of the Temple, London
* Richard de Hastyngs, 1160
* Richard Mallebeench,
* Geoffrey Fitz Stephen, 1180 to 1185
* William de Newenham,
* Thomas Beard, 1200
* Aymeric de St. Maur, 1200,1205 and 1228
* Alan Marcell, 1220 and 1228
* Amberaldus, 1229
* Robert Mounford, 1234
* Robert Saunforde, 1231 to 1247
* Rocelin de Fosse, 1250 to 1253
* Amadeus de Morestello, 1254 to 1259
* Imbert Peraut, 1267 to 1269
* William de Beaulieu, 1274
* Robert Turvile, 1277 to 1289
* Guy de Foresta, 1290 to 1294
* James de Molay, 1297
* Brian le Jay, 1298
* William de la More, 1298 to 1307
Then there is a reference in a book, Eden: The Knowledge of Good and Evil 666, that links the laying of the cornerstone to the White House by Freemason George Washington to Knights Templar Inquisition Day, October 13
The suppression of the Knights Templar is an interesting tale. This inventory (inquisition) makes sense with its timing...because of the suspicions of the monarchs about the moneys the Templars brought back from the Holy Land after they were booted. Need to know what they had, didn't they? Then combine that with the order's suppression during the reign of Clement V in Avignon. And, of course, we know that the reason for that is that Phillip wanted the Knights' money. He had his own pet pope...so why not?
Fascinating stuff...
An historical link? Here’s a basic PDF describing Cressing Temple in Essex, including the inquest of 1185, 11 pages with contemporary color photographs of the site, old diagrams and a fair amount of detail:
http://sarumseminar.org/meetings/2007-12-10-members-night/KathleenMuch-Templars.pdf
If you’re looking to research a surname, I’m not sure I have an online link for that, I’ll have to look.
If you’re looking to research the Templars in England, Cressing is where to start, it’s the earliest one, dating back to, I believe, 1137.