JustasabsurdandeffectualwasthechargebroughtagainsttheTemplarsin1307，whentheyhadrenderedthemselvesobnoxioustothepotentatesandprelacyofChristendom。Theirwealth，theirpower，theirpride，andtheirinsolencehadraisedupenemiesoneveryside；
andeverysortofaccusationwasmadeagainstthem，butfailedtoworktheiroverthrow，untiltheterriblecryofwitchcraftwasletlooseuponthem。Thiseffecteditsobject，andtheTemplarswereextirpated。
Theywereaccusedofhavingsoldtheirsoulstothedevil，andofcelebratingalltheinfernalmysteriesofthewitches’Sabbath。Itwaspretendedthat，whentheyadmittedanoviceintotheirorder，theyforcedhimtorenouncehissalvationandcurseJesusChrist；thattheythenmadehimsubmittomanyunholyanddisgustingceremonies，andforcedhimtokisstheSuperioronthecheek，thenavel，andthebreech；andspitthreetimesuponacrucifix。Thatallthememberswereforbiddentohaveconnexionwithwomen，butmightgivethemselvesupwithoutrestrainttoeveryspeciesofunmentionabledebauchery。
Thatwhen，byanymischance，aTemplarinfringedthisorder，andachildwasborn，thewholeordermet，andtosseditaboutlikeashuttlecockfromonetotheotheruntilitexpired；thattheythenroasteditbyaslowfire，andwiththefatwhichtrickledfromitanointedthehairandbeardofalargeimageofthedevil。Itwasalsosaidthat，whenoneoftheknightsdied，hisbodywasburntintoapowder，andthenmixedwithwineanddrunkbyeverymemberoftheorder。PhilipIV，who，toexercisehisownimplacablehatred，invented，inallprobability，thegreaterpartofthesecharges，issuedordersfortheimmediatearrestofalltheTemplarsinhisdominions。ThepopeafterwardstookupthecausewithalmostasmuchfervourastheKingofFrance；andineverypartofEurope，theTemplarswerethrownintoprisonandtheirgoodsandestatesconfiscated。Hundredsofthem，whenputtotherack，confessedeventhemostpreposterousofthechargesagainstthem，andbysodoing，increasedthepopularclamourandthehopesoftheirenemies。Itistruethat，whenremovedfromtherack，theydeniedalltheyhadpreviouslyconfessed；butthiscircumstanceonlyincreasedtheoutcry，andwasnumberedasanadditionalcrimeagainstthem。Theywereconsideredinaworselightthanbefore，andcondemnedforthwithtotheflames，asrelapsedheretics。Fifty-nineoftheseunfortunatevictimswereallburnedtogetherbyaslowfireinafieldinthesuburbsofParis，protestingtotheverylastmomentoftheirlives，theirinnocenceofthecrimesimputedtothem，andrefusingtoacceptofpardonuponconditionofacknowledgingthemselvesguilty。Similarsceneswereenactedintheprovinces；andforfouryears，hardlyamonthpassedwithoutwitnessingtheexecutionofoneormoreoftheseunhappymen。Finally，in1313，thelastsceneofthistragedyclosedbytheburningoftheGrand-Master，JacquesdeMolay，andhiscompanion，Guy，theCommanderofNormandy。Anythingmoreatrociousitisimpossibletoconceive；disgracefulaliketothemonarchwhooriginated，thepopewhosupported，andtheagewhichtoleratedthemonstrousiniquity。Thatthemaliceofafewcouldinventsuchacharge，isahumiliatingthoughtfortheloverofhisspecies；butthatmillionsofmankindshouldcreditit，isstillmoreso。
TheexecutionofJoanofArcisthenextmostnotoriousexamplewhichhistoryaffordsus，oftheimputationofwitchcraftagainstapoliticalenemy。Instancesofsimilarpersecution，inwhichthiscrimewasmadethepretextforthegratificationofpoliticalorreligioushatred，mightbemultipliedtoagreatextent。ButitisbettertoproceedatoncetotheconsiderationofthebullofPopeInnocent，thetorchthatsetfiretothelonglaidtrain，andcausedsofearfulanexplosionovertheChristianworld。Itwillbenecessary，however，togobackforsomeyearsanteriortothatevent，thebettertounderstandthemotivesthatinfluencedtheChurchinthepromulgationofthatfearfuldocument。