THE SEARCH FOR LOST TREASURE

memo 5: by dM, SiTU

Jacques de Molay was the last Grandmaster of the poor knights of Christ, the Templars. He was arrested by the soldiers of Philip the Fair. He was thrown into the Royal dungeons, tortured and condemned to death by fire. De Molay refuted his confessions during the trial, because of torture. Still the verdict was clear, as for all Knights, guilty of conspiracy and heresy.

On the 18^th of March, 1314, Jacques de Molay, and a fellow-Templar, were led to the stake. They were asked to confess and admit to their sins, for the last time. If they did, they would be strangled, before the fire would set fire to the oiled posts.

As a favour.

Both refused and died a horrible death. The conspiring Pope Clemens V and king Philip the Fair, both witnessed the execution of Jacques de Molay.

The story goes, that shortly before his death, the Grandmaster cursed both and prophesied that the King and the Pope would follow him in death, within a year.

This is what happened. The Pope died about 1 1/2 month later of stomach cramps (poison?). Philip the Beautiful died, mysteriously during a hunt, half a year later. This is the famous

CURSE OF JACQUES DE MOLAY