P R E F A C E .

I no longer recall which wit original: "plaisant," referring to a humorous or sarcastic person said to a prince who had just chosen a very ignorant man as his librarian: "Here is a fine opportunity for him to learn to read!"

What I do know is that at this moment, one could say with just as much reason: here is a fine opportunity for most spectators to learn the history of the Templars Templiers: The Knights Templar, a wealthy and powerful medieval Catholic military order that was famously suppressed and dissolved in the early 14th century.

The historical summary of their trial and their condemnation (which has just appeared)* is insufficient to put the reader perfectly in touch with what con—

• This is not the work by Mr. Raynouard François-Juste-Marie Raynouard was a famous French historian and playwright who wrote a popular tragedy and historical study on the Templars in 1805..