HOUSE OF KNIGHTS TEMPLARS
29. THE PRECEPTORY OF GUITING
The preceptory of the Templars at Guiting
was founded about the middle of the twelfth
century. (fn. 1) Gilbert de Lacy and Roger de
Waterville gave lands at Guiting; Roger, earl
of Hereford, and Roger d'Oilly were among
the benefactors of the Templars in Gloucestershire. (fn. 2) At the survey of the lands of the order
in 1185, the possessions of the preceptory of
Guiting were valued at £11 10s. 6½d. (fn. 3) The
preceptories were virtually cells of the head
house of the Templars in London, which were
established principally for the sake of managing
the property of the order. (fn. 4) The community
consisted of some serving brethren, a chaplain,
and one or more knights under the rule of the
preceptor, who was always a knight. After due
provision was made for their maintenance and
for hospitality, the surplus of the revenues was
sent to the Master of the Temple, and transmitted
by him to Palestine.
The destruction of the order in England has
been carefully chronicled. (fn. 5) In obedience to the
bull of Clement V, under writs from Edward II,
the Templars were suddenly arrested on 8 January,
1308, in all parts of England, and their property
was seized for the king. (fn. 6) When they were
transferred as prisoners to the Tower of London
and to York and Lincoln Castles, in September,
1309, John de Coningston, the preceptor of
Guiting, was sent to London. (fn. 7) Of all the
Templars who were examined and tortured in
England, only two serving brethren and one
chaplain were constrained to admit the truth of
the charges which were brought against them. (fn. 8)
A compromise was at last effected. The
Templars agreed to confess that they had erred
in believing that the Master of their order, who was
a layman, had the power of granting absolution,
and that they were therefore guilty of heresy. (fn. 9)
They made a public abjuration of their error,
and in June, 1311, were absolved and reconciled
to the church. (fn. 10) Their property was confiscated,
and a pension of 4d. a day was assigned to
them. John de Coningston and six other
Templars were sent to different monasteries in
the diocese of Worcester to do penance, and
their maintenance was a charge on the lands of
Temple Guiting. (fn. 11)
Footnotes
| 1 |
Dugdale, Mon. vii, 823. |
| 2 |
Ibid. |
| 3 |
Ibid. |
| 4 |
Addison, The Knights Templars, 93. |
| 5 |
Ibid. 459-559. |
| 6 |
Addison, The Knights Templars, 464. |
| 7 |
Ibid. 467, 468. |
| 8 |
Ibid. 530-7. |
| 9 |
Ibid. 540. |
| 10 |
Ibid. 541. |
| 11 |
Worc. Epis. Reg. Reynolds, fol. 64. |