The trial of the Templars in Britain and Ireland

The Templars in Britain and Ireland were not arrested until early 1308, three months and more after the Templars in France. The government of the English king in England and Ireland had no real interest in proceeding against the Templars, although some clergy supported the trial. Although hardly any Templars confessed to any of the serious charges, the Order was dissolved in 1311, before the Council of Vienne had made any decisions on the Templars’ fate. The government’s main interest was in taking over the Templars’ properties and ensuring that the Templars’ revenues were sent to the royal treasury. Although the English king claimed that he handed the Templars’ property to the Hospitallers, following papal instructions, in fact he retained many properties, demonstrating that in these islands the Templars’ affair was controlled by the king, rather than the Church