Some Aspects of the
History of the Order of the Knights Templar

By James Burnes

1829

“Based on the book review (History of the Order of the Knights Templars from accessible as well as several hitherto unexplored sources. By W. F. Wilcke, 2 Baude, 8vo, Leipzig, 1826-27) by James Burnes, first Published in the Foreign Quaterly Review, 1829, and as published in The Knights Templar Vault.”

INTRODUCTION

NOTWITHSTANDING the reproach of indolence, frivolity, and attachment to light, in preference to solid, literature, which is so frequently, and not without justice, cast upon the present age, we are inclined to think that there never was any period in which a more active, or inquiring spirit of political philosophy prevailed. But it is to the continent rather than to England that this praise is due; for while there the history of all ages and countries is investigated with diligence, new light cast on the annals of the world, and on the springs of human actions and institutions, in works of magnitude which are continually sending forth — here, except on subjects immediately connected with our own country, few historians venture to exceed the moderate bulk of two or three octavo volumes.

What is still worse, if we set aside the copious Universal History, now become rather antiquated, there are several nations and countries of which we may vainly seek for any account in English literature; while in the French and German, those proper rivals of the English, satisfactory information may be readily obtained on almost every subject of historic importance. Unfortunately too, the party spirit which the nature of our political constitution has such a tendency to engender, extends into regions where calmness and impartiality should dwell; and though we can point out some works on our national history, one particularly, distinguished by a spirit of cool and unbiassed philosophical criticism, such cannot be justly called the character of our historic literature.