Note XXXIV. "From Sion (we went) to the Church of St Mary, where is a large body of monks, and countless companies of women, and where beds for the sick can be provided, from three to five thousand. And we offered up prayer in the judgment-hall, where the Lord had hearing, in which is now the Church of S. Sophia. Before the ruins of the Temple of Solomon, under the street, there runs water from the Fountain of Siloam. Near Solomon's porch, in the church itself, is the seat on which Pilate sate, when he heard the Lord. There is a square stone on which the accused was elevated, that He might be heard and seen by all. On it was our Lord raised when He had hearing of Pilate, and there remained an impression of a small, handsome, and delicate foot. By the rock itself, too, many miracles are wrought: they take the measure of the foot-print, and tie it over a weak part, which is immediately healed." (Anton. Placent. Itin. Sect. 23 in Ugolini, Thes. Tom. VII. page 1216.)
Note XXXV. In the year 1118 Hugues de Payens, and Geoffroid de St Aldemar, and certain other knights, applied for a rule for the formation of an order. In 1128 the Pope Honorius gave them a charter, which was adopted at the Council of Troyes in Champagne. The members of this order took the name of Templars, and wore a white robe with a red cross. Their name was derived from their having their first house close to the temple, for King Baldwin had given up to them a part of his palace, to the south of the temple. (William of Tyre, Book XII. Chap. 7.)
Note XXXVI. The Mohammedans say that in this place King David, during his life, administered justice in the following way. When he was sitting in judgment, and wished to know if the deponents in their examination were stating what was true, he made a chain descend from heaven, and ordered that each of the two parties who had thus stated their cases should touch it. When one of the parties had told a lie, at his touch a ring fell from the chain, and so the wise king learnt which was in the right. I may be allowed to remark that now the chain no longer descends from heaven, so we may conclude that all the rings have fallen, from its having been too much used.
It is on this same site that David will return to judge the people of Israel at the final judgment.
Note XXXVII. The keeper of the mosque relates, that when Solomon wished to build a Temple to the Lord, he called not only men to his aid, but also the living creatures of the earth. All came together to help him with all their power; but the magpie sought to disobey Solomon, whereupon the great King turned it into stone, to be an example to all those who were disposed not to execute his orders. This is the stone that the keeper shews.