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The first gift of Land to the Templers was due
to the wife of Hugh de Payen, Count de Champagne, Catharine Sinclair. Guillaume
de Tyre a Templer Historian recorded the founding 70 years after the
event. Guillaume gives the founding date as 1118 when the King of
Jerusalem (Baudoin I) younger brother Godfroi de Bouillon announced to the
King of the formation of the Order.
Hugh de Payen and his principal co-founder of
the order, Andre de Montbard, travelled to England to see the King and, having
obtained safe-conduct from him, went directly north across the border to
Scotland, where the two knights stayed at Roslyn with the St Clairs, who were
Hugh's relatives by marriage. The lord of Roslyn made an immediate grant of land
to the new order which became their headquarters in Scotland. The oldest Templar
site in Scotland, once known as Ballontrodoch, is now called Temple after the
order.
Philippe le Bel (Philip the Fair 1268-1314)
attacked the Order because he owed money and could not pay..indeed it was Friday
the 13th.
The well respected American Thomas Jefferson once wrote
"how boring to be able to spell a word only one way"
Scots-Wha-Hey is perfectly understandable.
add an A to Prentice however your comments are welcome could
you do something about this colour?
Sinclair
Dear Jean
Sinead
As the page is relatively quiet, if I have
offended any delicate souls, I humbly appologize.
The two places relevant to this discussion are
Rosslyn Chapel and Rosslyn Castle. The following is a little recorded
history:
Rosslyn Chapel
This landmark is in Roslin, Scotland. It
was built in 1446 by William Sinclair (1410-1484). Because of its
elaborate stone carvings, this is often called a "Bible in
Stone." The most well known carving is the "Prentice
Pillar". Other carvings depict Templar secrets and the Green Man
traditions. Several other Sinclairs are burried within this chapel,
fully clad in their suits of armor.
Rosslyn Castle
Located in Roslin, 9 miles south of Edinburgh,
2 miles east of Roslin village at the end of B7006, Scotland. the
entrance is over a bridge and through a gate. Around the courtyard are
several buildings, including the guard house, tower, great hall, dining
hall, kitchens, chambers, ikeep, and Old Chapel. This impressive,
5-story castle has been the home of Sinclairs from 1070 to the present
day. (NOTE: Rosslyn Castle is considered "home" to the
mysterious order of Knights Templar. The Knights Templar had their
origins in a small band of crusader knights who took upon themselves the
task of keeping the Holy Land's roads safe and secure during the
Crusades. Formed about 1115 by Hugh de Payens of Burgundy and eight
other knights, the small band quickly won the favor of King Baldwin II of
Jerusalem. After being granted the right to use part of the old Temple
of Solomon as their headquarters, the Poor Knights of Christ began to be
called Templars. Sinclair knights in the Crusades were amoung the
early members of this mysterious organization.
Friday the 13th - The arrest of the
Templars
(Last section of "The arrest of the
Templars".)
Within hours almost every Templar had been
arrested in France but it appears Philips secretive plan was not as
effective as he had hoped. There is evidence that members of the Order
either suspected the actions of Philip or were tipped off about the
arrests. Days before Jaques de Molay had recalled many of the Orders
books and rules and had them destoryed, in addition a note was circulated to
all the French Preceptories outlining that no information regarding the
Order was told by the treasurer that he was extremely wise as a terrible
catastophe was imminent. In any case many Knights connected in some
way to the Orders treasury managed to elude Philips men, as did nuch of the
treasure being smuggled by wagons to the Orders naval base at La Rochelle
where it was loaded onto 18 galleys. The galleys set sail hours before
the arrests never to be seen again. They certainly escaped Philips
cluches as there are no records of any Templar ships being taken by
him. Strong evidence suggests that many escaped to Scotland and
the treasure never to be seen again. For those brothers who were not
so lucky a horrible fate awaited them - interrogation and torture at the
hands of the Inquisition.
Donald H. Sinclair
(Just a short note from Donald H. Sinclair's
daughter - Cindy
Just for the record, my Grandfather greeted a
fellow Scottsman by the name of Archie Cameron by bellowing
"Scotts-Wha-Hey" Sorry Rory, if the spelling is not in the
traditional "Galic" format!)
Cindy Woodsin
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