Oak Island The Adventure Begins

By R.P. Deiss

My name is Henry Sinclair, Baron of Roslin, Lord Chief Justice of Scotland and Admiral of the Seas. I also held the titles of Earl of Orkney and Lord of Shetland and master of Roslin Castle. The king of Norway invested me as Jarl of the Orkneys ranking next to the Roy house before all the Scandinavian nobility. I am both of Scottish and Norwegian nobility. I lived between the years 1345 and 1400 but live I did! I had a full robust life filled with adventure and daring! I lived more in my fifty-five years than any fifty men such as you!

My greatest secret is that I was the grandmaster of the Knights Templar. I, and I alone, held the secret of where the wealth of the Knights Templar was secreted so the king of France and the Pope could never find it after their treachery ended the lives of most of my brothers, decades before my birth.

My greatest adventure was moving this treasure and the religious artifacts that were hidden under their noses out of Europe and to the new world where it would be forever out of their reach. Your Oak Island became their new home. I learned of the new world from my Scandinavian relatives, the Vikings. I will tell you this great adventure from beyond the grave. From when we amassed the treasure, during the second Crusade, when we held the Temple Mount in Jerusalem for eleven years, until the tale’s end in the year of our lord, 1386. Join me now on the greatest adventure and mystery ever, the Oak Island mystery.

• Language: English
• Publisher: R.P. Deiss
• Release date: Jan 23, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463014585

R.P. Deiss

Hi, I'm a 54 year old Wisconsinite. I served in the Navy during the closing days of Vietnam as part of Operation Frequent Wind. I held a top secret clearance as a radioman. I honed my typing skills on the keyboard of a teletype while serving my country. I'm a 3 term commander of our American Legion Post and designer of our Veterans Memorial. I spent 19 years in the Boy Scout program including 8 years as scoutmaster and helped 11 boys reach Eagle Scout. I also did 11 years as committee chairman. I've written and given many speeches on Veteran issues. . I live in Northeast Wisconsin with my wife Darlene, I have two grown step daughters and six grand kids. I found that i have an insatiable love of writing. I did the first draft of Dead Men's Isle in three weeks. I also did a thriller called Copperhead which will be coming out in february and am now doing s sequal to Dead Men's Isle. I have now written a total of 5 books for your enjoyment. I hope that I can bring you into the pages of my books for a journey that will transport you on an adventure of a lifetime!

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

Like those who are currently searching for the hidden treasure on Oak Island I too read the now famous Readers Digest story about Oak Island back in the late sixties. I was a twelve-year-old boy helping my dad do his laundry in a laundromat in a small northeastern Wisconsin town. I too was fascinated by the stories of hidden riches and dreamt often of being the one to find the treasures that I know are hidden there. I’ve read every story that I’ve happened across over the last fifty years on Oak Island with a thirst and fascination I couldn’t quench. In this introduction, I’ll explain what I feel the chain of events were and why.

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PIRATE TREASURE!

I think the narrative that there is pirate treasure buried on Oak Island is not possible, let me explain my reasoning. It would have taken many months, probably years to create the money pit and the system of flood tunnels known to exist on the island using nothing but hand tools. Pirates weren’t known as being mining engineers capable of creating such a system. John Cabot was along the northern part of the Atlantic coast as early as 1497. In 1534 Jacques Carter sailed the St. Lawrence River. In other words, Europeans were in the area traveling and living before the time pirates would have been operating in the area. Even if pirates could have avoided detection from the new settlers they wouldn’t have avoided detection from the local tribes living in the area. A project that would have taken years to complete would have been noticed. Captain Kidd died in 1701, death by hanging. So, if Captain Kidd was the creator of the Money Pit it would have had to of been the late 1600s. Well after settlers were in the area. Indian lore would have told about the event. The sands of time wouldn’t have had time to dim the event from the memories of the peoples of the area.

THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR!

I instead believe it is the treasure of the Knights Templar. It is known to be a vast fortune far and away more than any group of pirates could have amassed. The treasure was secreted to Oak Island in the mid to late thirteen hundreds, by none other than Henry Sinclair. The reason it was moved to Oak Island was to prevent the King of France and the catholic church from getting their hands on it. The treachery against the Knights Templar shown by the King of France and the Pope created a situation where the Knights Templar would have kept it out of their hands using their last breath if necessary. This would have happened more than a hundred years before any Europeans were living in the area, before the time of Columbus and nearly three hundred years before pirates could have done it. More than enough time for the events to dim from the minds of the tribes populating the area. The event happened after the fall of the Knights Templar in France. The history of the Knights Templar as told in this book is accurate and factual. The names of the kings and popes and their times of reign are factual. Many of the Knights Templar named in this book are real but not all. I have of course sensationalized the telling of this story to make it a more enjoyable read after all it is a historical novel. No one living today is named in this book. Anyone whose names appear here is a mere coincidence. Some of the language used isn’t used anymore. It is my interpretation of how they spoke seven hundred years ago. Now sit back and enjoy as I try to bring perhaps the greatest adventure ever lived to life!

R. P. Deiss

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Chapter One

So, you want to learn about the mystery of Oak Island. We called it the Isles of Oak when we first discovered it. But I’m getting ahead of myself. We must start the story from the beginning.

My name is Henry Sinclair, Baron of Roslin, lord Chief Justice of Scotland and Admiral of the Seas. I also held the titles of Earl of Orkney and lord of Shetland and master of Roslin castle. The King of Norway invested me as Jarl of the Orkneys ranking next to the Roy house before all the Scandinavian nobility. I was both of Scottish and Norwegian nobility. I lived between the years of 1345 and 1400. I died as I lived, by the sword protecting my castle. It was a savage, brutal time in the history of mankind. You may say I was a man of only fifty-five years of age when I perished. But it is considered a long life in the middle ages, and how I lived! I had a full robust life filled with adventure! I lived more in my fifty-five years than any fifty men such as yourselves!

I’ve commanded fleets of ships and led armies of men into battle. I dare any man to say he has done as much! I belonged to a secret organization called the Knights Templar. For those who don’t know, the Knights Templar were once a large, mighty organization of devout Christians who were originally called Soldier of Christ and the Temple of Solomon. By the year 1315 we as an organization had to go into hiding because of the greed of kings and popes. Because of this greed I orchestrated and created the greatest mystery in human history and because of this mystery, led one of the greatest adventures known to mankind.

We had the endorsement of the Catholic Church and support from Bernard of Clairvaux, a prominent French abbot in the beginning when we came to be. He helped to bolster our growth. Pope Innocent II issued a Papal Bull decreeing that we were exempt from paying taxes, permitted to build our own oratories and held to no one’s authority except the popes.

You have enough information now for us to start our adventure. We travel now back before my time on this earth to the second crusade and the beginning of this adventure.

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PART ONE OF OUR ADVENTURE

Chapter Two

Boom, boom, boom the walking drum’s rhythmic beat resounded up and down the line of travelers as we made our way to the holy land. Knights Templar were mounted on their steeds while serfs walked and led the carts of supplies needed for the journey. With us were travelers afraid to travel alone. Travelers were known to be robbed and killed often when traveling to the holy lands.

This is the beginning of the second crusade, the year of our Lord is 1147. Our duty to the pope is to safe guard the travelers that travel along this dangerous route. Also, we are tasked to locate and confiscate any religious artifacts that we can unearth, along with other riches. We are a formidable army of over three hundred Knights Templar of the first order wearing our white surcoats with red crosses, along with Templar sergeants and squires. Our final destination on this journey is Jerusalem and the Temple Mount.

I am Geoffrey Bison, leader of this expedition into the holy lands. I sat my steed looking all about me for any threats that may be hidden from sight. Sir Payne, we must be nearing our destination. I feel it should only be one or two more days of travel.

I agree, do we need to fear resistance once we reach Jerusalem? Sir Payne questioned me.

We are dealing with Muslim fighters. There are none fiercer to face. It’s much more difficult to do battle with an enemy who doesn’t care if he lives or dies. They will battle us for every inch of ground I fear. But the French and Germans have much larger forces than we do, I answered.

With the sergeants and squires, we can muster an army of five hundred and fifty. Will that be enough to keep us from being overrun? Sir Payne asked.

I kept my eyes scanning the rocky hills around me. We will let the French and Germans take on the brunt of the battle. Our main goal is to capture and take over the Temple Mount. It is our mission to recover any treasure and religious artifacts we can unearth there. While the French and Germans are battling the Muslims main forces we will do battle and capture the Temple Mount. Once we have established our goal we will aid the others if necessary, I thought out aloud for Sir Payne to hear.

Why haven’t we spotted the other armies yet? We have been on this journey for weeks, Sir Payne asked while looking around as I was.

Both armies left from different cities. They should be a day or so ahead of us. We must hope that they haven’t engaged the enemy before we get there. We can’t travel any faster than we are or we’d out distance our supply train and leave them venerable to attack if they were left unguarded. It’s getting late, I see a large flat open area up ahead near the river. We’ll camp there for the night. Have the cooks start fires for the evening meal and post pickets to protect our perimeter from attack, I ordered.

Sir Payne reined his horse around and went galloping down our line of travel shouting orders to the legion of travelers. Probably late tomorrow we would come within sight of Jerusalem, holiest of cities. Jesus’s brother James had been the first bishop of the Jerusalem Church. To me you couldn’t get any more sacred than that. The brother of Jesus Christ once was a bishop here. We are the Knights Templar Christian warriors of the church!

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Chapter Three

I awoke to the sounds and smells of an active camp. The smell of the smoke from the cook fires was in the air. The rattle and clank of the cooks preparing the morning meal. I walked down to the river and splashed water on my face and then relieved myself in the bushes before heading back to camp.

I walked to the nearest cook fire and got my plate of food and cup of water. Sir Payne was standing nearby eating his food so I walked over to talk to him about the day’s activities.

Sir Payne, I have an important mission for you this day, I said as my morning greeting.

Sir Geoffrey, Payne nodded at me while shoveling his stew into his mouth with his spoon. What is the mission you wish me to handle?

After our morning meal, I want you to hand pick twenty men to travel with you. You are to hurry on ahead of our column and locate Jerusalem. Once you do I want you to find out if our other forces are in the area and if they’ve engaged the Muslim forces as of yet, I explained.

Do you think we are that near to Jerusalem? When last, we talked we weren’t certain of its location as of yet, Payne reminded me.

I had time once I made my bed to think about it and how many days travel it was said to be from the last river we crossed. I feel it is nearer than I first thought it to be, I said between bites of my own stew.

So, you think my advance party will come in contact with the city this day Sir Geoffrey? Payne asked in surprise.

I think there is a good chance of it. I fear stumbling onto it unprepared. Just to make sure, take a day’s rations with you if by chance you don’t reach it today before darkness falls upon you.

I am at your command Sir Geoffrey, Payne said bringing his fist across his body and striking his left breast.

It’s best if you go dressed for battle just in case you happen onto a hostile force. Take along two serfs to do your cooking if you need to stop for the night, I told him.

Payne hurried away to pick the men he wanted to travel with him on the mission. Soon he was mounted on his steed. The white surcoat with red cross on his chest boldly displayed, the unmistakable sign of the Knights Templar. He wore his sword on his side, knife in his belt and held a lance. He had decided to not wear his chain mail, known as hauberk because of its weight. They were a sight as they traveled past me, lances held vertically, banners streaming and horses held to a lively gait.

I went in search of Sir Rossal to take over Payne’s duties while he was away on his important mission. The camp was active as it was breaking down and packed for the day’s travel. We had been on the road for a long time and had gotten into a daily routine that made camp set-up and break-down fast and easy.

Spotting Sir Rossal attending to his horse I walked over to him to explain his duties for the day. Sir Rossal, take over Sir Payne’s duties until he returns. Get the caravan moving out. Post guards ahead, behind and off to the sides of our column to warn us of approaching forces.

How long will Sir Payne be away on his mission? Rossal asked me.

I sent him in search of Jerusalem, I feel it is close by. He should be gone no longer than two days if my feelings are correct, I informed him.

I am at your command my leader, Rossal said making the same motion with his fist that Payne had done earlier.

I silently slapped his shoulder in recognition before turning away to make ready my own mount. There were serfs tasked with caring for the livestock. All the steeds and work animals had been led down to the river to be watered this morning. During the night, they had been guarded while they ate their fill of the rich vegetation that grew within sight of the river. They were fed, rested and ready for the day’s travel. We would continue to travel with the river in sight for its resources.

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Chapter Four

Sir Payne led his party towards the holy land at a brisk ground eating trot. His mission was clear. Locate Jerusalem and assess the situation before returning to report his findings. He kept his party’s pace at a trot and not a gallop to keep his horses from tiring too quickly.

He felt alive! He was heading towards a possible battle. This was what he lived for. He felt the early morning heat and the breeze from his rapid travel on his face. He looked behind him to make sure the mounted serfs weren’t falling behind. They weren’t used to being mounted. He could see the flashes of light bouncing off of the helmets of the knights that were following behind him and slowed to a stop.

Remove your helmets and wrap them in your capes. The sun flashing off of them will bring our enemy to us from far and wide. Tie them behind you on your steeds. We won’t wear them unless we have to enter into battle, Sir Payne ordered his command before following his own instructions.

Spinning his steed around he once again led his force towards Jerusalem. The road was well worn and easy to travel. He could hear the din of battle before he topped the last hill several hours later. Before him a mile’s distance he could see smoke climbing above the ancient city. The French and German forces had attacked without waiting for their arrival. To him it felt fool hardy to attack without having all of your forces in place. But circumstances may have forced them into battle before they wanted it to start.

Payne turned and faced his small force. We’ve found out what we needed to find out. We need to get back to our main force and warn them of the battle and the closeness of Jerusalem, Payne said as he put his horse into a gallop, not waiting for any reply from his men. By late afternoon he was expecting to be in battle with the enemy. Haste was of the utmost importance and the horses wouldn’t be spared on their return trip to the main force.

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Chapter Five

I could see dust rising in the distance. That meant riders were traveling in our direction. We didn’t know if they were friend or foe. Payne and his hand-picked men had left less than six hours ago, the sun was just overhead.

Sir Rossal, move our supply train and our paid travelers down into the trees along the river. Take half of the sergeants with you to guard our supplies. The rest of you put on your battle wear and follow me! I said as I donned my chain mail tunic and helmet.

We galloped towards the approaching threat. I didn’t think it could be our men returning so soon. Ahead the road went between two hills making it a good ambush point. I pointed to the left with my sword, half of you hide behind the hill on that side of the road. The other half come with me to this side. Stay back far enough so you won’t be spotted as they pass between the hills, I ordered my knights.

Half an hour later I could hear the approaching horse’s hooves striking the road as they galloped our way. Be ready men, attack when you see me attack.

They were very close now, just beyond the hill. The group spilled out between the hills and kept going having not spotted us. Payne! I yelled out, seeing it was our returning men. The men reined in at my yell and we moved out from behind the hill to join them.

Their horses were blowing hard from the long, hard run that Payne had put them thru as he hurried back to warn us of our nearness to Jerusalem.

Sir Geoffrey, Jerusalem is only three hours journey from here! The French and Germans have already started the attack! he reported excitedly.

They went on the attack without our support, I said in surprise.

Yes, my commander, we talked of this also. We think the only explanation for their early attack is that they must have been spotted. If they didn’t attack they would have lost the element of surprise, Payne explained.

Come, let’s prepare for the coming battle! I said as I put my steed into a gallop as I headed to the concealed supply train by the river.

Sir Payne your steeds are all lathered up. Exchange them for fresh mounts from those staying here to protect the supply train. Sir Rossal, I want you to take command of the supply train. Keep fifty sergeants here to protect it from attack. The rest of the sergeants, the squires and all of the Knights will join me in battle. Prepare for a bloody battle! Every man is to wear his chain mail armor and battle helmet. Pick out your best weapons and get mounted up, I yelled out over the din of the excited camp preparing for battle.

Sir Rossal, if you don’t hear from us in three days’ time then we must have been over run. In that case you are to return to France, all will have been lost, I ordered.

Sir Geoffrey, let me send along one of my sergeants to stay well outside of Jerusalem to watch the battle unfold. If he sees the enemy leaving in our direction he will have time to give us a little bit of a warning before they are upon us, Rossal explained to me.

I nodded my head Well thought out, send your man along, I said approvingly.

Rossal turned to one of his men and gave the order. If you see no movement in our direction, either friend or foe in three days’ time, you are to return here. We will figure all is loss and return to France, Rossal instructed his man.

Mount up! I yelled out as I swung my leg over my mount dressed in full battle regalia. We galloped off to do battle. More than four hundred men strong.

We reached the point where Payne had watched the battle in Jerusalem from. I could see that the report Payne had given was true. The battle was raging before us. From this distant spot, I couldn’t tell who was winning. The Temple Mount was plain to see in the distance. It was by far the largest structure in the ancient city.

Gather around men! I yelled to be heard. This is how we are going to attack. Our main objective is to capture the Temple Mount for the pope, I will lead the attack. We are going to act as a wedge and pierce whatever defenses we run into. By doing so we will split the enemy in half and divide them. Keep going straight to the Temple Mount. Once it is captured we will turn and face the enemy ranks that we had broken thru. I don’t expect much resistance from inside the temple, it being a holy place of worship. We’ll send a small detachment into the temple to secure it as the rest of us face the threat we’d just pushed thru. Are you ready for battle men? I shouted while holding my lance above my head.

The shouts from more than four hundred throats echoed off the hills. Attack! I yelled as my steed reared up pawing the air before heading on a bee line for the Temple Mount.

As I entered the city I could see bodies lying about, both European and Muslim. From the bodies, I could see I couldn’t determine who was winning the battle. I spotted my first two enemy fighters in front of me. At a full gallop, I lowered my lance and pierced the chest of the first one while my steed struck the second, slamming him into a brick wall where he slid down either unconscious or dead. My lance was stuck in the chest of my first victim and wouldn’t pull free. I released my grip on it and drew my sword as a third man attacked me. I slammed my blade down onto his shoulder slicing half way thru his chest.

My force of over four hundred men swarmed around me then past me taking me for the moment out of the battle. Surprisingly the resistance was less than I expected. I reasoned they were held busy with the first attack by the French and Germans.

I pushed my steed ahead into my group of fighters trying to reach the front of the battle again. The group was closely packed and getting thru them on the narrow street was proving difficult. I dug my heels into my horse’s sides trying to coax him on faster but he was hitting a solid wall of horse flesh. Here and there I saw a downed fighter. We had the advantage being mounted on our steeds. Here and there I saw one of our downed horses or knights but mostly I saw the bodies of our enemy.

Faster than I could imagine we were at the foot of the Temple Mount. Sir Payne, take two dozen fighting men and enter the mount and overpower it! The rest of you join me in finishing off the enemy we passed thru. I yelled out, my sword held high, the blood running down the blade and onto my gauntlet.

We turned and charged back in the direction we’d just come from. This time we spread out and in units of a dozen or more went down individual streets. As narrow as the streets were a dozen men were enough. We ran into small groups of Muslim fighters here and there but again I reasoned that most of them were battling the main force.

You! I pointed with my sword to a sergeant, Take your band of men and tend to our wounded. Search the streets for any downed fighters and move them into the Temple Mount, I ordered the man.

After a first day tally we had twelve men killed and another seven wounded. I thought to myself for the first day our losses were far less severe than I had expected. I felt fortunate to have come thru the battle with such light losses. I came upon the first man that I had slain and dismounted my horse. Putting my boot onto his chest I was able to extract my lance with a loud sucking sound as it pulled free from his blood-filled chest. Tomorrow as we joined the main battle things might change for the worse.

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Chapter Six

A messenger, a messenger from the French forces has arrived! A voice I didn’t recognize shouted from the front of the Temple Mount.

I hurried over to where the shout had come from expecting important news of the battle that was being fought by our allies.

Messenger come here, I yelled motioning him to me. Report to me, I ordered him.

The king will be pleased that you have captured the temple. I have a message for you from the king. The rest of Jerusalem has been captured. But you must watch for marauding bands outside of the city, the messenger informed me.

Give the king our greetings. Tell him the Temple Mount and the section of the city around it is secure. We intend to operate from the temple itself on the pope’s orders, I informed him.

I will pass on your message. I’m sure he will be pleased, the messenger said as he turned his horse and hurried back in the direction of the French and German armies.

Sir Payne, send a force of forty fighters back to our supply train and bring them into the city. It will be safer for them here now than in the trees by the river, I ordered him.

Right away Sir Geoffrey, he said, walking away.

Sir Gondamer, post guards in a radius around the temple. Post them in groups of three and have them relieved every four hours. Place them out far enough to give us warning in case of an attack, I ordered my fourth in command.

I will get it done, he replied as he left to get the guards posted.

Once I knew for sure we didn’t have to worry about a counter attack I would bring the guards in closer and just guard the camp at the base of the mount. But for now, I would take no chances.

The next morning our supplies arrived. I ordered the cook fires started. We hadn’t eaten since the morning before. Nothing made a man hungrier than battle. I was famished and I knew all of my men were too. After finally having a meal I ordered a meeting of my commanders to plan our activities here in Jerusalem. My second in command Payne, third in command Rossal and forth in command Gondamer were present.

Our task set before us is daunting, I started out. We are to search for religious relics and hidden treasure. It is believed that vast amounts are stored and hidden right here in the Temple Mount, I explained to my commanders.

Do you know what religious articles we are searching for? Gondamer asked me.

There are several believed to be here including the Ark of the Covenant. They hold the tablets the ten commandments were etched on. The Shamir was said to be able to cut stone and was used to build this temple. It is said to be wrapped in wool and stored in a lead case because of its deadly power. A jeweled breastplate with twelve huge jewels imbedded in it, each jewel is named for one of the 12 tribes of Israel. The rod of Moses which came from the first man, Adam. It is said that Moses could launch deadly plagues by merely touching it in a certain way. The Holy Grail, the cup of Jesus Christ. There is supposed to be wood from the cross Jesus was crucified on hidden here. The menorah might be secreted here it is said to be a gift from God and only the purest olive oil was burned in it. It is said to be made of pure gold. The Spear of Destiny is the spear that pierced the chest of Jesus Christ as he hung on the cross. Two rumors are connected to it. The first is that it is hidden in plain sight somewhere in Jerusalem. The other is it has strange powers, I said listing the items I knew to exist.

I’ve heard of vast hordes of gold hidden inside this temple also, Sir Payne told the group.

There may be many tons of gold here, I agreed. Gold from the Byzantine Empire, treasures of the Egyptian Pharaohs, Gold from the tribes of Israel and Muslim hordes. The value of the religious artifacts alone can’t be comprehended, they are priceless. As far as the gold goes the value could be more than that of any monarchy in the world, I explained to them.

How do we start the search for the treasure? The Temple Mound is a huge structure with a labyrinth of passages and tunnels, Rossal noted.

This is how we’re going to start. I want Both Rossal and Gondamer to take a dozen fighters each and search every religious church, synagogue, temple or mosque in the city. Confiscate any treasure or artifact you happen upon.

Payne, you and I are going to tackle the temple mount. We will use the serfs and sergeants to do the search while the knights and squires are tasked with providing us with security. Go now and get started, this is a daunting task that may take many years, I warned.

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Chapter Seven

And true to Sir Geoffrey’s word it did take years to complete. As the treasures were found they were funneled out of the holy land. Massive amounts of gold were transported out of the holy land along with many artifacts. They were in Jerusalem for eleven years before being pushed back out by the Muslims.

The religious artifacts were originally earmarked to be presented to the pope until the knights happened on a disturbing bit of information that made them no longer trust the church or the pope.

One of the items searched for was the Kabbalah. Finding it had an effect on their Christianity. It was thought the pope wanted this item in particular. One of the things the knights were rumored to have found was proof that the pope was never meant to have absolute power over the church. The pope wanted the knowledge of this to be destroyed at all cost. This formed a distrust, the Knights Templar didn’t think they could trust the pope and the church anymore and didn’t tell the pope of their religious finds, keeping them for themselves.

The Knights Templar became the bankers for travelers to the holy land. They took over Cyprus and used it as a base of operation. They were the bankers of Europe’s nobles. Kings, princes and earls went to them for loans. They built castles and fortresses along trade routes. They owned many ships used for trade. They were the world’s first power brokers. With the coronation of Philip IV, king of France the fortunes of the Knights Templar were doomed.

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Chapter Eight

The grandmaster of the Knights Templar, Jacques de Moray, walked briskly into the throne room of the king of France, Philip IV and knelt down before him.

You wished to see me your highness? Jacques asked with his head bowed in servitude.

Rise oh noble knight, the king instructed with an uplifting motion with his hands. My friends don’t kneel before me.

The grandmaster had been fearing this meeting with the king for months now. But he knew the meeting was inevitable.

I need another loan from the Knights Templar. I am told by my advisors that our treasury is running low once more, the king explained.

Sire, a loan is something you pay back. We’ve loaned you money three years running now with no return payments from you. You have dug deeply into our reserves of gold, Moray told him gently.

The ongoing war with England has cost us greatly. Far more than I ever expected it to. We need the money to continue the campaign, explained King Philip.

I fear my king that you have already borrowed more gold than you can ever repay. The Knights Templar as you know fought in many of the crusades for both France and the pope over the years. We finally learned that peace is sometimes more desirable than war. We had too many knights killed in battle. We fought going all the way back to the second crusade when Sir Geoffrey Bison led us. Mayhaps it’s time for you to forge a peace with the English sire, the grandmaster tried to reason with him.

The French will never bow down to the English. The war will go on as long as they want it to, King Philip said darkly.

The last time you asked me for gold I went back to the Templar council and presented your case for you. I had a lot of trouble getting them to agree with the loan. I was told there would be no more loans to you until we started to receive return payments to show your good faith. So far, we haven’t received a single gold piece sire, Sir Jacques said speaking softly to lessen the blow of the news.

None the less you will bring me the gold I ask for and place it before my feet. I will not take a no for an answer, the king warned darkly.

I will take your message back to the council sire but I wouldn’t hold too much hope of your success, Moray said.

What if I were to sell you a few trade ships? the king asked hopefully changing tact.

I fear that if you turned over the entire French Navy it wouldn’t bring enough to pay off your loans to us. As I said sire you have dug deeply into our reserve of funds. We were never meant to be able to fund wars with other countries, the cost is massive. Mayhaps the English are also deep in debt and longing for peace, Sir Jacques tried to reason.

I will not be the first to bend to the will of the other! King Philip roared standing up with clenched fists.

I ask you sire, even if you win this war, what do you gain? You will never own England. You don’t have the armies to invade them. All you can hope to do is sink more of their ship than they do of yours. At the end of the day you have less ships and an empty treasury. Mayhaps this is your chance to show the English that you’re the bigger man, Moray said, trying to give him a way out.

You are the grandmaster of the Knights Templar. Go back to your council and order them to do my bidding! King Philip thundered.

I will of course pass on your wishes your majesty but in my heart, I fear my request will fall on deaf ears, Sir Jacques said regretfully.

The face of the king had gone still, his face almost black with rage. Hear this oh knight, you tell your so-called Templar council that their actions could have dire consequences for them. Before they decide on this course of action they better give thought to the events they may start into action! The king warned as he ended our meeting.

He watched with narrowed eyes as the grandmaster of the Knights Templar exited his throne room. The knights had gotten much too powerful and could pose a risk to his own reign. If his demands weren’t met he’d have to think about taking much more severe actions against the knights. After all he was the king of France. He wouldn’t be seen begging for gold from the knights. How dare they think they could lord it over him! Who were they to think they could act with impunity!

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Chapter Nine

The grandmaster of the Knights Templar, Jacques de Moray stood before the council of the Knights Templar in his full adornment as the grandmaster.

I have met with King Philip this past month. It did not go well my fellow knights. He demanded gold that I explained to him couldn’t be given. I told him he had already dug deep into our reserve funds for his war with England and we didn’t have any more to give.

How did he receive the news Sir Jacques? Sir Marcel asked the grandmaster with worry plain to hear in his voice.

Not well I am afraid. He ended up threatening our order with veiled threats. I fear we need to take his threats seriously, Jacques warned them.

There were a chorus of mumbling from the assembled council members as they received the news.

What are your plans Jacques? I don’t feel we can repel the might of the French army, Sir Marcel said with more than a little worry.

Jacques nodded his head in agreement. We decided when last we loaned gold to the King of France that it would be the last we would give him. We cannot keep lending him gold with no good will gesture, no attempt to repay the massive loans to him. To not take a stance would be to give him unlimited access to our wealth. Gold that Templar blood has been spilled over, that I cannot allow to happen. It’s time my friends that we stand staunchly and face the king and not cave in to his will, Jacques told the group with resignation.

Heads nodded silently around the council table. How do you plan to thwart his demand for the gold? Sir William asked.

We all know how vast our reserves are. We own more gold, treasures and artifacts than anyone would think possible. Mayhaps we have more gold reserves than all of Europe. The crusades plus our years of being Europe’s bank have made us richer mayhaps than anyone ever. Richer than the Mongols, Pharaohs or Romans, mayhaps as rich as all of them combined. Certainly, our Religious artifacts alone are of such priceless value that no single European monarchy could afford to buy a single one of them. We must take steps to keep them out of the hands of those who would steal them away from us, Jacques told the assembled group.

How do we accomplish that Sir Jacques, Sir Marcel asked with up lifted hands. How do we protect that which is ours?

We will scatter it far and wide. I have been planning for this day for many years. I feared that one day the greed of kings and popes would be a threat to our ways. I have quietly been building sanctuaries for our assembled treasures. I have planned on hiding our artifacts for some time now. That day has arrived my friends. I saw how things were going when King Philip was put into power and feared greatly that the time would soon be upon us, today is that day!

Are you not putting too much into the king’s demands? Are you not over exaggerating what may happen? Sir Pierre asked.

If you would have been with me in the throne room last month you would not be asking me this question. King Philip is not like the last king. The last king was a king of the people, he cared about them. The new king only cares about power and greed, Sir Pierre Jacques explained.

How do you plan on secreting our treasures? Sir Marcel asked. They are vast and will take a huge storage space."

As I was saying I’ve been planning this for years. First of all, only two members of the Knights Templar will know the location of all the treasure and artifacts, here is my reasoning. First of all, we need more than one person to know where all is secreted in case I am killed. Secondly the more who know the more likely the information can be tortured from us. The more who know, the more likely the king will know also. I will not reveal who the second party to know this secret is. Otherwise those who are put to torture will know who to inform the French on. My fellow knights I know you’re shocked that I would think any of you would be an informant to the king. But a man can only withstand being tortured for so long and will eventually confess to anything to make it stop.

I will tell you this much. The vast hordes of gold will be secreted in three separate locations so if part is discovered all is not lost. All three locations have been prepared for several years in the off chance this day would come. The religious artifacts will all be secreted in different locations so no two artifacts are found together. Our trade ships will continue to trade but will be scattered to different seaports to keep them from falling into the king’s hands, I told them.

I looked at the assembled group sitting around the table. I could see the resolution in their demeanor. They knew in their heart of hearts that the threat was real. I wouldn’t be taking such extreme actions without cause. I have already singled out specific individuals as people to safeguard certain items and have spoken to them about it. The transfer of our riches will commence within the next few days. We will keep only enough gold on hand to handle day to day affairs but the vast bulk of our riches will never fall into the king of France’s hands. Of this I give you my sacred oath, my sacred honor and pledge the last drop of my blood my fellow knights," Jacques said solemnly.

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Chapter Ten

I have waited for as long as I plan to. The Knights Templar are not going to bow to my wishes. Now that their prison is complete and ready for them it is time to have them arrested. Have the grandmaster sent to the Tower of Chinon along with the others in their so-called council. The rest can rot in the newly prepared prison at Domme. If the prison isn’t large enough for all kill the youngest ones, the elders will be the ones with the most knowledge, King Philip said darkly.

So, it came to be. Three full years after being denied the gold he demanded he had the Knights Templar arrested in the dead of night. On Friday, October 13 1307 the French military made sweeping raids and captured all of the knights they could locate. They were imprisoned in cold, damp, deplorable conditions and tortured ruthlessly getting many of them to confess to things they were innocent of including heresy, homosexuality, financial corruption, spitting on the cross and devil worshipping among others.