The Knights Templar and Scotland by Robert Ferguson

Author:Robert Ferguson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: The Knights Templar and Scotland
ISBN: 9780752469775
Publisher: The History Press
Published: 2011-09-30T04:00:00+00:00

THE TEMPLARS SAIL TO SCOTLAND

While there is little direct evidence that the Templars sailed from La Rochelle to Scotland, it is known that a number of Templars in Italy fled to Scotland with Peter de Boulogne, the Grand Prelate and Procurator General at the Court of Rome.17 If word got to Italy, it certainly circulated throughout France. Furthermore, the reality of the Templars fleeing from France is evident from the circumstances. With what is now known, there is little question that many of the Templars left France prior to 7 October 1307. They would not sail to England because England, and the Templars there, were closely aligned with Pope Clement V and with King Edward II. And, while King Edward initially refused to arrest the Templars, he did begin the process two months after 13 October 1307.

The evidence of the Templar wealth going to Scotland begins with the French inquisition depositions, which establish that the treasure was taken to the Templar ships from Paris in carts. There is also the prominent legend that between 14 September and 13 October the Templars loaded much of their wealth on barges, and left Paris on the Seine for their port at La Rochelle. Regardless of how the Templars and their treasure got to La Rochelle from Paris, a number of ships sailed south from there to Portugal. Another group, with the remainder of the treasure, sailed for Scotland.

But there are at least two other views as to how, and from where, the Templars left Europe for Scotland. One version has it that the Templars sailed from Aragon.18 This view is propounded by Karen Ralls and is based on a statement by Heinrich Finke that ‘fortified castles, changed goods into gold which could be more easily concealed and, it was suspected, charted a ship in which to make their escape’.19 But the Templars were not significantly prosecuted in Spain. And this refers only to one ship which was chartered, rather than use of the Templar fleet.

Karen Ralls is also in agreement with the authors Alan Butler and Stephen Dafoe, who opine that the escape of a fleet on or near 13 October is illogical as the port would have been guarded and watched by Philip IV’s soldiers.20 But would it have been? The arrest order was under seal. Numerous ships guarding the port would have been very visible and would have alerted the ships’ captains that something was planned. There is no record that Philip IV took any steps to alert anyone of the coming arrests. In fact, Jacques de Molay was honored as a pallbearer at the funeral of Philip IV’s sister in law, Catherine of Valois, on 12 October 1307. So even when both Jacques de Molay and Philip IV knew of the coming arrests, neither of them did anything to alert the other, or anyone else.

There is also the theory concerning the fate of the Templar fleet, as put forth by Alan Butler and Stephen Dafoe.21 They note that after the fall of Acre in 1297, the Templars’ chief enterprises were commerce and banking.

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