Source: “The Lost Colony of the Templars: Verrazano's Secret Mission to America**”,** By Steven Sora, Destiny Books, 2004.
From Scotland To The New World.wav
This podcast explores the compelling theory that Henry Sinclair, a Scottish nobleman linked to the Sinclair clan and possibly the Knights Templar, embarked on an expedition to the New World in the late 14th century, long before Christopher Columbus. It details the historical ties between the Sinclairs and the Templars, suggesting that fleeing knights and their treasure found refuge in Scotland under Sinclair guardianship, influencing his later maritime ventures. The text highlights evidence from the Zeno narrative and map, created by Venetian brothers Nicolo and Antonio Zeno who were allegedly part of Sinclair's voyage, as support for this pre-Columbian discovery of North America, specifically focusing on landings in Nova Scotia.
Topic 1 The sources discuss the fate of the Knights Templar after the attack by Philip IV of France in October 1307. While many knights were captured and tortured, many others, who seemingly had prior warning, fled Paris. A significant portion of the Templar fleet, eighteen ships, reportedly escaped from the port of La Rochelle carrying the contents of the Templar treasury. These sources suggest that these fleeing Templars found refuge in Scotland under the protection of the Sinclair family. Scotland was a favorable location because its king, Robert the Bruce, had recently been excommunicated by the pope, putting the country out of favor with Rome and offering sanctuary from papal and French authority. The relationship between French and Scottish Sinclairs was strong due to intermarriage and political alliances, with Roslin serving as the Sinclair power base outside of France, safe from the French king. Thousands of Templars are said to have made it to Scotland in late 1307. Despite orders from England's Edward II to arrest Templars in Scotland, remarkably few were apprehended, and those who were did not face the harsh torture seen in France. The sources suggest the surviving order constituted a large fighting force. Although the Order was officially dissolved in 1312, and their grand master burned in 1314, the Templars reportedly fought in the historic Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 under a new flag, contributing to the Scottish victory over the English.
Topic 2 The origins and early history of the Sinclair family are detailed, tracing their lineage back to the Norse. They are identified as descendants of Rogenwald of Møre in Norway. Rogenwald's son, Rollo, invaded the Frankish coast around 890, capturing Saint-Lô. After marrying a daughter of the French king, Rollo settled in the territory that later became known as Normandy. The sources explain how Rollo's family adopted a surname, a Norman innovation, becoming the family of St. Clair, later known as Sinclair in English and Scottish. The naming is potentially linked to a local martyr, William, who died near a healing spring or holy well. This well and the person were both named St. Clair, and the name might also have older pagan roots related to "Sin" (moon) and "Clair" (light), interpreted as sacred light, connecting to ancient lunar deities.
Topic 3 The sources describe the rise and growing influence of the Sinclair clan, particularly centered around the Roslin branch in Scotland, which became a major seat of family power. The clan prospered from their base near the Epte River in Normandy after Rollo signed a peace treaty with the French king. Branches of the family were established in prominent locations in France and Normandy. The Sinclairs participated prominently in William the Conqueror's invasion of the British Isles in the eleventh century, featuring in the Battle of Hastings in 1066, though the family was not quick to join the expedition initially. Nine separate branches of the St. Clair family held lands throughout the British Isles. A descendant six generations down from Rollo, also named William Sinclair, established the Roslin branch. He allied closely with King Malcolm III of Scotland and married the daughter of Earl Thorfinn of Orkney. The family developed international connections through intermarriage with Norwegian and French nobility and prominent Scottish families like the Bruce clan. Members of the clan also participated in the Crusades to Jerusalem. The Battle of Bannockburn is mentioned as a significant event where Scottish forces, including Celtic troops, were outnumbered but used strategies like booby-trapped fields and the sudden appearance of a fresh force of armed knights, identified as English and French ex-Templars, to secure victory.
Topic 4 Henry Sinclair is presented as a key figure in the fourteenth century. He inherited the leadership of the clan at a young age and sought to secure its future. In 1379, his efforts resulted in him being granted the earldom he had long awaited, which included the Orkneys and Shetlands. Managing this realm of numerous islands was challenging, providing cover for pirates and smugglers. As Earl, Henry faced complex allegiances: he was a vassal to King Haakon of Norway (who claimed the islands) and also allowed by Scotland's King Robert III to rule in much of Scotland, whose claims overlapped. He also had conflicting loyalties regarding the Dual Papacy of the time, needing to recognize both the Avignon pope (favored by Scotland and France) and the Roman pope (favored by Norway and England). The issue of the Orkney bishopric is highlighted, noting the wealth and practices of bishops in this era; Bishop William in the Orkneys invalidated many marriages and seized lands, leading the islanders to kill him, a situation Henry chose not to intervene in.
Topic 5 The Zeno brothers, Nicolo and Antonio, are central figures in the narrative concerning exploration. They came from a wealthy Venetian family. Nicolo was inspired by fellow Venetian Marco Polo to travel. His brother Carlo Zeno was a famous naval hero credited with saving Venice at the Battle of Chioggia and whose ships transported crusaders. The sources suggest a prior connection or chance meeting between a Sinclair and Carlo Zeno. Nicolo Zeno's voyage across the North Atlantic nearly ended when he ran aground on Fair Isle (Fer Isle) and was in peril from the local inhabitants, known for taking advantage of shipwrecks. Henry Sinclair dramatically rescued Nicolo Zeno from this predicament. Following his rescue, Nicolo was appointed commander of Henry Sinclair's fleet, possibly because Sinclair valued his battle experience gained on his brother Carlo's fleet. Nicolo later invited his brother Antonio to join him in the northern regions, and Antonio became the captain (admiral) of the fleet. The alliance with the Zenos helped strengthen Henry's fleet, which he used for various purposes, including diplomatic visits and assisting Margaret of Norway against pirates. Both Henry and Nicolo shared noble status and relied on sea power to maintain their influence.
Topic 6 The sources describe the Sinclair-Zeno expedition as a significant voyage westwards. The catalyst for this expedition was reportedly a meeting with a fisherman from Henry Sinclair's island kingdom around 1395. The fisherman recounted being blown off course 26 years earlier with fellow fishermen in four ships, landing about a thousand miles west of "Fris" in a place called Estotiland (roughly corresponding to Newfoundland or Labrador). They met a local chief and people, including one who spoke Latin. They were sent south to another land, Drogio, where they encountered more hostile inhabitants. Their lives were spared after they taught the natives how to use fishing nets effectively. This fisherman's story, suggesting land to the west, particularly interested Henry Sinclair, who was reportedly interested in lands farther south than just the timber prospects of Markland. The expedition, commanded by Nicolo Zeno, departed from the Faeroes. They reportedly visited two islands, Fris and Icaria, which have posed problems for historians in terms of identification. The voyage proceeded west from Greenland, and they determined the route to Estotiland lay in that direction. The sources state they sailed on from what might be Newfoundland and landed in Nova Scotia, reaching Cape Trin and Trin Harbor (identified as modern Guysborough) on June 2, 1398, Trinity Sunday. Upon landing, Sinclair reportedly sent men to survey the area, suggesting a landing party of at least two hundred men. The narrative ends with Henry splitting his fleet, sending Zeno and part of the expedition home while he remained with the rest, intending to found a settlement. The exact duration of Henry's stay and his subsequent fate are debated, with theories placing his return and death in 1400 or 1404.
Topic 7 A notable aspect of the Zeno narrative and early maps is the inclusion of mysterious or legendary islands in the North Atlantic, which the sources discuss. Frisland is one such island depicted on the Zeno map. While its identity is debated (some suggest Iceland, others Fer Isle or the Faeroes), the sources note that Nicolo Zeno mentioned Sinclair owned Fris, which aligns more with islands north of Scotland than Iceland. Another problematic island is Icaria, shown between Iceland and Greenland on Zeno's map. It was reportedly uninhabited by known peoples, with strange-speaking natives encountered by the expedition. Its name might relate to Irish monks who sought refuge on small islands. The sources suggest Icaria may have existed but subsequently sunk, citing Bishop Gisle Oddson's 1342 records of volcanic activity and sinking islands near Iceland. Brasil, or Hy-Brasil, is another such island, appearing on maps west of Ireland from the fourteenth century onwards. Despite being considered legendary by some, the sources present accounts of reported sightings and landings as late as the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and even a documented sighting in 1872 shortly before the British Admiralty removed it from charts. The island of Rockall, near the purported location of Brasil, is also discussed, noting its small size, turbulent history, and disputed ownership, potentially sitting on an oil-rich bank. The difficulty in locating and identifying these islands on modern maps is attributed to the evolving nature of geography in the volcanic North Atlantic, the possibility of misidentification, the use of coded mapmaking by merchants, and challenges in translating place-names across languages and time.
Topic 8 The sources explore the idea of pre-Columbian European knowledge and activity in the North Atlantic and potential lands to the west. Viking voyages and settlements in Greenland and Newfoundland (Vinland) are acknowledged as existing centuries before Columbus. Beyond exploration, the sources highlight early European economic activity, particularly the cod fishing industry. Norwegians were noted masters of this by the twelfth century. Fishing fleets from various nations, including Bristol in England, competed for grounds from the Arctic Sea to the Bay of Biscay. Bristol's activities off Iceland were recorded as early as 1408, and their ships may have fished as far west as the Grand Banks. The sources suggest that fishermen were active in North American waters well before official exploration voyages. Furthermore, the sources discuss the voyage of Nicholas of Lynne in the 1360s, a cleric who reportedly traveled to the North Arctic and possibly as far west as Hudson Bay with Norsemen. Information from his voyages contributed to early maps of North America, depicting a strange new land called Norveca Europa (Norse or North Europe), believed to be derived from Norse names. Early maps like the 1414 DeVirga map showed lands extending west from Norway to the Americas. While these early efforts didn't involve claiming land, they indicate knowledge of western regions before Columbus.
Topic 9 The sources detail the important connection between the Sinclair and Drummond families in Scotland. This alliance was cemented through the marriage of Elizabeth Sinclair, daughter of Henry Sinclair, to John Drummond between 1380 and 1390. This union is seen as perpetuating a handful of elite Scottish families that held dominance from the eleventh century. The Drummonds were a powerful family, closely tied to the Scottish crown, serving the house of Robert the Bruce and the Stewart kings. Through the marriage of Annabella Drummond (sister of John) to King Robert III, Drummond bloodline became part of all succeeding kings of Scotland and England. While some family histories claim a Hungarian origin, the sources suggest it's more likely the Drummonds were a Norman family who, like the Sinclairs, intermarried with Celtic Scots. Malcolm Beg is often cited as the first Drummond, and the clan was rewarded with land, such as the Stobhall estates, for supporting Robert the Bruce. The center of Drummond power settled near Roslin, at Hawthornden Castle. The Drummonds intermarried with other prominent Scottish families and held various titles. The sources also mention an esoteric side to the Drummond clan, referencing Sir William Drummond's interest in ancient knowledge, the zodiac, and biblical interpretations in the eighteenth century, and his contemporary Reverend Robert Taylor's work on pagan influence in Christianity, suggesting a shared esoteric tradition potentially with the Sinclairs.
Topic 10 The sources describe the continuation of the Templars' organization and knowledge under the protection of the Sinclair family, leading to the formation of early Freemasonry. After the dissolution of the Templars as a military order, those in Scotland under Sinclair protection transitioned into other trades. The sources suggest their skills in building trades were particularly utilized. To shelter their existence and provide advantages in their crafts, they were organized into trade guilds, following the model of existing guilds in Europe, some of which traced back to Roman times like the collegia or the Italian Magistri Comacini who taught geometry. The Italian Order of Altopascio (Bridge Builders) is also mentioned as a possible model for chivalric orders and Freemasonry. The Templars had already established lodges (temples) that served as temporary homes. As they became tradesmen, they continued to pledge mutual support for work and shelter within these lodges. It is in this form, according to the sources, that they became the early Freemasons. Later, the Sinclair family was named hereditary guardians of the Freemasons. Given their prior role as guardians and potential saviors of the Templar order, the sources suggest this apparent shift in role actually represented little practical difference, implying a direct continuation of the protected Templar group into the early structure of Freemasonry under Sinclair leadership.