The project  final -  now 54,275  words and was extremely exciting to write, the research has been scarey and controversial,  but thats what author's do,  challenge convention blend fact and fiction  without antagonising the powers that be.  A.D.Doyle

will evolve  around the journey of the Temple Unicorn, a marine galley vessel that sails from Dei- Donum -  Dundee to the Holy Land.

FEEDBACK

Dear Andrew: I have always been interested in the Knights Templar and was delighted to find a book which provided more information about it as well as a story centered on this fascinating, deeply mysterious group. I'd rather not try to figure out what is fact and what is fiction in your book .... smile...as I'd like to just believe it all is true (I'm a romanticist). Anyhoo, it looks like your book is really taking off! I'm glad as you are a talented young writer with a lot to offer. Wouldn't it be lovely if your book was made into a movie? If so, I'll be the first to watch it!Blessings on you and your work! Here's prayers for great success! Pat

Andrew,I've just started reading "The Circle of Swords" which to my delight, features Hugues de Payen and the formation of the Knights Templar. The exposition is clear and uncluttered, therefore easy to follow through the events , dates, players and backdrops unearthed by extensive research. Thank you for the excellent read which constitutes spring water to my thirst for books of this nature.Kenneth Edward LimThe North Korean

Dear Andy, Here I am at your 4th book & am again totally amazed at all of your research of history. :) I love that you tell about the Knights of Templar, even an enigma in the 21st Century & up to 1307 where the fleet vanished to & about the 9 knight which were the founding fathers & The Temple Unicorn" voyage with the holiest of artifacts which or God's signature pieces, as your pitch portrays. :) Your story is outstanding. :) I love that your have "The Lord's Prayer" in Latin & original translations. :) I smiled ear to ear. :) I took Latin in high school in '56 & '57, to 5 Romance languages, even. :) Now, is there a 5th book come out? :) Love, Susie :) p.s. please back my memoirs/testimony book to help me not lose traction of the top 5 on the editor's desk. :) Thk you so very much. :)

Andew-Love your KT book. I'm giving it 6 stars, but am forewarning you that many will be put off by your extensive research. I believe that the KTs that escaped from France while the Pope and King Phillip were executing them wound up in Scotland and formed another secret society, of course called the Freemasons (my book 33). Terrific and accurate portrayal. This should be published.

 

Hello Andrew:This is a fascinating read, especially for history geeks like myself. There is an extensive amount of editing which needs to be done to clean up punctuation errors, run on sentences and such; but this book has great potential and is well-timed to the current interest in the topic.Keep it up!James

 

 

The above 'Original' letters both  signed by   James Grahame,  Marquis of Montrose addressing parliament in 1783, and  'Original' signed  letter dated 1740 David Ogilvy and Duncan Stuart witnessed by Sheriff Of Forfar  indenture for lands in Forfar.

The story is an account of the voyages of the Temple Unicorn as it sails from Scotland to the Holy Land and back, only on her route back she is endowed with the holy relics from Kings Solomons Temple and the spoils from what remained after the battle of Hattin.

The Author:

Andrew David Doyle

DRAFT  UNEDITED  MANUSCRIPT TO  WHET YOUR APPETITE 

The Circle of Swords

‘The Voyage of  the Temple Unicorn’.

The Order Today

The Grand Priory of Scotland is a component unit of the Order of the Knights Templar, a Sovereign International organisation whose existence dates back to the first years of the 12^th century.  Today the Order has almost five thousand members in over forty-five countries and regularly undertakes works of charity and support to those in  need.

‘Ordre  Souverain  et  Militaire du Temple de Jerusalem’

About the author

Andrew David Doyle was educated in Dundee, Scotland,  he then sustained a successful Military career of 15 years, then embarked into the commercial world of hydrocarbon exploitation 

Andrew is currently studying for his Bachelor’s  Degree in Management an has  become a member of the Society of Authors.

Andrew David Doyle 

The author has taken deliberate steps to ensure that the freedom of speech  in a democracy is applied, especially, detail regarding such sensitive subject matter facilitating   a single POV – point of view from the author, presented with  an outpouring of information  sufficiently explicit enough to present a mixture of fact and conjecture providing an enchanting tale for the reader.

Chapter One             The ‘Novus’ Conclave –  opening storyline.

Hugues De Payen  took a few deliberate steps across the open square of the small village,  he began  drawing  his sword  then took a single deep breath and waited for a convenient juncture before sinking the heavy steel deep into the chest cavity of the now not so brave and cowardly squealing rapist..

The shock look of  horror on the face of the perpetrator coupled with the presence of a  cold fear lasting no longer than five quick seconds  before the perverted deviant realised he had been ‘run through’ with a two  foot long  cold  blade constructed from  the best Damascus steel.  A strike that had been delivered  swiftly and cleanly by a new enemy from within the  sandy walls of Acre,   the  ‘Templar.’

De Payen paused for reflection and captured the moment as a snapshot  in his minds eye,  momentarily committing yet another soul to what was becoming quite a library of death by his physical intervention on behalf of Christendom, having only a few minutes earlier  was witnessing  his victim’s active participation  in a diabolical act of gang rape and theft  towards a young  woman barely in her teens.

The girl in this case  the victim who would have  certainly been left her for dead if it had not been for the gang being disturbed by the sound of horse hooves nearby, and by the gang’s arrogance or ignorance they would end up leaving the  poor girl  traumatised distressed and often pregnant and left disoriented in her own world destined to become an outcast.

The Knight had already dispensed his understanding of balance of power and justice towards two other offenders of the gang who lay not too far away from the girl  with similar mortal wounds, both wallowing  in pools of their own blood.

His interpretation of Augustine rule, often brought on by his self imposed guilt,  in an effort  as to question himself   in  determining  how far does a  pseudo Monk and soldier extend his capabilities in protecting those unfortunates.   

The authority to deliver justice on behalf of those who are more vulnerable or exposed to tyranny within this turbulent society, a self imposed rule to keep order outwith the failing laws of the land. After yet another brief lapse in time he concluded the ultimate price of death in this case does indeed deliver justice on behalf of the urchin.

A single voice ran out from behind Andre’ Montbard.  ‘There were two more over on  the  far side of the water well,  I have since sent them to meet their maker.’ The voice was deep and commanding yet the tone sounded  humorous  and  almost rehearsed. 

Godfroi  de St Omer  stood with his sword across his left shoulder,  trickles of  fresh  warm red blood  slowly dripped into the soft sand and  had already stained his tinted armour. ‘Godfroi!  there   you are,   we were getting worried about, thought you might have got lost in the stables or something.’ remarked Andre’.

De Payen stood and stared into the dark recess beyond the makeshift wooden table, he was not ignorant to the fact that certain elements of the Muslim community were habitually attacking pilgrimage parties, easy pray for the many thieves and vagabonds targeting the many visitors who were in transit within the lands of promise.

Such was the nature of these attacks that  the sporadic skirmishes were leaving  many follower’s of Christ either, dead by the roadside or potentially dying of thirst  having  suffered horrendous injury or  just had fallen victim  to  the sun’s relentless rays.

‘He was becoming  more concerned by the  increasing numbers  of pilgrims  who were leaving middle Europe since the capture of Jerusalem in 1099 especially  as the results  had been so widely reported that all endeavours were extremely successful and that the lands were deemed a safer place to visit.

The powers that be  were promoting the upkeep of the foreign lands in an effort to increase and secure further finance from the landed gentry, but he knew deep down there was turmoil across the Holy Land, global communications  was sparking greater interest towards the lands of Christ and careful attention was required especially if it was to reduce further bloodshed.

Hugues turned to Montbard.  ‘We are not getting any younger you know that’s for sure,  my muscles  are  torn and my old bones are sore, the  psychological scars of Christendom are taking their overwhelming toll on my poor physical frame my friend, maybe we should ask our sons and nephews to join our warring efforts,  we could do with some reinforcements,

I  hear somewhere that the Cistercian order have drawn a limit to what  age groups they will  allow to take up arms  and fight for the military,  I mean,  how mad is that,  how can we possibly build up our defences if we don’t have them young enough to train,  and  of course  I do understand that we are seen as cold hearted mercenaries, and that might not help.

Does it really show that we have no shame or display any real allegiance to any single country, or am I the only cynical bastard that thinks -  that  in the eyes of the external world we are pieces of dog shit  trudging in the sands of Jerusalem for an intangible belief,  when in my heart I know why I protect the belief of Christ, it’s in my blood.

He nudged the desk leg. ‘How old is your young nephew Bernard now anyway Andre?  He asked.  ‘If I recall last time we met he appeared to be a sturdy young ox if I remember correctly, I last heard good things about him, becoming an eminent scholar and a man of reasonable standing, he could be useful to us in the future,  especially  as he has strong links to the papal office. ‘

 Montbard  wiped his goatie beard.  ‘He is too wrapped up in bloody politics  to get involved with the like of us I am afraid,  apparently too busy  to come and wield  a sword,   too high and mighty to fraternise or mix pleasures  with underlings,  well with the likes of you Godfroi,  I   don’t think he could tolerate all your moaning,  and groaning hahaha  he said,  placing his fingers in his ears.  ‘I think he must be in his early twenties now.’ He remarked then smiled again.

Godfroi cleaned off the excess blood from his sword and faced the two straight on. ‘I hear they indulge in  red and white   ‘validus vinum’, and in huge amounts of it too, we could entice these recruits away from their miserable landlords by offering them solace or even forgiveness whilst working for your ethereal king, and of course help them consume their vast wine cellars and smoke their plants in their heated water fountains.’

 Extract:

Oh yes  wine  and  shisha  what a  wonderful relaxant, but don’t get too upset when you wake up with a cold steel dagger across your throat my friend.’ Remarked Hugues  pointing  and pretending to slit his own throat.  ‘Especially as you float in vile exultation from a self imposed unearthly stupor, and, that’s exactly my point,  we can become very vulnerable if we are not careful, and  that’s exactly what I mean when I say we need to build a close knit team, a group where we can actually have that ‘utopia’ without the fear of any surprises.

Acre will provide us a solid training ground and good defence,  these closed walls can easily be defended by just a few good men,  well for now anyway, so what we need is a solid team to protect it,  and we can become an entity much removed  from city life and far  away from prying eyes and ears and most certainly away from the Temple until we get settled.

Extract:

‘For the past five years I have seen many sad and unnecessary deaths, rapes,  murder, deceit, dismemberment, horrific acts of torture and  injustice  coupled with corruption beyond corruption, I suppose I just hang around to see what happens next.’ Godfroi was nodding in agreement. ‘I have watched you Hugues, you struggle to find order amongst this ever increasing chaotic world of depravity and depravation,  a place where order is unlikely to rest it’s shield,  and yet, you yourself  Hugues  you don’t ask for anything either, but strive to correct it.