Zena Halpern

1)  Ms Muir claims the Templar Document is a 19^th century copy of a copy and gives no proof.   Rebuttal: The document is a 12^th century description of a voyage across the north Atlantic to destinations in Canada and northeastern America.. There are names in the document that were unknown until the 20^th century. One example is the name Dunwich, a 12^th century medieval harbor, now underwater, discovered in the 20^th century by British archaeologists. Dunwich was lost to history in the 13^th century, swept away by storms on England’s North Sea coast.   Another example in the Templar Document is the name of a lost text from the lst century CE. The Gospel of Mary is a gnostic text discovered in 1896 in Egypt. These are just a few of the multitude of names in the Templar Document that have been proven to have existed in the 12^th century.

2) Muir claims re Frances Bannerman VI birth place. Francis Bannerman VI was a historical figure who owned Bannerman Island in the Hudson River New York State. Rebuttal: The records of his birth were based on three sources (1) Bannerman family archives, (2) two historians (3) his obituary. All agree that he was born in Dundee,Scotland in 1851.   My sources were: (1) “The Story of Bannerman Island” published by “The Second Bannerman Castle Trust” edition 2002   with the permission of Mrs. Charles S. Bannerman and Ann Bannerman Bowes.   Page 34 states that Frances Bannerman VI was born in Dundee Scotland March 24, 1851 and came to this country when he was three years old.  (2) The second source was “Images of America, Bannerman Castle”   by Thom Johnson and Barbara H. Gottlock, 2006 Arcadia Publishing. CA.     In Ch.2 ,p.15 the first sentence reads Francis Bannerman VI was born in Dundee Scotland on March 14, 1851 to Frances Bannerman V and Margaret McWalter. (3) A pamphlet written by Jane Bannerman also confirms the place of his birth.  (4) His obituary states: Francis Bannerman VI Death: Nov. 26, 1918. Merchant and antiquarian Born in Dundee Scotland on Mar 24,* 1851. (obit made an error in the year)

Muir further questions the origin of the name Bannerman.   Rebuttal: Genealogical records of the MacDonald/ Bannerman family trace their given name Bannerman to the 14^th century and the ‘Battle of Bannockburn,’ the war for Scottish independence in 1314. A member of the MacDonald Clan, the first Francis rescued the clan pennant during the battle and Robert the Bruce bestowed the name “Bannerman” on Francis I of Clan MacDonald. MacDonald Clan history records that the MacDonalds sheltered Robert the Bruce and the clan fought with Robert the Bruce at Bannockburn. The Bannerman surname is defined as a name of office in Scotland borne by the kings’s standard bearer in “An Entymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names.” Ms.Muir claims that Francis Bannerman VI was born in Ireland in county Antrim. She says she has a 1851 birth certificate of a Francis Bannerman. Muri has to produce this birth certificate. Also there are other Bannermans with that name..

Muir claims: That the Benvenuto Dialogues refer to “ Prince Henry of Wales” and that I was in error about who Prince Henry of Wales was. My Source is the Benvenuto Dialogues obtained from the University of Michigan and I have read the 600 pages. Rebuttal:   The “Dialogues” were written in the 15^th century by a Benvenuto living in London. “Prince Henry” is a title awarded by the king or queen to the first born and presumed heir.

The title is awarded after an investitute. The title dates back to the 12^th century and there have been many “ Prince of Wales” over the centuries and there have been four in the 15^th century. The current ”Prince of Wales” is Prince Charles the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II.

Rebutal: Without reading the “Dialogues” Ms Muir believes that they were written for “Prince Henry of Wales,”  1594 -1612 who died at the age of eighteen. He was Henry Frederick Stuart, one of the sons of King James I later IV.   He was given the title of “ Prince Henry” in 1603 and died nine years later.   This is not the “Prince of Wales” referred to in Benvenuto’s Dialogues  which were written in the 15^th century.  The “Prince Henry of Wales” Muir claims is the one in the Benvenuto Dialogues lived in the late 16^th and early 17^th century. The Benvenuto Dialogues were written in the 15^th century.

The title page  reads: The Paffenger: of Benvenuto Italian, Profeffour of his Native Tongue for thefe nine yeeres in London. To the Illuftrious and Renowmed Prince Henry Heyre apparent to the Kings moft excellent Maleftle of Great Britaine.   London Printed by T. S. for John Stepneth and are to be folde at his Shop at the Weft-end of Paules Church 1612. (I am using the exact wording as it appears on the title page of the document translated from early modern Italian )

The “Benvenuto Dialogues “ were written by a Benvenuto living in London. They are composed of 600 pages of five Dialoges giving advice, exhortations, lessons. The “ Dialogues” contain names and references to events in the 15^th century in northwest Italy. Some examples are the Guelphs and Gibellines; opposing political factions in the 15^th century. Benvenuto refers to Cosimo de Medici who lived in the 15^th century.   Benvenuto could have dedicated his “Dialogues” to any of the four “Prince of Wales. ” in the 15^th century. The title could also have been conferred on a scion of the Scottish branch of the Sinclair family who was known for prowess as a captain as the “Dialogues” refer to the “brave capitain.”

The Benvenuto family from the 15^th century to the 20^th has been deeply connected to the Templar Document. Guestaveste Benvenuto sold the Templar Document to Dr. Jackson in 1971. It was in the Church of San Sigismundo Cremona, Italy for over 500 years.

The Church of San Sigimundo in Cremona had a long Templar history. The presence of the Templar Order in the Cremona area is further attested to by a letter from Bernardo, bishop of Porto and papal legate in Lombardy dated 1234 and addressed to the bishop of Cremona. FN 244.Codice diplomatico cremmonese I doc. 1037 pp 371-172 cited in Bellomo p. 259.

A major error in Ms Muir’s ‘ review” is the date 1804 which she apparently conjured up out of nowhere. There is no date 1804 in the book!   Last but not least she could not resist making an inappropriate comment about Rick Lagina, the star of “ The Curse of Oak Island “ for endorsing my book : “The Templar Mission to Oak Island and Beyond.”

Zena Halpern    5/19 /2017