The
Westford Knight, Sir James Gunn
The Westford Knight
The Zeno Narrative
Update 10/20/99
The Mysterious Melungeons
THE WESTFORD KNIGHT,
"SIR JAMES GUNN".
On a hill overlooking the modern city of Westford, Massachusetts, there lies a broad ledge of granite, heavily weathered by time and by elements. Upon the surface of this outcropping appears an image made through a series of punch holes and hammer blows. (See rubbing to right) This image, nearly seven feet tall, depicts a powerful man dressed as a helmeted knight wearing long quilted armor and his shield and his sword are engraved on the rock in the formal style of the fourteenth century. His sword is broken and points North and suggests a ritual burial of a knight of great courage and distinction. His shield bears a coat of arms which was later identified by a leading Scottish Genealogist, Sir Ian Moncreiffe, as being the Arms of a Gunn Knight.
The event unfolds from the pages of the Zeno Narrative and Map(1), a chronicle of Antonio Zeno, a Venetian Sea Captain in the employ of a Scottish Prince, Henry St. Clair ( Sinclair ). In the account Captain Zeno relates the experiences of a voyage of exploration and colonization to North America in 1398.
Prince Henry Sinclair, The Second Earl of Orkney, and his first cousin Sir James Gunn of Thurso, departed the Orkney Islands early in the year 1398 and sailed to what is now known as Greenland and after leaving a small colony the voyagers sailed on to what is now Nova Scotia where the voyagers landed to spend the winter. They were welcomed by the local indigenous people as White Gods, "Glooscap", legendary figures. The legend of these people, who were called the Micmacs, is similar to the Mayan myth of Quetzalcoatl, a people living thousands of miles south. However, that is where the similarities end. These newcomer's did not bring conflict nor did they bring destruction. It was recorded that the voyagers taught the arts of fishing and farming to the Micmacs. Prince Henry Sinclair and Sir James Gunn's dealings with the Micmacs left such a favorable impression that they were remembered by them in legend and song. In the Spring the explorers sailed down the coast to what is now known as Westford, Massachusetts and found the Merrimack River. They explored inland until they came upon a small tributary now known as the Stony River. A short way up the Stony is where they made anchorage just a short distance from our present day Westford, Massachusetts. Several large engraved mooring stones have been found along the banks indicating that as many as twelve long boats could have been tied up here. While there in a unrecorded incident, Sir James Gunn , died. Although how he died is not recorded in the Zeno narrative, the broken sword does indicate that he died in battle.
Prince Henry Sinclair had to return home to Orkney but before departing he had an effigy carved in stone for his first cousin. After the effigy was completed Prince Henry Sinclair began his voyage home. Upon arriving back at the Orkney Islands, he found that the armies of King Henry IV of England had invaded Scotland during his absence. Prince Henry Sinclair was challenged by the English Army who subsequently invaded the Orkney Islands. During these hostilities Prince Henry Sinclair was slain in 1400 never to return to America..
The Stone remained undisturbed until 1954, when Frank Giynn cut the vegetation and washed the stone down to reveal the seven foot punched marked effigy of a knight. He sent pictures to T.C. Leuthbridge, a museum curator in England, who identified the weapon as a 14th century pommel sword of the kind seen in stone carving of armored knights found in churches and crypts in the north of England and Scotland. Several years passed before Leuthbridge, aided by Sir Iain Moncreiffe of the Scottish Herald and noted historian, was able to identify the arms on the shield as being "Gunn of Thurso".
Around the year 1967, Federic J. Pohl (2), and other archaeologist visited the site(3) and on the effigy was noted, in Latin, the numbers "184", a square sailed ship with eight oar ports, a design that has since been identified by naval archaeologist as belonging to the 14th century. Speculation was that the markings were a directional sign which led archaeologists to the ruins of what may have been Sir James Gunn's campsite.
Recent findings in some of the early historical documents of The Clan Menzies(4) and The Clan Sinclair(5) did in fact record the events of Prince Henry Sinclair and Sir James Gunn of Thurso in their voyage to the new lands in the west.
In a 1973 letter given to us by the Highlander magazine, Sir Iain said, "There is of course nothing remarkable idea of the Earl of Orkney, a Scotsman but premier noble of Norway, sailing to America in the 14th century, for the Norsemen had certainly crossed the Atlantic at least four centuries before, and the great Scandinavian houses were all interrelated. Henry Sinclair was also related to the Gunns, at the time perhaps the next most important family on the Pentland Firth after the Sinclairs themselves. So the discovery at Westford of what is apparently the effigy of a 14th century knight with a heater shaped shield bearing devices of a Norse-Scottish character is hardly likely to be a coincidence. Sir Iain also states "The shield of Massachusetts is obviously is like the Gunn original coat of arms."
The carving has suffered from six centuries of weathering. Committee members are now working to see what can be done to commemorate the Scots who came to America 94 years before Columbus sailed and got the credit they deserved. Clan Gunn and Clan Sinclair are planning to hold a joint 600 year commemoration at Westford, Massachusetts in the year 1998.
Further information can be found in these books. Richard Whites, The Sword of The North. and The Yankee Magazine, April, 1958.
Frederic J. Pohl's Prince Henry Sinclair, ISBN 505487, Library of Congress No. 73-79829, First American Addition published 1974, by Clarkson N. Potter, Inc. , 419 Park Avenue South, New York, NY. 10016
Eastern United States Archaelogical Federation Bulletin No. 26, 1967
The Red and White Book of Clan Menzies, written by Saint David Menzies of Weem, 1425
THE WESTFORD KNIGHT
The following information is taken from the brochure "The Remarkable Prince Henry Sinclair". The brochure itself is based on an article entitled "Was Glooscap a Scot?", reprinted as 'Yours Aye', August 1988, giving credit to 'Atlantic Insight' of June 1983.
Born in Scotland in about 1345 A.D. Henry Sinclair became Earl of Rosslyn and the surrounding lands as well as Prince of Orkney, Duke of Oldenburg (Denmark), and Premier Earl of Norway. In 1398 he led an expedition to explore Nova Scotia and Massachusetts. This was 90 years before Columbus "discovered America"!
Prince Henry Sinclair was the subject of historian Frederick J. Pohl's, "Atlantic Crossings Before Columbus," which was published in 1961. Not all historians agreed with Pohl, but he made a highly convincing case that this blond, sea-going Scot, born at Rosslyn Castle near Edinburgh in 1345, not only wandered about mainland Nova Scotia in 1398, but also lived among the Micmacs long enough to be remembered through centuries as the man-god "Glooscap".
Henry Sinclair's ancestry was a mixture of Norman, French, Norwegian, and Scottish.The first Sinclair known in what is now the United Kingdom had arrived with William the Conqueror in 1066. Sinclair's grand-father, a friend of Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland, died fighting the Saracens in Spain in 1330. His father, Sir William Sinclair, also died in battle while fighting the Lithuanians from a base in Prussia in 1358. Henry was 13 at the time. He was trained in martial exercises with sword, spear, bow and arrow.
He spoke Latin and French, and became a knight at the age of 21 years. His first wife, who died young, was the great-grand-daughter of King Magnus of Sweden and Norway. His second wife, Janet Holyburton of Direton Castle, bore him four children.
Sinclair was installed as the Earl of Orkney and Lord of Shetland when he was only 24, and held his appointment at the pleasure of King Hakon VI of Norway. As "jarl", he was next to royalty. He had authority to stamp coins, to make laws, remit crimes, wear a crown, and have a sword carried before him.
He had already been rewarded by Kind David of Scotland for a successful raid into England, with the title of Lord Sinclair and the position of Lord Chief Justice of Scotland. Sinclair excelled in a furious time. Sinclair happened to be in the Faeroe Islands, which were part of his earldom in 1390, when he heard that a ship had been wrecked and, since shipwrecks were fair game for pillage at the time, the local fishermen were attacking the crew. Sinclair rescued the mariners, and discovered they were Venetians. Their commander, Nicolo Zeno, was a brother of the most famous admiral of the time, Carlo Zeno. Sinclair hoped to dominate the northern seas, and promptly appointed Nicolo commander of his fleet. After Nicolo's death, Sinclair appointed another Zeno brother, Antonio, as fleet commander. Nicolo and Antonio used to write to Carlo "The Lion" in Venice, and this correspondence was published in 1558 by a great-great- great-grandson of Antonio. Historians call it the Zeno Narrative, and it is a basic source for Pohl's intriguing account. This Zeno Narrative told about a survey to make a map of Greenland in about 1393; it was conducted by Nicolo Zeno, and later by Prince Henry's ships.
This Zeno Map of the North proved to be the most accurate map in existence for the next 150 years! Not only did the Zeno Map chart the sea with uncanny precision, it also showed certain landmarks. For example, it illustrated two cities in Estotilanda (Nova Scotia), possibly founded by Sinclair at Louisburg Harbor and St. Peter's. A castle or fortification was shown. There is speculation that Zeno based his map upon a much more ancient map, coming from the Templars in the Middle East, carried in secrecy by them for safekeeping in Rosslyn Castle, until Price Henry commissioned its update by Zeno. The Zeno Narrative reported that as far back as 1371, four fishing boats (the fishermen were Sinclair's subjects) were blown so far out to sea that they eventually came ashore on land that was probably Newfoundland. They spent more than twenty years on the island, and apparently on the lands to the south, and then one of them made contact with some European fishermen and managed to return to the Faeroes. Sinclair decided to explore these new lands and set sail around April 1, 1398. His fleet consisted of 13 little vessels, two of them driven by oars. The Zeno Document suggests he tried to land at Newfoundland but was driven off by natives, and then sailed into Chedabucto Bay. It is believed he dropped anchor on the first of June in Guysborough Harbor.
Sinclair then sent 100 soldiers to explore the source of smoke they saw swirling above a distant hill. The soldiers reported back that the smoke was a natural thing proceeding from a great fire in the bottom of a hill, where a spring, from which issued a certain substance like pitch, ran into the sea. Thereabouts dwelt a great many people, half-wild, and living in caves. They were of small stature and very timid.
Geographical detective work, archaeology, modern science and various documents have pinpointed the burning hill as the asphalt area at Stellarton, about 50 miles direct from the head of Guysborough Harbor. The Scots liked the soil, the rivers, even the air, and wanted to establish a settlement. A portion of his party returned home, but he kept some men with him together with two oar-powered boats, which were good for exploring rivers and coasts. He took them through the Strait of Canso to meet the Indians at Pictou.
Apparently he persuaded the Micmacs to act as guides in his exploration. Sinclair may have traveled to Annapolis Basin and across the Micmac canoe route to Liverpool. By October, he was back on Green Hill, southwest of Pictou harbor, to attend a gathering of the Micmacs. "Twas the time for holding the great and yearly feast with dancing and merry games." His winter campsite was on the high promontory of Cape d'Or, overlooking Advocate Harbor. During the winter, the expedition built a ship and, when spring arrived, Sinclair sailed away from Nova Scotia. They traveled southward, perhaps carried by a northeaster, to the New England Coast, just north of Boston. The party landed and spent the winter, living peacefully with the Indians. To the west they could see a hilltop from which the Indians frequently sent smoke signals. Accompanied by his 100 men, Henry marched inland to the summit of this hill, now called Prospect Hill, located in Westford, Massachusetts. It is 465 feet in altitude and afforded a good view in all directions.
While at this area, one of Prince Henry's loyal attendants by the name of Sir James Gunn, also from Scotland, died. In memory of the lost companion, the party carved a marker on the face of a stone ledge. It consisted of various sizes of punched holes, which depicted a Scottish knight, with a 39 inch long sword and shield bearing the Gunn Clan insignia. The punch-hole method of carving involved making a series of small impressions with a sharp tool, driven by a mallet. Where glacial scratches or rock colorations existed, they were incorporated into the man-made design. Some holes were larger and deeper than others, probably due to the dulling of the carver's tool and centuries of weathering. In the words of Frederick Pohl, "the following are undeniably man-made workings: the pommel, handle, and guard of the sword; below the guard the break across the blade that is indicative of the death of the sword's owner; the crest above the pommel; a few holes at the sword's point; the punched-hole jess lines attached to the legs of the falcon; the bell-shaped hollows; the corner of the shield touching the pommel; the crescent on the shield; and the holes that form a decorative pattern on the pommel." Now weatherworn and faint, one can see just enough of the carving to visualize the rest of it.
Of course, there have been many investigations to verify the authenticity of this carving. There remains little doubt that this memorial is not a hoax, nor some Indian marking, but rather, the true monument created by Prince Henry Sinclair, nearly 600 years ago!
Soon you will have the opportunity to participate in the 600th Anniversary celebration of Prince Henry's exploration of North America. His remarkable achievements carry many symbolic messages, which are meaningful to us today. He had the skill and the courage to sail to "the ends of the earth" in pursuit of his beliefs and to establish peaceful relations with the people he encountered. Henry was admired and his leadership was followed. Since he did not seek personal fame, his accomplishments have nearly slipped from view.
THE ZENO NARRATIVE
SCOTS IN AMERICA - NINETY FOUR YEARS BEFORE COLUMBUS.
In 1398 Prince Henry Sinclair, his Venetian navigators Antonio and Nicola Zeno, and "three hundred Knights Templar," left Orkney in twelve ships.
They sailed to the Faroe Islands, Iceland and Greenland then on to Nova Scotia and New England.
This is the story of the "Zeno Narrative," a document that records and maps the travels and explorations of Prince Henry Sinclair with his companions to the New World, ninety four years before Christopher Columbus made his epic voyage.
Prince Henry Sinclair was born in 1345, at Rosslyn Castle, and was the descendant of the Saint Clair / Gisors a Norman family that was granted the Barony of Rosslyn, Midlothian, Scotland in the 12th century.
Prince Henry in 1379 also gained the Earldom of Orkney. This Earldom included Shetland, the Faroe islands and possibly Iceland. Altogether some two hundred islands in the North Atlantic.
During the period of rapid decline of the Knights Templars’ influence in Europe, many Templars traveled to Scotland where they received protection from the "Suppression Order," that had been issued by the French king Philip "le Bel," and supported by Pope Clement V.
The "Suppression Order," resulted in the Knights Templar either affiliating with other orders e.g. the "Hospitaliers," and the Knights of Santiago," or seeking refuge in other lands.
Protection was granted in Scotland as Robert the Bruce refused to obey the Suppression Order," for he had earlier been excommunicated by the church for the murder of John "the Red," Comyn. The Sinclair family had been Templars since 1118 and while Bruce was the Sovereign Grand Master of all Crafts and Guilds, Sir William Sinclair (Henry’s father) was the Hereditary Grand Master.
Sir William perished in Spain while attempting to transport Bruce’s heart to the Holy Land.
Prince Henry joined the "King Peter," crusade of 1365 and while in Venice he met the famous Zeno family. The Venetians were the victors in this campaign, however, the ports of the region were closed to them by their enemies. This could have been the reason that Antonio and Nicola joined Prince Henry. The citizens of Venice were traders, and with their ports blocked, new trade routes were eagerly sought. In 1391, Nicola sailed to Orkney, and shortly thereafter, sent word for his brother Antonio to join him.
At the age of fifty-three, Prince Henry sailed west from Orkney to Iceland, but while there was unable to take on provisions. The "Zeno Narrative," explains,
"..They all came running down to the seaside and attacked our men, with bows and arrows, so many were slain and several were wounded. Although we made signs of peace to them, it was no use.."
"..When Zichmni (Sinclair) saw that he could do nothing, he realized the fleet would fall short of provisions if he were to persevere in his attempt. So he took a fair wind and sailed six days to the west, but when the wind shifted to the south-west and the sea became rough, we sailed four days with the wind aft. Then at last we discovered land. As the sea ran high and we did not know what country it was, we were afraid at first to approach it. But by God’s blessing, the wind lulled, and then a great calm came on. Some of the crew then pulled ashore and soon returned with the joyful news that they had found an excellent country and a still better harbor, and we saw in the distance a great mountain that poured out smoke.."
This land is now recognized to be Nova Scotia. The Narrative continues,
"..After eight days the hundred soldiers returned and told us that they had been through the island and up the mountain. The smoke came naturally from a great fire at the bottom of a hill and there was a spring giving out a certain matter like pitch which ran into the sea, and there were great multitudes of people.."
The narrative describes a "..spring of burning pitch at the bottom of a hill.." This has been identified as Mt. Adams, which is near Stellerton.
Prince Henry and his companions befriended the peoples of the local Micmac nation and, for at least a year, explored much of the north- east coast of North America. There is evidence of this in a stone- carved effigy of a Sir James Gunn that has been dated by archaeologists as the late 14th century. This carving is located at Westford, Massachusetts.
Soon after Prince Henry returned to Orkney he was assassinated (1404). This was carried out by members of the Hanseanic League of Northern Germany, rivals for the trading areas. The travels and accomplishments were therefore temporarily concealed as Prince Henry’s son (also named Henry) was arrested and held captive in England. However, Henry’s daughter, Elizabeth, recounted the tale to her son John, who in turn told his in-laws. One of these in-laws was the wife of Christopher Columbus. It was not until 1558 before the "Zeno Narrative," was finally published.
The "Zeno Narrative," also included the "Zeno Map," of the North Atlantic. The eastern part of the map shows the outlines of Sweden, Norway and Denmark. Greenland (called Engronelant) is shown with permanent mountain ranges. Iceland (called Islanda) is shown between Norway and Greenland. The northern tip of Scotland is shown on the bottom right-hand corner. The diamond shaped area in the middle is thought to be floating pumice from a volcanic eruption on Iceland. At the bottom left-hand corner is the area thought to be Nova Scotia.
Several islands are also shown, they include Estland, Podalida, Estotialand, Icaria and the most famous Frisland. Why any of these islands were mistakenly drawn remains a mystery. The :Zeno Map," was first published in the first edition of Girolamo Ruscelli’s "Geographia," in Venice in 1561.
- 600th Celebration News
- Clan Gunn
