June 1136 A.D. – Jerusalem – The Legacy

Hugh was growing weaker and could tell he was not much longer for this world. But he would go to meet his God with a light heart. The Order that he had set up was by now firmly established, in Europe, as well as in the Holy Land. There were hundreds of knights who had been through the initiation routine and were schooled in the Templars’ beliefs. And the Order had attracted great wealth, all of which remained securely under the protection of the Templars, waiting for the time foretold by the Great Prophecy.

Many years ago at the time of the first discussions with Brother Anselm, Hugh had made a critical decision. The beliefs in the Great Revelation would be passed on to all the Templars. It would bind the Order together. But knowledge of the Great Prophecy would be for the Grand Master alone. It would be he who would bear the responsibility. It would be the Master who had the task of ensuring that the Templars endured, with their riches and wealth intact.

He had a small wooden box created, hand crafted by one of Jerusalem’s most skilled carpenters. Three separate locks secured the container. Into the box he placed the old leather bound book and a single sheet of paper. On that was written the tale of the book’s discovery, and the decisions that the first Templars had taken. It was made clear that the founders expected these decisions to be binding on their successors. It was Hugh’s intention that this paper would be the first item that each new Grand Master should read upon their election. And so it came to pass.