Public get freedom to view William Wallace letters

Published on 11/08/2012 12:00

A LETTER taken from Sir William Wallace by his English captors has gone on public display for the first time in 707 years at the Scottish 
Parliament.

The fragile letter, widely known as the “Wallace Safe Conduct”, is considered among the most important Scottish artefacts in existence, as it was with Wallace when he was captured in 1305.

The free exhibition, Special Delivery: The William 
Wallace Letters, also features the famous Lubeck Letter, sent to the German city in the name of Wallace and Andrew De Moray after the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297 to inform European trading partners that Scottish ports were once again open for business.

Together, they are the only two original letters with a direct link to Wallace.

Culture secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “This exhibition is of tremendous importance.”