A petition to keep in Edinburgh a letter carried by Sir William Wallace over 700 years ago has been signed by nearly 2000 people from around the world.
The letter known as the “Wallace Safe Conduct” was taken from the freedom fighter when he was captured in 1305.
Written in Latin and dated 7 November 1300, the message from King Philip IV of France commands his agents in Rome to assist Wallace in his business before the Pope.
It was rediscovered in the Tower of London in the 1830s, and is now part of the National Archive collection in Kew, but has been on loan to the National Records of Scotland (NRS) in Edinburgh since 2012.
The Society of William Wallace launched the online petition to stop the letter returning to England at the end of the current loan period in September and being “locked behind closed doors for good”.
The petition has now been signed by over 1980 supporters from as far as Australia and the USA, who believe it should remain in Scotland.
Gary Stewart of the Society of William Wallace, who campaigned for its return to Scotland 14 years ago, said: “The Safe Conduct letter is a rare direct link to Scotland’s national hero – something he held in his own hands.
“I believe it belongs in Scotland.”
Although the letter has been in Edinburgh for the past 14 years, it can only be displayed for limited periods and, due to its age and fragility, it has spent much of this time in safe storage.
Sir William Wallace won his greatest victory at the Battle of Stirling Bridge on 11 September 1297. He was made Guardian of Scotland but was defeated by an English army at the Battle of Falkirk in 1298.
Wallace travelled to the court of French King Philip IV in an effort to persuade him to support the Scottish cause.
The “Safe Conduct” letter shows he was in France in 1300 and suggests he intended to visit Pope Boniface VIII, although it is not known whether he reached Rome.
Wallace later returned to Scotland and evaded capture until August 1305 when he was betrayed and taken to London where he was hanged, drawn and quartered.
