Wallace was arrested by English forces in 1305 at Robroyston A letter reportedly taken from William Wallace when he was captured by English forces should be returned to Scotland, historians have said.
The Scottish government wants the note, granting Wallace passage to visit the Pope in 1300, handed to Scotland’s national archives.
The “safe conduct” letter is one of a small number of documents thought by some to have belonged to Wallace.
However, the National Archives in London maintains that it is a copy.
It said there was no evidence to show that the letter was ever in Wallace’s possession but a a group of historians, convened by the Scottish government, is challenging this claim.
The first meeting of the William Wallace Working Group, set up to examine the paperwork’s history and authenticity, concluded that it was an original.
Minutes from that first meeting read: “The experts are unanimous in judging that the letter itself, far from being a copy, is an original produced in the French royal chancery”.
The letter was reportedly in Wallace’s possession when he was captured in Robroyston in 1305 – eight years after he had led a Scottish army to victory against English forces at the Battle of Stirling Bridge.
It was written by King Philip IV of France to urge the Pope to “hold our loved William le Walois of Scotland, knight, recommended to his favour” during a proposed visit to Italy.
“Its origins and precise link to William Wallace is a mystery, one which this expert group is working to solve”
Scottish government
The nature of the business Wallace hoped to discuss with the Pope is unclear, and no surviving evidence exists that Wallace ever made the trip.
The disputed document has been held in England since Wallace was hanged, drawn and quartered on 23 August 1305 after being found guilty of treason.
Many experts favour the theory that the letter was taken from Wallace after his arrest but others suggest that an emissary delivered it – only to be intercepted by English spies.
The Wallace working group is due to meet in the next two months, with its final report not due until at least the end of 2011.
A Scottish government spokesman said: “There has always been tremendous interest in this letter and repeated claims that it should rightfully reside in Scotland’s National Archives.
“However, its origins and precise link to William Wallace is a mystery, one which this expert group is working to solve.
“We look forward to receiving the group’s final report which should help establish the letter’s place in Scottish history and support discussions between Scottish and UK government ministers on the status of the document.”
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