An important letter in support of Scottish hero William Wallace was exhibited on St Andrew’s Day.
More than 250 people turned up on Saturday to see the fragile document, which was on display for just five hours to protect it from too much daylight.
The letter from the King of France to his agents at the papal court in Rome is known as the “Wallace Letter of Recommendation” and was found among other historical documents in the Tower of London in the 19th century.
The letter dates from 1300, three years after Wallace and Andrew Moray led the Scots to victory over the English at the Battle of Stirling Bridge.
In 1300 Wallace and other Scottish knights were in France, possibly seeking support from the French king for the restoration of the Scottish monarchy as part of the resistance against King Edward I of England.
The French monarch’s letter urged the Allies to support Wallace in “those things which he should conclude.”
The document was last shown in 2018. and kept from light for years to be preserved for future generations.
The National Registers of Scotland, which run the national archive at General Register House in Edinburghput the fragile fragment of parchment on display for just five hours.
There is no evidence that Wallace ever reached Rome and five years later he was captured by the English, taken to London and executed.
Archivist Jocelyn Grant said: “It was a pleasure to exhibit this rare document, together with two tapestries inspired by it and the so-called Lübeck Letter.
“It was great to see so many people take advantage of one of the few opportunities to see this document in person; as well as tapestries.
“Skilled weavers from the Dovecot studio created them in 2012. and this is the first time they have been exhibited since.’
