A seven hundred year old letter once said to belong to Scottish knight and all round hero William Wallace (the man Mel Gibson thinks ran around Scotland with blue paint on his face and who he depicted fighting the English at the Battle of Stirling Bridge without an err... bridge) has been returned to the National Records of Scotland on a long term loan from the National Archives at Kew.
Scottish Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop has confirmed that the letter will be placed on display at the Scottish Parliament building this summer, but you can view a copy, along with a government press release, through the Scottish Government's website at www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2012/01/11164957
Alba gu bragh!!! And a big thanks to the good folk of TNA.
Chris
Is that William Wallace the Welshman? (grin). I've seen it said that "Wallace" and "Welsh" have the same root!
ReplyDeletePS - I can joke about this - my surname is Bruce and Mel Gibson showed Wallace thinking of Robert Bruce as the great hope for Scotland, whereas for a lot of the time, Wallace was staunchly in favour of King John (Balliol) and regarded Bruce as a rebel for his opposition to Scotland's legitimate King. But I'm sure you all knew that!
PPS This is spooky - the verification code I was just asked to type was "Comin", which is virtually "Comyn", the family behind Balliol and the Bruce's great rivals!
It's very much William Wallace the Welshman! An old form of Welsh (which is a "Brythonic Celtic" or "P-Celtic" language) used to be spoken in Scotland, in the old British kingdom of Strathclyde and eslewhere - hence why names like Aberdeen begin with "Aber" (as in "Abertawe", Welsh for "Swansea") and not the Gaelic "Inver" (Gaelic being what was known as a "Goidelic" or "Q-Celtic" language).
ReplyDeleteBlack's Surnames of Scotland notes that although Wallace may mean a native of Wales (who followed the Stewarts north) it probably means a descendant of someone from the old British kingdom of Strathclyde. Who spoke Welsh!
Incidentally, King Arthur came from Edinburgh, and loved haggis and chips. In case anyone is wondering! :)
Chris
Fascinating document - thanks for highlight and the Welsh info.
ReplyDeleteGibson's film was fun but hard to understand the twisting of history. Especially as you say the Bridge. From the document then I assume French King was supporting his daughter's affair with Wally Gibson....
I think Clive Owen Artorius film left his being from North theory open...