William Wallace
A Martyr For Freedom
Early in the morning of Monday 23rd August 1305, Sir William Wallace, former guardian of Scotland, was led from a house in the London parish of Fenchurch, for his so called trial. Wallace had spent the night in the house as a prisoner, he was tied to the back of a horse and was then paraded through the streets, of which was crowded by jeering, abusive Londoners to Westminster Hall.
On Wallace's head was a crown of laurel, placed there by his enemies, the English as a reminder of his boast, that one day he would wear a crown in their capital city London. Inside the hall of Westminster Edward's commission of judges were assembled, of which the most important was Peter Mallory.
Wallace stood on a scaffold specially erected for the trial, at the south end of the hall, as the trial moved onwards to the ghastly and inevitable conclusion. A long list of the crimes with which Wallace was charged was read out, he was not given the chance or the right to defend himself, and the gruesome sentence of hanging, drawing and quartering was pronounced. As was the fashion the sentence was to be carried out at once.
After Wallace's lengthy agony was finally ended by the executioner's axe at the elms of Smithfield, four miles from Westminster Hall, his head was carried on a pole to be displayed at London Bridge.
The four quarters of his body were dispatched to be put on public display at the towns of Newcastle upon Tyne, Berwick upon Tweed, Perth and at Stirling, each being the scene of one of his exploits.
