Today in 1297 was the date of the letter from William Wallace to the mayor of Lubeck.

One of the few relics remaining of Scotland's great hero, the letter followed victory over the English at the battle of Stirling Bridge, and invited German merchants to begin trading directly with Scotland since the ports were no longer under English control. Originally thought destroyed in World War II, the letter was found intact in a Lubeck museum, and after some campaigning has been returned to the Museum of Scotland 'on loan.'

Today in 1993, comedian and singer, Andy Stewart, died in Arbroath. Glasgow-born Stewart made his biggest mark as the chirpy presenter of the BBC show, The White Heather Club, which began in 1960. He scored a hit with that classic ode to kilt-wearing, Donald, Where's Yer Troosers?

On this day in 2000, Scotland's first First Minister Donald Dewar died suddenly after a fall on the steps of his official residence in Edinburgh. Dewar served as Secretary of State for Scotland from 1997-1999 and became the first leader of Scotland's devolved Parliament in 1999.

Today's recipe: make your own classic Cornish pasty.