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Blind Harry's Wallace
The original story of the real Braveheart, William Wallace. Racy, blood on every page, violently anglophobic, grossly embellished, vulgar and disgusting, clumsy and stilted, a literary failure, a great epic! Whatever the verdict on Blind Harry, this is the book which has done more than any other to frame the notion of Scotland's national identity. The film Braveheart is based on the 1722 Hamilton edition of this epic poem. Burns, Wordsworth, Byron and others were greatly influenced by this version, said to be the book most often found in Scottish households (after the Bible).
227 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1488
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363 people want to read
About the author
Blind Harry
18 books5 followersBlind Harry (c. 1440 – 1492) is renowned as the author of The Actes and Deidis of the Illustre and Vallyeant Campioun Schir William Wallace, more commonly known as The Wallace. This was a lengthy poem recounting the life of William Wallace, the Scottish independence leader, written around 1477, 172 years after Wallace's death.
The Lord High Treasurer's accounts of 1473–1492 recorded payments to him for performances at the court of James IV. Blind Harry was given gifts of money by the King at New Year, as were other minor courtiers, but a payment on 2 January 1492 seems to relate to the singing of a ballad accompanied by two Gaelic harpers, "Ersche clareschaw", mentioned in adjacent entries.
He is mentioned by William Dunbar in his Lament for the Makeris early in the 16th century. Historian John Major also wrote about Harry in 1518. These sources differed on whether or not he was blind from birth, but Harry almost certainly seems to have had a military background.
The Lord High Treasurer's accounts of 1473–1492 recorded payments to him for performances at the court of James IV. Blind Harry was given gifts of money by the King at New Year, as were other minor courtiers, but a payment on 2 January 1492 seems to relate to the singing of a ballad accompanied by two Gaelic harpers, "Ersche clareschaw", mentioned in adjacent entries.
He is mentioned by William Dunbar in his Lament for the Makeris early in the 16th century. Historian John Major also wrote about Harry in 1518. These sources differed on whether or not he was blind from birth, but Harry almost certainly seems to have had a military background.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 1, 2022
William Wallace was a Scottish knight in the late 1200s and early 1300s who rose to heroic status as the defender of Scotland against the English. Heroic status may be putting it too lightly. Wallace, in his lifetime, was a towering warrior, a leader in the First War of Scottish Independence, who liberated Scotland multiple times from King Edward’s English dominance. He was a figure who stood as the total embodiment of Scottish liberty. After his death, he ascended into legend, becoming the subject of many folk tales, ballads, and traditional stories that grew throughout the generations. Over a century and a half after Wallace’s brutal execution at English hands, these traditions and legends came together into a cohesive epic of rhyming couplets by the poet Blind Harry.
The Wallace (or, The Acts and Deeds of the Illustrious and Valiant Champion Sir William Wallace) is thought to have been composed in the 1470s. It is written in Middle Scots, and this version, edited and introduced by Anne McKim, is untranslated. That makes for a patient, meticulous read for anyone like myself who doesn’t know Middle Scots, but it is possible to work through it and make sense of it, and to relish its absolute power, to appreciate its poetic artistry. Despite the language barrier, it is evident that the poem has strength right away. Once I caught onto the nuance in the language and the style, it flowed almost comfortably, still with a few rough spots that McKim’s margin notes made easier to understand. To my knowledge this is the only unabridged version of the epic. So if you want to read the complete thing, you'll need to read it in its original language.
This volume also includes maps that show Wallace’s movements and significant locations from the first seven (of twelve) books of the story. Notes are extensive, providing encyclopedic detail and history and context, and McKim’s introduction is a good historical and literary supplement.
The epic itself is boiling over with Scottish blood and pride, extreme anti-English sentiment, and the undying spirit of rebellion. It is a saga of Wallace’s life and warfare, presenting his youthful energy, his sense of justice, his unflinching strength in combat, through his growth to a knight, a warrior, a tactician, a born leader. It is exceedingly violent, with many scenes of war and bloodshed and detail about the brutalities of battle and death.
People are decapitated, burned alive, stabbed, hanged, drowned, gutted, and death is everywhere. Over many gruesome battles, Wallace and his Scottish warriors slay many Englishmen, the English slay many Scots, and despite Wallace sparing women, children, and priests, there are countless innocent casualties over the years of war. Castles and strongholds are taken by force, frequently providing temporary shelter for Wallace and his men, before they run out of food or water and must depart to make further advances against the enemy.
Wallace’s early exploits against the English are the subject of the first books of the poem. Here we see him killing the English sheriff of Lanark, as a first step in the Scottish uprising, fleeing from English guards, followed by raids. He flees from the English and hides in the house of a woman who disguises him in women’s clothing. This is the first of many times a woman shelters Wallace in his times of need, usually after he must flee from the English. Wallace avenges the deaths of his brother and father in later battles, and he is at various points himself the target of those wishing to avenge those he has killed on the battlefield.
Wallace is imprisoned by the English at one point, and his escape might look like one of Alexandre Dumas’s inspirations for the escape in the Count of Monte Cristo.
It’s a sweeping epic of revenge against the English for their wrongs toward the Scots. It is also a saga of battles, including the Battle of Falkirk, the Battle of Stirling Bridge, and countless savage skirmishes. Yet, it is a poetic marvel, incredibly well composed and imaginative, with imagery and ornamentation not too different from Dante, with eyes turned to the heavens and the stars, contrasting the beauty and serenity of a cool morning with the bloodied devastation of war from the night before, or describing the richness of the English to contrast against the starving poverty of the Scottish. There are allusions to, and comparisons of Wallace with, Hector, Alexander, Caesar, Arthur. It is clear we are witnessing the rise of a champion.
I can picture Blind Harry chanting this poem in the courts of princes, amping up the crowd of patriotic Scots who cheer at Wallace’s bloody victories over the enemies of their people.
In the shifting fortunes that Wallace and his Scots see for themselves, they fight for independence, attain peace, and then find themselves soon dragged into battle again when the English break their treaties. The years spanning these ebbing states are full of guerrilla warfare, cavalry battles, sieges, brilliant tactical decisions on Wallace’s part, many losses on both sides, and regardless of the odds, glory for Wallace and his men.
Although its author claims he has made no embellishments, it is not historically accurate, and to say that liberties have been taken would be an understatement.
Even the queen of England comes to beg Wallace for peace at one point, clearly a fabrication by Blind Harry. Wallace reminds her Scotland was never under the rule of foreigners, even in Roman times, but King Edward has boldly decided to conquer them and take from them what is theirs. If they want peace, he should meet them in battle. Despite her offering him gold for peace, he refuses to allow another truce, which the English had recently broken without provocation.
After a battle in which the Scots win a clear victory, they make a truce with Britain to last a few years. Wallace has earned a widespread reputation as a master sword fighter and chieftain. The French King Philip soon sends a herald to ask Wallace for his help against England. Wallace agrees once the truce expires, and sails to meet their king. On the seas he runs into a notoriously brutal french pirate, who has dominated the seas for sixteen years and slays all for loot or ransom. Wallace defeats and captures the pirate, spares his life and finds his name is Thomas of Longaweill. He takes him into his service, and eventually brings him to the French King, granting him his knighthood and reclaiming his honor.
Many other episodes of heroism appear in The Wallace, like his defeat of numerous warriors previously thought too terrible or fearsome to be downed, or his hard-won victories against Edward’s fleets. So too do episodes of brutality appear, in which Wallace burns the towns of innocent English, for holding the wrong loyalties. The English, though, are unsurprisingly portrayed as the most bloodthirsty monsters imaginable, and their crimes against humanity, at least in this tale, seem to make Wallace’s crimes pale.
In the end, Wallace meets his terrible fate after a traitor hands him over to the English. He has become a martyr, an eternal symbol of freedom for Scotland, standing tall to this day.
The Wallace (or, The Acts and Deeds of the Illustrious and Valiant Champion Sir William Wallace) is thought to have been composed in the 1470s. It is written in Middle Scots, and this version, edited and introduced by Anne McKim, is untranslated. That makes for a patient, meticulous read for anyone like myself who doesn’t know Middle Scots, but it is possible to work through it and make sense of it, and to relish its absolute power, to appreciate its poetic artistry. Despite the language barrier, it is evident that the poem has strength right away. Once I caught onto the nuance in the language and the style, it flowed almost comfortably, still with a few rough spots that McKim’s margin notes made easier to understand. To my knowledge this is the only unabridged version of the epic. So if you want to read the complete thing, you'll need to read it in its original language.
This volume also includes maps that show Wallace’s movements and significant locations from the first seven (of twelve) books of the story. Notes are extensive, providing encyclopedic detail and history and context, and McKim’s introduction is a good historical and literary supplement.
The epic itself is boiling over with Scottish blood and pride, extreme anti-English sentiment, and the undying spirit of rebellion. It is a saga of Wallace’s life and warfare, presenting his youthful energy, his sense of justice, his unflinching strength in combat, through his growth to a knight, a warrior, a tactician, a born leader. It is exceedingly violent, with many scenes of war and bloodshed and detail about the brutalities of battle and death.
People are decapitated, burned alive, stabbed, hanged, drowned, gutted, and death is everywhere. Over many gruesome battles, Wallace and his Scottish warriors slay many Englishmen, the English slay many Scots, and despite Wallace sparing women, children, and priests, there are countless innocent casualties over the years of war. Castles and strongholds are taken by force, frequently providing temporary shelter for Wallace and his men, before they run out of food or water and must depart to make further advances against the enemy.
Wallace’s early exploits against the English are the subject of the first books of the poem. Here we see him killing the English sheriff of Lanark, as a first step in the Scottish uprising, fleeing from English guards, followed by raids. He flees from the English and hides in the house of a woman who disguises him in women’s clothing. This is the first of many times a woman shelters Wallace in his times of need, usually after he must flee from the English. Wallace avenges the deaths of his brother and father in later battles, and he is at various points himself the target of those wishing to avenge those he has killed on the battlefield.
Wallace is imprisoned by the English at one point, and his escape might look like one of Alexandre Dumas’s inspirations for the escape in the Count of Monte Cristo.
It’s a sweeping epic of revenge against the English for their wrongs toward the Scots. It is also a saga of battles, including the Battle of Falkirk, the Battle of Stirling Bridge, and countless savage skirmishes. Yet, it is a poetic marvel, incredibly well composed and imaginative, with imagery and ornamentation not too different from Dante, with eyes turned to the heavens and the stars, contrasting the beauty and serenity of a cool morning with the bloodied devastation of war from the night before, or describing the richness of the English to contrast against the starving poverty of the Scottish. There are allusions to, and comparisons of Wallace with, Hector, Alexander, Caesar, Arthur. It is clear we are witnessing the rise of a champion.
I can picture Blind Harry chanting this poem in the courts of princes, amping up the crowd of patriotic Scots who cheer at Wallace’s bloody victories over the enemies of their people.
In the shifting fortunes that Wallace and his Scots see for themselves, they fight for independence, attain peace, and then find themselves soon dragged into battle again when the English break their treaties. The years spanning these ebbing states are full of guerrilla warfare, cavalry battles, sieges, brilliant tactical decisions on Wallace’s part, many losses on both sides, and regardless of the odds, glory for Wallace and his men.
Although its author claims he has made no embellishments, it is not historically accurate, and to say that liberties have been taken would be an understatement.
Even the queen of England comes to beg Wallace for peace at one point, clearly a fabrication by Blind Harry. Wallace reminds her Scotland was never under the rule of foreigners, even in Roman times, but King Edward has boldly decided to conquer them and take from them what is theirs. If they want peace, he should meet them in battle. Despite her offering him gold for peace, he refuses to allow another truce, which the English had recently broken without provocation.
After a battle in which the Scots win a clear victory, they make a truce with Britain to last a few years. Wallace has earned a widespread reputation as a master sword fighter and chieftain. The French King Philip soon sends a herald to ask Wallace for his help against England. Wallace agrees once the truce expires, and sails to meet their king. On the seas he runs into a notoriously brutal french pirate, who has dominated the seas for sixteen years and slays all for loot or ransom. Wallace defeats and captures the pirate, spares his life and finds his name is Thomas of Longaweill. He takes him into his service, and eventually brings him to the French King, granting him his knighthood and reclaiming his honor.
Many other episodes of heroism appear in The Wallace, like his defeat of numerous warriors previously thought too terrible or fearsome to be downed, or his hard-won victories against Edward’s fleets. So too do episodes of brutality appear, in which Wallace burns the towns of innocent English, for holding the wrong loyalties. The English, though, are unsurprisingly portrayed as the most bloodthirsty monsters imaginable, and their crimes against humanity, at least in this tale, seem to make Wallace’s crimes pale.
In the end, Wallace meets his terrible fate after a traitor hands him over to the English. He has become a martyr, an eternal symbol of freedom for Scotland, standing tall to this day.
August 21, 2008
It's fun to read a few lines in Middle Scots, but the rest is lengthy, bloody & exhausting to read for a non-native Middle Scots reader ;-)
I did enjoy the beginning of Hamilton's English version - Wallace's random killing etc. - but it's really getting boring around Book 9 at the latest.
Anyway, nobody's reading this anymore, except German students^^
I did enjoy the beginning of Hamilton's English version - Wallace's random killing etc. - but it's really getting boring around Book 9 at the latest.
Anyway, nobody's reading this anymore, except German students^^
July 19, 2025
I finished it! I’ve been reading this poem intermittently since October 2024. You might accordingly deduce that I didn’t find it an easy read.
To summarise, The Wallace is a 15th century narrative poem that was used as the basis for the 1995 film Braveheart. It runs to almost 12,000 lines. Actually I was surprised how closely the film follows the poem. The Introduction comments that many people assume Braveheart is a modern Hollywood falsification of the story of William Wallace. I confess I was one of those people. It’s actually more of a 15th century falsification.
The 14th and 15th centuries saw intermittent but frequent wars between Scotland and England. The poem was written in the 1470s by a minstrel known as Blind Harry - who was a real person – there are records of payments being made to him by the Scottish court. This was during the reign of James III of Scotland, who pursued a policy of reconciliation with England. Some historians think that the poem was commissioned by an anti-English faction at court. Blind Harry certainly leaves the reader in no doubt which side he was on. Right at the beginning the poem speaks of;
“Our ald ennemys cummyn of Saxonys blud,
That nevyr yeit to Scotland wald do gud”
The extract above conveys another facet – the poem is written in medieval Scots, and there isn’t a full translation (although there are side notes explaining some of the more difficult words). I’ve not studied medieval Scots and found the text hard work at times. Many readers from outside Scotland would find it harder still. In the extracts below I’ve provided translations that are partly mine and partly taken from the side notes in the book. Any mistakes will be mine!
As might be expected, the poem is full of descriptions of battle, and in particular of the bloodsoaked nature of hand to hand combat with sword and spear. The times were harsh and Blind Harry sees no problem with Wallace killing every Englishman he can lay his hands on. At one point the Scots ambush a baggage train taking supplies to an English garrison. After killing the English men-at-war they force the English “knawes” (“knaves” or, in modern parlance, servants) to transport the supplies to a nearby forest. Once the task was completed;
“Thai band thaim fast with wedeis sad and sar,
On bowand treis hangyt thaim rycht thar”
(Translation - They tied them with withes [twisted bark], tight and painful, On bending trees hanged them right there).
At the same time, the poem attributes to Wallace the values of the chivalric code, in that he does not harm women and children. For example the Scots make a surprise attack on Lochmaben Castle. On gaining entry, they find no garrison, only women and children and two male servants.
“Quhen the lady had thaim seyne, ‘Grace,’ scho cryit, ‘for hym that deit on tre.’
Than Wallace said, ‘Mademe, your noyis lat be.
To wemen yeit we do bot litill ill,
Na yong childer we lik nocht for to spill.”
(Translation - When the lady saw them –‘Mercy’ she cried, ‘in Jesus’ name’ [literally “for he that died on the cross”], Then Wallace said, Madame, be quiet [your noise let be], We do not harm women, nor spill the blood of young children).
Speaking of castles, I was surprised by how many were mentioned. At one point the poem mentions the castles of Durisdeer, Enoch and Tibbers. I looked these up and they were located in the present day villages of Durisdeer, Enterkinfoot. and Carronbridge, each of which is only a few miles from the others. It conjured up an image of the medieval landscape being studded with castles.
There’s a lot more I would like to quote from the poem, but my review is overlong already. Apart from the language difficulty, I would say that the continual descriptions of battle get a bit repetitive.
I can imagine Blind Harry singing the poem at court, where listening to a 12,000 line poem was considered light entertainment. You can tell there was no TV in those days!
The poem is obviously an important part of Scotland’s cultural heritage, and to that extent I am glad I read it. A bit of a slog though.
To summarise, The Wallace is a 15th century narrative poem that was used as the basis for the 1995 film Braveheart. It runs to almost 12,000 lines. Actually I was surprised how closely the film follows the poem. The Introduction comments that many people assume Braveheart is a modern Hollywood falsification of the story of William Wallace. I confess I was one of those people. It’s actually more of a 15th century falsification.
The 14th and 15th centuries saw intermittent but frequent wars between Scotland and England. The poem was written in the 1470s by a minstrel known as Blind Harry - who was a real person – there are records of payments being made to him by the Scottish court. This was during the reign of James III of Scotland, who pursued a policy of reconciliation with England. Some historians think that the poem was commissioned by an anti-English faction at court. Blind Harry certainly leaves the reader in no doubt which side he was on. Right at the beginning the poem speaks of;
“Our ald ennemys cummyn of Saxonys blud,
That nevyr yeit to Scotland wald do gud”
The extract above conveys another facet – the poem is written in medieval Scots, and there isn’t a full translation (although there are side notes explaining some of the more difficult words). I’ve not studied medieval Scots and found the text hard work at times. Many readers from outside Scotland would find it harder still. In the extracts below I’ve provided translations that are partly mine and partly taken from the side notes in the book. Any mistakes will be mine!
As might be expected, the poem is full of descriptions of battle, and in particular of the bloodsoaked nature of hand to hand combat with sword and spear. The times were harsh and Blind Harry sees no problem with Wallace killing every Englishman he can lay his hands on. At one point the Scots ambush a baggage train taking supplies to an English garrison. After killing the English men-at-war they force the English “knawes” (“knaves” or, in modern parlance, servants) to transport the supplies to a nearby forest. Once the task was completed;
“Thai band thaim fast with wedeis sad and sar,
On bowand treis hangyt thaim rycht thar”
(Translation - They tied them with withes [twisted bark], tight and painful, On bending trees hanged them right there).
At the same time, the poem attributes to Wallace the values of the chivalric code, in that he does not harm women and children. For example the Scots make a surprise attack on Lochmaben Castle. On gaining entry, they find no garrison, only women and children and two male servants.
“Quhen the lady had thaim seyne, ‘Grace,’ scho cryit, ‘for hym that deit on tre.’
Than Wallace said, ‘Mademe, your noyis lat be.
To wemen yeit we do bot litill ill,
Na yong childer we lik nocht for to spill.”
(Translation - When the lady saw them –‘Mercy’ she cried, ‘in Jesus’ name’ [literally “for he that died on the cross”], Then Wallace said, Madame, be quiet [your noise let be], We do not harm women, nor spill the blood of young children).
Speaking of castles, I was surprised by how many were mentioned. At one point the poem mentions the castles of Durisdeer, Enoch and Tibbers. I looked these up and they were located in the present day villages of Durisdeer, Enterkinfoot. and Carronbridge, each of which is only a few miles from the others. It conjured up an image of the medieval landscape being studded with castles.
There’s a lot more I would like to quote from the poem, but my review is overlong already. Apart from the language difficulty, I would say that the continual descriptions of battle get a bit repetitive.
I can imagine Blind Harry singing the poem at court, where listening to a 12,000 line poem was considered light entertainment. You can tell there was no TV in those days!
The poem is obviously an important part of Scotland’s cultural heritage, and to that extent I am glad I read it. A bit of a slog though.
July 22, 2021
https://nwhyte.livejournal.com/3707292.html
Elspeth King warns in her introduction that "As far as the battle scenes and the incidents of killing are concerned, Braveheart is a work of restraint and good taste when compared to Blind Harry's original text." She's not wrong. I must admit that the poem has a cracking pace, even with some unfortunate McGonagallisms. Like the film, it's a bit vague on geography, but very clear about who the good guys and the bad guys are. Unlike the film, it's mercifully discreet about Wallace's horrible death. I'm afraid it did read like one incident of biffing the English followed by another of biffing traitorous Scots and so on, but I can see why people liked it.
Elspeth King warns in her introduction that "As far as the battle scenes and the incidents of killing are concerned, Braveheart is a work of restraint and good taste when compared to Blind Harry's original text." She's not wrong. I must admit that the poem has a cracking pace, even with some unfortunate McGonagallisms. Like the film, it's a bit vague on geography, but very clear about who the good guys and the bad guys are. Unlike the film, it's mercifully discreet about Wallace's horrible death. I'm afraid it did read like one incident of biffing the English followed by another of biffing traitorous Scots and so on, but I can see why people liked it.
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