Epic poetry is designed to boldly present events in the life of the one about which it is written. It is not bounded by absolute accuracy and critics that so choose, are mistaken. Feats of William Wallace (braveheart) were praised to inspire and cause the Scots to remember their humble beginnings. Beyond that, Wallace was a superb tactician and military leader who devised methods of warfare that permitted defeat of superior forces. He was just and fair. A good Catholic. What more needs to be said.
In this Web page, recording Wallace's and his men’s actions, the words of Harry are followed by as accurate a word exchange as possible to make reading of the poem easier. Where possible the lyric is continued.
I suggest that in one’s first reading of the poem, the “translation” be read through, to get the events in mind, then the poem as written by Harry be quickly read to get the cadence of the poem. At the last, one then can reread Harry’s story merging the two, supplementing with a glance at the translation to fill in spots, then the true beauty of, the Minstrel’s story unfolds.
We owe James Moir and the publisher AMS Press a debt of gratitude for bringing Blind Harry’s epic back to the reading public.
Errors in word association are my own.
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Schir William Wallace - Knight of Ellerslie by Henry the Minstrel (blind Harry)*
In book seven is written the battle of Stirling Bridge and events that followed, which earned William Wallace and his band of Scotsmen, the respect of the English. Even though Wallace lost other battles and was eventually captured and killed, the English were never able to restore their dominance over Scotland, as the result of Wallace’s bravery and military planning. (Beginning on page 174 of The Acts and Deeds of Sir William Wallace, AMS Press, New York, 1989.)
Schir Amar Wallang haistit him full fast,
Sir Amar Wallang went to (Wallace) quickly (full fast),
In till Ingland with his haill houshald past;
To England with his good household past;
Bothwell he left, was Murrays heretage,
Bothwell castle he left, Murray’s heritage,
And tuk him that bot till King Eduuardis wage:
And told him about King Edward’s reward
Thus his awne land forsuk for euirmar;
He forsook his own land for evermore,
Off Wallace deid gret tithandis tald he thar.
Told Wallace of the great news from there
Als Inglis men sair murnyt in thar mude,
All Englishmen were in a despairing mood.
Had lossyt her bathe lyff, landis, and gud
They had lost both life; lands and goods.
Eduuard as than couth nocht in Scotland fair;
King Edward could not into Scotland go;
Bot Kertyingame, that was his tresorair,
Besides, Kertyingame was his treasurer,
With him a lord, than erll was off Waran,
With him was a lord, the earl of Warren,
He chargyt thaim, with nowmeris mone ane
He charged (the people) them with numerous (fines) money
Rycht weill beseyn, in Scotland for to ryd.
Right well equipped (was Kertyingame) for in Scotland riding.
At Stirlyng still he ordand thaim to bid,
At Stirling, he ordered them to the King abide.
Quhill he mycht cum with ordinance off Ingland:
Until he (the king) might come with provisions from England.
Scotland agayne he thocht to tak in hand.
Scotland again he thought to take in hand.
This ost past fruth, and had bot litill dreid;
The army past by, and had but little dread;
The erle Patrik rasauit thaim at Tweid.
The earl Patrick fought them at Tweid.
Malice he had at gud Wallace befor
Trouble he had with good Wallace before
Lang tyme by past, and than incressyt mor:
A long time in the past, and it increased more;
Bot throuch a cas that hapnyt off his wyff,
About a case that happened with (Wallace’) wife,
Dunbar scho held fra him in to thair striff,
At Dunbar, she was taken from him in a fight,
Throuch the supple off Wallace in to playne;
He thought to take supplies off Wallace in the plain;
Bot he be meyne gat his castell agayne
And meant to get to his castle again
Lang tyme or than, and zeit he couth nocht ces;
A long time passed, and he could not cease;
Agayne Wallace he prewit in mony press,
Against, Wallace he in battle pressed.
With Inglismen suppleit thaim at his mycht.
With Englishmen supplied them with his might
Contrar Scotland thai wrocht full gret wnrycht.
Against Scotland they worked great wrongs, not right
Thar mustir than was awfull for to se;
Their muster (of men) was awful to see;
Off fechtand men thousandis thai war sexte.
Of fighting men there were thousands (six)
To Stirlyng past, or thai likit ot bid,
To Stirling past, or they would like to go
To erll Malcome a sege thai laid that tid;
To earl Malcome, a siege, they laid that day;
And thoucht to kep the commaund off thar king:
And thought to keep the (lands) under command of their king;
Bot gud Wallace wrocht for ane othir thing.
But good Wallace worked for another thing.
Dunde he left, and maid a gud chyftane,
Dunde he left, and appointed a good chieftain
With twa thousand, to kepe that hous off stayne,
With two thousand, to keep those buildings of stone,
Off Angwis men, and duellaris off Dunde;
(Protecting) the anguished men and dwellings of Dunde;
The samyn nycht till Sanct Jhonstoun went he.
The same night Saint Jhonstoun went (Wallace prayed to) he.
Apon the morn till Schirreff mur he raid;
Then in the morning, he avoided the Sheriff on the road;
And thar a quhill, in good aray, thai baid.
And there in good time they waited
Schir Jhon the Grayme, and Ramsay that was wicht,
Sir John the Grayme, and Ramsey were ready for war,
He said to thaim; “This is my porpos rycht;
He said to them, “This is my purpose right here and no where else;
Our mekill it is to proffer thaim battaill
Our method is to offer them battle
Apon a playne field, bot we haiff sum awaill.”
Upon a plain, but we have some time, a while.”
Schir Jhon the Grayme said;
Sir John the Grayme said;
Quhar sic ting cummys off neid,
Such things come of need,
We suld thank God that makis ws for to speid.
We should thank God that make us go with speed.
Bot ner the brg my purpose is to be,
And near the bridge, it is my purpose to be,
And wyrk for thaim sum suttell jeperte.”
And work (plan) for them some subtle jeopardy”
Ramsay ansuerd; “The brig we may kepe weill;
Ramsey answered, “The bridge we may (defend) kepe well;
Off way about Southeroun has littill feill.”
The other way around the Englishmen from the south know little.”
Wallace sent Jop the battaill for to set,
Wallace sent Jop (Grymmysbe who had joined Wallace) the battle plan to set,
The Twysday next to fecht with outyn let.
The Tuesday next, to fight without delay.
On Setterday on the bryg thai raid,
On Saturday over the bridge they rode,
Off gud playne burd was weilland junctly maid;
Of good plain boards it was well and exactly made;
Gert wachis wait that nane suld fra thaim pass.
Placed a watch to wait there so that none should over the bridge pass.
A wricht he tuk, the suttellast at thar was,
A wright he took, the best there was,
And ordand him to saw the burd in twa,
And ordered him to saw the boards in two,
Be the myd streit, that nane mycht or it ga;
At the middle of the bridge, so that no more could on it go;
On charnaill bandis nald it full fast and sone,
On a movable support, nailed it full fast and sound,
Syne fyld with clay as na thing had beyne done.
Then filled (the cut) with clay to appear that nothing had been done.
The tothir end he ordand for to be.
The other end he ordered it to be.
How it suld stand on thre rowaris off tree,
Supported on three rollers from a tree,
Quhen ane war out, that the laiff doun suld fall;
When any are taken out, then the last down should fall;
Him selff wyndr he ordand thar with all,
Himself would, he order there with all,
Bound on the trest oin a creddill to sit,
Bound on the wooden beam, a cradle for (the wright) to sit,
To lous the pyne quhen Wallaced leit him witt.
To loose the pin when Wallace gave him the signal.
Bot with a hrn, quhen it was tyme to be,
With a horn, when it was time to be,
In all the ost suld no man blaw bot he.
In all the army, no man should blow (the horn), but he.
The day approchit off the gret battaill;
The day approached, of the great battle;
The Inglismen for power wald nocht faill.
The Englishmen had great strength and would not fail.
Ay sex tai war agayne ane off Wallace;
At six to one against the men of Wallace;
Fyfty thousand maid thaim to battaill place.
Fifty thousand were they to the battle place.
The ramaynand baid at the castell still;
The remainder stayed at the castle still;
Baithe feild and hous thai thocht to tak at will.
Both field and house they thought to take at will.
The worthi Scottis, apon the tothir side,
The worthy Scotts, were on the other side,
The playne feild tuk, on fute maid theim to bid.
The plain field they took, on foot they had to stay.
Hew Kertyngayme the wantgard ledis he,
Hugh Kirkingham (Cressingham); the vanguard was lead by he,
With xxty thousand off likly men to se.
With twenty thousand likely men to see,
XXXty thousand the erll off Waran had;
Thirty thousand, the earl of Warren had;
Bot he did than as the wysman him bad;
But he did then, as the wise man bid;
All the fyrst ost befo him our was send.
All the first army before him was to be sent.
Sum Scottis men, that weill the maner kend,
Some Scottish men, that well the manner knew,
Bad Wallaced blaw, and said thai war enew.
Bid Wallace to blow, and said there were enough.
He haistyt nocht, bat sadly couth persew,
He hastened not, but waited,
Quhill Warans ost thik on the bryg he saw.
Warren’s army, thick on the bridge, he saw.
Fra Jop the horn he hyntyt and couth blaw
From Jop, the horn he took and did blow
Sa asprely, and warned gud Jhon Wricht:
So sharply, and warned good John the wright;
The rowar out he strik with gret slycht;
John struck the roller (pin), with great dexterity (not strength);
The laiff zeid ddoun, quhen the pynns out gais.
The last came down, when the pin out goes.
A hidwys cry amang the peple rais;
A hideous cry among the people was raised;
Bathe hors and men in to the wattir fell.
Both horses and men into the water fell.
The hardy Scottis, that wald na langar duell,
The hardy Scotts, they would no longer dwell,
Set on the laiff with strakis sad and sar,
Set on (those who came over the bridge) with strong strokes and more,
Off thaim thar our as than souerit thai war.
Of them that gave up, assured of peace they were.
As the forbreist thai prewit hardely,
At the leading edge they proved (fought) hardily,
Wallace and Grayme, Boid, Ramsay, and Lundy;
Wallace and Grayme, Boyd, Ramsey, and Lundy;
All in the stour fast fechtand face to face.
All in the melee they fought face to face.
The Sotheron ost bak rerit off that place
The Southern Englishmen army backed off that place
At thai fyrst tuk, v akyr breid and mar.
They at first (stood) took, five acres wide and more.
Wallace on fute a gret scharp sper he bar;
Wallace on foot, a great sharp spear he bore;
Amang the thikest off the press he gaif.
Among the thickest of the army he pressed (and) gave.
On Ketyngaym a straik chosyn he hais
On Kirkingham, a chosen strike he has
In the byrnes, the polyst was full brycht.
In the fierce battle, the sword was polished full bright.
The punzeand hed the plattis persyt rycht,
The point had the plate pierced right,
Throuch the body steikit him but reskew;
Through the body struck him (there was no escape) or rescue.
Derffly to dede that chyftane was adew.
Boldly to death that chieftain was adieu.
Baithe man and hors at that strak he bar doun.
Both men and horses with a stroke he brought down.
The Inglis ost, quhilk war in battaill boun,
The English army, at that time was in battle bound,
Comfort thai last quhen thair chyftayne was slayn:
Confronted, that when their last chieftain was slain;
And mony ane to fle began in playne.
And many one began to flee the plain.
Zeit worthi men baid still in to the sted,
Yet worthy men endured (fought) still in the place,
Quhill x thousand was brocht on to thair dede.
While ten thousand were brought to their death.
Than fled the laiff, and mycht no langar bid;
Then fled the last, and many no longer fought;
Succour tahi socht on many diuers sid,
Succor (surrender) they sought, from the other side.
Sum est, sum west, and sum fled to the north.
Some went east, some went west and some fled to the north.
Vij thousand large at anys flottryt in Forth,
Seven thousand large, floated in the river Forth,
Plungyt the depe, and drownd with out mercye;
Plunged in the deep, and drowned without mercy;
Nayne let on lyff off all that feill menzhe.
None were let live, of all those cruel soldiers.
Off Wallace ost na man was slayne off waill,
Of Wallace’s army no man was slain in the valley,
Bot Androw Murray, in to that strang battaill.
But Andrew Murray in that fierce battle.
The south part than, saw at thar men was tynt,
The south part (troops on other side) saw their men were lost
Als fersly fled as fyr dois off the flynt.
All fiercely fled as fire from flint.
The placed thai left, castell, and Stirlyng toune;
The place they left, castle, and Stirling town;
Towart Dunbar in gret hais maid thaim boune.
Toward Dunbar in great haste, made them bound.
Quhen Wallaced ost had won that feild throuch mycht,
When Wallace army had won that field through might,
Tuk wp the bryg, and loussi gud Jhone Wricht;
Took up the bridge, and set free good John the Wricht;
On the flearis syne folowed wondyr fast.
On those seen fleeing, they followed wonderfully fast.
Erll Malcom als out off the castell past,
Earl Malcom also out of the Castle past,
With Lennox men, to stuff the chace gud speid.
With Lennox men, furnishing men for the chase with good speed.
Ay be the way thai gert full mony de.
And by the way they get many dead.
The erll of Waran, that graithly was his gyd,
The earl of Warren, good and straight was his guide,
On changit hors throuch out the land thai rid,
On changing horses through out the land they rode,
Strawcht to Dunbar, bot few with thaim thai led;
Straight to Dunbar, but there were few with them, they led;
Mony was slayne our sleuthfully at fled(e).
Many were slain, those slow (slothful) that fled.
The Scottis hors that had rowne wondyr lang,
The Scottish horses that were rode wonderfully long,
Mony gaiff our, that mycht no forthyr gang.
Many gave out that might no further go on.
Wallace and Grayme euir to giddyr baid;
Wallace and Grayme always together endured:
At Hathyntowun full gret slauchtir thai maid
At Hathyntowun a great slaughter they made
Off Inglismen, quhen thair hos tyryt had.
Of Englishmen, when their horses tired.
Quhen Ramsay come, gud Wallace was full glad;
When Ramsey came, good Wallace was very glad;
With him was Boid, and Richard off Lundy,
With him was Boid, and Richard of Lundy,
Thre thousand haill was off gud chewalry;
Three thousand hail and good calvary;
And Adam als Wallace off Ricardtoune,
And Adam with Wallace before Richardtoune,
With erll Malcome, thai fand at Hathyntoune
.
With earl Malcome, they fought at Hathyntoune
The Scottis men on slauchtir tarys was;
The Scottish men on slaughter there was;
Quhill to Dunar the twa chyftanys couth pass,
Whence to Dunbar the two chieftains could pass,
Ful sitfull, for thar gret contrar cas.
Full of sorrow for their great contrasting cause.
Wallace folowed till thai gat in that place.
Wallace followed till they got to that place.
Off thair best men, and Kertyngaym off renoune,
Of their best men, and Kertylngaym to renounce,
Twenty thousand was ded but redemptioune.
Twenty thousand were dead but with redemption.
Besyde Beltoun Wallace retaurnd agayn,
Besides Beltoun, Wallace returned again.
To falow mar as than was bot in wayn.
To follow more then was but in vain.
In Hathyntoun lugyng thai maid that nycht;
In Hathntoun, lodging they made that night;
Apon the morn to Stirling passit rycht.
In the morn to Stirling they passed right.
Assumptioun day off Marye fell this cas;
Assumption day of the Virgin Mary fell (blessed) this cause;
Ay lowyt be our lady off hir grace!
Ay, beloved be our lady of her grace!
Conuoyar offt scho was to gud Wallace,
She was protector of good Wallace,
And helpyt him in mony syndry place
And helped him in many a sundry place.
Wallace in haist, sone efftir thai battaill,
Wallace in haste soon after the battle,
A gret haith tuk off all the barrons haill,
A great oath took of all the barron’s well being,
That with gud will wald cum till his presens;
That those with good will would come into his presence;
He hecht thaim als to bid at thar defens.
He promised them all to stand in their defense.
Schir Jhon Neintheth, was that off Aran lord,
Sir John Neintheth, was the island lord,
Till Wallace come, and maid a playne record;
Until Wallace came, and made the record clear;
With witnes thar be his ayth he him band,
With witnesses there be his oath and bond,
Lauta to kep to Wallace and to Scotland.
To remain loyal to Wallace and to Scotland.
Quha with fre will till rycht wald nocht apply,
Who were free, to quickly agree or it would not apply,
Wallace with force pwnyst [thaim] yrgorusly;
Wallace with force punished them vigorously;
Part put to dede, part set in prysone strang;
Part were put to death, part were set in prison strong;
Gret word off him throuch bathe thir regions rang.
Great word of him through both their regions rang.
Dunde thai gat sone be a schort trete,
At Dunde there was soon a short treaty,
Bot for thar lywes, and fled away to se.
For their lives, (some) fled away to sea.
Inglis capdans, that hous had in hand,
English captains, that had taken houses in hand,
Left castellis fre, and fled out off the land.
Left the castles free, and fled out of the land.
Within ten dayis efftil this tyme was gayne,
Within ten days after this time (they were) gone,
Inglis captanys in Scotland left was nayne,
English captains in Scotland there were none,
Except Berweik, and Roxburch castell wicht;
Except Berweik, and Roxburch castles which;
Zeit Wallace thocht to bryng thai to the rycht.
Wallace yet thought to bring them to the right.
That tyme thar was a worthi trew barroun,
At that time there was a worthy true barron,
To nayme he hecht gud Cristall off Cetoun.
The name he gave (promised) good Cristll of Cetoun.
In Jedwort wod for saiffgard he had beyne,
In Jedwort wood as a safeguard he had been,
Agayne Sotheroun full weill he couth opteyn.
Against Southern Englishmen full well he could obtain.
In wtlaw oys he lewit thar but let;
If outlaws way of life, ignorant that they be, (if they would give it up) let go free:
Eduuard couth nocht fra Scottis faith him get.
Edward could not from Scottish faith get.
Herbottell fled fra Jedwort castell wicht,
Herbottell fled from Jedwort castle fit for war,
Toward Ingland; thar Cetoun met him rycht.
Toward England; there Cetoun met him right.
With xl men Cristall in bargane baid
With forty men, Cristall in fight endured
Agayne viij scor, and mekill mastir maid;
Against seven score, with much mastery made;
Slew that captane, and mony cruell man;
Slew that captain, and many cruel men;
Full gret ryches in that jornay he wan,
Full great riches in that journey he won,
Houshald and gold, as thai suld pass away,
Households (possessions) and gold, as they should pass his way,
The quhilk befor thai kepit mony day.
At one time or another, they kept many a day.
Jedwort thai tuk; ane Ruwan lewit he,
Jedwort they took; and Ruwan, ignorant, he,
At Wallace will captane off it to be.
Wallace, captain of it to be.
Bauld Cetoun syne to Lothaine made repair:
Bald Cetoun (went) afterwards to Lothaine to make repair;
In this storye ye ma her off him mair,
In this story you may hear of him more,
And in to Bruce quha likis for to rede;
And of Bruce you like to read;
He was with him in mony cruell deid.
He was with him in many cruel deeds.
Gud Wallace than full fadly can dewys
Good Wallace then full resolutely decides
To rewill the land with worthi men and wys;
To rule the land with worthy men and ways;
Captans he maid, and schirreffis that was gud,
Captains he made, and sheriffs that was good,
Part of his kyn, and off trew othir blud.
Part of his kin, and of true, other blood.
His der cusyng in Edynburgh ordand he,
His cousin in Edynburgh ordered he,
The trew Crawfurd, tha ay was full worthe,
The true Crawfurd, that was full worthy,
Kepar off it, with noble men at wage;
Keeper of it, with noble men for their reward;
In Mannuell than he had gud heretage.
In Mannuell who at that time had a good heritage.
Scotland was fre, that lang in baill had beyne,
Scotland was free, that long in torment had been,
Throw Wallace won fra our fals enemys keyn.
Through Wallace was won from our enemies binding.
Gret gouernour in Scotland he couth ryng,
Great governor in Scotland he could reign,
Wayttand a tyme to get his rychtwis king
Waiting the time for Scotland to get his righteous king.
Fra Inglis men, that held him in bandoune,
From Englishmen, that held him at their mercy,
Lang wrangwysly fra his awn rychtwis croun.
Long unjustly from his own righteous crown.
[End of book seven]
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* Blind Harry recited the poem which was then written by an unknown scribe. Criticism of the accuracy of his epic falls short as it fails to recognize the purpose of the poem which was to generate pride and understanding in the history of Scotland and its men. The battle of Stirling bridge, however, is uncontested as to the faithful telling of the story of how the English blundered into a trap set by Wallace and the leaders and troops were overwhelmed by a much smaller force.
The poem was written in about 1460, recording the events that took place in or about 1296-1297.
Some poets (as example the references cited below) have chosen to force rhyme of the poem's lines in giving a modern translation.
Two references to Wallace and Stirling Bridge which I recommend are: Before Stirling Bridge And At Stirling Bridge
When James Moir, Rector of Aberdeen Grammar School, provided the newest edition of William Wallace’s exploits in Scotland based on “Blind Harry’s epic poem, he tried to provide a balance between Blind Harry’s account and those of other authors. Harry is said to have based his poem on a book written by John Blair, a book that has disappeared and no other account of it has surfaced. All is well and good at this point until Moir begins to take Harry to task for scrambling his “facts” and Moir provides accounts by other authors that contradict the order of occurrence and some of the events written about by Harry as having never had taken place. Certainly this is the privilege of the editor and provides a reference, to make the chronicle of Wallace’s activities as accurate as possible. However, that should not have been the purpose of the new edition. Instead the telling by Harry should have been to let flow, the handed-down version of the life and times of this most famous Scot. The reader could have benefitted greatly by a gentle coaching of the words as the story unfolds to make it more understandable. Rather, the editor chose to show how different previous editions of Harry’s story had minor differences in word play. It is only in the glossary which becomes well turned as one works his or her way through the poem, that the words of the Scots spring to life and develop a character of their own.
The Riverside Chaucer does a much better, scholarly job of helping the reader; to cite a recent as example. (As a side note, the glossary of Chaucer does little to assist the reader of The Acts and Deeds of Sir William Wallace in understanding the word play. And retreating to Johnson’s Dictionary offers little as well. The English and Scots were (and are (?)) of two different worlds.)
Nevertheless, Moir and his publisher are to be commended for bringing Wallace back to life. (The same should be said for the producers of the recent film, Brave Heart.)
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