"Holding On" .wav.
Called the greatest hero in Scotland's history,
William Wallace lived seven centuries ago, but remains to this day a
representative of Scottish independence.
Wallace was born around 1276, although the exact birthdate and place are unknown. His father was Sir Malcolm Wallace, and he was the second of three sons. William had no male heirs, and today's Wallaces are descended from other family branches.
While the teenaged William received his education in the church, his father and older brother were on the run from the English. Sir Malcolm refused to swear allegiance to King Edward (Longshanks) as Scottish landowners were required to do. Civil conflict continued to heat up in Scotland, and in 1291, Sir Malcolm was killed a battle at Loudoun Hill. The death of his father marked the beginning of William's true hatred of the English.
Combined with an education in the principals of liberty and the rights of the individual, William's personal grudge against the English became a crusade when his sweetheart was killed by an English sheriff. William retaliated, killing the sheriff, and thus became an outlaw in his own country. From then on, William Wallace was leader of the Scottish fight for independence.
By 1297, Wallace controlled much of Scotland. His battles were the stuff of legends. Although outnumbered, his army was able to defeat the English army at Stirling Bridge, using strategy and intimidation. This victory drove the English out of Scotland.
Longshanks took six years to reclaim Scotland from the resistance, and in
1305, William Wallace was captured and taken to trial in London, where he was
convicted of treason and brutally executed.
Since tales of Wallace's life are based on legends centuries old, the film was largely inspired by his life, rather than completely true to his experience. However, the Wallace Clan, including Clan Cheif Seoras Wallace shared their knowledge of their ancestor with screenwriter Randall Wallace, and acted as technical advisors during the filming. Sources included diaries passed down through the generations, and battles portrayed in the movie were historically correct.
Quote from Wallace's fight speech in movie:
Aye, fight and you may die.
Run, and you'll live... at least a while.
And dying in your beds many years from now,
would you be willing to trade all the days,
from this day to that,
for one chance,
just one chance,
to come back here and tell our enemies
that they may take our lives,
but they'll never take our FREEDOM!!!
Click For Speech From Movie.
A poem by Randall Wallace
(Author of "Braveheart")
To Scottish friends I lift a glass
To you, who've kept alive
The memory of heroes past
Across dark moors of time
To you who know this simple truth
and show it near and far
It is the tales we tell ourselves
That make us who we are
So let us drink to Scotland fair
Iis sorrow and its solace
And lift our glasses in the air
To you and William Wallace
And to the Clan that bears his name
My sisters and my brothers
I'd rather be a man in your eyes
Than a king in any others.
An excerpt from the prologue of the book
"Historians agree on only a few facts about Wallace's life, and yet they cannot dispute that his life was epic. There were times when I tried myself to be a fair historian, but life is not all about balance, it's about passion, and this story raised my passions. I had to see through the eyes of a poet.
No one knows what William Wallace whispered into the ear of the woman he loved most. No one else heard the words he spoke to God when he prayed. And the words he shouted to his army, when the men who fought behind him were desperately outnumbered, were recorded only in their hearts and can be read there.
In my heart, this is exactly how it happened..."
*R. Wallace*
Scots Wha Hae
Robert Burns
Scots, wha hae wi Wallace bled,
Scots, wham Bruce has aften led,
Welcome to your gory bed,
Or to victorie!
Now's the day, and now's the hour;
See the front o' battle lour;
See approach proud Edward's power -
Chains and slaverie!
Wha will be a traitor-knave?
Wha can fill a coward's grave?
Wha sae base as be a slave?
Let him turn and flee!
Wha for Scotland's king and law
Freedom's sword will strongly draw,
Freeman stand, or freeman fa'
Let him follow me!
By oppression's woes and pains!
By your sons in servile chains!
We will drain our dearest veins,
But they shall be free!
Lay the proud usurpers low!
Tyrants fall in ev'ry foe!
Liberty's in ev'ry blow! -
"I cannot be a traitor, since I never swore fealty to the English king."-- William Wallace, defending himself against charges of treason.
