Gude Wallace is
Child ballad 157, recounting in
ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads derive from the medieval French ''chanson balladée'' or ''ballade'', which were originally "dance songs". Ballads were particularly characteristic of the popular poetry and ...
form an exploit of
William Wallace
Sir William Wallace ( gd, Uilleam Uallas, ; Norman French: ; 23 August 1305) was a Scottish knight who became one of the main leaders during the First War of Scottish Independence.
Along with Andrew Moray, Wallace defeated an English army ...
from the fourth book of
Blind Harry
Blind Harry ( 1440 – 1492), also known as Harry, Hary or Henry the Minstrel, 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 wa ...
's ''
The Wallace''. There are a number of variants, including two different stories.
Synopsis
In one set of variants, the Englishmen threaten his mistress to make her betray him. When he arrives, she confesses. He forgives her, borrows her clothing, and makes his escape. In some of these, the ballad then goes on to include the events in the other set.
In another, Wallace asks a woman for news, hears of English soldiers hunting for him, goes up to them in disguise and kills a number, and returns home to dine with his men.
External links
''Gude Wallace''
Child Ballads
Year of song unknown
Songwriter unknown
{{Folk-song-stub