Gude Wallace
Encyclopedia
Gude Wallace is Child ballad 157, recounting in ballad
form an exploit of William Wallace
from the fourth book of Blind Harry
's The Wallace
. There are a number of variants, including two different stories.
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.
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
form an exploit of William Wallace
William Wallace
Sir William Wallace was a Scottish knight and landowner who became one of the main leaders during the Wars of Scottish Independence....
from the fourth book of Blind Harry
Blind Harry
Blind Harry , 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, also known as The Wallace...
's The Wallace
The Actes and Deidis of the Illustre and Vallyeant Campioun Schir William Wallace
The Actes and Deidis of the Illustre and Vallyeant Campioun Schir William Wallace, also known as The Wallace, is a long "romantic biographical" poem by the fifteenth century Scottish makar of the name Blind Harry probably at some time in the decade before 1488...
. 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.