WALLACE, Sir WI! Li AM (c.1272-13051. A Scotch patriot. Ile was the second son of Malcolm Wallace, a small landed proprietor. His biog rapher, Blind /tarry, who lived 200 years later, hail access to sources now lost and gives a very full account of the hero: but unfortunately his statements are in some eases selleontradietory, and in many cases improbable. Aceording to this writer Wallace in his youth performed prodigious feats of valor in killing Englishmen. His first authentic appearance was in May, 1297. John de Wareune was then ruling Scotland, as the representative of Edward 1. of England, and Eng lish nheriffs were placed over many of the shires. At the head of a band of about 30 men Wallace burned Lanark and killed the English sheriff. :Many of the Scote1i joined his hand, which lie quickly formed into a well-disciplined army. He plundered Scone, drove out English priests and friars who held Scotch benefices, and after ravag ing much of the country, laid siege to Dundee. An English army of over 30,000 was sent against him. At Stirling Bridge. September 1/, 1207, Wallace, who had a considerably smaller army, won a great victory. Edinburgh and Stirling soon fell into his power: Roxburgh. Haddington, and other towns were burned. His success was so complete that before October 18th he was in vading England. He harried Northumberland, Westmoreland, and Cumberland and returned to Scotland about the end of the year, For a few months he was generally recognized as guardian of th • realm. in the meantime Edward I. was
preparing to reconquer Scotland. On July 22, 1298, he inflicted a crushing defeat upon Wallace at the battle of Falkirk (q.v.). At least 10.000 were killed and Wallace was forced to re treat. From this time we have little knowledge of his actions. He resigned the office of guardian, went to Prance to seek aid. and may have gone to Rome, lint the last is uncertain, as movements from 1299 to 1303 cannot be traced. In the summer of 1304 it is certain that he was again fighting against Edward: he was especially from the general amnesty offered to the other leaders, and was outlawed. After many at tempts to capture him had failed, he was taken by Sir John de Menteith in 1305. On August 23d he was placed on trial in Westminster Hall. He was convicted the same day and condemned to be hanged, drawn, beheaded, and quartered. The sentence was executed on the following day. Blind Harry's Life of Wallace has been edited frequently. The best editions are by Jameson (Edinburgh. 1820) and Moir (Scottish Text So ciety, Edinburgh. 1885-89). Consult also: Moir, Fir 11 illi«nr Wallace (Aberdeen. 1886) Murison. S'iz William Wallace (Edinburgh, 1898). Pauli, in his lIcsrltichte Enylanils (Hamburg. /8531, gives a good account of Wallace's services to Scotland.