Blind Harry facts for kids

Blind Harry by Alexander Stoddart

Blind Harry (born around 1440, died 1492) was a famous Scottish minstrel. He was also known as Harry or Henry the Minstrel. He is best known for writing a long poem called The Actes and Deidis of the Illustre and Vallyeant Campioun Schir William Wallace. Most people just call it The Wallace. This poem tells the life story of William Wallace, a Scottish hero who fought for Scotland's freedom. Blind Harry wrote it around 1477, about 172 years after Wallace died.

Who Was Blind Harry?

We don't know much about Blind Harry's life. One important source is the old financial records of the Lord High Treasurer. These records show payments made to Harry between 1473 and 1492. He performed at the court of King James IV.

The King often gave Harry money as a gift, especially at New Year. This was similar to other people who worked at the court. The last time Harry is mentioned in these records is on January 2, 1492. This payment was likely for singing a song with two Gaelic harp players.

Other writers also mentioned Harry. William Dunbar wrote about him in the early 1500s. Historian John Major also wrote about Harry in 1518. These writers disagreed on whether Harry was blind from birth. However, it seems very likely that Harry had some experience with military life.

His Famous Poem: The Wallace

Where Did the Story Come From?

Blind Harry said his poem was based on a book by Father John Blair. Father Blair was a childhood friend and personal chaplain to William Wallace. However, no one has ever seen this book in modern times. It might not have even existed.

Many experts today think Harry might have just said he used a book as a way to make his story seem more real. They believe The Wallace is actually based on old stories and traditions passed down by word of mouth in Scotland.

Most historians now see The Wallace as a story written in poem form. It was created at a time when many people in Scotland felt strongly against England. The poem is very long, with twelve parts. Some people wonder if Harry wrote the whole thing by himself.

Elspeth King, a historian, said that even with some mistakes, Harry's patriotic story helped keep Wallace famous as a hero. The famous Scottish poet Robert Burns was inspired by Harry's work. He even used some lines from The Wallace in his own poem, "Robert Bruce's Address to his Army at Bannockburn". Burns called these lines "a couplet worthy of Homer".

The oldest copy of The Wallace was written in 1488 by John Ramsay. This copy is kept at the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh.

What Critics Say

Some people, like John Major, have said that Harry's story of Wallace is not always true. Parts of it are different from other historical records from that time. For example, the poem says Wallace led an army to the edge of London. It also includes events that probably didn't happen before Wallace became a known historical figure.

The poem describes Wallace using disguises, like a monk, an old woman, or a potter, while he was hiding. It also says he traveled to France to get help for Scotland. In France, he supposedly beat two French champions and even a lion! Wallace then asks the French king, "Are there any more dogs you would have slain?"

Many people think Harry was not as good a poet as Barbour. Barbour wrote another famous Scottish poem, The Brus. Harry's poem might not have the same deep moral lessons. But Harry was better at making vivid pictures with his words. He was also good at describing exciting events. He may have known Latin and French, and sometimes his writing shows the influence of Chaucer.

In 1722, William Hamilton of Gilbertfield (around 1665–1751) made Harry's words easier to read. This new version was noticed by many famous poets. These included Robert Burns, Lord Byron, John Keats, and William Wordsworth. Harry's poem was also a key source for Randall Wallace when he wrote the movie Braveheart. In 1998, Elspeth King published Hamilton's text again, updated for modern readers, called Blind Harry's Wallace.

Wallace in Folklore

Blind Harry wrote about several battles that Wallace supposedly fought. However, historians today believe these battles never actually happened. Sometimes, people mistakenly refer to these battles as real historical events because they read about them in The Wallace.

Some of these battles that are now considered fictional include the "Battle of Loudoun Hill" in 1296 and the "Battle of Biggar" in 1297. The "Battle of Elcho Park" might also be made up. For example, some fans of Wallace have even built a monument at Loudoun Hill for the battle described by Harry. (It's important not to confuse this made-up battle with the real Battle of Loudoun Hill fought by Robert the Bruce.)

Another story told by Blind Harry is about a mass hanging of Scottish nobles at Ayr. This story is repeated in many places, including the movie Braveheart. But historians now believe this event also did not happen.