Thursday, March 22, 2012

William Wallace and the Psalter

The primary source for much of what we know about William Wallace is Blind Harry's Wallace. It is a twelve-book, 11,877 stanza poem written by Blind Harry, also known as Henry the Minstrel, who lived c. 1440-1493, who claimed that he based it upon the writings of John Blair, a childhood friend of Wallace's. At the very end of the poem, at the last moments of Wallace's life as he is being executed in England, a very interesting section reads thus:

Wallace about him, from his Child-hood kept,
Where e'er he went, whither he walk'd or slept,
A Psalter Book, which he beseech'd the Knight,
Lord Clifford, might be brought into his Sight.
Which done, he caus'd a Priest upon the Place
To hold it open straight before his Face,
On which he look'd, sometimes his Eyes up cast,
Religiously unto his very last.
Then quickly came the Executioner who,
Gave him the fatal, and the Mortal blow.

Thus in Defence, that Hero ends his Days,
Of Scotland's Right, to his immortal Praise...

The psalms were important to William Wallace, let them be to us as well.

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God." (Col. 3:16)

The quote above is from the edition edited by William Hamilton of Gilbertfield, published 1722. (http://www.mostly-medieval.com/explore/intro.htm)

2 comments:

The Adams Family said...

Awesome~

Savories of life said...

My pastors daugher wrote a song book New Testement Hymns which you would love! If you want a copy I could send you one. Let me know by e-mail.In Him who saves Valerie
A pure heart breathes after PURITY. Ask, and it shall be given you—up to half the kingdom',. Lord, give me a pure heart! Let my heart have this inscription—Holiness to the Lord. He prizes a pure heart above RICHES.