William Wallace: A Scottish Hero

By Juan Antonio Heredia Rúiz  (4º ESO-B)

The men whom English King Edward the First (1239-1307) appointed to govern the Scots ruled unwisely and nearly all the people were discontented.

 Suddenly an army of Scots was raised. It was led by Sir William Wallace (Uilleam Uallas), a knight who was almost a giant in size. William Wallace’s men drove the English out of the country and Wallace was made the «Guardian of the Realm.»

 King Edward then led a great army against him at the Battle of Falkirk (1298). The Scottish soldiers were nearly all on foot. Wallace arranged them in hollow squares, spearmen on the outside, bowmen within. The English horsemen dashed vainly against the walls of spear-points. But King Edward now brought his archers to the front. Thousands of arrows flew from their bows and thousands of William Wallace’s men fell dead. The spears were broken and the Scots were defeated.

Wallace barely escaped with his life. He was afterwards betrayed to King Edward, who cruelly put him to death. He was hung, drawn and quartered in Smithfield, London.