The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #70688   Message #1209420
Posted By: jack halyard
17-Jun-04 - 04:31 PM
Thread Name: Folklore: Braveheart...again
Subject: RE: Folklore: Braveheart...again
On another tack, the term "Brave heart" had nothing to do with Wallace.
According to legend, James Douglas "The Black Douglas" went on a crusade after the Bruce's death, with Bruce's heart in a casket.
Bruce had asked that his heart be taken on the crusade, since by his death, he could not go.
In the heat of a particularly savage engagement, Douglas is said to have cried "Lead, brave heart, and Douglas will follow." and threw the casket into the midst of the fray, carving his way after it. The tale has it that these were the circumstances of James Douglas's death.

This does not demean the immense heroism and leadership of the Wallace and his meaning to the Scots, it's just a reminder that-as was said previously by Lady Jean, any resemblance between "Braveheart and history was purely coincidental."