William Wallace was the second son of Sir Malcolm Wallace of Elderslie, and of his wife Margaret, daughter of Sir Reginald Crawford of Crosby, hereditary Sheriff of Ayr. Blind Harry, a perfervid Scot himself, and keenly jealous for the perfection of his hero, exhibits lively anxiety to impress the fact that Wallace was a thorough Scotsman--' of whole lineage and true line of Scotland.' Sir Malcolm, he says, at his marriage, 'Elderslie then had in heritage, Auchinbothie, and other sundry place. The great-grandson he was of good Wallace, The which Wallace full worthily then wrought When Walter her of Wales from Warin sought.' And for further information he refers to the history of 'the right line of the first Steward.' He does not pursue the female line.