The Declaration of Arbroath

"As long as a hundred of us remain alive, never will we on any conditions be subjected to the lordship of the English. It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself".

These are the best known words in the Declaration of Arbroath, foremost among Scotland's state papers and the most famous historical record held by National Records of Scotland. The Declaration is a letter written in 1320 by the barons and whole community of the kingdom of Scotland to the pope, asking him to recognise Scotland's independence and acknowledge Robert the Bruce as the country's lawful king.

The Declaration of Arbroath, 6 April 1320

Mike Brooks © Queen’s Printer for Scotland, National Records of Scotland, SP13/7

The Declaration was written in Latin and was sealed by eight earls and about forty barons. Over the centuries various copies and translations have been made, including a microscopic edition.

Scottish Independence

The Declaration was written during the long war of independence with England which started with Edward I's attempt to conquer Scotland in 1296. When the deaths of Alexander III and his granddaughter Margaret, Maid of Norway, left Scotland without a monarch, Edward used the invitation to help choose a successor as an excuse to revive English claims of overlordship. When the Scots resisted, he invaded.

Detail of the Declaration of Arbroath, 6 April 1320

Mike Brooks © Queen’s Printer for Scotland, National Records of Scotland, SP13/7

Edward refused to allow William Wallace's victory at Stirling Bridge in 1297 to derail his campaign. In 1306 Robert the Bruce seized the throne and began a long struggle to secure his position against internal and external threat. His success at Bannockburn in 1314, when he defeated an English army under Edward II, was a major achievement, but the English still did not recognise Scotland's independence or Bruce's position as king.

On the European front, by 1320 Scottish relations with the papacy were in crisis after the Scots defied papal efforts to establish a truce with England. When the pope excommunicated Robert I and three of his barons, the Scots sent the Declaration of Arbroath as part of a diplomatic counter-offensive. The pope wrote to Edward II urging him to make peace, but it was not until 1328 that Scotland's independence was acknowledged.

Detail of the Declaration of Arbroath showing seals, 6 April 1320

Mike Brooks © Queen’s Printer for Scotland, National Records of Scotland, SP13/7

Detail of the Declaration of Arbroath showing seals, 6 April 1320

Mike Brooks © Queen’s Printer for Scotland, National Records of Scotland, SP13/7

The Declaration was probably drawn up by Bernard, Abbot of Arbroath. It was authenticated by seals, as documents at that time were not signed. Only 19 seals now remain of what might have been 50 originally, and many are in poor condition.

This is a digital 3D model of the seal of Alexander Fraser, one of several seals affixed to the Declaration. The seals of David Graham and Marie Ramsay have also been digitally captured. These can be viewed on the NRS Youtube channel, or you can manipulate and download the file to 3D print these seals on Sketchfab. Further details are noted in the Resources section below.

You can read more about the Declaration of Arbroath and its history with NRS below, and in the 'Declaration of Arbroath Booklet' available for download. 

Zoomify Image of the Declaration of Arbroath