Huh? The what? Google, it people.
Written in 1320, it was a declaration of independence by the Scottish
nobility from the English Crown and submitted to Pope John XXII. This
astonishing document was unknown to me until a few days ago. It came
to my attention from an article in a Scottish newspaper about the
impending election to decide if Scotland should, once and for all, be
an independent nation.
The reason I mention this, is because
it would seem to be the basis for our own Declaration of
Independence.
If you are Scots, please forgive my
heretical edits and encourage everyone to take the time to download
and read the entire document. The full text is easily available from
many websites.
…..............................
Declaration of Arbroath [edited]I
...The Britons they first drove out,
the Picts they utterly destroyed, and, even though very often
assailed by the Norwegians, the Danes and the English, they took
possession of that home with many victories and untold efforts; and,
as the historians of old time bear witness, they have held it free of
all bondage ever since
...The Most Holy Fathers your
predecessors gave careful heed to these things and bestowed many
favours and numerous privileges on this same kingdom and people, as
being the special charge of the Blessed Peter's brother.
Thus our nation under their
protection did indeed live in freedom and peace up to the time when
that mighty prince the King of the English, Edward, the father of the
one who reigns today, when our kingdom had no head and our people
harboured no malice or treachery and were then unused to wars or
invasions, came in the guise of a friend and ally to harass them as
an enemy.
The deeds of cruelty, massacre,
violence, pillage, arson, imprisoning prelates, burning down
monasteries, robbing and killing monks and nuns, and yet other
outrages without number which he committed against our people,
sparing neither age nor sex, religion nor rank, no one could describe
nor fully imagine unless he had seen them with his own eyes.
But from these countless evils we
have been set free, by the help of Him Who though He afflicts yet
heals and restores, by our most tireless Prince, King and Lord, the
Lord Robert.
He, that his people and his heritage
might be delivered out of the hands of our enemies, met toil and
fatigue, hunger and peril, like another Macabaeus or Joshua and bore
them cheerfully.
...It is in truth not for glory, nor
riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom - for that
alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself.
...May it please you to admonish and
exhort the King of the English, who ought to be satisfied with what
belongs to him since England used once to be enough for seven kings
or more, to leave us Scots in peace, who live in this poor little
Scotland, beyond which there is no dwelling-place at all, and covet
nothing but our own.
...Then rouse the Christian princes
who for false reasons pretend that they cannot go to help of the Holy
Land because of wars they have on hand with their neighbours.
...But how cheerfully our Lord the
King and we too would go there if the King of the English would leave
us in peace, He from Whom nothing is hidden well knows; and we
profess and declare it to you as the Vicar of Christ and to all
Christendom.
...To conclude, we are and shall
ever be, as far as duty calls us, ready to do your will in all
things, as obedient sons to you as His Vicar; and to Him as the
Supreme King and Judge we commit the maintenance of our cause,
casting our cares upon Him and firmly trusting that He will inspire
us with courage and bring our enemies to nought.
May the Most High preserve you to his Holy Church in holiness and
health and grant you length of days...
