Latest / The Story of Scotland: Clans, Crowns, and the Fight for Identity — Fexingo History / The Declaration of Arbroath: Scotland's Letter of Freedom
Transcript
- Lucas: If you've been stepping into history with us episode by episode, you'll know we've spent a lot of time on battles — Bannockburn, Flodden, Culloden. But there's one document that's arguably more important than any single fight. It's a letter. Written in 1320, from Arbroath to the Pope. Luna: The Declaration of Arbroath. Lucas: Exactly. And it's often called the most famous piece of parchment in Scottish history. But what it actually says — and what it was trying to achieve — is more layered than the popular version. The letter was sent to Pope John XXII in Avignon. At the time, the Pope had excommunicated Robert the Bruce for murdering John Comyn in a church in 1306, and he hadn't recognised Bruce as king. Luna: So the letter was lobbying for papal recognition of Scottish independence? Lucas: That's the core of it. The barons and nobles of Scotland — fifty-one of them, plus the earls — attached their seals. The letter argued that Scotland had always been independent, going back to the ancient Scots who came from Scythia via Ireland. That part is legendary, not historical, but it shows how they framed the case. They said that Robert the Bruce had rescued them from English oppression, like a new Joshua or Judas Maccabeus. Luna: It's a very biblical frame. Lucas: That's deliberate. The Pope was the highest moral authority in Europe. You had to speak his language. The letter was almost certainly drafted by Bernard of Linton, the Abbot of Arbroath and the King's chancellor. He was a skilled diplomat and theologian. And the key line — the one everyone quotes — comes near the end: 'for as long as but a hundred of us remain alive, never will we on any conditions be brought under English rule. 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.' Luna: That's powerful. And it's often compared to later declarations of independence, like the American one. Lucas: It is. And there's a real connection. The signers of the American Declaration knew about it. But we have to be careful about reading modern ideas of democracy into it. The Declaration of Arbroath wasn't about individual liberty. It was about the liberty of the Scottish nation — the communitas regni, the community of the realm. And it also contained a threat: if Robert the Bruce ever agreed to submit to England, the barons would depose him and choose another king. That's the bit that sounds revolutionary — the idea that the king is answerable to the people. Luna: So they were saying: we back you, but only as long as you fight for us. Lucas: Exactly. It's a conditional loyalty. And the Pope did eventually respond. In 1324, he recognised Robert as King of Scots. The letter worked. But the real impact came later. The Declaration was copied into the register of the Abbey, and it survived. When the union debates happened in 1707, it was cited. When the Stone of Destiny was taken in 1296, people remembered this document. It's become a symbol of national identity. Luna: And it was written in Latin, of course. Lucas: Yes. The original is in Latin, on parchment, with fifty-one seals hanging from it. Some of those seals are lost now. The document itself is held by the National Archives of Scotland. But there's also a copy in the Abbey archives at Arbroath. And you can see the seal of Robert the Bruce — a lion rampant, the same symbol that would become the royal standard. Interestingly, the letter calls Bruce 'Robert I' — his official title. But the Pope at that point still referred to him as 'Lord Robert', not king. So the letter was a big push for recognition. Luna: And it worked, eventually. Lucas: It did. But it took another four years. And it also helped that Bruce's military position was strong after Bannockburn in 1314. The letter was part of a diplomatic campaign. There were also letters sent to the cardinals and to the King of France. The whole thing was orchestrated. Bernard of Linton was a master strategist. He even included a clause that if the Pope didn't listen, the Scots would appeal to a future Pope or a general council. That's a very clever move — it puts moral pressure on the Pope directly. Luna: I'm curious about the line 'not for glory, nor riches, nor honours' — because that sounds like it could be from a Hollywood movie. Lucas: It does. And it's genuinely stirring. But it's important to know that the Latin original reads: 'Non enim propter gloriam, divitias aut honores pugnamus, sed propter libertatem.' The word libertas here is key — it means freedom, but in a very specific sense. It's the freedom of the nation from external domination. It's not about individual rights. That nuance sometimes gets lost. And the line about 'a hundred of us' — that's also a rhetorical flourish. But it worked then, and it still works now. The Declaration was read out at the opening of the Scottish Parliament in 1999. Luna: So it's a living document, in a way. Lucas: Absolutely. It's taught in schools, it's referenced in political speeches. But there's also a myth around it. Some people think it was signed by everyone at Arbroath Abbey, like a treaty. Actually, the seals were attached over time, probably at a parliament in Newbattle or elsewhere. The letter was drawn up by the barons, but the final version was sealed in Arbroath. And not all the seals are original — some were added later to show support. So it's a complex artefact. But its power is undeniable. Luna: This episode has been really useful — it's one of those documents you hear about but never get to explore properly. And I know this show stays ad-free because of listener support. If you found this valuable, buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo helps keep us going. Lucas: Yeah, that's exactly right. And it really does make a difference. So back to the Declaration — the letter itself is about seventy centimetres wide, made from sheepskin. It's surprisingly large. And the handwriting is clear, in a chancery script. You can almost imagine Bernard of Linton dictating it, pacing around the abbey cloister. Luna: Was there any direct reply from the Pope? Lucas: The Pope sent a letter back in 1320, but it was non-committal. It wasn't until 1324 that he formally recognised Robert as king. And even then, it was conditional — he wanted the Scots to make peace with England. But the Declaration had done its job: it put Scotland on the diplomatic map. And it created a precedent: a nation could argue its case in writing, using the language of liberty. That idea didn't die. It echoed down the centuries. Luna: It's amazing that a single piece of parchment could have so much influence. Lucas: It is. And it's worth remembering that the Declaration of Arbroath was not an isolated document. There were similar declarations from other medieval kingdoms — but none quite as eloquent or as enduring. The combination of religious language, political savvy, and raw emotion made it special. And the fact that it's still debated and quoted today shows that sometimes, words can be mightier than swords. Luna: So if someone wanted to read the actual text, where would they find it? Lucas: There are translations online, including on the National Records of Scotland website. The original Latin is also available. I'd encourage people to read it — it's not very long, maybe a thousand words. And you'll see the line about freedom, but also the threat to depose the king. It's a remarkable piece of political philosophy for its time. And it raises the question: what does sovereignty mean? For the Scots in 1320, it meant that the king served the nation, not the other way around. Luna: I think that's why it still resonates. Lucas: Exactly. It's a vision of a nation where the ruler is accountable. And that idea, in various forms, shows up in the Scottish Reformation, in the Covenanters, in the union debates. It's a thread that runs through Scottish history. The Declaration of Arbroath is its most famous expression.