Shortened transcript of the Declaration of Arbroath, 1320

1. The historic strength of the Scots
Most Holy Father, we find that among other famous nations our own, the Scots, has been graced with widespread renown, but nowhere could it be subdued by any people, however barbarous. The Britons it first drove out, the Picts it utterly destroyed, and, even though very often attacked by the Norwegians, the Danes and the English, it took possession of that home with many victories and untold efforts; and, as the histories of old time bear witness, they have held it free of all servitude [slavery] ever since.

2. Scotland's 'ally', King Edward I of England
Thus our people 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, came in a 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.

3. Scotland's rescue by King Robert
But from these countless evils we have been set free by our most tireless prince, King and lord, the lord Robert. To him, we are bound both by his right and by his merits that our freedom may be still maintained, and by him, come what may, we mean to stand.

4. Scotland's declaration
Yet if he should give up what he has begun, seeking to make us or our kingdom subject to the King of England or the English, we should exert ourselves at once to drive him out as our enemy and a subverter of his own right and ours, and make some other man who was well able to defend us our King; for, 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.

5. Scotland's request
Therefore it is, Reverend Father and Lord that we beseech your Holiness that you will look with the eyes of a father on the troubles brought by the English upon us and upon the Church of God. May it please you to warn and urge the King of the English, who ought to be satisfied with what belongs to him, to leave us Scots in peace.

6. Conclusion
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 firmly trusting that He will inspire us with courage and bring our enemies to nothing.

Given at the monastery of Arbroath in Scotland on the sixth day of the month of April in the year of grace thirteen hundred and twenty and the fifteenth year of the reign of our King aforesaid.

NAS: State papers: SP13/7