The Declaration of Arbroath, is without a doubt the most precious and treasured historical document in the National Archives of Scotland.
Our own Declaration of independence was modeled after the Declaration of Arbroath.
The document was written in 1320 as a request to the Pope for Scotland to be recognized as an independent nation. The signatories of the Declaration pledged their allegiance to Robert the Bruce and acknowledged him as their King. Finally after three years the Pope recognized Robert the Bruce as King of Scotland.
Some of the most poignant words in the Declaration are:
“For as long as but one hundred of us remain alive, we will never on any conditions submit to the domination of the English. It is not for glory or riches, nor honours that we fight, but for freedom alone, which no good man gives up except with his life.”