700 year old Declaration

I was in the city centre this morning and took the chance of going to see the Declaratioon of Arbroath in the National Museum of Scotland. It is the first time in 18 years it has been on display.

As the document is just over 700 years old and very fragile, no photography is permitted so this was the closest I got with the camera.

Despite the press hype a few days ago there was no long queue (albeit I arrived just as the museum opened). The panels describing the document were very interesting: I had not appreciated that it had only become known as the Declaration of Arbroath in more recent years. It is rumoured, but not proven, to have influenced the United States Declaration of Independence. The museum website carries more information and some photos as does the National Records of Scotland website- Google “NRS declaration of Arbroath”.

What is on display is apparently not the original but a ”file copy”. The original, addressed to Pope John XXII, has been lost. The aim of the letter was get the Pope to reassess his view on the long running Anglo-Scottish conflict and to assert Scottish Independence as a kingdom separate from England, despite the Scots having defeated the English at Bannockburn in 1314. It sought to seek recognition of Robert the Bruce as King of Scotland, which Edward II of England refused to do. The attempt failed as did peace efforts.

The “signing” was done by the barons and earls affixing their seals, 19 of the original possibly 50 seals still survive on this copy. The date was 6 April 1320 which is what has determined Tartan Day in the USA calendar.

Even if just a “file copy” it was fascinating to see.