View source for Declaration of Arbroath

{{Short description|1320 letter to Pope John XXII affirming Scottish independence from England}}
{{ref improve|date=April 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}
 [[File:Declaration of arbroath.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|The '[[Tyninghame]]' copy of the Declaration from 1320, in the [[National Archives of Scotland]]]]
 
The '''Declaration of Arbroath''' ({{langx|la|Declaratio Arbroathis}}; {{langx|sco|Declaration o Aiberbrothock}}; {{langx|gd|Tiomnadh Bhruis}}) is the name usually given to a letter, dated 6 April 1320 at [[Arbroath]], written by Scottish barons and addressed to [[Pope John XXII]].<ref name=":0">{{Citation|title=A Dictionary of British History|date=2015-07-23|url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780191758027.001.0001/acref-9780191758027-e-168|editor-last=Cannon|editor-first=John|chapter=Arbroath, declaration of|edition=3rd|publisher=Oxford University Press|language=en|doi=10.1093/acref/9780191758027.001.0001|isbn=978-0-19-175802-7|access-date=2020-04-06|editor2-last=Crowcroft|editor2-first=Robert|url-access=subscription}}</ref> It constituted [[Robert the Bruce|King Robert I's]] response to his [[excommunication]] for disobeying the pope's demand in 1317 for a truce in the [[First War of Scottish Independence]].<ref name=":1">{{Citation|last=Webster|first=Bruce|title=The Oxford Companion to British History|date=2015|url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780199677832.001.0001/acref-9780199677832-e-3628|editor-last=Crowcroft|editor-first=Robert|chapter=Robert I|publisher=Oxford University Press|language=en|doi=10.1093/acref/9780199677832.001.0001|isbn=978-0-19-967783-2|access-date=2020-04-06|editor2-last=Cannon|editor2-first=John|url-access=subscription}}</ref> The letter asserted the antiquity of the independence of the [[Kingdom of Scotland]], denouncing English attempts to subjugate it.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

Generally believed to have been written in [[Arbroath Abbey]] by [[Bernard of Kilwinning]] (or of Linton), then [[Lord Chancellor of Scotland|Chancellor of Scotland]] and [[Abbot of Arbroath]],{{sfn|Scott|1999|p=196}} and sealed by fifty-one [[magnate]]s and [[nobles]], the letter is the sole survivor of three created at the time. The others were a letter from the [[King of Scots]], [[Robert I of Scotland|Robert I]], and a letter from four Scottish bishops which all made similar points. The ''Declaration'' was intended to assert Scotland's status as an [[sovereign state|independent, sovereign state]] and defend [[Scotland]]'s right to use military action when unjustly attacked.

Submitted in [[Latin]], the ''Declaration'' was little known until the late 17th century, and is unmentioned by any of Scotland's major 16th-century historians.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-52165307|title=The most famous letter in Scottish history?|date=2020-04-06|work=BBC News|access-date=2020-04-06|language=en-GB}}</ref> In the 1680s, the Latin text was [[Printing|printed]] for the first time and translated into English in the wake of the [[Glorious Revolution]], after which time it was sometimes described as a [[declaration of independence]].<ref name=":0" />

== Overview ==
[[File:Declaration of Arbroath.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|right|The Declaration of Arbroath included in the text of the ''[[Scotichronicon]]'' in the [[British Library]].]]
The ''Declaration'' was part of a broader diplomatic campaign, which sought to assert Scotland's position as an independent kingdom,{{sfn|Barrow|1984}} rather than its being a feudal land controlled by England's Norman kings, as well as to lift the excommunication of Robert the Bruce.{{sfn|Lynch|1992}} The pope had recognised [[Edward I of England]]'s claim to [[Overlord|overlordship]] of Scotland in 1305 and Bruce was excommunicated by the Pope for murdering [[John Comyn III of Badenoch|John Comyn]] before the [[Altar in the Catholic Church|altar]] at [[Greyfriars Church, Dumfries|Greyfriars Church in Dumfries]] in 1306.{{sfn|Lynch|1992}} This excommunication was lifted in 1308; subsequently the pope threatened Robert with excommunication again if Avignon's demands in 1317 for peace with [[Kingdom of England|England]] were ignored.<ref name=":1" /> Warfare continued, and in 1320 John XXII again excommunicated Robert I.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book|url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/medieval-britain-c10001500/scotland-13061513/01D91960B24A2EE2125284983B7F600C|title=Scotland, 1306–1513|last=Crouch|first=David|date=2018|website=Medieval Britain, c. 1000–1500|series=Cambridge History of Britain|publisher=Cambridge University Press|pages=309–328|language=en|doi=10.1017/9780511844379|isbn=9780511844379|access-date=2020-04-06}}</ref> In reply, the ''Declaration'' was composed and signed and, in response, the papacy rescinded King Robert Bruce's excommunication and thereafter addressed him using his [[Imperial, royal and noble ranks|royal title]].<ref name=":1" />

The wars of Scottish independence began as a result of the deaths of [[Alexander III of Scotland|King Alexander III of Scotland]] in 1286 and his heir the "[[Margaret, Maid of Norway|Maid of Norway]]" in 1290, which left the throne of Scotland vacant and the subsequent succession crisis of 1290–1296 ignited a struggle among the [[Competitors for the Crown of Scotland]], chiefly between the [[Clan Cumming|House of Comyn]], the [[House of Balliol]], and the [[Clan Bruce|House of Bruce]] who all claimed the crown. After July 1296's deposition of [[John Balliol|King John Balliol]] by Edward of England and then February 1306's killing of John Comyn III, Robert Bruce's rivals to the throne of Scotland were gone, and Robert was crowned king at Scone that year.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book|chapter-url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/medieval-britain-c10001500/redefining-britain-12171327/B041998C26C482864442341D97CDC788|chapter=Redefining Britain, 1217–1327|last=Crouch|first=David|title=Medieval Britain, c. 1000–1500|year=2018|website=Medieval Britain, c. 1000–1500|series=Cambridge History of Britain|publisher=Cambridge University Press|page=299|language=en|doi=10.1017/9780511844379.013|isbn=9780511844379|access-date=2020-04-06}}</ref> Edward I, the "Hammer of Scots", died in 1307; his son and successor Edward II did not renew his father's campaigns in Scotland.<ref name=":4" /> In 1309 a parliament held at St Andrews acknowledged Robert's right to rule, received emissaries from the [[Kingdom of France]] recognising the Bruce's title, and proclaimed the independence of the kingdom from England.<ref name=":4" />

By 1314 only [[Edinburgh]], [[Berwick-upon-Tweed]], [[Roxburgh]], and [[Stirling]] remained in English hands. In June 1314 the [[Battle of Bannockburn]] had secured Robert Bruce's position as King of Scots; Stirling, the [[Central Belt]], and much of [[Lothian]] came under Robert's control while the defeated [[Edward II of England|Edward II]]'s power on escaping to England via Berwick weakened under the sway of his cousin [[Henry, 3rd Earl of Lancaster|Henry, Earl of Lancaster]].<ref name=":3" /> King Robert was thus able to consolidate his power, and sent his brother [[Edward Bruce]] to claim the [[Kingdom of Ireland]] in 1315 with an army landed in [[Ulster]] the previous year with the help of Gaelic lords from the [[Lord of the Isles|Isles]].<ref name=":3" /> Edward Bruce died in 1318 without achieving success, but the Scots campaigns in Ireland and in northern England were intended to press for the recognition of Robert's crown by King Edward.<ref name=":3" /> At the same time, it undermined the [[House of Plantagenet|House of Plantagenet's]] claims to overlordship of the British Isles and halted the Plantagenets' effort to absorb Scotland as had been done in Ireland and Wales. Thus were the Scots nobles confident in their letters to Pope John of the distinct and independent nature of Scotland's kingdom; the ''Declaration of Arbroath'' was one such. According to historian [[David Crouch (historian)|David Crouch]], "The two nations were mutually hostile kingdoms and peoples, and the ancient idea of Britain as an informal empire of peoples under the English king's presidency was entirely dead."<ref name=":4" />

The text describes the ancient history of Scotland, in particular the ''[[Scoti]]'', the [[Gaels|Gaelic]] forebears of the [[Scottish people|Scots]] who the ''Declaration'' claims have origins in [[Scythia|''Scythia Major'']] prior to migrating via Spain to [[Great Britain]] "1,200 years from the [[Crossing the Red Sea|Israelite people's crossing of the Red Sea]]".{{efn|{{Langx|la|Undeque veniens post mille et ducentos annos a transitu populi israelitici per mare rubrum|links=no}} }} The ''Declaration'' describes how the Scots had "thrown out the [[Celtic Britons|Britons]] and completely destroyed the [[Picts]]",{{efn|{{Langx|la|expulsis primo Britonibus et Pictis omnino deletis|links=no}} }} resisted the invasions of "the Norse, the Danes and the English",{{efn|{{Langx|la|licet per Norwagienses, Dacos et Anglicos sepius inpugnata fuerit|links=no}} }} and "held itself ever since, free from all slavery".{{efn|{{Langx|la|ipsaque ab omni seruitute liberas, semper tenuit|links=no}} }} It then claims that in the Kingdom of Scotland, "one hundred and thirteen kings have reigned of their own [[Royal descent|Blood Royal]], without interruption by foreigners".{{efn|{{Langx|la|In quorum Regno Centum et Tredescim Reges de ipsorum Regali prosapia, nullo alienigena interueniente, Regnauerunt|links=no}} }} The text compares Robert Bruce with the Biblical warriors [[Judah Maccabee]] and [[Joshua]].{{efn|{{Langx|la|quasi alter Machabeus aut Josue|links=no}} }}

The ''Declaration'' made a number of points: that Edward I of England had unjustly attacked Scotland and perpetrated atrocities; that Robert the Bruce had delivered the Scottish nation from this peril; and, most controversially, that the independence of Scotland was the prerogative of the Scottish people, rather than the King of Scots.

==Debates==
Some have interpreted this last point as an early expression of [[popular sovereignty]]{{sfn|McLean|2005|p=247}}&nbsp;– that government is contractual and that kings can be chosen by the community rather than by God alone. It has been considered to be the first statement of the contractual theory of monarchy underlying modern constitutionalism.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Cowan|first=Edward|title="for freedom alone": The declaration of arbroath, 1320|publisher=Birlinn Ltd|year=2013|isbn=978-1-84158-632-8|location=Edinburgh|pages=50}}</ref> 

It has also been argued that the ''Declaration'' was not a statement of popular sovereignty (and that its signatories would have had no such concept){{sfn|Kellas|1998|p=35}} but a statement of royal propaganda supporting Bruce's faction.<ref>{{cite book|last=Fugelso|first=Karl|title=Memory and medievalism|year=2007|publisher=D. S. Brewer|isbn=978-1-84384-115-9|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m542R9ygB3QC&pg=PA138|page=138}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=McCracken-Flesher|first=Caroline|title=Culture, nation, and the new Scottish parliament |year=2006|publisher=Bucknell University Press|isbn=978-0-8387-5547-1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YInDkqRVQOwC&pg=PA246|page=246}}</ref> A justification had to be given for the rejection of [[John of Scotland|King John Balliol]] in whose name [[William Wallace]] and [[Andrew de Moray]] had rebelled in 1297. The reason given in the ''Declaration'' is that Bruce was able to defend Scotland from English aggression whereas King John could not.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Robert Allan Houston|author2=William Knox|author3=National Museums of Scotland|title=The new Penguin history of Scotland: from the earliest times to the present day|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HhQTAQAAIAAJ|year=2001|publisher=Allen Lane|isbn=9780140263671}}{{page needed|date=April 2016}}</ref>
{{Blockquote|To this man, in as much as he saved our people, and for upholding our freedom, we are bound by right as much as by his merits, and choose to follow him in all that he does.}}
Whatever the true motive, the idea of a contract between King and people was advanced to the Pope as a justification for Bruce's coronation whilst John de Balliol, who had abdicated the Scottish throne, still lived as a Papal prisoner.{{sfn|Barrow|1984}}

There is also recent scholarship that suggests that the Declaration was substantially derived from the [[Irish Remonstrance of 1317|1317 Irish Remonstrance]], also sent in protest of English actions. There are substantial similarities in content between the 1317 Irish Remonstrance and the Declaration of Arbroath, produced three years later. It is also clear that the drafters of the Declaration of Arbroath would have access to the 1317 Irish Remonstrance, it having been circulated to Scotland in addition to the Pope. It has been suggested therefore that the 1317 Remonstrance was a "prototype" for the Declaration of Arbroath, suggesting Irish-Scottish cooperation in attempts to protest against English interference.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Duffy |first=Seán |date=2022-12-13 |title=The Irish Remonstrance: Prototype for the Declaration of Arbroath |url=https://www.euppublishing.com/doi/10.3366/shr.2022.0576 |journal=Scottish Historical Review |volume=101 |issue=3 |pages=395–428 |language=en |doi=10.3366/shr.2022.0576|s2cid=254676295 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

==Signatories==
There are 39 names—eight [[earl]]s and thirty-one [[baron]]s—at the start of the document, all of whom may have had their seals appended, probably over the space of some time, possibly weeks, with nobles sending in their seals to be used. The folded foot of the document shows that at least eleven additional barons and freeholders (who were not noble) who were not listed on the head were associated with the letter. On the extant copy of the ''Declaration'' there are only 19 seals, and of those 19 people only 12 are named within the document. It is thought likely that at least 11 more seals than the original 39 might have been appended.<ref>{{cite web | title = The seals on the Declaration of Arbroath | publisher = National Archives of Scotland  | url = http://www.nas.gov.uk/about/doaSeals.asp | access-date = 2 September 2011}}</ref> The ''Declaration'' was then taken to the [[papal court]] at [[Avignon Papacy|Avignon]] by  [[Adam_de_Gordon,_Lord_of_Gordon|Sir Adam Gordon]], Sir Odard de Maubuisson, and [[Alexander_de_Kininmund_(died_1380)|Bishop Kininmund]] who was not yet a bishop and probably included for his scholarship.{{sfn|Barrow|1984}}
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The Pope heeded the arguments contained in the ''Declaration'', influenced by the offer of support from the Scots for his long-desired crusade if they no longer had to fear English invasion. He exhorted Edward II in a letter to make peace with the Scots. However, it did not lead to his recognising Robert as King of Scots, and the following year was again persuaded by the English to take their side and issued six [[papal bull|bull]]s to that effect.{{sfn|Scott|1999|p=197}}

Eight years later, on 1 March 1328, the new English king, [[Edward III of England|Edward III]], signed a [[peace treaty]] between Scotland and [[Kingdom of England|England]], the [[Treaty of Edinburgh–Northampton]]. In this treaty, which was in effect  [[Second War of Scottish Independence#English invasion of Scotland, 1333|until 1333]], Edward renounced all English claims to Scotland. In October 1328, the interdict on Scotland, and the excommunication of its king, were removed by the Pope.{{sfn|Scott|1999|p=225}}

==Manuscript==
The original copy of the ''Declaration'' that was sent to Avignon is lost. The only existing manuscript copy of the ''Declaration'' survives among Scotland's state papers, measuring 540mm wide by 675mm long (including the seals), it is held by the [[National Archives of Scotland]] in [[Edinburgh]], a part of the [[National Records of Scotland]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.nas.gov.uk/about/090401.asp| title = National Archives of Scotland website feature| access-date = 4 April 2009| archive-date = 9 April 2009| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090409010616/http://www.nas.gov.uk/about/090401.asp| url-status = dead}}</ref> 

The most widely known English language translation was made by [[Sir James Fergusson, 8th Baronet|Sir James Fergusson]], formerly [[Keeper of the Records of Scotland]], from text that he reconstructed using this extant copy and early copies of the original draft. 

[[G. W. S. Barrow]] has shown that one passage in particular, often quoted from the Fergusson translation, was carefully written using different parts of ''[[The Conspiracy of Catiline]]'' by the Roman author, [[Sallust]] (86–35 BC) as the direct source:<ref>G. W. S. Barrow, "The idea of freedom", ''Innes Review'' 30 (1979) 16–34 (reprinted in G. W. S. Barrow, ''Scotland and its Neighbours in the Middle Ages'' (London, Hambledon, 1992), chapter 1)</ref>

{{quote|...&nbsp;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.}}

==List of signatories==

Listed below are the signatories of the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Brown |first1=Keith |title=The Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707 |url=http://www.rps.ac.uk/trans/1320/4/1 |website=Records of the Parliaments of Scotland |publisher=National Archives of Scotland |access-date=3 April 2020}}</ref>

The letter itself is written in Latin. It uses the Latin versions of the signatories' titles, and in some cases, the spelling of names has changed over the years. This list generally uses the titles of the signatories' Wikipedia biographies.

*[[Donnchadh IV, Earl of Fife|Duncan, Earl of Fife]] (changed sides in 1332)
*[[Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray|Thomas Randolph, Earl of Moray]] (nephew and supporter of King Robert although briefly fought for the English after being captured by them, Guardian of the Realm after Robert the Bruce's death)
*[[Patrick V, Earl of March|Patrick Dunbar, Earl of March]] (or Earl of Dunbar) (changed sides several times)
*[[Maol Íosa IV, Earl of Strathearn|Malise, Earl of Strathearn]] (King Robert loyalist) 
*[[Maol Choluim II, Earl of Lennox|Malcolm, Earl of Lennox]] (King Robert loyalist)
*[[Uilleam II, Earl of Ross|William, Earl of Ross]] (earlier betrayed King Robert's female relatives to the English)
*[[Magnús Jónsson, Earl of Orkney]]
*[[William de Moravia, 3rd Earl of Sutherland|William de Moravia, Earl of Sutherland]]
*[[Walter Stewart, 6th High Steward of Scotland|Walter, High Steward of Scotland]] (King Robert loyalist)
*[[William II de Soules|William de Soules]], Lord of Liddesdale and Butler of Scotland (later imprisoned for plotting against the King) 
*[[James Douglas, Lord of Douglas|Sir James Douglas]], Lord of Douglas (one of King Robert's leading loyalists)
*[[Roger de Mowbray (d. 1320)|Roger de Mowbray]], Lord of Barnbougle and Dalmeny (later imprisoned for plotting against King Robert)
*[[David, Lord of Brechin]] (later executed for plotting against King Robert)
*[[David de Graham of Kincardine]]
*[[Ingram de Umfraville]] (fought on the English side at [[Battle of Bannockburn|Bannockburn]] but then changed sides to support King Robert)
*[[John de Menteith]], guardian of the earldom of Menteith (earlier betrayed William Wallace to the English)
*[[Alexander Fraser of Touchfraser and Cowie]] 
*[[Gilbert II de la Hay|Gilbert de la Hay]], Constable of Scotland (King Robert loyalist) 
*[[Robert II Keith, Marischal of Scotland|Robert Keith, Marischal of Scotland]] (King Robert loyalist) 
*[[Henry St Clair, 7th Baron of Roslin|Henry St Clair of Rosslyn]]
*[[John de Graham (d. 1337)|John de Graham, Lord of Dalkeith, Abercorn & Eskdale]]
*[[David Lindsay of Crawford]]
*[[William Oliphant, Lord of Aberdalgie|William Oliphant, Lord of Aberdalgie and Dupplin]] (briefly fought for the English) 
*[[Patrick de Graham of Lovat]]
*[[John de Fenton|John de Fenton, Lord of Baikie and Beaufort]]
*[[William de Abernethy, 2nd Baron of Saltoun|William de Abernethy of Saltoun]]
*[[David Wemyss (d. 1332)|David Wemyss of Wemyss]]
*William Mushet
*Fergus of [[Ardrossan]]
*[[Eustace de Maxwell|Eustace Maxwell of Caerlaverock]]
*William Ramsay 
*[[William de Monte Alto (d.1327)|William de Monte Alto]], Lord of Ferne
*Alan Murray
*[[Domhnall mac Cailein|Donald Campbell]]
*John Cameron
*[[Reginald le Chen (d.1345)|Reginald le Chen]], Lord of Inverugie and Duffus
*[[Alexander Seton (Governor of Berwick)|Alexander Seton]] 
*[[Sir Andrew de Leslie|Andrew de Leslie]]
*Alexander Straiton

In addition, the names of the following do not appear in the document's text, but their names are written on seal tags and their seals are present:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nas.gov.uk/about/declarationArbroathSeals.asp|publisher=[[National Archives of Scotland]]|title=Declaration of Arbroath - Seals|access-date=17 July 2016|archive-date=6 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106033713/http://www.nas.gov.uk/about/declarationArbroathSeals.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref>

*Alexander de Lamberton (became a supporter of [[Edward Balliol]] after the [[Battle of Dupplin Moor]], 1332)
*[[Edward Keith]] (subsequently [[Marischal of Scotland]]; d. 1346)
*[[Arthur Campbell (Clan Arthur)|Arthur Campbell]] (Bruce loyalist)
*Thomas de Menzies (Bruce loyalist)
*John de Inchmartin (became a supporter of [[Edward Balliol]] after the [[Battle of Dupplin Moor]], 1332; d. after 1334)
*John Duraunt
*Thomas de Morham

== Legacy ==
In 1998 former [[Senate majority leader|majority leader]] [[Trent Lott]] succeeded in instituting an annual "[[Tartan Day|National Tartan Day]]" on 6 April by resolution of the [[United States Senate]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Cowan|first=Edward J.|title=For Freedom Alone|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9wHWoAEACAAJ|year=2014|publisher=Birlinn General|isbn=978-1-78027-256-6}}{{page needed|date=April 2016}}</ref> US Senate Resolution 155 of 10 November 1997 states that "the Declaration of Arbroath, the Scottish Declaration of Independence, was signed on April 6, 1320 and the American Declaration of Independence was modeled [sic] on that inspirational document".<ref>{{Cite web|title = Congressional Record Senate Articles|url = https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/1997/11/10/senate-section/article/s12478-1?q=%257B%2522search%2522%253A%255B%2522resolution+155+tartan%2522%255D%257D&resultIndex=1|website = www.congress.gov|access-date = 15 January 2016}}</ref> However [[United States Declaration of Independence#Influences and legal status|this claim is generally unsupported by historians]].<ref>{{Cite journal|title = 'For Freedom Alone': Review|last = Neville|first = Cynthia|date = April 2005|journal = The Scottish Historical Review|volume=84|doi = 10.3366/shr.2005.84.1.104}}</ref> 

In 2016 the Declaration of Arbroath was placed on the [[UK Memory of the World Register]], part of [[UNESCO]]'s [[Memory of the World Programme]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-36712780|title=Historic document awarded Unesco status|date=2016-07-05|work=BBC News|access-date=2020-04-06|language=en-GB}}</ref>

2020 was the 700th anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath's composition; an ''Arbroath 2020'' festival was arranged but postponed due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. The [[National Museum of Scotland]] in Edinburgh planned to display the document to the public for the first time in fifteen years.<ref name=":2" />

== See also ==
{{Campaignbox First War of Scottish Independence}}
{{Campaignbox Second War of Scottish Independence}}
* [[Declaration of independence]]
* [[Claim of Right 1989]]
* [[Barons' Letter of 1301]], refutation of Papal claim to Scottish suzerainty by English barons

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
*{{cite book|last=Barrow|first=G. W. S. |title=Robert the Bruce and the Scottish Identity|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PQN-AAAACAAJ|year=1984|publisher=Saltire Society|isbn=978-0-85411-027-8}}
*{{cite book|last=Kellas|first=James G.|title=The politics of nationalism and ethnicity|year=1998|publisher=Palgrave|isbn=978-0-312-21553-8|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m542R9ygB3QC&pg=PA35}}
*{{cite book|last=Lynch|first=Michael|title=Scotland: A New History|url=https://archive.org/details/scotlandnewhisto0000lync|url-access=registration|year=1992|publisher=Pimlico|isbn=978-0-7126-9893-1}}
*{{cite book|last=McLean|first=Iain|title=State of the Union: Unionism and the Alternatives in the United Kingdom Since 1707|year=2005|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-925820-8|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H2u9uOEYruYC&pg=PA247}}
*{{cite book|last=Scott|first=Ronald McNair|title=Robert the Bruce: King of Scots|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Zr2lgY1c2JwC|year=1999|publisher=Canongate Books|isbn=978-0-86241-616-4}}

== External links ==
* {{Commonscatinline}}
* {{wikisource inline|Translation:Declaration of Arbroath}}
* [http://www.nas.gov.uk/about/090401.asp Declaration of Arbroath] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090409010616/http://www.nas.gov.uk/about/090401.asp |date=9 April 2009 }} on [[National Archives of Scotland]] website (includes full Latin text and English translation)
* [https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/files//research/declaration-of-arbroath/declaration-of-arbroath-transcription-and-translation.pdf Transcription and Translation of the Declaration of Arbroath, 6 April 1320] 
* [https://cotr.ac.uk/ The Community of the Realm in Scotland (CoTR) Project] page 
{{Authority control}}

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