#Bernard de Lington | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

maypoleman1 · 2 months

Text

6th April

The Arbroath Declaration

Source: S Buwert/ Shutterstock/ The Conversation website

On this day in 1328, the Treaty of Northampton was signed, confirming the independence of Scotland from England, a full fourteen years after the victory of Robert the Bruce’s army of freedom fighters over the forces of Edward II at Bannockburn in 1314. This was followed by the Declaration of Arbroath, drafted by Bernard de Lington, Chancellor of Scotland and Abbot of Arbroath. It is perhaps the first declaration of independence by a country from an imperial power in history. Its ringing tones of national pride and freedom have a distinctly modern feel, particularly given the national consciousness was a barely acknowledged concept in medieval Europe:-

‘It is not for glory, riches or honour that we fight,

it is for liberty alone,

the liberty which no good man loses

except with his life.’

#scottish independence #the declaration of Arbroath #battle of Bannockburn #robert the bruce #Edward II #Bernard de Lington

0 notes