"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."
- Declaration of Arbroath 1320
Per Scriptum E. Wesley -- Mackinac Center Intern
Seven hundred and four years ago today, Scotland's national hero was betrayed and captured by his friend Sir John Menteith to be tried in London. The trial took place on the 23rd, and ended in William Wallace's execution on the same day. Needless to say, the English charge was treason, but Wallace rationally argued:
"I can not be a traitor, for I owe him no allegiance. He is not my Sovereign; he never received my homage; and whilst life is in this persecuted body, he never shall receive it. To the other points whereof I am accused, I freely confess them all. As Governor of my country I have been an enemy to its enemies; I have slain the English, I have mortally opposed the English King; I have stormed and taken the towns and castles which he unjustly claimed as his own. If I or my soldiers have plundered or done injury to the houses of ministers of religion, I repent me of my sin; but it is not of Edward of England I shall ask pardon."
Wallace didn't die in vain. His spirit carried Scotland on to victory at Bannockburn in 1314. Robert the Bruce, in 1306, secretly crowned himself Robert I of Scotland, and took on Wallace's legacy as protector of Scottish freedom. After the victory at Bannockburn under the Bruce's leadership, Scotland drafted the Declaration of Arbroath (1320), petitioning the Pope to recognize Scottish independence. My favorite line in the Declaration is "for, as long as but a hundred of us remain alive, never will we on any conditions be brought under English rule." Sometimes, fighting for liberty doesn't allow for compromise. I'd highly advise my readers to read the rest of the document.
Sources:
http://www.mackinac.org/
http://www.clanwallace.org/
http://www.walkforwallace.com/
http://www.constitution.org/
Image from Wikipedia
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