Declaration of Arbroath: Drafted April 6, 1320

Ye knights of Arthur’s table round,

Hear now the northern war pipe sound,
The restless, marshal pleas abound,
From loch to hill of liberty’s ground.
Land of mythic golden Camelot,
With fabled knights like Lancelot,
Hark now to minstrelsy dearly bought
With the fallen, kilted warriors’ lot,
Recalled in Arbroath.

“From countless evils, English foes,
God saved us by Robert’s toiling woes.
Yet if he betrays; from the cause repose,
We shall surely force him to depose.
For as yet as one hundred live,
We’ll never English fealty give,
Not for riches, honor do we rive,
But for our freedom have we striv’”
Declared the Arbroath.

Arbroath mustered more than Scots.
Including Brederode’s April plots;*
Covenanters signing blood inked dots;
And Americans loading Watts.*
From Wellington’s great victory;
To Blue’s emancipating dignity,
And Churchill’s symbolic “V.”
Worthy men give life for liberty,
Thus said the Arbroath.

Per Scriptum E. Wesley - Mackinac Center Intern

On April 6th, 1320, the Declaration of Arbroath was first drafted at Arbroath Abbey on behalf of the Scottish nobility. It was originally written as a request for Pope John XXII to recognized Scotland as an independent nation, but its significance is far greater. The Declaration of Arbroath defined the concept of contractual monarchy in Europe as well as serving as inspiration for the American Declaration of Independence. Read a translation here.

* During the Dutch Revolt

** Watts refers to the hymn-writer Isaac Watts. During a particular battle in the American War for Independence, a pastor gave the patriot soldiers pages of Watt's hymns as wadding for their guns.

Sources:
Image of William Wallace from Wikipedia
http://www.boisestate.edu/courses/reformation/netherlands/revolt.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/scottishhistory/independence/features_independence_arbroath.shtml
http://www.constitution.org/scot/arbroath.pdf