Scotland in 1286 was an independent kingdom which had enjoyed substantial domestic peace for seventy years. The kingdom of Scotland was to be separate and free its offices filled by Scotsmen. The treaty of Birgham was not fulfilled because the heiress died. The Scottish community invited Edward I to help them find next heir to their kingdom. John Balliol was adjudged heir and became Scottish king. After the battle of Dunbar in 1296, Scotland became a vassal lordship and many nobles and lairds were held to ransom in England. The new administration was staffed by Englishmen. If overlordship must be accepted, a Scottish king will appoint native officials and preserve customary dues. The war aims of Robert I were the recovery of Scottish territory and a peace recognizing him as rightful king of an independent Scotland. Robert I's war with England was as far from success after at Bannockburn campaign as before. In the summer of 1317 two cardinal legates to the two kingdoms had arrived in England. John XXII would not open the bulls addressed to him as governor for ‘there are several Robert Bruces who in company with the other barons are governors of the kingdom of Scotland.’ The pope opened a rapid fire of bulls against Robert I. His excommunication was to be repeated, interdict was threatened and he and his four bishops were cited to appear at Avignon by 1 May 1320. The king and bishops made no appearance. The declaration is a letter from the Scottish earls and barons to the pope urging him to persuade Edward II to make peace, and dated at Arbroath on 6 April 1320. The declaration of Arbroath is more than a baron’s letter, for it purports to come also from the nameless other barons and freeholders and whole community of the realm and although this was conventional phraseology it was nonetheless significant. The words of the declaration of Arbroath on freedom have a stronger ring and a clearer connotation of freedom from English lordship or rule. I can not agree with professor Barrow’s assertion that baron's letter is a diplomatic document because it is a political paper to demonstrate spirit of Scottish independence. So I think that ‘the Declaration of Arbroath’ is ‘the Declaration of Independence’.

Scotland in 1286 was an independent kingdom which had enjoyed substantial domestic peace for seventy years. The kingdom of Scotland was to be separate and free its offices filled by Scotsmen. The treaty of Birgham was not fulfilled because the heiress died. The Scottish community invited Edward I to help them find next heir to their kingdom. John Balliol was adjudged heir and became Scottish king. After the battle of Dunbar in 1296, Scotland became a vassal lordship and many nobles and lairds were held to ransom in England. The new administration was staffed by Englishmen. If overlordship must be accepted, a Scottish king will appoint native officials and preserve customary dues. The war aims of Robert I were the recovery of Scottish territory and a peace recognizing him as rightful king of an independent Scotland. Robert I's war with England was as far from success after at Bannockburn campaign as before. In the summer of 1317 two cardinal legates to the two kingdoms had arrived in England. John XXII would not open the bulls addressed to him as governor for ‘there are several Robert Bruces who in company with the other barons are governors of the kingdom of Scotland.’ The pope opened a rapid fire of bulls against Robert I. His excommunication was to be repeated, interdict was threatened and he and his four bishops were cited to appear at Avignon by 1 May 1320. The king and bishops made no appearance. The declaration is a letter from the Scottish earls and barons to the pope urging him to persuade Edward II to make peace, and dated at Arbroath on 6 April 1320. The declaration of Arbroath is more than a baron’s letter, for it purports to come also from the nameless other barons and freeholders and whole community of the realm and although this was conventional phraseology it was nonetheless significant. The words of the declaration of Arbroath on freedom have a stronger ring and a clearer connotation of freedom from English lordship or rule. I can not agree with professor Barrow’s assertion that baron's letter is a diplomatic document because it is a political paper to demonstrate spirit of Scottish independence. So I think that ‘the Declaration of Arbroath’ is ‘the Declaration of Independence’.

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Declaration of Arbroath, John Balliol, Overlordship, Battle of Dunbar, Robert I, John XXII, Edward II, Bannockburn, Excommunication, Freedom,