Declaration of Arbroath

This is, of course, not the Declaration of Arbroath of which photographs are prohibited, but one of the pages in the free guide illustrating the document and design of some of the seals - red for barons and earls, green for landowners. The document on display is a contemporaneous copy of that sent to the Pope but duly signed and sealed in the same way. Apparently two other letters were sent to the pope, from Robert the Bruce and from the bishops, but there is no remaining copy of these.


The Declaration is a letter dated 6th April 1320 written by the Barons and freeholders of the Kingdom of Scotland to Pope John XXII. The letter asked the pope to recognise Scotland's independence and acknowledge Robert the Bruce as the country's lawful king.


Under the care of the National Records of Scotland it is on display in Exhibition Gallery 2 in the National Museum of Scotland, under subdued lighting to minimise the effect of light on the text.



After seeing this we wandered round the museum in search of a large vase made from Blue John stone - I thought the museum had a fine example but I now realise this must be in a National Trust/Stately Home visited in the past. However, I was able once again to admire the work of Phoebe Anna Traquair, many examples of her work are on display. Extra 1 is an embroidered panel based on the poem 'The Red Crosse Knight', part of the Faerie Queen (1590's) by Edmund Spenser as illustrated by Walter Crane (1895). The needlework is superb, as is any artistic medium that she undertook. Extra 2 a close-up of the lower left panel illustrating her skill.