"As long as but a hundred of us remain alive, never will we on any conditions be subjected to the lordship of the English. 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".

These emotive and well-known words are from the Declaration of Arbroath, arguably the most famous historical document held by the National Records of Scotland (NRS). It is a letter written in 1320 by the Barons and the whole community of Scotland to Pope John XXII asking him to recognise Scotland as an independent kingdom and to recognise Robert the Bruce as the country’s lawful king.

You can find out more about the document on the Declaration page on the NRS website, where there is a ‘zoomify’ image and you can see the text in close detail. You can also download and read a transcription and translation of the Latin text.

This poster was produced for the 700th anniversary of the Declaration in 2020 celebrating this iconic document.

• A3 size (29.7 cm x 42 cm)
• Printed on matt paper
• Available unframed only