…for as long as but a hundred of us remain alive, never will we onany conditions be brought under English rule. 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.”

Types of Propaganda

- Royal proclamations - declarations of government policy…read out at market days, sheriff courts...

- Mass appeal - social control of pulpit...

- Formal Works of PropagandaLetters to foreign powers, ‘Declarations’;these can also be used as tests of loyalty for greater subjects

- Court image and behaviour…association with particular people, places and events.

Pedigree of Scottish propaganda…

- 12/13thcentury Scottish appeals to papacy v. Archbisopric of York…1192 Scottishchurch secures special daughter status.

- 1289-90 - Treaties of Salisbury and Birgham protecting Scottishinstitutions, customs and laws…

- 1301 - Baldred Bisset’s Processus …first mention of Gathelos and Scota origin legend and calls for papal aid for special daughter

- 1309 - Two Declarations of Scottish clergy and those “nobles of communityof realm owing allegiance to Lord Robert” as rightful King

- 1320 Declaration of Arbroath

Gathelos and Scota

Pedigree of Scottish propaganda…

- 12/13thcentury Scottish appeals to papacy v. Archbisopric of York…1192 Scottishchurch secures special daughter status.

- 1289-90 - Treaties of Salisbury and Birgham protecting Scottishinstitutions, customs and laws…

- 1301 - Baldred Bisset’s Processus …first mention of Gathelos and Scota origin legend and calls for papal aid for special daughter

- 1309 - Two Declarations of Scottish clergy and those “nobles of communityof realm owing allegiance to Lord Robert” as rightful King

- 1320 Declaration of Arbroath

Pope John XXII

1317 - Robert refuses to receivePapal envoys without fulltitle as King of Scots

17 Nov 1319 - Robert excommunicated by Pope

18 Nov 1319 - Pope summonsesRobert and 4 bishops to Rome by 1 May 1320

Jan 1320 - Scots absolved from oaths of allegiance to Bruce.

Declaration of Arbroath 6 April 1320 - 45 or so magnate seals - 8 accused of treason Aug 1320

March 1320 - Newbattle council of Scots decides to send letterto Pope?

Declaration Author?

Cleric trained in Europein law and papal procedure…

- cites classical, churchauthorities (Sallust, ThomasAquinas, Salisbury, John ofParis)…uses metre favouredby papal curia

- Abbot Bernard of Arborath, Chancellor?

or Alexander Kinninmonth?

A.A.M. Duncan on the Makingof the Declaration:-

- True reflection of growingScottish identity and patriotism?

- or did barons know itscontent; were their sealscollected forcibly?

Declaration Prototypes- a conventional Europeanform of appeal to higher power through monarchs writing in name of baronage:

- 13th century French and English examples

- 1301 English baronage replyto Scimus Filii

- 1309 St Andrews parliamentScots nobles’ reply to Frenchking’s letter

- 1317 Irish Remonstrance insupport of Bruce v. England- now believed to be a fake?

A Middle Way?

Bruce’s regime taking genuine feelings of Nationalism forged since 1286…

…and associating his political cause with it.

But not totally cynical - churchmen see it asnecessary to preserve kingdom

Bruce may even come to believe his own propaganda…- that he was always a patriot- Balliol a puppet- Alexander III Bruce’s rightful predecessor- common cause with Irish/Welsh

St Andrews Cathedral - consecrated by Robert I and Lamberton 1318…‘bishop of the Scots’ - also site of royal nursery?

Key dates observed by Robert I?

19 March - death of Alexander III

9 June - St Columba feast day

23-24 June - Bannockburn

26 Aug - St Ninian

11 Sept - battle of Stirling bridge

3 Nov - St Malachy

30 Nov - St Andrew

The re-sealed heart of Robert I, buried at MelroseAbbey in the borders; his body’s tomb at the royalAbbey of Dunfermline, Fife.