Haia, Constabularius Scotiæ, Robertus de Keith, Mariscallus Scotiæ, Henricus de Sanctoclaro, Joannes de Graham, David de Lindsey, Willielmus Oliphant, Patricus de Graham, Joannes de Fenton, Willielmus de Abernethy, David de Weyms, Willielmus de Montefixo, Fergusius de Ardrosan, Eustachius de Maxwel, Willielmus de Ramsay, Willielmus de Montalto, Alanus de Moravia, Dovenaldus Campbel, Joannes Campburn, Reginaldus le Chene, Alexander de Seton, Andreas de Lesceline, et Alexander de Straton, cæterique barones et liberetenentes, ac tota Communitas regni Scotiæ, omnimodam reverentiam filialem, cum devotis pedum osculis beatorum, Scimus, sanctissime Pater et Domine, et ex antiquorum gestis et libris colligimus, quod inter cæteras nationes egregias, nostra scil. Scotorum natio, multis præconiis fuerit insignita: quæ de majori Scythia per mare Tyrrhenum et Columnas Herculis transiens, et in Hispania inter ferocissimos, per multa temporum curricula, residens, a nullis quantumcunque barbaricis poterat alicubi subjugari; indeque veniens post mille et ducentos annos a transitu populi Israelitici, sibi sedes in occidente quas nunc obtinet, expulsis Britonibus, et Pictis omnino deletis, licet per Norwegienses, Danos, et Anglos sæpius impugnata fuerit, multis sibi victoriis, et laboribus quamplurimis, adquisivit; ipsasque ab omni servitute liberas, ut priscorum testantur historiæ, semper tenuit. In quorum regno, centum et tresdecem reges de ipsorum regali prosapia, nulla alienigena interveniente, regnaverunt, quorum nobilitates et merita, licet ex aliis non clarerent, satis tamen patenter effulgent, ex eo quod Rex Regum Dominus Jesus Christus, post passionem et resur

shal of Scotland, Henry de Sancto Claro, John de Graham, David de Lindsey, William Oliphant, Patrick de Graham, John de Fenton, William de Abernethy, David de Weyms, William de Montefixo, Fergus de Ardrosan, Eustachius de Maxwell, William de Ramsay, William de Monte-alto, Allan de Murray, Donald Campbel, John Camburn, Reginald le Chene, Alexander de Seton, Andrew de Lesceline, and Alexander Straton, and the rest of the barons and freeholders, and whole community, or commons of the kingdom of Scotland, send all manner of filial reverence, with devout kisses, of your blessed and happy feet. Most Holy Father and Lord, we know, and gather from ancient acts and records, that, in every famous nation, this of Scotland hath been celebrated with many praises: this nation having come from Scythia the Greater, through the Tuscan sea, and by Hercules's Pillars; and having, for many ages, taken its residence in Spain, in the midst of a most fierce people, could never be brought in subjection by any people, how barbarous soever: and having removed from these parts, above twelve hundred years after the coming of the Israelites out of Egypt, did, by many victories and much toil, obtain these parts in the west, which they still possess; having expelled the Britons, and intirely rooted out the Picts, notwithstanding the frequent assaults and invasions they met with from the Norwegians, Danes, and English: and these parts and possessions they have always retained free from all manner of servitude and subjection, as antient histories do witness. This kingdom hath been governed by an uninterrupted succession of 113 kings, all of our own native and royal stock, without the interve

rectionem suam, ipsos in ultimis terræ finibus constitutos, quasi primos, ad suam fidem sanctissimam, convocavit: nec eos, per quemlibet in dicta fide, confirmari voluit, sed per suum primum apostolum, quamvis ordine secundum vel tertium, sanctum Andream, meritissimum beati Petri Germanum, quem semper ipsis præesse voluit ut patronum. Hæc autem sanctissimi patres et predecessores vestri solicita mente pensantes ipsum regnum et populum, ut beati Petri Germani peculium, multis favoribus et privilegiis quamplurimis muniverunt. Itaque gens nostra, sub ipsorum protectione, libera hactenus deguit et quietate; donec ille Princeps Magnificus Rex Anglorum Edwardus, pater istius qui nunc est, Regnum nostrum acephalum, Populum que nullius mali aut doli conscium, nec bellis aut insultibus tunc assuetum, sub amici et confœderati specie, innumerabiliter infestavit: cujus injurias, cædes et violentias, prædationes, incendia, prælatorum incarcerationes,monasteriorum combustiones, religiosorum spoliationes, et occisiones, alia quoque enormia, quæ indicto populo exercuit, nulli parcens ætati aut sexui, religioni aut ordini, nullus scriberet, nec ad plenum intelligeret, nisi quem experientia informaret. A quibus malis innumeris, ipso juvante qui post vulnera medetur et sanat, liberati sumus per serenissimum principem, regem, et dominum nostrum, dominum Robertum, qui pro populo et hæreditati suis, de manibus inimicorum liberandis, quasi alter Maccabæus, aut Josue laboris et tædia, inedias et pericula,læto sustinuit animo: quem etiam divina dispositio,et juxta leges et consuetudines nostras quas, usque ad mortem sustinere volumus, juris successio, et debitus nostrorum con

ning of any stranger. The true nobility and merits of these princes and people are very remarkable, from this one consideration, though there were no other evidence for it: that the King of Kings, the Lord Jesus Christ, after his passion and resurrection, honoured them, as it were, the first (though living in the outmost ends of the earth) with a call to his most holy faith: neither would our Saviour have them confirmed in the Christian faith, by any other instrument, than his own first apostle, (though, in order, the second or third) St. Andrew, the most worthy brother of the blessed Peter, whom he would always have to be over us, as our patron or protector. Upon the weighty consideration of these things, our most holy fathers, your predecessors, did, with many great and singular favours and privileges fence and secure this kingdom and people, as being the peculiar charge and care of the brother of St. Peter; so that our nation hath hitherto lived in freedom and quietness, under their protection, till the magnificent King Edward, father to the present King of England, did, under the colour of friendship and alliance, or confederacy, with innumerable oppressions infest us, who minded no fraud or deceit, at a time when we were without a king or head, and when the people were unacquainted with wars and invasions. It is impossible for any, whose own experience hath not informed him, to describe, or fully to understand, the injuries, blood, and violence; the depredations and fire, the imprisonments of prelates, the burning, slaughter, and robbery, committed upon holy persons, and religious houses, and a vast multitude of other barbarities, which that king executed on this people, without sparing of any sex, or age,

sensus et assensus, nostrum fecerunt principem atque regem. Cui tanquam illi per quem salus in populo facta est pro nostra libertate tuenda, tam jure quam meritis tenemur, et volumus in omnibus adhærere. Quem, si ab inceptis desistet, Regi Anglorum aut Anglicis nos aut regnum nostrum volens subjicere, tanquam inimicum nostrum et sui nostrique juris subversorem statim expellere niteremur, et alium regem nostrum, qui ad defensionem nostram sufficiet, faciemus; quia,quamdiu centum vivi remanserint, nunquam Anglorum dominio aliquatenus volumus subjugari. Non enim propter gloriam, divitias, aut honores pugnamus, sed propter libertatem solummodo, quam nemo bonus nisi simul cum vita amittit. Hinc est, Reverende Pater ac Domine, quod sanctitatem vestram cum omni præcum instantia, genu flexis cordibus exoramus; quatenus sincero corde menteque pia recensentes, quod apud eum cujus vices in terris geritis, non sic pondus et pondus nec distinctio Judæi et Græci, Scoti aut Anglici, tribulationes et angustias nobis et Ecclesiæ Dei illatas ab Anglicis paternis oculis intuentes; Regem Anglorum, cui sufficere debet quod possidet, cum olim Anglia septem aut pluribus solebat sufficere regibus, monere et exhortari dignemini, ut nos Scotos in exili degentes Scotia ultra quam habitatio non est, nihilque nisi nostrum cupientes in pace dimittat. Cui pro nostra procuranda quiete quicquid possumus, ad statum nostrum respectu habito, hoc facere volumus cum effectu. Vestra enim interest, Sancte Pater, hoc facere qui Paganorum feritatem, Christianorum culpis exigentibus, in Christianos sævientem aspicitis, et Christianorum terminos arctari indies: quare ne quid ves

religion, or order of men whatsoever. But, at length, it pleased God, who only can heal after wounds, to restore us to liberty, from these innumerable calamities, by our Most Serene Prince, King, and Lord, Robert; who, for the delivering of his people, and his own rightful inheritance, from the enemy's hand, did, like another Joshua, or Maccabeus, most chearfully undergo all manuer of toil, fatigue, hardship, and hazard. The divine Providence, the right of succession, by the laws and customs of the kingdom, which we will defend till death, and the due and lawful consent and assent of all the people, made him our King and Prince. To him we are obliged, and resolved to adhere in all things, both upon the account of his right, and his own merit, as being the person who hath restored the people's safety, in defence of their liberties. But, after all, if this Prince shall leave these principles he hath so nobly pursued, and consent that we or our kingdom be subjected to the King or People of England, we will immediately endeavour to expel him, as our enemy, and as the subverter both of his own and our rights, and will make another king, who will defend our liberties: for, so long as there shall but one-hundred of us remain alive, we will never subject ourselves to the dominion of the English: for it is not glory, it is not riches, neither is it honour, but it is liberty alone that we fight and contend for, which no honest man will lose but with his life. For these reasons, Most Reverend Father and Lord, we do, with most earnest prayers, from our bended knees and hearts, beg and intreat your Holiness, that you may be pleased, with a sincere and cordial piety, to consider, that with