1320

1320

The Pope's reply (dated Aug 28th) to the Declaration of Arbroath

The Pope's reply (dated Aug 28th) to the Declaration of Arbroath

The road from Arbroath to Avignon in the 1300s

The road from Arbroath to Avignon in the 1300s

John, bishop, etc., to his beloved sons the noble Duncan, Earl of Fife, Thomas, Earl of Moray, Lord of Man and Annandale, Patrick of Dunbar, Earl of March, Malise, Earl of Strathearn, Malcolm, Earl of Lennox, William, Earl of Ross, Magnus, Earl of Caithness and Orkney, William, Earl of Sutherland, Walter, the Steward of the kingdom of Scotland, William of Soulis, the Butler, Gilbert of Hay, the Constable, Robert of Keith, the Marshal, and many other nobles of the said realm, greeting.

John, bishop, etc., to his beloved sons the noble Duncan, Earl of Fife, Thomas, Earl of Moray, Lord of Man and Annandale, Patrick of Dunbar, Earl of March, Malise, Earl of Strathearn, Malcolm, Earl of Lennox, William, Earl of Ross, Magnus, Earl of Caithness and Orkney, William, Earl of Sutherland, Walter, the Steward of the kingdom of Scotland, William of Soulis, the Butler, Gilbert of Hay, the Constable, Robert of Keith, the Marshal, and many other nobles of the said realm, greeting.

There have come to our presence our beloved sons Edward de Maubisson and Adam of Gordon, knights, envoys of that illustrious man Robert, who assumes the title and position of king of Scotland, and that have presented to us your letters, which, among their other contents, ask that we should deign to exhort by our letters our dearest son in Christ, Edward, illustrious king of England to leave you in peace. We have graciously received your letters and accede to your prayers and also to those of the said Robert, who has informed us by his letters, among their other contents, that a certain day had been appointed for the making of the final peace between him and the said king of England; and we have therefore thought fit to ask said king of England by our letters, and even to exhort him, to incline his mind to this peace with said Robert and to endeavour to shape it in lasting fashion; we have also, by various other letters, urged several councillors of the said king to move him to the establishment of this peace. Wherefore we ask, advise and exhort all of you, in the Lord Jesus Christ, that you take into the most careful consideration the countless dangers and the losses of lives and goods which have been caused by the strife of the said king and Robert in times past and which, it is to be feared, will arise likewise from it in future unless it be bound up by union and concord; that you turn your minds to the profit of this unity and peace; and that, as far as in you lies, you do not allow the day thereto appointed (as aforesaid) to pass without it's firm establishment. For thereby you will render pleasing service to your Maker, the author of peace, you will secure your own advantage, you will avoid harm and your wisdom will furnish joy and satisfaction to us and to the Roman church, your mother, which yearns with longing for this pacification. Given at Avignon, v Kal. Sept. (28th August) in the fourth year of our pontificate (1320).

There have come to our presence our beloved sons Edward de Maubisson and Adam of Gordon, knights, envoys of that illustrious man Robert, who assumes the title and position of king of Scotland, and that have presented to us your letters, which, among their other contents, ask that we should deign to exhort by our letters our dearest son in Christ, Edward, illustrious king of England to leave you in peace. We have graciously received your letters and accede to your prayers and also to those of the said Robert, who has informed us by his letters, among their other contents, that a certain day had been appointed for the making of the final peace between him and the said king of England; and we have therefore thought fit to ask said king of England by our letters, and even to exhort him, to incline his mind to this peace with said Robert and to endeavour to shape it in lasting fashion; we have also, by various other letters, urged several councillors of the said king to move him to the establishment of this peace. Wherefore we ask, advise and exhort all of you, in the Lord Jesus Christ, that you take into the most careful consideration the countless dangers and the losses of lives and goods which have been caused by the strife of the said king and Robert in times past and which, it is to be feared, will arise likewise from it in future unless it be bound up by union and concord; that you turn your minds to the profit of this unity and peace; and that, as far as in you lies, you do not allow the day thereto appointed (as aforesaid) to pass without it's firm establishment. For thereby you will render pleasing service to your Maker, the author of peace, you will secure your own advantage, you will avoid harm and your wisdom will furnish joy and satisfaction to us and to the Roman church, your mother, which yearns with longing for this pacification. Given at Avignon, v Kal. Sept. (28th August) in the fourth year of our pontificate (1320).