Beginning in 1297, up through 1348, John of Fordun wrote the first Scottish genealogy, by publishing serial chapters comprising his "Scottichronicon" (Chronicle of the Scottish Nation). In his first chapter, he listed what he claimed were the male ancestors of King David I. "I think it meet in these writings to bring in this glorious King David's pedigree on the father's side, which I got long ago from the Lord Cardinal of Scotland, the noble Doctor Walter of Wardlaw, Bishop of Glasgow; that it may be known unto you, kings of these days, and to all readers, of how old, how noble, how strong and invincible a stock of kings he came (whereof ye also are come) - kings who have, until now, through the blessed King Most High, been keeping the kingly dignity unspotted for a longer time, with freer service, and, what is more glorious, with a stronger hold of the Catholic faith than all other kings, save only a few, if any. For that blessed King David was the son of the most noble Malcolm, king of Scots, the husband of the blessed Queen Margaret, and son of Kenneth, son of Malcolm, ……son of ..., King of Athens, ...son of ..., Pharoah of Egypt, ...son of Noah." John of Fordun's chronicles written at the time that Scottish nobility were trying to convince the Pope to recognize Scottish independence. About 1320 one of the Bishops in Scotland drafted the Declaration of Arbroath, sometimes known as the first Scottish Declaration of Independence. That Declaration, signed and sealed by numerous Scottish nobles, asserted Scotland's independence from England, and essentially adopted the notion that the Scottish Kings were descended from a long blood line of Kings distinct from those of English Kings. We Caldwells seemed to be much less obsessed about showing an independence from English, royal pedigree, and descent from Noah. The postings for the last month exude a real interest, joy, and dedication in simply identifying our Scottish ancestors, be they simple folk or whatever.