{{Short description|1237 treaty between England and Scotland}} {{EngvarB|date=October 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}} {{Infobox treaty | name = Treaty of York | long_name = {{lang|la|Scriptum cirographatum inter Henricum Regem Anglie et Alexandrum Regem Scocie de comitatu Northumbrie Cumbrie et Westmerland factum coram Ottone Legato}} | date_signed = {{Start date|1237|09|25|df=y}} | location_signed = [[York]] | signatories = * {{flagdeco|ENG}} [[Henry III of England]] * {{flagdeco|Kingdom of Scotland|old}} [[Alexander II of Scotland]] | language = Latin }} The '''Treaty of York''' was an agreement between the kings [[Henry III of England]] and [[Alexander II of Scotland]], signed at [[York]] on 25 September 1237, which affirmed that [[Northumberland]] (which at the time also encompassed [[County Durham]]),<ref>{{cite book |last1=Green |first1=Adrian |title=Regional Identities in North-East England, 1300–2000 |date=2007 |publisher=The Boydell Press |isbn=978-1843833352 |page=224}}</ref> [[Cumberland]], and [[Westmorland]] were subject to English sovereignty. This established the [[Anglo-Scottish border]] in a form that remains almost unchanged to modern times (the only modifications have been regarding the [[Debatable Lands]] and [[Berwick-upon-Tweed]]).<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/history/scotland_united/treaty_of_york/ | title = Treaty of York – 1237 | access-date = 24 September 2017| website = BBC History}}</ref> The treaty detailed the future status of several feudal properties and addressed other issues between the two kings, and historically marked the end of the [[Kingdom of Scotland]]'s attempts to extend its frontier southward.
The treaty was one of a number of agreements made in the ongoing relationship between the two kings. The [[papal legate]] [[Otto of Tonengo|Otho of Tonengo]] was already in the [[Kingdom of England]] at Henry's request, to attend a [[synod]] in [[London]] in November 1237. Otho was informed in advance by Henry of the September meeting at York, which he attended. This meeting was recorded by the contemporary chronicler [[Matthew Paris]], who disparaged both Alexander and Otho.
== The agreement == [[File:Alexander II (Alba) i.JPG|thumb|right|200px|Steel engraving and enhancement of the Great Seal of [[Alexander II of Scotland|Alexander II]]]] Henry and Alexander had a history of making agreements to settle one matter or another, and related to this was their personal relationship. Alexander was married to Henry's sister [[Joan of England, Queen Consort of Scotland|Joan]] and Alexander's sister [[Margaret of Scotland, Countess of Kent|Margaret]] had married [[Hubert de Burgh, 1st Earl of Kent|Hubert de Burgh]], a former [[regent]] to Henry. On 13 August 1237 Henry advised Otho that he would meet Alexander at [[York]] to treat of peace. An agreement was reached on 25 September "respecting all claims, or competent to, the latter, up to Friday next before [[Michaelmas]] A.D. 1237".<ref>{{Citation |last=Wyckoff |first=Charles Truman |year=1897 |contribution=The Reign of Alexander II |contribution-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=457wzD8qMY4C&pg=PA120 |title=Feudal Relations Between the Kings of England and Scotland Under the Early Plantagenets |publisher=University of Chicago |publication-place=Chicago |pages=120 }}</ref>
The title of the agreement is '''''Scriptum cirographatum inter Henricum Regem Anglie et Alexandrum Regem Scocie de comitatu Northumbrie Cumbrie et Westmerland factum coram Ottone Legato'''''{{efn|[[Cirograph]] written between Henry King of England and Alexander King of Scotland on the counties of Northumberland Cumberland and Westmoreland done in the presence of Legate Otho}}<ref name="books.google">{{cite book |editor-last=Robertson |editor-first=Joseph |date=1866|contribution=Preface|contribution-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pN8qAAAAYAAJ&pg=PR56|title=Concilia Scotiae (1225–1559)|publisher=The Bannatyne Club|publication-date=1866|publication-place=Edinburgh|page=lvi}}</ref> and the particulars of the agreement are:<ref>{{cite book |last=Wyckoff|first=Charles Truman|year=1897|contribution=The Reign of Alexander II|contribution-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=457wzD8qMY4C&pg=PA120 |title=Feudal Relations Between the Kings of England and Scotland Under the Early Plantagenets |publisher=University of Chicago |publication-date=1897 |publication-place=Chicago |pages=120–122}} (an English translation of the agreement)</ref> * The [[King of Scotland]]: [[quitclaim]]s to the King of England his hereditary rights to the counties of [[Northumberland]], [[Cumberland]], and [[Westmorland]]; quitclaims 15,000 [[Mark (money)|marks]] of silver paid by [[William I of Scotland|King William]] to [[John of England|King John]] for certain conventions not observed by the latter; and frees Henry from agreements regarding marriages between Henry and [[Richard, 1st Earl of Cornwall|Richard]], and Alexander's sisters Margaret, Isabella, and Marjory. * The [[King of England]] grants the King of Scotland certain lands within Northumberland and Cumberland, to be held by him and his successor kings of Scotland in feudal tenure with certain rights exempting them from obligations common in feudal relationships, and with the Scottish Steward sitting in Justice regarding certain issues that may arise, and these, too, are hereditary to the King of Scotland's heirs, and regarding these the King of Scotland shall not be answerable to an English court of law in any suit. * The King of Scotland makes his homage and fealty – ''de praedictis terris''. * Both kings respect previous writings not in conflict with this agreement, and any charters found regarding said counties to be restored to the King of England.
Although the border between Scotland and England was officially defined for the first time and by mutual agreement through the Treaty of York, historians have shown little interest in the agreement, either mentioning it in passing or ignoring it altogether. [[William Stubbs|Stubbs]] does not mention it in his ''Constitutional History of England'',<ref>{{cite book|last=Stubbs|first=William|author-link=William Stubbs|year=1906|title=The Constitutional History of England|volume=II|edition=4th|publisher=Oxford University|publication-place=Oxford|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JDIzAAAAMAAJ}}</ref> nor does [[David Hume|Hume]] in his ''History of England''.<ref>{{cite book|last=Hume|first=David|author-link=David Hume|year=1858|title=The History of England from the Invasion of Julius Caesar to the Abdication of James the Second, 1688|volume=II|edition=New|publisher=Phillips, Sampson and Company|publication-place=Boston|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vE4NAAAAIAAJ}}</ref> [[William Forbes Skene|Skene]]'s ''Celtic Scotland'' refers to it as an agreement in his background discussion for the reign of Alexander II's successor, [[Alexander III of Scotland|Alexander III]],<ref>{{cite book|last=Skene|first=William Forbes|author-link=William Forbes Skene|date=1890|contribution=Scotland Under Alexander III|contribution-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tDsUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA6|title=Celtic Scotland: A History of Ancient Alban (Land and People)|volume=III|edition=2nd|publisher=David Douglas|publication-place=Edinburgh|pages=6–7}}</ref> while [[John Hill Burton|Burton]]'s ''History of Scotland'' mentions that claims of land were discussed in 1237 and briefly describes some of them, but makes no reference to an agreement or treaty.<ref>{{cite book|last=Burton|first=John Hill|author-link=John Hill Burton|date=1901|contribution=Narrative to the Death of Alexander II|contribution-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8os2AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA7|title=The History of Scotland from Agricola's Invasion to the Extinction of the Last Jacobite Insurrection|volume=II|edition=New|publisher=William Blackwood and Sons|publication-place=Edinburgh|pages=7–8}}</ref> [[James Hill Ramsay]]'s ''Dawn of the Constitution'' gives a fuller discussion of the agreement, but does not give it any particular prominence.<ref>{{cite book|last=Ramsay|first=James Hill|date=1907|contribution=Henry III, A.D. 1237–1241|contribution-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FJwgAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA82|title=The Dawn of the Constitution or The Reigns of Henry III and Edward I (A.D. 1216–1307)|publisher=Swan Sonnenschein & Co.|publication-date=1908|publication-place=London|pages=82–83}}</ref>
== The account of Paris == [[File:Heinrichus tercius.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Engraving of Henry's great seal]] The treaty gained additional prominence due to the chronicler [[Matthew Paris]] (c. 1200–1259), who is known for his rhetorical passion and his invectives against those with whom he disagreed. Paris describes the Papal legate [[Otto of Tonengo|Otho]] in negative terms, as someone who was weak and timid in the face of strength but overbearing in his use of power over others, and as someone who avariciously accumulated a large amount of money.<ref>{{cite book|last=Paris|first=Matthew|author-link=Matthew Paris|date=1259|editor-last=Giles|editor-first=John Allen|editor-link=John Allen Giles|title=Matthew Paris' English History from the Year 1235 to 1273|volume=I|publisher=George Bell & Sons|publication-date=1889|publication-place=London|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WWENAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA0}} (page 36 and elsewhere throughout Otho's stay in England)</ref> He describes Alexander and Henry as having a mutual hatred in 1236, with Alexander threatening to invade England.<ref>{{cite book|last=Paris|first=Matthew|author-link=Matthew Paris|year=1259|editor-last=Giles|editor-first=John Allen|contribution=1236: The Complaint of the King of Scotland|contribution-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WWENAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA36|title=Matthew Paris' English History from the Year 1235 to 1273|volume=I|publisher=George Bell & Sons|publication-date=1889|publication-place=London|page=36}}</ref> He describes the 1237 meeting at York as the result of Henry's and Otho's invitation to Alexander, and that when Otho expressed an interest in visiting Scotland, Alexander claimed no legate had ever visited Scotland and he would not allow it, and that if Otho does enter Scotland he should take care that harm does not befall him.<ref>{{cite book|last=Paris|first=Matthew|author-link=Matthew Paris|date=1259|editor-last=Giles|editor-first=John Allen|contribution=1237: An interview at York between the kings of England and Scotland|contribution-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WWENAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA69|title=Matthew Paris' English History from the Year 1235 to 1273|volume=I|publisher=George Bell & Sons|publication-date=1889|publication-place=London|pages=69–70}}</ref> Paris goes on to say that in 1239 as Otho was leaving for Scotland, that when Alexander had previously met with Otho in 1237 he had become so excited in his hostility at the possibility of Otho's visit to Scotland that a written agreement had to be drawn up concerning Otho's visit.<ref>{{cite book|last=Paris|first=Matthew|author-link=Matthew Paris|year=1259|editor-last=Giles|editor-first=John Allen|contribution=1239: The legate goes into Scotland|contribution-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WWENAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA195|title=Matthew Paris' English History from the Year 1235 to 1273|volume=I|publisher=George Bell & Sons|publication-date=1889|publication-place=London|page=195}}</ref>
== See also == * [[Treaty of York (1464)]] * [[List of treaties]]
== Notes == {{notelist}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{England topics}} {{Scotland topics}} {{Law}}
[[Category:1237 in England]] [[Category:1237 in Scotland]] [[Category:History of North Yorkshire]] [[Category:History of York]] [[Category:Treaties of medieval England|York]] [[Category:1230s treaties|York]] [[Category:Anglo-Scottish border]] [[Category:England–Scotland treaties]]