| Scriptum cirographatum inter Henricum Regem Anglie et Alexandrum Regem Scocie de comitatu Northumbrie Cumbrie et Westmerland factum coram Ottone Legato | |
|---|---|
| Signed | 25 September 1237 (1237-09-25) |
| Location | York |
| Signatories | |
| Language | Latin |
TheTreaty of York was an agreement between the kingsHenry III of England andAlexander II of Scotland, signed atYork on 25 September 1237, which affirmed thatNorthumberland (which at the time also encompassedCounty Durham),[1]Cumberland, andWestmorland were subject to English sovereignty. This established theAnglo-Scottish border in a form that remains almost unchanged to modern times (the only modifications have been regarding theDebatable Lands andBerwick-upon-Tweed).[2] The treaty detailed the future status of several feudal properties and addressed other issues between the two kings, and historically marked the end of theKingdom 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. Thepapal legateOtho of Tonengo was already in theKingdom of England at Henry's request, to attend asynod inLondon 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 chroniclerMatthew Paris, who disparaged both Alexander and Otho.
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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 sisterJoan and Alexander's sisterMargaret had marriedHubert de Burgh, a formerregent to Henry. On 13 August 1237 Henry advised Otho that he would meet Alexander atYork to treat of peace. An agreement was reached on 25 September "respecting all claims, or competent to, the latter, up to Friday next beforeMichaelmas A.D. 1237".[3]
The title of the agreement isScriptum cirographatum inter Henricum Regem Anglie et Alexandrum Regem Scocie de comitatu Northumbrie Cumbrie et Westmerland factum coram Ottone Legato[a][4] and the particulars of the agreement are:[5]
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.Stubbs does not mention it in hisConstitutional History of England,[6] nor doesHume in hisHistory of England.[7]Skene'sCeltic Scotland refers to it as an agreement in his background discussion for the reign of Alexander II's successor,Alexander III,[8] whileBurton'sHistory 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.[9]James Hill Ramsay'sDawn of the Constitution gives a fuller discussion of the agreement, but does not give it any particular prominence.[10]
The treaty gained additional prominence due to the chroniclerMatthew Paris (c. 1200–1259), who is known for his rhetorical passion and his invectives against those with whom he disagreed. Paris describes the Papal legateOtho 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.[11] He describes Alexander and Henry as having a mutual hatred in 1236, with Alexander threatening to invade England.[12] 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.[13] 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.[14]
