AncientPages.com - On September 25, 1237, the Treaty of York was signed at York between Henry III of England and Alexander II of Scotland.
It confirmed that Northumberland, Cumberland, and Westmorland were subject to English sovereignty, establishing the modern Anglo-Scottish border, which exists to this day.
The signing of the treaty was one of the significant events of Alexander II's reign. It not only defined the border but also addressed other issues between the two Kings, who had a history of making agreements with each other.
Henry and Alexander were brothers-in-law as the Scottish King had married Henry's sister Joan.
The treaty—witnessed by a Papal Legate called Otho and written in Latin—was one of several agreements in the two kings' ongoing relationship.
The King of Scotland: quitclaims to the King of England his hereditary rights to the counties of Northumberland, Cumberland, and Westmorland; quitclaims 15,000 marks of silver paid by King William to King John for certain conventions not observed by the latter; and frees Henry from agreements regarding marriages between Henry and 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. His successor kings of Scotland in feudal tenure with certain rights exempting them from obligations joint 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. In any suit, the King of Scotland shall not be answerable to an English court of law.
Both kings respected previous writings that conflicted with this agreement and any charters found regarding said countries to be restored to the King of England.
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