The Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton, 1328

This source is the indenture of the treaty of peace between Scotland and England that was signed on 17 March 1328. Under the terms of the treaty, England recognised Scotland's independence and Robert I as king. The Scots agreed to pay England £100,000 in silver within ten years to end the war, and a future marriage was agreed between Robert’s son, David and Edward's sister, Joan. None of the seals from this document have survived.

(National Records of Scotland reference SP6/1)

Partial translation

Be it known to all those who shall see these letters that on the seventeenth day of March [1327/8] the following matters were discussed and agreed... between the most excellent Prince, Robert, by the Grace of God, king of Scotland and... the most excellent prince, Edward, by the grace of God king of England...

Firstly that there be a true, final and perpetual peace between the kings, their heirs and successors and their realms and lands and their subjects and peoples... and for the security and permanence of that peace it is settled and agreed that a marriage take place... between David the son and heir of the king of Scotland and Joan, the sister of the king of England, who as yet are of so tender an age that they cannot make contract of matrimony

Item it is treated and accorded that the said kings, their heirs and successors, shall be good friends and loyal allies, and that the one shall aid the other in suitable manner as good allies: saving on the part of the king of Scotland the alliance made between him and the king of France. But if it happen that the said king of Scotland by reason of the said alliance or for any cause whatever make war upon the said king of England that the said king of England may make war on the foresaid king of Scotland

Item that the said king of England shall assist in good faith that the processes, if any are made in the court of Rome and elsewhere by the authority of our Holy Father the Pope against the said king of Scotland, his realm and his subjects, cleric or lay, be dismissed; and this to do and accomplish he shall send his special letters of prayer to the pope and the cardinals.

(Translation taken from A Source Book of Scottish History, i, 160-163, edited by W C Dickinson, G Donaldson and I A Milne, 1958; Printed in Acts of the Parliaments of Scotland, i, pp. 124-126)