The Treaty of Greenwich (also known as the Treaties
of Greenwich) contained two agreements both signed on 1 July 1543 in
Greenwich between representatives of England and Scotland. The accord,
overall, entailed a plan developed by Henry VIII of England to unite
both kingdoms (i.e. Union of the Crowns). The first sub-treaty helped to
establish peace between the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of
Scotland. The second sub-treaty was a marriage proposal between Edward
VI of England and Mary, Queen of Scots. In this part of the treaty, it
was agreed that Mary would be accompanied by an English
nobleman/gentleman (and his wife) until she was ten years old.
Afterwards, Mary would reside in England until the time of her marriage.
Also, the Treaty of Greenwich permitted the Kingdom of Scotland to
maintain its laws. Even though the Earl of Arran signed the accord
on 1 July and ratified it on 25 August 1543, the Treaty of Greenwich was
ultimately rejected by the Scottish Parliament on 11 December 1543,
leading to eight years of Anglo-Scottish conflict known as the
Rough
Wooing.
Diplomacy
The treaty was the culmination of diplomatic
efforts by Adam Otterburn, George
Douglas of Pittendreich and Earl of Glencairn in London, and Ralph
Sadler in Edinburgh. The commissioners for Mary (with the consent of
Regent Arran) were Glencairn, Pittendreich, William Hamilton, James
Learmonth of Dairsie and Henry Balnaves. Henry's commissioners were
Baron Audley of Walden, Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk, Stephen
Gardiner Bishop of Winchester, Thomas Thirlby Bishop of Westminster, and
the Barons St.John and Gage.[3] |
