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The Treaty of London (1423)
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The Treaty of London (1423): Ransom and Hostages for a King

The Treaty of London was an agreement finalised in December 1423 that secured the release of James I, King of Scotland, after 18 years of captivity in England. Captured as a boy in 1406, James I's freedom was eventually negotiated between the Scottish nobility and the English Regency Council (acting for the child-king Henry VI).

The treaty stipulated the payment of a massive ransom of 60,000 marks (approximately £40,000), which was to be paid to England in annual installments. A portion of this debt (10,000 marks) was waived as the dowry for James I’s new bride, the English noblewoman Joan Beaufort, whom he married shortly before his return.

The 21 Pledges
The crucial provision of the treaty was the delivery of 21 high-ranking Scottish nobles and gentry to England, who would serve as hostages (or "pledges") to guarantee the full payment of the ransom. These men, drawn from Scotland’s wealthiest and most powerful families, were held captive in locations like the Tower of London to ensure the King's financial obligations were met.

One such noble held as a pledge was Henry Douglas (styled 'of Lugton'), a natural son of Henry Douglas of Lugton. The cost and lengthy detention of these men were a severe burden on their families. The situation was aggravated by James I himself, who later halted ransom payments altogether, effectively abandoning the hostages - including Douglas - to indefinite English custody. This failure to secure the release of the pledges was a major source of discontent among the Scottish nobility and was a contributing factor to the King's eventual assassination in 1437.




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    Last modified: Sunday, 08 March 2026