Treaty of Leake
Encyclopedia
The Treaty of Leake was an agreement between the "Middle Party", including courtier adherents of Edward II of England
, and the king's cousin, the Earl Thomas of Lancaster and his followers. It was signed at Leake
in Nottinghamshire
on 9 August 1318. The treaty was meant to reconcile the king and his favourite
s with Lancaster and other baronial opponents. Central to the negotiations were Aymer de Valence, Earl of Pembroke
, Humphrey de Bohun, Earl of Hereford
and various prelate
s.
The negotiations opened with a parley at Leicester
between the leaders of the "Middle Party" and Lancaster or his representatives.
The maintenance of the Ordinances of 1311
, the basis for reforms during the reign of Edward, was part of the agreement from the first, and the final agreement officially approved them. The removal of evil counsellors, a constant in pressure for reform from the earliest days of Piers Gaveston
's ascendancy, were set aside. Pardon for Lancaster and his friends for all trespasses was extended. A parliament
was to be summoned, and, most of all, a council was to be formed, a member of which should be a banneret nominated by Lancaster, who would not otherwise be present. Without the agreement of the council the king was not to exercise authority.
At a meeting in the exchequer
it was agreed that Lancaster, who had shunned previous parliament
s, should be invited to the next as a peer
of the realm, "but without accroaching sovereignty towards the others", for Lancaster, by far the greatest of the English magnates, assumed for himself what McKisack terms "a uniquely privileged position vis-à-vis both the king and his fellow-barons." The king made a statement at St Paul's Cathedral
that he would conform to the Ordinances, make peace with Lancaster, with whom he had been waging all but open war, and rely henceforth on the advice and counsel of his barons. Lancaster insisted that lands alienated by the king should be resumed to their rightful owners and that evil counsellors be removed, so that he could approach the king with security.
Five days after signing, the king and Lancaster met to exchange the kiss of peace, and specific letters of pardon were issued to 600 of the earl's men.
Edward II of England
Edward II , called Edward of Caernarfon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed by his wife Isabella in January 1327. He was the sixth Plantagenet king, in a line that began with the reign of Henry II...
, and the king's cousin, the Earl Thomas of Lancaster and his followers. It was signed at Leake
East Leake
East Leake is a large village and civil parish in the Rushcliffe district of Nottinghamshire, England, although its closest town and postal address is Loughborough across the border in Leicestershire. It has a population of around 7,000. The original village was located on the Sheepwash Brook. ...
in Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
on 9 August 1318. The treaty was meant to reconcile the king and his favourite
Favourite
A favourite , or favorite , was the intimate companion of a ruler or other important person. In medieval and Early Modern Europe, among other times and places, the term is used of individuals delegated significant political power by a ruler...
s with Lancaster and other baronial opponents. Central to the negotiations were Aymer de Valence, Earl of Pembroke
Aymer de Valence, 2nd Earl of Pembroke
Aymer de Valence, 2nd Earl of Pembroke was a Franco-English nobleman. Though primarily active in England, he also had strong connections with the French royal house. One of the wealthiest and most powerful men of his age, he was a central player in the conflicts between Edward II of England and...
, Humphrey de Bohun, Earl of Hereford
Humphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford
Humphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford was a member of a powerful Anglo-Norman family of the Welsh Marches and was one of the Ordainers who opposed Edward II's excesses.-Family background :...
and various prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
s.
The negotiations opened with a parley at Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
between the leaders of the "Middle Party" and Lancaster or his representatives.
The maintenance of the Ordinances of 1311
Ordinances of 1311
The Ordinances of 1311 were a series of regulations imposed upon King Edward II by the peerage and clergy of the Kingdom of England to restrict the power of the king. The twenty-one signatories of the Ordinances are referred to as the Lords Ordainers, or simply the Ordainers...
, the basis for reforms during the reign of Edward, was part of the agreement from the first, and the final agreement officially approved them. The removal of evil counsellors, a constant in pressure for reform from the earliest days of Piers Gaveston
Piers Gaveston
Piers Gaveston, 1st Earl of Cornwall was an English nobleman of Gascon origin, and the favourite of King Edward II of England. At a young age he made a good impression on King Edward I of England, and was assigned to the household of the King's son, Edward of Carnarvon...
's ascendancy, were set aside. Pardon for Lancaster and his friends for all trespasses was extended. A parliament
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
was to be summoned, and, most of all, a council was to be formed, a member of which should be a banneret nominated by Lancaster, who would not otherwise be present. Without the agreement of the council the king was not to exercise authority.
At a meeting in the exchequer
Exchequer
The Exchequer is a government department of the United Kingdom responsible for the management and collection of taxation and other government revenues. The historical Exchequer developed judicial roles...
it was agreed that Lancaster, who had shunned previous parliament
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
s, should be invited to the next as a peer
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
of the realm, "but without accroaching sovereignty towards the others", for Lancaster, by far the greatest of the English magnates, assumed for himself what McKisack terms "a uniquely privileged position vis-à-vis both the king and his fellow-barons." The king made a statement at St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral, London, is a Church of England cathedral and seat of the Bishop of London. Its dedication to Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site, founded in AD 604. St Paul's sits at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, and is the mother...
that he would conform to the Ordinances, make peace with Lancaster, with whom he had been waging all but open war, and rely henceforth on the advice and counsel of his barons. Lancaster insisted that lands alienated by the king should be resumed to their rightful owners and that evil counsellors be removed, so that he could approach the king with security.
Five days after signing, the king and Lancaster met to exchange the kiss of peace, and specific letters of pardon were issued to 600 of the earl's men.