Image: Treaty of Calais Chest

Description: Chest made to hold the Treaty of Calais, signed between Edward III of England and John II of France. Edward agreed to give up his claim to the throne of France in exchange for the territory of Aquitaine. The chest is a rectangular coffer of oak in a boarded construction, pinned with wooden dowels: with iron strap hinges, damaged; hasp, lock, lock-plate missing; iron handle on lid. Slight evidence of internal division into two compartments. Painted decoration: on front, on a red ground, John Bokyngham (or Buckingham; died 1399), Bishop of Lincoln, Lord Privy Seal (see: The Age of Edward III edited by J.S. Bothwell, p.178); Guy de Bryan, 1st Baron Bryan, KG (pre- 1319-1390), military commander and Admiral; unidentified; unidentified on lid: Richard FitzAlan, 3rd or 10th Earl of Arundel (1313–1376) ; the Dauphin; England, ancient; Old France; the Black Prince; shield obliterated. Painted inscription:"Pax facta inter reges et regna Anglie et Francie die xxiv [mensis Octobris anno domini mccclx]" (English: Peace was made between the kings and kingdoms of England and France on October 24 of 1460) . Originally created to hold the Treaty of Calais, a ratification of the Treaty of Bretigny (8 May 1360), and made on 26 October 1360. The Treaty of Calais with many related documents of the same date which must have been kept with it in the chest.
Usage Terms: Public domain