Letter from James Graham to James Stirling, 1641.

Letter, with signature, from James Graham, 5th earl and later first marquess of Montrose, to his servant James Stirling, chamberlain of Mugdock, Stirlingshire.

Requesting the payment of [400 merks] on behalf of his sister, 9 June 1641.

James Graham (1612-1650) 5th earl and later first marquess of Montrose and earl of Kincardine in 1644. He studied at St Leonard's College, St Andrews, and then abroad in France and Italy. On his return to Scotland, he joined the covenanters in opposition to Charles I, participating in the National Covenant, but was eclipsed by the earl of Argyll, and swung to the other side after meeting with Charles I at Berwick as part of the covenanters' delegation. He tried to encourage royalist rebellion in Scotland but was unable to capitalise on early victories against the covenanting armies. He fled into exile. After the execution of Charles I Montrose was appointed lieutenant-governor and captain-general of Scotland by the exiled Charles II, who sent him back to Scotland with a small force to intimidate the covenanters back into negotiations. He was not content to remain waiting for diplomacy to triumph; he marched through Caithness and Sutherland to a battle at Carbisdale where he was captured. Charles II could not save Montrose from his former covenanting allies and he was executed in 1650.

Single item

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Bequeathed to the library by the Rev John Stirton, 1944.

Call number used to be ms701

Individual Manuscripts and Small Collections database available as part of Manuscripts Database.

Paper: 1 sheet, 28.1x19.1cm folded.

Description compiled by Maia Sheridan, Archives Hub project archivist, based on material from the Manuscripts Database

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