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Local History  >  Resources Management (Local History)  >  Document of the Month January 2008

Document of the Month - January 2008

Letter from the Marquis of Montrose to the Burgh of Aberdeen, 13 September 1644

© Aberdeen City Council

This letter from the Marquis of Montrose was written at a turbulent time in Aberdeen’s, and indeed Britain’s, history.  Following the outbreak of Civil War in England, there were two opposing sides – supporters of King Charles I, and Parliamentarians, to which the Covenanters belonged.  It was Aberdeen’s misfortune that it was Royalist when the Marquis of Montrose was a Covenanter, and Covenanted when Montrose was a Royalist.  The Marquis offered the Burgh the chance to surrender to the King’s army or face the sword.  Aberdeen refused, and the Battle of Justice Mills was fought on the very same day.  Montrose triumphed in the battle and the Covenanters were defeated.

Click here for a transcription of the letter from the Marquis of Montrose to the Burgh of Aberdeen

For more information on the Battle of Justice Mills, please click here.

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