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Auction: 26066 - Historical Documents, Autographs and Ephemera
Lot: 1010

James Graham, 1st Marquess and 5th Earl of Montrose, 'Great Montrose'
1638 (25 Sept.) autograph letter signed "Montrose" from Edinburgh with integral address panel reading "For my Very Loveing Freinde Patrick Leslie at Aberdene".

Letter reads: "Most Loveing Freinde I hope our last hes given you some small notice of what hes passed heir at this tyme ... since ther hes beane ane proclamation which we heave all protested against for raisons which you will receave together with the prtestation; howsoever we think all shall drifft over until the Assembly and pas to owr Contentment / howbeit, Incase any be requyred to subcryve this ould confession which the Commissioner and the Counsell hes signed you will study to Imped it so heaveing no forder for the present bot remembering me heartely to all yr goode nibrers our fellow labourers ..." With postscript reading "You will doe me the favour to cause delyvre this paquett to my Lady pitslygo and if ther come any letters direct to me from hir or any In this quarters to yr I hope you will send them to Montrose wher they will find me".

Important contents refer to Montrose's efforts to encourage the signing of the National Covenant of 1638 which opposed the Laudian reforms of the Church of Scotland which attempted to enforce the prayer book and a faith at odds with the Scotts by giving power to the King's Bishops. Montrose would later come to support the King and met a gruesome death at the hands of the Parliamentarians who knew not what to make of him. He is a legendary figure in Scottish history. His autographs are rare, but full autograph letters are rarer still.

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Estimate
£2,500 to £3,000

Starting price
£2000