1-272-868 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

James Graham, Marquis of Montrose, to Ferdinando, Lord Fairfax, 22nd July 1644. Letter in answer to Fairfax's objection to exchange an unnamed prisoner of the rank of a colonel for Mr. Darly. The letter was written shortly after the battle of Marston Moor (2nd July) and the surrender of York (16th July) of which Fairfax was now Governor. Montrose held the appointment of Lieutenant-General in Scotland, but was within the English borders. The exchange in question was between Henry Darley, MP for Northallerton and Commissioner of the Scottish General Assembly, and Colonel John Bellasis or Belasyse, (created Lord Belasyse in 1645), who had lately been defeated and captured at Selby by Sir Thomas Fairfax. From the fifth series of Facsimiles of royal, historical, literary and other autographs in the Department of Manuscripts, British Museum: Series I-V. (London, 1899).