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The Second Bishops' War-A letter delivered by Express Messenger, 1641

31 August 1641. The Scottish Committee in Edinburgh to Lord Maytland at York. Carried by a Captain Palmer, a
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messenger expressly being sent on Committee business. There is no address panel most probably because this
letter was only one of a number of documents being sent to Lord Maytland by the Committee by this messenger.

At this date, King Charles I was visiting Edinburgh to arrange an alliance with the Scots. The Second Bishops' War
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had come to a close with the Treaty of London, signed on 10 August 1641, and a priority was to disband the
Scottish army which had been occupying Northumberland, Durham and the town of Newcastle for over a year.

This letter refers to the need to quicken up the payment required to have the army disbanded and also refers to
plans to despatch a letter 'by a post this night that goes directly to London', though whether this was a post that was
open to the public is not made clear.

The letter reads:

This Gentleman Captain Palmer being in great haste we have not had time to write that letter that should have accompanied
your Lordship to London to quicken up the payment of the monies for the disbanding of the Anny according to those directions
your Lordship acquainted us with from his Majesty and the Parliament in Scotland; but we hope for an immediate dispatch by a
post this night that goes directly to London, in which we will not fail to do as we resolved on when we met your Lordship,
whereof we thought fit to take this present opportunity to give you notice, least you should suspect any remissence in us, that

are;
Your Lordships most humble servants
Edinburgh August 31st 1641.

The addressee, Lord Maytland, was John Maitland, Viscount Maitland (1616-1682).

John Maitland, was the son of the 1 Earl of Lauderdale and became the 2nd Earl on
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his father's death in 1645. He was an ardent Presbyterian who took the Covenant
and, in 1641, he accompanied the commissioners appointed by the Scottish
covenanters to negotiate peace with the government of Charles I. In 1643, he was
sent to England as a Commissioner for the Covenant. In 1647, he was
commissioned by the Scottish Parliament to treat with King Charles I and, shortly
after, he commanded a regiment of horse at the Battle of Marston Moor. Soon after,
he had a change of heart and, by 1648, had joined an alliance with the English
royalists. After Charles I's execution, he went to Holland to offer his services to the
future Charles II. In 1651, he was taken prisoner after the BatUe of Worcester and he
remained in confinement in several prisons including the Tower of London until
March 1660.

After the Restoration, Lauderdale became a trusted advisor to King Charles II and
was appointed Lord High Commissioner for Scotland, the Scottish Sovereign's
personal representative to the Parliament and was effectively governing Scotland on
the king's behalf. He lodged at Whitehall where he was ·never from the king's ear
nor councir.
John Maitland
In 1672, he became Marquess of March and Duke of Lauderdale and was also made
a Knight of the Garter.