The exhibition contains a selection of letters from General George Monck to the Magistrates and Commissioners of Selkirk dated from April 1658 to December 1659 and deal with the political situation of the time.
Monck is sometimes described as an enigma of the Civil War period; serving both sides with equal dedication. He was born a Royalist and fought for the King until his capture at the Battle of Nantwich 1654. He went on to become one of Oliver Cromwell’s most dedicated generals and his deputy in Scotland. These letters show him gathering support for the Restoration of the Monarchy before he led his troops south from Coldstream on 1 January 1660.
We are grateful to Walter Elliot of Selkirk for the loan of some of the documents in our exhibition.