in march 1639, some 11000 men under montrose and huntly were told to 'reduce' the northern districts to subjection, but on 12 march 1639, montrose and argyll wrote to sir thomas burnett of leys to reassure him. aberdeen made strong representations to montrose who retired to strathbogie whilst his army were admitted into the town for accommodation, most of the opposition to them having fled. sir thomas burnett was one of the tribunal established to sit on 2 april in greyfriars church there and on following days, to force 'malignants' to subscribe to the covenant under pain of confiscation of their goods. viscount aboyne's part of the covenanting army then encamped at muchalls and ransacked burnett's property, despite his protestations.