Note 36 — 199 THE BONNIE HOUSE O AIRLIE

Spalding’s Memorials, ed. 1850, I, 290–2; Gordon’s History of Scots Affairs, III, 164 f.; also, II, 234; Gardiner, History of England, 1603–1642, ed., 1884, IX, 167 f. Both Spalding and Gordon say that Montrose besieged Airlie but did not succeed in taking it. Argyle, continues Spalding, “raises an army of about 5,000 men and marches towards Airlie; but the Lord Ogilvie, hearing of his coming with such irresistible forces, resolves to fly and leave the house manless, and so for their own safety they wisely fled. But Argyle most cruelly and inhumanly enters the house of Airlie,” etc. A letter of Argyle’s to one Dugald Campbell (dated July, 1640) would seem to show that he was not there in person during the razing and burning. “You need not let know,” says Argyle, “that ye have directions from me to fire it.” Notes and Queries, Fifth Series, IX, 364; reprinted by Gardiner.