Airlie Castle (9)
When James, 1st Earl of Ogilvy travelled to London in 1640 with his Countess and younger children to avoid signing the Covenant, he could not have guessed at the trouble his son, Lord Ogilvie, left in charge of Airlie, was soon to face.  The Scottish Committee of Estates, alarmed at the thought of royalist opposition in the north, appointed the Earls of Montrose and Kinghorn as commanders of an armed force, furnished with “Cartows” or battering cannon, to march to Airlie Castle and seize it &quot;for the public interest!&quot;

(Montrose was still an earl in 1640, and was not created a marquis until 1644.  Also, he initially supported the National Covenant and did not change to the royalist side until the Solemn League and Covenant in 1643.)

When Montrose and Kinghorn arrived at Airlie, they found the draw-bridge up and that cannons were mounted on the wall and battlement.  Furthermore it was known that the place was sufficiently stocked-up with provisions to be able to withstand a lengthy siege.  The Earls sent forward a message to Lord Ogilvy requiring him to surrender, which he politely declined on the basis that he was unable to take instruction from his father on the matter!

The besiegers mounted their “cartows,” and discharged a few rounds at the fortress, but the fire was vigorously returned, and it was soon apparent that the castle was unwinnable without a prolonged siege, attended with considerable loss of life.  The Earls, deeming discretion the better part of valour, drew off their men.
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