Lord Airly’s houses were destroyed by Argyll, representing the
Covenanters, and also in pursuance of a private feud, in 1639, or 1640.
There are erroneous versions of this ballad, in which Lochiel appears,
and the date is, apparently, transferred to 1745. Montrose, in his early
Covenanting days, was not actually concerned in the burning of the Bonnie
House, which he, when a Royalist, revenged on the possessions of “gleyed
Argyll.” The reference to “Charlie” is out of keeping; no one, perhaps,
ever called Charles I. by that affectionate name. Lady Ogilvie had not
the large family attributed to her: her son, Lord Ogilvie, escaped from
prison in the Castle of St. Andrews, after Philiphaugh. A Lord Ogilvie
was out in 1745; and, later, had a regiment in the French Service. Few
families have a record so consistently loyal.