Blair Collection > Place names in Strathbogie, with notes historical, antiquarian and descriptive

Cairnie. 225
many whom they could, and did commend,
though we chiefly know them as a terror to the
evil-doers. Perhaps even these were not so bad as
they reckoned them. The Solemn League and
Covenant, which raised such intense enthusiasm
over a large part of Scotland, was coldly received
within the Lordship of Huntly, On the 24th
December, 1643, the minister of Cairnie * reportit
that he had solemnlie sworne and subscryved the
Covenant in presence of his people, and that 10
in Botarie and 2 in Ruthven had subscryvit with
him ; and since that tyme many had come to
him in privat, offerring their subscriptions, quhilk
he refused to accept but publictlie befor the
congregation.' Here lay the difficulty — the clergy
attempted to lead or drive them in one direc-
tion, the Marquis of Huntly's influence was
altogether on the other side, while their own ex-
perience must have led them to cherish most
unfriendly feelings towards the Covenant and
its supporters. No doubt many of them had
followed their Chief in 1639, in the armed
demonstrations against Aberdeen and Turriff;
and they knew he had been basely entrapped
and carried, virtually a prisoner, to Edinburgh.
In 1640, Munro was sent north to enforce sub-
scription to the Covenant at the point of the
sword ; and we are told by Spalding of the
robbery and destruction of property which took
place during the time he remained in Strathbogic.
Q