The Highlanders of Scotland - Clan Strachan Society

CHAP. V] OF SCOTLAND * 73
leader and completely dispersed his followers. Having collected
additional forces in Caithness, Sutherland, and Ross, Thorkell
returned towards the Moray Firth and joined
Thorfinn in
Moray.
Malcolm in the meantime had once more collected forces,
both from the east and west of Scotland, his levies having
even extended as far as Kintyre, and having also been joined
by a number of Irish auxiliaries who had been invited oyer b}'
Moddan, he determined to make a final effort for the expulsion
of the Norwegians, and marched accordingly with this immense
army towards the north in search of Thorfinn. He found the
Norwegian earl not the less prepared to meet him, that in
numbers he was far inferior. A battle took place between the
two hostile races on the southern shore of the Beauly Firth ;
each party seeming resolved to peril their cause upon the result
of this engagement ; but the ferocity and determined valour
of the Norwegians at length prevailed over the numbers and
undisciplined daring of the Scots, and Malcolm was totally
defeated, himself killed, and his army almost destroyed. By
this defeat the Scots were now left altogether without the means
of resistance, and Thorfinn followed up his success by conquering
the whole of Scotland as far as the Firth of Tay, and
completely subjugating the inhabitants.
The Norwegian Saga gives a strong and powerful picture
"
Earl Thorfinn drove the
of the effects of this conquest :
scattered remnants of the Scottish army before him, and subjugated
the wliole country in his progress, even as far as the
district of Fyfe. He then sent Thorkell with a part of the arm\home,
but when the Scots, who had submitted to him, heard
that the earl had sent some part of his army awa\-, they attacked
him, but unsuccessfully, for Earl Thorfinn no sooner perceived
their treachery than he gathered his army together again and
met them. The Scots did not attempt to defend themselves,
but fled immediately to the woods and deserts. Then Earl
Thorfinn, when he had driven the fugitives away, declared that
he would burn and lay waste the whole country in revenge for
their treacher\*. His men then spread over the whole conquered
country, and burnt every hamlet and farm, so that not a cot
remained. Every man that they found they slew, but the old