A history of the Highlands and of the Highland clans : with an ...

DEFEAT OF THE DANES. 85
Flaving mustered all his forces, Malcolin, in the ensuing spring, inarch-
ed north with his army, and encamped at Mortlatli. This was in
the year one thonsaiid and ten. The Danes advanced to meet the
Scots, and a dreadful and fierce conflict ensued, the result of which was
long dubious. At length the northmen gave way and victory declared
for Malcolm. Hadthe Danes succeeded they wonldin all probability have
obtained as permanent a footing in North Britain as they did in
England ; but the Scottish kings were determined, at all hazards, never
to suffer them to pollute the soil of Scotland by allowing them even the
smallest settlement in their dominions In gratitude to God for hi.s
victory, Malcolm, in pursuance of a vow which it is said he made on the
field of battle, endowed a religious house at Mortlach with its appro-
priate church erected near the scene of action. Pope Benedict
afterwards confirmed this endowment, and Mortlach soon became the
residence of a bishop.
The Danes were not discouraged by this defeat. On the contrary,
that, as well as some disasters which they met with on the coasts of Angus
and Buchan, exasperated Sweyn who fiumed a determination to seek
revenge by another descent. He therefore, despatched Camus, an able
general, who effected a landing with his army on the coast of Angus,
Dear to Panhride, but he had advanced but a very few miles when he
was met by Malcolm, who attacked him with great fury and intrepidity.
After a bloody contest the army of Camus gave way and their leader
sought safety in flight, but he was closely pursued and was killed by a
stroke from a battle-axe which cleft his skull asimder. The place of
his overthrow is indicated by a monumental stone called C'anius'-
Cross.*
No defeat, however, conld subdue the persevering attempts of the
Danes, to subject North Britain to their sway. They renewed their
enterprize again by landing on the coast of Bucb.an, about a mile west
from Slaines Castle, in the parish of Cruden, but they were attacked
and defeated by the Maormor of the District. The site of the field of
battle has been ascertained by the discovery of human bones left expos-
ed by the shifting or blowing of the sand. From the circumstance of
a chapel having been erected in this neighbourhood dedicated to St.
Olans, the site of which has become invisible, by being covered with
sand, the assertion of some writers that a treaty was entered into with
the Danes, who were then Christians, by which it was stipulated, that
the field of battle shoidd be consecrated by a Bishop as a burying- place
for the Danes who had fallen in battle, and that a church should be then
built and priests appointed in all time coming to say masses for the
souls of the slain, seems very probable. Another stipulation it is said
was made, by which the Danes agreed to evacuate the Burgh-head of
Moray, and finally to leave every part of the kingdom, which they
accordingly did in the year one thousand and fourteen.
• A huge skeleton was dug up many years ago near Camus'-Cross supposed to ha^e
been tliat "f Camui It was lying in a sepulchre which was erHited with four etonex