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

«n HlsrOftY OF THE HIOHLANDS.
Some time after this Malcolm was engaged in a \\:\v witli the
Nortlmiiibiiaiis, and, having led liis army in one thousand and eighteen,
to Ciuham, near Werk, on the southern liiiiik of tlie Tweed, where
he was met hy Uchtred, the Earl of Northumberland, a desperate
battle took place which was contested with great valour on botli
sides. The success was doubtful on either side, tliough Uchtred claimed
a victory, but he did not long enjoy the fruits of it, as he was soon
thereafter assassinated when on his road to j)ay oheisance to the great
Canute. Endulf, the brother and successor of Uclitred, justly dreading
the power of the Scots, was induced to cede Lothian to Malcolm for ever,
who, on this occasion, gave oblations to the churches and gifts to the cler-
gy, who in return transmitted his name to posterity. He was designed,
oar excellence, jcx victoriosisshntis.
The last struggle with which Malcolm wa< threatened, was with the
celebrated Canute, who, for some cause or other uot properly explained,
entered Scotland in the year one thousand and thirty-one ; but these
powerful parties appear not to have come to action. Canute's expedi-
tion appears, from what followed, to have been fitted out, to compel
.Malcolm to do homage for Cumberland, for it is certain that Malcolm
engaged to fulfil the conditions on which his predecessors had held that
country, and that Canute thereafter returned to England.
But the reign of Malcolm was not only distinguished by foreign
wars, but by civil contests between rival chiefs. Finlegh, t!ie Maor-
nior of Ross, and the father of Macbeth, was assassinated in one
thousand and twenty, and about twelve years thereafter, Maolbride,
the Maormor of Moray, grandfather of Lulach, was, in revenge for
Finlegh's murder, burnt within his castle, with fifty of his men.
At length after a splendid reign of thirty years, Malcolm slept with
his fathers, and his body was transferred to lona, and interred with
due solemnity among the remains of his predecessors. The sfnry of
his assassination is a mere fiction.
Malcolm was undoubtedly a prince of great acquirements. He made
many improvements in the internal policy of his kingdom, and in him
religion always found a guardian and protector. But although Malcolm
is justly entitled to this praise, he by no means came up to the stamlard
of perfection assigned him by fiction.
Duncan, son of Bethoc, one of the daughters of .Malcolm 11., suc-
ceeded his grandfather in the year one thousand and thirty-three. Hi'
had to sustain several severe conflicts with the Danes, whom he finally
repulsed from his dominions, and in virtue of the engagements of his
grandfather, with Canute, he entered Northumberland in one thousaml
Hud thirty-five, and attacke