delling her own court, where she introduced the offices, the furniture, and the manner of living, common among the more polite nations in Europe. She dismissed from her service all who were not religious and good; and ordered Turgot to tell her the real state of the kingdom, and to conceal no grievances from her, on pain of her displeasure. By him she was informed that the nobles were inclined to be rebellious, and the commons given up to all kinds of wickedness. Above all, Turgot complained that the clergy were very ignorant, and not capable of reforming the people, either by their example or their instruction. All this the queen told the king, and she prevailed upon him to set about the reformation immediately: but in this he met with great opposition; for the Scottish nobles had been so accustomed to oppress their inferiors, that they could not bear to be no longer at liberty to follow their own lawless wills. A rebellion broke out in some of the northern counties, and Malcolm was obliged to march against the rebels, whom he found in very great strength; but they were so alarmed by his courage and resolution, that they intreated the clergy to intercede for them with the king. Malcolm received thei submission, though he would not pardon them all. Many of the most guilty were either put to death, or condemned to perpetual imprisonment; and

some had their estates forfeited. This severity checked the rebellious spirits of the Scots; and Malcolm returned to his plans of reformation, in which, however, he still met with great opposition. In those days, the Scots had not the custom of saying grace before and after meals; but Margaret introduced it, and gave a glass of wine, or other liquor, to those who remained at the royal table and heard the thanksgiving, which gave rise to the term of the Grace-drink. The terms of the duration of Lent and Easter were also fixed; the king and queen bestowed large alms on the poor; and the latter every year washed the feet of six among them, as a token of humility. Many churches, monasteries, &c. were built, and the revenues of the clergy were increased. Notwithstanding these improvements, many have complained that luxuries were introduced with the polished manners of the English and French, which were very injurious. Till this reign, the Scots had been remarkable for their sobriety, and the simplicity of their food; but this was now converted into excess and riot, which sometimes ended fatally, by quarrels and bloodshed. Yet, even then the nobility ate only two meals a day, and had only two dishes at each meal. Malcolm was engaged in another war with William the Conqueror; and, after his death, in one with William Rufus. In the latter, his

military operations proved fatal to him; for, having laid siege to Alnwick, and reduced the place to great distress, a knight came out of the castle, with the keys on the point of a spear, pretending that he intended to lay them at Malcolm's feet; but, instead of this, he thrust him through the eye with the spear, as soon as he came within reach. It is said, that Prince Edward, the king's eldest son, was mortally wounded in attempting to avenge his father's death. On this occasion, the family of PIERCY, or PERCY, received its name; the knight who killed the Scottish king having been surnamed PIERCE-EYE, from the manner in which he had given that monarch the fatal stroke. Queen Margaret was lying sick in the castle of Edinburgh when Malcolm was killed, and died four days after him, A.D. 1093.

CHAPTER V.

DONALD VII.

Reigned six months in 1093.

THE SINGLE COMBAT.

AFTER the death of Malcolm, which happened in the year 1093, his brother, Donald Bane, usurped the throne, and obliged all the foreigners

whom Malcolm had introduced, to quit the kingdom, and take refuge in England. Edgar Atheling had long resided there, and was in great favour at the court of William Rufus, through whose interest he found means to rescue his nephew, young Edgar, son of the late king, and real heir to the throne, out of the hands of the usurper Donald Bane. The favour and kindness he received from William Rufus, made the courtiers jealous of him; and they falsely accused him of intending to adopt young Edgar as his own son, and setting him up as a pretender to the English throne. This accusation was made by an Englishman, whose name was Orgar; but as no proof of guilt could be obtained, the custom of those days made a single combat between the parties unavoidable. Orgar was one of the strongest and most active men in the kingdom; but the age and infirmities of Edgar Atheling allowed him to be defended by another. For a long time, no man could be found, who would enter the lists with this champion; but at last Godwin of Winchester, whose family had been under obligations to Edgar, or his ancestors, offered to defend his cause. Orgar was overcome, and killed; and, when dying, he confessed the falsehood of his accusation. The conqueror obtained all the lands of his adversary; and William Rufus lived ever