Danes at Murtloch, near Balveny, which was then a strong Danish fortification. Here he attacked them; but, having the misfortune to lose three of his general officers, he was obliged to retreat; however, the Danish general being killed in pursuing him, the Scots were encouraged to renew the fight, and at last obtained a complete victory, though they suffered very great loss themselves. When the news of this defeat arrived in Denmark, Sweyn, the king of that country, ordered two fleets to land another large army in Scotland, under the command of Camus, one of his most renowned generals. They first besieged the castle of Brechin, in the county of Angus; but, meeting with a stout resistance there, they laid the town and church in ashes, and then advanced to the village of Panbride, encamping at a place called Karbuddo. Malcolm, however, was near with his army, and encamped at Barr, in the neighbourhood of which both parties prepared for battle; and, as the northern provinces were already in possession of the Danes, had they gained the victory, the whole kingdom would have been in their power. The engagement was desperate, and so sanguinary, that the rivulet which proceeds from Loch Tay is said to have had its waters dyed with the blood of the slain; but at last the Danes gave way, and fled. There was, in Malcolm's army, a young prince,

of the name of Keith, who pursued Camus, and, having overtaken him, fought and killed him; but another Scottish officer, coming up at the same time, disputed the glory of the action with Keith. While they were quarrelling, Malcolm arrived, and allowed them to decide the dispute by single combat. Keith was again victorious, and killed his adversary, who, when dying, confessed the justice of Keith's claim; and Malcolm, dipping his finger in the dying man's blood, marked Keith's shield with three strokes, at the same time pronouncing the words Veritas vincit, "Truth overcomes," which has ever since been the motto of Keith's family. Notwithstanding this defeat, Sweyn sent another army, more powerful than ever, into Scotland, under the command of his own son Canute, who was afterwards king of England, and one of the greatest warriors of that age. A dreadful battle followed, in which, though neither party could boast of the victory, the Danes were SO much reduced, that they were very glad to conclude a peace, and depart from Scotland immediately. Malcolm and Sweyn agreed that they should never go to war against each other again, and that the field on which the last battle was fought, should be consecrated to the burial of the dead. After all these glorious exploits, Malcolm is said to have stained the conclusion of his reign

with avarice and oppression; in consequence of which he was murdered, at the age of eighty, after he had reigned more than thirty years, when he was on his way to Glamis. His own servants are said to have been privy to the conspiracy, and to have fled with the conspirators: but, in passing the lake of Forfar, when it was frozen over, the ice broke, and they were all drowned. Their bodies were discovered some days after; and this account is confirmed by the sculptures upon some stones erected near the spot, one of which is still called Malcolm's grave-stone. All these stones have some rough representations on them, of the murder and the fate of the assassins.

CHAPTER III.

MACBETH.

Began to reign, 1040. Expelled, 1055. Slain in Battle, 1057. DUNCAN the First succeeded his grandfather Malcolm, in the year 1033; and the first years of his reign were passed in great tranquillity: but domestic broils afterwards took place. Banquo, thane of Lochaber, and ancestor to the royal family of Stuart, acted then as steward to Duncan, and collected his rents; but, being very strict in the execution of his duty, he was one night way

laid, robbed, and almost killed. As soon as he was sufficiently recovered to appear at court, he made complaint to the king, and the robbers were summoned to surrender themselves to justice; but, instead of obeying, they killed the messenger. Macbeth, a famous chief, was sent with an army against the insurgents, who had destroyed many of the king's friends; and he was so successful, that the rebel chief put an end to his own life. When this insurrection had been quelled, the Danes landed in Fifeshire, and Duncan put himself at the head of his army, having Macbeth and Banquo serving under him. The Danes were commanded by another Sweyn, who was king of Norway, and son of Canute; and he acted with the greatest cruelty, putting to death men, women, and children, wherever they came in his way. battle was fought near Culross, and the Scots were defeated, but the Danes also suffered severely. Duncan retreated to Perth, and Macbeth was sent to raise more troops; while, in the mean time, Sweyn besieged Perth, which was defended by Duncan and Banquo. The Danes, however, were so much distressed for provisions, that they at last consented to treat for peace, provided the pressing necessities of the army were immediately relieved; but Duncan was preparing a stratagem against them, and only offered to make peace, in order to

A

deceive them till his schemes should be ready for execution. The plan was, to put some intoxicating herbs into the liquors which were sent to the Danish camp, with the other provisions; and it succeeded; for, when the Danes were under its influence, Macbeth and Banquo broke into their camp, and put all they met with to the sword, so that it was with difficulty some of Sweyn's attendants carried him on board his ship, which was the only one, of all the fleet, that returned to Norway. The Danes, however, soon came back with another army, and landed at Kinghorn, in the county of Fife, where they were entirely defeated by Macbeth and Banquo. This was the last of the formidable invasions of the Danes; and Duncan afterwards applied himself to the good administration of his kingdom, and the establishment of wise laws and justice amongst his people. In the mean time, Macbeth, who had gained great fame by his success against the Danes, began to grow ambitious, aspiring to the crown itself; and Duncan not suspecting he had so dangerous a man near him, was murdered at Inverness, by Macbeth, who usurped the throne. During the greatest part of Macbeth's reign, Malcolm, the true heir to the crown, kept close in his principality of Cumberland (as it was then called), without any thoughts of ascending his father's throne. Macbeth, for