The Highlanders of Scotland - Clan Strachan Society

CHAP. VI] OF SCOTLAND 281
pared to assert his right to that earldom. Having collected together
some ships in the Isle of Man, and having been joined by
numerous adventurers, he appeared among the Western Isles,
where he was immediately received bv Somerled,
who, actuated either by policy or conviction,
acknowledged his right, and also evinced his sincerity by be-
stowing upon him his sister in marriage. Wimund, having
assumed the name of Malcolm Macbeth, now proceeded to
invade the shores of Scotland, where he was joined by many of
the northern chiefs, and even received the support of the
Norwegian earl of Orkney, who declared him to be the earl of
Moray, and married his sister. The assistance of the northern
chiefs, and the natural advantages which the mountainous
character of the country afforded to the prosecution of his enter-
prise, enabled Wimund for several years to sustain a war with
David I. of Scotland, retiring to the mountains or to his ships
when pressed by the royal army, and again renewing his
depredations as soon as it was withdrawn. At length, however,
he was betrayed and delivered up to David, who, in the spirit of
eastern barbarity, caused his eyes to be put out, and imprisoned
him in Rokesburgh Castle.
Historians have generally considered Wimund to be an
impostor ; but when, in addition to the improbability of any
such imposition having either been conceived or likely to have
been attempted with any prospect of success, we reflect, that
the circumstance of his assuming the name of Malcolm Macbeth
proves at least that Angus had children, and if so, that the)'
must of necessity have fled from the wrath of David that
;
Wimund not only received assistance from the Gaelic chiefs, but
even from the earl of Orkney, all of them openly countenancing
his pretensions ; and that in the Norse Sagas he is distinctly'
styled Malcolm, earl of Moray, without any surmise of his title
to that dignity being doubtful or called in question by any one
at the time,—we must admit that W^imund's claim may have
been well founded.
When Wimund fell into the hands of his opponent, his sons
appear to have sought refuge with Somerled, their uncle ; and
that ambitious chief seems to have made their cause a pretext
upon several occasions for invading Scotland. But as these