Family records of the Bruces and the Cumyns

ALEXANDER I. 31
Next year Magnus fell into a morass in Ulster and was slain, upon which his 1103.
fleet, weighing anchor, immediately sailed for Norway, touching at the Orkneys
by the way, and carrying off Sigurd, who relinquished his Irish princess, and
returned to his Odal rights in Norway.
With this exception, the nine years of Edgar's reign appear to have passed
without incident.
Edgar founded Coldingham, and gave it to the monks of Durham — Turgot,
his mother's confessor, being the prior.
On the 8th of January Edgar died unmarried, bequeathing to his youngest 1107.
brother, David, Scottish Cumbria, in testimony of his recognition of the
valuable counsel and assistance he had ever received from him.
He also gave the " mansion " or " town " of Berwick to Durham, for the sal-
vation of the souls of his brethren Duncan and Ediuard.
Alexander I., surnamed the Fierce, fifth son of Malcolm III., succeeded his 1107.
brother Edgar, whose bequest of Scottish Cumbria to his younger brother
David he unwillingly acceded to ; but on David's threatening to support his
claim by the sword, the fear of David's power and influence at the court of his
sister Matilda extorted from Alexander a reluctant acquiescence. The new
king was more like his father in his warlike bearing than the peaceful Edgar —
and there was need ; for the maormers of the north had recovered their
resources, and the men of Moray and Mearne marched south in hopes of sur-
prising Alexander, and repeating the catastrophe of Duncan.
The king held his court at Inncrgowrie, which had been his earldom and
residence during Edgar's reign. He immediately marched to meet the insur-
gents, who turned and fled to the mountains. Alexander pressed after them
till he reached the boundaries of Ross, where they were gathering all their
forces, on the north side of the Moray Firth, intending to dispute the passage
with the king ; but it is said that he found a passage at Stockford (?), and plung-
ing into the stream (the Beauley ?) when it was high w r ater, succeeded in cross-
ing in safety with his horsemen ; and so, coming unexpectedly upon the
bewildered enemy, took a stern and sanguinary vengeance, which suppressed
revolt, and gained for him the name of " the Fierce." Otherwise he was a pious
and religious prince. On his return from the north he founded the Monastery
of Scone, in the foundation charter of which the names of six earls appear as
witnesses — viz., Hcth or Beth, Earl of Moray, Madoch Earl of Athol, Malise
Earl of Strathearn, Dufagan Earl of Fife, Gratnach Earl of Marr, and Rory
Earl of Angus and Buchan.
He and his successor, David I., both confirmed their brother Ethelred's gift
of Admore to the Culdees of Loch Leven, and gave donations to Dunfermline,