King Malcolm III of SCOTLAND, KING

                   The Norman Conquest of England could not fail to exercise a deep andlasting effect also on the northern kingdom, and it was the immediatecause of the introduction of English ideas and English civilization intoScotland. The flight to Scotland, after the battle of Hastings, of EdgarAtheling, heir of the Saxon Royal house, with his mother and his sistersMargaret and Christina, was followed at no great distant date by themarriage of Margaret to King Malcolm, as his second wife. A greatniece ofSt. Edward the Confessor, Margaret, whose personality stands out clearlybefore us in the pages of her biography by her confessor Turgot, was awoman not only of saintly life but of strong character who exercised thestrongest influence on the Scottish Church and kingdom, as well as on themembers of her own family.The character of Malcolm III has been depictedin very different colours by the English and Scottish chroniclers, theformer painting him as the severe and merciless invader of England, whileto the latter he is a noble and heroic prince, called Canmore (Ceann-morgreat head) from his high kingly qualities. All however agree that theinfluence of his holy queen was the best and strongest element in hisstormy life. Whilst he was engaged in strengthening his frontiers andfighting the enemies of his country, Margaret found time, amid familyduties and pious exercises, to take in hand the reform of certainoutstanding abuses in the Scottish Church. In such matters as the fast ofLent, the Easter communion, the observance of Sunday, and compliance withthe Church's marriage laws, she succeeded, with the king's support, inbringing the Church of Scotland into line with the rest of CatholicChristendom. Malcolm and Margaret rebuilt the venerable monastery ofIona, and founded churches in various parts of the kingdom; and duringtheir reign the Christian faith was established in the islands lying offthe northern and western coasts of Scotland, inhabited by Norsemen.Malcolm was killed in Northumberland in 1093, whilst leading an armyagainst William Rufus; and his saintly queen, already dangerously ill,followed him to the grave a few days later.