Page:The reign of William Rufus and the accession of Henry the First.djvu/358

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Eadgar's coming. From one version we might almost think that Malcolm had been called on to do homage and had refused. This is perfectly possible in itself; but the time of William's special occupation with Norman affairs seems oddly chosen for such a summons. An earlier time, some point in the blank period between the rebellion and the Norman campaign, would have seemed more natural for such a purpose. However this may be, now, in the month of May, Malcolm took advantage of William's absence in Normandy to invade Northumberland for the fourth time. He designed, we are told, to go much further and do much more, words which might almost suggest a purpose of asserting the claims of Eadgar to the English crown. Whatever were his objects, they were not carried out, save one which was doubtless not the least among them, that of carrying off great spoil from Northumberland. The furthest point that Malcolm reached was Chester-le-Street, a point unpleasantly near to the bishopless monks of Durham. There the men in local command went against him and drove him back. In the national Chronicle they appear as "the good men who guarded this land." In this way*