The Norwegians conquered Moray about the year 927, under Sigind, Earl of Orkney. Before this period the Picts occupied the Burgh, a Roman station on the Moray Firth, where they established themselves in great numbers, as appears by the rains of the houses extending nearly two miles on the sea shore to the east. Other colonies of the same descent mingled with the British, and being driven northward by the Belgx, Ibe rians, and Saxons, peopled the province of Moray. Their killing King Malcolm I. at Ull in, the castle of Forres, and King Duffus, A. D. 966, affords a clear proof of their turbulent character. In the reign of Malcolm IV. about 1160, they rebelled, and on his at tacking them submitted ; but all the insurgents were transplanted into the other counties of Scotland, from Caithness to Galloway. Malcolm III. and his succes sors encouraged emigrants of rank from England and the continent, who acquired afterwards a considerable property, and from them many of the nobility and of the ancient families in this province are probably de scended. At Fortes and Mortelich battles were fought betwixt the Scots and Danes, in the year 1008 and 1010. At Speymouth, in the years 1078 and 1110, wars took place betwixt the king and the inhabitants of Morayshire. King Malcolm contended with the same people on the mull' of Urquhart in the year 1160. The Frazers and M•Donalds opposed each other at Ceanlochlochie, in A. D. 1544. A contest took place between the king and the earls of Huntly and Angus, 1594; the Covenanters attacked Montrose in 1645: and in 1690 the king's troops opposed the Highlanders.
The diocese of Moray comprehended the counties of Moray, and a great part of Banff and Inverness, which had fifty-six pastoral charges. There was an abbey at Kinloss, and the abbot had a seat in parliament. Three priories were founded at Urquhart, Pluscardine, and Kinguissie, and likewise several convents. An hos pital was also erected near Elgin for entertaining strangers. and for the support of poor infirm people. The monks arc said to have possessed excellent libra ries. The furniture of Kinloss Abbey consisted of fifty feather beds, two silk beds, and twenty -eight arras cover ings. Great hospitality 1m:tilted the conduct of its in mates, with whom King Edward I. resided nearly a month and a half. The king and his attendants arc re ported to have drank, during this short period, tne beer of more than twenty chalders of malt. Though this statement appears to be exaggerated, yet it affords a decisive proof of the good cheer iu which our ancestors of the 14th century indulged.
See Pennant's Tour. The Statistical Account of Scot land. Rev. Mr. Leslie's General View of the Agriculture of the counties of Nairn and Moray. Account of the Antiquities, Sec. in the Province of Moray. A Survey of the Province of Moray. Historical. Geographical, and Political. Dr. Shaw's Account of Morayshire. Chal mers's Caledonia. See IsIntns