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Clan Murray
Freskin, ancestor
of the great family of Murray was, there is every reason to
believe, a Pictish noble of the old race of Moray. He probably represented
a branch which supported the Scottish kings, and thus supplanted
the MacHeth line of Ri Morev, hence assuming the province name. Ex-Bishop
Wimund, alias Malcolm MacHeth, brother in law of Sumarlidi
Höld, was called Earl of Moray the Orkneyinga Saga. Malcolm MacHeth
attempted to gain possession of the Crown of Scotland pretending
to be a son of Angus MacHeth and thus a grandson of Lulach, grandson of
Queen Gruoch and Macbeth MacFinlay. Sumarlidi Höld continued hostilities
against King David I. and joined
the party against Malcolm IV. (the Maiden),
when the attempt was made to place the "Boy of Egremont" on the throne.
Malcolm MacHeth, anyhow, was released by Malcolm the
Maiden and received from the young king the sovereignty of
a portion of the ancient kingdom of Cumbria. His tyranny was such
that his subjects revolted, took him prisoner, put out his eyes,
and confined him in the monastery of Bellaland (Byland/Yorkshire).
The Earldom of Moray had
been forfeited in the 12th century and was by Robert
the Bruce in 1312 bestowed on Randolph, his nephew.
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