Malcolm III of Scotland had given sanctuary to Tostig Godwinson when the Northumbrians drove him out, but he had not been directly involved in the ill-fated invasion of England by Harald Hardrada and Tostig in 1066, which had ended in defeat and death at the battle of Stamford Bridge.

He had granted asylum in 1068 to a group of English exiles fleeing from William of Normandy, among them Agatha, widow of Edward the Confessor's nephew Edward the Exile, and her children: Edgar Ætheling and his sisters Margaret and Cristina.

They were accompanied by Gospatric, Earl of Northumbria.

The exiles were disappointed, however, if they had expected immediate assistance from the Scots.

The exiles had returned to England in 1069 to join a spreading revolt in the north.

Even though Gospatric and Siward's son Waltheof had submitted by the end of the year, the arrival of a Danish army under Sweyn Estridsson seemed to ensure that William's position remained weak.

Malcolm decides on war, and takes his army south into Cumbria and across the Pennines, wasting Teesdale and Cleveland then marching north, loaded with loot, to Wearmouth.

Here Malcolm meets Edgar and his family, who are invited to return with him, but do not.

As Sweyn had by now been bought off with a large Danegeld, Malcolm takes his army home.

In reprisal, William sends Gospatric to raid Scotland through Cumbria.

In return, the Scots fleet raids the Northumbrian coast where Gospatric's possessions are concentrated.

Edgar and his family, perhaps shipwrecked on their way to a European exile, late in the year again arrive in Scotland, this time to remain.

Malcolm by the end of 1070 has married Edgar's sister Margaret of Wessex, the future Saint Margaret of Scotland.

She will introduce a powerful English influence into the country.