THE witches assured Macbeth that Banquo’s sons would take his crown only if the very trees of nearby Birnam wood climbed the hill on which Dunsinane palace stood.
Macbeth was relieved: how could such a fantasy ever happen?
Of more immediate concern, they warned, was Duncan’s loyal Thane, Macduff: so again Macbeth sent ruffians to murder him in his home.
Fortunately, Macduff was not there: he was closeted with Edward in England, together with Malcolm. But when he learned that his whole family had been slain, he came north with an English army to exact revenge.*
As they approached Macbeth’s castle on Dunsinane hill, the English cut the branches from the trees of Birnam wood for camouflage, so that the wood itself seemed to be marching up the hill.
With the prophecies of the witches all turning against him, Macbeth fought Macduff hand-to-hand, and the tormented King fell, defiant to the last.
In 1054, Duncan’s son Malcolm did indeed ally with the English king Edward the Confessor, and Siward, Earl of Northumbria. Malcolm mortally wounded or killed Macbeth in battle in 1057, and one year later became king.