Volume 3

vii.
ascertain that the massacre of James III.'s menials at Lander bridge happened in July
1482 ; but from a short Chronicle of James Gray, who compiled it soon after that atro-
cious event, the real date clearly appears to have been the 15th of July 1482 (f). In
the latest of the Scottish historians we may see how uncertain is still the true date of the
death of Margaret, the virtuous queen of James III. (g). But the same Chronicle shows
that she died at Stirling in 1486 (h). It is only by collecting and arranging such docu-
ments that the real history of North-Britain can be cultivated as a science.
In the literature of England there is a well-known book under the appropriate name
of Liber Regis, containing the value and advowsons of all the ecclesiastical livings; but
in Scotland they have no such document of useful information. There will be found,
however, in the topographical history of the subsequent volume, a TABULAR STATE of
the several parishes in each shire, which may be deemed the Liber Regis of North-
Britain.
Of matters illustrative or ornamental, there will not be found much in this volume.
There is, indeed, a Tabular Statement which contains the political anatomy of every shire
in Scotland on a broadside. There was intended to be prefixed to this volume a new
map of Scotland, in which the boundaries of shires are more elaborated than they for-
merly were, the limits of districts are better ascertained, the location of the churches are
more discriminated, and the names and places are more appropriated to the history; but
the infirmities of the engraver have made it necessary to postpone this map till the ap-
pearance of the following volumes.
In the investigation of truth I have not been discouraged by any difficulty, and I have
not declined any labour. I have sought new documents, and I have tried in my narra-
tion to be neither too general nor too minute (i). I will beg leave to conclude this Pre-
face with Carew's Prosopopeia to his Survey of Cornwall:
" I. crave not courteous ayd of friends,
To blaze my praise in verse ;
Nor, prowd to vaunt min author's names,
In catalogue reherse.
" I of no willing wrong complaine,
Which force or stealth hath wrought;
No fruit 1 promise from the tree
That forth this blooth (k) hath brought.
(d) Scots Mag., 1758, p. 22-8.                                             (e) Ib., 1757, p. 327.
(f) MS. 12".    James Gray, Advocates' Library.                        (g) Pink. Hist,, i., 423-4.
(h) Gray's MS.
(i) There may bo misprints, which cannot easily be prevented in so long a work, whatever care may do.
An Index for this volume was prepared, but upon consideration it was conceived that a general Index for
the whole work would be more commodious to the studious reader.
(k) A Cornish word signifying the year, the spring ; or rather the fruits of the year, or budding of trees.