I have nothing more to add except that, as I put forward no claim to infallibility, and as my sole object has been to ascertain the truth, wherever it is clearly shown that I have failed in arriving at the end in view, I shall unhesitatingly acknowledge myself to have been mistaken. I have already sacrificed too many theories to object to the necessary immolation of as many more as may be proved to be erroneous; for historical accuracy will scarcely be attained by too rigid an adherence to preconceived ideas. The kindly interest and encouragement with which my work has been received by those whom I have long been accustomed to regard as the first living authorities upon the subjects of which it treats, and to whose contributions to Scottish history it really owes any merits it may possess, have been, I need not say, extremely gratifying to me. I trust I may accept this as an omen of success, and as an assurance that I have not uselessly sacrificed both time and labour in endeavouring to shed a few more rays of light upon the early history of the land of my forefathers. NETHER SEALE HALL, ASHBY DE LA ZOUCHE, _September 6, 1862_. CONTENTS OF VOLUME I. _Map of Early Kingdom_ _Frontispiece_ CHAPTER I. PAGE THE EARLY HISTORY, BEFORE 842 1 CHAPTER II. THE EARLY KINGDOM, 843–900 24 CHAPTER III. PROGRESS OF THE KINGDOM, 900–943 53 CHAPTER IV. THE KINGDOM COMPLETED, 971–995 79 CHAPTER V. THE KINGDOM CONTESTED. The line of Atholl. The line of Moray, 1034–1040 110 CHAPTER VI. THE LINE OF ATHOLL RESTORED. Malcolm Ceanmore, 1058–1093 125 CHAPTER VII. THE INTERMEDIATE PERIOD, 1093–1097 154 CHAPTER VIII. THE FEUDAL KINGDOM. David the First, 1124–1153. 187 CHAPTER IX. THE STATE, 1124–1153 235 CHAPTER X. THE CHURCH, 1124–1153 321 CHAPTER XI. MALCOLM THE FOURTH, 1153–1165 345 CHAPTER XII. WILLIAM THE LION, 1165–1189 362 CHAPTER XIII. WILLIAM THE LION, 1189–1214 397