More, is impossible.

In the discharge of this duty, I am not conscious that I have failed.

I have not intentionally omitted any care or assiduity to make the present History as correct and satis- factory as my means of information or personal dili- gence, could supply : and I hope that on this ground I have some claim to expect that those readers, whose criticisms may be awakened by its imper- fections, will recollect what lias been performed, as well as what may be found deficient.

The present Work has arisen from a perception, that there were many important documents of the middle ages, which former writers had not consulted ; and many facts essential to a complete knowledge of our history, which lay untouched and unappropri- ated.

I have endeavored to make these a part of our national history.