Sir,—Your correspondent R.L. (No. 2. p. 24.), will find the fullest information on this head in Sir Harris Nicolas's work on the Orders of Knighthood of the British Empire. He does not assign to its origin an earlier date than the reign of James III, in an inventory of whose jewels, Thistles are mentioned as part of the ornaments. The motto "Nemo me impune lacessit," does not appear until James VI. adopted it on his coinage.
G.H.B.
For Scottish Thistle, see Nisbet's Heraldry, vol. ii. Order of St. Andrew. Selden, Titles of Honour, p. 704. ed. 1672, refers to "Menenius, Miræus, Favin, and such more."
SCOTUS.
Record Publications.
Will any of your readers kindly favour me with a reference to any easily-accessible list of the publications of the Record Commission, as well as to some account of the more valuable Rolls still remaining unpublished, specifying where they exist, and how access is to be obtained to them?
With every wish for the success of your undertaking,
Yours, &c.
D.S.
[The late Sir H. Nicolas compiled an account of the publications of the Record Commission, which was published in his Notitia Historica, and also in an 8vo. vol, and is easily obtainable. There is also a series of articles in the Gentleman's Magazine for 1834, which contains a good deal of information upon the subject, with a classified list of the publications. The principal unpublished records are in the Tower and the Rolls' Chapel; any record may be inspected or copied at those places, or in any other Record Office, upon payment of a fee of one shilling.]