THE ADVISORY COUNCIL OF THE VICTORIA HISTORY Hit GRACE THE BEDFORD, K.G. Praident of tbi Zoological Society His GRACE THE DUKE OP DEVON- SHIRK, K.G. Chancellor of tbi Univeriily of Cam- bridge His GRACE THE DUKE OF RUTLAND, K.G. His GRACE THE DUKE OF PORTLAND, K.G. His GRACE THE DUKE OF ARGYLL, K.T. THE MOST HON. THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY, K.G. Chancellor of tbi Univtrtity of Oxford THE RT. HON. THE EARL OF ROSEBERY, K.G., K.T. THE RT. HON. THE EARL OF COVENTRY President of tbi Royal Agricultural Society THE RT. HON. Tm VISCOUNT DILLON President of tbi Society of Antiquaries THE RT. HON. THE LORD LISTER Late President of tbi Royal Socitty THE RT. HON. THE LORD AL- TERSTONE, G.C.M.G. Lord Cbief Justice General DUKE OF THE HON. WALTER ROTHSCHILD, COL. DUNCAN A. JOHNSTON M.P. SIR FREDERICK POLLOCK, BART., LL.D., F.S.A., ETC. Corpus Professor of Jurisprudence, Oxford SIR EDWARD MAUNDE THOMPSON, K.C.B.,D.C.L., LL.D., F.S.A., ETC. Director of the British Museum SIR CLEMENTS R. MARKHAM, K.C.B., F.R.S., F.S.A. President of the Royal Geographical Society SIR HENRY C. MAXWELL-LYTE, K.C.B., M.A., F.S.A., ETC. Keeper of tbi Puttie Records COL. SIR J. FARQUHARSON, K.C.B. SIR Jos. HOOKER, G.C. S.I. , M.D., D.C.L., F.R.S., ETC. SIR ARCHIBALD GEIKIE, LL.D., F.R.S., ETC. REV. J. CHARLES Cox, LL.D., F.S.A., ETC. LIONEL CUST, ESQ., M.A., M.V.O., F.S.A., ETC Director of the National Portrait Gallery ALBERT C. L.G. GUNTHER, M.A., F.R.S., M.D., PH.D. Late President of the Linnean Society Director General of tbi Ordnance Survey PROF. E. RAY LANKESTER, M.A., F.R.S., ETC. Director of tbi Natural History Museum, Soutb Kensington REGINALD L. POOLS, ESQ., M.A. University Lecturer in Diplomatic, Oxford F. YORK POWELL, ESQ., M.A., F.S.A., ETC. Regiut Profeuor of Modern History, Oxford J. HORACE ROUND, ESQ., M.A. WALTER RYE, ESQ. W.H.ST. JOHN HOPE, ESQ., M.A. Auiitant Secretary of rbe Society of Antiauaria Among the original members of the Council were THE LATE DR. MANDELL CREIGH- TON, BISHOP OP LONDON THE LATE DR. STUBBS, BISHOP OF OXFORD THE LATE LORD ACTON and THE LATE SIR WILLIAM FLOWER Editor, of the Series { H ,; ] ARTHUR DouB " D * Y WILLIAM PAGE, F.S.A. GENERAL ADVERTISEMENT The VICTORIA HISTORY of the Counties of England is a National Historic Survey, which, under the direction of a large staff comprising the foremost students in science, history, and archarology, is designed to record the history of every county of England in detail. This work was, by gracious permission, dedicated to Her late Majesty Queen Victoria, who gave it her own name. It is the endeavour of all who are associated with the undertaking to make it a worthy and permanent monument to her memory. Rich as every county of England is in materials for local history, there has hitherto been no attempt made to bring all these materials together into a coherent form. Although from the seventeenth century down to quite recent times numerous county histories have been issued, they are very unequal in merit ; the best of them are very rare and costly ; most of them are imperfect and all are now out of date. Moreover they were the work of one or two isolated scholars, who, however able, could not possibly deal adequately with all the varied subjects which go to the making of a county history. I VII
