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 PREFACE FOR the design and scope of the History of Hertfordshire the reader is referred to the General Advertisement of the Victoria History. While it is intended in the earlier portion of each History to keep to a chronological order as far as possible, the conditions obtaining in some counties make it desirable to depart slightly from the general rule. In the case of Hertfordshire the break in continuity is made by omitting the Romano-British chapter from this volume. Although our knowledge of Saxon times as far as this county is concerned is very imperfect, there is at present no such activity of research in this department as to encourage the hope that important facts may be brought to light if publication be delayed. But the excavations which are proceeding at Verulamium may add something to the very scanty material available for reconstructing the story of the county at the time of the Roman occupation, and Mr. Haverfield's contribution will there- fore be reserved for a future volume. It may be questioned by some whether there be any need for another History of Hertfordshire^ seeing that three histories of the county have been issued already at various times. But it may be pointed out that in none of them is there to be found a general view of the county and its life such as is projected in the present work ; nor has the true foundation of modern county history the Domesday Survey been examined by previous historians with the care it deserves. In this respect the Victoria History claims to supersede its predecessors ; and while the public must ultimately judge whether the ideals of the editors be in any degree realized, it is believed that in the manorial history, which will follow in two of the three succeeding volumes, the student will find a greater measure of accuracy than in the earlier histories. A particular statement of the plan upon which the topographical history has been compiled will be given in the preface to the next volume, in which the first portion of this section will find a place. The fourth volume will contain general articles on Ecclesiastical, Political, Social and Economic history and other subjects, as announced in the prospectus. XIX