PREFACE 



I 



only complete history of Essex hitherto issued is that of 

 Philip Morant, published in 1768 and reprinted in i8i6. 1 It 

 may perhaps be reasonably claimed that the county is entitled to 

 a newer history and one more complete than could be compiled in the 

 eighteenth century. 



The aims of the series of which the Victoria History of Essex forms 

 a part are to be found in the General Advertisement printed in this 

 volume. 



It has been found impossible in the present instance to adhere to 

 chronological order in the sequence of the articles included in this volume. 

 It is hoped to print the section on the Romano-British Period in the 

 second volume. 



Whilst the editors cannot as a rule make special reference to the 

 services of contributors, they feel in the present instance it is only right 

 to acknowledge their great indebtedness to Mr. J. Horace Round, not only 

 for the infinite pains he has expended under adverse circumstances of 

 health on the Domesday section, which in the case of Essex is one of 

 peculiar difficulty, but also for the valuable help he has given to others in 

 the preparation and revision of their articles. 



* It would appear that Morant did little more than edit materials collected by previous students of 

 Essex history (see 'Historians of Essex,' Enex Review, iii. 27-41, 138-53). 





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