G

REAT books have a way of producing smaller ones; and these sketches of the history of the Episcopal Palaces of the Southern Province have been inspired by work done for the "Victoria History of the Counties of England." The plan and the scope of that great work prevents its writers from availing themselves of much of the interesting material which their researches discover. The authors of this book have taken the opportunity of presenting in popular form the results of investigation into the lighter side of history. The editor is responsible for the general plan of the book, but he has left his contributors to choose their own methods of telling the stories entrusted to them. He hopes and believes that the result has been to produce a volume of varied interest which will appeal to all who wish to know about the life of the Church and its great dignitaries, and about the houses in which its bishops have lived. The editor and his contributors wish to offer their thanks to the guardians of episcopal palaces and documents for access to both, and to express their indebtedness to Mr. William Page, editor of the Victoria County History.

New College, Oxford.

November, 1909.

R. S. R.