PREFACE THE present work is the first attempt to compile a history of the county of Bedford from original sources. Although Bedfordshire, like most English counties, possesses a wealth of materials for local history, no systematic collection and arrangement of these materials has been undertaken hitherto. The work of some of the contributors has consequently been done under great difficulties. The editors regret that it has been impossible to follow a strict chronological sequence in the present volume. The chapter on the Romano-British period will appear in a later volume. It may be desirable to point out that in the chapter on the religious houses, descriptions and illustrations of the buildings have been purposely omitted. They more properly belong to the parish in which the houses were situate and will be dealt with there under the section on Topo- graphy. For the use of some of the illustrations in this volume the editors have to thank Mr. Worthington G. Smith and the Council of the Society of Antiquaries.
