Originally published in 1895. The facts recorded in the following pages have been gleaned from many different sources. The valuable collections of manuscripts at the Public Record Office and the British Museum have been of great service. The visitation Books of the diocese, which were most courteously and generously placed at my disposal by John Gamon, the Registrar of the diocese, have afforded invaluable information, and much that has been gathered from them is now published for the first time. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900's and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.