Transcribed from the [1899] “Hand and Heart” edition by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org [Picture: Book cover] THE ROMANCE OF THE LONDON DIRECTORY. * * * * * BY CHARLES W. BARDSLEY, M.A., _Vicar of Ulverston_, AUTHOR OF “ENGLISH SURNAMES,” ETC. * * * * * “This Booke containes the names of mortall men; But thear’s a Booke with characters of golde, Not writ with incke, with pensill, or with pen, Wheare Gode’s elect for ever are inrolde, The Booke of Life; wheare labor thou to bee, Beefore this Booke hath once re-gistred thee.” _From a Church Register_. * * * * * London: “HAND AND HEART” PUBLISHING OFFICES, 1, PATERNOSTER BUILDINGS, E.C. [_The right of translation is reserved_.] * * * * * HAZELL, WATSON, AND VINEY, PRINTERS LONDON AND AYLESBURY. * * * * * PREFACE. WHEN the enterprising and energetic editor of _The Fireside_ wrote suggesting that he should print my articles on the London Directory, published at various intervals during the last two years in that magazine, I was somewhat taken aback. I will candidly confess that half of them, or thereabouts, were written with some degree of care: I will as honestly admit that the rest were indited amid the press of heavy ministerial labours, and had to take their chance, as regards manner, method, and matter. Nevertheless, I may add that, however wanting in order and sequence several chapters appeared on paper, I was not afraid for the accuracy of their contents. My only credit for this, supposing my lack of fear to be well founded, is that which attaches to diligent research. The only true means of discovering the origin of our surnames is to find the earliest form of entry. Light upon that, and half the difficulty vanishes. This is a means which is as open to any of my readers as myself—more so in the case of those who dwell in the metropolis.