The face of the country is the most important historical document that we possess. Upon the map of England-‘ that marvellous palimpsest ’—is written much of English history : written in letters of earth and stone, of bank and ditch, of foliage and crop. As is the case with every map, the writing is not such as he that runs may read. It needs patience to discover, knowledge to decipher, insight, sometimes amounting to genius, to interpret. But the writing is there, all else awaits the competence of the reader.