APPENDIX 315
enabled them to furnish the most correct and authentic intelligence. In these papers the history of the times writes itself off from day to day, and almost from hour to hour, with the minuteness of a daily journal, but with a precision to which no ordinary journal could make any pretence."
Lord Burghley's papers illustrate the times from the beginning of his ministry, on the accession of Queen Elizabeth, to his death in 1598. Those of his son, Sir Robert Cecil, first Earl of Salisbury, which are even more voluminous than his father's, continue the record to the date of his death in 1612. The papers of Sir Walter Raleigh and of the Earl of Essex are also among the manuscripts at Hatfield.
Two large volumes of selections from these documents were published in the eighteenth century : the first (1542 1570) edited by the Rev. Samuel Haynes and published in 1740 ; and the second (1571 1596) edited by the Rev. W. Murdin and published in 1759. In these volumes the documents given are printed in extenso, but they have been superseded for most purposes by the Calendars issued by the Historical Manuscripts Com- mission. Of these twelve have now been published, containing resumes of papers up to the year 1602. Many historians have had access to the later papers, the most important for the purpose of the present volume being Professor Gardiner, Mr. Edwards for his Life of Raleigh, Professor Brewer for his article on " Hatfield House," so often quoted, and Mr. Dalton for his Life of Viscount Wimbledon.
The papers of the late Marquess of Salisbury at Hatfield are said to rival in interest and importance those of Lord Burghley and his son, but at present they are not accessible to the public.
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