THE contents of the two parts of this Volume which now appear are of a miscellaneous character. They are classed, however, under three general heads, on each of which a few words must here be said.

I. The Miscellaneous Papers, which are placed first, consist almost entirely of documents which have been already published. One of them, the Speech at the Censure of Bastwick, Burton, and Prynne, was first printed in 1637, by Laud's own authority, and was subsequently included in the volume of his Remains, published in 1700. The first of the papers against Lord Say and Sele was printed from Laud's MSS., by Henry Wharton, at the end of the History of his Troubles and Trial; and the second of them by Wharton's father, in the volume of the Remains mentioned just above. Of the remaining papers several were printed in Prynne's "Hidden Works of Darkness," and "Canterbury's Doom," in Rushworth's Collections, and the State Trials.

The unpublished part of this portion of the volume consists only of the Paper on Sutton's Hospital, and of the Speech against Prynne and Sparkes.

II. The Series of Letters in the first two parts of the sixth volume consists: (i.) Of all the Letters of Archbishop Laud which had already been published, but which hitherto were dispersed in various different works. The English letters comprise those printed by Prynne, in his "Hidden Works," and "Canterbury's Doom;" in the "Cabala;" by Rushworth, in his "Collections;" by Parr, in his "Life of Usher;" in Wilkins' "Concilia;" by Knowler, in the Strafforde Letters and Dispatches; and in the Rawdon Papers, edited by Barwick. The Latin Letters are taken (with but two exceptions) from the correspondence of G. J. Vossius, printed at London, 1690, and in the Præstantium ac eruditorum Virorum Epistolæ." These Letters, together with all those hitherto unpublished, (except two which were obtained after the volume had been so far printed,) are now brought together in chronological order.

(ii.) The Letters, which now appear for the first time, include all that could be found in the British Museum, the Lambeth MSS., and the Tanner MSS. in the Bodleian Library, and a few others which the Editor has succeeded in obtaining from private sources.

This portion of the series, including the Letters from Bishops Bedell and Williams, amount in number to fifty-eight. The correspondence with Bishop Williams is noted as of special interest.

The source, whether printed or MS., from which each Letter is taken, is noticed at its commencement.

The number of Letters which have been found, printed and unprinted, have already swelled the volume so much as to require its division into two parts. It was hoped that the whole of Archbishop Laud's letter would have been included in them. But, when they were almost ready for publication, researches which have been recently made at the State Paper Office brought to light a large amount of additional matter, hitherto unpublished, such as will necessitate the publication of a third part, which will be sent out with the least possible delay.

A "Calendar," or Chronological Arrangement of all the Letters, will be appended at the end of the volume, which will in some measure compensate for the inconvenience which results from their appearing in two distinct series.

III. Notes on the Controversies of Cardinal Bellarmine. The source from whence these derived, and the assistance which has been furnished to the Editor, both in their transcription and in carrying them through the press, are fully stated in the notice which is prefixed to them. It is sufficient here to say that they are obtained from the Library of Trinity College, Dublin, and have had the advantage of passing under the eye of Dr. Todd.

JAMES BLISS.

OGBOURNE ST. ANDREW,
March 13, 1857.

Project Canterbury