Contents

Abbreviations fig* viii

1 Introduction l

2 Works of Reference 5

3 Sources °

a. Collections 8

fa. Official Records 9

c. Letters ll

d. Autobiography *3

e. Economic history ID

f. Texts ' 15

4 General *7

a. Longer periods 17

b. Collections 23

5 The Sixteenth Century (1485 - 1603) 26

a. General 26

b. Political history 28

c. Administration and Constitution 33

d. The Church 37

e. Social and economic history 43
£ Culture and civilization 48

6 The Seventeenth Century (1603 - 1714) 51

a. General 51

b. i6oQ -