THE TEXT

THE text of these letters is a selected and edited one. Spelling,
punctuation and paragraphing have been modernized, and in
most cases a word like owght or ought —owes has been similarly
treated. When, however, a word is definitely characteristic of
Henry's style the old form has been retained: e.g. arbitre—
arbitrament. If a small portion only of a letter is printed it is
described as an extract. If the greater part of a letter is printed
the positions of omitted paragraphs or sentences are indicated by
dots in the usual manner. Henry's own additions and alterations
are indicated by the words being printed in CAPITALS.

The sources from which the letters have been taken are fully
described in Appendix I. While reading the text it may be
assumed, unless otherwise stated, that letters have in every case
been taken from whatever I believe to be the best source avail-
able.1 This is generally a manuscript, though not often holo-
graph. In a considerable number of cases, however, it is a draft
with corrections in Henry's own hand. These corrections I have
printed in capitals; and because it is interesting to see him at
work I have given a few examples of what it was he deleted.

I have made no attempt to explore foreign archives for new
material. The results of such work—if any—would not be
suitable for a selection of this kind. In consequence, most of the
important letters and papers I have used have already been
printed—some of them several times. As, however, this is not
a critical text I have made no attempt to collate existing printed
versions. I have only indicated variants if and when my own
reading differs from that of a first-rate printed authority, as
e.g. The Hamilton Papers. Lacunae in the Cotton MSS. have
been indicated by square brackets, except in the cases where I
believe these may properly be supplied from such authorities as
Harpsfield or Rymer.

I have re-translated all the letters in Latin or French, and
a certain number are, I believe, here translated for the first time.

1 But letters in foreign archives I have, regretfully, printed from tran-
scripts or printed sources.