I should like to thank the National Library of Ireland, the British Library, the National Archives, Kew, the National Archives of Ireland, the National Library of Scotland, and Birmingham University Library for permission to publish the documents reproduced in this volume.

I am grateful to Dr Aled Jones and Dr Jon Lawrence, who have been, throughout, most helpful and enthusiastic Literary Editors; and to my copy-editor, Dr Hester Higton. I am grateful to Dr Owen Magee for his comments on aspects of this work and to Mr Roger Sweetman, SC for information on the provenance of Sir George Fottrell's journal. I would also like to thank Dr Maki Ikeda for her kind understanding and support over a number of years.

It has been possible for me to prepare this edition through the support of the University of the West of England and I would like to thank Professor Diana Jeater for providing me with sufficient time to complete this work.