Catalogue description Secretaries of State: State Papers Foreign, Newsletters

Mainly unsigned despatches, news-sheets and copies of foreign gazettes, all in manuscript, sent to the Secretary of State from English agents abroad. The records are most numerous for the reigns of Charles II and James II. Many of the documents may have been enclosed originally with letters now to be found in the general series (arranged by country).

Selected documents dated before August 1589 are described in the Calendar of State Papers Foreign Series of the Reign of Elizabeth I ed A J Butler S C Lomas and R B Wernham (London 1901-1950). For references to the more important papers for the period August 1589 to December 1595 see the List and Analysis of State Papers Foreign Series Elizabeth I I-VI ed by Richard Bruce Wernham (London 1964-1993). Please speak to staff at the Map and Large Document Room enquiry desk for the precise location.