Medieval and early modern diplomacy--The Office of Secretary of State for England and the conduct of foreign affairs, c. 1500-1782--The state papers foreign : general characteristics--Special state paper classes--Means of reference to the state papers foreign--Other early modern sources--Papers of Secretaries of State and Diplomats : 1500-1782--Transcipts of documents held abroad--The Foreign office and the Foreign Secretary--The diplomatic and consular services--Foreign Office general correspondence--Papers of Foreign Secretaries and Diplomats : 1782-1960--Treaties, commissions and conferences--Miscellaneous sources--Registers, indexes and means of reference: 1782-1960--Approaches to research