4 



The works to be published in octavo, separately, as 

 they were finished ; the whole responsibility of the task 

 resting upon the editors, who were to be chosen by the 

 Master of the Eolls with the sanction of the Treasury. 



The Lords of Her Majesty's Treasury, after a careful 

 consideration of the subject, expressed their opinion in a 

 Treasury Minute, dated February 9, 1857, that the plan 

 recommended by the Master of the HoUs '' was well 

 calculated for the accomplislmient of this important 

 national object, in an effectual and satisfactory manner, 

 within a reasonable time, and provided proper attention 

 be paid to economy, in making the detailed arrange- 

 ments, without unnecessary expense." 



They expressed their approbation of the proposal that 

 each chronicle and liistorical document .should be edited 

 in such a manner as to represent mth all possible cor- 

 rectness the text of each writer, derived from a collation 

 of the best MSS., and that no notes should be added, 

 except such as were illustrative of the various readings. 

 They suggested, however, that the preface to each work 

 should contain, in addition to the particulars proposed 

 by tlie Master of the Rolls, a biographical account of 

 the author, so far as authentic materials existed for that 

 purpose, and an estimate of his historical credibility and 

 value. 



Bolls House, 



Deremher IHoT. 



