THE present work was originally planned as an Appendix to the Diplomatic “Studies” which have been published by the Editor as a separate work. It was suggested, however, that these Formulas might be worthy of publication in an expanded form, and a Seminar of the London School of Economics was prepared to undertake the task of selecting and transcribing the documents required for this purpose. The venture, therefore, was made under conditions which have at least proved interesting and instructive to those who have taken part in it.

In one aspect, however, the scope of the work is strictly limited, for it was quite impracticable to specialize in any one period or to give an exhaustive account of any particular class of instruments in a survey of the whole field of official diplomatic composition from the 7th century to the 19th. The chief claim of this Formula Book upon the attention of historical students and Record workers will be found in its comprehensive design and in the further attempt that it makes, for the first time, to present the several types of official instruments in a connected series. In addition to a serious diplomatic description of the several documents, their provenance has also been broadly indicated, together with their bibliographical relations. Thus the student can in most cases ascertain at a glance the position of an original instrument in respect of enrolment or entry, together with its published form as a complete text, abstract, or mere description.