This collection of documents is a further stage in the publication of material relating to proceedings in Elizabeth's parliaments, and follows the first volume of "Proceedings" covering the sessions up to and including that of 1581. Two considerations have led to the publication of theis section. In the first place, the quantity of material to be included for the six sessions from 1584-5 to 1601 is more extensive than what appeared in the first volume, and made a single volume a less feasible proposition. One consideration may illustrate this: the Hayward Townshend journal for 1601 alone extends to about 70,000 words, without any commentary or footnotes. Secondly, it is some time since the appearance of the first volume and it seemed right to divide what remained rather than prolonging the interval even further while work on the last three sessions of the reign is completed.
