The Western European powers, 1500-1700

the long version

"In a clear and lively style, the author describes the various types of diplomatic sources, collections, and repositories for the period, and discusses their nature and use. But he goes beyond what he calls the sanctified sources, problems, issues, questions (and answers), and dramatis personae, writing from the belief that the long-establised canon of sources for diplomatic history must be radically expanded if historical knowledge is ever to emerge from its superannuated embryo." -- Taken from book jacket.