The letters which are printed in these volumes have been selected from the correspondence of the family of Hattcn which forms part of the Hatton-Finch papers preserved in the British Museum. These papers, contained in forty-nine volumes, comprise—as their title indicates—the general correspondence and papers of the connected families of Hatton, Viscounts Hatton, and Finch, Earls of Nottingham and Winchilsea. They extend over the years 1514–1779; but the larger portion concerns the Hattons, and of those which relate to the Finches the greater number are political papers of the second Earl of Nottingham. The collection was purchased by the Trustees of the British Museum in 1874, and now bears the numbers, Additional MSS. 29,548–29,596.

As I never liked ye amorous gallants of our tyme yt make a traffique of lovinge and a trade of dissemblinge, lovinge whom ere they see, and ownlie lovinge whilst they see; soe am I not composed of soe hard a mettle but yt fine beautie can pearce, and compleatc perfections ravish, my admiringe soule. Hithertoe have I beene good tutor to my owne youthfull fancies, makinge keepe whom (home) in a plain whomly breast; but, since of late yr beauty procured them a litle liberty, they are fiowne abroade and have burnte theire winges in affections flame, soe yt I feare they will never flye whome againe. I have ofte observed it to bee ye effect of base and a dull discerninge eie to dote upon every obiect without distinction, and have markt it out as true property of ye fierie soule to honour chast beauty where ever it harbers, and to love ye verie windowes of yt house where soe faire a guest as vertue soiourneth.