Monastic Records and the Dissolution: A Tudor Revolution in the Archives?

Abstract

Monastic records and the Dissolution: a Tudor revolution in the archives?Revolutions in government normally imply major changes -if not revolutions -in the archives of government, whether in response to the initiation of new departments, activities, or enterprises on the part of government itself, or as a consequence of new attitudes and practices in record-keeping. G.R.Elton's 'Tudor revolution in government', located in the 1530s and the ascendancy of Henry VIII's chief minister Thomas Cromwell, comprised changes in all sections of the administration: 'new principles were indeed at work and profound reforms undertaken'. 1 The bureaucracy of government expanded and diversified, and the records they created and retained multiplied. The shadow this revolution casts over previous reigns is one of the major challenges facing historians seeking to trace continuities and changes between the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Henry VII's reign (1485-1509) has been seen as liminal, even 'medieval', as far as the records of government go, with earlier staples of administrative history petering out and new record series only incipient; 2 Henry VIII's reign (1509-47) seems to mark a watershed in the evolution of modern government, reflected in its surviving archival record.The expansion of government record-keeping can be illustrated by the number of archival series beginning or increasing in volume in the first half of the sixteenth century. New taxation assessments, a greater level of bureaucratic and diplomatic activity, more attention to preserving the record of judicial process, all contributed to this. Major formal record series Many of Cromwell's reforms in the practice of government were to do with efficiency and accountability, removing or bypassing structures which were perceived as cumbersome or unfit for purpose, redirecting flows of information and resources. However, the motive for administrative reform was not simply an abstract desire for improved efficiency, but also the 1 G.R.Elton, The Tudor revolution in government: administrative changes in the reign of Henry VIII (Cambridge, 1953), p. 5; Coleman, C., and Starkey, D. (eds.), Revolution reassessed. Revisions in the history of Tudor government and administration (Oxford, 1986).2 Steven Gunn, 'Henry VII in Context: Problems and Possibilities ', History 92 (2007), 301-16. 3 Calendar of Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII (HMSO, London, 1864-1932); Calendar of State Papers, Domestic, Edward VI, Mary, Elizabeth and James I (HMSO, London, 1856-72). For online editions of these records see British History Online (http://www.british-history.ac.uk). For the State Papers series (SP), and the records of Chancery (C), Privy Council (PC), Requests (REQ) and Star Chamber (STAC) see The National Archives (TNA) Discovery Catalogue (http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk). All citations are to the online edition, unless otherwise stated; all online sources including British History Online and The National Archives Discovery Catalogue were last a...