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Dissolution of the Monasteries
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3. The historical debateA debate between historiansOver the years, there has been a debate between historians as to the cause of the Dissolution. In the past historians have thought that Henry's motives were religious rather than financial. In other words, Henry wanted to destroy Catholicism and cut the ties from Rome, so that he could be free to divorce and marry whoever he choose. In 1535, visitations or surveys were made of all ecclesiastical and monastic dwellings. During these visits, evidence of bad or immoral behaviour were produced and compiled into a list called a comperta, whilst details of monastic accounts were compiled into a Valor Ecclesiasticus. Some historians in the past have attributed the cause of the Dissolution to the findings in the comperta and Valor. Since the Second World War however, historians have largely agreed that the need for additional revenue was the major cause of the Dissolution. If Henry VIII had really wanted to destroy monastic life, it seems unlikely that he would have permitted the continuing existence of some religious houses, granted pensions to many of the Abbots of the dissolved monasteries and allowed some of the younger monks to become parish priests.ContinueLinks to further information: Next |
Page created April 2004 and last updated 13 July 2007
