British Online Archives

This collection contains manuscripts and records relating to the history of Parliament and British politics. It covers the most important events which gave rise to the modern British state, from Magna Carta and the Civil Wars to the Act of Union and the birth of Empire. The documents themselves are many and varied, including Parliamentary papers, debate records, and private diaries. Given its breadth and depth, this collection is one of the most significant resources available to students of British political history.

Note: This collection is accompanied by an online guide and scholarly introduction written by Dr Andrew Struan of the University of Glasgow.

The very significant strength of the collection here lies in its breadth of coverage: the growth of governance through Parliament, the Civil Wars and the creation of Britain's modern system of Cabinet government

Andrew Strua, University of Glasgow

Key Documents

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Insights

Within 'Vol. IV, 1562-1603', image 312 covers the death of Mary Queen of Scots, image 313 mentions the Spanish inquisition, and images 313 to 314 cover the Spanish Armada.

Given the vast range of dates covered in these papers, the reader may wish to start their research with dates for events then research what these records reported about them.

Within 'Vol. I, 1102-1399', image 37 reports the Magna Carta being signed, image 126 describes a meeting of Edward I's Model Parliament in 1295, and image 184 covers the battle of Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.

Within 'Vol. II, 1399-1509', image 149 describes the events around the battle of Agincourt, image 219 the introduction of standard weights and measures, and image 389 describes Edward V and his brother's death.

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