THE STATE OF THE NATION.

The article focuses on the *Valor Ecclesiasticus*, a comprehensive 1535 audit of Church wealth commissioned by Henry VIII shortly after England's break with Rome, marking a pivotal assertion of royal supremacy over the Church. Unlike earlier surveys, the Valor detailed not only the financial assets of religious institutions but also their extensive landholdings, economic activities, and social roles, providing a rare snapshot of England's religious, social, and cultural landscape in the Tudor period. Despite its significance as the most substantial documentary record of Henry VIII's reign, the Valor was long neglected due to problematic 19th-century publication efforts and political interference, limiting its use by historians until recent renewed scholarly and archival interest. The survey reveals dynamic economic enterprises, detailed place-names, and insights into the lives of clergy, laypeople, and women connected to the Church, making it a vital resource for understanding pre-Reformation England. Current digitization projects aim to make the Valor more accessible, promising new discoveries about the period.