ABSTRACT
The design of this book has intentionally emphasised leadership on campaign and in battle in diverse and sometimes desperate circumstances as the central aspect of clerical participation in warfare, rather than the supply of troops for royal armies. It should not be forgotten, however, that many examples of clerical military leadership, such as Ealhstan of Sherborne’s battle at the mouth of the Parret in 845, Wulfstan’s defence of Worcester in 1088, and Robert’s operations around Bath in 1138, are of prelates defending the locations of their churches, or fighting invaders only a short distance from them. In some cases, it is certain or very likely that the lordship exercised by prelates was expected to have a specifically military character. It is striking that this was always either in areas where the probability of rebellion or invasion was high. In some cases clergy exercised powers similar to those of marcher lords, exercising delegated royal military responsibility for purposes of regional defence.
