Reeds Shaken by the Wind? Bishops in Local and Regional Politics in King Stephen's Reign

Abstract

But they cowering in most dastardly fear, bent like a reed shaken by the wind, and since their salt had no savour they did not rise up or resist or set themselves as a wall before the house of Israel … some bishops, made sluggish and abject by fear of them, either gave way or lukewarmly and feebly passed a sentence of excommunication that was soon to be revoked … THIS WAS the Gesta Stephani 's assessment of episcopal conduct during the civil war. Similar, if more moderate, views were held until relatively recently. Paul Dalton has now shown, however, that some bishops were committed to peace-keeping, and it has also been argued that their relations with King Stephen were better and more constructive than is often allowed. Here, another facet of the civil war bishops' office is explored which has been little addressed beyond the exceptional case of Durham: engagement and integration with local political, religious and social dynamics and networks. Case studies are drawn from the three dioceses of Chester, Hereford, and Lincoln because bishops of all three are named in the Gesta Stephani . Bishop Robert de Bethune of Hereford exceptionally, ‘manfully set himself like a shield of defence against the enemies of the catholic peace’. Bishops Alexander of Lincoln and Roger de Clinton of Chester, however, (but it was no task for bishops) filled their castles full of provisions and stocks of arms, knights and archers, and though they were supposed to be warding off the evil doers who were plundering the goods of the church showed themselves more cruel and more merciless than those very evil-doers in oppressing their neighbours and plundering their goods.