Faith in war: the religious experience of Scottish soldiery, c.1100-c.1500

Citation

Penman MA (2011) Faith in war: the religious experience of Scottish soldiery, c.1100-c.1500. Journal of Medieval History, 37 (3), pp. 295-303. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmedhist.2011.05.001

Abstract
This paper examines the comparatively patchy evidence for the pastoral provision and personal faith of late medieval Scottish combatants below the rank of knight. By examining such sources as papal supplications, royal financial accounts, parliamentary rolls, chronicles, poetry and the cartularies of Scottish monastic houses and burgh collegiate churches, it is possible to identify elite and parish provision of churchmen serving the needs of Scottish troops as they mustered, trained and prepared for battle. In addition, this evidence also highlights a number of cults and relics popular with the social ranks of the ordinary Scottish soldiery, including those of SS Ninian, Leonard, Thomas Becket, Columba, the Blessed Virgin Mary and d often cast as the nemesis of Scottish troops d Cuthbert. However, this survey also points to some tensions between the spiritual interests of Scottish servicemen and their ruling elites.

Keywords
Scotland; Soldier; Priest; Chaplain; Piety; Relics; Saints; Cults; Anglo-Scottish Wars; England; France; Soldiers Scotland 1057-1603; Military chaplains; Pastoral care

Notes
Special issue of proceedings of AHRC 'Soldier in Late Medieval England' project conference, 2009: http://www.icmacentre.ac.uk/soldier/database/

Journal
Journal of Medieval History: Volume 37, Issue 3

People

Dr Michael Penman

Senior Lecturer, History