Family Lessons 136: Funding Others' Campaigns

According to the Lancashire Pipe Rolls for 1166-67, my 24th great-gramps, Henry de Walton, contributed three and a half marks towards a military campaign in Normandy. This was presumably to excuse himself from having to go in person, or was a feudal contribution to the King. A mark was worth two thirds of a pound or 160 old pennies. So the total was 560 silver pennies, or two pounds 72 pennies, so a not insignificant sum. The campaign in Normandy was not terribly important by the standards of history, for little about it can be read. Flanders was invading Normandy, which was then the property of the English Crown. Wiliam Marshall, ‘the greatest knight to have ever lived’ and later Earl of Pembroke, below,seems to have been active defending the duchy, while King Henry II seems to have occupied himself with an invasion of neighbouring Britanny.

So no derring-do or battlefield honours for Henry de Walton, though these campaigns would not have been possible without the financial contributions of those who stayed at home. Not all of us can go and engage in full time missionary work in the South American jungles or African savannahs, nor be full time pastors or leaders of youth. We can still contribute to those who are, however. Financial support, prayer support, moral support: those who have, should support those who do.

Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. And when I come, whomever you approve by your letters I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem. 1 Corinthians 16:1-3, New King James Version

Above: Sir William Marshall, from my model collection