longer than another, but all regulated by the confessor’s measure; and let every measure in his shrift-district, and every weight, be, by his direction, very rightly regulated: and if there be any dispute, let the bishop arbitrate.” Thorpe, ii. 312 _seq._ Footnote 884: “Archiepiscopi, episcopi et universae personae regni, qui de rege tenent in capite, habeant possessiones suas de rege sicut baroniam, et inde respondeant iusticiariis et ministris regis, et sequantur et facient omnes consuetudines regias; et sicut caeteri barones, debent interesse iudiciis curiae regis quousque perveniatur ad diminutionem membrorum vel ad mortem.” Rog. Wend. _anno_ 1164. Coxe, ii. 301. ----- Another exemption which the bishops properly possessed, seems also to have been often neglected in this country,—that namely of personal service in the field. No doubt, all over Europe, as soon as the bishops became possessed of lands liable to the _hereban_, or military muster, they, like other lords, were compelled to place their armed tenants on foot, for the public service, when duly required: but their levies were mostly commanded by officers specially designated for that purpose and known under the names of _advocati_, _vicedomini_, or _vidames_; being in general nobles of power and dignity who assumed or accepted the exercise of the bishop’s royalties, the management of his estates, the administration and execution of his justice, and a remunerative share of his revenues and patronage. In Saxon England, however, we do not meet with these officers; and though it is probable that the bishop’s geréfa was bound to lead his contingent under the command of the ealdorman, yet we have ample evidence that the prelates themselves did not hold their station to excuse them from taking part in the just and lawful defence of their country and religion against strange and pagan invaders[885]. Too many fell in conflict to allow of our attributing their presence on the field merely to their anxiety lest the belligerents should be without the due consolations of religion; and in other cases, upon the alarm of hostile incursions, we find the levies stated to have been led against the enemy by the duke and bishop of the district. ----- Footnote 885: As late as 43 Edw. III. A.D. 1369, on an alarm of invasion, orders were given to arm and array the clergy, as well as laity. Rym. Foed. vi. 631. -----