This volume investigates the administrative and ecclesiastical records of the Diocese of Lincoln during the medieval period. The author, David M. Smith, utilizes his expertise in medieval records to compile and analyze primary source documents that shed light on the governance and legal structures of the English Church. By presenting these records, the work provides a framework for understanding the intersection of local ecclesiastical authority and broader national history.

Scholars and historians frequently cite this work as a foundational reference for the study of medieval English church administration. The text is noted for its high level of academic density and its meticulous attention to archival detail.