This work investigates the ecclesiastical and political struggles of Archbishop Thurstan of York to assert the rights and independence of his church against competing authorities. Hugh the Chanter, a contemporary participant in these events, provides a detailed account of the jurisdictional conflicts between York, Canterbury, and the Scottish church. The text serves as a primary source for understanding the complex power dynamics between the English monarchy, the papal curia, and the French ecclesiastical landscape during the early twelfth century.

Historians and medievalists regard this text as a foundational primary source for understanding the administrative and political tensions of the Anglo-Norman church. Scholars frequently note the value of this revised edition for its rigorous re-collation of the original manuscript and its comprehensive introduction to the period's ecclesiastical conflicts.