The ninth annual Battle Conference was held from 25 to 30 July 1986 at Pyke House, Battle, Sussex. One is inclined to put first that the tenth (and anniversary) conference in 1987 will be held at Caen between 2 and 10 September by invitation of the Sénateur-Maire of Caen as part of the official Norman commemoration of the Conqueror in that year. Meanwhile thanks for the success of the 1986 conference must be offered to the East Sussex County Council, especially Mrs Gillian Murton and her assistants, to the Warden of Pyke House and his staff, and to those who not only attended but gave the papers now printed in this volume. Two are regretably wanting: that of the Rev, Professor Arnold Klukas w7ho was prevented from attending by the ill-health of his wife, and the well-received communication of Dr John Palmer about the computer-based Domesday project at Hull which he felt to be unsuitable for publication. The Outing this year was to Windsor, and for the success of that our thanks are especially due to the Rt Eev the Dean, the Chapter Clerk, and the Queen’s Librarian, as also to Mr Peter Curnow, Her Majesty’s Principal Inspector of Ancient Monuments, who did the better part of the guiding. The Battle Conference also would not be the same if the Headmaster of Battle School did not give us his kind permission to hold our opening reception in the Abbot’s Hall; nor would it be without the overflowing hospitality of the landlord of the Chequers.