Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Jocelin (d.1199)

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1399885Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 29 — Jocelin (d.1199)1892Charles Lethbridge Kingsford

JOCELIN (d. 1199), bishop of Glasgow, was a monk of Melrose. After filling the office of prior he was, on 22 April 1170, chosen abbot. On 23 May 1174 he was elected bishop of Glasgow at Perth, and was consecrated at Clairvaux on 1 June 1175 by Eskilus, archbishop of Lunden in Holstein. In January 1176 he attended the council of Northampton, and according to Hoveden made a speech declaring that his church was the special daughter of the Roman church, and consequently free from archiepiscopal supervision. Benedict Abbas, however, omits all mention of this speech; its authenticity is the more doubtful since it was of no value as a reply to the ancient pretensions of the see of York in Scotland, for the privilege of ‘specialis’ had only been granted to Glasgow in the previous year (Hoveden, i. Pref. pp. lvi–lvii; Haddan and Stubbs, Councils and Eccles. Docs. ii. 43). In 1178 the election to the see of St. Andrews was disputed between John Scot and Hugh the chaplain. Archbishop Roger of York interfered, and in 1181 put Scotland under an interdict. Thereupon William the Lion sent Jocelin to Rome to obtain absolution; the mission was successful in its object, and Jocelin also brought back the golden rose as a present from Pope Lucius III to the Scottish king. The dispute as to St. Andrews, however, continued till 1188, and Jocelin took a leading part in the negotiations between pope and king (ib. ii. 251–72). Between 1181 and 4 July 1197, when the completed portion was consecrated, Jocelin enlarged and rebuilt the cathedral of Glasgow, which had been destroyed by fire. The crypt is his work, and the choir, lady-chapel, and central tower were commenced by him. Jocelin also increased the number of prebendaries and canons in the cathedral. He died at Melrose on 17 March 1199, and was buried there on the north side of the choir. He is described as moderate and courteous.

[Chron. Melrose (Bannatyne Club); Roger of Hoveden (Rolls Ser.); Gordon's Scotichronicon, ii. 473–4.]

C. L. K.