Jocelin of Wells
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Jocelin of Wells (died 19 November 1242) was a medieval
Bishop of Bath The Bishop of Bath and Wells heads the Church of England Diocese of Bath and Wells in the Province of Canterbury in England. The present diocese covers the overwhelmingly greater part of the (ceremonial) county of Somerset and a small area of D ...
(and Glastonbury). He was the brother of Hugh de Wells, who became
Bishop of Lincoln The Bishop of Lincoln is the ordinary (diocesan bishop) of the Church of England Diocese of Lincoln in the Province of Canterbury. The present diocese covers the county of Lincolnshire and the unitary authority areas of North Lincolnshire and ...
. Jocelin became a
canon Canon or Canons may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Canon (fiction), the conceptual material accepted as official in a fictional universe by its fan base * Literary canon, an accepted body of works considered as high culture ** Western ca ...
of
Wells Cathedral Wells Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in Wells, Somerset, England, dedicated to St Andrew the Apostle. It is the seat of the Bishop of Bath and Wells, whose cathedra it holds as mother church of the Diocese of Bath and Wells. Built as a ...
before 1200, and was elected bishop in 1206. During King
John of England John (24 December 1166 – 19 October 1216) was King of England from 1199 until his death in 1216. He lost the Duchy of Normandy and most of his other French lands to King Philip II of France, resulting in the collapse of the Angevin Emp ...
's dispute with Pope
Innocent III Pope Innocent III ( la, Innocentius III; 1160 or 1161 – 16 July 1216), born Lotario dei Conti di Segni (anglicized as Lothar of Segni), was the head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 8 January 1198 to his death in 16 J ...
, Jocelin at first remained with the king, but after the
excommunication Excommunication is an institutional act of religious censure used to end or at least regulate the communion of a member of a congregation with other members of the religious institution who are in normal communion with each other. The purpose ...
of John in late 1209, Jocelin went into exile. He returned to England in 1213, and was mentioned in
Magna Carta (Medieval Latin for "Great Charter of Freedoms"), commonly called (also ''Magna Charta''; "Great Charter"), is a royal charter of rights agreed to by King John of England at Runnymede, near Windsor, on 15 June 1215. First drafted by the ...
in 1215. Jocelin was one of the bishops that crowned John's son Henry III, and throughout the rest of Jocelin's life was involved in royal administration. He was also active in his diocese, ordering construction on the cathedral at
Wells Wells most commonly refers to: * Wells, Somerset, a cathedral city in Somerset, England * Well, an excavation or structure created in the ground * Wells (name) Wells may also refer to: Places Canada *Wells, British Columbia England * Wells ...
, and issuing rules for his diocesan clergy. During his time as bishop, he settled a dispute between his diocese and
Glastonbury Abbey Glastonbury Abbey was a monastery in Glastonbury, Somerset, England. Its ruins, a grade I listed building and scheduled ancient monument, are open as a visitor attraction. The abbey was founded in the 8th century and enlarged in the 10th. It wa ...
that had started during the bishopric of his predecessor. The
memorial brass A monumental brass is a type of engraved sepulchral memorial, which in the 13th century began to partially take the place of three-dimensional monuments and effigies carved in stone or wood. Made of hard latten or sheet brass, let into the paveme ...
on his tomb in Wells Cathedral is probably one of the earliest in England.


Early life

Jocelin born in Wells in
Somerset ( en, All The People of Somerset) , locator_map = , coordinates = , region = South West England , established_date = Ancient , established_by = , preceded_by = , origin = , lord_lieutenant_office =Lord Lieutenant of Somerset , lord_ ...
,Greenway "Unidentified Prebendaries" ''Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300'': Volume 7: Bath and Wells and was the son of Edward of Wells, a small landowner in the city of Wells.Gibbs and Lang ''Bishops and Reform'' p. 186 His brother Hugh de Wells, was archdeacon of Wells and Bishop of Lincoln.Greenway "Bishops" ''Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300'': Volume 7: Bath and Wells Some historians say that another relative, although the exact relationship is unknown, was
Simon of Wells Simon of Wells (died 1207) was a medieval Bishop of Chichester. Life Simon was the son of Robert and was in the household of Hubert Walter, Archbishop of Canterbury in 1194.Greenway Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066-1300: Volume 7: Bath and We ...
, who became
Bishop of Chichester The Bishop of Chichester is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Chichester in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese covers the counties of East and West Sussex. The see is based in the City of Chichester where the bishop's seat ...
in 1207,Turner ''King John'' p. 46 but other historians dispute this.Mayr-Harting "Wells, Simon of" ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' The name Jocelin Trotman or Thotman, by which he was occasionally known by some modern historians, only dates from the '' Margam Annals'', and is not contemporary with his life.Robinson "Bishop Jocelin and the Interdict: Appendix D" ''Somerset Historical Essays'' pp. 156–159 Jocelin was a royal justiciar in 1203, as well as the custodian of the vacant
diocese of Lincoln The Diocese of Lincoln forms part of the Province of Canterbury in England. The present diocese covers the ceremonial county of Lincolnshire. History The diocese traces its roots in an unbroken line to the Pre-Reformation Diocese of Leices ...
. He was a royal clerk as well as a canon of Wells, becoming a canon and a deacon by 1200. The previous bishop of Wells died in 1205, and on 3 February 1206, Jocelin was elected bishop. He was consecrated on 28 May 1206,Fryde, et al. ''Handbook of British Chronology'' p. 228 at
Reading Reading is the process of taking in the sense or meaning of Letter (alphabet), letters, symbols, etc., especially by Visual perception, sight or Somatosensory system, touch. For educators and researchers, reading is a multifaceted process invo ...
by Bishop
William of Sainte-Mère-Eglise William is a male given name of Germanic origin.Hanks, Hardcastle and Hodges, ''Oxford Dictionary of First Names'', Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, , p. 276. It became very popular in the English language after the Norman conquest of Engl ...
of London. It is unclear if the
cathedral chapter According to both Catholic and Anglican canon law, a cathedral chapter is a college of clerics ( chapter) formed to advise a bishop and, in the case of a vacancy of the episcopal see in some countries, to govern the diocese during the vacancy. In ...
s of Bath and of Wells took the action on their own, or if King John was the driving force behind the election.


Advisor to King John

Jocelin was one of the main advisors of King John during the dispute with the pope over
Stephen Langton Stephen Langton (c. 1150 – 9 July 1228) was an English Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church and Archbishop of Canterbury between 1207 and his death in 1228. The dispute between King John of England and Pope Innocent III over his ...
's appointment to the Archbishopric of Canterbury.Turner ''King John'' pp. 120–121 Jocelin did not immediately leave England after
Pope Innocent III Pope Innocent III ( la, Innocentius III; 1160 or 1161 – 16 July 1216), born Lotario dei Conti di Segni (anglicized as Lothar of Segni), was the head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 8 January 1198 to his death in 16 J ...
placed an
interdict In Catholic canon law, an interdict () is an ecclesiastical censure, or ban that prohibits persons, certain active Church individuals or groups from participating in certain rites, or that the rites and services of the church are banished from ...
on England. Jocelin encouraged John to settle with Innocent in early 1209, worried that Innocent would expand the interdict into an excommunication, forcing John's advisors to choose between serving the king or obeying the pope. Nothing came of the negotiations, however. Jocelin did leave England when John was excommunicated in late 1209. Jocelin, along with
Gilbert Glanvill Gilbert Glanvill or Gilbert de Glanville was a medieval Bishop of Rochester. Life Glanvill was a clerk of Archbishop Baldwin of Canterbury and the archdeacon of the Lisieux.Bishop of Rochester The Bishop of Rochester is the ordinary of the Church of England's Diocese of Rochester in the Province of Canterbury. The town of Rochester has the bishop's seat, at the Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary, which was foun ...
, was the subject of a mocking song on his conduct during the interdict.Poole ''Domesday Book to Magna Carta'' p. 446 and footnote 2 Jocelin and Hugh were in exile together in Bordeaux in 1212, but they both returned to England in May 1213, along with the other English bishops. Jocelin was one of the bishops in August 1214 who refused to pay a
scutage Scutage is a medieval English tax levied on holders of a knight's fee under the feudal land tenure of knight-service. Under feudalism the king, through his vassals, provided land to knights for their support. The knights owed the king military s ...
to the king.Vincent ''Peter des Roches'' p. 99 In 1215, Jocelin sided with Stephen Langton and the barons, and Magna Charta lists Jocelin as one of the king's councillors.Powell and Wallis ''House of Lords'' p. 129


Henry III's reign

Jocelin and
Peter des Roches Peter des Roches (died 9 June 1238) ( Latinised as ''Peter de Rupibus'' ("Peter from the rocks")) was bishop of Winchester in the reigns of King John of England and his son Henry III. He was not an Englishman, but rather a native of the Tourain ...
, the
Bishop of Winchester The Bishop of Winchester is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Winchester in the Church of England. The bishop's seat (''cathedra'') is at Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire. The Bishop of Winchester has always held ''ex officio'' (except dur ...
, anointed and crowned King Henry III, the young son of John, after John's death. Later, Jocelin was present at the battle with
Eustace the Monk Eustace the Monk ( fro, Eustache le Moine; c. 1170 – 24 August 1217), born Eustace Busket,Knight 1997,. was a mercenary and pirate, in the tradition of medieval outlaws. The birthplace of Eustace was not far from Boulogne. A 1243 document m ...
in 1217, which helped to secure Henry's rule. Jocelin supported
Hubert de Burgh Hubert de Burgh, Earl of Kent (; ; ; c.1170 – before 5 May 1243) was an English nobleman who served as Justiciar, Chief Justiciar of England and Ireland during the reigns of King John, King of England, John and of his son and successor Kin ...
's work of ejecting French forces from England and regaining control of royal castles seized by Falkes de Breauté and other barons. In 1218, Jocelin was one of the itinerant
justiciar Justiciar is the English form of the medieval Latin term ''justiciarius'' or ''justitiarius'' ("man of justice", i.e. judge). During the Middle Ages in England, the Chief Justiciar (later known simply as the Justiciar) was roughly equivalent ...
s for southwestern England.Dunning "Wells, Jocelin of" ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' In 1218 and 1219, Jocelin also ended the dispute between his diocese and Glastonbury Abbey. Jocelin gave up any claim to control of the abbey, and the abbey gave the bishopric a number of estates. Previously, the bishops, as part of their attempt to annexe Glastonbury to their bishopric, had been known as the Bishop of Bath and Glastonbury.Knowles ''Monastic Order in England'' p. 329–330 They also had held the office of abbot. In 1218, as part of the settlement, a new abbot was elected at Glastonbury.Knowles, et al. ''Heads of Religious Houses'' p. 52 The papacy had never acknowledged Jocelin's claiming of the title of abbot.Knowles, et al. ''Heads of Religious Houses'' p. 250 The historian J. A. Robinson felt that as part of the settlement, Jocelin began to use the title
Bishop of Bath and Wells The Bishop of Bath and Wells heads the Church of England Diocese of Bath and Wells in the Province of Canterbury in England. The present diocese covers the overwhelmingly greater part of the (ceremonial) county of Somerset and a small area of Do ...
, but another historian, David Knowles, disagreed.Sayers "Monastic Archdeacons" ''Church and Government'' p. 184 and footnote 31 After 1223, Jocelin was a baron of the exchequer.Vincent ''Peter des Roches'' p. 267 In 1225 he served the king as head of one of the receivers of the tax of a fifteenth. After the dismissal of Walter Mauclerk as treasurer, at first Jocelin, along with
Richard Poore Richard Poore or Poor (died 15 April 1237) was a medieval English bishop best known for his role in the establishment of Salisbury Cathedral and the City of Salisbury, moved from the nearby fortress of Old Sarum. He served as Bishop of Chic ...
, the
Bishop of Durham The Bishop of Durham is the Anglican bishop responsible for the Diocese of Durham in the Province of York. The diocese is one of the oldest in England and its bishop is a member of the House of Lords. Paul Butler has been the Bishop of Durham ...
, took over many of the treasurer's functions, but this did not last long, and after 1233, Jocelin no longer was involved with financial affairs. He occasionally witnessed charters, however.Vincent ''Peter des Roches'' p. 366 After the fall of Peter des Roches in April 1234, Jocelin was given control of the
Wardrobe A wardrobe or armoire or almirah is a standing closet used for storing clothes. The earliest wardrobe was a chest, and it was not until some degree of luxury was attained in regal palaces and the castles of powerful nobles that separate accomm ...
.Vincent ''Peter des Roches'' pp. 435–436 After this, he appears less regularly in royal government, but he did witness the reconfirmation of Magna Carta in 1237.


Diocesan affairs

With his brother Hugh, Jocelin founded St. John's Hospital at Wells.Moorman ''Church Life'' p. 205 Jocelin promulgated a set of constitutions for the diocese, ordered that his diocesan clergy reside in their benefices, and gave land and income to the cathedral school. Glastonbury Abbey complained of Jocelin that he plundered lands of the abbey.Sayers "Monastic Archdeacons" ''Church and Government'' p. 201 footnote 141 Jocelin was also involved in mediating between William de Blois, the
Bishop of Worcester A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...
, and
Tewkesbury Abbey The Abbey Church of St Mary the Virgin, Tewkesbury–commonly known as Tewkesbury Abbey–is located in the English county of Gloucestershire. A former Benedictine monastery, it is now a parish church. Considered one of the finest examples of Nor ...
over William's rights over the abbey. Jocelin finally settled the dispute in 1232.Hoskin "Diocesan Politics" ''Journal of Ecclesiastical History'' p. 427 Jocelin funded the building of Wells Cathedral, begun at the east end in the
Early English Gothic English Gothic is an architectural style that flourished from the late 12th until the mid-17th century. The style was most prominently used in the construction of cathedrals and churches. Gothic architecture's defining features are pointed ar ...
style under Reginald Fitz Jocelin. The nave was completed, the west front begun. The new cathedral was consecrated on 23 October 1239 by Jocelin. Other construction work undertaken by Jocelin included the cloisters and bishop's palace at Wells, and a manor house at
Wookey Wookey is a village and Civil parishes in England, civil parish west of Wells, Somerset, Wells, on the River Axe (Bristol Channel), River Axe in the Mendip District, Mendip district of Somerset, England. The parish includes the village of Henton ...
.


Death

Jocelin died on 19 November 1242 at Wells and was buried in the choir of Wells Cathedral. He may have been the father of Nicholas of Wells. The memorial brass on his tomb is allegedly one of the earliest brasses in England. He employed the medieval architect
Elias of Dereham Elias of Dereham (died 1245) was an English master stonemason designer, closely associated with Bishop Jocelin of Wells. Elias became a Canon of Salisbury, and oversaw the construction of Salisbury Cathedral. He was also responsible for building ...
as a household official.Fonge "Patriarchy and Patrimony" ''Foundations of Medieval English Ecclesiastical History'' p. 84


Notes


Citations


References

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Jocelin Of Wells Year of birth missing 1242 deaths People from Wells, Somerset Bishops of Bath Bishops of Bath and Glastonbury 13th-century English Roman Catholic bishops High Sheriffs of Somerset