Jocelin of Glasgow
Jocelin | |
---|---|
Enguerrand | |
Successor | Hugh de Roxburgh |
Orders | |
Consecration | 1 June 1175 by Eskil of Lund |
Personal details | |
Born | 1130s |
Died | Melrose | 17 March 1199
Previous post(s) | Abbot of Melrose |
Jocelin (or Jocelyn) (died 1199) was a twelfth-century
His Glasgow connections and political profile were already well-established enough that in 1174 Jocelin succeeded Enguerrand as Glasgow's bishop. As Bishop of Glasgow, he was a royal official. In this capacity he travelled abroad on several occasions, and performed the marriage ceremony between King
Early life
Jocelin and his family probably came from the south-east of Scotland. The names of neither his father nor his mother are known, but he had two known brothers, with the names Helia and Henry, and a cousin, also called Helia. The names suggest that his family were of French, or at least Anglo-Norman origin, rather than being a Scot or native Anglo-Saxon.[2] There are some indications that his family held land in South Lanarkshire, namely because they seem to have possessed rights in the church of Dunsyre.[3] It is unlikely that he would have thought of himself as "Scottish". For Jocelin's contemporary and fellow native of the Borders, Adam of Dryburgh, this part of Britain was still firmly regarded as terra Anglorum (the "Land of English"), although it was located inside the regnum Scottorum (the "Kingdom of the Scots").[4] This would be no obstacle to Jocelin, however. His Anglo-French cultural background was in fact probably necessary for the patronage of the King of Scots. As Walter of Coventry wrote of King William's era, "the modern kings of Scotland count themselves as Frenchmen, in race, manners, language and culture; they keep only Frenchmen in their household and following, and have reduced the Scots to utter servitude".[5]
Like that of almost every character from this period, Jocelin's year of birth is unknown to modern historians. It is known that he entered as a novice monk in
Abbot of Melrose
So it was that Prior Jocelin became abbot on 22 April 1170.[8] Jocelin embraced the cult without hesitation. Under the year of his accession, it was reported in the Chronicle of Melrose that:
The tomb of our pious father, sir Waltheof, the second abbot of Melrose, was opened by Enguerrand, of good memory, the bishop of Glasgow, and by four abbots called in for this purpose; and his body was found entire, and his vestments intact, in the twelfth year from his death, on the eleventh day before the Kalends of June [22 May]. And after the holy celebration of mass, the same bishop, and the abbots whose number we have mentioned above, placed over the remains of his most holy body a new stone of polished marble. And there was great gladness; those who were present exclaiming together, and saying that truly this was a man of God ...[9]
Promoting saints was something Jocelin would repeat at Glasgow, where he "transferred his enthusiasm to
This kind of literary patronage started while Jocelin was abbot of Melrose. Archie Duncan has shown that it was probably Jocelin who first commissioned the writing of the Chronicle of Melrose. Duncan argued that Jocelin commissioned the entries dealing with the period between 731 and 1170, putting the writing in the hands of a monk named Reinald (who later became Bishop of Ross).[11] This chronicle is one of the few extant chronicles from "Scotland" in this period. G. W. S. Barrow, writing before Duncan advanced these arguments, noted that down to the end of King William's reign "the chronicle of Melrose Abbey ... represents a strongly 'Anglo-Norman' as opposed to a native Scottish point of view".[12] It is thus possible that this anti-Scottish world-view reflected that of Jocelin's, at least before he left the abbey.
After his election to the prestigious bishopric of Glasgow in 1174, Jocelin would continue exerting influence on his home monastery. Jocelin brought one of his monks from the abbey, a man called Michael, who acted as Jocelin's chaplain while Bishop of Glasgow.[13] He did not resign his position as abbot until after his consecration in 1175. Jocelin consecrated his successors as abbot, and continued to spend a great deal of time there. Moreover, he used his position as bishop to offer the monastery patronage and protection.[14]
Bishop of Glasgow
He was soon faced with a political challenge to the independence of his church. The challenge came from the English church, and was not new, but had lain dormant for some decades. The reason it was awakened was that in the summer of 1174 King William had invaded northern England, and on 13 July, having been caught underprotected during a siege at
Jocelin did not, in the end, submit either to the
This Bull was confirmed by Pope Alexander's successor
It is certainly obvious that Jocelin was one of the most respected figures in the kingdom. In this era, the Pope appointed Jocelin Judge-delegate (of the Papacy) more times than any other cleric in the kingdom.
Legacy and death
His years at Glasgow left a mark on history that can be compared favourably with any previous or future bishop. Jocelin commissioned his namesake Jocelin of Furness, the same man who had written the Life of St. Waltheof, to write a Life of St. Kentigern, a task all the more necessary because, after 1159, the Papacy claimed the right to canonise saints.[34] Kentigern, or Mungo as he is popularly known,[35] was the saint traditionally associated with the see of Glasgow, and his status therefore reflected on Glasgow as a church and cult-centre. There had already been a cathedral at Glasgow before Jocelin's episcopate. The idea that the ecclesiastical establishment before Jocelin was simply a small church with a larger Gaelic or British monastic establishment has been discredited by scholars.[36] Jocelin did, though, expand the cathedral significantly. As the Chronicle of Melrose reports for 1181, Jocelin "gloriously enlarged the church of St Kentigern".[37] However, more work was created for the builders when, sometime between the years 1189 and 1195, there was a fire at the cathedral. Jocelin thus had to commission another rebuilding effort.[38] The new cathedral was dedicated, according to the Chronicle of Melrose, on 6 July 1197.[39] It was built in the Romanesque manner, and although little survives of it today, it is thought to have been influenced by the cathedral of Lund, the archbishop of which had consecrated Jocelin as bishop.[40]
However, he left a still greater legacy to the city of Glasgow. At some point between the years 1175 and 1178, Jocelin obtained from King William a grant of burghal status for the settlement of Glasgow, with a market every Thursday. The grant of a market was the first ever official grant of a weekly market to a burgh. Moreover, between 1189 and 1195, King William granted the burgh an annual fair, a fair still in existence today, increasing Glasgow's status as an important settlement. As well as new revenues for the bishop, the rights entailed by Glasgow's new burghal status and market privileges brought new people to the settlement, one of the first of whom was one Ranulf de Haddington, a former burghess of Haddington. The new settlement was laid out (probably under the influence of the burgh of Haddington) around Glasgow Cross, down the hill from the cathedral and old fort of Glasgow, but above the flood level of the River Clyde.[41]
When Jocelin died, he was back at Melrose Abbey, where his career had begun. He may have retired to Melrose knowing his death was near.[42] Jocelin certainly did die at Melrose, passing away on St Patrick's Day (17 March) 1199. He was buried in the monks' choir of Melrose Abbey Church.[43] Hugh de Roxburgh, Chancellor of Scotland, was elected as Jocelin's replacement. The Chronicle of Melrose has only a short obituary.[44]
Notes
- ^ For this view and quote, see Norman F. Shead, "Jocelin, abbot of Melrose), and bishop of Glasgow)", in The Innes Review, vol. 54, no. 1 (Spring, 2003), p. 1.
- ^ a b Norman F. Shead, "Jocelin", p. 2.
- ^ A. A. M. Duncan, "Jocelin (d. 1199)", in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 accessed 29 Nov 2006.
- ^ The full Latin description is "in terra Anglorum et in regno Scottorum", Adam of Dryburgh, De tripartito tabernaculo, II. 210, tr. Keith J. Stringer, "Reform Monasticism and Celtic Scotland", in Edward J. Cowan & R. Andrew McDonald (eds.), Alba: Celtic Scotland in the Middle Ages, (East Lothian, 2000), p. 133.
- ^ W. Stubbs (ed.), Memoriale Fratris Walteri de Coventria, (Rolls Series, no. 58), ii. 206; trans. G. W. S. Barrow, "The Reign of William the Lion", in G.W.S. Barrow (ed.), Scotland and its Neighbours in the Middle Ages, (Edinburgh, 1972), p. 72.
- ^ For this argument, and the references to the relevant primary material, see Norman F. Shead, "Jocelin", pp. 1–2.
- ^ For the account of Abbot William and the cult of Waltheof, see Richard Fawcett, & Richard Oram, Melrose Abbey, (Stroud, 2004), pp. 23–24.
- ^ For date of accession, see John Dowden, The Bishops of Scotland, ed. J. Maitland Thomson, (Glasgow, 1912), p. 298.
- Bishop of Glasgow.
- ^ A. A. M. Duncan, "Sources and Uses of the Chronicle of Melrose,", in Simon Taylor (ed.), Kings, Clerics and Chronicles in Scotland, 500–1297, (Dublin, 2000), p. 150.
- ^ Ibid., pp. 149–150.
- ^ G. W. S. Barrow, The Acts of William I, Regesta Regum Scottorum, vol. ii, (Edinburgh, 1971), p. 7.
- ^ Norman F. Shead, "Jocelin", p. 16.
- ^ Fawcett & Oram, Melrose Abbey, pp. 23–24.
- ^ John Dowden, Bishops of Scotland, p. 298.
- ^ A.A.M. Duncan, Scotland: The Making of the Kingdom, (Edinburgh, 1975), p. 277, n. 38.
- ^ a b Norman F. Shead, "Jocelin", p. 4.
- ^ Chronicle of Melrose, s.a. 1174, trans. Alan Orr Anderson, Early Sources of Scottish History, vol. ii, p. 289.
- ^ Chronicle of Melrose, s.a. 1175, for which see A.O.Anderson, Early Sources of Scottish History, vol. ii, p. 296; see also John Dowden, Bishops of Scotland, p. 298, & Norman F. Shead, "Jocelin", pp. 5–6.
- ^ Norman F. Shead, "Jocelin", p. 6.
- ^ W. W. Scott, "William I [William the Lion] (c.1142–1214)", in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 , accessed 1 Dec 2006.
- Gesta Annalia I; for text, see William F. Skene, Johnnis de Fordun Chronica Gentis Scotorum, (Edinburgh, 1871), pp. 263–4; for translation, see Felix J. H. Skene, John of Fordun's Chronicle of the Scottish Nation, (Edinburgh, 1872), p. 259; for 13th-century date of text, see Dauvit Broun, "A New Look at Gesta Annalia attributed to John of Fordun", in Barbara Crawford (ed.), Church, Chronicle and Learning in Medieval and Early Renaissance Scotland, (Edinburgh, 1999), pp. 9–30. These events are also reported in some detail by William of Newburgh, Historia Rerum Anglicarum, in R. Howlett (ed.) Chronicles of Stephen, Henry II and Richard I, (Rolls Series, no. 82), vol. i, pp 186–187; for this account, and other English accounts, see also Alan Orr, Anderson, Scottish Annals from English Chroniclers: AD 500–1286, (London, 1908), republished, Marjorie Anderson (ed.) (Stamford, 1991), pp. 255–258; the Galwegian revolt is subjected to some analysis by Richard Oram, The Lordship of Galloway, (Edinburgh, 2000), pp. 95–96.
- ^ All of the details in this paragraph so far can G. W. S. Barrow, The Acts of William I, Regesta Regum Scottorum, vol. ii, (Edinburgh, 1971), pp. 7–8.
- ^ Norman F. Shead, "Jocelin", pp. 6–7.
- ^ A. A. M. Duncan, Jocelin (d. 1199)".
- ^ Norman F. Shead, "Jocelin", pp. 8–9.
- ^ loc. cit.; A.A.M. Duncan, Making of the Kingdom, pp. 272–273.
- ^ a b Norman F. Shead, "Jocelin", p. 9.
- ^ John Dowden, Bishops of Scotland, p. 10.
- ^ a b Norman F. Shead, "Jocelin", p. 19.
- ^ Norman F. Shead, "Jocelin", p. 20.
- ^ Norman F. Shead, "Jocelin", p. 10; D.D.R. Owen, The Reign of William the Lion: Kingship and Culture,, (East Linton, 1997), pp. 71–72.
- ^ Norman F. Shead, "Jocelin", p. 10.
- ^ Norman F. Shead, "Jocelin", pp. 12–13.
- ^ This is a modern anglicisation of his Gaelic nickname.
- ^ See, for instance, G.W.S. Barrow, "David I and Glasgow", in G.W.S. Barrow (ed.), The Kingdom of the Scots, 2nd Edition, (Edinburgh, 2003), p. 210.
- ^ Chronicle of Melrose, s.a. 1181, for which see Alan Orr Anderson, Early Sources of Scottish History, vol. ii, p. 304.
- ^ This fire is mentioned in a royal charter, which can only be dated to the period between 1189 and 1195, hence the dating of the fire; Regesta Regum Scottorum, ii, no. 316; see also Norman F. Shead, "Jocelin", p. 13.
- ^ Chronicle of Melrose, s.a. 1197, for which see Alan Orr Anderson, Early Sources of Scottish History, vol. ii, p.
- ^ Norman F. Shead, "Jocelin", p. 14.
- ^ For the information in this paragraph, see Ibid., pp. 11–12.
- ^ Richard Fawcett & Richard Oram, Melrose Abbey, p. 25.
- ^ John Dowden, Bishops of Scotland, p. 299.
- ^ See A. O. Anderson, Early Sources, vol. ii, p. 351.
References
- Anderson, Alan Orr, Early Sources of Scottish History: AD 500–1286, 2 Vols, (Edinburgh, 1922), vol. ii
- Anderson, Alan Orr, Scottish Annals from English Chroniclers: AD 500–1286, (London, 1908), republished, Marjorie Anderson(ed.) (Stamford, 1991)
- Barrow, G. W. S. (ed.), The Acts of William I, Regesta Regum Scottorum, vol. ii, (Edinburgh, 1971)
- Barrow, G. W. S., "David I and Glasgow", in G.W.S. Barrow (ed.), The Kingdom of the Scots, 2nd Edition, (Edinburgh, 2003), pp. 203–213
- Barrow, G.W.S., "The Reign of William the Lion", in G.W.S. Barrow (ed.), Scotland and its Neighbours in the Middle Ages, (Edinburgh, 1972), pp. 67–89
- Broun, Dauvit, "A New Look at Gesta Annalia attributed to John of Fordun", in Barbara Crawford (ed.), Church, Chronicle and Learning in Medieval and Early Renaissance Scotland, (Edinburgh, 1999), pp. 9–30
- Dowden, John, The Bishops of Scotland, ed. J. Maitland Thomson, (Glasgow, 1912)
- Duncan, A. A. M., "Jocelin (d. 1199)", in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 accessed 29 Nov 2006
- Duncan, A. A. M., Scotland: The Making of the Kingdom, (Edinburgh, 1975)
- Duncan, A. A. M., "Sources and Uses of the Chronicle of Melrose,", in Simon Taylor (ed.), Kings, Clerics and Chronicles in Scotland, 500–1297, (Dublin, 2000)
- Fawcett, Richard, & Oram, Richard, Melrose Abbey, (Stroud, 2004)
- Howlett R. (ed.), Chronicles of Stephen, Henry II and Richard I, (Rolls Series, no. 82)
- Oram, Richard, The Lordship of Galloway, (Edinburgh, 2000)
- Owen, D. D. R., The Reign of William the Lion: Kingship and Culture,, (East Linton, 1997)
- Scott, W. W., "William I [William the Lion] (c.1142–1214)", in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 , accessed 1 Dec 2006
- Shead, Norman F., "Glasgow: An Ecclesiastical Burgh", in M. Lynch, M. Spearman & G. Stell (eds.), The Scottish Medieval Town, (Edinburgh, 1988), pp. 116–132
- Shead, Norman F., "Jocelin, abbot of Melrose), and bishop of Glasgow)", in The Innes Review, vol. 54, no. 1 (Spring, 2003), pp. 1–22
- Skene, Felix J. H., John of Fordun's Chronicle of the Scottish Nation, (Edinburgh, 1872)
- Skene, William F., Johnnis de Fordun: Chronica Gentis Scotorum, (Edinburgh, 1871)
- Stringer, Keith J., "Reform Monasticism and Celtic Scotland", in Edward J. Cowan & R. Andrew McDonald (eds.), Alba: Celtic Scotland in the Middle Ages, (East Lothian, 2000), pp. 127–165
Further reading
- Driscoll, Stephen T., Excavations at Glasgow Cathedral, Society for Medieval Archaeology Monograph 18, (Leeds, 2002)
- Driscoll, Stephen T., "Excavations in Glasgow Cathedral: A preliminary report on the archaeological discoveries made in 1992–3", in Glasgow Archaeological Journal, 17, (1992), pp. 63–76
- Duncan, A.A.M., "St Kentigern in Glasgow Cathedral in the twelfth century", in Richard Fawcett (ed.), Medieval Art and Architecture in the Diocese of Glasgow, (Leeds, 1998)
- Forbes, A.P. (ed.), Lives of St Ninian and St Kentigern, (Edinburgh, 1874)
External links
- Cynthia Whidden Green, "Saint Kentigern, Apostle to Strathclyde: A critical analysis of a northern saint"
- Catholic Encyclopedia, "Jocelin"
- The Glasgow Story, "Bishop Jocelin"
- "Melrose Abbey — Factsheet", BBC website
See also
- Christianity in Medieval Scotland
- Roman Catholicism in Great Britain
- Scotland in the High Middle Ages