Biography of Archbishop Reginald Fitz Jocelin -1191

Reginald Fitz Jocelin 1192 was born illegitimately to [his father] Bishop Jocelin de Bohun.

In 1142 [his father] Bishop Jocelin de Bohun (age 31) was appointed Bishop of Salisbury.

In April 1173 Reginald Fitz Jocelin 1192 was appointed Bishop of Bath.

On 23rd June 1174 Reginald Fitz Jocelin 1192 was consecrated Bishop of Bath.

On 18th November 1184 [his father] Bishop Jocelin de Bohun (age 73) died.

On 27th November 1191 Archbishop Reginald Fitz Jocelin was elected Archbishop of Canterbury. The year may have been 1191; it is known he died a month of being elected.

On 26th December 1191 Archbishop Reginald Fitz Jocelin died. See Ralph of Coggeshall which gives the year as 1192.

Chronicum Anglicanum by Ralph Coggeshall. Reginald, bishop of Bath¹, having been elected to the archbishopric of Canterbury, within a month of his election, on the night of Saint Stephen, departed from human affairs. On the Ides of October [15th] thunder was heard, and a violent wind arose, bringing heavy rain mixed with hail. Many shipwrecks took place.

Reginaldus Bathoniensis episcopus ad archiepiscopatum Cantuariensem electus, infra mensem electionis suæ, nocte Sancti Stephani rebus valedicit humanis. Idus Octobris audita sunt tonitrua, et ventus vehemens, ferens imbrem copiosum grandine mixtum. Naufragia multa fuere.

Note 1. Archbishop Reginald Fitz Jocelin, died 26th December 1191. Walter Map 'De Nugis Curialium' aka 'Of the Trifles of Courtiers': "[his father] Jocelin, bishop of Salisbury, said to his son Reginald of Bath, who had been elected by force but was not admitted to consecration by the archbishop of Canterbury and was lamenting it: 'Fool, fly quickly to the Pope, confidently, hesitating not at all, and give the man himself a good slap with a large purse, and he will wobble whichever way you want.' So he went; this one struck, that one wavered; the pope fell, the pontiff rose. And at once he wrote, lying about God, at the beginning of all his briefs, for where it ought to have been written 'by the grace of the purse,' he said 'by the grace of God.' Whatever he wished, he did."

De Nugis Curialium by Walter Map Book 1. [his father] Jocelin, bishop of Salisbury, said to his son Reginald of Bath, who had been elected by force but was not admitted to consecration by the archbishop of Canterbury and was lamenting it: 'Fool, fly quickly to the Pope, confidently, hesitating not at all, and give the man himself a good slap with a large purse, and he will wobble whichever way you want.' So he went; this one struck, that one wavered; the pope fell, the pontiff rose. And at once he wrote, lying about God, at the beginning of all his briefs, for where it ought to have been written 'by the grace of the purse,' he said 'by the grace of God.' Whatever he wished, he did.

Jocelinus Saresberiensis episcopus, filio suo Reginaldo Batoniensi, per violenciam electo, sed ad consecracionem a Cantuariense non admisso, plangentique, respondit, ' Stulte, uelox ad Papam euola, securus nichil hesitans, ipsique bursa grandi paca bonam alapam, et vacillabit quocunque volueris.' luit ergo, percussit hie, vacillauit ille ; cecidit papa, surrexit pontifex ; scripsitque statim in Deum menciens in omnium breuium suorum principiis; nam ubi debuisset scribi 'burse gracia', 'Dei gracia' dixit : quecunque voluit, fecit.