Fitz-jocelin, Reginald

Fitz-Jocelin, Reginald an English prelate, was the son of Jocelin, bishop of Salisbury, and was born in 1141. Early in life he was appointed archdeacon of Salisbury; when thirty-three he was elected to the important see of Bath and Wells, in 1174. He accompanied the archbishop-elect of Canterbury to Rome soon after. and was consecrated at the Church of St. John de Maurienne, in Savoy, by Richard, archbishop of Canterbury. On his return to England he was enthroned in great state. There was some opposition to this appointment.

Reginald appears to have been a weak, well-meaning man, probably under the influence of his associates. In 1191 he was very unexpectedly elected to the see of Canterbury. Reginald sent to Rome for the pallium, and would have gone himself had he not been detained by illness. Meantime his illness increased, and he said "It is God's will that I should not be an archbishop, and my will submits to his." He died December 26, 1191. See Hook, Lives of the Abps. of Canterbury, 2:574 sq.