Joscius

Joscius (called also JODOCUS, JOSCIONUS, JOSCELINUS, JOSTHO, and GOTHO), a French Roman Catholic prelate, became bishop of St. Brieuc in 1150. In 1157 he was translated to the see of Tours, and immediately began to quarrel with the convents of his diocese, till king Louis VII was obliged to interfere. When Frederick Barbarossa pretended to judge the claims of the rival popes, Victor and Alexander, Joscius was sent to the latter by England and France to assure him of their support and bring him to France. In 1167 Joscius was the prelate who, after the murder of Thomas à Becket, was commissioned by the pope to excommunicate the king of England. It was Joscius also who, when Henry had received absolution in 1172, went to him at Caen, and publicly declared him reconciled to the Church. He died in 1173 or 1174. See Gallia Christ. vol. 14, col. 89, 1088. — Hoefer, Nouv. Biogr. Générale, 26, 949.