190 Bishops of Old Sarum. 
a task had been committed to Bishop Jocelin when he attempted to 
remedy them." 
The few days that remained to him were spent in a Cistercian 
monastery, whither he retired, there to prepare himself, away from 
the worry and distractions of his arduous duties, for his departure 
hence. His had been a stormy episcopate at the best. He died in 
the year 1184, on the 1$th day of November, a day which, for 
many centuries afterwards, was observed in the Cathedral, in com- 
memoration of him.* There are those who too often misjudge ocr 
early bishops, or too readily believe the accusations of their foes. I 
like to think, and believe also, that not a few of them, despite of 
many difficulties, were true to their Master and his Church; and 
amongst them, though so little has been hitherto known about him, 
I would fain reckon Jocelin de Bohun. 
William de Wanda in his account of the opening of the new 
Cathedral, in 1225, tells us that the body of Bishop Jocelin was 
then brought from Old Sarum, and reverently deposited in the Lady 
Chapel. I can have no doubt that the large effigy of a bishop now 
placed near the western entrance of the Cathedral, on the south side 
of the nave, clad in his alb, dalmatic, chasuble, and stole, and wearing 
his mitre, with the inscription down the centre of the chasuble. 
1Tn the decrees of this Synod irregularities both of life and practice are boldly 
rebuked. Amongst other matters thought neccessary to be spoken of was the 
habit of clerks allowing their hair to grow, who were, though against their own 
will, to be shorn by the archdeacon. The testimony of contempories to the low 
and depraved condition of the clergy is very saddening. Thus William of 
Malmesbury says ‘‘ Nullus dives nisi nummularius, nullus clericus nisi causi- 
dicus, nullus presbyter nisi firmarius.” Quoted in Freeman’s Norman 
Conquest, v. 135. The character of dignitaries is by no means flattering. 
Thus John of Salisbury, who was originally a clerk in the household of Arch- 
bishop Thomas a Beckett, and afterwards Bishop of Chartres, (1176,) says of 
archdeacons :—‘‘ Erat ut memini genus hominum qui in ecclesia Dei archidia- 
conorum consentur nomine, quibus vestra discretio omnem salutis vyiam quere- 
batur esse preclusam. Nam diligunt munera, sequuntur retributiones, ad 
injurias proni sunt, calumniis gaudent, peccata populi comedunt et bibunt, 
quibus vivitur ex rapto, ut non sit hospes ab hospite tutus.” Ep. 156. Giles’ 
ed. i., 260. See Freeman, v. 495. 
2See among the ‘‘ Calendar of Obits,” given by Leland under the head of 
«Things excerpted out of the Martyrologe Book at Saresbyre.” Wilts Arch. 
Mag., i., 170. 
