 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 Melrose Abbey during the abbacy of Waltheof ( ab . 1148 – 1159 ) , and from documentary evidence it seems likely that Jocelin entered Melrose about 50 years before his death in 1199 . As the rules of the Cistercian order prevented entry as a novice before the age of 15 , it is likely that he was born around the year 1134 . Little is known about Jocelin 's early life or his early career as a Melrose monk . He obviously successfully completed his one @-@ year noviciate , the year in which a prospective monk was introduced to monasticism and judged fit or unfit for admittance . We know that Abbot Waltheof ( Waldef ) thought highly of him and granted him many responsibilities . After the death of Abbot Waltheof , his successor , Abbot William , refused to encourage the rumours which had quickly been spreading about Waltheof 's saintliness . Abbot William attempted to silence such rumours , and shelter his monks from the intrusiveness of would @-@ be pilgrims . However , William was unable to get the better of Waltheof 's emerging cult , and his actions had alienated him from the brethren . As a result , William resigned the abbacy in April 1170 . Jocelin was by this stage the Prior of Melrose , that is , the second in command at the monastery , and thus William 's most likely replacement . 
