Bells Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Exeter | Page 4

quite possible that Marshall's work was considered, by
his own and the succeeding generation, to be final. Any interest there
may be in the lives of two of the succeeding bishops, until the election
of Bronscombe in 1257, is for the most part due to their labours in
other matters. For example, under Simon de Apulia, the city of Exeter
was divided into parishes; and by William Bruere the chapter house
and stalls of the old choir were completed. He was one of the leaders of
the English army at Acre in 1228. He also created the deanery of
Exeter.
[1] "Exeter" (Historic Towns Series), by Prof. E.A. Freeman
(Longmans).
But with the arrival of Walter Bronscombe a new career of architectural
energy begins. Now dawns that wonderful transformation period, at the
close of which the church stood pretty much as we now know it.
Concerning Bronscombe's character there has been somewhat bitter
dispute. It is certain that he was accused of craftiness and meanness.
But William of Worcester, whose testimony is valuable, called him
Walter le Good. Whatever may be the real truth of the matter, he seems
to have made an admirable bishop, his election reflecting considerable

credit on the acumen of those concerned in it. For he had not, surely,
much to recommend him, at first sight, for so important a position.
Though he was Archdeacon of Surrey at the time of his appointment,
he was not a priest, and he was quite a young man. He was a vigorous
supporter of learning throughout the diocese, probably because of his
anxiety to give other men of humble origin a fair chance of making
their way in the world. He restored the College of Crediton, and built
one at Glaseney. Bronscombe may be credited with giving the first
impetus to the reconstruction of the cathedral by his work in the Lady
Chapel and the chapels on either side of it, viz., that of St. Mary
Magdalen on the north, and St. Gabriel on the south, the latter being
destined for his own tomb. To his Dean and Chapter he appropriated
the church of St. Bruared in Cornwall, that the feast of his patron saint,
Gabriel, might be worthily maintained.
Peter Quivil, his successor in the see, was probably working with him,
as he was a canon of the cathedral before being raised to the bishopric.
He invented and designed the Decorated cathedral, and transformed the
transepts. He must be classed with Warelwast as the chief of the
building bishops. Admirably and sympathetically as his work was
continued by those who followed him, their claim on our recognition
and gratitude is less. His skill, too, seems to have been almost equalled
by his generosity, for out of gratitude the Chapter promised to maintain
his yearly obit. In the office of the mass, in the memento for the dead,
his name was ordered to be spoken primum et praecipium. He seems to
have given the Franciscans some cause for anger; it is suggested that
his Dominican confessor urged him to treat the followers of St. Francis
with severity. Anyhow, the aggrieved ones had their revenge, for the
bishop's death, which happened on the eve of St. Francis, "after
drinking of a certain sirrop," was popularly attributed to the direct
intervention of the saint himself. He is buried in the Lady Chapel,
which he had transformed and decorated with such tender care, and a
slab in the centre of the pavement, bearing the legend "Petra tegit
Petrum nihil officiat sibi tetrum," is dedicated to his memory.
It has been ascertained by Canon Hingeston-Randolph that Bishop
Quivil was the first to endow the office of chaunter with an adequate

salary, and that the first to enjoy the benefit of it was Walter de
Lecchelade or Lechlade, though he was by no means the first chaunter
or precentor. A dispute that long agitated antiquaries has thus been
settled. For it was contended by some that John the chaunter was the
first to hold the office, by others that Quivil founded the office and that
the bishop's name was really John Cauntor. But the explanation that the
stipend was only increased by Quivil, and that it existed before his day,
was entirely satisfactory, we may hope, to the supporters of the rival
theories. The above-mentioned Walter Lechlade was murdered "about
two in the morning" on his return from matins in the cathedral cloisters.
The murderers escaped through the south gate of the city, which was
left open. An extraordinary sensation was created, not in Exeter only
but throughout England. The bishop invited Edward I. and his queen to
keep their Christmas at the Palace. We are told "they were very
industrious in finding out the murtherers." At last Alfred Dupont, an
ex-mayor and porter of the