Bells Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Exeter | Page 9

being chosen bishop, as a fitting successor to
the office once filled by Grandisson. For four years after his election he
was unable, owing to his youth, to be consecrated. But by one of those
ecclesiastical scandals, which seem not to have annoyed or astonished
his contemporaries, he was permitted to enjoy the temporalities of the
see. At the age of twenty-seven he was fully ordained bishop, and a few
years later was transferred to York. During the episcopate of his
successor, Bothe, the city was besieged by Perkin Warbeck. In 1495
Oliver King, who was elected in 1492, was translated to the see of Bath
and Wells, and to him is due the rebuilding of the abbey church of Bath
which was then ruinous.
From 1504 to 1519 Oldham, a Lancashire man, was bishop. He built
the Oldham and Speke chapels.
Veysey, who succeeded him, lived during the reign of Henry VIII. His
courtly manners made him popular. In addition to his rich ecclesiastical
office, he became Lord President of Wales and tutor to the Princess
Mary. He founded the town of Sutton Coleshill, now Sutton Coldfield,
and introduced there the making of kersies. On this enterprise he spent
the larger part of his fortune. At the accession of Edward VI. he was
left undisturbed, though suspected of favouring the old religion. But
when a rising in favour of the unreformed church disturbed the western
counties, he was accused of participation in the movement, and
resigned his charge. But he retained the temporalities, and on Mary's
accession was reinstated. But he was nearly 103 years old, and soon
after died at his town of Sutton Coleshill in 1555.
Miles Coverdale, the translator, with Tyndale, of the Bible, his
successor, was bishop for only two years. He was unpopular, although
his life was "most godly" and virtuous. But "the common people," says
Hoker, "whose bottles would receive no new wine, could not brook or
digest him, for no other cause but because he was a preacher of the

Gospel, an enemy to Papistry, and a married man." This dislike is
easily accounted for. Exeter was very far from London, the new ideas
travelled slowly, and the west was staunchly conservative. As with
many reformers, too, his zeal was spoilt by indiscretion; the sternness
of the Puritan militated against his success, and people preferred the old
errors more becomingly supported. His successor, Turberville, was a
man quite after the heart of the people, and he won praise from
Protestant and Catholic alike.
He was succeeded by William Alleyn, and as a result of Veysey's
extravagance and Henry's greed it may be noticed that, by royal charter,
the number of canons was limited to nine.
In 1627 the see was held by Joseph Hall, a man of great distinction.
Though too conciliatory to care greatly for Laud's policy, he wrote a
justly famous "Defence of the Church of England and her doctrines."
After his translation to Norwich he underwent a good deal of
persecution, which he himself has recorded, and was for six months a
prisoner in the Tower. He is buried in Higham parish church, his
monument a skeleton holding "in the right hand a bond to death sealed
and signed, 'Debemus morti nos nostrique,' and in his left the same
bond torn and cancelled, with the endorsement 'Persolvit et quietus
est.'" Fuller says of the famous satirist that he was "not unhappy at
controversies, more happy at comments, very good in his characters,
better in his sermons, best of all in his meditations."
John Gauden, who became bishop in 1660, was far more fortunate,
though probably not more happy. He does not seem to have been over
scrupulous, and his desire for "a good manger" is unpleasantly obvious.
But as the author of the [Greek: EIKÔN BASILIKÊ] he is remembered.
The authorship has been disputed, but Charles II. certainly recognized
his claim, and Clarendon believed his assertions about it. He was clever
enough to have written even a better book, and there is no sufficient
ground for depriving him of this honour. It is certain that he owed his
preferment to his reputed merit as its author; though, oddly enough, he
had taken the covenant and preached a notorious sermon against
"pictures, images, and other superstitions of popery." But he publicly

recanted, later, and protested against the murder of the king, whose
supposed last prayers and meditations he was skilfully inventing. After
being in Exeter two years he was removed to Worcester. But he had
looked to become bishop of Winchester, and it is said that his death
was hastened by disappointment.
Seth Ward, who followed him, had, as dean of Exeter, distinguished
himself by his zeal and courage. He drove from the cathedral precincts
the buyers and sellers who had encroached