YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

ft^EXA^DEF} jE^KIjNp,
AUTHOR OF THE HISTORY OF EXETER.

JENKINS'S
CIVIL AND ECCLESIASTICAL
HISTORY
OF THE
CITY OF EXETER
AND ITS ENVIRONS,
PROM THE TIME OF THE ROMANS TO THE YEAR 180G ;
COMPRISING
THE RELIGION AND IDOLATROUS SUPERSTITION OF
THE BRITONS, SAXONS, AND DANES;
THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF CHRISTIANITY IN THE
WESTERN COUNTIES OF ENGLAND;
"WITH
A CATALOGUE OF THE BISHOPS OF THE DIOCESE,
From the first establishment of the See in this County;
ALSO, A GENERAL AND PAROCHIAL
SURVEY AND DESCRIPTION
OF THE
CHURCHES, AND OTHER PLACES OF DIVINE WORSHIP,
PUBLIC BUILDINGS, INSTITUTIONS, ANTIQUITIES,
GOVERNMENT, AND PROSPECTS;
TOGETHER WITH
AN ANNUAL LIST OF MAYORS AND BAILIFFS,
&c. &c. ;
EMBELLISHED WITH
FOURTEEN ENGRAVINGS OF ANCIENT BUILDINGS,
AND A PORTRAIT OF THE AUTHOR.
SECOND EDITION.
EXETER :
PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY W. NORTON, 247, HIGH-STREET;
ALSO BY MESSRS. P. A. HANNAFORD, CURSON & SON,
T. BALLE, AND W. SPREAT.
1841.

INTRODUCTION.

Exeter, the Capital of Devonshire, is a city of great antiquity
and fame ; and, to use the words of an author of the last century,*
" remarkable for its loyalty, and zeal for monarchy, amidst all
revolutions:" it is situated about eight miles north of the British
Channel, in latitude 54° 44' north and longitude 3° 30' west
from London.
The city and suburbs, including the adjoining parishes of St.
Thomas and St. Leonard, which are part of the county of Devon,
are nearly two miles in length, and a mile and quarter in breadth,
where the buildings are contiguous ; and contain about three
thousand two hundred and seventy-six houses, and twenty-one
thousand nine hundred and twenty-four inhabitants ; f these are
divided into four wards or hundreds, in which are nineteen parishes
and three precincts, which are extra-parochial ; a Cathedral
and eighteen parish Churches ; three Presbyterian, one Anabaptist,
* Ogilvie.
t As it would be impracticable to number the inhabitants precisely (it having been
several times attempted without success) I have endeavoured to calculate them
according to the rules laid down by Sir William Petti/, in his Discourse on Political
Arithmetic, and have allowed seven persous for every inhabited house. Whoever is
acquainted with the city, and considers the number of families which are crowded
together in single houses, in the back streets and lanes, will, I hope, think with
me, that I have rather under than over rated them. In the year 1800 the legislature
ordered a general account to be taken of the number of inhabitants and houses
throughout the kingdom, when the parochial returns for this city (exclusive of the
parishes of St. Thomas and St. Leonard) were two thousand eight hundred and
thirty-six houses, inhabited by three thousand nine hundred and forty-seven
families, containing seven thousand three hundred and four males and ten thousand
and eighty-four females, in all seventeen thousand three hundred and eighty-eight
inhabitants. But this return was made at the height of a long and bloody war,
when the staple trade of the city (the manufacture of woollen) was at its lowest ebb,
and great numbers of its male inhabitants serving their country in his Majesty's
fleets and armies, and others seeking for labour in distant places, which occasioned
the great disproportion between the number of males and females, who are,
according to their births, nearly equal ; and according to the former calculation
would make this city to contain twenty thousand and fifty-two souls.

iv INTRODUCTION.
one Quakers', and two Methodist Meeting-houses; a Roman
Catholic Chapel, and a Jews' Synagogue; all which, together
with the other public buildings, will be fully described in their
proper places.
The pleasant site of the city, on the declivity of a hill open to
the south and west, encircled with beautiful views of the sur
rounding country, where undulating hills, vales, woods, and
water, interspersed with churches, villages, and gentlemen's seats,
¦ terminated by the brown and lofty heights of Haldon, &c. is truly
picturesque, and attracts the notice of strangers.
The river Exe is navigable for vessels of one hundred and fifty
tons burthen, even to the city, as, by a canal cut through the
marshes, and by the help of sluices or locks, they are towed up to
the quay. The tide anciently flowed beyond the city ; but the
navigation was ruined by one of the Earls of Devon, from a
malicious pique for a pretended insult done him, (which circum
stance will be discussed hereafter;) and there is great reason to
believe that the tide once covered all the marshes and low grounds
from the city to Cowick, as its name seems to express;* for the
whole strata of the ground between appears to be formed of soft
clay and river gravel in alternate layers ; and further, the situation of
the water-port (still plainly to be seen in the city wall, at the bottom
of Rock-lane) together with ancient traditions, which inform us
that ships and boats were admitted by the tide into the city through
the said port, seems to strengthen greatly the conjecture, if we can
doubt the veracity of an ancient historian, William of Malmsbury,
who says that " the fleet of King Ethelred being defeated, in the
year 1001, by the Danes, a residue took refuge within the walls of
Excester." f

* Ich is a British word, and signifies a river creek, i. e. cow creek, or watering
place. — Borlase's Vocabulary.
t Other reasons might be given to strengthen the former hypothesis, but I shall
only mention one more by way of note :— A few years since, in digging for the
foundation of an Ice-house, at the bottom of the Friars, after having cut through
the common meat earth, a bed of hard clay was found, then river gravel ¦ at twelve
feet deep, rubbish mixed with oyster and cockle shells, then river gravel again-
and at sixteen feet deep was found the half of an horse shoe, much rusted and
injured by length of time, and which is now in the possession of Mr Drewe late
of Exeter, but now of Topsham I do not easily acquiesce with improbabilities,
but I have heard it asserted that an anchor has been dug up in the marsh near
( owley Bridge. or m

INTRODUCTION. v
The city has been greatly improved of late years by new build
ings, and is plentifully supplied with water ; some from wells, and
some brought through leaden pipes, from springs collected toge
ther about half a mile from the city. The river water, by means
of an engine, is forced through wooden pipes into most parts of
the city, (notwithstanding its elevated situation) and each inhabi
tant may be supplied with it at a certain rate per annum.
The wholesomeness of the water, salubrity of the air, pleasant
ness of the situation, and plenty of the markets, have occasioned
the city to be much noticed by our ancient writers. William of
Malmsbury, who lived in the reign of King Stephen, and wrote
his History, A. D. 1154, speaks thus of it: — "By reason of its
stateliness, the wealth of its Citizens, and the great resort of
strangers, it so abounds with all kinds of merchandize that nothing
is wanting that can be reckoned useful or necessary." Leland also,
who wrote his Itinerary in the reign of Henry VIII. calls it "a
pleasant and beautiful city, strongly fortified both by nature and
art, full of inhabitants, and abounding in all the necessaries of life."
It is impossible, at this distance of time, to fix the era of its
first foundation ; but its British names will sufficiently testify that
it was a city of note even with the ancient Britons.
The inhabitants of Devon and Cornwall were the Danmonii, a
people differing in their manners and customs from the other tribes
of the Britons, and are supposed by many authors,* both ancient
and modern, to be aborigines, and to have migrated from
Armenia, in the greater Asia, not long after the confusion of
tongues at Babel.
It is sufficiently clear that the Danmonii were not ignorant of
agriculture and commerce, from the trade they carried on with
their tin and other commodities with the Phoenician, Carthaginian,
and Greek merchants ; and after them with the Gauls and
Romans : this is fully mentioned by Herodotus, Polybius, Strabo,
and other authors.
That tin was more abundant in Devon than Cornwall is clearly
demonstrated by the farming of the coinage in the reign of King
John, when that of Devon was farmed for one hundred pounds,
* Bishop Gibson's Saxon Chronicle, printed at Oxford, 1692, (the Saxon Chronicle
was written by a Monk of Lincoln, sometime after the Conquest) says that the
original inhabitants of Devon and Cornwall came from Armenia.

vi INTRODUCTION.
while that of Cornwall produced only one hundred marks ; and as
the greatest part of the tin was found in Dartmoor and its neigh
bourhood, at no very great distance from Exeter, it may naturally
be concluded that the neighbouring country must have been very
populous; and that the Danmonii, having a mercantile intercourse
with the Phoenicians and Greeks, learned from them the principles
of mechanics and building, as well as other arts; to say nothing
of the colonies, which, according to their custom, they settled in
most places they traded to ; and therefore it cannot be doubted
(from the many Phoenician and Greek words mixed in the British
language) that they settled a colony in this part of the island.*
The inhabitants of Devon therefore certainly had their cities and
towns; f and the name of Pen-Caer,\ (a British name for
Exeter) which signifies the head or chief city, plainly points out
the capital of the Danmonii ; and Caer-esk, the city on the waters;
Caer-ruth, the city on the red soil ; and Penhulgoile, the
prosperous chief town in the wood, § strongly prove that Exeter
must have been a city of great note, even in the most early ages.
* Richard of Cirencester, who wrote a Chronicle in the fourteenth century, places
the first colony in the south-west part of Devon, about A. M. 3000 ; and says a
colony of the Belgos, from Gallia, about A, M. 3650, arrived in Britain, and
possessed themselves of Kent, Sussex, Hampshire, and Devonshire. Mr. Whitdker,
in his History of Manchester, informs us that after the Belgts had been thus settled
two hundred and fifty years, Diviaticus came over from Gaul, and brought a large
reinforcemeul of the former, and subdued the remainder of the west part of Britain.
t To strengthen this conjecture it must be remarked that among the British
coins found at Carnbre, in Cornwall, as described by Dr. Borlase, that of No. 12
has evidently a plan of a town or city on it; and whoever carefully examines it
will find it a near resemblance of modern Exeter.
t Caer, in the Welsh language, signifies a city ; and at this day they call
Jerusalem, Caer-salem; Paris, Caer-Paris ; Rome, Caer-Ruffayne. Carthage was
called, in the Phoenician language, Caer-theia, that is a new city. — Cambden, page 30.
§ According to the idiom of the British language, it should be Caer-rydh and
Caer-pen-kuil-goit.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I. P,„je
Ancient History and Government of the City, from the Invasion
of the Romans to the Norman Conquest  1
CHAPTER II.
From the Norman Conquest to the End of the Reign of King
Henry VIII  24
Earls of Devon, from the Norman Conquest to the Reformation . 107
Dukes of Exeter to the Reformation  109
CHAPTER III.
From the Death of King Henry VIII. to the Accession of King
Charles II  Ill
Charter of the City  136
CHAPTER IV.
From the Accession of King Charles II. to the 44th of King
George III  170
CHAPTER V.
Ecclesiastical History — Religion of the Ancient Britons .... 238
Bishops of Devon  242
CHAPTER VI.
General Description  271
Rougemont Castle  273
The Cathedral  270
Its Government  . 287
Present Members, &c  305

PAROCHIAL DESCRIPTION.
Precinct of the Close  307
Parish of St. Martin  311
St. Pancras  312
St. Stephen  315
Preoinct of Bedford  318
Parish of Allhallows, Goldsmith-Street  319
St. Lawrence  322

CONTENTS.
Page
Precinct of Bradninch  336
Parish of St. Sidwell  336
St. David  348
St. Paul  355
St. Kerian  359
St. Petrock  360
St. Mary Major  362
The Holy Trinity  371
St. George  382
St. Mary Arches  384
St. Olave  390
St. John  394
Allhallows on the Walls  398
St. Mary Steps  399
St. Edmund  401
General Benefactions  403

PARISHES ADJACENT TO EXETER.
Parish of St. Thomas the Apostle  426
St. Leonard  433
Heavitree  435
Appendix  441

PLATES.
Portrait of the Author to face the Title.
St. John's Hospital  40
The Ancient East-gale  77
The Ancient North-gate  211
The Old Conduit  212
The Old Bridge  213
St. Mary's Chapel, Castle-Yard  215
East- gate, from the Exterior  218
The New Conduit.  -  225
Rougemont Castle  273
The Old Broad-gate  307
The Ancient South-gate  372
St. Nicholas's Priory, Mint  392
The Ancient West-gate  401
St. Leonard's Old Church  433

THE HISTORY
OP THE
CITY OF EXETER,
PROM THE
TIME OF JULIUS CAESAR,
TO THE CLOSE OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.

CHAPTER I.

From the Invasion of the Romans to the
Norman Conquest.
JULIUS C^.SAR in his first expedition into Britain, A. C. 54, CHAP.l.
describes the British Towns as mere recesses in the woods, Before
fortified with trunks of trees, and great banks of earth, to Christ 54.
which they fled in times of danger, as a security for themselves, Ctesar's
families, and cattle ; but Caesar was ignorant of the Danmonii, omme"~
or their towns, his actions iu Britain being confined to Kent,
and the adjoining counties ; and he himself confesses, that all
he knew of the inland and detached inhabitants of the Island
was from the Gaulish merchants, and even they acknowledged
that they knew nothing of the interior parts of the country, but
from hearsay only.
Hence, any pretension to determine at what time to date the
foundation of Exeter, would be mere presumption ; and as we
have no authority but conjecture and dark traditions, probability
only can be offered.
It is true, the inhabitants of Holcomb-burnell have an idle Ancient
tradition, that the Britons first began to build a City on a tradition.
common near their village, for their Capital, but finding great
inconveniences, from the want of water, they removed to the
present scite of Exeter, nay they shew an old military work
there as the ancient City.
A circumstance, however, highly in favor of its antiquity, is
the great number of Roman coins which have been, and still
are discovered by digging in the City and its neighbourhood ;
and that all the ancient roads meet in it, as a central situation.*
* Some Phoenician coins (as conjectured) were, some years since, discovered
at Teignmouth ; and, I have been informed, that one of the same sort has been
found in Exeter ; but after all possible enquiry, I could never find into whose
possession it had got. B

sar s
sion

2 THE HISTORY OF
CHAP. I. And now to leave the dark ages of conjecture only, we shall
come to an era, where such historians who have escaped the
ravages of time will enlighten our paths, and lead us to those
historic facts which may be depended upon.
A.M. Anno Mundi 3946, according to Richard of Cirencester,
3^6. (although Speed places the date 3873) and 54 years before the
birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ, Julius Ccesar having sub
dued all Gaul, invaded Britain, incited thereto, according to
some authors, by a desire to revenge on the Britons their
having sent succours to the Veneti, a people of Armorica, (now
Julius Ca3- Bretagne.) in France, landed, after an obstinate resistance from
"""the Britons, on the coast of Kent, supposed to be the beach
between Deal and Dover.
The Britons being divided into many petty sovereignties,
united their forces under Cassibelaunus, King of the Trino-
bantes* {Theomantius, his son, being at that time Prince of
the Danmonii,) and Casar, after gaining a few disputed battles,
sailed back to Gallia.
The next year, Ccesar having collected a more numerous
army and navy, again invaded Britain, and landed near the
same place, when he was a second time bravely opposed : but
Cassibelaunus being deserted by his allies, submitted to Ccesar,
who once more returned back to Gallia, and being satisfied
with receiving hostages from the neighbouring states, and a
promise of tribute, (which, in all probability, was never paid)
left the authority of the Romans, more nominal than real, in
this Island .f
I have so far digressed from what materially concerns the
City of Exeter in order to confute the many idle traditions,
and common stories, that every ancient castle, or ruinous tower,
was built by Julius Ccesar, (as it is often ignorantly said of the
Castle of Exeter) when, from the most authentic historians,
his short stay in this Island would not allow him time sufficient
to build castles, or any other works, saving those that were
necessary for his own security, the fortifying of his camps, he
being continually harrassed by armed bodies of the Britons,
and Exeter at too great a distance from the field of action.

* The Inhabitants of Essex.
" Territa quajsitis ostendit terga Britannis "
Fled from the Britons whom his arms had sought.
1 Wnsr"°itUS ""' " ^ dld U0' C°n,1Uer B'Uain' !•« <>»'* shewed it to the

THE CITY OF EXETER. 3
The Romans made no attempt on the Britons until A. D. 43, CHAP. I.
near a century after Ccesar; when the Emperor Claudius sent a. D. ~
Aulus Plautius, his General, into Britain, and through the 43.
dissensions among the Britons themselves, some provinces were
subdued, and Claudius himself soon after coming over to
Britain, was for a long time bravely opposed by Cunobeline,
King of the Trinobantes, and after his death, by his Sons,
Caractacus, King of the Silures* and Togodumnus, King of
the Danmonii: but the death of Togodumnus in this war,
together with the defeat and captivity of Caractacus, completed
the triumph of the Romans, and rivetted the fetters of the
Britons. Soon after, by the repeated victories of Vespasian,
and Julius Agricola, in the Reign of the Emperor Domitian,
the whole of South Britain was reduced into a Roman Province.
That the City of Exeter was of great note in the time of the Exeter of
Roman Government must be allowed, whether we consider it note in the
as the Capital City of the Danmonii, its strong and advantageous *'me of tl)e
situation for defence against the revolts of a recently conquered
people, naturally stubborn, and detesting a foreign yoke, or its
convenient situation for commerce (on the banks of a navigable
river) and its vicinity to the Tin district, which was then a great
branch of trade in these Western provinces : therefore, from all
these concurrent circumstances, it may naturally be concluded
that the Romans (civilized as they were at this period) would
not neglect the many advantages that might occur to themselves
by garrisoning it, not only to defend their conquests, but to
protect their trade.
Yet, notwithstanding all probable conjectures, history is A. D.
quite silent, nor is Isca once mentioned by the Roman l-io.
historians, f except in the Itinerary of Antonine, who travelled
through Britain in the reign of Antoninus Pius, A. D. 140 ;
and whose journey from Calleva to Isca Dum nunniorum I shall
here transcribe from Cambden: —
Iter 15.
"A Calleva . . . now Wallingford, in Berkshire.
Isca Dum nunniorum . Exeter.
M. P. CXXXVI. Sic.
Vindomi .... M. P. XV now Silchester, Hants.
Venta Belgarum . M. P. XXI . Winchester.
Brigoe .... M. P. XI . . Broughton, Hants.
Sorbiodoni . . . M. P. VIII . Old Sarum.
Vindocladia. . . M. P. XII .Shaftesbury.
Durnovaria . . M. P. IX . . Dorchester.
Mori duno . . . M. P. XXXVI Seaton, in Devonshire.
IscaDum nunniorum M. P. XV. . Exeter."
* People of South Wales.
t The Chronicle of the Cathedral indeed says that Exeter was besieged by

4 THE HISTORY OF
CHAP. I. Ptolomy of Alexandria, who wrote a system of Geography
 in the reign of the Emperor Adrian, about A. D. 144, lias
given the fatitude and longitude of the mouth of the river Jlxe
and City of Exeter according to the Geography of the age tie
lived in, which places the whole of the South of Britain too
far North by two or three degrees : — Lat. Lon.
Mouth of the River Isca . . 52° 20' . . 17° 00'
Isca ..52 45 .. 17 30
Roman The great number of Roman Coins, and other antiquities,*
Coins, &c. that have been discovered in this city and its neigh bourhood,
and its situation on the great Roman or military road ;\ which
first began at Totness, passing over Haldon, (where some
vestiges are still remaining) through Exeter, over the Ford
below the Old Bridge, (which still bears the name of the
Old Ford) and was continued on through Somersetshire to
Lincoln, are convincing proofs that it was a settlement, if not

Matthew of the Emperor Vespasian, A. D. 49, and that Arviragus, then King of the
Westmin- Britons, compelled him to raise the siege.
ster. * So numerous have been the Roman coins discovered in this City, parti
cularly in the late alterations in the Castle, that want of room will not allow a
full description. They are mostly of the latter Emperors ; a gold one of Nero,
two brass ones of Julius Czesar, and two base silver ones of Carausius, are the
best preserved. Some years since, in digging for the foundation of a house, the
upper end of Musgrave's Alley, (now occupied by Mr. Eales, Attorney,) a
colossal head of the Empress Julia Donna, and an ancient brass lamp were found,
supposed (from a crescent being embossed upon it) to have belonged to a temple
of Diana, from whence some conjectures are formed that a temple dedicated to
that Goddess once stood near the spot. Roman coins alsp, and bones of animals
have been discovered in digging the ground on St. David's hill ; and at Mr.
Upham's, near Broadgate, in enlarging a cellar, was lately found a Niche
walled up, in which were several brass Pagan deities in good preservation, and
part of a tessellated pavement.
t Besides this- road, which was termed the Fosse-Kay, another military way,
namely Ikeneld- street, entered this City, through Dorchester and Seaton from
the East; these roads probably again divided ; one taking its course over the
old Ford, through Kenton, (where, as well as on Haldon, visible remains of it
are still to be perceived) to Totness, as before related ; and as the Romans had
several stations to the West of Tolness, there cannot be the least doubt of its
being continued to Tamara, (now Tamerton folliot : ) and from thence to Uxella
(either Grampound or Lostwithwl) and Voluba, at or near Falmouth in Cornwall.
The other road crossed the Ejre near Goulds-hays, passing up Greenway-lane, was
continued to Oakhamptun, and from thence to the promontory of Hercules, (now
Hartland Point.) Besides those roads, there were several vicinal ways, that
branched either from, or into them, particularly one that proceeded from Lonq-
brook-slreet, over Stoke-hill, (by the ancient Camp) which crossed the river
near V ims-ltouse ; from this there was another branch, by the present Mary-vole
and Black-boy lanes, communicating with the two great roads near Heavitree

THE CITY OF EXETER. 5
colony, of the Romans ; and if some authors are to be credited, CHAP. I.
that the Romans called it Augusta, (a name they never gave =====
but to their colonies) there can be no doubt that Exeter was a
colony of that people.
About a mile from the City, on Stoke-hill, are the remains of
an ancient camp, evidently Roman; theGrafF and Fosse in some
places very visible ; and on Woodbury -hill, about six miles
South East, is a large intrenchment, which must anciently have
been a very strong post ; but whether it was a Roman or British
work cannot be determined.
In the vicinity oi Exeter are many Tumuli, or, as they are Ancient
commonly called, Barrows, composed of earth and stones, which Tumuli
were evidently ancient burial places : between Cullompton and ^ ar,
Honiton, on Kentsmoor, are two large Barrows, many on East- '
hill, near Ottery St. Mary, and on Haldon a great number,
particularly on the side towards Kenn, composed, for the most
part, of flinty stones.
In the year 1773, some labourers, digging in one of those
Barrows for flints, to repair the road leading from Kennford to
Newton Bushell, discovered an Urn at the depth of four feet
from the top of the barrow, and sunk near six inches in the
solid earth ; it consisted of earthenware evidently baked, was
covered with a flat stone about five inches thick, and contained
a quantity of greasy ashes (which smelled like soot) and frag
ments of burnt bones ; the workmen, thinking they had found
a treasure, eagerly broke it in pieces : the Urn was about
fourteen inches in height, and ten inches in diameter, at its
most bulging part.
A further search being made in the same Tumulus, another
Urn was discovered at fourteen feet distance from the spot
where the first was found ; and, twelve feet from the second, a
third ; each containing a quantity of greasy ashes and burnt
bones, plainly human : these urns were so much decayed
through length of time, that they quickly fell to pieces on being
handled : they were made of a dark greyish clay, found in
many parts of Haldon, and ornamented with several kinds of
figures, before they were burnt.*

* Sir Lawrence Palk, Bart, discovered Urns, with Roman Coins, in one of
the Barrows on the northern part of Haldon, specimens of which are now in my
possession; they are small, brass, of the Emperor Gallienus Victorious, one of
the nineteen, or, as they are called, thirty tyrants, during Gallienus' reign,
the usurper in Britain, and of Probus. Whether these coins were originally
placed there when the Tumulus was formed, or since that period deposited by
way of security, can only be conjectured : the circumstance, however, seems
to be subversive of a partial hypothesis, which, in my essay on the Urn, I had
formed of these Tumuli being Danish, but does not affect that which attributes
them to the Britons. — J. S.

Q THE HISTORY OF
CHAP. I. The general structure of the Barrows throughout the county
= has been found to be uniform, and the discoveries which nave
been made have been nearly similar. From those on naiaon,
indeed, Urns of a rude form and composition have been taKen ,
and from one in particular, that forms a boundary between tne
Parishes of Kenn and Kenton, beneath a large flat stone, which
was supported by others around, an Urn, plain in figure, and
unbaked ; though tinged as it was with smoke, it appeared to
have been exposed to a fire, it was removed without receiving
any injury : it had a singularity in its position, the mouth being
inverted, from which, on its being raised, a quantity of ashes and
white bones were discharged : this is now m the possession of
the Rev. John Swete, of Oxton House, behind which, on the
verge of Haldon, it was discovered; and of the Urn, an account
and plate were given in a volume of Essays, by a Society of
Gentlemen of this City.
The custom of burning the bodies of their deceased friends
and relations was common to most ancient Nations, and even
practised by the Jews themselves,* and therefore it is most
probable they were the remains of either Britons or Romans,
before their conversion to Christianity.
It may be proved from innumerable instances, that this custom
was very early practised, though not generally, as we find from
Sacred Writ; Abraham purchased a burying place of the sons
of Heth, wherein he interred his wife Sarah; and that the
Egyptians buried their dead is evident from the great care they
took in embalming their bodies: some are of opinion that this
custom was introduced to prevent any indecencies being com
mitted on the dead bodies by their enemies, which seems probable
from that passage in the First Book of Samuel, where the
inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead burnt the bodies of Saul and his
Sons, to prevent their receiving any more indecencies from the
Philistines, notwithstanding it was the common custom of the
Israelites to bury their dead. And so Sylla, among the
Romans, was the first of his family who ordered his body to be
burnt, for fear the barbarities he had executed on that of
Marius might he retaliated upon his own. At the siege of
Troy, the Greeks used both ways, of interring and burning ;
Patroclus was burned, and Ajax laid in the ground. The
Romans derived from the Greeks both these customs of burning
and burying : " In urbe neve Sepelito neve Urito," says the law
of the twelve tables.

* See the 2d Chronicles, xvi chap. 14 v. — xxi chap. 19 v.  and Amos.
vi chap. 10 v.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 7
The place where they burned the dead was set apart for this CHAP. I.
religious use, and called Glebe; from which practice the name
is yet applied to all the lands belonging to the Church.
The Saxons (as far as comes to our knowledge) did not make
use of that method of interment,* but generally enclosed the
bodies of their deceased friends in stone coffins, or graves lined
with chalk, by the sides of the public highways, or in common
fields. The custom of burying the bodies of the dead within
the walls of Cities and Towns not being instituted (according to
Bede) until the reign of Cuthred, about A. D. 740.
The only reason that can be assigned for the small share that
Exeter had in the transactions, and its being so little noticed
by Historians during the Roman government in Britain (a Bede.
period of near four centuries) was probably from its situation,
almost in the South West corner of the Island, at a great dis
tance from the scene of action.
During this time, the Picts, Scots, and other barbarous
nations, who continually harassed the Roman province, were
confined to the Northern extremities of the Island ; and
although they made inroads into the more Southern parts, and
committed the most horrid devastations, yet most of the Roman
garrisons being placed on the Northern frontiers, they were as
often driven back to their woods and fastnesses : neither could
the enemy have penetrated so far to the South, without making
an entire conquest of the whole province, which doth not
appear ever to have been the case.
The Saxon pirates, who ravaged the coast of Britain during
the time of the latter Emperors, were seldom seen to the South Cambden.
of the Straits of Dover ; hence, it may be concluded, that
although the Northern and Eastern parts were often in a state
of war and confusion, the Southern parts of Devon must have
enjoyed an almost uninterrupted peace, and consequently have
given the Historian no occasion to mention a place situated so
far from the scene of action.
After the Romans had lorded it over all South Britain,
for near four hundred years, their empire began to decline,
the legions stationed in the British Garrisons were called
home to defend Italy and the Capital itself, from the barbarous
nations which then broke through the frontiers on every side :
Britain thus deprived of its protectors, and the greatest part Bede.
of the British youth being incorporated in the Roman legions,
the Picts, Scots, and other tribes of the Britons (who had
bravely opposed the Roman yoke, and had been pent up in

* The Danes certainly burnt their dead bodies in Britain. — J. S.

S THE HISTORY OF
i^HAP. I. the northern parts of the Island) broke through the walls of
 Severus, like a deluge,* and destroyed with fire and sword
every thing before them, even to the very sea.
The Britons, reduced to the greatest distress, fled to tne
woods and marshes for refuge; in this extremity they chose
Vortigern, Prince of the Danmonii, for their King, who, though
disgraced with every vice, possessed the chief authority among
them ; and by his counsel a deputation was sent to the Saxons,
a German nation, desiring their assistance.
It seems from the choice made by the Britons of Vortigern,
that the Danmonii, by their situation, were in some measure
exempted from the desolation that had spread through the other
parts of the Island, and that he, at the head of his Danmonians,
collected the other affrighted Britons together, in order to
make head against the barbarians.
The Saxons, a barbarous and intrepid nation, embraced
the offer made to them, and sent 1600 men to the assistance of
the Britons; these auxiliaries were embarked in three ships,
under the command of two brothers, Hengist and Horsa, and
landing in the isle of Thanet, on the coast of Kent, joined the
Britons, and marched against the Invaders.
The enemy were quickly repelled by the Saxons : but these
new allies, perceiving the weak undisciplined state of the
Britons, conceived it an easy matter to conquer the country for
themselves ; therefore, sending intelligence to Saxony of the
pusillanimity of Vortigern, and the weakness of the Britons,
they were soon reinforced by 5000 more of their countrymen,
who, (after several bloody battles fought between them and
Vortimer, the Son of Vortigern) founded the first Saxon king
dom in Britain, that of Kent, and of which Hengist was the
first King, who fixed his residence at Canterbury.
Saxon In- The success of Hengist, together with the beauty and
vasion. fertility of Britain, allured over swarms of new adventurers :
a party of which (and wherein our history is mostly interested)
landed in Hampshire, and laid the foundation of the West Saxon
A. D. kingdom, in the year 495, under the command of Cherdick, at
49S- a place (from that event) called Cherdich-shore.
Cherdick, on his landing, met with a different reception
from what his countrymen had experienced in the other parts
of the Island ; the Britons, disputing every inch of ground,
gave him battle the very day of his landing, and though they
were vanquished, they defended their liberties for some time

* A wall built by the Emperor Severus, quite across the Island, from Carlisle
to Newcastle, to defend the Roman Province from the continual inroads of the
unsubdued Britons.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 9
against their invaders, until Cherdick, having called to his CHAP. I.
assistance his countrymen, from Kent and Sussex, and being
joined by a fresh body of adventurers from Germany, who
arrived at Portsmouth, under the conduct of Port, an eminent
Saxon, gave battle to the Britons, then commanded by a King
named Nazanleod. In this battle the Britons were defeated,
and Nazanleod, with 5000 of his men were slain ; and from
this period we may date the foundation of the West Saxon
kingdom, of which Exeter was for some time the Capital, and
residence of its Kings.
The Britons still continuing bravely to defend their country, a. D.
the progress of the Saxons towards Devonshire was but slow ; 568.
and we do not find that they made many conquests in that county
until the year 568, when Ceaulin the third king of Wessex, is Hume.
said to have conquered part of Devon and Somerset.
In the year 615, a battle was fought at Beandune (now 615.
Bampton) in Devonshire, when the Britons were defeated by Speed.
Kynegils, King of Wessex, with the slaughter of' 1046 of
their men.
That the Britons were still in the possession of Exeter, we
learn from Matthew of Westminster, who informs us that 032
Penda, King of Mercia, besieged it in the year 632, when it
was bravely defended by the Britons, until relieved by Cadwallo
their King, who engaged, and defeated Penda, with a great
slaughter of his troops.
The West Saxons embraced Christianity in the reign of 603.
Kynegils, in the year 603 ; and in the reign of Ina (who built
Glastonbury Abbey) about the year 712, was first instituted by
that Prince, in the Kingdom of Wessex, the tax called (in those
days) Romescot, or Peter-pence, which compelled every in
habitant that possessed in his house goods of one kind to Speed.
the value of twenty-pence to pay yearly to the Pope, upon
Lammas-day, one penny : this was looked upon as the King's
alms ; but afterwards demanded by succeeding Popes as a
tribute. No notice is taken by any author during this long period
of the City of Exeter, nor do we find it once mentioned in
history, but what hath already been related ; it is sufficiently
clear that the Britons held possession of it, and that Christi
anity flourished in Exeter, while as yet the West Saxons
continued obstinate Pagans until the year 603, nearly 100
years after the foundation of their kingdom : and that the
Saxon name, Monkton, (by which it was known to them Saxon
until the reign of King Athelstan) was given it in derision by name-
the Pagans, from the great number of Monks who had taken

D

10 THE HISTORY OF
CHAP. I. refuge there, from the cruelties of the Saxons, it being their
 common practice, before their conversion to Christianity, to
massacre the Clergy (especially the Monks) whenever they were
so unfortunate as to fall into their hands.
There can be no doubt that the Christian Religion flourished
in Exeter during the Roman Government; but we have
neither history nor tradition to point out to us either the
number or situation of the British Churches in Exeter, nor is
the smallest vestige of any one remaining.* That the Britons
were converted to Christianity soon after their being conquered
by the Romans we learn from Theodoret, Clemens Romanus,
Stow'sHist. and our own countryman Gildas, who assures us that the
London. Gospel was preached in Britain as early as the year 64. Stow
likewise informs us, " that King Lucius built St. Peter's
Church, in Cornhill, London, in the year of Christ 167."
Stow. I'1 tue persecution of the Emperor Dioclesian, the proto-
martyr of Britain, St. Alban, together with some thousands of
Christians, were martyred at the City of Verulam (now St.
Albans) in the year 293; and we likewise read of Restitutus,
Bishop of London, who, with other British Bishops, was present
at the Council of Aries, in France, in the year 314.
It is probable that the Christian Churches of Exeter fell in
the|general destruction of the City, by Sweyne, King of Denmark,
in the year 1007, who levelled it even with the ground, and
destroyed the historic memorials, which were chiefly kept by
the monks, who also perished with them.
A. D. About the year 800, the Saxon Heptarchy, by their intestine
800. wars wjth each other, paved the way for Egbert, the 19th
King of the West Saxons, to aspire to the universal monarchy
• xf'.er!i! " of England : he first turned his arms against the Cornish
ject to the . & - • j i ¦ c i~t 7, 1
Saxons. Britons, who still maintained the possession 01 Cornwall, and
likewise of all that part of Devon situated West of the river
Exe, together with the City of Exeter itself ; and though the
Britons were often defeated, they continued the war for 14 years;
but at length submitted to Egbert, on condition of enjoying
their own laws, and paying an annual tribute.
In this treaty the City of Exeter was included, and from
this period we may date its subjection to the Saxon govern
ment ; and though the Britons were suffered to enjoy their
lands the Saxons were permitted to dwell with them, which
before this time (from the natural hatred they bore the
Saxons, for dispossessing them of their most fruitful provinces)

* The Church of St. Pancras (although as small and mean as can be well
imagined) yet bears evident marks of very remote antiquity.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 11
they would not permit ; thus all the country on the East CHAP. I.
side of the river Tamar became subject to the West Saxon
government. Egbert having thus subdued the Cornish Britons, completed A- D-
the reduction of the Saxon Heptarchy, and was acknowledged H ' '
as King of all England in the year 827.
Egbert did not enjoy peace long, the Danes landing in the 832.
Isle of Sheppey, in Kent, plundered the country, and then
escaped to their ships.
The next year the Danes again landed at Charmouth, in
Dorsetshire, from 35 ships, and were encountered by Egbert:
the battle was bloody, and although the Danes lost a great
number of men, they maintained the post they had taken, and
made good their retreat to their ships.
Two years after they entered into a treaty with the Cornish
Britons, and landing in Cornwall made an inroad into f """ e"
Devo-nshire, but were met by Egbert, on Hengist Down, and
totally defeated.
Ethelwolf having succeeded his father Egbert, the Danes
still continued their ravages, burning and spoiling wherever 851-
they came: and in the year 851 once more landed in Danes
Devonshire, but were defeated by Ceorle, Earl of Devon, at again de-
Wiganburgh, near the mouth of the Tamar, with great 'eated-
slaughter, and forced to retreat to their ships again in the
utmost confusion.
The county of Devon appears to have been more free from
the ravages of the Danes than the major part of England: the
History of these times is full of the desolations committed by
them, yet it doth not appear they made any more inroads into
this county until the year 875.
The vear 868 is remarkable for the first religious foundation
in the City of Exeter mentioned in History. King Ethelbert, ggg.
Son of Ethelwolf founded a monastery near where the
Cathedral now stands, which was afterwards destroyed by the
Danes. Anno 875, the Danes having almost overrun the whole 875.
Kingdom, the bravery and prudence of King Alfred preserved B t
it from utter ruin, and compelled them to enter into a treaty \en by the
with him, which was no sooner made than broken ; for the Danes.
treacherous Danes, without any pretence whatever, suddenly fell
oil the English army, defeated them, and then marching west
ward surprised the City of Exeter.
Alfred collected fresh forces, and exerted such vigour that
he fought no less than eight battles with them in one year; in
consequence of which the Danes were reduced to the greatest
distress ; the remainder of the Danish army however wintered

12

THE HISTORY OF

CHAP. 1.

Speed. Danes de
feated. A. D.
876.

Danes
again de
feated.

Danes de
feated by
the people
of Devon.

878.

in Exeter, committing the greatest cruelties on the poor
inhabitants, and expecting a reinforcement of their countrymen:
but the Danish fleet met with such severe storms that 1-0 ot
their ships were cast away on the English coasts : and their
army marching towards Exeter was met by Alfred, who atter
a severe battle entirely defeated them : new treaties were then
entered into ; and the Danes gave him both pledges and oaths
to relinquish the land.
The Danes who wintered in Exeter hearing of the misfortunes
of their countrymen, and the citizens (incited by the successes
of their King) falling upon them, some immediately fled to
Dartmouth, and there" shipped themselves ; but most of these
perished in a voilent tempest: the other party hastily retreated
to Chippenham, in Wiltshire, where being joined by great
numbers, under the command of three of their Kings, Gurthun,
Esketel, and Hammond, they broke (notwithstanding the late
treaty) into Alfred's dominions, ravaging the country, and
burning and destroying all before them : the English being
disheartened left the country in the greatest terror; and
though Alfred defeated the plunderers in several engagements,
yet such numbers continually arrived to join them, that
Alfred was reduced to the greatest distress, and the Danes
became possessed of all his kingdom, except the counties of
Somerset, Hants, and Wiltshire, and some few fortified towns,
among which was Exeter.
Alfred, unable to make head for the present against the
invaders, secreted himself; and in the habit of a peasant
lived for some time in the house of a cowherd, who had been
entrusted with some of his cattle : here Alfred collected some
few of his trusty followers, and retired into an island in
Somersetshire, formed by the rivers Thone and Parret, and
rendered almost inaccessible by the bogs and morasses which
surrounded it ; here he built a fortress, and often sallied
out upon the Danes: in this situation he remained near a
twelvemonth. While Alfred lay here concealed, Hubba, the Dane, having
spread desolation over Wales, landed in Devon, from 23
ships, and besieged the Castle of Kenwith, situated near
the mouth of the river Taw : Oddune, Earl of Devon, had
taken refuge there, with a few of his followers, and being
but ill supplied with water and provisions, he determined by
some vigorous blow to prevent the necessity of submitting
to the enemy : therefore, making a sudden sally on the Danes
before sun-rise he put them to the rout, pursued them with
great slaughter, killed Hubba himself, and took their famous

Standard, Reafan,' in which the Danes put their greatest CHAP. I.
confidence. =

THE CITY OF EXETER. 13
in,' in which the Danes put their greatest
Tradition still points out the place of Hubba's interment, and
though the stones which (after the manner of the northern CamMen'
nations) were heaped on his grave are swept awav by the
incroaehments of the sea, yet the place still retains the nameHabbas
of Whibble-stone, and is situated on the Strand, near Appledore,
on the northern coast of Devon.
Alfred being informed of these successes, left his retreat
(before he assembled his subjects) in order to reconnoitre the Stow-
Danish camp, and be himself convinced whether there was a. D.
any probability of success, or not : therefore disguising himself 878.
in the character of a Harper, and passing unsuspected through
every quarter, was introduced even to the tent of their King,
Gurthrum ; and remaining there several days he remarked the
security of the Danes, their contempt of the English, (whom
they considered as entirely subdued) and their dissolute waste
of what they had gained by rapine and violence : he then
secretly sent messengers to his subjects and summoned them to
assemble at Brixton, on the borders of Selwood Forest, in Hume.
Somersetshire. On the appointed day the English joyfully
resorted to their King, whom, on his appearance among them,
they welcomed with shouts of applause, and the more so, as
they had considered him certainly dead.
Alfred instantly conducted them to the Danish camp, and,
knowing its situation, attacked the enemy in the most un- Danes de-
guarded quarter : the Danes surprised to see an army of the Seated by
English, (whom they had long held as totally subdued) but Alfred-
much more at seeing Alfred at their head, made but a faint
resistance, and, though greatly superior in numbers, were de
feated with a prodigious slaughter.
Alfred pursued the remainder of the routed army to a
fortified camp, where they had fled for safety, and where (being
reduced to the greatest extremity by hunger) they once more
desired terms of peace, to which Alfred consented on con
ditions of their embracing Christianity, and evacuating his
territories. Notwithstanding the former treaty, the other parties of the 879.
Danes, roving about for prey, and not considering themselves
bound by the last compact, continued to infest the English M', lam ° r
coasts ; and in the year 879 another body of them, who

* This Standard was a Black Raven, embroidered on a red field by the
Sisters of Hubba, and consecrated to the God of War by the Pagan Priests.
The Danes were so strongly persuaded of its sanctity, that they fully believed
it would insure them victory whenever it was unfurled.

14

CHAP. I.

Exeter be
sieged by
the Danes.

Relieved by Alfred.

Exeter re
paired by
Alfred.

A. D.
893.

Hume.
Again be-

THE HISTORY OF
had plundered Normandy, in France, landed at Wareham,
in Dorsetshire, (Alfred being then in the north of England)
and marched to Exeter, which they instantly besieged ; the
citizens defended themselves with the greatest resolution, (well
knowing the consequences of a surrender to such a barbarous foe)
and their intrepid Monarch being informed of the citizens'
distress, dispatched a trusty messenger to assure them he would
hasten to their relief.
Alfred considering the importance of the city immediately
followed his messengers, at the head of a chosen body of West
Saxons: the citizens at this period were in the utmost extremity,
yet continued bravely to defend themselves, not doubting that
their King would give them his full aid and co-operation. The
Danes despairing from the brave opposition made to all their
assaults, and hearing of Alfred's approach, broke up the siege and
fled to their ships ; Alfred closely followed them, but they were
embarked before he could come up with them. In their retreat
they committed the most horrid devastations, spoiling and
destroying the country, neither sparing age nor sex.
The English fleet which Alfredhad stationed on the southern
coast fell in with many of their ships ; these were captured,
and the crews, by order of the English Monarch, were executed
as Pirates.
Alfred, being convinced of the great utility of a naval force,
to protect the coasts against the continual inroads of these bar
barians, fitted out two fleets, and by some timely severities on
the intruders, kept his kingdom in profound peace (except a
few intervals) until the year 893.
During this time of peace, Alfred repaired and beautified
such cities and towns as had been damaged in the former wars ;
among which, the city of Exeter is mentioned by Matthew of
Westminster, who says " he fortified it with new bulwarks,
and greatly beautified it."
The Danes, who had been settled in Northumberland, broke
out into open rebellion, and being joined by great numbers of
new adventurers, embarked on board of 240 ships, and appearing
before Exeter laid close siege to it ; the citizens again stoutly
defended themselves until Alfred came to their relief, who
falling upon the rebels before they were aware, defeated them,
and pursued them to their ships with great slaughter.
Exeter does not appear in any of the transactions during
the remainder of this excellent Prince's reign, who died A. D.
901, after having fought in person fifty-six pitched battles

THE CITY OF EXETER. 15
by land and sea; and inmost of which he proved victorious.* CHAP. I.
Edward, surnamed the Elder, the son of Alfred, succeeded 7 Z
his Father, and in the year 918 held a Wittena- Gemote, or 91s.
general assembly of his chief subjects in this city.t Isaac.
Athelstan succeeded his Father Edward, in the year 926 ;
in his reign the Britons who had hitherto inhabited the
western part of Devonshire, and also (in conjunction with the Exeter ta-
Saxons, according to the treaty made with King Egbert) the tlle s'axolls
city of Exeter, rebelled, when Athelstan marched westward,
compelled them to abandon the city, and the whole of Devon
shire, and fixed the river Tamar as the boundary of the Cornish
Britons : after this he returned to Exeter, destroyed the old
fortifications, (which before this time consisted of huge bulwarks Reuuilt »y
of earth, strengthened by stakes, and surrounded by ditches) tlestan-
building a stone wall of one mile and a half in circuit,
flanked by lofty towers, and encompassed by a deep and
regular fosse.
The greatest part of the wall built by Athelstan is still
remaining ; it consists of small unhewn stones as they were n., w ..
j /- 1 1 • • j-11 iii- City Walls.
dug from the quarry, the interstices filled up with hot lime
and rough sand, and faced with ashler work of hewn stone,
the whole strengthened by strong buttresses : the mortar
used in this work is become from length of time so hard
and durable, that on attempting to pull down any part
of it the stones are sooner broken than separated one from
the other.
The walls are 12 feet in thickness, and at present, where the
battlements are remaining, 30 feet in height ; most of the
embrasures had orillons, or loop-holes, for the defendants to
discharge their arrows and other missiles under cover. The „
. 1 owcrs 011
number of towers originally on this wall cannot now be deter- ttie wans.
mined, nor whether there were any more than what now
remain in situ ; those of which we have at present any vestiges
are only six in number, five standing between the Castle

* In the year 1784, the society of Antiquarians, receiving good information
that the remains of this Prince were deposited in the church of Great-Driffield,
in Yorkshire, deputed two of their members to examine into the fact ;
after digging for some time they found a stone coffin, and on opening the same
discovered the entire skeleton of this great Prince, together with a great part
of his steel armour. The coffin was again closed up, as well as the grave, and
left in the same state as when found. It appears that Alfred being wounded at
the battle of Stamford- Briggs returned to Driffield, where he languished of his
wounds 20 days, and then dying was buried in this church.
t Isaac places this parliament A. D. 888, which is thirteen years before
Edward came to the crown.

l(j THE HISTORY OF
CHAP. I. and Southgate, and one (vulgarly called the Snail Tower) on
 the western side of the wall, fronting the river. Only one of
these towers remain still (excepting the roof) in its original
state; it consisted of three stages, or floors, for the defendants
to stand on ; it is 42 feet in height, from the present scalp of
the ditch, having orillons in front, and on each side, to flank
the ditch ; a door-way was made here (now walled up) and
called Bedford postern, it being a passage for the conveniency
of Bedford House, and plainly appears to have been constructed
long since the building was raised.
This venerable specimen of the skill of our ancestors in
architecture, which has been standing upwards of 860 years, is
now in a state of decay, and in all probability may soon share
the fate of the other towers, which have been taken down even
with the city walls, and deprived of the whole of their upper
stories.
Exeter The Castle is not mentioned in the history of these times ; but
Castle. from the Saxon arches, and similarity of work and materials,
it seems to have been built at the same time with the walls; it
is situated in the northern part of the city, and on the most
elevated part of the hill ; the ascent being very steep, particu
larly from the north, on which side it was defended by a deep
moat and counterscarp, and which, from its great declivity,
prevented any probability of success in attacking it on that side,
as no military engine then used in besieging towns could be
brought near enough for any execution ; neither could mining
be effected, as the rock on which it was built is composed of
very hard stone, of the granite kind. The mound on which the
masonry is erected is partly artificial, composed of loose stones
(probably the refuse of the quarry) laid edgeways, and filled in
with earth ; this plainly appeared in the alterations that were
lately made.
The walls are of an oval figure, the longest diameter being
109 yards, and the transverse 101 yards ; they are very thick,
and, like the city walls, strongly cemented with hot lime and
sand : there were five towers on the walls, two square, and
three of a semicircular figure. A more particular description,
with the history of this ancient fortress, will be given in the
course of this work.
Name Athelstan changed the name of Monkton (by which the city
changed. ha(j been called by the Saxons ever since the year 450) to
Exanceaster; and also founded a house of Benedictine Monks,
dedicated to the Virgin Mary, (now the eastern part of the

THE CITY OF EXETER. 17
Cathedral, which is converted into a Library ;) he likewise built CHAP. I.
the Abbey of Saint Germans, in Cornwall; St. Petrock, at Baker's
Bodmin ; and Pilton, near Barnstaple ; and caused the Bible Chronicle.
to be translated into the Anglo-Saxon language, at that time
the mother tongue of this country.
This Monarch* granted liberty of Coinage to some of the
principal cities and towns in his dominions, and established two
mints for that purpose in Exeter. The Saxon coins of this Exeter"
period were chiefly silver, very thin, and the dies in which they
were struck badly executed.
Cambden has given many specimens of this Monarch's coins,
(plate 5, p. 135) among which is one which he ascribes to this Cambden-
city, and reads the legend, on the reverse, Tuna moneta
Exancester: but this in all probability is a coin of Ethelbert's, Sa*on
as there is one of his still preserved with the same reverse.
Edmund, the brother of Athelstan, succeeded him, and kept
the Danes so much in subjection, during his short reign of five
years, that the kingdom enjoyed for that time an interval of
peace. Edmund being treacherously murdered at Puckle-
church, in Gloucestershire, by Leof, a noted thief, (whom he A D
had formerly banished) was succeeded by his brother Edred, 948.'
who, in the year 950, founded the first Bishopric in this
county, at Bishops Tawton; and also that of St. Germans,
in Cornwall.
In the year 959 Edgar succeeded his brother Edwy ; and
finding the country overrun with wolves changed the tribute
annually paid by the British Princes, of cattle and specie,
into a delivery of 300 wolves' heads; and by this means, in
the course of a few years, a wolf could scarce be found in the
whole island.
The third wife of Edgar was Elfrida, daughter of Orgar,
Earl of Devon, the founder of Tavistock Abbey ; it is reported wiiiiamof
of him, that he was of such gigantic stature and strength, that Malmsbury
once coming with the King to Exeter, and finding the Eastgate
shut and barred, and the Porter absent, he, by the force of
his arms only, unhinged the gates from the bars, and with Qrzar Earl
his foot forced them open ; his thigh bone was preserved in 0f Devon.
the Abbey of Tavistock until the dissolution of that monastery.
Edward (surnamed the martyr) succeeded his father Edgar,
and after a reign of four years was treacherously murdered 979-

* The name of Athelstan is still traditionally remembered in Fjxeter : a few
years since a very ancient stone building was remaining in St. Paul's Street, vul
garly called King Addlestone's Palace.

18 THE HISTORY OF
CHAP. I. at Corfe Castle, in Dorsetshire, by the instigation of his
 Step-mother, Elfrida, to make way for his half-brother,
Ethelred, who accordingly succeeded him.
Ethelred (named the unready) the son of Edgar, by Elfrida,
seemed greatly to have degenerated from the virtues and
bravery of his ancestors ; it is related of him that he was
extremely avaricious, indolent, and cowardly, being entirely
governed by the monks, whose pernicious counsels were the
ruin of his family and kingdom, and occasioned an insurrection
of his subjects, which, being fomented by the Danes (who had
been incorporated with the English and lived quietly for the
space of 22 years) broke out into open rebellion. The foreign
E . Danes being acquainted with these transactions immediately
sieged by invaded England with a large fleet, and after spoiling great
the Danes, part of the country, in the year 1001, sat down before Exeter,
besieging it with the greatest fury.
A. D. The siege continued for near two months, the citizens in
1001. many sallies driving the enemy from their walls, and repelling
them in many attacks ; at length, after being reduced to the
greatest distress, they v/ere succoured by Athelmere, Earl of
Devon, and the inhabitants of the neighbouring country ; the
Danes de- citizells tnen sallying out on the plunderers, attacked them in
feated at ihelT camp, (between the village of Pinhoe and Exeter) and
Pinhoe. after a bloody engagement forced them from it, and totally
defeated them : the Danes retreated in great confusion to
their ships.*
These successes were but a temporary relief to the unhappy
English; the barbarians continually reinforced by great numbers
of their countrymen from abroad, and joined by those who had
been settled in Northumberland and East Anglia, spread deso
lation throughout the whole kingdom, destroying every where
with sword and fire ; Ethelred endeavoured to remedy these
evils by fitting out a fleet, which he put under the command of
Edric, Duke of Mercia, who had married his daughter Editha;
but he, together with part of the fleet treacherously deserted to
the enemy, and the remainder were obliged to take refuge in the
river Exe.f
1002. Ethelred in this distress issued, by the advice of his nobles
an order (both cowardly and inhuman) that all the Danes
dispersed among the English should be massacred : on a certain

oonosVte.LT f.01"-6 VeS'lgeS °f the -Da""ft W°rks Sl111 remainio^ : on a hill
"nP?headoinin^ M,Sam0Unt'JVUl?ar,JCalled 1W Castk' and many ditches
in the adjoining fields, supposed to be part of their intrenchments.
t See Prefatory Remarks.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 19
evening this horrid mandate was most cruelly put into execution CHAP. 1.
throughout the whole kingdom, in cold blood, on St. Brice's ======
day, the 13th November, 1002.
The news of this massacre inflamed the minds of the Danes
to a desperate revenge, and in the year 1003, Sweyne, King
of Denmark, invaded England with a most powerful army ;
Ethelred, in endeavouring to stop his progress, was totally de
feated, with a great slaughter of his troops ; and the English
nobility basely deserting their King the Danes overspread the
whole kingdom, and committed the greatest cruelties wherever
they came. The citizens of Exeter hearing of these barbarities
repaired their walls and strengthened their fortifications, in
order to resist his attacks ; Sweyne being informed of these
preparations marched immediately towards Exeter, and on his
march received the submission of Athelmere, Earl of Devon, Earl of De-
and the inhabitants of the county ; Sweyne closely invested the v°n sub~
city, and the citizens were determined to defend themselves to p'„nes° e
the last extremity, and not submit but with the loss of their lives ;
yet how vain is human prudence when providence has ordained Exeter be-
it otherwise ! the citizens were betrayed by their commander, !iies5. y
Hugh, a Normun by birth, (who had been appointed governor
of the city by the interest of Queen Emma) he treacherously let A- D.
in the Danes, and Sweyne exasperated at the resistance he met 1003,
with put all the inhabitants that fell into his hands to the sword, Hoveden.
burnt the city, and levelled it even with the ground from the
East to the West gate.
In this disastrous calamity whatever had been spared by time Ex .
of British or Roman remains of magnificence must have been ken an(j
destroyed ; and during the remainder of the reign of Ethelred, destroyed
and the short one of his son, Edmund, Exeter lay amidst its hy them-
own ruins, a heap of desolation. Edmund (surnamed Ironside)
after a reign of one year, was basely murdered by the traitor,
Edric, and this made' room for Canute the Dane, the son of
Sweyne. Canute, by the joint consent of the English and Danes, was
elected King, and he put an end to a war which had continued
above two hundred years, and had cost the two nations more wn.
than 300,000 men, * who were killed in fifty-four land, and
thirty-eight sea fights, besides innumerable skirmishes and
sieges. Peace being now re-established the scattered inhabitants
began to repair to and re-edify their former habitations, and
Exeter rose, like a phcenix, out of her own ashes. Canute J£»^ ^
granted great immunities to the returning citizens ; and, in some nat;ons t0
measure to expiate the cruelties of his father Sweyne, repaired Exeter.
the ruined churches and monasteries, and gave to that of

20 THE HISTORY OF
CHAP. I. St. Peter the manor of Stoke, near Exeter, from whence came
= its adjunct name of Stoke Canon. There is still remaining in
the parish Church of Stoke an ancient painting on glass, in one
of the windows, representing a King in a praying posture, with
a label over his head "Rex Canutus." .
A. D. Canute died on the 12th of November, 1036, after a reign ot
1036. i9 years, during which, by his virtues and impartial adminis
tration of justice, he acquired the love and esteem of his
subjects, both English and Danes. The short reigns of his two
son's, Harold and Hardicanute (who succeeded each other)
were marked with cruelty and gluttony ; this made the Danish
line odious to the people, and therefore, on the death of
Hardicanute,* (who died at Lambeth, from excess of drinking)
1041. in the year 1041, they unanimously conferred the vacant throne
on Edward, the son of Ethelred, which again restored the
Saxon line.
Edward, surnamed the Confessor, was crowned at Winchester,
Charter on Easter day, 1041 ; he remitted the yearly tribute of 40,000
granted by Pounds (called Dane-yeldt) which had been levied for upwards
Edward the of forty years on the English subjects, and collected into one
Confessor, body the laws made by his predecessors, viz. those of the Saxons,
104l Mercians, and Danes, which are the foundation of what is
called to this day the common law ; he likewise granted new
charters aud immunities to such cities as had suffered much in
the late wars ; repaired the religious houses, particularly the
monastery of St. Peter, in Exeter ; united the two Bishops'
Bishop's gges of Crediton and St. Germans, removed them to Exeter,
ved to"10" an^' w^n k's Queen> Editha, installed Leofricus, in the following
Exeter. remarkable form of words : —
" I, Kynge Edward, taking Leofricus by my right haunde, and
1049 Editha, my Queen, by the lefte, do enstalle hym the fyrste and
most famous Byshoppe of Excester, with a great abundance of
blessynges to all such as shall furder and encrease the same ;
but with a fearfull and execrable curse to all such as shall
diminish or take any thing from it."
The Monks who were resident in the Benedictine Abbey,
founded by King Athelstan, in Exeter, were removed by Edward
to Westminster, where he built that stately edifice now known
by the name of Westminster Abbey. He was the last King of
England of the race of Egbert ; he diedat Westminster on the
5th of January, 1065.

The death of Hardicanute was yearly celebrated by the English nation for
a long time after his death ; and this celebration was called in derision Hoxtide,
that is the feast of the Hog.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 21
On the death of Edward, Harold, Earl of Devon, and son CHAP. I.
of Godwin, Earl of Kent, was elected to the vacant throne,
(notwithstanding the claim of the lawful heir, Edgar Atheling, A- D-
grandson of Edmund Ironside;) he defeated the Danes who had
landed from 500 ships and taken the city of York ; where their
King, Harold Harfagar, and Toston, (brother to Harold, who
had joined the enemy) were killed.
While Harold was in the north of England pursuing the
Danes, William, surnamed the bastard, Duke of Normandy,
landed with a great army at Pevensey, in Sussex: Harold
marched with the greatest dispatch to give him battle, and met Harold
the Norman Duke near Hastings ; the battle was fatal to the defeated by
English monarch, who was slain, with the flower of his no- William
bility, and a prodigious number of common men. This battle, .R
which decided the fate of England, and brought it under a '"ma" y'
foreign yoke, was fought on Saturday, the 14th of October, 1066. 1066.
The motives which induced William to invade England,
and the facility of his conquest, are thus accounted for by
most historians: William pretended that Harold had sworn,
while in Normandy, that on the death of King Edward he
would promote his interest in the succession; and that Edward
on his death bed had appointed him his successor ; but as
the historians of those days were chiefly Monks, who were
strongly inclined to the Norman interest, we can put but
little confidence in their report ; nor does it seem probable
that Edward should dispose of his crown to a foreigner, while
his nephew, Edgar Atheling, was living, and who was the
undoubted heir.
The facility of this conquest, and the subjection of a people
who for many years had so gallantly defended their liberties
against the Danes, is by these bigotted historians ascribed
to the almost continual peace which the English had enjoyed
for nearly fifty years ; and which had made them neglect
their military discipline, and abandon themselves to luxury
and idleness: to which may be added the licentiousness of
the clergy, the effeminacy, gluttony, and oppression of the
nobility," together with the drunkenness and disorders of the
common people.
Other authors relate (and it appears with more truth) that
it was principally owing to the treachery of the Bishops (the
sees having been mostly filled, by the ill-judged policy of
Edward, with Norman Monks) and the superior skill of the
Normans in military tactics, who in this battle made great havoc
among the English with their cross bows, a weapon to them
before unknown.

22

THE HISTORY OF

A. D.
1066.

CHAP. I. The Norman historians tell us that the main body of the
== English were armed with Bills, (their ancient weapons) and that
they kept themselves so compact in one body that no force
could break or disorder them, until the Normans, pretending to
retreat, brought the former into disorder, and by that means
gained the victory.
Duke William having gained this decisive victory marched
towards London, not in a direct, but circuitous route; and
crossing the Thames, at Wallingford, proceeded to Berkhamp-
stead, where he was met by A Ired, Archbishop of York, who
was attended by many other prelates, Edgar Atheling, (the legal
heir) and several of the principal nobility, and who there swore
fealty to him.
Notwithstanding this, Edwin and Morcar, the two stout
Earls of Northumberland and Mercia, endeavoured to rouse the
English from their lethargy, and once more to oppose the
conqueror ; but finding the Bishops (who at that time had all
the power in their hands) siding with the Normans, they desisted
from their attempt. William marched to London, and was
crowned at Westminster, on Christmas-day, 1066.
The city of Exeter, as hath been already mentioned, had
suffered greatly during the Danish wars ; and although there
was only a period of 63 years from its total destruction, by
Sweyne, to the Norman conquest, the historians of that time
represent it to be strong, wealthy, and full of inhabitants ; and
this is fully corroborated by the obstinate defence it made
against the conqueror, in the year 1076, which will be treated
of in its proper place.
By what form this city was governed during the times of
the Britons and Romans is not mentioned by historians ; but
by the Romans in their colonies and fortresses it was executed
by a Pro-Prator, whose power was arbitrary, and government
military. During the Saxon period, its government was by a
Portgrave, or Portreeve, who had power over all judicial con
troversies ; and in the reign of Athelstan the city was divided
into four hundreds, or wards, over each of which was placed
an Alderman.
These wards continue to this time, and are denominated the
East, West, North, and South wards. In times of war, or
danger, the whole government, civil and military, was lodged
in the hands of the Earls of Devon; under whom were the
Vicecomes, or Sheriffs ; and the Thanes, or chief military
officers; who held lands of the King by a kind of military
tenure, somewhat similar to that of the feudal barons after the
Norman conquest: the Bishops likewise acted as judges in
conjunction with the Earls, and sometimes commanded in the
armies in a military capacity.

Ancientgovernment of
Exeter.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 23
We have very few of the names of the Saxon Earls of Devon CHAP. I.
handed down to us ; nor is it certain whether the office was 
elective or hereditary.
Vortigern, (afterwards King of England) it is recorded, was
Prince of the Danmonii, before he was elected to the throne.
Alpsius was made Earl of Devon by King Athelstan. He Saxon
resided in the castle of Excester ; it being customary in those Chronicle.
days for the Earls to dwell in the counties from whence they
took their titles.
Orgar was Earl of Devon in the reign of King Edgar, (as History of
before related) the King having married his daughter. Goda is Tavistock
mentioned as Earl of Devon in the reign of King Ethelred ; Abbey-
and to have been slain in battle by the Danes. Athelmere Saxon
was Earl of Devon after the death of Goda : he treacherously Earls of
deserted his sovereign, King Ethelred; and, joining his forces Oevon.
with Sweyne, accompanied him to the siege and destruction of
Exeter. Alphegus succeeded him as Earl of Devon in the reign of
Canute; and after him, according to Lambert, Godwin, Earl
of Kent, was Earl of Devon, Dorset, Sussex, Hampshire, and
Cornwall. The unfortunate Harold succeeded his father as
Earl of Devon and Cornwall.

End of the First Chapter.

24

THE HISTORY OF

CHAPTER II.

From the Norman Conquest to the end of the
Reign of Henry VIII.

Exeter re-
bles against
the conque
ror.

CHAP. II. TT7ILLIAM, on being invested with the English Crown, at
=:::===: VY first affected to govern his new subjects with great lenity;
but as soon as his power was established he treated them with
the greatest severity, arbitrarily seizing their lands, and dividing
them among his rapacious followers. The English exasperated
at the conduct of the Normans broke out into open rebellion in
several parts of the kingdom ; the citizens of Exeter, in parti
cular, dispossessed Baldwin de Brionis* of the castle, to whose
custody it had been committed by the conqueror, and was at
that time esteemed a place of the greatest importance : they
repaired their walls and strengthened their fortifications, incited,
it is supposed, by Githa, (mother of the late King Harold)
who had taken refuge in the city, after having been deprived of
her lands and dowery, to make room for the new comers.
William, heated at these commotions, marched at the head of
a numerous army, and laid close siege to the city. The inhabi
tants, relying on the strength of their fortifications, insulted him
with opprobious language from the walls, and repelled his assaults
with the utmost vigour: but part of the walls falling down (which
the Monkish historians attributed to Divine Providence, though
with greater reason it might have been occasioned by machines
used by the besiegers) the citizens were compelled to surrender.
The conqueror, contrary to his usual practice, granted them fa
vorable terms, renewed their ancient privileges, and only
altered the gates of the castle as a token of his victory.
Having subdued the rebels, and quieted the internal commo
tions, yet despairing of the good will of the stubborn English
by lenity, he had recourse to the most rigorous laws. He
punished the insurgents without mercy, depriving them of their
possessions, and bestowing them on the Normans ; he abolished
the ancient Saxon laws, and established those of Normandy;

A.D. 1076.

Besieged
and taken.

King Wil
liam's cle
mency.

* This Baldwin had been created by the conqueror Baron of OaWiompion,
and hereditary Viscount of Devon; and, in consequence of that office, had the
custody of, and residence in, the castle.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 25
seized the treasures of the monasteries ; deprived the English CHAP. II.
of all places of trust; imposed a feudal tenure on all lands
belonging to the crown ; and made a new law, by which every , ,.
one of his English subjects was compelled, on the penalty of i,aws,
death, to put out their fires and candles, at the sound of a bell,
at eight o'clock at night.* This was named the curfew, or
coverfire. He also caused a general survey to be made of all
the lands in the kingdom, and to be entered into a Book
called Doomsday-book, (which is still existing) and laid a
tax of six shillings upon every hide of land. f
In Doomsday-book it is recorded that " Exeter didnotgeldt% Cambden.
but when London, York, and Winchester did, that was a
mark of silver for a Knight's fee, in case of an expedition by
land or sea, it served after the rate of five hides: at the time
of this survey the King had in this city three hundred and
fifteen houses; it paid fifteen pounds a year, and that forty-eight
houses were destroyed after the King came to England."
During the remainder of this King's reign, Exeter enjoyed \y-juiam of
the blessings of peace, and greatly increased in splendor and Malmsbury
number of inhabitants, which arose partly from the additional
privileges and immunities granted to it, and from the number of
Normans who settled in it. § It appears also from our ancient
historians, that the citizens, even in those days, carried on a
large trade with foreign countries ; and that the change of
government, instead of being detrimental, was rather beneficial,
and increased the opulence of the inhabitants.
In an old manuscript, entitled " Chronicon Exoniensis
Ecclesice desineas in obitu Johannis de Grandisono, Episc."
preserved in the Bodlean Library, the following awful visitation
is thus described: — "A. D. 1080, in the middle of the night 1080.
of the birth of our Lord, a terrible and unaccustomed noise,
with lightning and thunder, suddenly came with a motion of Awful
the earth, and caused great ruins of houses : it struck fear unto Visitation.
the hearts of all, so that all trembled at the judgment of God
himself happening to them." What is very remarkable is, that
this circumstance is not recorded by any other historian, there-
* There is still some part of this custom remaining in Exeter; the Cathedral
bell tolling every night at eight o'clock ; and which is still termed " the Bell
warns." t A hide of land contained 100 Acres.
X To geldt, was to pay the quota of taxes, hence the term of Guildhall,
anciently written Geldthall.
6 Soon after the conquest William introduced a great number of Jews into
the kingdom, from Normandy ; and it is probable that some of those industrious
traders settled in Exeter; for we find in record that, in the reign ol 'Henry tbe
Third the manor of South Hole, in this county, was mortgaged by Willmm, son
of Richard de Hole, to a Jew, of Exeter; and which was seized by that Monarch.
— Risdons Survey of Devon. H

26

THE HISTORY OF

CHAP. II

A. D.
1080.

1087.
William II

Priory of
St. Nicho
las founded.
A. D.
1089.

St. Nicho
las fair
granted. Lammas
fair.

1109.
Henry I.

fore it is very probable that this dreadful storm and concussion
of the earth was confined to Exeter and its neighbourhood,
registers of this sort being kept in all collegiate churches,
monasteries, &c.
King William, in the year 1080, founded the Abbey of Battle,
in Sussex, on the spot where the famous battle of Hastings was
fought; and gave to it, as a cell, the church of St. Olave, in
this city. William died in 1 087, and was succeeded by his second
son, William, surnamed (from his red hair) Rufus.
Robert, his eldest brother, who, by his father's will, enjoyed
the Dukedom of Normandy, demanded the crown in right of
succession, and was supported in his claim by a great number
of the Norman Barons: but William having gained the good
will of the English nation, by his promises of restoring their
ancient laws, soon compelled the rebels to submit ; and the steady
allegiance of his English subjects, biasing the Monarch in
their favor, he greatly added to the privileges of several cities,
among which, Exeter had a share of his bounty.
William, however, soon forgot his promises ; he made sev
eral arbitrary laws, and particularly such as regarded the
preservation of the game, not only in his own forests and domains,
but throughout his whole dominions. The penalty inflicted by
these laws was death, or the loss of limb, for the killing of
deer, or any other game ; and these laws, it is said, were the
principal foundation of the present existing game laws.
It has been already mentioned that the late King gave the
church of St. Olave, in this city, to the Monks of the Abbey of
Battle; the said Abbot and Monks, assisted therein by Rufus,
founded the Priory of St. Nicholas, on a vacant spot near the
said church, which, by subsequent benefactions, rose to great
power and wealth, as will be noticed in the course of this
history. To this priory the king gave a close of land, situated
within the city walls, and called, from the donation, Fryers-hays
(now St. Bartholomews burying-ground :) he also gave to the
Prior a charter to hold an annual fair on the festival of St.
Nicholas, being the 6th day of December; and likewise a
moiety of a fair, held in this city long before the conquest,
called Crollditch, now Lammas fair, to him and his successors
for ever.
The death of William Rufus, which happened on the 2d of
August, 1100, (he being accidentally shot, by an arrow which
had glanced against a tree, while hunting in New Forest, in
Hampshire) made room for his younger brother, Henry, sur
named Beauclerk, who succeeded him.
Henry, taking advantage of the absence of his eldest brother,
Robert, who was then in the Holy-land, seized on the vacant
throne ; and, in order to secure himself thereon, placed his
greatest confidence on the English nation, who were, by far,

THE CITY OF EXETER. 27
the bulk of the people. He began his reign (in 1100) by grant- CHAP. II.
ing to his subjects a very advantageous charter, confirming 
several privileges they enjoyed under the Saxon Monarchs ;
restoring the laws of Edward the Confessor ; and reforming the
abuses which had crept into the government during the two
former reigns, through the insolence of the Normans. He like
wise abolished the curfew law ; the tax called Dane-geldt; so
odious to his subjects ; and granted great immunities to the
principal citiesand boroughs of his dominions. The citizens of
Exeter received marks of his bounty, by his granting them a N , ch
new charter, and confirming to them all the privileges they had ter granted.
been granted by the Saxon government.
Henry married Maud (or Matilda) daughter to Malcolm,
King of Scotland, and grand-daughter to the Saxon King,
Ethelred, by which, in some measure, the ancient line of suc
cession was restored. This greatly endeared him to his English
subjects. On his marriage, he granted to his said wife, Maud, Rent of Ex-
(as appears by the charters still extant) the Fee-farm Rents 0feterSranted
this City, estimated then at £25 a year — a great sum in those M ^"een
days. In the charter granted to Exeter by this King, their ancient
rights were fully confirmed ; and, it says "they should be free
from scot, and lot, and Dane-geldt ; and that they should not
geldt, but when London, York and Winchester geldted ; that
they should enjoy their full pleadings and amerciaments within
their own walls, as was customary at that time in the city of
London." King Henry first instituted the present form of the high court pari;a.
of parliament. Before his time the nobility and bishops only ments first
were called to consult about the most important affairs of state : instituted.
but he caused knights, from the different counties, and citizens
and burgesses, from the principal places in the kingdom, to be
assembled ; and divided the parliament into three Estates, the
nobility, the clergy, and the commons : these represented the
whole body of the people ; and he appointed them to sit in
several chambers, the King, Bishops, and Lords in one, and
the commons in another.
It seems probable that this city sent its representatives to this
meeting, though we have no account mentioned of it, the par
liamentary rolls not commencing till the 23d year of Edward
the First.
Record tells us that the King reserved to himself the appoint
ment of Portreeves, or chief Magistrates ; and that guilds, or
fraternities, were first established, under certain regulations, for
the better government of trades and mysteries : and that the
inhabitants enjoyed the greatest blessings of plenty in this King's G™**r
reign. As much wheat was sold for 12d. as would suffice 100 p
people for a day, and a fat sheep for a groat.

1118.1135.

2g THE HISTORY OF
CHAP. II. In the year 1118 Queen Maud gave to the church and
¦ „ canons of the Holy Trinity, within Aldgate, in the city _oi
London, two parts of the rent and revenues of this city, then
valued at £25 a year. King Henry died on the 1st or
December, 1135, and was succeeded by Stephen, Earl ot Blots,
grandson of William the conqueror, by his daughter Adelais.
Stephen having, through the intrigues of his brother , Henry,
bishop of Winchester, (the Pope's legate) and the privileges he
promised to grant the English, got possession of the throne,
notwithstanding the lawful pretensions of the Empress Maud,
Stephen, only surviving child of the late King Henry, was crowned at
Westminster, on the 26th day of December, 1135. He gave
his subjects a very advantageous charter, and acknowledged
that he possessed the crown by no other tenure than the election
of the people and the clergy ; notwithstanding, however, these
great concessions, the barons made an almost general insurrection
Exeter be- against him; among these, Baldwin de Riparis (or Rivers)
sieged and Earl of j)evont fortified the castle of Exeter, and the citizens,
K.Stephen, taking part with the Empress Maud, refused the King ad-
mittance into their city ; he immediately invested it with a great
army, and laid close siege to it. This siege continued for
upwards of two months ; at length the inhabitants were com
pelled by famine to surrender : Earl Baldwin fled to the Isle
of Wight, to which the King followed him, drove him thence,
and banished him with his whole family. Baldwin returned in
the reign of Henry II. and enjoyed all his lands and honours ;
and we find that he possessed, in the county of Devon, no
less than 159 lordships ; and had in the city of Exeter
19 houses.
Siege of The siege of Exeter castle by King Stephen, in the year
Exeter 1140, is thus described in Gesta regis Stephani apud Duchesn,
CastIe- page 934: — "The castle of Exeter is built on a lofty mount,
surrounded with impenetrable walls, strengthened with Caesarian
towers. In this castle Baldwin de Riparis placed a garrison,
composed of valiant youths, the flower of all England, to
defend it against the King, to whom he had bound them by
a solemn oath, and putting under their protection his wife
and children. When the King invested the castle, they
mounted the walls in shining armour, and treated him and
his army with scorn and defiance. Sometimes they sallied out
from their secret passages, when least expected, and put many
of the besiegers to the sword : sometimes they poured down
showers of arrows, darts, and other weapons on the assailants.
On the other hand, the King and his Barons laboured with the
greatest ardour to distress the garrison. Having formed a
very strong and well-armed body of foot, he assaulted the
barbican, and, after a fierce and bloody struggle, carried it.
He next beat down with his engines the bridge of communication

THE CITY OF EXETER. 29
between the castle and the city ; after which he erected lofty CHAP. II.
towers of wood, with wonderful art, to protect his men, and
enable them to return the discharges from the walls. In a word he
gave the besieged no rest, either by day or night. Sometimes
he drew up all the slingers of his army, and threw into the
castle an intolerable shower of stones. Sometimes he em
ployed the most skilful miners to undermine the foundations
of the walls. He made use of machines of many different
kinds, some of which were very lofty, for inspecting what they
were doing within the castle ; and others very low, for battering
and beating down the walls. The besieged mading a bold and
masterly defence, baffled all his machinations, with most
astonishing dexterity. After this siege had lasted three months,
and King Stephen had expended upon it, in machines, arms,
and other things, no less than 15,000 marks, equal to £150,000
of the present money, the besieged were compelled to surrender
for want of water."
This account of the most extraordinary valour and determined
opposition of the citizens of Exeter to King Stephen is stated,"
in the work from which it was extracted, to have been recorded
by an eye witness.
The war between Stephen and the Empress Maud continued A. D.
until the year 1153, with various success of the contending 1153.
parties. Every petty Baron, or Lord of a Manor, fortifying
his house, or castle, from whence, by frequent sallies, they Distress of
plundered the surrounding country, robbed the travellers, the country
and committed the most horrid depredations on those poor
defenceless inhabitants who refused to join them, or become
their retainers.
The neighbouring barons often eugaged in pitched battles,
so that the whole kingdom was a scene of blood and horror
until the reign of Prince Eustace, only son of Stephen, when
a reconciliation took place among the contending parties,
and Stephen adopted Henry, son of the Empress Maud,
for his successor; securing to himself the English crown till
his death.
During the continuance of these civil commotions the city of
Exeter stood firm to the interest of the Empress: and, for
many years after her deceasej held an anniversary to her memory,
called Queen Maud's obit day.
Stephen did not long enjoy the happiness of peace ; he 1154.
died in the following year, and was succeeded by Henry, Henr^ n
the Empress Maud's son ; he was the first King of the line
of the Plantagenets, and his accession to the throne was
with the universal satisfaction of his subjects, as he had the
advantage of being descended both from the Saxon and Norman
Kings of England. 1

30 THE HISTORY OF
CHAP. II. He began his reign by clearing the kingdom of the great
~ number of foreigners who had been invited over to the
assistance of the late King, and by reducing the power of the
overgrown barons ; he took their castles into his own hands,
most of them he ordered to be demolished, reserving only
those which he thought proper for the defence of the kingdom;
the number of those demolished amounted to 1115, (according
Speed's to Speed.) Among those he possessed in his own hands,
EnSland0f was that of Exeter> wll'ch be strongly fortified by additional
ng a" ' works : and to reward the citizens for their steady adherence
to the cause of his mother, he confirmed their former
privileges, and granted them a new charter, by which they
New char- were exempted from all customs and town duties, throughout
by" Hen" II tne whole kingdom of England, both by land and water :
' he also granted them to enjoy the same rights and immu
nities which had been possessed by their ancestors before
the Norman conquest, and which they had been deprived
of by preceding Monarchs ; he gave them the custody of
the castle, with liberty to strengthen the walls and for
tifications : thus, during his long reign of thirty-five years,
this city flourished, increased its commerce, and had the
blessings of peace, notwithstanding the troubles which his
_ , disobedient sons, and turbulent barons, occasioned to their
Chronicle. Monarch. He also "divided his kingdom into six several
circuits, appointing in every circuit three judges, who twice
every year should ride together, to hear and determine causes
, between man and man."
AeTlo thT Henry ordered that every citizen possessed of a knight's
citizens to ?ee> should provide a pair of cuirasses, shield, and spear ; and
provide every layman that had goods and revenues to the value of
themselves 16 marks, a pair of cuirasses, helmet, and shield ; and every
&c. arl"S' inhabitant worth 10 marks, an habergeon, a steel cap, and a
spear; that they might at all times be ready to defend the city
Jewsb ' d conlmitte(l to their care.
in Exeter. . The 1'berty of burial in Exeter was at this time given to the
jews, many of whom where then resident therein ; and a similar
right was also extended to every other part of the kingdom ;
but prior to this no jew could be buried in any other place but
London, however great the inconvenience occasioned by their
116 removal from remote situations.
In the year 1164 William Fitz Ralph founded an Alms
house in this city, for certain poor people, and dedicated it
to St. Alexis:* this foundation continued about seventy years,

* It is probable that this house was situated in Gaudy's Lane, anciently
called St. Lucie s Lane, a common abridgment for St. A lexis.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 31
when it was dissolved, and added, by the Mayor and citizens, CHAP. II.
to the then newly-erected Hospital of St. John, within the '
East-gate. About the same period Baldwin de Rivers, Earl of Devon,
founded the priory of St. James, near Exeter, for monks 0f St\Jamess
the Cluniac order, which he endowed with great revenues ; J1™***
the said foundation was confirmed by the Empress Maud,
Richard, son of the founder, and Robert Chichester, bishop
of Exeter, A. D. 1156; it was a cell to the Abbey of
St. Martin, at Paris, until made denizen in the rei°-n of
Henry V.
The church of this priory was destroyed by Richard Duke,
Esq. of Mount Radford, for the sake of the materials. Great
part of the old buildings remained until the year 1760, when
they were taken down, and a farm-house erected on the site:
it is still termed the old Abbey, and a dam across the river Exe
is still called St. James's weir.
King Henry died in Normandy, A. D. 1189; and was A.D.
succeeded by his son, Richard, surnamed Coeur de Lion ; he U89'
confirmed the privileges granted by his father to this city ; R;chard I.
but soon after his coronation, he engaged in a crusade for
the recovery of the Holy-land, then recently conquered from
the Christians by the Saracens. In this he was followed
by great numbers of his barons, with their retainers; and
though it drained the nation of such a multitude of its
useful innabitants, yet it was attended with consequences
highly beneficial to the remainder. The survivors who re
turned brought home with them many useful arts and manu
factures, before unknown ; and which contributed greatly to
soften the ferocious manners of the people, as well as increase
their commerce.
The city of Exeter had a great share of the blessing, and
its opulence was most considerably enlarged, together with the
number of its inhabitants. The authors of that time mention
it as a city respectable for its trade, strength, and number of
inhabitants ; and a place of the first consequence in the western
parts of England.
This King, as well as his father, increased the freedom of
the people, and diminished the power of the barons, by granting
corporation charters, from which the different trades were charters
formed into guilds, or fraternities (as they were then called) first grant-
and had great and exclusive privileges. The people now began ed to difl'e-
to have some share of power and weight in the government ; and rent trac,es-
this greatly lessened the feudal system, and raised the opulence
of the cities and borough towns.

32 THE HISTORY OF
CHAP. II. In the latter part of this King's reign there was almost
Great ' a continual rain, for three or four years successively, which
scarcity, occasioned such a scarcity of corn that wheat was sold
at 18s. 8d. the quarter, (a sum almost equivalent to £4 at
this present time ;) this brought on a great mortality among
the common people, insomuch that the living were scarce able
to bury the dead.
Richard, after great successes in the Holy-land, (where
the English gained immortal honour) was treacherously de
serted by the French King,, and obliged to enter into a
truce with Saladine, Emperor of the Saracens, for three
years. On his return home he was shipwrecked on the coast
of Aquileia, in Italy ; and attempting to travel in disguise
through Germany, he was discovered and basely imprisoned,
by Leopold, Duke of Austria, who kept him close confined
for upwards of fifteen months, until the sum of 150,000
marks was agreed on to be paid for his ransom ; this sum
was cheerfully raised by his subjects ; the churches and
monasteries melting down their plate, and the rest by
voluntary contributions ; the quota raised by the citizens of
Exeter, (as mentioned by Rymer, in his Fcedera) amounted
to near one thousand marks, a convincing proof of its opulence
at this period.
A. D. Richard returned from his captivity in the year 1194,
1194. and was received by his subjects with great joy. In return
for their loyalty in his distress he confirmed their privileges,
New char- in particular of those cities which had most distinguished
ter granted, themselves towards his release : among those the city of
Exeter is mentioned — " the King granted them a new charter,
which confirmed to them all their ancient rights and privileges."
1199. Richard was shot by an arrow from a cross bow, at
the siege of a castle in France, and was succeeded by his
brother John.
John. John, on his accession, endeavoured to curtail the influence
of the barons, and to curb the power of the clergy ; the latter,
in those days of ignorance and superstition, having usurped
almost the whole government into their own hands. John, by
this step, created many enemies, and the whole kingdom was
thrown into the miseries of an intestine war. John being greatly
necessited for money to pay the foreign auxiliaries brought over
to his assistance, exacted enormous contributions from his sub
jects; and this, added to the intrigues of the church of Rome,
and the rebellious instruments of the then Pope, Innocent, the
Bishops of London, Bath, and Winchester, who put the
whole kingdom under an interdict of excommunication, occa
sioned nearly a general revolt from his authority.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 33
Thus situated, John endeavoured to secure to his interest CHAP. II.
the principal cities and borough towns, by enlarging their-
privileges, granting fresh charters, and giving them power
to choose their own magistrates : in consequence a charter was
granted to the citizens of Exeter, in the year 1200, by which A D
they were empowered to elect, yearly, a chief magistrate, by the 1200.
name of Mayor, and two Bailiffs, or Stewards. Before this,
the Provosts, or Rulers (from the time of the Norman conquest) New char-
were nominated by the Earls of Devon, which gave them great ter, with
influence over the citizens; but, from this year, the list 0fPowerto
Mayors and Bailiffs commences, and which has continued to L-oose \
1 • -i • m. Mayor, &c.
the present time without any interruption. Ihe charter was
nearly in the following words : —
"John, by the grace of God, greeting. Know ye that we
have granted, and, by this our present writing, do confirm,
to our citizens of our city of Excester; that they may choose
to themselves every year a Mayor, who to us may be faithful,
discreet, and fit for the government of our said city; and
likewise, that they may, and do choose, two discreet and sober
citizens, to assist the said Mayor, in the office of Bailiffs ;
and that the said Mayor and Bailiffs shall swear to be faithful
to us ; and that it shall be lawful for the said citizens, at the
end of the year, to remove the said Mayor or Bailiffs, and
substitute others in their room, if they will, or the same to
retain. We likewise and hereby do grant unto our said citizens,
and by this present charter do confirm, that they will, and in
peace, freely and quietly, and wholly, have all the liberties,
gabels, and customs, (reserving to ourselves the fee-farm rents,
and the appointment of a coroner of our said city) which have
been granted to them by our predecessors."*
The ill government of the King gave great discontent to the „. f
Barons ; they assembled a powerful army, and John strength- tue nalion.
ened himself with a number of foreigners, who flocked to his
standard for the sake of the plunder which they promised
themselves they should obtain from the unhappy English.
The whole kingdom was a scene of rapine and bloodshed ;
every petty Baron fortifying his castle, and bidding defiance
to the laws ; while the King, at the head of a ferocious army

* There is no date affixed to this charter ; but, as it is evident that Henry
Rifford was Mayor in the year 1200, and that this charter was granted by King
John, there can be no doubt of its being the original grant to elect their chief
Magistrate by that name ; which was 13 years before the like privilege was
granted to the city of London, as it appears by the charter granted to the Barons
of London in the year 1213. K

34

THE HISTORY OF

CHAP. II. of unprincipled foreigners, ravaged the country. In this state
== 0f confusion numbers flocked for refuge to the fortified cities
and boroughs; where, after residing a year and a day unclaimed
by the Lords, to whom they were vassals, they were enrolled
in the guilds, and enjoyed all the privileges and franchises of
the former citizens and burgesses. By this means the cities
Exeter in- an(1 towns increased greatly in the number of inhabitants, as
well as in their opulence; every valuable moveable having

creases in

Population, been conveyed into them for the sake of security. The city of
Exeter continued stedfast in its loyalty to the King, and
flourished in population and wealth.
John having, by the help of his foreign troops, dispossessed
the Barons of most of their castles and fortified places, they,
in despair, solicited help from Philip, King of France, who,
hoping to add England to his other dominions, sent over his
Hollings- son Lewis, at the head of 40,000 troops ; these were joined
head. by the Barons, with all their forces ; and the citizens of London
deserting their King, received Lewis within their walls. The
The Pope p0pe again interdicted the whole nation ; by this terrible
excommu- sentence a st0p was immediately put to divine service, and
whole the administering of all the sacraments, except baptism :
kingdom, the church doors were shut, and the images of the saints laid
on the ground. The dead were refused burial, and were
thrown into ditches, and on the highways, without any funeral
ceremony. Marriages were celebrated in the church-yards ;
the people were forbid the use of flesh meats ; they were
debarred from all pleasure; from shaving their beards; from
saluting each other ; and were absolved from all allegiance to
their sovereign.
Notwithstanding this deplorable state, when plunder, de
struction, and slavery, overspread the whole kingdom like a
deluge, the citizens of Exeter continued firm in the King's
interest, and refused admittance to the revolted Barons, or
1216' the'r. aflherents- In the year 1216 the King sent a com-
Commisl mission to Robert de Courtenay, who was at that time
sion sent to Viscount of Devon, and governor of Exeter castle, to take
the Earl of into the said city William Brewere, with all his forces, if he
"tend t0 thought his own, with that of the citizens, were not sufficient
Exeter. for the defence thereof ; and that if he could not defend the
Money sent city' then to retire into the castle. In the same year the
to pay tbe KinS commanded Perer de Malolan to deliver to the chaplain
Soldiers in of Robert de Courtenay, thirty pounds to pay the garrison
the Castle, soldiers in the castle of Exeter. In the midst of these confusions

THE CITY OF EXETER.

35

John left life and his troublesome crown, and was succeeded CHAP. II.
by his eldest son, Henry* ==
MAYORS and BAILIFFS in the reign of King John.

1200.
Henry Rifford.
Walter Zooch.
Peter Way. 1201.
Henry Rifford.
Thomas Erming.
Jeffery Wayland. 1202.
Henry Rifford.
Abraham Ayloff.
Richard Perkins.
1203.
Henry Rifford.
Thomas Nevil.
Aldred Skinner.
1204.
Henry Rifford.
William Robins.
William Legrave.
1205.
Henry Rifford.
John Meliifluer.
Walter Delve.

1206.
Henry Rifford.
Henry Jennings.
George Spelman.1207.
Henry Rifford.
Stephen Weildy.
John Fitzhenry. 1208.
John Fitz Robert.
Adam Lyford.
Thomas Gyllam.
1209.
John Fitz Robert.
Walter Delve.
Peter Dyer. 1210.
John Fitz Robert.
Richard Kerswell.
Henry Atwood. 1211.
John Fitz Robert.
John Thurland.
William Rugg.

1212.
John Fitz Robert.
Richard Forrester.
Andrew Thring.
1213.
William Blondy.
Henry Milton.
John Treby. 1214.
William Blondy.
William Might.
John Molton. 1215.
William Blondy.
Roger Need ham.
Walter Bender. 1216.
Walter Turbett.
Laurence Elkin.
Richard Falson.

John, at his decease, left two legitimate sons, Henry, who \, d.
succeeded his father, and Richard, afterwards Earl of Cornwall. 1216.

* It is not mentioned by any of our historians whether King John ever had
any personal residence in Exeter; but there is a very ancient tradition that, in
his troubles, he resided for some time in an old house, in South-gate-Street,
then called Cook-row; it is now occupied by Mr. Henry Flashman, Cabinet-maker;
it is further said that from John's residing there it obtained the name of King
John's palace, or entry.

36 THE HISTORY OF
CHAP. II. Henry was accordingly proclaimed King, by the Earl of
~ Pembroke, marshal of the late King's army, and such other
Henry in. barons who jlad continue(j in their allegiance; and was crowned
at Gloucester. His party was greatly increased by 40 of the
principal barons, who had been in arms against his father, who
taking compassion on the King's youth, and the miserable
state of their country, (being also disgusted with the arro
gance of Lewis and his French followers,) deserted their cause,
and joined the royal standard : this decrease of Lewis's army
obliged him to sue for a truce, and hasten to France for
supplies. During his absence his army, and the discontented barons,
were totally defeated by the King's troops, at Lincoln. Leivis
returned ; but his supplies being cut off at sea, by a fleet
which had been fitted out from the Cinque Ports, and western
coasts, he was forced to sue for peace, and abandon the king
dom, leaving the rebellious barons, and their associates, to the
mercy of the royal party.
A. d. Peace being thus happily established, the young King began
1217. to shew great marks of favor to the city of Exeter, as a reward
New char- *°r *ts stedfast loyalty to his father, by granting the citizens a
ter granted. fresh charter, in which he not only renewed, but increased,
their privileges.
1218. This year there was a great contest between Henry, son of
Contest Reginald, Earl of Cornwall, and Robert de Courtenay, Viscount
concerning of Devon, concerning the government of the castle of Exeter,
the custody which Robert de Courtenay claimed as his hereditary right,
ofdie Cas- descending to him from his ancestors : this Henry took from
him, and kept it for some time. At length, however, by com
mand of the King, it was delivered up to the said Robert de
Courtenay, as being part of his barony of Oakhampton. Not
withstanding this order of the King the contest continued ; but,
1219. on the 28th of March, 1219, the King committed the custody of
the said castle and County of Devon to Robert de Albermarle:
however, in the month of May following, Robert de Courtenay
was put in full possession of it again ; and this was confirmed
by the King's grant, A. D. 1223.
1222. This year the parishes of the city of Exeter were regulated ;
and the parish churches reduced to 19.
1223. Stephen Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury, a native of this
City, divided the whole Bible into chapters.
Ex'eterV „T!lisraT,th,e?i^ gaVe the ^y of Exeter to his brother
en to Rich- Klc^ard\ Earl of Cornwall and King of the Romans, and to
ard, Earlof n.ls helrs tor ever; ot which Earldom and Dutchy it hath ever
Cornwall, since continued a part ; and it is now held of the said Dutchy

THE CITY OF EXETER. 37
by the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Citizens paying an annual fee-farm CHAP. II.
rent at the said Dutchy court.
The harvests having failed for two succeeding years, owing A- D-
to continual rains, which caused great overflowings of the
rivers, there was so great a scarcity of provisions that the
people were reduced to the greatest distress, being obliged to Grea'
eat horse-flesh, and to substitute bark of trees for bread : a sc'"
great mortality consequently ensued, and (it is recorded) up-
wards of 20,000 persons were starved to death in the city of pee
London only.
About the year 1236 William Brewer, Bishop of Exeter, 1236.
founded a priory of Benedictine Nuns, at Posseloo, (now
Polsloe) near the said city, which he dedicated to St. Catherine. t,°}s]°e
He also gave to the said priory the valuable manor of Polsloe, foun(ied.
and it was enriched by many other benefactors: it continued
until the general suppression of monasteries. Great part of
the ancient building is still standing, and is converted into a
farm-house ; it is now the property of Montague Parker, Esq.
It was valued at the dissolution, according to Speed, at £170
2s. 3d. per annum, but Risdon, in his Survey of Devon, says
only £72 3s. 2d.
King Henry, as he advanced in years, assumed the govern
ment into his own hands, and proved very unfit for the arduous
task. He was in his temper mild and humane, but weak,
fickle, and irresolute ; and he highly disgusted his subjects by
the preference he gave to foreigners, numbers of whom he
invited over from Normandy, and preferred to the most lucra
tive offices in church and state. The disgust rose to such a
height that the Barons refused to assemble at a general
council of the nation, though summoned by the King, and
sent a messenger to desire him to dismiss his foreigners, or
otherwise they would drive both them and him out of the
kingdom. The differences between the King and his Barons
continued for many years; and Robert de Courtenay, who
held the castle of Exeter, joining the other Barons against The Castle
the King, was ordered to deliver up the said castle to Peter of Exeter
de Rivaux, a Poictovin, who was at that time the chief fa- j^"^1"
vorite at court, and who had engrossed most of the great Courtenay.
offices of state to himself. The Lord Courtenay, being now
unable to resist the King's power, was compelled to submit ;
and was deprived of the government of the castle, which
had been enjoyed by him and his ancestors for upwards of
200 years.
In the year 1255 the Pope, haying treacherously reduced 1255.
the kingdom of Sicily to a state of vassalage, offered the

38 THE HISTORY OF
CHAP. II. crown to King Henry, for his second son, Edmund. The
-¦ King, daziled by this proposal, accepted the offer wltnout
consulting his parliament, and gave the Pope unlimited credit
to expend whatever sums he thought necessary tor com
pleting the conquest of Sicily: in consequence of this grant
his holiness exerted his apostolical authority to the utmost,
and extorted vast sums of money from the English, by tax
ations, both on the clergy and laity : added to this the Bishop
of Hereford, then resident at the court of Rome, drew bills
on the Bishops and Abbots to the amount of 150,540 marks,
(an amazing sum in those days) which the Pope pretended
he had advanced for the support of the Sicilian war. This
occasioned an assembly of the Prelates and Abbots, when
they refused compliance, and joined the Barons against
the King ; but, through the artful persuasions of the Pope's
legate, the Clergy submitted, and the Barons^ were com-
Baro.ns aP" pelled to have recourse to their arms, after expostulating in
againsUhT vain against the misgovernment of the King and his foreign
King. ministers. Driven to great exigencies for the want of money to pay
his foreign mercenaries, and to satisfy the avarice of the court
of Rome, Henry was reduced to the most humiliating expe
dient of going himself to the houses of such as he judged
continued faithful to him and begging their assistance. The
Barons pitied the distress of their Monarch, and once more
desired him to call a parliament. The King complied with
their request, promised to redress all their grievances, and
renew the great charter of the people ; and this was accordingly
done with more than usual solemnity — all the Bishops and
Abbots were assembled with burning tapers in their hands,
the Great Charter was read in their presence, and they
denounced sentence of excommunication upon all who should
make the least infringement of its contents : they then put
Dreadful their tapers out, on the ground, and exclaimed " may every
oath. soul that proves false to this agreement, so stink and corrupt
in hell!" the King subjoined, "so help me God, I will
inviolably keep all these things, as I am a man, as I am a
christian, as I am a knight, and as I am a King crowned
and anointed."
Henry had no sooner received the supplies granted to him
than he forgot his late engagements to his people ; he evaded
and broke through all the charters which he had solemnly
sworn to maintain ; he gave himself up entirely to the
Barons directions of his foreign ministers, and garrisoned the prin-
agamtake cipal casties with raercenary foreign soldiers. The English
nobility were so exasperated that they formed a powerful

THE CITY OF EXETER. 39
confederacy against him, headed by Simon Mountfort, Earl CHAP. II
of Leicester, and to which the King's own brother, Richard, RlchaTdT"
Earl of Cornwall and King of the Romans, acceded, and, for Earl of '
his better security, retired into the castle of Exeter, which Cornwall,
(after having turned out the foreign governor and soldiers) he Karr;sons
strongly fortified. *ȣ
The King, alarmed by the great preparations making
against him, once more promised to govern in conformity
to the laws, and to redress the grievances of his subjects.
He accordingly issued his orders for assembling a new par
liament, by which it was enacted that four knights should
be returned for each county, and that there should be three
sessions held every year ; that a new high sheriff should be
annually elected for each shire ; that no garrison or castle
within the kingdom should be intrusted to foreigners ; no
new forest made, nor the revenues of any counties be let
to farm.
The principal Barons having, by these concessions, obtained
the government into their own hands, took care not to part
with it again ; but they greatly abused the trust, not only
abridging the authority of the King, but the efficiency of
parliament also. They elected twelve of their members, who
usurped all the power of government ; and who, instead of
redressing the people's grievances, studied only their own in
terest and aggrandizement. The clergy and commons were
justly incensed against them ; and they petitioned Prince
Edward, the King's eldest son, to interpose his authority, and
save the sinking nation.
The people loudly complained of the tyranny of the Barons ;
and the Pope having absolved the King and his subjects from
the oath imposed upon him and them, another parliament
was convened, and the] King reinstated in his authority.
The differences between him and the Barons continued for
more than four years : several bloody battles were fought, in
one of which the King and his brother Richard (who had been
reconciled to him) were taken prisoners by Leicester. In this
miserable condition the kingdom continued until the year 1265 ; A. D.
when Leicester, in order to secure himself, called a parlia- l265-
ment, in which, besides the Barons of his own party, he
ordered returns to be made of two knights from every shire,
and also deputies from each of the cities and boroughs. This House of
parliament was convened on the 20th of January, 1265, and Commons
is the first outline of the English House of Commons, that inrsst'tnted
great palladium of British liberty.

40 THE HISTORY OF
CHAP. II. The King and Prince Edward still continued prisoners, and
 r were treated by Leicester with great severity ; but the Prince,
escaping from his confinement, was soon at the head ot a
numerous army: he gave Leicester battle near Evesham, in
Worcestershire, where he obtained a complete victory. Leicester
and his eldest son were both slain, and the surviving Barons
submitted themselves to the King on the promise ot his
fulfilling the articles of the great charter ; civil discord ceased,
and, to the great joy of the nation, peace was once more
restored, which continued for the remainder of this Kings
reign. During the time of these unhappy differences Exeter con
tinued firm in the King's interest, to which the almost constant
residence of Richard, Earl of Cornwall, in Exeter castle
greatly contributed ; and the Barons made no attempt on it,
though they committed great devastations in its neighbourhood.
Charter The King,' in return for its loyalty, renewed their charters;
renewed, granted fresh privileges, which were confirmed by the King's
brother, Richard, to whom he had given this city, as an appen-
bynthre°Earl daSe to his Earldom of Cornwall; and the Earl greatly
of Cornwall interested himself at all times in favor of the citizens.*
In 1234 the Plague was brought into this kingdom, by the
PlaTe' crusaders returning from the Holy-land, and made great
ravages in this city, as more than two-thirds of the inhabitants
St John's ^ied by it- In I238 the hospital of St. John was founded, by
Hospital Gilbert and John Long, sons of Walter Long, of this city;
founded, they endowed the same with all their lands. Speed says it was
dedicated to St. John the Baptist, and that it was a house of
Franciscan Friars. It continued until the dissolution of mo
nasteries, in the 27th of King Henry VIII. ; when there appeared
to be on the foundation four poor alms-men, who had, yearly,
21s. 8d. each, during their lives ; this pay was continued by
the crown, and Queen Elizabeth, by her letters patent, dated
8th of November, 1562, confirmed the same, and granted to
the Mayor and Aldermen the nomination of the said alms-men :
the cell of St. Alexis, for two monks, was united to the said
hospital, and it was valued at £102 12s. 9d. per annum, accord
ing to Speed; and the hospital at £147 12s. Dugdale, in his

* The reader, I hope, will pardon my inserting some matters here, which,
in point of chronology, ought to have been inserted before, but I was unwilling
to break the course of this account of the Barons' wars ; in which, though the
city of Exeter seems to have so little concern, I must beg leave to say that
these frequent recourses to arms called in the interference of the commons, and
that to this we owe the great and peculiar privileges grauted by charters to our
cities and boroughs which we now enjoy.

© .

THE CITY OF EXETER. 41
Monasticon, tells us it was an hospital for five priests, nine CHAP. II.
boys, and twelve poor alms-men.
In 1248 a long contest which had been depending in law, Isaac.
between the Mayor and Citizens, Plaintiffs, and the Dean and
Chapter of St. Peter, Defendants, concerning the Fee and Controver-
liberties of St. Sidwell, was now ended, by composition made sy seltled
at Launceston, before Richard, Earl of Cormvall ; Richard, concerning
Bishop of Exeter ; Roger Tinkleby ; Gilbert Preston; and g^ sidwell
John Cobham, the King's Justices of Assize, as followeth : —
1. The tenants of the Dean and Chapter, dwelling within
the city and suburbs of the same, and who do occupy any Art,
Trade, or Mystery, shall at all Taxes and Talliages be taxed
and assessed with the citizens, so that the said taxation be just
and indifferent.
2. Also, that the Bailiff of the said Dean and Chapter shall
levy, gather, and receive the tax, and pay it over to the Mayor
of the said city, or his officers ; but if the said Bailiff be remiss
or negligent, then the officers of the Mayor shall and may levy
and collect the same.
3. Also, that an indifferent man shall be chosen by each
party, to be common Bailiff for them both ; who, on his oath,
shall yearly gather, and from time to time collect, of all the said
Dean and Chapter's tenants, the customs of Bagavel, Bethu-
gavel, and Cheapengavel.
4. Also, that all Plaints entered against any of the Dean and
Chapter's tenants, within the said city, shall be tried and deter
mined before the Mayor and Bailiffs.
5. Also, that all Plaints entered against any of the Dean and
Chapter's tenants, dwelling within the Fee of St. Sidwell, shall
be determined before the Bailiffs thereof.
6. Also, if any of the tenants of the said Dean and Chapter,
being Bakers, or Brewers, are to be punished for breach of the
Assize, in the Pillory or Tumbrel, the same, on the request of
the Mayor, to be done within the city.
7. Also, all Pleas of the Crown to be determined by the
Mayor. Lastly, all traitors, murderers, and felons, that shall be
found within the said Fee, to be apprehended by the Bailiff, and
by him to be brought and delivered over to the Mayor.
A. D. 1257, Walter Gervis, Esq. who had been twice
Mayor of this city, commiserating the loss of many persons
who were drowned in crossing the river Exe, at the ford, the
lower end of the city, (there being only a ferry at this time, founjej_ s"
many poor people, in order to save the ferryman's fee attempting
to ford the river) he procured a collection throughout the

M

42 THE HISTORY OF
CHAP. II. Diocess, whereby he raised 3000 marks, which he managed
with such care, that he caused to be erected a fair Bridge, and
purchased lands towards its maintenance ; he further, by his
last will, gave other lands of his own for the support of the
said bridge, for ever, appointing the bishop of Exeter, Sir
William Bickley, Knight, and others, executors of his said
will. He also caused a chapel to be built at the east end of the
said bridge, in which he was interred/
Stewards A- D- 1258> the number of officers, joined with the mayor,
augmented, for the government of the city, augmented to three.
Further A. D. 1263, the said officers were augmented to four ; of
augmented. which, one to be receiver-general, for that year, of all the city's
Sergeants rents and revenues ; at the same time, four sergeants at mace
at Mace (who were termed sub-bailiffs) were appointed to be always in
appointed. readiness to attend the mayor and his courts.
A. D. 1267, Nicholas Ilchester died in his mayoralty, and
Walter Chaw was chosen in his place, to serve the office for the
remainder of the year.
A long dispute was this year settled by composition, between
the Abbot and Convent of Sherborn, and the Mayor and
Commonalty of this city, concerning the passage or ferry at
Exmouth; when it was agreed that the said Abbot should dis
claim all title and interest to the said ferry, only reserving a free
passage to the said Abbot and Convent, and their families, with
out payment of any thing; provided, that if the city's passenger
be not ready, nor their passage boat in place to set them over,
that then, at their own liberty, they may take any other boat
for that season.
A. D. King Henry died, and was succeeded by his eldest son,
I27*- Edward. MA YORS and BAILIFFS in the reign of Henry III.
1217. 1219. 1221.
Roger Fitzhenry. Walter Turbert. Roger Fitzhenry.
William Green. John Mintin. William Grang.
Thomas Courtys. Stephen Lake. William Facy.
1218. 1220. 1222.
Walter Gervis. Walter Turbert. Roger Fitzhenry.
Philip Dyrling. Walter Bellamy. Henry Fitzhenry.
Martin Lekenn. Robert Field. William Hastment.
* This chapel was not built on the site of the present church, but on the
other side of the way, and is now converted into a dwelling-house, occupied by
Robert Andrews, a Whitesmith: very visible remains of its ancient sacred state
are still to be seen. The present parish church was not erected till near one
hundred years after.

THE CITY OF EXETER.

43

1223.
Walter Gervis.
Walter Tuleston.
Roger Monk. 1224.
Walter Turbert.
Hillary Blondy.
Martin Roff.

1232.
Walter Turbert.
Walter le Caws.
Jermin Roff. 1233.
Hillary Blondy.
Martin Roff.
Walter le Caws.

1241.
Martin Roff.
Thomas Pitcher.
Walter Molton. 1242.
Martin Roff.
Philip Dyer.
Thomas le Pointon.

CHAP. II.

1225.
Walter Turbert.
William Hastment.
John Turbert. 1226.
Roger Fitzhenry.
Martin Roff.
William Hastment.
1227.
Walter Turbert.
Martin Roff.
John Turbert. 1228.
Walter Turbert.
Hillary Blondy.
William Hastment.

1234.
Martin Roff.
Walter Grang.
Philip Dyer. 1235.
Roger Fitzhenry.
Adam Rifford.
Walter Grang. 1236.
Walter Turbert.
John Caporn.
John Leyden. 1237.
Martin Roff.
Jeffery Strange.
Thomas Pitcher.

1243.
Martin Roff.
Philip Dyer.
Walter Molton. 1244.
Adam Rifford.
Philip Dyer.
Walter Okeston. 1245.
Martin Roff.
Robert Molton.
Robert Spew.
1246.
Adam Rifford.
John Okeston.
Philip Dyer.

1229.
Roger Fitzhenry.
John Turbert.
Walter Gervis. 1230.
Roger Fitzhenry.
Hillary Blondy.
Walter Gervis. 1231.
Walter Gervis.
Martin Roff.
Eustace Fitzherbert.

1238.
Martin Roff.
Walter Channon.
Philip Palmer. 1239.
Walter Gervis.
John Bushett.
John Okeston.
. 1240.
Martin Roff.
Thomas Pitcher.
Walter Molton.

1247.
Martin Roff.
Baldwin Child.
Walter Okeston. 1248.
Walter Hastment.
Walter Good.
Hillary White. 1249.
Martin Roff.
Philip Dyer.
Walter Okeston.

44

THE HISTORY OF

CHAP. II.

1250.
Adam Rifford.
John Okeston.
Robert Taylor. 1251.
Adam Rifford.
John Okeston.
Philip Dyer. 1252.
Martin Roff.
Philip Dyer.
Thomas Pintin.
1253.
Adam Rifford.
John Okeston.
John Windsor. 1254.
John Okeston.
Baldwin Child.
Rowland Overwill.
1255.
Hillary Blondy.
Walter Chaw.
Martin Roff, Jun.
1256.
Philip Dyer.
Thomas Houghton.
Richard Arnold.
1257.
Hillary Blondy.
Eustace Fitzherbert.
Richard Poyters.

1258.
Hillary Blondy.
Roger Fitzhenry.
Walter Chaw.
John Caporn. 1259.
Philip Dyer.

Walter Chaw.
Geffery Straung.
Martin Dirling. 1260.
Walter Okeston.
Martin Dirling.
Nicholas Ilchester.
Thomas Langdon.
1261.
Hillary White.
Richard Valtian.
John Pudding.
Philip Palmer. 1262.
Walter Okeston.
William Jeffery.
Roger Fitzhugh.
Walter Minson. 1263.
Nicholas Ilchester.
John Okeston.
Richard Tantifer.
John Feniton.
Martin Dirling. 1264.
Philip Dyer.
John Okeston.
Walter Okeston.
John Windsor.
Jervis Pintham. 1265.
Walter Okeston.
John Okeston.
Martin Dirling.
Thomas Gatepath.
Richard Tantifer.
1266.
William Dirling.
John Feniton.

Philip Blebuch.
Richard Tantifer.
John Pudding. 1267.
Nich. Ilchester, Ob.
Walter Chaw.
Philip Palmer.
Thomas Langdon.
Richard Newton.
Hugh Langdon. 1268.
Walter Okeston.
Richard Tantifer.
Hugh Falcon.
William Pening.
John Cook. 1269.
Alfred Duport.
J. Barkhampstead.
Richard Tantifer.
Philip Palmer.
John Clark. 1270.
Martin Dirling.
Richard Tantifer.
Philip Clark.
Hugh Falcon.
William Pening.
1271.
Martin Dirling.
Richard Tantifer.
William Powell.
John Cook.
Hugh Falcon. 1272.
Martin Dirling.
John Feniton.
Thomas Gatepath.
Richard Allen.
Hugh Falcon.

THE CITY OF EXETER.

45

Prince Edward was in Sicily, on his return from the Holy- CHAP. II.
land, when he received the news of his father's death: and Ed^v^dT^
knowing the tranquillity that prevailed in his dominions, made A. D.
no haste in returning home, but staid upwards of a year in 1272.
France. This year, Oliver, Lord Dinham, (a very potent Baron in 1273.
the late wars) died in this city, and was buried in the church
of the Black, or Preaching Friars, (late Bedford-house) on the
north side of the high altar; and soon after, his lady, widow
of the Lord John de Courtenay, was buried opposite her hus
band, in the same church.
Edward returned to England, was received by his subjects 1274.
with the greatest joy, and crowned at Westminster, on the 19th
August, 1274. He began his reign by endeavouring to correct
those disorders which the civil commotions and weak adminis
tration of his father had occasioned. He kept up a system
of the strictest justice ; yet he is charged with being too
severe to the Jews, by oppressing them with arbitrary taxes.
He caused 280 of them to be hanged at one time, for adultera- r ,
o * Jews bs-
ting the coin; confiscated the goods of all the rest, and banished nishedthe
them the kingdom ; many families of whom, at that time, re- kingdom.
sided in Exeter.
This year the king confirmed the charters formerly granted to 1275.
this city ; and, by his letters patent, dated 10th March, re
newed to the Mayor and Citizens liberty to collect a toll from Town dues
all manner of wares and merchandize brought into it to be sold, granted.
towards the paving the streets, repairing the walls, and main
taining the said city : this, in old English, is termed, Bagavel,
Bethugavel, and Cheapengavel.
The King, by his letters patent, ordered an inquisition to be 1276.
held here, to enquire out certain lands and liberties concealed :
when it was found, by verdict, that Crollditch, alias Lammas Lammas
Fair* was divided into two moities, or halfen deals, between Fair.

* Fairs owe their origin to an institution of Pope Gregory, (surnamed the
Great) who soon after the conversion of the Anglo Saxons to Christianity, and
being well acquainted with their predilection for their ancient customs of re
velling and carousing, on particular days dedicated to their false deities,
recommended to Augustine that there should be an annual celebrity in all
parishes, on the vigils of the Saints' days to whom their churches were dedicated.
And, for the aeoommodation of the visitors, small pavillions were constructed,
of boughs, in the church-yards, in which they spent their nights, after prayers,
in all kinds of pastime and carousals ; from whence they were termed wakes.
Hence we find that most of our marts and fairs are held on some festival, or
Saint's day. To these revels the people resorted in great crowds, and great
quantities of provision would consequently be wanted for their entertainment.
The prospect of gain invited the little traders of the neighbouring country to
N

46 THE HISTORY OF
CHAP. II. King John and this commonalty ; and that King John resumed
 the whole into his own hands, and gave it to the Prior and Con
vent of St. Nicholas. The fair was annually kept on Southern-
hay, beginning the last day of July, at noon, and continuing
two whole days and a half, following :' it is very ancient and
was much noted before the Conquest, and was, at that time,
the sole property of the commonalty of this city, as appears by
Doomsday-book, still remaining in Westminster Abbey. Ihis
fair, being thus divided into moieties, at length came into the
hands of the Earls of Devon, and the Prior, &c. of St. Nicholas.
Thus it continued until the reign of Henry VIII. when, at the
suppression of the said Priory, the moiety belonging to it was
purchased by the Mayor and Commonalty of this city ; the
other, on the attainder of Henry Courtenay, Marquis of
Exeter, in the year 1535, reverted into the King's hands, as a
parcel of the Manor of Topsham, and was given to  North-
more, Esq. and was lately purchased, together with the said
Manor, by the Chamber of Exeter, who are now the sole
proprietors; and they, about seven years since, removed the
sajd fair from Crollditch, alias Southernhay, into the High-
Street. On the site where the fair was formerly held an
elegant pile of buildings is erected. The ancient privileges be
longing to this fair are as follow : —
1. It shall continue for two whole days and two half days,
beginning at twelve o'clock on Lammas eve, at noon.
2. The whole soil or plot of Southernhay is the Lords' of
the fair during that time, and unto twelve o'clock after the end
thereof. 3. The Lords may set and demise the said soil one day before
the eve of the said fair.
4. That the Lords have the whole profit of the said fair.
5. Also, that they shall there have the cognizance of Pleas,
and a Court of Piepoudre,* as an incident to all fairs.

come with their wares, and the ready sale they met with induced more consider
able dealers aud merchants to resort to them with their merchandizes. This
resort being held on a Feria, or holiday, obtained the name of Feria, or Fair.
The same among the Saxons, the French, the Germans, and the Britons — Fager,
Foix, Feyer, and Faire, the word being derived from the same source in all
these nations, the Latin being, at this period, the only ecclesiastical language in
West Europe. Fairs are now (owing to several causes) much on the decline,
and some discontinued — particularly in this city, Magdalen and St. Tliomas's
Fairs. The only ones now held here are on Ash Wednesday, Whit-Monday,
Lammas, and St. Nicholas's days.
* A Piepoudre Court is to judge matters in a summary way, even while the
dust remains on the feet.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 47
6. Also, they have power to punish all offenders within the CHAP. II.
said fair. 
7. Also, they are to have an house, or Toll-booth, there, and
a pair of stocks.
8. No man is to sell any wares within the said city, or
suburbs, during the said fair, on pain of forfeiting thereof to
the Lords ; and they may be seized on, if they lie within the
reach of a man's arm.
9. The Stewards of the said fair are to examine all weights
and measures, and, finding them defective, to reform the same
according to law.*
The Franciscan, or Grey Friars, ever since their first settling a. D.
in this city, had their house or residence in South-gate-street, t 1281.
but finding it too small and inconvenient for their lordly
stomachs, as they increased greatly in numbers, and, from House of
begging mendicants, had become greatly enriched with lands, Grey Friars
by the ill-judged charity of pious devotees, to a large annual ^'"^"at
amount, they obtained a grant from the Earl of Cornwall of all folded.
that large spot of land situated on the south side of a street
then called Larrokbeareway, (now Holloway) and from the
City Ditch to Larrokbeare Ditch, on which they began to build
a sumptuous convent : but the then bishop, Peter Quivill, not
willing to encourage a fraternity that greatly encroached on
the prerogative of the regular clergy, endeavoured to hinder
them from proceeding. They petitioned the King, who granted
them a licence to continue their building, and confirmed the said
foundation by his charter. Notwithstanding this the bishop
stoutly continued his opposition until his death, being acci
dentally choaked with drinking a syrup ; and the bigotted
hypocrites pretended this was a judgment of the Almighty, for
his opposing them in their undertaking.
Upon the King's death they finished their convent, which
continued until the general suppression. The said land (being

* There is a tradition that this fair was once kept in Exe Island, but there
happening a very great flood on the fair day, which did much damage, the fair
on that account was removed to Crollditch, and that, therefore, the Barons of
Oakhumpton, as Lords of the Manor of Exe Island, had the moiety of the profits
of the said fair ; but little confidence can be put in this tradition, as according
to Doomsday-book, which was compiled in the year 1086, it is expressly
called Crollditch fair ; and this is almost so soon as any Barons of Oakhampton
were created. — Cleveland.
t Tradition informs us that their first residence in Exeter was where the
Black Lions Inn is now situated ; and it seems very probable, as it has the
appearance of a very ancient building, and of a monastical foundation.

48 THE HISTORY OF
CHAP. II. a separate manor) is still called Friars-hays, and is at this time
the property of Capt. Richard Graves, who married the
daughter of Sir John Colleton, Bart, the late proprietor.
A. D. The Mayor and Bailiffs were this year (as we find on the
1285. records) chosen upon Thursday, in Passion week.
The first records of this city now remaining in the council
chamber begin this year.
Isabella, Countess of Devon, endeavouring to encroach ou
the liberties and privileges of the citizens, they referred their
Citizens cause t0 tne King) and pleaded that their city was an ancient
thenKin,gt°demesne' and thev held ll in fee-farm of the crown> Paying
£29 15*. 3d. per annum ; and to support the same they referred
to the charter of Henry III. granted to his brother, Richard,
Earl of Cornwall, the King's uncle ; and by which they further
challenged return of writs, a gallows, pillory, tumbrel, &c.
and a fair of four days, beginning 31st July, at twelve noon,
Ancient besides three markets weekly, on Monday, Wednesday, and
Market Friday; and they certified they had enjoyed these liberties
Days. before and since the conquest; in consequence of this reference
Liberties the King confirmed these privileges to them by his royal sign
confirmed, manual. Walter Lechlade, the first precentor, was this year murdered
as he came from morning prayers, (which was usually in those
days at two o'clock) and this struck the clergy with such terror
that they petitioned the King, who, with his Queen, came to
Exeter, and, after a strict investigation of the said murder,
The late Alphred Duport, who had been eight times Mayor, together
Mayor and with the Porter of the Southgate, were arraigned, found guilty,
'flh 6r and executed ; it being proved that the Southgate was that
Southgate n'ght left open, by which means the murderer escaped, and
hanged. was never after heard of. It does not appear from any accounts
handed down to us that the Mayor and Porter were any way
privy to, or concerned, in the murder ; but only that through
their misconduct, in leaving the gate open, the murderer's
escape was facilitated. The King, Queen, and their suite, kept
their Christmas here, and during their residence they lodged
in the house of the Black Friars, (lately Bedford-house) where
they continued till the beginning of the next year ; when, at the
King's instigation, a composition and agreement was made be
tween the Mayor and Commonalty, on the one part, and the
St. Peter's Bishop, Dean, and Chapter, on the other part, in which the said
ctesed with Mavor and Citizens, for the better security of the resident
Walls and clergy> g^e them (by a deed) liberty to encompass the whole
Gates. close and cemetery of St. Peter, with a high wall, and to erect

THE CITY OF EXETER. 49
the following gates, viz : St. Michael's,* St. Martin's Berkley,! CHAP. II.
Palace Dean's, t St. George's, § and St. Petrock's : || but the -
Mayor and citizens reserved to themselves their full judicial
power and privileges which they had been possessed of before
this agreement. The deed is dated March the 25th, 1286, and A' D-
is witnessed by the Lord Hugh de Courtenay, the Lord Oliver 1286-
de Dinham, Hugh Peverell de Sampford, Richard de Polti- This deed
more, Henry de Raleigh, Henry de Parle Bean, Sheriff of ^CliTa
Devon, and Thomas de Pinn, Knights. 1T Isaac.
This year the summer proved very wet, which caused great partofExe
inundations ; a considerable part of Exe Bridge was carried Bridge
away by the high waters, but was again repaired at the sole washed
charge of the citizens. away.
King Edward having totally reduced the Welch, and by the Wales
death of their last prince, Leoline, (who was killed in battle) united to
subjected them to his government, sent for his Queen, then big Eng|and-
with her first child, to Carnarvon Castle, which he had lately
built ; and she was there delivered of a prince, (afterwards the
unfortunate King Edward l\.) whom the Welch soon after
acknowledged as their prince ; and ever since that period they
have remained dependent on the English nation : the eldest
sons of our Monarchs always being created, soon after their
births, Princes of Wales, though born Dukes of Cornwall.
Isabella de Fortibus, Countess of Devon, bearing ill will to- 1290.
wards the citizens of Exeter, endeavoured by all means in her
power to distress them ; accordingly, to injure their commerce Countess
and fishery, she made a dam, or Weir, across the river Exe, Weir made.
at a place still called Countess Weir, which hindered the ships
and boats from coming up to the Quay, as they had hitherto Citizens
done. The citizens thereof laid their complaint before the King, J^Km™ to
who sent down Sir Malcolm Harleigh, his general escheator on
the south of Trent, to make enquiry concerning the said en
croachments ; this was held accordingly at the Castle, when
the jurors, who consisted of the principal landholders of the X61^*
Hundred of Wonford, returned a verdict in favor of the citizens, fheirVavor.
as follows : "that the said Isabella, Countess of Devon, having
erected a certain Weir across the river Exe, (which river is,
and ought to be, the property of the King, in right of the city

* Now Broadgate. t St. Catherine's. X Beargatc. § Littlestile. || Now shut
up : the passage is partly remaining, by the side of the Globe Tavern, a house
being built where it entered into Southgate-Street, and which is now inhabited
by Mrs. Perkins, a Broker.
% Before this time the Church-yard of St. Peter was open to the High-Street,
with only a low wall, like those surrounding country church-yards ; nor were
any buildings erected on that side of the street.
O

50

THE HISTORY OF

CHAP. II. of Exeter, from Checkstone to the bridge of the said city,
== called Exe Bridge) to the great annoyance of the citizens
thereof, and the neighbouring inhabitants of the county of
Devon, they are thereby greatly injured in their trades and
fisheries." Another inquisition was likewise held before the said Sir
Malcolm Harleigh, who, for that purpose, kept his court at
the Dean's house, within the Close, when the citizens proved
upon their oaths, that the said city appertains to the crown,
both before and ever since the Conquest, that the same is immedi
ately held of the King ; and that King Henry III. father of the
present King, did give this city to his Brother, the Earl of
Cornwall, and his heirs; and that the citizens do hold the same
in fee-farm rent of the said Earl, as before they held it of the
King, paying to him, yearly, £35 10s. ; and likewise that the
7 y water and river Exe, for ever of old time did appertain unto the
said city, from the bridge thereof unto the port of Exmouth ;
and that the fishing of the said river is, and ought to be, free
and common to all men who choose to fish therein : yet, never
theless, Isabella, Countess of Devon, about six years last past,
made and raised a Weir across the said river, which is of such
height that the fishing for and taking of salmon and other
fish is destroyed above the said Weir, to the great damage of
the citizens and inhabitants of the county of Devon: likewise,
that boats and vessels were used to pass up and down the river,
even up to the bridge of the said city, laden with wines and
other merchandizes, to the great benefit of both the city and
country around ; but that since the erection of the said Weir
the navigation of the river is totally destroyed, to the great
damage of the inhabitants : and, further they say, that all lands
and tenements within the said city may be devised and given
by a last will and testament, as well as any other goods and
chattels whatsoever, even in like manner as is used and ac
customed in the city of London.
Upon the return of these writs to the King, at Westminster,
his Majesty fully confirmed them, and sent down his royal man
date for their immediate execution, that all the nuisances com
plained of should be removed, and the citizens reinstated in
all their former rights and privileges.
Notwithstanding this interference of the King, his orders
were but partially obeyed ; the Weir, instead of being entirely
destroyed, was only cut through the middle, while the abut
ments at each end were suffered to remain, which kept back a
great part of the flowing tide, and lessened the channel, by
which means the sand and filth accumulated in such a manner

Writs con
firmed by
the King.

Havenalmost
ruined.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 51
that it obstructed the passage, and left room only for small CHAP. II.
barges to pass up to the city ; whereas before this ships of a  ==
tolerable burden would go, even to the water-port, and there
unlade their merchandize.
Ongaras de Sancto Milone, a rich citizen of Exeter, gave to A- D-
the Dean and Chapter the whole Manor of Stoke Wood, which 1292'
was united to the Manor of Stoke Canon : this deed was wit
nessed by William Gatepath, (the Mayor this year) Richard
de Poltimore, Herbert de Pine, and William le Speke, Knights.
According to Sir William Dugdale, about this time Hugh, Priory of
Lord Courtenay, Baron of Oakhampton, founded the Priory Cowick
of Cowick, near this city, as a Cell to the Abbey of Tavistock ; tounAei-
but Mr. Tanner, in his Notitia, says (with more reason) it was
built by one of the family of De Brionis, and given, as a cell, to
the Abbey of Beck, in Normandy, and that Lord Courtenay
only made it denizen. That it belonged to the Abbey of
Tavistock is plain, and the church of Oakhampton was appro
priated to it ; as also the churches of Kenn, Halstow, and
Sticklepath, with the Manor of Christow.
This Hugh, Lord Courtenay, died on the 28th of February,
1292, and was buried in the church of this Priory, as was also
his Lady, who died October 1st, 1328.
Hugh, Lord Courtenay, was created Earl of Devon, being 1293.
the first of that family who enjoyed this title.
The King sent his orders to the Magistrates of the principal i295-
cities and boroughs in the kingdom, to punish corporally all Bakers,
Bakers, Brewers, and Millers, convicted of bad practices, and Brewers>
all that were found to go armed in the night, and disturb the to^r'"618
peace ; also, to oblige Millers to return the flour by weight, corporally
according to the weight of the grain sent to be ground. punished.
The King made a tour through the county of Devon, and
visited this city, where he staid several days, lodging at the
house of the Black Friars, and took this opportunity of settling 1297.
a long disputed claim, between the Citizens and the Dean and Dispute
Chapter, concerning the right of a free passage through a lane settled with
that led to the city walls, betwixt St. Catherine's Nunnery ^nc°e^ter
and the Black Friars, (now Egypt Lane) which the clergy en- a passage to
deavoured to stop up; but it was adjudged in favor of the the City
citizens to have a free passage to the walls, which, by their Walls.
charter, they were bound to repair and defend.
It was found by verdict that, as the lands within this city 1299.
of a Freeman descend to any person, so, by the custom, the Is
freedom of the city descendeth therewith.
The Mayor and Citizens were appointed sole guardians of the
Port of Exeter, to assist the King in his naval wars, with a
power to search for and seize on all gold and silver intended
to be sent out of the kingdom.

Isaac.

52

THE HISTORY OF

CHAP. II
A. D.
1301.

Great dis
pute con
cerning a
stinking
corpse.

1302.

1304.
Provisionsare to be
sold in the
marketplace, on pain of
forfeiture. AValterof Excester a learned

1306.

This year the Mayor was chosen by the voices of twenty-four
freemen, citizens, upon their oaths.
A great dispute arose between the Dean and Chapter, and
the Prior and Friar Preachers, (commonly called the Black
Friars) concerning the funeral of Sir Henry Rawleigh, Knight,
whose corpse the Dean, &c. insisted on being presented at the
cathedral prior to its interment in the said Friars' church,
which they refused to do ; the Dean, &c. therefore caused it by
force to be brought there and presented ; after which they sent it
back to the Friars' convent, when they refused to receive it,
and made fast their gate, by which means the corpse of the
poor knight remained so longunburied that it stank, and became
such a nuisance that they were obliged to bury it in the cathe
dral. This affair occasioned a law suit between the parties ;
but, on enquiry, the Friars were forced to submit, and consent
that no person (who died within the city and suburbs) should be
interred within their church and cemetery without being first
presented at St. Peter's church.
The tenants of the Lord of Kenton and Wyke, Earl Marshal
of England, refusing to pay murage (the town duties for repairing
the walls of the city) for the wares and merchandize which they
brought here to sell, a law suit commenced, which was at length
decided in favor of the citizens.
An ordinance was this year made that no person should buy
any wares, merchandize, or victuals, bringing into this city to
be sold, until the said goods be brought and lodged in the
market, on pain of forfeiting the goods, which law was con
firmed by Act of Parliament, in the fifth year of Kins-
Edward VI. 6
In this King's reign a native of this city, called, from the
place of his birth, Walter of Excester, was much esteemed for
his learning, especially in the Greek and Latin languages. He
wrote, at the request of one Baldwin, (a citizen hereof) the
History- of Guy, Earl of Warwick. He was invited by the
King to accept of some ecclesiastical preferment, which he
modestly refused, choosing a solitary life, and accordingly re
tired to a small hermitage, in Cornwall, called the Cell of St.
Caroke, where he spent the remainder of his days in great
piety and devotion, and was buried in his cell, where, ac
cording to the wonder-working enthusiasts of those gloomy
times, the sick were cured, and miracles wrought at his tomb.
King Edward died on the 7th July, this year, aud was suc
ceeded by his son, Edward of Carnarvon, so called from the
place of his birth.

THE CITY OF EXETER.

53

MA YORS and BAILIFFS in the reign of Edward I. CHAP. II.

1273.
Richard Geythen.
Robert Newton.
Walter Alport.
Thomas Farthing.
Michael Thorn.
1274.
Martin Dirling.
John Okeston.
Richard Tantifer.
Richard Allen.
Nicholas Atlane.
1275.
Alphred Duport.
Richard Tantifer.
Richard Allen.
Richard Newton.
Thomas Gatepath.
1276.
Alphred Duport.
John Feniton.
Richard Allen.
Richard Newton.
Thomas Gatepath.
1277.
John Feniton.
Richard Allen.
Henry Falcon.
John Rook.
John Zouch. 1278.
Alphred Duport.
Richard Tantifer.
Nicholas Atlane.
Hugh Falcon.
Thomas Gatepath.
1279.
John Feniton.
Richard Allen.

Richard Newton.
Thomas Gatepath.
John Rook. 1280.
Alphred Duport.
Richard Allen.
John Zouch.
John Rook.
Alex. Troycott. 1281.
Alphred Duport.
Richard Allen.
John Zouch.
John Rook.
Alex. Troycott. 1282.
Martin Dirling.
Nicholas Gervis.
Roger Fitzhenry.
Nicholas Atlane.
Richard Tantifer.
1283.
Alphred Duport.
David Taylor.
Nicholas Atlane.
Richard Gatepath.
Hugh Falcon. 1284.
Alphred Duport.
David Taylor.
Henry Ashe.
Stephen London.
Nicholas Atlane.
1285.
David Taylor.
Walter Langdon.
Stephen London.
Henry Ashe.
John Home.

1286.
David Taylor.
Stephen Langdon.
Henry Golderott.
Peter Green.
Roger Russell. 1287.
John Zouch.
Richard Allen.
Richard Montin.
William Kerswell.
John Wells. 1288.
John Zouch.
Walter Langdon.
William Buffett.
William Gatepath.
Jordan Atlane. 1289.
Richard Alley n.
John Rook.
Richard Montin.
Walter Langdon.
Robert Wyton. 1290.
John Zouch.
Henry Golderott.
John Webb.
William Gatepath.
Richard Montin.
1291.
John Zouch.
William Gatepath.
John Rook.
William Kerswell.
William Buffett.
1292.
William Gatepath.
William Kerswell.

54

THE HISTORY OF

CHAP. If. Henry Golderott.
 William Wells.
Richard Montin.
1293.
Richard Tantifer.
John Feniton.
John Cook.
Alex. Coryton.
Robert Newton.
1294.
John Zouch.
Walter Langdon.
John Rook.
William Buffett.
John Horn. 1295.
John Zouch.
Walter Langdon.
William Kerswell.
William Buffett.
Roger Wheaton. 1296.
Walter Tantifer.
Walter Langdon.
William Kerswell.
Robert Newton.
Roger Wheaton. 1297.
Walter Tantifer.
Walter Langdon.

Robert Newton.
William Kerswell.
Henry Trecott. 1298.
Walter Tantifer.
William Buffett.
William Kerswell.
Roger Wheaton.
Nicholas Paige.
1299.
John Horn.
Nicholas Paige.
Roger Beynim.
Robert Newton.
Stephen Ben nam.
1300.
William Gatepath.
John Paige.
Jordan Atlane.
Robert Newton.
John Perour. 1301.
William Tantifer.
Stephen Langdon.
William Kerswell.
John Gervis.
Roger Beynim. 1302.
Roger Beynim.
Roger Newton.

Walter Duport.
Thomas Farthing.
Michael Champer-
noun. 1303.
Roger Wheaton.
Walter Langdon.
William Kerswell.
William Buffett.
Henry Trecott. 1304.
Roger Wheaton.
Walter Langdon.
William Kerswell.
Robert Newton.
Walter Duport. 1305.
Roger Beynim.
Walter Langdon.
Robert Ashberton.
William Kerswell.
Henry Trecott. 1306.
Roger Beynim.
Walter Langdon.
Robert Newton.
William Kerswell.
Henry Trecott.

A. D.
1306.

Edward II.

Edward, on taking possession of the throne, evinced his
incapacity for governing a nation so turbulent as the English
then were. In opposition to his father's dying commands he
recalled his favourite, Pierce Gaveston, and placed the whole
government in his hands. This Gaveston had been banished by
the late King for debauching the morals of the young Prince,
and his recall gave great offence to the English nobility, who
could not patiently see a foreigner possess the ear of their
monarch, and govern at his will ; they remonstrated against it,
but in vain ; at length they had recourse to their arms, which

THE CITY OF EXETER. 55
obliged the King to re-banish Gaveston, when the nobility CHAP. II.
taking advantage of the King's weakness, acted in the most- """
arbitrary manner in their respective districts, opposing the
King's officers, and openly defying the laws.
An unhappy dispute arose at this time between Hugh
Courtenay, Earl of Devon, and the Mayor and Citizens of
Exeter, which, from a trifling beginning, ended in the ruin of
the little navigation of the river Exe which had been left them .
The occasion of this dispute was briefly this : on a fast day Dispute
the Earl sent his servant to Exeter market to buy fish, the between the
Bishop's servant came also on the like errand ; but there hap- parI of
pening to be but three pots of fish in the market at that time, citiz&ns
the Earl's servant insisted on having the whole, which was about a'pot
opposed by the servant of the Bishop ; on this a great contention o! nsn. and
arose between them, and some of the citizens joining the con- ltsconse-
tending parties a great riot ensued; to quell this the Mayor
(Roger Beynim) was sent for, and he very prudently, as well
as justly, ordered that one pot of the fish should be delivered to
the Earl's servant, another to the Bishop's, and the other to be
reserved for the use of the Citizens. The Earl being acquainted
with this decision of the Mayor, and thinking himself aggrieved
in not having the whole, came to his house, in the city, where
he sent for the Mayor to attend him immediately. The Mayor,
well knowing the Earl's pride and choleric disposition, assembled
the Citizens at the Guildhall, and informed them of the Earl's
displeasure, the cause thereof, and the personal danger he was
in, desiring them to accompany him to the Earl's house, and
protect him if required. To this they readily agreed, and
proceeded there accordingly. The Mayor being introduced
into the Earl's room the door was closed upon him, the Earl
began to storm and used threatening language, the Mayor en
deavoured to pacify him, but, finding it in vain, took off his
Tabard,* or upper garment, (which was the Earl's livery) and
gave it to him, on which the Earl grew more passionate, and
high words ensuing the Citizens, who attended at the door,

* In the feudal times it was customary for persons who held lands of the
great Barons to hold them by a tenure, which was to accompany them in their
military excursions, and to attend his summons whenever called upon, (this
was termed doing suit and service ;) and at times of such attendance they wore
over their vests a Tabard, or short coat, without sleeves, (similar to the heralds
coats at present) on which was painted or embroidered the arms, crests, and
moltos, of the Lords from whom they held their lands : such was the case at
this time. The Mayor, though a gentleman, and of great opulence, held lands
of the Earl by this tenure, and accordingly attended him in his livery, as
by custom.

5fi THE HISTORY OF
CHAP. II. doubting of their Mayor's safety, demanded him, which being
denied, after several requests, they attempted to force an
entrance, in order to rescue him from the Earl's violence : the
Earl seeing this, and doubting of the consequences that might
ensue to himself, released the Mayor, and desired him to pacify
the people. The Citizens departed quietly to their houses,
but notwithstanding this seeming calmness of the Earl, he ever
after bore a great hatred to the Citizens, and endeavoured, to
the full extent of his power, to encroach on their liberties ; the
No freeman jyjay0r an(j Common Council, from this circumstance, passed
fore°i "er^ a bve laW> tllat "0 franchised man °f tllis <% sh?uld wear
lWeryT&c. any non-freeman's livery, cognizance, or badge, without the
Mayor's licence, and it is inserted in the freeman's oath to
this day.
A. D. The Earl now began to shew his antipathy and hatred to-
1311. wards the Citizens; he caused the channel which had been
Th h opened, for the passage of ships and boats, to be again filled
entirely up, and this was done at a great expence, by cutting down a
destroyed, great number of trees, which, being chained together, were laid
in the channel, with great quantities of stones and gravel;
these, in time, so united together as to make their removal im
practicable. He also caused two more weirs to be made, one of
which, opposite St. James's Priory, is still known by the name
St. James's of James's Weir; the other, at a place called Lampreyford,
and another (near where Trew's Weir now is;) and by these means the haven
Welr was entirely destroyed. Adding to his revenge, he also erected
erec e . a Quay anfj a Crane at his mansion of Topsham, hoping thereby
Topsham to remove the whole commerce of the Citizens, and to benefit
Quay made, himself and tenants. Nor did he stop here, for he not only
thus injured the Citizens, but arbitrarily seized on their goods,
and imprisoned their persons.
Citizens The Citizens complained to the King, who ordered an enquiry
complain to to be made, and consequently several writs were issued for
'1"J1°El that purpose, which were all returned in favor of the Citizens;
obtain any Dut s0 great was the Earl's power at this time, and the weakness
redress. and imbecility of the King's government such, that they could
not obtain any redress; the Earl opposing by force the King's
officers who were sent down to remove the nuisances complained
of; and soon after, the unhappy differences arising between the
King and the Barons prevented the Citizens from receiving any
relief whatever.
1312. In the year 1312 the King, by his writs, appointed the
Bam°ffsaDd Mayor and Bailiffs of this city to be justices of the peace
appointed within the same, which greatly lessened'the Earl's power, and
Justices, increased the liberties of the Citizens; for, before this time

THE CITY OF EXETER. 57
the whole power of judging in controversial matters, concerning CHAP. II.
the King's peace, was in the Earls of Devon, and their dele- ^=
gated Justices.
By the court rolls of this year the ancient custom and fees of t j13'
admission to the privileges of the freedom of this city appear
to be as follow : — Isaac-
1. The Mayor, by his own free gift, may admit any one what per-
person to the freedom. sons may
2. The Court of Common Council may admit any other person claim a
to the said privilege. " " !iBh.t t0 the
3. The heir of any freeman may, by his patrimony, claim
his freedom, whether the inheritance descend from his grand
father, father, uncle, brother, or any other person, being a
freeman thereof, by and under whom he derives any estate or
inheritance. 4. All such as have faithfully served an apprenticeship of
seven years, under a freeman hereof, shall, upon the testimony
of the said master that he hath truly served out his said
time, be admitted to the freedom, on paying the usual fees of
the court, viz : — s. d.
To the Mayor  18
Recorder  18
Town-Clerk  0 8
Chamberlain  0 8
The Four Bailiffs, at 8d. each. ... 2 8 pees t0 oe
Sword-Bearer  0 4 paid.
The Four Sergeants, at 4d. each. ..14
To the Poor of Magdalen Hospital . 0 1
For Inrolling the Indenture ... 1 0

10 1

5. And lastly, all other persons may be admitted to the
freedom, by way of redemption, and paying such reasonable
fines as the Mayor and Common Council may set on them.
The Earl still continued his encroachments on the liberties of The Ear'j
the Citizens, and they again prayed the King to interfere in st;|] conti_
their behalf. The King sent down his writ to the Sheriff ofnuestovex
Devon, dated 20th March, 1316, this the Sheriff executed, thecitizens.
and a verdict was found in favor of the complainants ; yet such con^pla^a{™ the King.
* This list of fees (copied from Mr. Isaac) must certainly be erroneous in
point of time, especially as to the Recorder, Chamberlain, and Sword-Bearer;
the first Recorder not being appointed until the 28th of Edward III. the first
Sword Bearer, the 13th of Henry VII. 1497 ; and there was no Chamberlain
till the 2d of Mary, 1554. Q

58

THE HISTORY OF

CHAP. II.

Verdict
again in
their favor
but no re
dress ob
tained.

Dreadful
famine and
pestilence.

A. D.
1317.
Bakers
punished for adulter
ating bread
&c.

1318.
The King
demands assistance
from the
citizens. 30 Soldiers
sent and
maintained.

was the Earl's power that he prevented the writ from being re
turned. The King sent down a second writ, dated 12th June
following, with strict orders to execute the same, and make a
return immediately ; this was accordingly done, and a decision
was again given in favor of the Citizens; but so weak was the
King's government at this time, and the Earl having joined the
Barons in arms, the complainers could meet with no redress,
and were overawed in such a manner that they were forced to
relinquish their claims, and be tame spectators of the loss of
their most valuable privileges.
This year (1316) the kingdom was visited by two dreadful
scourges of the Almighty, famine and pestilence. It began in
London, where the people complained that it was occasioned by
great quantities of wheat being malted ; whereupon an act
was passed that no wheat should be made into malt, and for
regulating the price of strong drink. Notwithstanding this act
wheat continued to advance, even to £4 the quarter; this
brought on such a famine throughout the whole kingdom that
parents were accused of eating their own children, and
malefactors ate one another in prison. This was followed by
so great a mortality among the common people that those
alive were scarce sufficient to bury the dead. This severe
scarcity being attributed to an order made by the King, for re
gulating and settling certain prices on provisions, which pre
vented the country people from supplying the markets, the said
order was accordingly revoked.
The Bakers of this city taking advantage of the necessities
of the people, by making their bread of an inferior quality,
and smaller than the assize fixed by the Mayor, were fined
and committed to prison till the said fines were paid ; seven
teen of these Bakers, who dwelt within the Bishop's liberty,
claimed an exemption from the Mayor's jurisdiction, but
they were forced to submit with the rest, and paid their
fines accordingly.
The Scots having invaded England, the King sent orders to
such cities and towns as were held by tenure to assist him in
repelling the enemy : the city of Exeter, therefore, sent thirty
soldiers, well armed and equipped, to join his forces, then as
sembling at York ; and they were paid and maintained by
the citizens during the whole campaign.*

* From the proportion of Soldiers sent by Exeter on this expedition it
appears that it was considered as one of the first-rate cities : London, the
Capital, being rated only at 200 men ; and the city of Canterbury (together
with the Clergy) at 40. » V 6

THE CITY OF EXETER. 59
An impostor now appeared, who gave some trouble to the CHAP. II.
Citizens ; one John Poudras, or Powderham, a tanner's son, T "
of this city. He pretended to be the lawful son of King Exet ' r°_
Edward I. and that he was stolen from his cradle, by his nurse, tends him-
and the present King put in his place. Notwithstanding the self to be
improbability of the story many idle people believed it, and Edward II.
resorted to him ; but he being apprehended confessed the im- f0sre*tecu e
posture, and was executed for the same.*
The King, being in great want of money, demanded a A- D-
subsidy of the city of Exeter, which the Citizens cheerfully
granted, to the amount of every sixth penny of all their goods J'le K'°S
i i . • i demands ;>
and chattels. ..,,„, r subsidy, &
Two writs of Nisi Prius were this year tried at the Castle of ;tis granted
Exeter, before John Stoner and Richard Stapledon, Knights, 1322.
the King's Justices of Assize, for this western circuit. In one
of them, Hugh Courtenay, Earl of Devon, was Plaintiff, and
the Mayor and Commons, of the city, Defendants; this was .
concerning the Manor of Exe Island, and the suburbs without c*™in„ ex„
the Westgate, which the Earl claimed to be his ancient demesne, isiand, and
as part of his Barony of Oakhampton, and as such, exempted Lammas
from the jurisdiction of the said Mayor. The other writ was Fa,r-
between the said Hugh Courtenay and the Prior of St.
Nicholas, Plaintiffs, and the Mayor and Commonalty, De- Isaac-
fendants, touching the customs, liberties, and privileges of
Lammas Fair, in both of which trials verdict was given for 1327.
the Citizens. f
Unhappy differences had long existed between the King and Difference
his Queen, Isabella, occasioned by his predilection for his between the
favourites, the two Spencers, who had engrossed the whole King and
power of government to themselves and their dependants. Queen-
Their insolence the Queen could no longer bear : she fled
privately to France, with the Prince, her son, and soon after
returned with a considerable force, and was joined by most of
the principal Barons. The King finding himself abandoned by

* Mr. Isaac very gravely tells ns that Poudras was enticed to this crime by
a familiar spirit, which he kept by him in the shape of a cat ; but this spirit
failing him, he was at the gallows executed for the same — (surely they ought
to have hanged the cat with him) — a wonderful story for such a wondrous age.
t If verdicts were given in these causes in favor of the Citizens the con
tended property must have been detained from them by force, (an injury very
prevalent in the feudal ages) for we find by history that the Manor of Exe
Island continued in the Courtenay family until the 17th of Henry VIII. when it
was forfeited by the attainder of Henry Courtenay, Marquis of Exeter. One
moiety of Lammas Fair remained in the possession of that family until the same
period : the other moiety continued in the possession of the Prior until
the dissolution.

60
CHAP. II

The Bishop
of Exeter
murdered. The King
taken pri
soner and
most cruelly murdered.

THE HISTORY OF
his subjects endeavoured to escape to Ireland, and left Walter
Stapledbn, Bishop of Exeter, Custos of London; but the
Londoners, taking arms in favor of the Queen, seized on the
Bishop and barbarously murdered him, by cutting off his head ;
after which they buried his body in a sand hill, in the river
Thames. The King, in his flight, being intercepted and taken
prisoner, was forced to relinquish the throne in favor of his son,
and a short time after, through the intrigues of the Queen's
paramour, (Mortimer, Earl of March) he was most inhumanly
murdered, in a very cruel manner; a red hot iron being thrust
up his fundament, through a pipe of horn, that no marks or
scars might be discerned ; and thus, in the most excruciating
torments, the unhappy King expired, in October, 1327.
MA YORS and BAILIFFS in the reign of Edward II.

1307.
William Gatepath.
Jordan Atlane.
Jordan Perour.
Thomas Farthing.
Michael Turand.
1308.
Roger Beynim.
Michael Turand.
Walter Duport.
Robert Newton.
Thomas Farthing.
1309.
Roger Beynim.
Thomas Farthing.
Walter Duport.
William Newton.
William Kerswell.
1310.
Walter Tantifer.
Walter Langdon.
Peter Zouch.
Peter Lovecock.
Walter Lekenn. 1311.
Walter Langdon.

William Duport.
John Perour.
Adam Dyer.
Thomas Farthing.
1312.
William Gatepath.
Philip Lovecock.
William Kerswell.
William Farthing.
John Snialcomb. 1313.
Roger Beynim.
Thomas Farthing.
Philip Lovecock.
William Kerswell.
John Perour. 1314.
Roger Beynim.
Richard Soller.
Michael Skinner.
Richard Lekenn.
John Davy. 1315.
Philip Lovecock.
Thomas Farthing.
Richard Soller.

Ralph Dyer.
Matthew Capper.
1316.
Philip Lovecock.
Nicholas Turand.
John Tredeyners.
John Buffett.
John Davy. 1317.
Roger Beynim.
William Kerswell.
Thomas Farthing.
Michael Lekenn.
Martin Capper. 1318.
Philip Lovecock.
Martin Lekenn.
John Tredeyners.
Thomas Spycer.
Robert Woan. 1319.
Philip Lovecock.
Martin Lekenn.
Thomas Furbor.
Walter Suegothull.
Thomas Farthing.

THE CITY OF EXETER.

61

1320.
Philip Lovecock.
Martin Lekenn.
Thomas Furbor.
Walter Suegothull.
Thomas Farthing.
1321.
William Wotton.
John Perour.
John Taylor.
Thomas Spycer.
John Davy. 1322.
Robert Wotton.

Richard Sotter.
William Sweinthill.
William Brewer.
Thomas Furbor.
1323.
Robert Wotton.
John Lekenn.
Walter Houghton.
John Davy.
Roger Taylor. 1324.
Philip Lovecock.
Martin Lekenn.
Henry Lovecock.

Thomas Taylor.
John Erchdeacon. 1325.
Philip Lovecock.
Nicholas Wallys.
Richard Soller.
Martin Lekenn.
Thomas Oxton.
1326.
Philip Lovecock.
John Birch.
Thomas Furbor.
Martin Lekenn.
Thomas Spycer.

CHAP. II.

A.D.
1327.1329.

Edward was only 14 years of age when he ascended the Edw. Ill
throne, and was entirely governed by his mother and her
favourite, Mortimer; yet, even at this early age, he shewed
proofs of great magnanimity, which was the glory of his reign.
He endeavoured to suppress the different factions which had so
long divided the kingdom, and happily succeeded : in order to
lessen the power of the Barons, he increased the privileges of ,
the cities and borough towns; and, in the year 1329, he terTanted"
granted a new charter to the Citizens of Exeter, by which he
gave them cognizance of pleas, that no freeman should implead No/reeman
any other freeman out of the liberties and courts thereof, on t^no™fre^i
pain of disfranchisement : he also extended their privileges and freeman out
jurisdiction, by which grants the power of the Earls of Devon, of the city.
over the Citizens was greatly diminished.
The Guildhall, being ruinous, was re-built. The Porter of 1330.
the Westgate was punished and removed from his office, he Tne Guild-
having left the said gate open, during the night, without the j^' ™bul,t>
Mayor's licence. Porte/of
Martin Lekenn died in his mayoralty, and Thomas Lichfield Westgate
was elected to supply his place for the remainder of the "moved.
year. This year the King created his eldest son, Edward, \ltt
Duke of Cornwall, and sent his orders to the Mayor of this prince of
city for the proclaiming thereof (these orders were directed to Wales
the Mayor of his honourable city of Excester.) He also or- made Duke
dered that this city should remain a parcel of the said Dutchy, of Cornwa"
as heretofore it was of the Earldom, and fixed the fee-farm rent
at £20 per annum.
The King being abroad, in France, some evil-minded person 1344.

02

THE HISTORY OF

CHAP. 1 1, in order to blacken the character of the Citizens, who stood
fhelthrg- high in their Monarch's favor, falsely informed him that a great
falsely in- riot had been committed by them, and that great tumults still
formed of a continued among them : upon which he sent a commission of
riotinE<e-0yer an(J Terminer, dated 20th August, 1344, directed to the
ter- . Mayor and Justices, strictly requiring them to appease the
Sends his y t ,. anc) t0 cause a)i breakers of the peace of the said
commission i - i i
of enquiry, city to be severely punished.
A. D_ Party differences and contentions arose among the Citizens
1347. concerning the election of a Mayor and other officers for the
ensuing year, which had nearly occasioned great troubles, but
tesubotit" were happily prevented by the interference of some discreet
the election Citizens, who prevailed on the contending parties to agree to
of a Mayor, the following regulation: it was therefore ordered by the
&c- Mayor and Common Council that, for the future, no person
should be elected into the office of Mayor but a wise, sober,
grave, and honest man, who had served the office of Bailiff
one whole year; and that he should be able to expend, yearly,
of his own freehold, £5 at the least; and that he be chosen by
24 of the most discreet Citizens, selected for that purpose,
who, upon their several and respective oaths, should determine
the election.
1348. Nicholas Halberton died in his mayoralty, and Robert Noble
was chosen for the remainder of the year.
Quay, &c. In Easter Term, this year, a long pending suit of law was
atExmouth determined in the Court of King's Bench, Westminster, in
u,eJrww»n« which a verdict was found that the Quay, Passaae, and
the Citizens _ -rt • 7 i r. v-^ — ' J I. -7;  **--*
of Exeter. Lastage, at Pratt ished, near Exmouth, and all the profits
"arising from thence, were, and are a parcel of the fee-farm of
this city, as part of the Manor of Lydford, a member of the
Dutchy of Cornwall, holden by the said Citizens, at the yearly
rent of £20.
1353. The pasture of Crollditch, or Southernhay, was first set at
an annual rent of five shillings.
A dreadful A dreadful pestilence, at first brought from Asia, spread
pestilence, over all the southern parts of Europe, and at length reached
England, where it made most dreadful ravages : in the year
Exeter 1448 there died in London, from the 1st of January to* the
populated" lst °f July following> 57,374 persons ; and reaching this city it
by it. nearly depopulated it, insomuch that the cemeteries could not
contain the dead bodies, and, therefore, they were greatly en
larged : this dreadful calamity continued until the year 1357,
1354. when it happily ceased.
first°arpCr r,- A Recorder beinS thought necessary, to assist the Mayor in
pointed. his judicial office, John Weekes, Esq. was the first appointed,

THE CITY OF EXETER. 63
with a salary of £3 per annum ; this officer was afterwards cho- CHAP. II.
sen yearly, like the Mayor and other officers.
The great mortality above-mentioned had so lessened the con
sumption of provisions that the prices were reduced to the '
following low rates : a fine Ox was sold at 4s., the best Cow at !
Is., and the best Hog at 5d.
King Edward's successful war against the French, in which A- D-
he took the important town of Calais, and gained the memo- 135r'
rable victory of Cressy, so exasperated them that they fitted
out a powerful fleet, with which they insulted the English coast,
and burned several small towns in Sussex. The King (then in
France) being informed of these depredations, sent his orders to
the different sea ports of the kingdom, to fit out such a number
of ships as, according to their tenure, they were bound to assist
him with. Accordingly, by his letters patent, under his great
seal, dated 25th March, 1357, the Citizens of Exeter were Exeter as-
required to furnish him with three ships immediately ; each to !!!ts ,h?
be manned with sixty mariners and twenty archers; this theg^fplTeo
Citizens cheerfully complied with ; they delivered the ships to mariners &
Gervais de Aldlamy, Vice-Admiral of Devon, who conducted 20 archers
them to join the English Fleet, then lying at Sandivich, under ln eaoh-
the command of John, Lord Montgomery, High Admiral of
England, by whom the French Fleet were defeated ; and the
English (in retaliation for the injury they had received)
plundered and burnt on the coast of France near 100 leagues
in extent.
Edward, Prince of Wales, (surnamed the Black Prince) Battle of
having gained the ever memorable victory of Poictiers, in which Polctiers-
12,000 English defeated an army of more than 60,000 of the
choicest troops of the French, taking John, King of France, pb.e Black
his youngest son, and a great number of noblemen prisoners, w;tn tn'e
on his return landed at Plymouth, and coming from thence French
to this city was received with the greatest testimonies of joy : King, &c,
the Prince and his royal prisoners were nobly entertained at his Prlson-
theexpence of the Mayor and Citizens during their continuance, Ex'eter-
which was three days.
The Bakers of this city thinking themselves aggrieved because 1362.
they could not make and sell their bread according to their own
quality and assize, entered into an agreement not to bake any, Bakers
by which the Citizens were for two days together destitute of refuse to
bread ; for this offence the Bakers were all indicted, found J?^®' are
guilty, and sentenced to be fined each £1 6s. 8d.
This year a cause was appointed to be tried, at the Castle of 1367.
Exeter, before John Mowbray and Edmund Chealy, his
Majesty's Justices of Assize, between the Dean and Chapter of

64

THE HISTORY OF

CHAP. II.

Dean and
Chaptergive false
information
to the King.

A. D.
1371.
Edward,
the Black
Prince,
again visits
this city.
1373.

A great
mortality.

1376.
Edward
the Black
Princedies.

1377.

this Cathedra], Plaintiffs, and John Gyst, (late Mayor) the
Commonalty, and Bailiffs of this city, Defendants : but the
Dean and Chapter, doubting the issue of their cause, artfully
endeavoured to hinder the proceedings ; and, in order thereto,
exhibited a bill of complaint to the King, informing him that
the Mayor had, by proclamation, commanded the Citizens to
attend him, in arms, at the next assizes, at the castle, whereby
the Justices might be prevented from proceeding in the trial,
and by that means the jury hindered from being sworn.
The King, angered at this, sent his commission to John
Montague, and four others, to examine into the truth of this
information ; but, before they sat, the said Justices and Sir
Guy de Brion, being returned to court, were examined con
cerning the said riot, when they testified that the said charge
was false and groundless, and that no such riot had happened,
upon which the King sent his inhibition to the Commissioners,
forbidding them to proceed therein. This deed bears date the
12th of February, 1367.
Edward, the Black Prince, being in a consumptive state,
returned from France and landed at Plymouth. In his journey
to London he came to this city, with the Princess, his wife, and
was joyfully received ; but, being in a very weak condition, he
staid several days to recover his strength. During the time of
his stay the Prince and his suite were elegantly entertained at
the expence of the Mayor, at whose house he was lodged till
his departure from Exeter.
Roger Plenty dying in his Mayoralty, Roger Wilsford was
elected to serve the remainder of the year.
The summer of this year being excessively hot, it occasioned
a mortality, which carried off a great number of the inhabi
tants of this city.
Edward, the Black Prince, died in the flower of his age,
deeply regretted by the whole of the English nation, but es
pecially by the inhabitants of this city, to whom he had been a
constant friend and great benefactor. He possessed all the
social virtues in an eminent degree ; he was valiant, brave, and
affable, generous and liberal ; his greatest pleasure was to re
ward merit, whenever he found it; and he possessed all the
qualites that constitute the true hero and friend.
King Edward died at Richmond, in Surrey, in the 65th year
of his age, and 51st of his reign, and was succeeded by his
grandson, Richard, son of Edward, the Black Prince.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 65
MA YORS and BAILIFFS in the reign of Edward III. CHAP. II.

1327.
Richard Soller.
Thomas Gervais.
William Kirton.
Richard Pleigh.
William Austin.
1328.
Philip Lovecock.
Thomas Furbor.
Martin Lekenn.
Henry Haughton.
Peter Baynim. 1329.
Philip Lovecock.
Thomas Gervais.
Henry Lovecock.
John Lekenn.
Richard Pleigh.
1330.
Martin Lekenn.
John Trediners.
Henry Haughton.
Henry Gatepath.
Walter Gervais. 1331.
Philip Lovecock.
Henry Haughton.
John Lekenn.
Richard Pleigh.
Robert Kirton. 1332.
Martin Lekenn.
Thomas Furbor.
Lawrence Colwell.
Reynold Noldekin.
John Sutton. 1333.
Thomas Gervais.
Reynold Noldekin.

William Brewer.
John Lekenn.
John Sutton. 1334.
Martin Lekenn.
Thomas Litchfield.
John Sutton.
Henry Lovecock.
Alexander Wallis.
Robert Turner. 1335.
Henry Haughton.
Thomas Pleigh.
Thomas Furbor.
William Lydeland.
Alexander Wallis.
1336.
Henry Haughton.
Thomas Furbor.
John Coles.
William Shillingford
John Colebrook. 1337.
Thomas Gervais.
Robert Noble.
Richard Pleigh.
John Newton.
John Davy. 1338.
Henry Haughton.
Nicholas Goldscott.
Richard Pleigh.
Thomas Furbor.
John Davy. 1339.
Thomas Litchfield.
Robert Bridport.
John Cook.
John Newton.

Roger Wy thorn.
1340.
Henry Haughton.
Robert Bridport.
Thomas Furbor.
Richard Pleigh.
Richard Halberton.
1341.
Henry Haughton.
Reynold Wythern.
Thomas Furbor.
Richard Pleigh.
John Sutton. 1342.
Robert Furbor.
Robert Bradworthy.
Robert Halberton.
Nicholas Goldscott.
Walter White. 1343.
Thomas Furbor.
William Hastment.
Roger Treseler.
Richard Pleigh.
Robert Noble. 1344.
Henry Haughton.
John Newton.
John Sutton.
Richard Pleigh.
Robert Noble. 1345.
Henry Haughton.
Nicholas Halberton.
Roger Treseler.
William Hascom.
John Sutton. 1346.
Thomas Furbor.

66

THE HISTORY OF

CHAP. II. John Gist.
 Robert Noble.
John Pleigh.
Walter White. 1347.
Henry Haughton.
Thomas Spicer.
John Bonleigh.
John Sutton.
John Newton. 1348.
Nich. Halberton, Ob
Robert Noble.
John White.
Nicholas Goldscott.
Robert Noble, Jun.
John Byrch. 1349.
Robert Bridport.
John Spicer.
Henry Furbor.
John Ottery.
John Sleigh. 1350.
Robert Bridport.
Robert Brown.
Thomas Spicer.
John Gist.
Richard Oliver.
1351.
Robert Bridport.
John Swanton.
Roger Atwill.
Richard Somaster.
John Spicer. 1352.
Robert Bridport.
Richard Oliver.
Thomas Spicer.
Robert Brown.
John Gist.

1353.
John Spicer.
Roger Atwill.
Simon Atpitt.
John Ottrey.
John Somaster. 1354.
John Spicer.
John Gist.
Roger Atwill.
Henry Furbor.
William Bennett.
1355.
Robert Bridport.
John Hull.
Roger Atwill.
John Ottrey.
Robert Brown. 1356.
John Gist.
William Bennett.
William Gervais.
Henry Furbor.
Adam Brasinter. 1357.
John Spicer.
Nich. Briddestow.
John Hull.
Roger Atwill.
John Dirkin. 1358.
Robert Noble.
Robert Brown.
John Alleigh.
William Gervais.
William Stockleigh.
1359.
John Spicer.
John Dirkin.
Roger Atwill.
Richard Oliver.

Walter Atwood. 1360.
John Spicer.
Warren Bailiff.
Walter Crisp.
Richard Goldsmith.
Robert Brown. 1361.
John Gist.
William Rokes.
Roger Atwill.
Walter Atwood.
William Stokely.
1362.
John Gist.
Roger Plenty.
Nicholas Briddestow.
William Hardy.
Robert Stoke. 1363.
John Gist.
Roger Atwill.
William Gervais.
William Seamor.
Walter Atwood. 1364.
John Gist.
Walter Atwood.
John Tirling.
Roger Fitz Hugh.
Henry Welland. 1365.
Nicholas Taverner.
William Hardy.
Robert Wilsford.
Adam Scutt.
John Nymett. 1366.
Nich. Briddestow.
Martin Battishill.
William Gervais.

THE CITY OF EXETER.

67

Roger Atwill.
Thomas Wilpy.
1367.
Nich. Briddestow.
John Nymett.
Martin Battishill.
William Gervais.
Henry Furbor. 1368.
Warren Bailiff.
Robert Wilsford.
Walter Whithorn.
Walter Atwood.
Thomas Webb.
1369.
Roger Plenty.
Raymond Gosse.
Adam Scutt.
Roger Atwood.
Walter Crisp.
1370.
Martin Battishill.
Walter Whithorn.
John Grey.

John Nymett.
John Webb. 1371.
Roger Plenty.
John Grey.
Thomas Webb.
John Bell.
John Gommcrell. 1372.
John Gist.
Walter Atwood.
Roger Atwill.
Robert Stoke.
Walter Fowk. 1373.
Roger Plenty, Ob.
Robert Wilsford.
Adam Scutt.
Richard Bosom.
Thomas Webber.
John Russel. 1374.
Robert Wilsford.
Adam Gould.

William Gervais.
Thomas Webber.
John White. 1375.
Robert Wilsford.
John Talbotl.
William Gervais.
Robert Stoke.
Walter Fowk. 1376.
John Grey.
John Nymett.
Adam Gould.
Walter Whitrow.
Richard Stayce.
1377.
Robert Wilsford.
Adam Scutt.
William Gervais.
John Russel.
Raymond Gosse.

CHAP. II.

Richard II. was only eleven years of age when he began his
reign, and during his minority the government was in the hands
of his uncles, the Dukes of Lancaster, York, and Gloucester:
but when he came of age, and took the power into his own
hands, he (by his weak attachments to his favourites, on whom
he lavished most of the wealth and power of the kingdom) so
exasperated the Barons, that even his uncles could not
bear the pride and tyranny of these upstarts; this made his
reign a scene of unhappiness, and at length brought him to
a miserable end.
The French and Spaniards, taking advantage of the King's
minority, fitted out a large fleet and ravaged the southern
coasts of the kingdom, particularly that of Devon: they burnt
the towns of Dartmouth and Plymouth, after which they
attempted to proceed up the river Exe ; the Citizens of Exeter
made all preparation in their power to receive them, by arming
themselves, repairing their walls, and scouring their ditches;
but Sir Philip Courtenay and his brother, Sir Peter, (sons

Richardll. A. D.
1377.

1378.
The French
burn Dart
mouth and
Plymouth,
and attempt
Exeter.
Are oppo
sed.

68 THE HISTORY OF
CHAP. II. 0f the Earl of Devon) having collected the inhabitants of
gomerset an(j Devon> the French prudently re-embarked ;
however, the Knights, assisted by the Citizens of Exeter,
and the gentlemen of the said counties, fitted out such ships
CourienaP as tnev could collect together, and inconsiderately attacked
&c?rtaken' the enemies fleet; but, overpowered by numbers, they, with
prisoners, most of their gentlemen followers, were taken prisoners, and
, carried into France.
plague. The plague again visited this city, and carried off a great
A. D. number of the inhabitants.
1379. This year an Act of Parliament was passed (chiefly through
the interest of the Citizens of London,) that no victualler should
1380. exercise any Judicial office in any City, Town, Borough, or
No Fish- Sea-port, in the kingdom, unless in such towns where no other
Butcher or sufficient person should be found qualified for such an office ;
Grocer, to in which case every such person was to abstain from the exer-
serve the cise of such trade during the time of his office, upon pain of for-
office of fgiture of all such victuals as he should sell during that time ;
7 r' c' by this all Fishmongers, Butchers, and Grocers, were deemed
victuallers, and were rendered incapable of serving the office of
Mayor, &c.
Wat During the commotion which broke out in several parts of the
Tyler's kingdom, particularly in Kent and Essex, where they were
Citfzens"^ headed by Wat Tyler and Jack Straw, the Citizens of Exeter
Exeter continued firm in the cause of their King; and in return
firm in the for their loyalty he confirmed their charters, and greatly
Ring's enlarged their liberties and privileges ; and when the King
Charter's fitted out a powerful fleet, in order to prevent the French from
&c. renew- insulting the English coasts, the city sent to his assistance a
ed. large ship, which they armed, manned, and victualled, wholly
1384. at their own expence.
Exe bridge A great flood happened, which carried away part of Exe
damaged. Bridge, and several people were drowned.
1387. The Cordwainers and Curriers were first incorporated.
1398. The plague again made great ravages in this city, and swept
off a great number of its inhabitants.
First Duke John Holland, Earl of Huntingdon, was, by patent, created
of Exeter. Duke of Exeter.
1399. The King's blind attachment to his favourites, and their
oppression of his subjects, became so odious that the nobility,
Richard Sentrv' and people at large, invited Henry, Duke of Hereford*
deposed (then an exile in France) to come over and deliver them from
and mur- the slavery they were sunk into ; this Henry gladly accepted,
dered. an(|) landing at Ravenspur, in Yorkshire, soon found himself
at the head of 60,000 men. Richard, finding himself deserted
* Son of John Gaunt, late Duke of Lancaster, and grandson to Edward III.

THE CITY OF EXETER.

69

by his subjects, attempted to escape to Ireland, but was taken CHAP. II.
and committed prisoner to Pomfret Castle, and soon after de-
posed by Act of Parliament : Henry was recognized as King,
and in a little time the unfortunate Richard was inhumanly
murdered, in his confinement.
MA YORS and BAILIFFS in the reign of Richard II.

1378.
Robert Wilsford.
Raymond Gosse.
William Down.
Henry Soam.
Peter Hadleigh. 1379.
Robert Wilsford.
John Read.
William Gervais.
John Russel.
Richard Browne.
1380.
John Grey.
John Russel.
William Gervais.
Henry Westcott.
Henry Soam. 1381.
John Nymett.
Richard Bosom.
William Gervais.
Henry Westcott.
William Coscom.
1382.
Robert Wilsford.
William Gervais.
Simon Grendon.
Baldwin Whitleigh.
Thomas Smithayes.
1383.
John Talbot.
John Panton.

Henry Allen.
Peter Heighly.
John Webb. 1384.
Robert Wilsford.
William Coscom.
John Pearse.
William Railsford.
Robert Stoke. 1385.
Adam Scutt.
Thomas Smithayes.
Peter Hadleigh.
Thomas Wondry.
William Oke.
1386.
Robert Wilsford.
Simon Grendon.
Heury Hull.
John Webb.
John Shapleigh. 1387.
Richard Bosom.
William Oke.
John Grills.
Richard Pewterer.
Baldwin Whitleigh.
1388.
Robert Wilsford.
Henry Allen.
John Russel.
William Gervais.
John Ponton.

1389.
Richard Bosom.
Adam Gould.
Simon Grendon.
Thomas Smithayes.
William May.
1390.
Robert Wilsford.
John Shapleigh.
John Russel.
Raymond Gosse.
Robert Eascom. 1391.
Richard Bosom.
William Custom.
William Gervais.
Simon Grendon.
William Oke.
1392.
Robert Wilsford.
John Panton.
John Russel.
Raymond Gosse.
Henry Hull. 1393.
Richard Bosom.
William Oke.
William Gervais.
Simon Grendon.
William Coscom.
1394.
Robert Wilsford.
Philip Shapleigh.

70
CHAP. II. Henry Hull.
John Ponton.
Thomas Easton.
1395.
Simon Grendon.
Thomas Wandry.
Richard Pewterer.
Roger Doly.
William Coscom.
1396.
John Talbot.
Henry Hull.

THE HISTORY OF

William Wilsford.
William Oke.
Robert Wyndett. 1397.
Adam Scutt.
William Wilsford.
John Batten.
John Russel.

Robert Easton.
Thomas Wandry.
Ralph Swan. 1399.
John Grey.
John Batten.
John Russel.
John Wilsford.

Richard Larkstoke. John Shapleigh.

1398.
Simon Grendon.
Richard Pewterer.

A. D.
1399.
Henry IV.

Duke of
Exeter
beheaded. 1408.
City Waits
first
instituted. 1409. 1412.

Citizens
confirmedin their
rights to
town i.l ill ii'

1413.

Henry, the first King of the house of Lancaster, began his
reign the 30th September, 1399, and as he ascended the throne
by the most indirect means, his crown proved a troublesome
acquisition. The murder of Richard will be an eternal
blot on his memory. He was naturally of a jealous temper,
and in order to maintain his power he put many of the
principal nobility to death, who were adjudged to be the
friends of the late monarch, among which was the late cre
ated Duke of Exeter, John Holland,* whom he caused to be
beheaded. The band of music (now termed the city waits) was first in
stituted, to attend the Mayor on all solemn occasions.
Thomas, Earl of Dorset, and brother to the King, was created
Duke of Exeter.
The Mayor, William Wilsford, dying in his mayoralty,
Henry Hull was elected for the residue of the year.
By a verdict obtained this year, in the Court of King's
Bench, it was confirmed that the Citizens of Exeter had a right
to the passage and ferry at Exmouth, and that the Lastage,
Stallage, and Petty Customs (commonly called town duties) of
all wares and merchandizes, landed and discharged within the
limits of the port of Exeter, were the property of the said
Citizens, as being a parcel of the said city, held of the Dutchy
of Cornwall, by the fee-farm rent of £20 a year, payable at
the said Dutchy Court.
King Henry died on the 20th March, 1413, and was suc
ceeded by his eldest son, Henry, Prince of Wales.

* This Duke greatly re-edified the Castle of Exeter, and lodgings therein,
which, in his time, was esteemed as sumptuous edifices ; he also erected a stately
mansion at Darlington, near Toines, now the seat of A . Champernown, Esq.

THE CITY OF EXETER.

71

MA YORS and BAILIFFS in the reign of Henry IV. CHAP. II.

1400.
William Wilsford.
Robert Easton.
Richard Kenneridge
Thomas Wandry.
Peter Sturt. 1401.
William Oke.
John Lake.
John Wilsford.
Roger Doly.
John Shapleigh. 1402.
William Wilsford.
Thomas Easton.
Nicholas Boughwood
John Shepherd.
Richard Larkstoke.
1403.
Henry Hull.
John Shapleigh.
Robert Cobley.
Peter Sturt.
Roger Doly. 1404.
William Wilsford.
John Wilsford.

Robert Okesty.
Thomas Wandry.
John Shapleigh. 1405.
Simon Grendon.
Peter Sturt.
Richard Pewterer.
Robert Cobley.
John Coscom. 1406.
William Wilsford.
John Batten.
Walter Cobley.
John Exbridge.
Thomas Wandry.
1407.
Adam Scutt.
Nicholas Boughwood
John Lake.
Reynold Gould.
John Shapleigh. 1408.
William Wilsford.
Richard Larkstoke.
Henry Mayhew.
John Pallow.

Thomas Easton.
1409.
Richard Bosom.
John Shapleigh.
Robert Cobley.
Stephen Frank.
Walter Cobley. 1410.
Adam Scutt.
Roger Gould.
Ralph Swan.
John Cooper.
Robert Cobley. 1411.
William Wilsford.
John Shepherd.
John Batten.
John Lake.
Peter Sturt. 1412.
Wm. Wilsford, Ob.
Henry Hull.
John Pallow.
John Wilsford.
Stephen Frank.
Richard Cross.

Henry V. gave but gloomy hopes to his subjects of his A. D.
future government, having, during his father's life, been guilty 1413,
of many foibles, and assembled with the most abandoned and Henry V.
dissolute profligates ; however, no sooner had he taken pos
session of the throne than he banished (contrary to all expec
tations) his former companions, and, like the sun emerging
from a cloud, broke out in full splendor, and proved himself
to be an experienced soldier, a good politician, a sincere friend
to justice, and a true lover of his subjects.
In the year 1415 Henry, in order to find employment for his 1415

72

THE HISTORY OF

CHAP. II. restless Barons, and to gratify the warlike inclinations of his
 subjects, demanded of the French monarch a restitution of
those provinces, in France, which had been wrested from his
redar^nsJ predecessors ; and on receiving a refusal, with an arrogant
France. answer to his just demands, he declared war, and landed in
France with a powerful army ; after taking several towns he
Agincourt. gained the ever memorable victory of Agincourt, notwithstanding
the French army exceeded the English in number by upwards
of four to one. In this battle the French lost a great number
of noblemen, and more than 10,000 common men, and 1,500
taken prisoners ; when the loss, on the side of the English,
amounted only to two noblemen, four knights, one esquire, and
twenty-eight privates.
A. D. While the King was pursuing his conquests in France, he,
1416. jn order to protect the English coasts from any depredations of
the enemy, sent his writs to the different sea-ports of his
kingdom, to fit out a powerful fleet, which was cheerfully
complied with, and the Devonshire squadron, under the com
mand of Edward, Lord Courtenay, and the Lord Carew, joined
the King's fleet, which was commanded by John, Earl of
French fleet Bedford. The French fleet attempting to relieve Harfleur,
defeated, then besieged by the English, were totally defeated, with a
great loss of men, and most of their ships taken and destroyed :
in this battle the Devonshire squadron led the van, and con
tributed greatly to the victory.
1421. This year an ancient custom was confirmed, that if there be
Non-free- not a sufficient number of citizens or inhabitants, that are
holders to freeholders, to be returned for a jury on a trial, that then a
™ wrned return may be made of other citizens who have moveable
goods sufficient.
1422. Henry, after having humbled the French nation, was seized
by a bloody flux, which terminated in his death, at Vincennes,
in France, Aug. 31st, 1422, concluding a glorious and triumph
ant reign of nine years and five months, and was succeeded by
his only son, Henry, a child of nine months old.
MA YORS and BAILIFFS in the reign of Henry V.
1413. John Lake. Robert Voisey.
Peter Sturt. John Wilsford. William Shapleigh.
William Jew. Thomas Sharp.
John Cook. John Clark. 1416.
Ralph Swan. John Batten.
John Batten. 1415. Thomas Shapp.
Peter Scutt. William Hull.
1414. Roger Gould. Thomas Hickley.
Thomas Easton. Robert Cobley. Walter Bogbrook.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 73
1417. 1419. 1421. CHAP. II.

John Cook. Thomas Easton. John Cook.
John Clark. John Shillingford. Robert Voisey.
William Shapleigh. John Stipping. John Salter.
Nicholas Trelawney. Ralph Dolbear. John Atyate.
Stephen Butterford. William Overton. Nicholas Trelawney.
1418. 1420. 1422.
John Batten. John Batten. Thomas Easton.
Robert Hickley. John Shillingford. John Cutler.
John Hull. John Cutler. William May.
Robert Voisey. John Coscom. William Cook.
Walter Crabb. William Shapleigh. John Stokeleigh.
Henry, during his minority, was placed under the care of A.D.
T/tomas, Duke of Exeter, and the Bishop of Winchester, for 1422.
his education, while the administration of government was put Henry VI.
into the hands of the Protector, John, Duke of Bedford, by
whose interest the infant monarch was crowned King of France,
in Paris, and for some years the kingdom enjoyed the bless
ings of peace.
The King demanded a subsidy of Tonnage and Poundage of 1424.
the inhabitants of this city, towards defraying the expences of Subsidy
his wars in France, which was cheerfully granted. ^"k^ '°
This year a custom commenced of giving to the Mayor and e lng"
Aldermen, at the Feasts of Christmas and Easter, a certain
quantity of bread and wine, commonly called Canon bread and
wine. The Master, Wardens, and Company of Bakers, within this 1428.
city, (not liking the assize of bread as set by the Mayor) made
an order among themselves that they would discontinue the
custom of giving what was termed advantage bread, or one
penny on a dozen; which the Citizens murmuring at, the Bakers, Bakers
in order to force a compliance, agreed not to bake any bread at T^se t0
all, unless the Mayor would set the assize according to their bread?"7
wills ; but he being a discreet and sensible magistrate, and un
derstanding the laws, he (after duly investigating the matter) Are fined
not only refused a compliance, but adjudged them to pay a an(j com.
heavy fine each, and committed the Master, Wardens, and mitted to
principal offenders to prison, where they were confined until prison.
they publicly acknowledged their crimes, and paid the several
fines imposed on them.
The dispute which had long existed between the Mayor 1436.
and Commonalty, and the Dean and Chapter of St. Peter,
concerning the extent of the Fee and Manor of St. Sidwell,
was terminated by an Act of Parliament, whereby the bounds
U

74 THE HISTORY OF
CHAP. II. and limits of the said parish were ascertained : this act bears
A. D. date the 4th May, 1436.
1437. This year the Butchers confederated among themselves that
Butchers they would not keep any public standings in the shambles,
ke^'th'e0 but only sell their wares at their own dwelling-houses; two
shambtes. of them, John Smith and John Taylor, put the said agreement
Are fined into execution ; but on complaint being made to the Mayor,
and sent to he ordered them to be fined and committed to prison, where
prison. tney remainefi till they revoked their agreement, and paid the
said fine.
1438. A sharp famine made dreadful havoc in England and France,
Famine and which was followed by a great plague, that carried off a great
asue' number of the inhabitants of both kingdoms.
N 14il2- An Act of Common Council was made that every inhabitant
mento pay °f this city (not being free thereof) who should sell Bread or Ale
Quarterly within this city, or liberties thereof, should pay for such licence
7£d. 7\d. every quarter of a year, for the use of the city.
1444. John Shillingford, being elected Mayor, refused to be sworn,
and to execute the office ; complaint of which was made to the
King, on which he sent a writ, under his privy seal, commanding
the said John Shillingford to accept of the office on the penalty
of £1,000, in consequence of this he came to the Guildhall, on
the Monday after the Feast of St. Valentine, and there took the
customary oaths; and, notwithstanding he entered into the office
so reluctantly, he discharged it with great honour to himself,
and benefit to his fellow Citizens.
1445. A place for liberal education being much wanted in this city,
the Dean and Chapter converted an ancient chapel, dedicated to
School tne Holy Trinity* (situated in what is now termed Musgrave's
founded. Alley, then Trinity Lane) into a school, which they founded
by the name of the High School, for the better education of
youth in useful learning, and appointed a Master, for whose
accommodation they erected a convenient house adjoining the
school for his residence, and settled a salary on him of £20
per annum.
1447. A. long and troublesome suit at law, in which Bishop Lacy
and the Dean and Chapter of St. Peter were Plaintiffs, and
the Mayor and Commonalty of this city, Defendants, concerning
the liberties and bounds of the Mayor and his Officers' juris
diction, was referred to the decision of Thomas Courtenay,

* This Chapel, after having been desecrated and used for several purposes,
has of late years been restored again to the purpose of Divine worship, and
is now used as such by a large congregation, the followers of the late Rev.
John Wesley.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 75
Earl of Devon, and Sir William Bonville, Knight, who, after CHAP. II.
a full enquiry into the claims of both parties, awarded that Mayor's
the Mayor and his Officers, according to their ancient charters, Officers
confirmed to them by his Majesty's predecessors, had a right llave a
to carry their Maces within the said church, cemetery, and fee, rlght j? .
without any molestation or disturbance from the Bishop, Maces
Dean, or Chapter, and their successors, or any of their officers, within the
for ever. Cathedral,
Exe Bridge now becoming ruinous, (the lower part, with j1." lts
the piers only, being built of stone, whilst the upper part being
of framed timber, gravelled over) it was dangerous to the pas- Exe Bridge
seugers, therefore, the Mayor, John Shillingford, proposed deca3,ea'-
the re-building of it, and made application to Cardinal Kemp,
Archbishop of York, (with whom he had an intimate acquaint
ance) for his assistance therein ; but the sudden death of the
Mayor prevented, for that time, any further proceedings in this
salutary work.
The Bishop of Winchester, Thomas, Earl of Devon, and A- D'
John, Lord Stourton, were commissioned by the King to de
mand a loan of three ships, properly furnished and victualled, T en '"£
to convey soldiers into Bretagne, in France ; this supply was |oan"of 3
speedily and cheerfully granted by the city of Exeter — a con- ships which
vincing proof of the opulence of the inhabitants, and the share is complied
they had in the commerce of these times, when the city of w'"1-
London was subsidized, on this occasion, at six ships only.
The names of the assistant officers to the Mayor (which 1450.
hitherto had been termed Seneschalli, or Stewards) were altered
to Baillivi, or Bailiffs.
This year there were great commotions in several parts of the JackCade's
kingdom, principally occasioned by the oppression of the Barons rebellion.
and Clergy on the Commons, the latter of which assembled in
great numbers in the counties of Kent and Essex, under the
command of John Cade, an Irishman, who (assuming the name
of Mortimer, and pretending to be of royal extraction) made
himself master of the city of London, where he behaved with
the greatest insolence and cruelty. On this occasion the King T„e King's
sent his royal mandate to the Mayor and Citizens of Exeter, letter to the
commanding them to be strictly watchful, and to prevent any Citizens to
rebels from gaining admittance into their city ; the Citizens fh"m^ves
accordingly put themselves in arms, repaired the walls, scoured for defence.
the ditches, and held themselves in readiness to repel any
sudden attack ; but the defeat of the rebels, and death of Cade,
happily freed the country, for a short time, from civil commo
tions and domestic broils.
The King, in his tour through the West, on his entry into the 1451.

76

THE HISTORY OF

CHAP. II

The King
visits this
city. His recep
tion.
Hoi lings-
head.

Two men
found
guilty of
high treason.

A. D.
1453.

county of Devon, lodged one night at the Abbey of Ford,*
from thence he went to Ottery St. Mary, where he was re
ceived with great solemnity by the Canons, and after resting
there two nights proceeded on his journey towards this city,
and was met by the Knights and Gentlemen of the county
of Devon, at Honiton's Clist, and soon after by the Mayor
and Commonalty of this city, in number upwards of three hun
dred, richly apparelled in their livery gowns, of a murrey colour,
with black velvet capes and facings, having on each shoulder
a coif, on which was embroidered the city arms, (on a shield,
party, per pale, gules, and sable, a castle triple towered, or ;)
and at Liverydole was received by the Clergy in their copes
and vestments, and conducted into the city. At the Cross,
without South-gate, the Mayor delivered to the King the keys
of the gate, and rode in before him, bare-headed, carrying the
Mace through Southgate-Street, + to Carfoix, J and from
thence to St. Michael's Gate, § where he was received by the
Bishop, Canons, and Choir, in their richest copes. The King-
then alighted from his horse, and proceeded on foot to the
Cathedral, up to the high altar, where he remained during
Divine service, and was thence conducted to the Bishop's Pa
lace, and there continued eight days. During his residence at
the Palace he (with his suite) was elegantly entertained, at the
joint expence of the church and city.
The King, while staying in this city, issued out a Commission
to his Judges, to hold a court of general goal delivery, and for
that purpose they kept the court in the Bishop's Hall :" two men
were found guilty of high treason, and ordered to be executed ;
but the Bishop and Clergy asserting that the Judges sat in
commission within their sanctuary contrary to the privileges of
Holy Church, the King, to appease their clamours, pardoned
both the offenders.
From the weakness of the King's government, and the
disagreement among the chief commanders, the English were
dispossessed of all their conquests in France, except the town
of Calais, with a small territory belonging to it ; this occasioned
great discontents at home; and the partiality of the King for
his favourites so disgusted the noblemen, that many openly
espoused the cause of the Duke of York, and hence a scene

* Ford Abbey is a detached part of Devon, near four miles from Axminster.
+ It appears from this account that the principal road leading into the city,
from the East, was the Magdalen-street road.
t Carfoix — the four ways.
i Now Broad-gate.

i t . i - .-

J^j^ s

K

! *'-*Sejj

t3

v y *.j.

a

<3
t;-'i
H
Ef3
THE CITY OF EXETER. 77
of anarchy and confusion prevailed throughout the kingdom. CHAP. II.
A dispute arose at this time between Thomas Courtenay, Earl Qu^el
of Devon, and the Lord William Bonville, Baron of Shute, between the
which , according to some authors, originated about a dog ; but Earl of
it seems more probable that it arose from the complexion of £ev°n and
the times, and the different interests of the principals, the Earl Bonville.
being a strenuous defender of the house of Lancaster, and the
Lord Bonville of that of York. The quarrel concerning the h3"1!ings"
dog might heighten the animosity. The two Barons agreed to ea '
decide their differences by the strength of their arms ; and ac
cordingly both parties met on Clist Heath, near this city, cul't Heath
where (after a sharp conflict, and several being killed and
wounded on both sides) Lord Bonville was defeated, and, with o0rd...
his followers, retreated to Exeter : they were received within d°^[el
the walls, and the gates were closed after them, to prevent the takes
pursuers following : this reception gave great offence to the refuge in
Earl, who endeavoured to force an entrance, but was repelled Exeter-
by the Citizens. At length, by the mediation of the resident
Clergy, the parties were seemingly satisfied and departed by
different routes.*
The East-gate of the city becoming ruinous (being coeval A. D.
with the walls) fell down in the middle of the day, but provi- 1157-
dentially without hurt to any person, though several were f^'f^l,
passing by at the time.
It was customary in those days, on Midsummer-eve, to form 145s.
a grand procession, in which the Mayor, accompanied by the Midsum-
Aldermen and Common Council, in their robes, preceded by the mer Watch.
city waits, sergeants at mace, and other officers, all mounted
on horseback, and followed by the principal Citizens, and incor
porated trades in armour, each company being distinguished by
sumptuous pageants and devices proper to their several trades,f
and thus they paraded the city walls, to examine whether any
repairs were necessary, and then passed in the same procession
through the principal streets, each individual and company
endeavouring to outvie each other in the brightness of armour Citizens'
and sumptuousness of equipage: this was termed the Midsummer arms to be
Watch, the principal intent of which was to inspect the arms of ePl.la
the Citizens, to see if they were kept in proper repair, and fit

* It does not appear from history that the oity of Exeter openly espoused the
cause of either of the contending parties, but it should seem that this kind re
ception of Bonville was owing to the animosity that had so long existed between
the Courtenay family and the Citizens.
t Each company was commonly preceded by a statue, as large as life, (finely
painted and gilt) of the tutelar saint to whom the fraternity was dedicated — as
St. Peter, of the Fishmongers ; St. Lute, of the Painters, &c.

78

THE HISTORY OF

CHAP. 11.
Disputeabout
precedence, betweenthe Cord-
wainers and
Tuckers.

A. D.
1459.
St. Peter's
Church
profanedand shut up.

1460.
King taken
prisoner.

Exeter sends
money and
soldiers
to his
assistance.

Duke of
York defeatedand slain.
1461.

for immediate use ; also to punish, by fines, such as were found
deficient in such care of their arms.
At the procession of this year a dispute arose between the
Cordwainers and Tuckers concerning the right of precedence ;
this the Mayor appeased, by ordering the companies to march
together, one of each company hand in hand. John Kelly, the
late Mayor, refusing to attend in his place on this day's watch,
according to ancient custom, was fined ten marks, which he
accordingly paid.
Some young gentlemen happening to quarrel, in the body of
the Cathedral of St. Peter, they proceeded to blows, and in
this affray several persons were much hurt and wounded ; this
(according to the superstition of the times) so profaned the
church, by having human blood spilt in it, that the Dean and
Chapter ordered the doors to be shut, and Divine service to
cease, until the church could be newly consecrated : this (as the
Bishop was absent) was performed by one Thomas, a suffragan
to the Bishop of Bath*
The Duke of York having taken the King prisoner at the
battle of St. Alban, and causing himself to be declared Pro
tector, assumed the whole government into his own hands,
leaving the King nothing but the empty name ; the Queen
endeavoured to release the royal captive, assembled a body of
troops, and sent letters to his friends, desiring their assistance :
the Citizens of Exeter commiserating the unhappy state of
their monarch, raised a considerable sum by voluntary contribu
tions, and also levied thirty-one soldiers ; these they armed and
maintained at their own expence, and sent them, with the
money, to the Queen's army, accompanied by a messenger to
assure her of their stedfast loyalty to the King, and their readi
ness to assist him to the utmost of their power. The Queen
gave battle to the Duke at Wakefield, which proved fatal to
him, he and his second son (the Earl of Rutland, twelve years
of age) being slain in the conflict, his army totally routed, and
the King rescued from his captivity.
This sunshine of relief to the Lancasterian party lasted but
a short time ; the Duke of York's eldest son, Edward, Earl
of March, and Richard Nevil, Earl of Warwick, having
collected together the scattered remains of the routed army,

* From the confusion through the kingdom, by the pretensions of the houses
of York and Lancaster, it is probable that this quarrel arose among some of the
partisans on each side, who happened to meet in the Cathedral, where (not
withstanding the sacredness of the place) they could not prevent their
animosities from breaking out into acts of violence.

THE CITY OF EXETER.

79

and, being joined by the whole power of the Yorkists, again
took the field. On Palm Sunday, 1461, they met the Queen's
army at Towton, where a bloody battle was fought, which
lasted from morning till night, and ended in the total defeat of
the Lancaster ians.
In this battle (according to historians) fell the flower of the
English nobility, and 36,776 men were slain ; by this decisive
victory the whole of the Lancastrian power was broken, the
King again fell into the hands of his enemies, and being de
posed by an Act of (a time-serving) Parliament, Edward, Earl
of March was proclaimed King, and crowned at London on the
29th June following.
This year the great Conduit at Carfoix (being ruinous) was
new built, chiefly through the interest of William Duke, late
Mayor, who not only took on himself the overseeiug of the
work, but covered it with lead at his own expence. A parti
cular account of this Conduit will be given in its place.
MAYORS and BAILIFFS in the reign of Henry VI.

CHAP. II.
Battle of
Towton.

The Queen
defeated &:
the King
deposed. Carfoix
Conduit re
built.

1423.
John Batten.
John Hull.
William Bishop.
William French.
William Upton.
1424.
John Cook.
John Salter.
Thomas Nymett.
John Coscom.
Nicholas Trelawney.
1425.
Robert Voisey.
William May.
Peter Plenty.
John Cross.
John Smert. 1426.
Thomas Easton.
William Oke.
William Upton.
Walter Merryfield.

William Bishop.
1427.
John Hull.
John Cross.
Stephen Butterford,
John Trelawney.
John Bacon. 1428.
John Shillingford.
William Upton.
John Smert.
John Cook.
William Servington.
1429.
John Shillingford.
William Upton.
John Oram.
John Beaufitz.
Bennet Drew.1430.
John Hull.
Thomas Cook.

Nicholas Athole.
Andrew Thring.
Walter Pope. 1431.
William Cook.
John Cross.
John Smert.
John Troly.
Waller Merryfield.1432.
Thomas Cook.
John Bacon.
John Kirton.
Walter Pope.
Ralph Crudge. 1433.
John Salter.
Nicholas Athole.
Richard Orenge.
John Bagg.
Robert Ford. 1434.
William Cook.

80

THE HISTORY OF

CHAP. II. John Kirton.
===== Andrew Thring.
John Bagg.
Thomas Parson.
1435.
Thomas Cook.
John Kirton.
Andrew Thring.
John Bagg.
Thomas Parson.
1436.
John Cutler.
Bennet Drew.
John Coscom.
John Brown.
John Merrifield. 1437.
John Hull.
Richard Orenge.
William Atwill.
John Kelly.
William Hodge.
1438.
Bennet Drew.
Hugh Germin.
Vincent Hart.
John Coscom.
William Duke.
1439.
William Cook.
John Bagg.
John Smert.
Robert Ford.
William Hoody.
1440.
William Upton.
John Keluleigh.
Bennet Winchelsea.
William Crymell.
John Latch.

1441.
Thomas Cook.
Hugh Germin.
Thomas Parsons.
John Coscom.
John James. 1442.
John Cutler.
Peter Bray.
John Obleigh.
John Stanbury.
Andrew Thring. 1443.
Hugh Germin.
William Crymell.
John Clerk.
John Peacock.
Thomas Rouse.
1444.
John Shillingford.
John Beaufitz.
John Taylor.
John Gage.
Nicholas Hamlyn.
1445.
John Hull.
John Clerk.
John Germin.
John Betty.
Walter Swan. 1446.
John Shillingford.
John Germin.
Richard Drewell.
John Babridge.
Thomas Sampson.
1447.
John Shillingford.
John Germin.
John Hammond.
Nicholas Hamlyn.

John Spyne. 1448.
John Cutler.
William Duke.
Walter Sams.
Thomas Evelton.
John Avell. 1449.
Hugh Germin.
Bennet Winchelsea.
William Bishop.
William Atwill.
Thomas Sampson.
1450.
William Crymell.
William Bishop.
William Efford.
John Friend.
Robert May. 1451.
Hugh Germin.
Thomas Rouse.
Thomas Sampson.
John Salmon.
John Hammond. 1452.
Walter Pope.
John Avell.
Thomas Evelton.
Andrew Thring.
Walter Pafford. 1453.
Hugh Germin.
John Tillard.
Walter York.
Robert Smith.
Henry Dolling. 1454.
Richard Orenge.
John Betty.

THE CITY OF EXETER.

81

Vincent Hart.
Thomas Kelly.
John Spyne. 1455.
Hugh Germin.
Richard Drewell.
Thomas Evelton.
Thomas Bowyer.
John Turner. 1456.
William Duke.
Thomas Calwoodley
Richard Jeffery.
Robert Smyth.
William Fry.

1457.
John Kelly.
John Friend.
William Hogge.
John Turner.
John Hammond. 1458.
Richard Drewell.
Robert Smyth.
William Hogge.
John Hamlyn.
John Barsley. 1459.
John Betty.
John Spyne.

John Turner.
Richard Rumwell.
John Thomas. 1460.
William Duke.
Thomas Calwoodley.
William Hogge.
Thomas Hayle.
Richard Duke.
1461.
John Kelly.
John Hamlyn.
John Hammond.
John Turner.
Thomas Bowyer.

CHAP. II.

Edward IV. did not long enjoy his crown in peace ; the
Queen having escaped with her son, the Prince of Wales,
into Scotland, prevailed on the Scottish King to assist her with
a body of troops ; these were augmented by a great number of
auxiliaries sent to her by the French Monarch ; and, thus
strengthened, she again entered England, in 1463, but was
defeated by John Neville, Baron, of Montacute, at the head of
a numerous army; the unfortunate Henry, noj; knowing whither
to retire, and doubting the fidelity of the Scotch, endeavoured
to conceal himself in England, but being discovered, was seized
and carried to London, in the most ignominious manner, and
committed close prisoner to the Tower.
The Guildhall of this city being in a ruinous state was built
in a more convenient and elegant manner ; the Court of Hustings
was floored with plank, and elevated above the pavement,
wainscotted round, and proper seats were erected for the Mayor,
Aldermen, and Common Council, and galleries for the Juries.*
This year is most remarkable for the art of printing being
brought into England, by John Caxton, a citizen of London,
who, being sent to Haerlem, persuaded one of the compositors

AD.
1461.
Edward IV
1463.

Henry
again im
prisoned. 1464.
Guildhall
rebuilt.

Printing
firstbroughtinto Eng
land.

* There is an old building now standing in Waterbear-street which, accord
ing to tradition, was the ancient Guildhall ; and, from the style of the building,
and its great extent, this seems very probable. The architecture is evidently
Saxon, and it appears to have been erected long before the Norman Conquest.
Whether or not the hall was removed at this time to its present scite cannot be
ascertained, as no historian mentions it. The present Guildhall was erected on
the ground originally occupied by a Chapel dedicated to St. George.
Y

82

THE HISTORY OF

CHAP. II

A. D.
1466.
Act for
paving the
streets. 1467.

Dispute
with the
Bishop con
cerning a
tower on
the walls.
1460.
Edward de
feated and
taken pri
soner. Escapes.Defeats
Warwick. Clarence escapes to
Exeter. 1470.
Dethroned Flies to
Holland. 1471.
Warwick defeated
and slain.
Causeway
to Cowley
Bridge pa
ved by a
Priest.

to carry off a set or fount of letters, and to embark with him, in
the night, for England. The first printing press in this kingdom
was erected in Westminster Abbey ; and soon after a second
was set up in Tavistock Abbey, in this county.
The streets and passages in this city being unpaved, and full
of noisome and dangerous pits, an act was procured (chiefly
through the interest of Thomas Calwoodley and Richard Clark,
the representatives in parliament) for the paving thereof, and
removing all nuisances ; and thus the city became more pleasant
and healthy.
A dispute arose between the Bishop of Exeter and the Citizens,
concerning a tower on the city walls, at the lower end of the
Bishop's orchard, and where the Bishop's prison was kept ; for
which reason he claimed it as an inheritance of right. A trial
commenced before the King's Justices of Assize, at the Castle,
and a verdict was given in favor of the Citizens, who soon
after caused the tower to be taken down, and the materials
thereof to be used towards the reparation of the city walls.
A difference between King Edward and his principal sup
porter, the Earl of Warwick, now burst into a flame ; the Earl,
joined by his brother, the Archbishop of York, the Marquis of
Montacute, and George, Duke of Clarence, (Edward's own bro
ther) raised a powerful army, defeated Edward, took him
prisoner, and sent him to Middleham Castle, in Yorkshire; but
he found means (by bribing his guards) to make his escape ;
and, having levied a greater army than the former, attacked
the Earl so furiously that he made his escape to France; and
the Duke of Clarence, escaping westward, took refuge in
Exeter, where (in regard to his affinity to the King) he was
treated with great respect, and entertained at the city's expence,
till a ship could be procured for his conveyance to France.
TheEarl soon returned and defeated Edward, forced him
to abdicate the throne, and fly to Holland : he then restored
Henry, and, summoning a parliament, Edward was declared a
traitor and usurper, and all his estates were confiscated.
The next year Edward returned to England with 2000 men,
and levying, in a few days, a powerful army, marched towards
London, and was met by Warwick, at Barnet, where, after a
severe conflict, the Earl was defeated and slain. Edward
immediately proceeded to London . the unfortunate Henry was
again imprisoned, and Edward re-ascended the throne.
The causeway leading to Cowley Bridge was paved by a
Priest.*

Part of this pavement is still remaining (1800.) There is a tradition (hat

THE CITY OF EXETER. 83
Queen Margaret landed (with forces which she had procured CHAP. II.
in France) at Weymouth : this gave fresh spirit to the Lancas-
terians, who assembled themselves in different parts of the A- D-
kingdom ; the Duke of Somerset and the Earl of Devon came 14T2,
to Exeter, where they set up the standard of King Henry, and Henry's
sent for Sir Hugh Courtenay, of Powderham, Sir John standard
Arundel, and the principal men of their party in Devon and set nP> aui
Cornwall, who immediately joined them, together with their te^ns^s-"
followers, which were almost the whole power of the two semble at
counties. The Queen advanced to Bath, and was there joined Exeter.
by the Devon and Cornwall forces. Edward was not idle : he
soon assembled a powerful army, and met the Queen at Queen's ar-
Tewkesbury ; here a bloody battle ensued, which ended in the m3 defeat-
total defeat of the Queen's army, who, with her son, the Prince (al~ns _er;_s
of Wales, and the Duke of Somerset were made prisoners ; the souer— her
Earl of Devon, with many persons of note, and upwards ofsonmur-
3000 of their followers were slain : the Queen was treated by deled —
the conquerors with the greatest indignity, and the day after vQaJ °. e"
the battle the Prince of Wales was most barbarously murdered,
by the Duke of Gloucester, in the presence of Edward; and
the Duke of Somerset, with others of the nobility, were beheaded
without any form of trial.
Edward not thinking himself secure while Henry was living Henry
hinted his fears to his ferocious brother, the Duke of Gloucester, muraered-
who repaired to the Tower, where he stabbed Henry to the
heart. Edward, thus freed from his rival, made a tour through 1473.
his dominions ; and, approaching this city, in company with
the Queen and the Prince, his son, he was met at Livery dole cotnes l0
by the Mayor and principal Citizens, on horseback, richly Exeter.
apparelled in the livery of the city : at his entrance into
East-gate the Mayor presented him with the Keys and Maces,
which the King returned : he then proceeded to the Guildhall,
(the Mayor riding bare-headed, and carrying a Mace before
him) where he was presented, in the name of the Citizens,
with a purse containing one hundred gold nobles, and the
Queen and Prince with £20 in gold each : this was most
graciously received, and the King, in return for their loyalty,

this Priest was guilty of fornication and murder ; having first debauched a
young woman, who proved afterwards with child ; and that he, in order to
hide his shame, enticed her into Duryard Wood, and there murdered ber ; this
crime being discovered, he was, by way of penance, condemned to execute
this work himself, without any assistance, and that he was seven years in
completing it. There seems some mark of probability in this, when we
consider that in those days of ignorance and superstition the Clergy were ex
empt from the secular power ; and that, let their crimes be ever so henious,
penance was the only punishment.

84 THE HISTORY OF
CHAP. II. at his departure took his sword from his side and gave it to the
 ~ Mayor, to be carried before him, and his successors, on all
public occasions.*
Upwards of Edward, in the course of his journey, exercised the greatest
1400 No- cruelty on the partisans of the house of Lancaster: upwards of
blemen and j400 noblemen and gentlemen (adherents to King Henry's in-
ex'ecuted611 terest) were ordered, in cold blood, to be put to death ; and he
even caused his own brother, the Duke of Clarence, to be
drowned in a butt of Malmsey wine: these executions struck
the nation with terror ; and this appears to have given reason
for the civil reception he met with from the Citizens of Exeter,
(more out of fear than love) as they had, through the whole
course of these troubles, adhered to the cause of Henry, whose
unfortunate end they could not so soon forget.
A- D. The Corporation of Tailors procured a new charter from the
T,147^: King, which gave great offence to the Mayor and Common
procure a Council, who conceived it to be an infringement on their
new charter liberties: they therefore commenced a law suit, which was
from the carried on with great acrimony and expeuce for two years ; at
KinS- length the King interfered, and sent his orders, under his privy
Law suit seal, to Dr. Peter Courtenay, then Dean of this Cathedral,
tTere^n"06*1 commanding both parties to come to a final issue. The Dean
accordingly acquainted them with the King's orders, which put
a stop to further proceedings in law : however, the animosity
continued for several years after.
oahe'cT' Tlle country Bakers making a common practice of bringing
Bakers' * tneir Dread into the city, and hawking it from house to house"
against the to the great detriment of the city Bakers, and repugnant to
country their franchises, they preferred a complaint to the Mayor, who,
ones. witn n;s brethren, (in common council) enacted a bye law,
which restrained them from hawking, but gave them liberty
to bring their bread to the public market, and to have
standings for the sale thereof (on market days only) near the
great conduit. +
1479. A great pestilence raged throughout the kingdom, from the
Pestilence beSinning of September, 1479, to the end of November, 1480,
' which swept away an incredible number of people in the cities
of London and Exeter.
Complaints being made against John Bonnefant, one of the
Attornies of the Provost Court, in this city, as being guilty of
* Notwithstanding this donation of a sword, it does not appear in history
that any Sword-bearer was appointed to that office until the 12th of Henrv VII
A. D. 1497. J
t This custom has not been discontinued manv years : the writer of this well
remembers when, the country Bakers used to bring their bread in panniers, and
stand with it at the upper end of Cook-Row, between the Globe Alehouse, and
the corner of Fore-Street. '

1480.

THE CITY OF EXETER.

85

forgeries and other misdemeanours ; a thorough investigation
took place, and the crimes being proved against him he was
disfranchised, and forbad to practice any more in that court;
but not regarding this, and continuing his infamous conduct,
a complaint was renewed against him to the King, who sent a
commission to Thomas, Marquis of Dorset, the Lord-Lieutenant
of the county of Devon, to hear and determine the same : the
Marquis came to Exeter; and, after a fair trial, finding him
guilty of the crimes laid to his charge, passed this remarkable
sentence upon him : that he should be carried through the city
on horseback, on a market day, with a paper fixed to his breast,
on which should be legibly written, for forging false deeds and
evidences, and counterfeiting seals, evidently proved ; and the
sentence was executed accordingly.
The charter of incorporation of the Cordwainers and Curriers
of this city was renewed under the common seal thereof.
The Bakers were incorporated by the Mayor and Common
Council, under their common seal.
The charter of the Glovers and Skinners was also renewed.
An order was made by the Mayor and Common Council, that
every Receiver-General of this city should, on particular days,
wear a scarlet gown, the same as the Mayor and Aldermen, but
for distinction without a tippet of fur.
The King died of a fever, on the 9th of April, 1483, and was
succeeded by his eldest son, Edward.

CHAP. II.
John Bon-
nefant, an
Attorney,found
guilty of
Forgery.

Remark
able sen
tence upon
bim.

1481.

1482.

1483.

MA YORS and BAILIFFS in the reign of Edward IV.

1462.
Hugh Germin.
John Thomas.
William Aysh.
Walter Gervais.
Thomas Hayle.
1463.
Richard- Drewell.
Richard Jeffery.
John Hammond.
John Coming.
Henry Winchelsea. 1464.
Hugh Germin.
Richard Rumwell.
John Hart.
Robert Chubb.

Richard Baker.
1465.
Richard Drewell.
John Hammond.
Robert Symons.
John Coming.
John Ruet. 1466.
Hugh Germin.
Thomas Hayle.
Richard Clarke.
William Obley.
Stephen Rudgway.
1467.
Thomas Calwoodley
Richard Baker.

Robert Russell.
Thomas Pyke.
Nicholas Nawns.
1468.
John Hamlyn.
Robert Chubb.
Thomas Bowyer.
Richard Nawns.
John Luffingcot. 1469.
Robert Smith.
John Coming.
William Fownding.
Robert Newton.
Robert Giles.

86

THE HISTORY OF

chap.it. 1470.
 ; Hugh Germin.
Richard Clarke.
John Orenge.
Thomas Bond.
John Gibbs. 1471.
Richard Jeffery, Ob
Hugh Germin.
Walter Gervais.
David Johns.
John Tybott.
John Bernard. 1472.
Richard Clarke.
John Orenge.
John Atwill.
William Dark.
Thomas Ivelton.
1473.
Richard Rum well.
William Obleigh.
John Tybott.
Robert Bonnefant.
Richard Byrch.
1474.
Hugh Germin.

John Atwill.
David Johns.
Thomas Ivelton.
John Starr. 1475.
John Orenge.
Stephen Rudgway.
Roger Worth.
Henry Hanneford.
John Taylor. 1476.
John Atwill.
David Johns.
Matthew Jubb.
Richard Waggott.
John Germin. 1477.
John Kelly.
Roger Worth.
Robert Newton.
John Starr.
John Gibbs. 1478.
William Obleigh.
Robert Newton.
Richard Germin.

John Hampton.
John Coleshill. 1479.
John Atwill.
Robert Russell.
John Atwill.
John Harlewin.
John Weston. 1480.
Thomas Calwoodley.
Robert Symons.
William Duke.
John Matthews.
Henry Redway. 1481.
Richard Drewell.
John Rewer.
John Down.
John Calwoodley.
William Lang.
1482.
Roger Worth.
Matthew Jubb.
Thomas Pyke.
William King.
John Slugg.

A. D.
1483.
Edward V.
The young
King and
his brother
murdered in the
Tower. Richd.IIIelected King.

Gloucester, who had (as before observed) already steeped
his hands in royal blood, got (under pretensions of their safety)
the young King, with his brother, the Duke of York, into his
possession, and shut them up in the Tower of London ; where,
by his assasssins, he caused the young King, then but twelve
years of age, and his brother to be smothered in their beds,
after a short reign (if it may be so termed) of two months and
twelve days.
Gloucester having thus removed the principal objects to his
ambitious views procured a parliament for his purpose, who
bastardized the posterity of his brothers, (Edward and Cla
rence) and voted him the vacant throne, as the only lineal
descendant of the Duke of York: but a confederacy was formed
against the usurper, by many of the principal nobility of both
parties, in favor of Henry, Earl of Richmond : many of the
principal men in Devon and Cornwall joined this confederacy;

THE CITY OF EXETER. 87
among these were Sir Edward Courtenay, Peter Courtenay, CHAP. II.
Bishop of Exeter, Sir William Courtenay, and others of great-
note.* Richard soon got intelligence of the plot, and marched
against the revolters, who were headed by the Duke of
Buckingham ; and the Duke, being deserted by his army, was
betrayed, taken prisoner, and beheaded immediately ; this R.
struck terror into the others, who endeavoured individually to comes t0
escape. Richard marched westward, (in order to smother the Exeter.
very embers of the revolt) and came to this city, where he had
before sent Lord Scroop, with a special commission to try the commission
conspirators ; accordingly a court was held for that purpose at held at
Torrington, where Thomas, Marquis of Dorset, Peter Court- Torrington.
enay, Bishop of Exeter, Sir Edward Courtenay, Walter sir Thomas
Courtenay, his brother, and others (to the number of five hun- St. Leger
dred) who had found means to escape, were outlawed : and Sir and Thomas
Thomas St. Leger, (who had married Richard's own sister) ?a.3"nf'?sq
and Thomas Rayme, Esq. were found guilty of high treason, jjxeter-
taken to Exeter, and beheaded at the Carfoix. f
On the King's entrance into this city he was received at the Richard's
East-gate by the Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council, in reception at
their robes, accompanied by the corporated bodies, in their Exeter-
livery gowns ; and Thomas Hext, the Recorder, congratulated
him in an elegant oration, t (for whith the city bestowed on
him a scarlet gown :) the Mayor then delivered to the King the
maces and keys of the city gates, and presented him with a
purse containing two hundred gold nobles; the King then re
turned the maces and keys, and was conducted to the Bishop's
Palace, where he lodged during his stay, and was elegantly
entertained for the time at the city's expence ; as were also the
noblemen and others of his suite, at the houses of the principal
Citizens. The King visited the chief places of the city, and was
highly pleased with its pleasant and healthy situation, as well
* Mr. Carew, in his Survey of Cornwall, says, that so great was the influence
of the Courtenay family at this period, that the inhabitants both of Devon and
Cornwall flocked to their standard.
.+ Corruptly from the French, quatre voix, the four ways. This was not so
contracted by buildings as at present, but formed a square, (where the streets
crossed each other) and at each corner was a statue, similar to that now re
maining at the corner of North-gate-street: one of these (some years since)
stood in Alderman Coplestone's court, (now Mr. Hunt's, Painter) and was
supposed to have formed one angle of the square.
t The Recorder could not say muoh in praise of Richard's virtues ; hut as
many of the Citizens were involved in the late conspiracies, (from their
connexions with the Courtenay family) they no doubt dreaded his vindictive
disposition, and endeavoured to soften his resentment ; and they succeeded to
their wishes.

88

THE HISTORY OF

CHAP. II.
AD.
1484.
The King
demand 20
soldiers,who are
sent on the
instant.

1485.

The Earl of
Richmond
lands in
Wales.

Battle of
Bosworth. Richard
slain ; and
Richmond
proclaimed King.

as the strength and elevated site of the castle ;* and he returned
to London fully gratified with his reception at Exeter.
The front of the Guildhall and the Council Chamber was
rebuilt. Richard, expecting an invasion from the Earl of Richmond,
sent letters to the Mayor of Exeter, by Sir Ralph Hastings,
demanding a supply of twenty soldiers, who were levied on the
instant, completetly armed, and sent under the Knight's com
mand to the place appointed, where they remained twenty days,
being maintained at the city's expence ; but as no invasion took
place this year they were dismissed and sent home again.
The universal discontent in the kingdom seemed to further
the Earl of Richmond's pretensions ; and great numbers of
English exiles (who fled from Richard's tyranny) joining
him daily, encouraged him to proceed in his intended expedi
tion : he therefore set out from Harfleur, the 30th July, 1485,
and landed safely at Milford Haven, in Wales : he was accom
panied by the exiles and nearly 2,000 men, who had been sent
to his assistance by the French King, and on his landing he
was joined by Sir Ralph ap Thomas, at the head of a consider
able body of Welchmen; and by Sir William Stanley at the
head of 2,000 more: his army thus increasing daily, he marched
forward and was met by Richard, at Bosworth, in Leicester
shire. Richard's armj was defeated, and he himself slain,
while the field of battle resounded on all sides, " Long live
King Henry VII."
MA YORS and BAILIFFS in the reign of Edward V. and
Richard HI.

1483.
John Atwill.
John Coleshill.
William Dark.
Thomas Pyke.
John Symons.

1484.
Matthew Jubb.
John Weston.
John Hooker.
John Whitelock.
John Starr.

1485.
Robert Russel.
Henry Hanneford.
Philip Atwill.
Matthew Allington.
Nicholas Hamlyn.

1485. Henry, having ascended the throne, espoused the Princess
Henry VII Elizabetk> (the daughter of Edward IV.) thereby uniting the
' claims of both the houses, whose pretensions had distracted

* Historians relate that on Richard's asking the name of the castle he was
answered Rougemont, which greatly terrified him, (as he had been told by a
soothsayer that his days would not be long after he had seen Richmond) mis
taking the similarity of sound in the names : but it is likely this was invented
after his death.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 89
the nation and deluged it with blood, during the greater partof CHAP. H.
a century. ¦ 
This year an unheard of disorder visited the nation, termed
the Sweating Sickness; it rapidly spread itself, and carried off
multitudes, particularly in this city.
The Barber Surgeons were first incorporated under the com- A. D.
mon seal of the city. 1487.
Ale Conners (or Tasters) were appointed, to examine whether
the beer brewed for sale was good and wholesome.
The King intending to send an army of 8000 men to the 1488.
assistance of the Duke of Bretagne, (then at war with the The King
French) ordered his royal mandate to this city, for a supply of jj*mand!
two hundred soldiers; who were accordingly levied, completely whi^ „"s
armed, and sent to Portsmouth, to join the forces there sent accor-
assembled. dingly.
The privileges annexed to cities and corporate towns were Earl of
now thought worthy the acceptance of the greatest Barons ; Devon
accordingly we find that this year Edward Courtenay, Earl ™fadhe free
of Devon, was made free of this city. This is the first honorary city.
freeman that appears upon record.
A special commission came from the King commanding the 1489.
Mayor and Common Council to make a general inspection ofTh „. ,
the arms and armour of the Citizens; and thereupon every in- or(jer /0nrgs
habitant was ordered to furnish himself and family with sufficient arming the
arms, and a due report thereof was made to his Majesty. Citizens.
The Weavers and Fullers were incorporated under the com- Weavers &
mon seal of the city. Fullers in-
This year the best wheat was sold in Exeter market at 6d. corP°™te<J-
per bushel ; which, according to the value of money at that Wheat
period, answers to near 2s. 3d. of the present coinage. sold 3160".
The Cappers, Haberdashers, and Feltmakers, (Hatters) re- per Bushel.
ceived a charter of incorporation under the common seal of the coa er8t"}~
city. rporae ¦
The town duties having been evaded the Mayor and Common 1495.
Council caused the ancient usage of the city to be restored, (ac- Tolls of the
cording to their charters) and issued an order that every person Market-
not being free of the city that should expose for sale any mer
chandize, wares, or other commodities, within the limits of the
same, should pay a toll of one half-penny per day : this cus
tom is still continued, (but increased to a penny) called market
dues, and collected by a person who farms the said toll of the
chamber. This year great dissensions arose among the Citizens con- 1496.
cerning the election of a Mayor; when (for preventing the same Dissension
in future) it was ordered by the Mayor and Common Council, '^""^
that no election of a Mayor, or other officer should be held Mayorf "
a2

90 THE HISTORY OF
CHAP. II. good, unless the same was made according to the ancient
 "" usage and custom of the city ; and that the Mayor, with the
twenty-four members of the Common Council, should be the
only electors. It was also ordered that the Mayors in future
Different should have their scarlet gowns lined with sarcenet: the Re-
wornbythe ceivers to have gowns of crimson, in grain ; and that every
Mayor, &c. member of the Common Council should wear a gown of violet,
(or murrav colour) in grain.
The King's avarice and arbitrary measures (for procuring
money) discontented his subjects, and made his reign a con
tinued series of troubles and divisions, which encouraged the
partisans of the house of York to set up several imposters ; one
Lambert 0f which, Lambert Simnel, the son of a Baker, at Oxford,
ST".fs being a comely personage, and greatly resembling the young
rebellion. Ear, of warwic^ sfm arirj heir to the late Duke of Clarence,
(whom the King had shut up in the Tower) declared himself,
by the insinuation of a crafty priest, named Richard Simon,
to be the identical Earl of Warwick, escaped from his confine
ment, and the lawful heir of the house of York : this drew
many to his standard ; but Simnel, after various adventures,
was defeated by the King's forces, at Stoke, near Lincoln, and
made prisoner, together with the Priest, his tutor ; when (con
fessing their imposture) the King spared their lives; made
Simnel one of his falconers, but imprisoned the Priest for
life.
A. D. No sooner was this ended than another of more consequence
1497. broke out in Cornwall; where the people thinking themselves
rebellion in aggrieved by a new subsidy levied on them, assembled together
Cornwall, in great numbers, under the lead of Thomas Flammock, a
Lawyer, and Michael Joseph, a Blacksmith, of Bodmin ; and
proceeding to open acts of violence, seized on the Provost of
Penryn, (one of the commissioners for collecting the said sub
sidy) and most barbarously murdered him ; they then marched
Rebels towards Exeter, but the Citizens, apprised of their intentions,
Exeter. Pu* themselves in arms, barricadoed the bridge, and opposed
Are repul- their entrance. The rebels thus opposed altered their route,
sed. proceeded to Tiverton, and from thence to Taunton, where they
Proceed to were joined by TAoMias Touchet,LordAudley, who, taking upon
himself the chief command, marched them (without opposition)
through Wells, Salisbury, and Winchester, and encamped on
Black Heath, near London. The King assembled what forces
he could, and a bloody conflict ensued, in which the Cornish-

* Mr. Isaac, in his Memorials, is mistaken when he places Simnefs rebellion
after Perkin Warbeck's, it happened the year before ; also in his account of
Simnel's besieging Exeter, as no such event ever took place, his rebellion being
confined to the North of England.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 91
men were defeated after fighting with the greatest courage and CHAP. II.
obstinacy: their ringleaders were taken prisoners ; LordAudley~
(after being degraded from his dignity) was beheaded ; and Cornish
Flammock and Joseph, the Blacksmith, were hanged, drawn, T?b{e]\ d
and quartered, and their heads and quarters fixed on stakes,
and set up in different places.
Before this commotion was well over another Pretender ap- Perkin
peared, (this gave Henry more trouble than the former) his name Warheck
was Perkin Warheck, the son of a converted jew ; he was born P/6!""^3 1°
in England, spoke his native language well, and being of aofYork
comely personage, pretended to be Richard, Duke of York,
brother of King Edward V. ; and that he had escaped from the
hands of his cruel uncle, Richard. Patronised and acknow
ledged as such by Margaret, Duchess of Burgundy, who still
retained her family hatred to the house of Lancaster, he easily
persuaded a number of idle and discontented people to espouse
his cause : this was greatly contributed to by the Kings of
France and Scotland, from envy to King Henry: the former,
by his persuasions, and the latter by giving him in marriage the
Lady Catherine Gordon, his own kinswoman.
Warbeck having by these means collected a great number of
followers attempted a descent in Kent; but being repulsed,
with the loss of many of his men, he took refuge in Ireland.
Here, being informed of the commotions in Cornwall, and
understanding that the Cornishmen, exasperated at their late
defeat, were ready to renew their rebellion, he mustered about
four-score men, which, with his wife, he embarked on board
four small ships, and landing in Cornwall, proceeded to Bod- Lands in
min; where he so prevailed on the people by his fair speeches Cornwall.
and large promises, that upwards of 3000 soon joined his
standard : thus reinforced he, by the advice of his three
principal counsellors, John Heron, a bankrupt Mercer, Richard
Skelton, a Tailor, and John Astley, a Scrivener, marched
towards Exeter : his army being increased on its march to up
wards of 6000, he sat down before the city, and summoned the Besieges
Citizens to surrender, commanding them to open their gates and Exeter.
admit him and his followers: this being refused the rebels began
a furious assault ; but the Citizens (fully prepared) gave them
a warm reception, and repulsed them as often as they returned
to the assault; opening their gates and discharging their Port
Pieces* charged with pieces of glass, old iron, and musket

* One of those Port Pieces was remaining (in the author's memory) and laid
on the left side of the passage under the East-gate : it was composed of flat iron

92 THE HISTORY OF
CHAP. II. balls, which made a great slaughter of the assailants. The
 rebels finding no hopes of success turned the siege into a
blockade, thinking to compel the Citizens to surrender by
famine. The King being informed of their distress sent Lord
Daubeny, at the head of a body of forces, to attempt their re
lief, while he himself collected an army to follow them ; but
before Daubeny 's arrival, Edward Courtenay, Earl of Devon,
accompanied by Lord William Courtenay, his son, Sir Edmund
Carew, Sir Thomas Trenchard, Sir William Courtenay, of
Powderham, Sir Thomas Fulford, Sir John Halwell, Sir John
Crocker, Walter Courtenay, Peter Edgcombe, and William
Seymour, Esquires, with many other gentlemen, having col-
The siege lected their tenants, and what other forces they could, came to
raised. the Citizens' relief: on this the rebels broke up the siege and
Warbeck marched for Taunton, where Warbeck found his forces greatly
retires to diminished by desertion; and on hearing of the King's approach
Taunton, towards him, he secretly left his army and took sanctuary in
the Abbey of Beaulieu, in Hampshire. The King, hearing of
his escape, sent a body of troops in pursuit of him ; to these he
Warbeck surrendered himself, on promise of having his life spared ; and
taken. Henry then proceeded to Exeter, where hundreds of the rebels,
King comes made prisoners, had been sent. On his entrance into the city
to Exeter. ne was receivec| with great acclamations and conducted to the
Guildhall, where he thanked the Citizens in the most grateful
manner for their stedfast loyalty and bravery in defending the
city committed to their charge ; and he assured them of his
constant readiness to promote their interest, and protect their
privileges. He then, preceded by the clergy, went to the Trea
surer's house,* (within the Close) which had been prepared for
his reception, and immediately gave orders for the speedy trial
of the rebels, most of whom were found guilty and sentenced to
Ringlead- death ; but the King ordered the ringleaders only to be executed,
ers execu- who were hanged and quartered upon Southernhay ; the rest
ted. were brought before him, with halters round their necks, and,
falling on their knees, they begged for mercy : the King beheld

bars, strongly hooped together with iron, (similar to a cask) and was near
twelve feet in length, and twelve inches diameter at the mouth (as far as
memory can answer ;) it did not seem to have ever been fixed on a carriage, as
it had no trunuions, but strong iron rings on the sides, for the purpose of moving
it from place to place ; and probably when it was discharged it was plaoed on
a mount, or logs of wood laid, for the purpose of elevating it. This curious
relic of antiquity was sold for old iron, by a city Receiver, though of little
value, being eat out with rust. There is a cannon of the same sort still
remaining in the armoury of the Tower of London.
* This house was (very judiciously) taken down, in 1798, to open a view of
the eastern part of the Cathedral.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 93
them from a window,* made for that purpose, in the front of CHAP. II.
the Treasury House: he paused for awhile, and then admonish-
ing them, and exhorting them to future obedience, he pardoned
them all, to the great joy of the spectators, who joined the ^1°
prisoners in loud shouts of " Long live King Henry VII." pardoned.
Dissensions still continued among the Citizens concerning
the right of electing the Mayor and other Officers ; and two
rolls of the city records, containing the ancient customs and N c|
usages by which the said elections were governed, being either ter to
lost or embezzled, an information was laid before the King, regulatethe
who ordered the Mayor and Common Council into his presence, Section of
and, in order to prevent future contentions, caused the follow- ^°rs aDd
ing regulations to be made, and confirmed them, under his Officers.
royal sign manual, by the following charter :
"Henry, by the Grace of God, King of England, and of
France, and Lord of Ireland. To all and every of our subjects
to whom shall appertain these our Letters, hearing or seeing,
greeting." " Whereas, in divers times past, great inconveniences, strifes,
and debates, have been had and made within this our city of King
Exeter, for the election of a Mayor, Four Bailiffs, and Four- Henry's
and-twenty of the Common Council, and Four Sergeants at Ularler'
Mace of the same, as by the grievous complaints of the Citizens
and Inhabitants of our said city, unto us thereupon made,
more plainly it hath been declared. And for a peaceable
election of and upon the premises hereafter to be used and had
within our said city, we, of our special grace, tender love,
and zeal, which we have and bear to our said city, and for the
redress, restfulness, and common weal of the same, by the
assent and consent of the Common Council of our said city,
and other staid and discreet Citizens of the same, have
ordered, provided, and established, that from henceforth there Tw«ntJ-
shall be Four-and-twenty of the most sufficient and discreet ^,0""'
Citizens and Inhabitants of the same,, of the Common Council, cilmen to
for the term of their lives; and none to be removed except it be be chosen.
for poverty, disease, great age, or other cause reasonable,
which causes shall be adjudged and determined by the said
Four-and-twenty, or by the greater part of them ; and after
the decease of any of the Four-and-twenty, or the removal of
them, (as is before rehearsed) that then the residue of the said
Four-and-twenty shall elect and choose unto them another
Citizen, most sufficient, and an inhabitant of our said city, to

* This window was evidently of a more modern date than the body of the
building.
B 2

94 THE HISTORY OF
CHAP. II. fulfil the whole number of the said Four-and-twenty, according
'  as the custom is of the Four-and-twenty Aldermen within our
Mode of city of London, the names of the said Four-and-twenty of the
Meact^on°f Common Council now named before us in a schedule hereunto
the^twenty- annexed. Also, we will, that the Monday next before the Feast
four Com- of St. Michael, the Archangel, yearly hereafter, the Mayor of
mon Coun- 01Jr said city of Exeter, for the time being, with his brethren
oilmen. ancj corrimons 0f our sajr] city, that then shall be franchised
men, shall assemble themselves in the Guildhall of our said
city, and then and there the Four-and-twenty, or the more
part of them, upon their oaths, by privy scrutiny, and by the
report of the Recorder and Town-Clerk for the time being,
T upon their oaths, shall elect and choose Two of the most able
two to the Citizens of the said Four-and-twenty, for a Mayor of our said
Freemen, city, for the year then next ensuing, who hath been approved
before in the office of a Mayor, or else of a Receiver, (the
Mayor then for the time being always to be excepted from being
elected one of the two persons so before named, as is before
rehearsed.) Also, we will, that the said Four-and-twenty at
c'™"[f.r„. the same time shall elect and choose Four Bailiff's, whereof
andBailins. . .. . _ . . • . _ JJ '
one shall be Receiver; and that as well ot the Four-and-twenty,
as of other the most able Citizens and Inhabitants of our said
city, so that they be franchised men, and of good name and
fame. Also, we will, that the same day the said Four-and-
And Three twenty shall elect and choose Three Sergeants, franchised men
Sergeants. 0four sa.id city, who best can, and best may attend and execute
their office, after their discretion. And after the election so
made and had, then the said Recorder and Town-Clerk, or
one of them, shall publish and shew to the said Four-and-
twenty which two of them for the election of a Mayor hath
most voices, and to shew their names to the Commons, that be
re'tu'r'n'o'ne0 franchised men, and they to choose one of them to be Mayor
of the two of our said city, for the year then next ensuing, and he that
presented, shall so fortune to have most voices of franchised men, to be
accepted and admitted for to be Mayor; and after this done
the said Recorder and Town-Clerk, or one of them, to present
and shew the names of all the other Officers, so elected and
chosen, unto the said Commons, in the presence of the said
Four-and-twenty. Also, we will, that the Monday next
ensuing the said election the said Citizens so elected to be
The Mayor Mayor and all other Officers, in the open court, at the Guild-
tteFoarth lial1' sha11 be SWOr" and take their oaths> according to the old
Sergeant'. llsaSes and laudable customs of our said city ; and after that
the same Mayor so sworn shall choose an able Citizen and

THE CITY OF EXETER. 95
franchised man to be the Fourth Sergeant of our said city, CHAP. II.
which Sergeant before this time hath been used to be chosen 
and named only by the Mayor, and none other, according to
the old customs of our said city. Also, that none of the said
Four-and-twenty, nor other Officer of our said city, use or ^on® of tIle
wear any Lord's clothing, nor Gentleman's livery, " nor bear ^ea^Tny
cognizance from henceforth, upon pain of being deprived of livery or
their office and losing their franchises. Also, we will, that badge.
what person or persons, of what estate, degree, or condition,
whatever he or they be, presume or contend the breach of this
our direction and provision, for the election and other premises,
as are before rehearsed, that he or they so offending shall for
feit unto the use of our said city Ten Marks, and over that
stand in our high displeasure. Given under our priory seal,
at our Manor of Greenwich, the 10th day of July, in the
Thirteenth year of our reign."*
To confirm this charter the King appointed William Frost
(sometime one of his servants, and one of the Four Bailiffs
of the city the preceding year) to be Mayor; and to testify the The King
great regard and esteem he had for the Citizens, in return for pfesents the
their loyalty in bravely defending the city during the late MVr wltl'
rebellion, he took his Sword from his side, which, with a rich Sword &c
Cap of Maintenance, he presented to the new Mayor, com
manding them to be worn and carried before him and his ^word-
successors on all public occasions : a Sword-bearer was accord- appointe,j
ingly appointed, the first of whom was Francis Gilbert, Esq.
The Princess Catharine of Spain, espoused to the King's A D
eldest son, Arthur, Prince of Wales, arriving at Plymouth 1501.°
was conducted by the principal gentry of the county to this city, pri„cess
where she was received with the greatest honour and respect. Catharine
Her residence was at the house of the Dean : during her stay of sPain
the weather proving stormy, and the weather-cock of St. Mary a"' ve^ln
Major's steeple (contiguous to her lodgings) making so great a
noise, from the violence of the wind, as to prevent her from
taking her rest, she complained of it ; and, in consequence,
the cock was took down, but was replaced after her departure.
She rested here several days; then, by short journies, proceeded
to London, and thence into Wales, where she was married to
the Prince.
A dreadful pestilence ravaged the kingdom and made great 1503.
havock in this city, carrying off great numbers of the inhabitants; A at
among which were Robert Newton and John Danester, succes- pestilence.
sively Mayors; and John Guscott and John Nordon, two of
the Bailiffs.

* This mode of election of the city Officers has been ever since duly employed,
and continues to the present time.

96

THE HISTORY OF

CHAP. II

A. D.
1504.

This great calamity also carried off whole families of the
city, many of whom being freeholders, or who held their lands
of the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty, as chief Lords, by
Soccage Tenure, great disputes arose among the claimants of
the said lands, (as heirs of the deceased) and therefore an
inquisition was held, and the disputes were settled before the
Magistrates, when an ancient custom of this city was again put
in force, viz : that every freeholder is bound to pay for his
relief 2s. 6d.'
King Henry died of the gout, at his Palace of Richmond, in
Henry dies. gu„eyj anf] was succeeded by his only surviving son, Henry.
MA YORS and BAILIFFS in the reign of Henry VII.

1508.

1486.
Thomas Calwoodley
Thomas Bond.
George Chapman.
Walter Champnys.
John Bonnefant. 1487.
Robert Newton.
John Hooker.
Henry Faux.
Richard Turner.
William Baker.
1488.
Richard Clarke.
George Chapman.
John Rudgway.
John Ector.
William Eastcott.
1489.
Stephen Rudgway.
Matthew Allington
Robert Bonnefant.
Walter York.
Simon Davy. 1490.
John Hooker.
John Calwoodley.
Richard Undy.

Wvmond Austin.
John Welch. 1491.
Robert Chubb.
Nicholas Hamlyn.
Robert Bonnefant.
William Nordon.
John Guscott. 1492.
John Atwill.
Walter Champnys.
John Winter.
Ralph Pudesly.
Richard Cliff.
1493.
John Coleshill.
Richard Undy.
John Danester.
Richard Nordon.
John Merrifield. 1494.
William Obleigh.
John Slugg.
Thomas Andrew.
John Hull.
Thomas Oliver.
1495.
John Calwoodley.

John Bonnefant.
Philip Bullock.
John Wilkin.
Nicholas Aburn.
1496.
John Atwill.
Walter York.
William Frost.
Thomas Langworthy.
William Binks.
1497.
William Frost.
John Danester.
Richard Hewett.
John Buckenam.
William Wilkinson.
1498.
Richard Undy.
John Hull.
John Vigures.
John Brendon.
William Cleyhanger.
1499.
Nicholas Hamlyn.
John Symons.
John Scrivener.
John Wills.
Robert Bonnefant.

THE CITY OF EXETER.

97

1500.
Walter York.
Thomas Andrew.
Jeffery Lewes.
John Bowyer.
Robert Sheerman. 1501.
John Calwoodley.
William Crudge.
William Peck.
Thomas Oliver.
John Whitwever. 1502.
Walter Champnys.
Richard Hewett.
John Nosworthy.
Jervais Lushant.
Thomas Hill.
1503.
Robert Newton, Ob.

John Danester, Ob.
William Frost.
John Guscott, Ob.
John Limpenny.
John Thomas.
John Nordon, Ob.
John Wilkins. 1504.
Thomas Andrew.
JohnGumby. Peter Coleshill.
John Thomas.
John Bead more.
1505.
William Crudge.
John Bonnefant.
William Shaxton.
John Scott.
John Hoig.

1506. CHAP. 11.
Richard Hewett.
John Limpenny.
John Orenge.
Richard Duke.
Reynold Russel.
1507.
John Calwoodley.
John Buckenham.
Matthew Moore.
Vincent Scott.
Reynold Russel.
1508.
John Limpenny.
William Wilsford.
William Bonnet.
John Kever.
Win. Huntington, Ob.
William Matthew.

Henry VIII. as soon as he ascended the throne, was (accord
ing to his father's will) married to the Princess Catharine, the
widow of his brother, Arthur; and, with his Queen, was
crowned at Westminster, on Midsummer-day, 1509.
Several Merchants having imported goods into the port of
Exeter, and refusing payment of the Petty Customs, (or Town
Dues) the said goods were seized, as forfeited, until composition
was made for the same.
This year war was declared against the French King, and
proclaimed in this city ; and an invasion being intended by
France the King sent his orders to the Mayor to provide thirty
soldiers to attend him in the said expedition ; these were accord
ingly levied and completely armed, by the voluntary contribu
tions of the Citizens.
Sir Thomas Dennis, Knight* a gentleman of an ancient
and respectable family, much esteemed for his knowledge in the
laws, was chosen Recorder of Exeter.

A.D. 1509.
Hen. VIII.
1511.
Goods
seized for
non-payment of
town duties
1512.
The King
demands 30
Soldiers.

1513.

* This gentleman, it is said, lived in the reign of Seven Kings and Queens of
this kingdom : he was Domestic Servant to Henry VII. ; one of the Privy
Council to Henry VIII. ; Chancellor to Queen Anne, of Cleves ; Custos
Rotulorum of the County of Devon ; and seven times Sheriflfof the said county:
once two years together, (contrary to law) for which he was fined £200.
c 2

98 THE HISTORY OF
CHAP. II. The right of demanding Dominicals (in lieu of Tythes) by
A. d. the parish Priests of this city being disputed, and several of the
1515. inhabitants refusing to pay the same, the cause was tried in the
Dominicals King's Court, in the Guildhall, and judgment given in favor of
refused. the Priests. It doth not appear what sum was demanded, but
the following composition (in lieu of Tythes) was appointed by
an Act of Parliament, in the year 1457.
Compositi- « The composition of all offering within the city of London
°°s ^or and suburbs of the same."
1 ¦ "", "First, that every person, dweller, and inhabitant, in any
house and occupieth the same at Ten shillings per annum, shall
offer to God, and to the church in whose parish such house
standeth, one farthing on each of the Feast days hereafter men
tioned, viz: on every Sunday in the year, Christmas-day,
Circumcision, Epiphany, Purification of our Lady, Ascension
of our Lord, Corpus Christi, St. Matthew, St. Simon and St.
Jude, All Saints, St. Andrew, Conception of the Blessed
Virgin, St. Thomas the Apostle, St. Peter, St. Paul, St. James
St. Bartholomew, Assumption and Nativity of our Lady, and
Dedication-day, to be kept for all the churches, and also on
the Patron's day of each church. And if such inhabited houses
be let for Twenty shillings, to pay two farthings, or half-penny ;
if for Thirty shillings to pay three farthings ; if for Forty
shillings to pay one penny ; if for Fifty shillings to pay one
penny farthing ; and so for every sum, ascending and descend
ing by Ten shillings, into what sum soever, shall always offer
one farthing after the rate of Ten shillings, at the aforesaid
Feasts. And he who rents houses in divers parishes shall pay
or offer the same for each house, to the church in which parish
it stands. Provided that should it happen that two of the said
Feasts fall on one day, the offering shall be only for one day.
That a house rented at 6s. 8d. shall offer only four times in the
year ; on the four principal Feasts of the church of which he is
a parishioner; and all above 6s. 8d. and under Ten shillings, to
pay one penny farthing once a year. Provided always, that if
the said dweller go before the Curate, and there declare upon
his faith and truth, that he may not pay his said money accord
ing to the ordinance aforesaid, "being within Ten shillings, the
said Curate shall holden him aught or nought, and the dweller
thereupon shall be quyte: and if the rent of the house exceeds
Ten shillings, and does not amount to Thirty shillings, and so
to any sum between Ten shillings and Thirty shillings, the
inhabitant shall pay to the Curate five farthings for every shil
ling of the said sum that shall be between Ten and Ten.
Where a house is taken together, and afterwards let out into

THE CITY OF EXETER. 99
apartments, for civers people, then the person that took the CHAP. II.
whole house, and inhabiteth the principal part thereof, shall 
pay an offering to his parish church for the whole rent, if the
said house be inhabited and occupied as dwelling places. But
if the person who rents the whole house does not dwell in part
thereof, and lets it out again, then he that dwelleth in the
principal part thereof shall offer all, and the rest four-pence by
the year Also, every warehouse, shop, cellar, wharf, stable,
crane, ground, garden, or place, shall pay for every Pound
they are let for sixpence offering, to the Curate of the church
in which they shall stand, without any other offering ; and
three-pence for Ten shillings per annum rent, and more or less
as they shall be let for more or less than Ten shillings per
annum. It was also provided, that all apprentices and servants,
and hired men, not charged with such rent and houses, which
shall be householder at Easter or about Easter, shall, four
times in the year, at the four principal Feasts, offer to God and
the church. Also, as for personal Tythes, the parishioners
are neither charged or discharged, saving that hereafter no
Curate shall vex, trouble, sue, or deny sacraments, or service,
for non-payment of the same, but leave them to the piety and
conscience of the parishioners. Also, all proceedings and suits
hitherto carried on for tythes or offerings, before this day, shall
stop, and never be brought into controversy any more ; but all
such things done before this day shall be remitted and forgiven,
by both parties."
This year was remarkable for an intense frost, which con- A. D.
tinued its severity for more than seven weeks : many were frozen . .
to death ; others lost their fingers or their toes ; and the poor frost-
were reduced to the greatest distress.
An ancient custom had prevailed in this city, for the Receiver 1517.
and Bailiffs, on the day of election of a new Mayor, to make
public breakfasts and dinners, which was attended with great
expences ; and many by attempting to outvie others in the Receiver,
splendour of their entertainments had greatly injured their for- &c. refuse
tunes ; therefore the Receiver for this year, Richard Duke, pub]io
and the Bailiffs, taking it into consideration, resolved to dis- breakfasts,
continue the custom, and refused to make any entertainments; &c
for which they were fined in the sum of Forty shillings each : Are fined
the year following the Bailiffs (wisely judging it better to pay 40s. each.
Forty shillings than spend £20 for abrcakfast) also refused to
make the customary entertainments; but afterwards many
complied. An order of Common Council was made, that all freemen 152°-

100

THE HISTORY OF

CHAP. II.
A. D.
1521.
The Mayor
regulatesthe courts
of justice.
Collects
the City
Records.

Importscorn in time
of scarcity,
and regu
lates the
markets.

1524.

The Sword-
bearerdraws his
sword in
defence of
the Mayor.

1529.
The King
breaksfrom the
Papal See.

should reside within the limits of the city, on pain of
disfranchisement. The Mayor this year (John Nosworthy) was a great bene
factor to the city, by reforming many abuses and establishing
good order in the courts of justice : he ordered the Attornies of
the Provost Court to be sworn to act justly and impartially in
the cause of their clients : the records of the city laying
scattered, (by which many were lost, or otherwise embezzled)
he collected them together ; and, for their better security,
erected convenient presses in the Council Chamber : he regu
lated the duties of the city Officers, and saw them duly observed :
during a scarcity of corn he caused to be imported a large
quantity from different parts, and sold it to the poor at reduced
prices : he also regulated the markets, particularly that of
corn, ordering that it should be open certain hours only ; and
for this purpose he erected a bell, which was to be rung at the
beginning and close of the markets, and tolled about the middle,
thereby to give notice that, the Citizens being supplied, strangers
were at liberty to purchase : he was also careful to see the
assize of bread and ale well kept, and behaved with the
greatest hospitality, leaving an excellent pattern to succeeding
magistrates. One Joan Luter, a common strumpet, having been frequently
admonished concerning her debauched life and conversation,
and not reforming the same, the Mayor went in person to her
house, brought her thence, and committed her to prison, that
she might receive due punishment according to her offences :
this coming to the knowledge of her cullies and companions,
they used all possible means to prevent it; but finding they
could not prevail, they attempted to rescue the prisoner; when,
to counteract them and to defend the Mayor, William Somaster,
then Sword-bearer, attending his master in the High-Street,
was obliged to draw his sword, by which he put the assailants
to flight : the woman was sent to the House of Correction, and
afterwards publicly whipt at the cart's tail.
Several writs of Ne Molestando were sent to Bristol, to dis
charge the duty of Town Custom, pretended to be due from the
freemen of this city, from the payment of which they are
exempted by their charters.
Henry tired of his Queen, Catharine, who had been his
wife eighteen years, and borne him three children, pretended
scruples of conscience as to the legality of his marriage, she
being his brother's widow when he married her: he sent
Ambassadors to Rome, desiring a divorce ; this being refused
he, in revenge, separated himself and his subjects from any

THE CITY OF EXETER. 101
dependence on the Pope ; and the next year all applications CHAP. II.
to, and correspondence with, the Papal Court were forbid by — ITli. —
an act of parliament, under severe penalties ; and the King was 1530.
declared supreme head of the English Church. Notwithstanding The King is
this separation from the Pope, Henry strongly adhered to the declared
principles of the Romish faith, and persecuted the Protestants head of the
with unremitting severity, many of whom he caused to be S,ngllSu
.... J . 7 Church.
executed with the most excruciating tortures ; among these was
Thomas Bennet, a native of Cambridge, and Master of Arts Thomas
in that University. He being an intimate acquaintance of that Benn<it
famous martyr, Thomas Bilney, was suspected of heresy (as the 0f Hereby.
protestant religion was then called ;) and finding his stay in his
own county unsafe he came into Devonshire, and taught a
school for some time at Torrington ; but not meeting with any
encouragement there, he removed to Exeter, and there taught
a small school in the Butchers' -row, and lived quietly, till at Comes to
length, no longer able to bear with the superstition of the Romish xeter-
Priests, he fixed up written bills on the doors of the cathedral,
in which he declared the Pope to be antichrist, and that no
adoration was due to Saints ; being suspected of this, he was T
apprehended and brought before the Bishop, when he publicly nen(jed.
confessed the writing to be his, and the doctrines therein to be
the truth, according to the Holy Scriptures. After several Refuse5 t0
examinations, refusing to recant, he was delivered over to the recant.
civil power for execution.
Sir Thomas Dennis, Knight, then Sheriff of Devon, ordered a The Cham-
stake to be fixed for that purpose at Southernhay, which being b" will not
in the limits of the city the Chamber would not permit, but being
ordered the stake to be taken up again. The Sheriff therefore executed
had it removed to Liverydole, in the parish of Heavitree, where °n South-
Bennet was accordingly burnt; and he bore his sufferings with jrn^ay"
patience and resignation that greatly affected the spectators. Liverydole.
William Strode, Esq. of Newenham, in the county of Devon, w. Strode,
was at the same time imprisoned in the Bishop's house, upon Esq. im-
suspicion of heresy, where he suffered great hardships. He Prls°ned
survived Mr. Bennet ; but how he was afterwards dealt with or eresy'
we have no account : it is supposed he died in prison.
This year an act of parliament threw off all dependence on 1535.
the Papal See, and fully ended the power of the Pope in
England. The Plague again visited this city, and made great ravages 1536.
among the inhabitants.
The King renewed the ancient charter of this city ; and by
his letters patent, under the great seal of England, constituted

D 2

102

THE HISTORY OF

CHAP. II. it a county of itself, independent of the county of Devon, (of
Ex7te7 — ' which it had hitherto been a part) fixing its limits,* and granting
made a a liberty to the Mayor and Common Council to elect a Sheriff,
county of annually, with all the privileges common to other counties :
itself- this charter is dated August 3d, 1536.f
The King The King not thinking himself secure from the attacks of
suppresses the See of Rome, as the country swarmed with Monks, Friars,
all the Mo- an(j otner mendicants, determined on a general suppression of
nastenes. ^ ]yjonasterjes W1thin his dominions : this he soon put into
execution ; and in this and the following reigns were suppressed
653 ; also 90 Colleges, 2,374 Chantries and Free Chapels, and
110 Hospitals: the worth of these, before their suppression,
was valued at £152,517 18s. 10d.; but it is computed that the
lands and revenues belonging to them would now amount to
£30,503,400.
Priory of The houses suppressed in this city and neighbourhood were
St.Nicholas the following : the Priory of St. Nicholas, (of which there are
still some remains;) this was valued at £147 12s. per annum,
according to Dug dale ; but Mr. Speed says £154 12s.
Priory of The Priory of St. John, Baptist (which Speed says was for
St. John, Franciscan Friars; Dugdale, that it was an Hospital for five
Baptist. Priests, nine Boys, and twelve Poor People ;) this, according to
Speed, was valued at £102 12s. and the Hospital at £147 12s. J
Priory of The Priory of Polsloe, half-a-mile from this city, founded by
Polsloe. Bishop Brewer, (who gave it the Manor of Polsloe) for
Benedictine Nuns: it was dedicated to St. Catharine, and
valued at £72 3s. 2d. according to Risdon ; and by Speed at
£170 2s. 3d.
Priory of The Priory of St. James, (now called the Old Abbey) on
St. James, the banks of the river, near Exeter, founded by Baldwin,
Earl of Devon, for Cluniac Monks, valued at £532 12s. 9d.
per annum.
Priory of The Priory of Cowick, near Exeter, not valued.
Cowick. The Priory of Franciscan, or Grey Friars, without the
South-gate : the Priory of Preaching Friars, called the Black
Friars, (a Cell to the Abbey of Tavistock,) and now Bedford

* As this charter is mostly recapitulated in that granted by Charles I. it is
unnecessary to insert il here, therefore refer to that period.
t It is remarkable that most of the stones erected to determine the limits of
the city are either grave stones or the remains of religious houses.
X Of this Hospital more will be said in its proper place; also a particular
account of the remains of the religious houses in the descriptive part.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 103
Circus; and a Priory of Cistercians, (a Cell to the Abbey of CHAP. II.
Buckland) situated in South-gate- Street, now the Bear Inn ;
with many chapels and small chantries, were surrendered up
and fell in this general dissolution.
The Monks, thus expelled from their comfortable habitations, A. D.
excited the people to insurrections, particularly in Yorkshire; 153T-
on which the King sent his commission to Henry Courtenay,
Marquis of Exeter, to assemble the forces of the county ofTlleKiu!;
Devon, with an order to the Mayor of Exeter to assist him ^m ™d4
with 200 men, well armed: these were speedily raised and De sent
mustered at Bradninch, (with the rest of the Marquis's men) against the
whence they marched, under his command, to Doncaster, where Yorkshire
the rebels laid down their arms, and they dispersing themselves, rebels-
the Marquis returned with his forces.
John Cove, who had attended the Marquis in this expedition, A great
met with a remarkable circumstance on the night of his return preserva-
home : part of his house, which was situated near the river, j°°wfm°nm
(at that time swelled by excessive rains) fell down, and the
servants, who slept in the upper part, were drowned ; but he
and his wife were carried away, bed and all, by the current ;
when, desiring his wife not to stir, he, by exerting his arms
and legs, kept on the western bank, out of the stream's
current, and providentially got upon a hillock, where the water
was shallow ; and thence he and his wife recovered the shore
in safety.
The woollen manufactory greatly increasing in this city, the 1538.
Mayor considered it necessary to erect a Market for the sale of
Wool, Yarn, and Kersies ; this he proposed, but was strongly
opposed by some of the Citizens, and the Inhabitants of
Crediton, where the only Market for these commodities was ,.
held, in the county of Devon; notwithstanding this the Mayor Wooi6^
prevailed, and a Market was accordingly established, to the erected.
great advantage of the Citizens.*
John Bonnefant, one of the Attornies of the Provost Court, J°hn
in Exeter, was found guilty of high treason, and condemned Bonnefa°t
to be drawn on a hurdle to the place of execution, and there to on South-
be hanged and quartered ; which sentence was accordingly ex- ernhay.
ecuted on him the 10th of August, this year, on Southernhay.
The high waters having greatly damaged the foundation of 1539.
Exe Bridge, one of the middle arches fell down ; which was Partof Exe
immediately repaired by order of the Bridge Warden : the ?[,'d^e
stones made use of on this occasion were those of the church of
the late dissolved Priory of St. Nicholas, (which had been

* This market was erected over the old shambles, in South-gate-Street, and
was of late taken down to widen the passage, and a conduit built on part of
the site.

104

THE HISTORY OF

CHAP. II.
An Act
granted for
making the
river navi
gable to
the city.

Church Plate
granted
towards the work.
1544.

1545.

1547.

previously purchased by the Chamber;) and were not only
applied to this purpose, but also to the repair of the city walls.
The trade of Exeter having most considerably increased, by
the introduction of the woollen manufactory, the Citizeus and
Merchants found a great inconvenience in bringing their heavy
goods, by land, from Topsham; they therefore applied to
government for a relief; and an Act was passed empowering
the Chamber to remove the weirs and other obstructions in the
ancient course of the river; but, from a survey made, it
was found wholly impracticable, as the materials were so
strongly united together, by length of time, as to render all
proceedings ineffectual. Another Act was therefore procured
to enable the city to cut a canal through the marshes, and to
erect sluices and draw-bridges thereon; and, to defray the
expences of the work, to collect certain duties on all goods and
merchandises that should be brought up to the city through
the said canal. The work was carried on with great assiduity,
by voluntary contributions ; the parishes granting part of their
superfluous church plate, amounting to upwards of 900 ounces,
(part of which being gilt increased its value;) the neighbouring
clergy and gentry also contributed largely, so that in the course
of a few years barges and boats of great size came easily up and
discharged their cargoes, at a spacious quay erected by the
Chamber. Part of Cowley Bridge fell down, and was repaired by the
city. The city walls being decayed, and the ditches almost filled
up, the walls were repaired and the ditches cleansed at the
free expence of the Citizens.
Henry died on the 28th January, 1547, and was succeeded
by his only son, Edward, then but nine years of age.
MA YORS and BAILIFFS in the reign of Henry VIII.

1509.
John Buckenham.
John Bradmore.
William Somaster.
John Coleshill.
William Hoig.
1510.
Thomas Andrew.
John Orenge.
John Moore.
John Amory.
William Periam.

1511.
Wm. Wilsford, Ob.
William Crudge.
Robert Browne.
Robert Kensey.
John Boughay.
Henry Hamlyn. 1512.
Richard Symons.
John Moore.
John Britnall.
William Hurst.

Richard Russel.
1513.
Richard Hewett.
John Winter.
John Bodley.
William Ratcliff.
John Robins. 1514.
John Moore.
Thomas Hunt.
William Forrest.

THE CITY OF EXETER.

105

Robert Buller.
John Williams. 1515.
William Crudge.
Jeffery Lewis.
John Bridgman.
Gilbert Kirk.
Thomas Fowler.
1516.
John Buckenham.
John Nos worthy.
John Woolcot.
Richard Chubb.
Robert Trow. 1517.
Thomas Hunt.
Richard Duke.
Nic. Staplehill, Ob.
John Richards, Ob.
Matthew Long.
Hugh Page.
William Cotton.
1518.
William Crudge.
Reynold Russel.
John Maris.
Nigel Collin.
John Mitchell. 1519.
Jeffery Lewis.
William Shapton.
Richard Martin.
John Awells.
Richard Andrew.
1520.
John Broadmere.
Richard Russel.
Richard Verney.
John Harris.
John Blackaller. 1521.
John Nosworthy.

William Bennet.
Chris. Lambert.
Thomas Hunt.
John Buller. 1522.
Richard Duke.
William Hurst.
Robert Hooker.
John Way.
Robert Smith. 1523.
John Symons, Ob.
Thomas Hunt.
John Britnall.
Richard Faux.
Roger Luxton.
John Holmer. 1524.
William Hurst.
Henry Hamlyn.
William Buckenham.
John Woolcott.
William Davy.
1525.
William Bennet.
Robert Buller.
John Winter.
William Holmer.
John Tuckfield. 1526.
Henry Hamlyn.
Robert Hooker.
Nicholas Lymett.
John Trubody.
William Hussey.
1527.
John Britnall.
William Blackaller.
John Cross.
John Seller.
John Duck.

1528.
Robert Buller.
Gilbert Kirk.
John Mayhard.
William Tothill.
Robert Whitread. 1529.
Robert Hooker.
William Periam.
Thomas Spurway.
Robert Turner.
Robert Tooker. 1530.
John Blackaller.
Richard Martin.
Thomas Prestwood.
Richard Mawditt.
Stephen Larimore.
1531.
Gilbert Kirk.
Hugh Page.
Thomas Bonnefant.
William Chanon.
Edward Sheer.
1532.
William Periam.
Thomas Hoig.
John Tuckfield.
Roger Blackall.
William Takle.
1533.
Richard Martin.
John Thomas.
Humphrey Andrew.
Richard Ratcliff.
William Burges.
1534.
John Britnall.
Thomas Hunt.
Richard Colwell.
John Rixley.
John Shelder.

CHAP. II.

E 2

106

THE HISTORY OF

CHAP. II. 1535.
" William. Hurst.
Thomas Spurway.
Bennet Chubb.
John Lane.
Nicholas Walrond.
1536.
John Blackaller.
John Buller.
William Burgoyne.
Peter Stretch.
John Alleyne. 1537.
Thomas Hunt.
William Buckenham
William Smith.
John Peter.
William Berryman.
1538.
Henry Hamlyn.
Robert Tooker.
Nicholas Reeve.
John Paramore.
J. Mountstephen. 1539.
Gilbert Kirk.

Thomas Prestwood.
Griffith Ameredith.
Morris Levermore.
William Lott.
1540.
Thomas Spurway.
John Midwinter.
Richard Sweet.
Robert Cotton.
John Thomas. 1541.
William Buckenham
John Way.
John Peryam.
John Macy.
Robert Sweet. 1542.
John Buller.
John Woolcott.
John Drake.
Christopher Potter.
Richard Limbear.
1543.
Robert Tooker.
John Holmer.
John Hurst.

William Parsons.
William Downman.
1544.
Thomas Prestwood.
John Maynard.
John Webb.
William Halsej
Hugh Pope. 1545.
William Hurst.
Nicholas Lymett.
.Robert Midwinter.
Henry Booth.
John Berry. 1546.
John Britnall.
John Tuckfield.
John Stowell.
Edward Bridgman.
Thomas Grigg.
1547.
John Midwinter.
John Drake.
Thomas Skidmore.
John Bodley.
John Blackall.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 107
CHAP. II.

Earls of Devon, from the Norman Conquest to
the Reformation.
Baldwin de Brioniis, (or de Molis) great grandson to Baldwin de
Richard I. Duke of Normandy, having married Albreda, niece Bri0nlls-
toWilliam the Conqueror, was by that King made hereditary
Viscount of Devon: he likewise granted to him the Castle of
Exeter for his residence.
Baldwin was succeeded by his son, Richard, (to whom the Richard de
Conqueror granted the Barony of Okehampton) but he dying Bnonns.
without issue, Henry I. made
Richard de Rivanis (or Rivers) Baron of Tiverton and Plymp- Richard de
ton, and then Earl of Devon ; granting him the third penny of Rivers.
all the revenues of the county, which did not then exceed
thirty marks. He was also made Lord of the Isle of Wight
by the same King. His heir and successor was
Baldwin de Rivers, who founded the Monasteries of Brummore, Baldwin de
in Wiltshire; Quarrera, in the Isle of Wight; and Lira, in Rivers.
Normandy. He sided with the Empress Maud against King
Stephen, who took from him the Castle of Exeter, and the Isle
of Wight, seized on all his possessions, and forced him to de
part out of the kingdom : but being restored by Henry II. was
succeeded by his eldest son,
Richard de Rivers, who gave lands to the Abbey of Quarrera, Richard de
to pray for the souls of his father and mother; and also con- Rivers.
firmed his father's gifts to the Abbey of Twineham. His
successor was
Baldwin, his eldest son, who behaving himself valiantly in the Baldwin de
wars against the Welch, King Henry II. granted him, as a lvers 2d"
reward, the honour of Charteaureaux. He married the heiress
of Ralph de Dolis, but having no issue was succeeded by his
brother,
Richard de Rivers, who gave lands to the Abbey of Brower, Richard de
to pray for the souls of his father and mother. He married Rlvers 2d-
Margaret, one of the co-heiresses of John, Lord Bisset ; but,
having no issue, was succeeded in the honours and estate by
his uncle,
William de Rivers, (surnamed de Vernon) who had issue by William de
his wife, Mobil, daughter of the Earl of Mallent-—Baldwin, g™^ de
his son and heir, who, dying before his father, left issue by his Riy™\A°
wife, Margaret, daughter of Warren Fitzgerald,

108 THE HISTORY OF
CHAP. II. Baldwin de Rivers, who succeeded his grandfather, and married
Baldwin Amisia, daughter of Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester. This
de Rivers Baldwin, dying young, was succeeded by his son Baldwin, a
41h- child ; who, being placed under the care of Peter de Savoy,
(at the request of Queen Eleanor) married Avice, his daughter,
and had issue, a son, who dying in his infancy, the honours and
estate descended to his sister, Isabella. She was married to
Isabella de William de Fortibus, Earl of Albermarle, by whom she had
Fortibus. oniv a dauguter, named Aveline, who dying in her infancy, the
honour came to
Hugh de Hugh de Courtenay, grandson of Robert de Courtenay, Baron
Courtenay, 0f Okehampton, who having married Mary, the daughter of
]'rs' ?ar!.°f William de Vernon, late Earl of Devon, was, by letters patent,
ami j. ^ King Edward III. created Earl of Devonshire, as next heir,
by descent, to the said Isabella. This Hugh de Courtenay was
succeeded by his son,
Hugh de Hugh de Courtenay, who married Margaret, daughter of
Courtenay Humphrey de Bohun, Earl of Hereford and Essex, by whom
he had several children. Hugh, the eldest son, died unmarried ;
Edward, the second son, married Emmeline, daughter of Sir
John Dauncy, Knight ; by her he had two sons, Edward and
Hugh. Edward, son of Hugh de Courtenay, dying before his
father, the honour descended to his son,
Edward Edward, who succeeded his grandfather in the Earldom of
Courtenay. Devon. This Earl Edward was a person of great valour and
abilities, and was made, by King Richard II. Earl Marshall
of England, and Admiral of his fleet.
Hugh de Hugh, his eldest son, succeeded in his father's honours and the
Courtenay command of the fleet, on the 16th of June, in the 10th year of
3d- the reign of Henry V. ; he died, leaving
Thomas de Thomas de Courtenay, his son and heir. He favoured the pre-
Courtenay. tensions of Richard, Duke of York, to the crown, and entered
into his conspiracy against Henry VI. but dying before any
open attempts were made, left his son,
Thomas de Thomas de Courtenay, his heir. He (contrary to his father's
Courtenay principles) adhered to the house of Lancaster, and was rewarded
with the Manor and Borough of Milburton and Merswade ;
lands forfeited by Richard, Duke of York : but these he soon
lost again, by the success of Edivard, Duke of York, who
obtained the crown from Henry VI. : he lived only one month
after, and left his honours to
Thomas de Thomas, his son, who having been with his father, in the battle
Courtenay of Towton-field, against King Edward IV. was attainted by
Parliament, but again taking arms in the same cause, was
slain at the battle of Tewkesbury (not beheaded at York, as
Cambden relates.) His brother, Henry, obtained all the lands of
which Thomas, the late Earl, died seized of, from Edward IV.;

THE CITY OF EXETER. 109
but not the Earldom : for Humphrey, Lord Stafford, of South- CHAP. II.
wick, was created, by that King, Earl of Devon. He, revolting Humphrey
from his benefactor, was taken prisoner and beheaded, at Lord Siaf-
Bridgewater, without any legal trial; having enjoyed his honours ford made
about three months only. !?arl of
The title of Earl of Devon remained dormant till the accession
of Henry VII. who, sensible of the loyalty of the Courtenay
family to the Lancasterian line, restored
Edward Courtenay, of Haccomb, (grandson of Hugh Courtenay, Edward
younger brother to Earl Edward) to the honour and estates of Courtenay
his ancestors. This Earl and his son, William, violently op-
posed Perkin Warbeck, and forced him to raise the siege of
Exeter. His successor was William, before mentioned, who was
imprisoned in the Tower through the jealousy of King Henry
VII. but released by Henry VIII. ; and dying soon after, the
Earldom was restored to Henry, his son and successor ; whom Henry
Henry VIII. greatly esteemed for his near alliance to his mother, Courtenay.
being her sister's son. He also created him Marquis of Exeter;
but being afterwards accused of a treasonable correspondence
with Cardinal Pole, he was attainted and beheaded, and his
son Edward imprisoned in the Tower of London, where he
continued till the accession of Queen Mary.

Dukes of Exeter, to the Reformation.
Exeter, having highly deserved of Majesty for its loyalty,
has been greatly distinguished for giving the title of Duke,
before any other, to
John Holland, Earl of Huntingdon, who being brother (by the John
mother's side) to King Richard II. was by him made Duke of Holland
Exeter; but Riehard being deposed by Henry IV. the Duke of ™xxft"*e
Exeter, joining in a conspiracy to restore him, was deprived of
his honour and life together ; the honour then lay dormant till Beheaded.
the reign of King Henry V. who, in the fourth year of his
reign, created
Thomas Beaufort (then Earl of Dorset) Duke of Exeter. He Thomas
was descended from the house of Lancaster, being the youngest Beaal°r*-
son of John of Gaunt, by the Lady Katharine Swinford ;
and was a Prince as eminent for his wisdom and courage as for
high birth and station. He died without issue, and
John Holland (son of the before mentioned John Holland) was John
restored to his father's honour and estate by King Henry VI. Holland2d.
He was succeeded by
F 2

HO THE HISTORY OF
CHAP. II. Henry Holland, his son, who, during the prevalence of the
Henry  house of Lancaster, flourished in great honour ; but when the
Holland, family of York gained possession of the crown, he was attainted
and deprived of all his estates and honours ; and, taking refuge
in the Netherlands, was reduced to such poverty, (notwith
standing he married the sister of King Edward IV.) that
Philip de Commines (the French historian) testifies that he
saw him begging his bread, running with bare legs and feet
after the Duke of Burgundy's coach. He returned again into
England, and was a principal commander at the battle of
Barnet ; whence (the Lancasterians being totally defeated) he
made his escape ; and, notwithstanding the most diligent
search, he was not discovered or seen till his body was found
cast on shore on the coast of Kent. Leaving no issue, the title
Henry lay dormant until the reign of Henry VIII. who created Henry
Courtenay Courtenay (son of Lady Katharine, daughter to Edward IV.)
created Marquis of Exeter ; who, being accused of high treason, was
Exeter. beheaded ; and the title again lay dormant till the reign of
James I.

End of the Second Chapter.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 1 1 1

CHAPTER III.
From the Death of King Henry VIII to the
Accession of King Charles II.
EDWARD being only nine years old at his accession to Chap. III.
the throne, the power of government was lodged, according EdwardVl.
to King Henry's last will, in the hands of twelve Councillors of A. D.
State and sixteen Regents ; and these appointed Edward, Duke 1547.
of Somerset, (the King's maternal uncle) to be Protector and g^* °Jt
Governor of the King's person. He, thus intrusted with the made
education of the infant King, instilled in his breast a dislike to Protector.
the errors and superstitions of the church of Rome; and greatly Reforma-
forwarded the Reformation. By an Act of Parliament all tlondf°dr"
private masses were abolished, all images were removed from Confirmed
churches, the cup was restored to the laity, and the common by parlia-
prayer and liturgy were corrected : thus the Reformation and ment.
the King's supremacy were fully established.
The Monks and Massing Priests, being thus driven from Thf Monks
their Cells, incited the people to a resistance against this rebeliion.
innovation (as they termed it) of their holy religion ; accord
ingly insurrections were fomented in many parts of the kingdom,
and particularly in Devonshire.
At Sampford Courtenay, Devon, a most dangerous rebellion Iunayta'nts
broke out. On Whitsunday, the 9th of June, 1549, the day ofSampford
appointed by Act of Parliament for abolishing the Popish Courtenay
Mass and Ritual, and for reading the new established Liturgy Tef™"£
in the English tongue, a great murmuring arose, during the aeml
time of Divine service, among the parishioners of Sampford liturgy.
Courtenay, who, assembling the next day, compelled their
parish Priest to re-assume his Popish vestments, and to read
the Mass as formerly. This was soon spread through the Thelr ex-
neighbouring parishes, the inhabitants of which, assembling ^J b^~
together in great numbers, compelled their pastors to follow others.
the example of the Priest of Sampford Courtenay. The Justices
in the neighbourhood, viz: Sir Hugh Pollard, Knight, ^»- tic'ees tlr'„"to
thony Harvy, Alexander Wood, and Park Slader, Esquires, qaeU the
informed of these commotions, immediately repaired to Samp- riot, but
ford, and endeavoured to quiet the minds of the populace ; but without
finding, after repeated conferences, that they still persisted in e ect-

112

THE HISTORY OF

Chap. III.
A gentle
man named
Hellionsmurdered by the
rioters.

Sir Peter
and Sir
Gawen
Carew sent
into DevonshireRebels
fortify Crediton.

Skirmish at
Crediton,
and the
barns burnt

The people
much ex
asperated.

Rebels as
semble at
St. Mary
Clist.

their obstinacy, and dreading the use of force, they left the
insurgents to their own wills.
While this ferment was increasing, a gentleman named
William Hellions, (a Fleming by birth) who had for some
years resided near Sampford, and was respected for his amiable
character, endeavoured by fair speeches to persuade the people
of Sampford and those who had joined them to return to their
habitations ; and told them the consequences of persisting in
rebellion against the laws of their King and Country : this so
exasperated them, that one Githbridge struck him with his bill
on the neck, and the blow being followed by several others he
was soon dispatched, and his body cut into several pieces.
The Protector and Council dispatched Sir Peter Carew,
with his brother, Sir Gawen Carew, into Devonshire, to
examine into the cause of these commotions, and to endeavour
to appease the people. They were met in Exeter by the prin
cipal gentlemen of the county, and proceeded to Crediton,
where the main body of the rebels had assembled, and for
tified the town with ramparts, particularly the road which
led to Exeter. At the town's end were two barns which
commanded the road : these were strengthened with a barrier
across, which effectually blocked up any entrance into the town.
The gentlemen, thus prevented from entering, endeavoured
to persuade the insurgents to submit to the laws, and retire to
their respective homes; but finding all persuasions useless, they
attempted to force an entrance, when a volley of shots and
arrows compelled them to retreat. In this dilemma a servant of
Sir Hugh Pollard set the barns on fire, which the rebels per
ceiving fled immediately out of the town, leaving their opponents
an easy entrance.
The burning of the barns being spread over the country, with
great exaggeration, by designing people, who reported that the
intention was no less than to burn all their houses ; the exas
peration was so great that the common people flocked from all
quarters to the assistance of the rebels, while others were busily
employed in fortifying their towns and villages, and bidding
defiance to all government and laws.
At St. Mary Clist, about two miles from Exeter, a great
number assembled themselves, chiefly through the instigation of
an old woman, who being overtaken on the road, going to the
parish church, with her beads in her hand, by a gentleman
named Walter Raleigh* was admonished by him to forsake
the errors and blind superstition of the church of Rome, and to

The father of the great Sir Walter Raleigh.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 113
submit to the new laws : this so aggravated the old bigot, that Chap. III.
she hastened to the town and so misrepresented the matter as
to cause the people assembled there to vow revenge on the gen- >r w ..
tlemii.il ; and therefore pursuing him, overtook him before he Rajei?n
reached Exeter and carried him back to the town ; where, and made pri-
in the tower of iS*. Sidwell's church, they kept him closely soner °y
confined (often threatening his life) during the whole time of the rebels.
these commotions.
Information being received at Exeter of these proceedings at
Clist, Sir Peter and Sir Gawen Carew, Sir Hugh Pollard,
Sir Thomas Dennis, and others, accompanied by their ser
vants and followers, rode thither ; but the bridge leading to the
town being barricadoed, by large trees laid across, and defended
by a piece of cannon which the rebels had procured from
Exmouth, Sir Peter Carew alighted from his horse and en
deavoured to bring the opponents to a conference : this thev
refused, and the gunner (John Hamon, a smith by trade, and
a foreigner) charged the cannon and levelled it at Sir Peter,
who would have been shot but for the prevention of a servant
to Sergeant Prideaux. The gentlemen sent a messenger de
siring a conference, which was at length agreed to ; and Sir
Thomas Dennis, Sir Hugh Pollard, and Thomas Yarde, Esq.
were admitted into the town; but after a considerable time, and
not being able to prevail on tbe' rebels to lay down their arms,
they were suffered to depart ; and thus, without effecting any
thing, they returned to Exeter, where they held a consultation
with the Mayor, who informed them that the city was unpro- „. „,.
..,.,?', .» , 11/. Sir Thomas
vided with victuals to satisfy so many people, and therefore Dennis, &c.
advised them to shift for themselves : consequently they left escape
the city (escaping through by-ways) to withstand a long siege, through
accompanied with the horrors of intestine commotions and bJ'-waJ's'
famine.* Sir Peter Carew escaped to George Hinton, in Somerset
shire, where he was met by Lord Russel, Lord Lieutenant of
the county of Devon, who had been sent from London to
endeavour to quell the disturbances, but without men or arms,
as government were busily employed in the war with Scotland,
and therefore the principal forces were in the north. Sir Peter
Carew and his followers being thus obliged to remain inactive, Rebels
the rebels were strongly encouraged to proceed : they immedi- invest
ately invested Exeter, blocking up the highways, and thereby E*eter.

* The complexion of the times was now greatly altered, when those
powerful Barons who, not a century ago, defied their monarchs at the head of
powerful armies, could not now oppose a handful of half armed and undis
ciplined peasants.
G 2

114 THE HISTORY OF
Chap. Ill, preventing any intercourse between the Citizens and the neigh-
bouring country. The rebels now began to assume some sort
P "nci al °^ discipline, regulating themselves into companies, and
Command- choosing Commanders, the principal of whom were Underhill,
ersofthe a Tailor, Maunder, a Shoemaker, Seager, a Labourer, and
rebels. Asheridge, a hawker offish : but the news of the dispersion of
Sir Peter Carew and the blockade of Exeter being quickly
spread about, others of better account were induced to join
Joined by them, particularly Sir Thomas Pomeroy, Knight* John Berry,
many Esq. Mr. Coffin, a gentleman of fortune, Humphrey Arundel,
If estate" EsH' Governor of St- Michael's Mount, in Cornwall, 
' ' "' Winneslade, Esq. with several others of note, by whose
example the rebels were increased in number and spirits : they
summoned the Citizens to an immediate surrender, which being
Rebels refused, they commenced a close siege, and assaulted the city
sca?e"tbe0 in different parts at once, attempting to scale the walls, but
walls. were repulsed by the Citizens, with a great loss of their men.
The Magistrates and loyal Citizens were determined not to
submit : they prepared every necessary means of defence, and
_,, , the rebels finding themselves strongly repulsed in their attempts
the gates. on l^e walls, proceeded to burn the gates, in which they
succeeded ; but the Citizens, by making intrenchments within,
(in the form of crescents) and firing their port pieces, made
great slaughter among the assailants, and prevented their
to blow up entrance. The rebels then endeavoured to overthrow the walls,
the walls, hy mining, but the Citizens, apprized of their intentions, made
without countermines, into which they let a great quantity of water,
effect. which (assisted by a violent and sudden shower of rain at that
time) so wetted their powder that it had no effect.
The rebels finding themselves thus foiled in all their attempts,
Attempt to and knowing the city had but a small quantity of provisions,
starve the made no doubt of starving it into compliance; and accordingly
Citizens. tney g0 (.losgiy blocked up all the avenues that nothing could be
conveyed into or out of the city : this in a short time caused
such a scarcity that many of the inhabitants began to murmur
against the Magistrates, in which they were backed by those
AnAssocia- disaffected Citizens who wished success to the rebels ; but the
tion formed prudence of the Magistrates kept the major part of the Citizens
uuentVal "' Spir'tS and hoPe of relief: many associated themselves
lies made" toge|;her and made several successful sallies, in which they
obtained prizes of live cattle, and other provisions, which was

* Sir Thomas Pomeroy, joining in this desperate rebellion, was the ruin of
himself and family, which before this was esteemed one of the first in the
county of Devon, both for antiquity and opulence.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 115
a great relief, as the besieged were reduced to the utmost dis- Chap, hi.
tress, even to the eating the flesh of their horses, and to citizens —
substitute bran for bread. This coarse fare, and that but reduced
scanty, increased the dissensions, which were abetted by some t0 the
ill-designing men, and occasioned several insurrections against £reatest
the Magistrates ; particularly at one time, in South-gate-
street, (but two days before their deliverance) where the Papists Dissen-
assembled together in arms, and attempted to get possession 0f s'onsamonS
the gate, but were timely prevented by the vigilance of the l e ltlzeDS
guard, and the ringleaders were sent to prison. They had
likewise endeavoured to seduce the soldiers in garrison at the
castle; this was fortunately discovered, and a guard of Citizens
placed there to prevent any further designs.
During this accumulated distress the Citizens continued
stedfast in their allegiance, and daily expected to be relieved by
Lord Russell, who had removed from George Hinton, to Ror . •
Mohuns Ottery, and from thence to Honiton : he had got there want of
a small supply of men, but being in want of money, he procured men and
assistance through the interest of three Merchants of Exeter, money.
who were at that time with him: these were Mr. Thomas uup.F'e
Prestwood, Mr. John Bodlie, and Mr. John Periam : thus Merchants
furnished he set out towards Exeter, desirous of relieving the of Exeter.
Citizens, of whose distress and inability to hold out much longer
he had been informed.
The rebels gaining intelligence of his march towards them,
and of the small force he had with him, set out to meet him
(leaving a sufficient number to contiuue the siege;) the parties jrenniton
met at Fenniton Bridge, where a sharp conflict ensued, when Bridge.
the rebels were worsted, and having lost about 300 men were Rebels
obliged to retreat. worsted.
Lord Russel having had a specimen of the desperate valour
of the rebels, and not thinking his forces sufficient to stand a
general engagement, he sent a messenger to assure the Citizens
of a speedy relief; and returned back to Honiton, where he jj0ri
was soon joined by Lord Grey, of Wilton, with a body of Russel
horsemen, and Colonel Spinola, an Italian, at the head of 300 returns to
harquebusiers : thus reinforced he once more set forward to the j^"™;1""'
relief of the Citizens, on the 3d of August. His forces, con- forced.
sisting of more than 1000 men, were marched out of the com
mon road, across the downs, to a windmill on Woodbury-hill,
where they encamped for the night. The rebeIs
The rebels at Clist having intelligence of his lordship's £j*cfgthe
approach, set out early the next morning and attacked hisar™&sat
camp with great resolution : and, though often repulsed, re- Woodbury-
turned to the attack with the most desperate valour, till the hill.

116

THE HISTORY OF

Chap. Ill, greatest part of them being slain, the remainder retreated to
The rebels" Bishop's Clist, and fortified all the avenues to it ; sending an
defeated, account of their defeat to their confederates. Lord Russel
The King's then proceeded for Clist town, dividing his small army into
armyattack tnree divisions, in order to attack at one time the three different
CliSsht°PS avenues, which were strongly barricadoed and entrenched.
Sir William Francis, a gentleman of Somersetshire, who
A false commanded one of the divisions, after some contest drove the
rumour rebels from their intrench ments, and the whole of the King's
prevails army were marching into the town, when an alarm being spread
among tnat a iaro-e body of rebels were advancing in their rear in order
trooKsngS t0 cut off their retreat> a sudtlen Panic prevailed and they
Thcytese withdrew in great confusion, leaving behind their artillery and
their waggons, which contained their ammunition and other stores;
artillery these fell into the hands of the rebels, who exultingly conveyed
and stores. them i|)to th(J tQwn>
This disaster to the King's troops was occasioned by a
stratagem of Sir Thomas Pomeroy, who having secreted himself
Sir Thomas (while the army was passing) in a furze brake, with only a
Pomeroy's trumpeter and a drummer, ordering them (as he perceived the
th^cau'sTof King's troops entering the town) to sound and beat a march :
the retreat, which being heard by the waggon drivers they immediately fled,
and reported that a large body of the rebels were attacking their
rear: and this, spreading through the army, caused the hasty
retreat ; nor did the panic cease till they had regained the top
of the hill, from which, as it commanded the surrounding
The Kings countrY) they saw no enemy near. Ashamed of their conduct,
return to *-hey were prevailed on by their commanders to return to the
the attack, attack. The rebels, elated by their late success, defended
themselves with great resolution; and being in possession of the
banks, which overhung the deep roads, had greatly the ad-
SirWilliam vantage of situation over the King's troops, many of whom
Francis were slain, particularly Sir William Francis, who commanded
slain. the van. The King's army at length prevailing, forced an en
trance into the town ; but many of their men being slain by
The rebels shots from the houses, they set fire to them as they proceeded ;
defeated & anfi such of the rebels who could not escape, were burnt in
burnt"" tnem • wn'^e others, who found themselves closely pressed, en
deavoured to escape across a river, but the tide being very
high at that time, many were drowned in the attempt : the loss
in killed, burnt, and drowned, was calculated at near 1000,
exclusive of a great number taken prisoners.
The King's party having thus got possession of the town,
attempted to pass the river, over the bridge ; but were put to

THE CITY OF EXETER. 117
a stand, by the bridge being barricadoed very strongly by great Chap. III.
trees laid athwart, and a large cannon placed on it, by which '
stood a gunner with a lighted match. At this instant Mr. John
Yard (who lived in the neighbourhood) crossed a ford above
the bridge, with a few soldiers, and one of his company came The Kind's
unawares behind the gunner and killed him on the spot. The arnly
trees were then removed, and the whole army passed over encamp on
and encamped on Clist Heath ; when a fresh rumour being Ci'stHeatb.
spread, that another large body of rebels were inarching towards I)risongrs
them from Woodbury, an order was given to put the whole ofputt0the
the prisoners to the sword, which was immediately put into sword.
execution.* The rebels advised of the defeat of their comrades at Clist, The whole
collected themselves together and marched the same night to hoAy of re-
Clist Heath, (determined to try the issue of a general engage- j Ci™trch
ment) and pitched their camp opposite to the King's army, in Heath.
a place difficult of access, having lofty hedges in their front,
and which they further strengthened by deep ditches and high
banks : f on these they planted their cannon, which they
discharged on the King's troops with very great effect. Lord
Russel seeing the disadvantage of attacking them in this
situation, ordered a passage to be opened through the hedges,
and over the inclosures, which led to their rear, when a bloody A nloody
battle commenced, and was maintained with great obstinacy by battle, in
the rebels, who disputed every inch of ground ; but after a ter- which the
rible slaughter they were totally defeated, and fled in every "J";'.8 are
direction, leaving all their cannon and stores to the victors. defeafed-
After the battle the army marched to Topsham, carrying with
them, on ahorse litter, the body of Sir William Francis, which
was interred the next day in the body of St. Peter's Cathedral,
with all military honours. The rebels who were left to continue The sieSe
the siege of Exeter shifted for themselves by a speedy flight ; °aisedeter
and the gentlemen who had fallen into their hands, and been
kept prisoners in the churches, being thus liberated, repaired
to the city walls and informed the sentinels of the happy success
of the King's army, which promised a speedy relief.
Early on the next morning (the 6th of August) Lord Russel Lord
marched for Exeter, where he arrived about eight o'clock, and Kussel
encamped his army in St. John's Fields. % Well knowing the g™**r °

rebelLordpreservation

t Great part of these intrenchments still remain on Clist Heath.
t Now termed the Barnfield, with tbe adjoining fields between Southernhay
and the ditch.
H 2

118

THE HISTORY OF

Chap. Ill, distress that reigned within the walls, he sent parties to scour
 the country and collect provisions: these orders were so well
The sol- executed, that great supplies were soon procured for the comfort
diers bring of the ha,f faraishefj Citizens ; though many, by eating mi-
provhions moderately, after so long a fasting, died suddenly.
Thus, after a long and painful siege, which continued from
The 6th of the 2d of July to the 6th of August, a happy termination was
August put to their sufferings; and the Magistrates, in gratitude to
annually the Almighty, appointed the 6th of August to be annually
keP'- kept as a day of thanksgiving ; and this is continued to the
present time.*
1000 The next jay ior(i Russel being reinforced by 1000 Welch-
^in1theneU men> uncler the command of Sir William Herbert, detached
King's6 several bodies of troops in pursuit of the rebels, who still kept
army. together in parties; and at Sampford Courtenay, in particular,
The rebels Sreat numbers of Devonshire and Cornish men were again
agalnls- " assembled ; who, not regarding their late defeats, were deter-
semble at mined to try the issue of another battle. Information of this
Sampford being brought to Lord Russel, he ordered his whole army to
Courtenay. gampjor(i . anci finding the rebels deaf to all persuasions he
ordered a general attack, which was began by Sir William
Herbert (at his own request) at the head of the Welchmen.
The rebels made a stout defence, and killed many of the assail-
Owen slain. ants> particularly Mr. Ap-Owen, a young gentleman much
Th t- regretted : his body was conveyed to Exeter and buried in the
est6partof cathedral, with military honours. The town was at length
the rebels forced, and the rebels obstinately refusing quarter most of
slain. them were put to the sword.
Near 4000 l'1 this and their former defeats it is estimated that near 4000
rebels slain, of the rebels were slain, and a great number taken prisoners,
among whom were their principal commanders.
Lord Russel, on his return to Exeter, finding the insurgents
were still persisting in their evil intentions, gave orders for
The coun- spoiling the country ; and parties of soldiers being sent out for
try spoiled, that purpose, they executed their orders with the greatest
cruelty, burning the houses, seizing and destroying the pro
perty of the poor defenceless inhabitants, sparing neither rebel
nor royalist, neither friend nor foe, so that the country for
many miles exhibited a scene of desolation, and did not recover
its former state for many years.

* The Mayor, Chamber, and Corporatcd Trades, walk annually in proces
sion on this day to the Cathedral, where a sermon is preached on the occasion
by one of the Mayor's Chaplains ; and the Cathedral bells are also rung.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 119
Lord Russel proceeded into Cornwall; and after taking Chap. III.
severe vengeance on the principal ringleaders who fell into his Lonj
hands, by executing martial law on them, he returned back to Russel
Exeter, when a Commission was appointed for trying the Soes int0
prisoners whom they had left in custody. The principal com- ST1"!"1"-
manders, Humphrey Arundel, Winneslade, Berry, Coffin, ringleaders
and Holmes, were sent to London, where they were tried, con- executed
victed, and executed as traitors. Those of an inferior rank in London.
were tried and executed in the like manner at Exeter. The °thers .
common people, who had been unwarily drawn into the rebel- Exeler-
lion, were pardoned, and sent to their respective habitations.*
The brave defence made by the Citizens in this rebellion was The King,
justly applauded throughout the whole kingdom ; and especially by letter,
'bv the King and Privy Council, the Lord Protector himself lrh.aVks "'!
- ,. ° . ^ . ,/. , i i ¦ i ¦ Citizens &
sending them a letter in the King s name, thanking them in confirms
the most grateful terms for their courage and fidelity, and their
assuring them of his Majesty's favour and protection. Soon charter.
after the King, by his royal mandate, renewed their Charters, f t, Manor
and confirmed their privileges, granting to them and their sue- island
cessors, for ever, the rich Manor of Exe Island, of which they granted to
had been unjustly deprived from the time of the Norman the Citizens
Conquest.f A Commission was this year sent from London, directed to A- D-
Miles, Bishop of Exeter ; William Hurst, Mayor; Thomas T 1551-
* */ , ** .Inventory
Prestwood, and others, commanding them to return an exact ta];en 0f tne
inventory of all the plate, jewels, goods, and ornaments, be- church
longing to the several churches within this city and county, plate, &c.
which was accordingly done, the Commissioners only requesting
that the amount of near one thousand ounces of plate, which
had been given by the several parishes towards the making the
New Haven, might be exempted. On the receipt of the
inventory another order was sent down, which commanded the

* One execution deserves notice, which is that of the Rev. Mr. Welsh, Vicar
of St. Thomas the Apostle, near Exeter, who, though possessed of many
amiable qualities, was a conspicuous ringleader and abettor of this unnatural
rebellion, which being proved on his trial, as well as the murder of  ¦
Kingwell, a Protestant, whom he caused to be hung on a tree in Exe Island,
he was condemned to be hung on a gibbet erected for that purpose, on the
tower of his own Parish Church : this was fully executed, and the body
remained on the gibbet till the restoration of Popery, in the reign of Queen
Mary. t Soon after the Conquest King William granted to Richard de Brwnis the
Barony of Oakhampton, to which he added, as a member, tbe Manor of Exe
Island: from him it descended to the Courtenays, who kept possession of it
(notwithstanding the determination of several suits at law in favor of the
Citizens) till the attainder of Henry Courtenay, Marquis of Exeter, A. D. 1538,
when it reverted to the crown, where it remained till this period.

120

THE HISTORY OF

Chap. III. Commissioners to send up all the superfluous plate, crucifixes,
- images of Saints, &c. to be disposed of for the use of Govern
ment.
A. D. A pension of 40s. per annum was grauted under the common
1552. seal of this city to Sir Peter Carew, Knight.
King Edward, to the great grief of the Protestant part of
the nation, died on the 6th of July, 1553, aged only 16 years,
and was succeeded by his eldest sister, Mary.
MA YORS and BAILIFFS in the reign of Edward VI.

Mary. 1553.

1547.
John Midwinter.
John Drake.
Thomas Skidmore.
John Bodley.
John Blackall. 1548.
John Blackaller.
William Tothill.
Jeffery Arundel.
Henry Maunder.
John Tooker. 1549.
John Tuckfield.

William Smith.
Richard Prestwood.
William Reynolds.
Thomas Lambert.
1550.
Thomas Prestwood.
John Hurst.
Walter Staplehill.
Peter Lake.
Thomas Beau fitz.
1551.
William Hurst.
Morris Levermore.
John Trowbridge.

Henry Harris.
Robert Horwood. 1552.
William Tothill.
John Periam.
Thomas Spicer.
John Smith.
Richard Gifford.
1553.
William Smith.
Walter Staplehill.
John Peter.
John Dyer.
Thomas Richardson.

Lady Jane
Grey
proclaimed Queen.

Queen
Mary
restores the
Romishreligion.Little Con
duit in
South-gate-
street.

There was a short interregnum from the death of King
Edward to the accession of his sister, Mary. He, well know
ing his sister's attachment to the Papal religion, appointed, by
his last will, the Lady Jane Grey, his first cousin, to succeed
him on the throne, and she was accordingly proclaimed Queen ;
but many of the principal nobility espousing the interest of
Mary, the unfortunate Lady Jane was deserted by her friends,
and she willingly resigned her pretensions.
Mary, on her accession, set the Roman Catholics at liberty,
restored the deprived Bishops, and allowed a general liberty of
conscience until the sitting of the parliament, when by an act
they restored the Romish religion, and forbad the exercise of
any other on pain of death.
The little Conduit, in South-gate- Street, was re-built at
the expence of the Mayor, (for this year) William Smith, Esq.*

* This Conduit stood where the Pump now stands, but becoming ruinous,
and the pipes being choked or lost, a well was dug, and the Pump erected in
its place.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 121
John Vowell, (alias Hooker) author of the ancient History o/Chap. III.
Exeter, was appointed the first Chamberlain thereof. =====
Queen Mary having married Philip, King of Spain, called a. D.
a new parliament, who passed an act for entirely suppressing 1554.
the Protestant religion, and restoring the Roman Catholic; after The nation
which Cardinal Pole reconciled the nation to the See of Rome, p*"™" 'he
and absolved it from all ecclesiastical censure. yoke!
Sir John Pollard, Knight, was admitted to the freedom of this 1555.
city, and afterwards chosen one of its representatives in parlia
ment, wherein he proved of great service in promoting the liber
ties of the Citizens.
The Merchant adventurers of this city trading to France and 1556.
beyond the seas were incorporated by the Queen's charter. Merchants
The Queen, through the instigation of Gardiner, Bishop of ratedp
Winchester, and Bonner, Bishop of London, persecuted the Queen
Protestants with unrelenting severity: great numbers refusing to Mary per-
recaut were executed with the most excruciating tortures, secntes tlie
among whom was one Agnes Priest, a poor woman of Laun
ceston, in Cornwall ; she being very zealous for the Protestant
religion, contrary to the opinion of her husband and children,
they endeavoured to prevail on her to go to Mass ; but she re
fusing, they used her very cruelly ; and, in order to avoid such
hardships, she left her family and wandered up and down the
country: some time after, returning home, her husband and
children informed against her to Dr. Turberville, Bishop of
Exeter, who caused her to be apprehended and brought to his
prisou ; where she, in the most public manner, declared her
sentiments of religion, denying the real presence in the sacra
ment of the Lord's supper, asserting it was the type and figure
only, and that no person doth really eat the body of Christ, Agnes
but spiritually : after several examinations, refusing to recant Priest
these opinions, she was condemned to be burnt, and this sen- bur"t
tence was accordingly executed upon her on Southernhay, 15th °"nna"
August, 1557.
After her condemnation she was visited by some friends, who 1557.
offered her money, but she refused it, saying, she was going to
a place where money had no mastery.
The unrelenting severity of the Queen and her Ministers,
with the loss of Calais, which had been taken from the English,
by the French, entirely alienated the affections of her subjects :
this so preyed upon her spirits, that she died of a broken heart, Queen
on 17th November, 1558, to the great joy of the Protestants : MarJ dies-
and was succeeded by her sister Elizabeth.

1 2

122

THE HISTORY OF

Chap, ill. MA YORS and BAILIFFS in the reign of Queen Mary.

1554.
John Midwinter.
Griffith Ameredith.
Michael Brown.
William May.
John Coggan. 1555.
Morris Levermore.
John Peter.
William Seldon.

John Spark.
Peter Tross. 1556.
Walter Staplehill.
Robert Midwinter.
Richard Hellyard.
Stephen Vilvain.
John Howell. 1557.
John Peter.

John Blackall.
Eustace Oliver.
Thomas Marshall.
Robert Chave. 1558.
John Buller.
Richard Prestwood.
Simon Knight.
Thomas Chapell.
Edward Lymett.

Queen Eli
zabeth. A. D.
1558.
Tbe Protes
tant religi
on restored.
Removal of
the Popish
Bishop of
Exeter.NewBishop
comes to
Exeter.Dispute be
tween the
Mayor and
the Bishop
settled by
the Queen,
who con
firms the
city's char
ters. 1561.
Charter for
Orphansgranted.
High School
re-built.

Elizabeth ascended the throne to the general joy of the
Protestants, and began her reign by restoring the reformed
religion. Soon after her coronation she deprived the Popish
Bishops, and filled the vacant Sees with such learned men as
she knew were zealous in the Protestant interest : Dr. Turber-
ville, the Bishop of Exeter, was removed, and William Alleigh,
a learned man, was appointed in his room ; who, when he
came to take possession of his Diocess, (accompanied by the
Earl of Bedford, Lord-Lieutenant of the county of Devon)
was received with great pomp and solemnity, by the Mayor and
Citizens, and conducted to the Cathedral.
Soon after this a dispute arose between the Mayor and
Bishop : the latter had obtained a commission of the Queen to
act as a Justice of the Peace, within the limits of the city, but
this being contrary to the charters granted to the Citizens, the
Mayor strongly opposed his acting in that capacity within his
limits; and the dispute being referred to the Queen, she
approved of the Mayor's conduct, and ordered the Bishop to
desist from his pretensions, and confirmed the Citizens in all
their former rights and privileges.
The Queen granted the city a charter, under her great seal,
for Orphans, which was confirmed the next year by an Act of
Parliament. The Grammar School, (commonly called the High School)
near the little Conduit,* in the High-Street, being in a ruinous
state, was, by a contribution of the Citizens (at the request
of the schoolmaster, Mr. Williams) new built, ceiled, and
seated.

* This Conduit was situated in the middle of the street, near St. Lawrence's
church, and hath long since been demolished : the porch of the said church was
built out of the materials. The statue of Queen Elizabeth, now standing on
the porch, was removed from this Conduit,

THE CITY OF EXETER. 123
The lands appropriated for the maintenance of the alms Chap. III.
people, in the Combrew, (Lord Bonville s alms-houses in Rock- A D.
Lane)* by the attainder of the said Lord, reverting to the 1562!
Queen, and there being at the dissolution of Monasteries four TheQueeu's
almsmen still remaining in the late dissolved hospital of St. pate!" (or
John,\ the Queen, by her letters patent, dated 7th November, th" pay'to
1562, ordered the pay of the said poor alms people and pen- the poor
sioners of St. John's Hospital to be continued from the crown, people of
and invested in the Mayor and Chamber the appointment of Bom,'lle's
the said poor people and pensioners, to them and their heirs andSst0USes
for ever. John's'
An order was made by the Mayor and Chamber that all the hospital.
poor people belonging to the alms-houses within the city and its .,1563'
suburbs (excepting such as were incapable through age or sick- _ ™*e to
ness) should attend Divine service daily at the Cathedral. attend
The Plague raging in London all communication therewith Divine ser-
was forbid ; and St. Nicholas's fair was for this year discontinued. vice dailJ'-
An annuity of £10 per annum was granted by the Mayor and 1564.
Chamber to Sir William Cecil, Knight; and another annuity,
of twenty marks per annum, was granted to Mr. Jeffery Tothill,
in token of their past services to the Citizens.
Some thieves found means to rob the Exchequer belonging 1565.
to the Cathedral, but finding the booty more than they wanted,
they returned the overplus.
The latter end of this year there was a severe frost, which was 1568.
attended by a sudden thaw ; in consequence of it great inunda- A great
tions were caused which did much damage, particularly to the fros!' and
bridges and weirs; Calabear Weir (now Head Weir) was tj,ff'°
entirely destroyed, but afterwards re-built in a much stronger
manner. The Plague broke out in this city, and raged with such 1569.
violence that it occasioned most of the principal inhabitants A Sreat
and their families to leave their habitations, and seek a refuge p ague"
in the country from this deplorable calamity.
Agnes, the wife of John James, late of this city, was burnt 1571.
on Southernhay, for poisoning her husband.

* These alms-houses through the neglect of the trustees many years ago were
suffered to run to decay, so that there is not the least vestige remaining. The
site was granted to Colonel Newton, of Exeter, whose heirs sold it to Mr.
Stribling, and it now belongs to Mr. Robert Russel ; but the alms people's
bounty is still received from the crown, by the Chamber.
t The pay of these pensioners, or almsmen, has lately been discontinued ;
though two of them are stilr living :  Grigg, a Shoemaker, and  Barret,
a Peruke Maker.

124

THE HISTORY OF

Chap. III.
A. D.
1574.
A Pension
granted to
Sir Gawen
Carew, &c.
1575.
Citizens
presentThomas
Williams, Esq. with
£20 in gold
1576.

1578.

The Queen
orders Houses of
Correction
to be built.
One is
erected in
this city.
1580.
Eleven
horsemen sent into
Ireland. 1581.
Custom of
gavelkind.

A pension of 40s. per annum was granted to Sir Gawen
Carew, Knight ; and after his decease to remain to Edmund
Tremayne, Esq. for his life, in gratitude for the great services
they had rendered to the city.
Thomas Williams, Esq. one of the representatives of this
city, being chosen Speaker of the House of Commons, was
presented, by the Citizens, with a purse containing £20 in
gold, as a token of their gratitude for the great services he had
done them ; but dying soon after Sir Peter Carew was elected
by the Citizens in his room, as one of their representatives.
A Court of Hustings was erected in the Guildhall, and seats
properly built for the better accommodation of the Mayor
and Aldermen; and in the following year the Hall was new
glazed, ceiled, and beautified, and a pump erected in the
front of it.
John Jones, of this city, Goldsmith, presented to the Mayor
a silver bason and ewer, (value £30) for the use of him and his
successors, at all public entertainments, for ever.
Before the late dissolution of Monasteries numbers of poor
people were daily fed and relieved at the gates of the Abbeys
and Nunneries, who being thus indulged in a habit of idleness,
and having no inclination to labour, rambled up and down the
country, which was filled with lusty mendicants, to the great
hurt of the industrious. This being represented to her Majesty,
she ordered Houses of Correction to be erected in the cities and
towns, and proper officers placed therein, to compel those who
were able to maintain themselves by hard labour, and to punish
the refractory. Pursuant to this order one was erected in this
city, by the voluntary contributions of the Citizens; who, seeing
the necessity of the measure, subscribed very largely towards
the erection of it, and its future maintenance.
The Queen commanded the Dean and Chapter to furnish
eleven horsemen, with proper arms and furniture, to be sent
into Ireland, on her Majesty's service, to join the army there
opposing the rebellion of O'Neal.
Great part of the lands of this city and county being held by
the custom of gavelkind,* an Act of Parliament was procured
(at the expence of the Mayor and Chamber) by which all lands
within the same should descend and be inheritable, as lands at
common law.

» Gavelkind, i. e. give all kind ; a custom derived from our Saxon
ancestors, by which all lands were equally divided among the sons, the
youngest receiving an equal share with the eldest.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 125
The new canal, leading to the quay, was enlarged, deepened, Chap. III.
and sluices erected thereon, for the better conveying of mer- sluices 
chandize up to the city. erected on
The Right Honourable William, Earl of Bath, was, on the tl,e new

canal.

A.D.

7th of August, this year, married at St. Stephen's church, in
this city, to the Lady Elizabeth Russel, daughter to the Earl tis2.
of Bedford ; on which occasion the Citizens presented the new The Earl of
married couple with a bason and ewer of silver, richly gilt: Bathmarri-
they also made a grand cavalcade, and exhibited all manner of jd '"'''f
diversions, on Southernhay, in honour of the said marriage, the bethJRussei
lady being a native of this city, and born in Bedford-house.
An ancient custom was now confirmed, by an act of the 1583.
Mayor and Common Council, to compel every inhabitant, whose F'"es for
house shall have happened to be on fire, to pay a fine of 20s. niouses and
,/• ,.rr r r. e. i * chimneys
and for every chimney on fare, 6s. 8d. ' on gre/
Don Anthonio, who had been crowned King of Portugal, 1584.
but was driven thence by the Spaniards, came to this city, in The King
his way to London, to solicit aid from Queen Elizabeth, and of Portugal
was hospitably received and entertained, with his retinue, at the this cit °
Mayor's house, during the whole of his stay.
At the Lent Assizes held this year at the castle of Exeter, 1580.
before Sir Edmund Anderson, Lord Chief Justice of the Com- Terrible
mon Pleas, and Sergeant Flowerby, one of the Barons of the ^,ckness
. c • orcjirvs out
Exchequer, a noisome pestilential smell came from the pri- at tne
soners who were arraigned at the Crown Bar, which so affected Assizes.
the people present that many were seized with a violent sick
ness, which proved mortal to the greatest part of them : of
those who sat on the Bench there died the Judge, Sergeant Tne jad.e
Flowerby, Sir John Chichester, Sir Arthur Basset, and Sir 8 Justices,'
Bernard Drake, Knights ; Thomas Carew, R. Carey, John H Jury-
Fortescue, John Waldron, and Thomas Risdon, Esquires, meD> a"d
Justices of the Peace ; eleven of the Jurymen, and a great dia,n0f°jt>ers
number of Constables and others who attended the Court.
The disorder spread itself through the city and surrounding
country, proving fatal to numbers. This Assize, from the
consequences attending it, was called the Black Assize. The The sup-
sickness was supposed to have originated from some Portuguese posed occa-
seamen, whose ship being taken by Sir Bernard Drake, on her g^,^,/
voyage from Newfoundland, laden with fish, the crew, in
number thirty-eight, men and boys, were sent to the goal, near
Exeter Castle; and being greatly emaciated, from a long voyage

* The fine of 6s. 8a*. is still demanded, in case of chimneys being on fire,
and distresses made on refusal of payment; this, though distressing to
individuals, is beneficial to the community, as it makes the Citizens careful in
keeping their chimneys always clear from soot.
K 2

126

THE HISTORY OF

Chap. III. and want of provisions, and confined in a stinking dungeon,*
¦ having no change of apparel, and lying on the damp ground,
they infected one another ; and no proper care being taken of
them, they most part sickened and many died.
The infection was soon communicated to the other prisoners,
and few of them escaped the fatality of the disorder. These
unhappy foreigners were ordered to be brought for examination
before the Justices ; but being reduced by famine and sickness,
they were unable to stand, and therefore were carried by men,
on hand-barrows, to the court, where they excited the commis
eration of the spectators : proper care was then taken of them,
and the survivors were sent to Portugal.
A. D. The Queen having granted the forfeited estates of the Irish
1587. rebels to such of her subjects as would undertake the plantation
Many gen- and defence of them against the incursions of the wild Irish,
tiemen of gir Walter Raleigh, Sir William Courtenay, and several
Devon and 0ther Devonshire gentlemen, accepted the offer, and went over
of Ex' ""r* "-° Ir^and, (accompanied by a number of their tenants and
go over to followers, among whom were several artificers and tradesmen
Ireland to of Exeter, with their families) where they planted the county
settle. 0f j)eSmond, and several other places, and laid the foundation
of great estates ; particularly Sir William Courtenay s, which
consists of almost the whole county of Limerick, and which is
now in the possession of the Right Honourable Lord Viscount
Courtenay.
1588. The long projected invasion of this kingdom by the Spaniards
The Span- ^for wj,ich they had many years been making immense prepara-
sion. tions) was now about to take place ; and the Queen having
notice of their intention of soon sailing, she sent orders to all
^ne , the maritime counties to embody their militia, and to make
order"^ every necessary preparation to defeat the designs of their
the Citizens enemies. These orders being received by the Mayor of this
to arm city, he acquainted the Citizens, and represented to them the
themselves, danger they were in if they did not unanimously oppose the
invasion of so cruel and implacable a foe. The Citizens imme-
The Citi- diately put themselves in arms, and joined in an address to the
dresVthe Q,,een' declaring themselves ever ready to oppose her enemies,
Queen. and to support the Protestant religion at the hazard of their

* The dungeon here alluded to cannot at this time be ascertained. In the old
goal there was not the least vestige or appearance of any subterranean place of
confinement ; neither in the castle, if we except the passage under the walls
to the sally-port, commonly termed the dungeon, which was often used as a
black-hole for punishing soldiers ; and a dreadful damp place of confinement
it was.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 127
lives and fortunes; assuring her they were in readiness to march Chap. III.
and join her army whenever wanted.
By a voluntary contribution they also fitted out three ships, Citizens fit
which were manned, armed, and maintained, at their own "^ three
expence, and sent to reinforce the Queen's fleet. s ,ps'
The Queen, in a letter, returned them her most grateful The Queen
thanks, and granted them the honour of bearing the motto, ^tnds a
Semper Fidelis, for ever, under their city arms ; and appointed tnaneks°
John Carpenter, Esq. to be their Muster Master.
The Spanish fleet, consisting of 132 sail of large ships, 20 Jf0™? °f thc
caravals, for conveying artillery and stores, and 10 small vessels, tieeTwhich
of six oars each, having on board 8,766 sailors, 2,088 galley sailed for
slaves, 21,855 soldiers, and 3,165 pieces of cannon, (these England.
were to be joined by the Prince of Parma, on their arrival off
the English coast, with 30,000 foot and 1,800 horse) set sail
from Corunna, but meeting with a violent storm were obliged
to put back, notice of which being obtained by the English
fleet, then cruising at the mouth of the British Channel, to
intercept their passage, they returned into Plymouth ; and
thinking the danger over for that year, began to dismantle
their ships : the Spaniards, however, soon repaired their The Span-
damages, and again set sail for the English coasts; but being lards aP-
happily descried by Captain Winter, who commanded a small English e
Scottish privateer, he hastened to Plymouth and gave notice coast,
to the English commanders of the approach of the Spanish
fleet. The contrary winds prevented the English fleet from coming
out of harbour, and the Spaniards proceeded up the channel, And sail up
(their fleet being drawn up in the form of a crescent) and pas- the channel.
sing Plymouth, continued their voyage under a slow and easy
sail, in sight of the inhabitants, who were posted in the most
accessible parts of the coast, to prevent their descent.
The English having with difficulty warped their ships out of
Plymouth, followed them with a much inferior force; while the
gentlemen of Devonshire greatly exerted themselves by fitting , .e eT0""
hi i ¦ i ii ii i - • shire gentle
out all the ships they could procure, and hastened to join raen exert
the English fleet, where they behaved themselves with the themselves.
greatest intrepidity, and contributed highly to the success that
followed. The Prince of Parma was prevented by the vigilance of the The Span-
English and Dutch squadrons from joining the Spanish forces; iards are
in consequence of which, and meeting with several defeats, the [j^™
Spaniards endeavoured to escape homewards round the north defeated.
of Scotland and Ireland, where so many of their ships were
lost as out of the whole which left Spain only 97 returned,

128

THE HISTORY OF

Chap. III.
Spaniardsreturn home with
great loss.

The Devon
shire gen
tlemen who
distin
guishedthemselves. A. D.
1589.1591.

1592.

1593.
A scarcity
of corn.

1596.

A great fire
at Tiverton. 1599.

1601.
Another fire at
Tiverton. 1602.

and most of their crews were lost. The loss of the English
was only one ship and about one hundred men ; thus the
despotic designs of the Spanish Monarch to subjugate this
nation, and extirpate the Protestant religion, was frustrated,
through the providence of the Almighty, and the bravery of our
ancestors. Among the Devonshire worthies who distinguished themselves
on this glorious occasion were Sir Francis Drake, Sir Martin
Forbisher, Sir John Hawkins, Sir Humphrey Gilbert, Sir
Walter Raleigh, Sir Robert Carey, Knights; and Edward
Fulford, Esq. then Sheriff of the county of Devon.
The plague again appeared in this city ; it broke out in the
month of September, but was not of long continuance, as cold
weather commencing put a stop to its ravages.
The Serge Market, heretofore kept in North-Street, was re
moved, by order of the Chamber, into South-gate- Street, to be
held between Bear-Lane and the Little Conduit, as being a more
convenient place.
Several of the city Butchers having riotously abused the
country Butchers who kept the markets, and forcibly taken the
meat from their stalls, were committed to prison for the said
offences. The front of the Guildhall was re-built.
This year there was a great scarcity of corn ; and the poor of
this city being thereby greatly distressed, a sum of money was
advanced by the Mayor and Chamber in order to erect a public
granary, and to purchase a quantity of corn to have recourse to
in case of any future exigency.
A pension of £4 per annum was granted to John Hooker, as
a reward for the services done by his father to this city.
A great fire happening at Tiverton, a collection of £10 was
here made and sent to the relief of the poor of that town.
The deep road between the Wynard's Alms-houses and the
Hospital of St. Mary Magdalen was filled up and paved.
Another great fire happening at Tiverton, which consumed
almost the whole town, £100 was collected by the voluntary
contributions of the Citizens and sent as relief.
It was the custom in those days (after the dissolution of the
Monasteries) for men of fortune to take a certain number of
young gentlemen into their families in order to be educated by
their Chaplains. Some of these young gentlemen, who resided
at Sir William Courtenay s, at Powderham Castle, were accused
of wantonly assaulting and robbing several persons on the road,
as they were going to Exeter market, for which they were
arraigned and tried at the Assizes. Sir William Courtenay
appearing on the Bench, to speak in their behalf, and insisting

THE CITY OF EXETER.

129

that they did it only by way of a frolic, and that they were able Chap. III.
and willing to make any reasonable satisfaction to their accusers, 
the Judge would not adhere to it, but declared the law should „.
take its course : on this Sir William rose up in a violent •vyilliam
passion, put his hand to his sword, and loudly exclaimed that Courtenay
he would make the Judge's shirt so red as his scarlet gown. insults the
Sir William, however, reflecting coolly on the outrage he J,udff 0D.
had committed against the person of her Majesty's representa
tive, and fearing the consequences, took horse immediately and
rode post to London ; and falling at her Majesty's feet, he
confessed his fault and implored her pardon, which the Queen
for some time refused, and ordered him into custody : but hav
ing more than ordinary regard for his family, she soon released
and pardoned him.*
Queen Elizabeth departed this life on the 24th March, 1603,
to the great grief of her subjects. She was succeeded by James,
the 6th of that name King of Scotland, and the first of
England. MA YORS and BAILIFFS in the reign of Queen Elizabeth.

1559.
Robert Midwinter.
John Paramore, Ob,
John Woolcot.
James Walker.
Hubert Colwell.
William Chapell.
1560.
John Blackall.
John Dyer.
Richard Gibbs.
Richard Hazlewood.
Jeffery Thomas. 1561.
William Hurst.
Hugh Pope.
Thomas Prestwood.

Ralph Duckenfield.
Gilbert Saywell.
1562.
John Peter.
Edward Bridgman.
Philip Yard.
William Grigg.
William Lant.
1563.
John Per yam.
Thomas Richardson
George Peryman.
Henry Ellicott.
Richard Prowse.
1564.
Morris Levermore.

John Smith.
Thomas May.
Andrew Geer.
John Webb. 1565.
John Woolcot.
Robert Chave.
Thomas Bruerton.
Robert Lambell.
Alexander Trigg.
1566.
Thomas Richardson.
Simon Knight.
Nicholas Martin.
John Pope.
Thomas Bird.

* Tradition says he struck the Judge, and for that reason the family were
obliged to bear a bloody hand in their coat of arms : this is a great mistake,
the bloody hand, gules, being the arms of Ulster, in Ireland, and is the badge
of distinction of all Baronets : neither do I find that any of the family ever
made use of that distinction, it being beneath their pretensions, as descendants
of the ancient Earls of Devon.
L 2

130

THE HISTORY OF

Chap. III.

1567.
' John Smith.
William Chapell.
Thomas Martin.
John Hutchins.
John Jones. 1568.
Robert Chave.
Edward Lymett.
John Levermore.
Richard Newman.
Roger Robinson. 1569.
William Chapell.
Thomas Bruerton.
John Pyle.
William Hunt.
John Collins. 1570.
Simon Knight.
William Tryvett.
William Paramore.
Hugh Willsdon.
Walter Jones. 1571.
Thomas Bruerton.
Nicholas Martin.
John Dorn.
William Martin.
William Mongwell.
1572.
John Peryam, Ob.
John Blackall.
Thomas Prestwood.
Thomas Raymond.
Henry James.
Richard Sweet.
1573.
William Tryvett.
George Peryman.
John Davy.

Alexander Mayne.
Thomas Chapell.
1574.
Nicholas Martin.
John Pope.
John Peryam.
John Sandford.
Richard Harding.
1575.
John Peter.
Richard Prowse.
George Smith.
Nicholas Spicer.
Richard Beaufitz.
1576.
Thos. Prestwood, Ob
Robert Chave.
Thomas Martin.
Thomas Spicer.
Laurence Barcomb.
John Chapell. 1577.
George Peryman.
Michael Germyn.
John Hakewill.
John Dodd.
John Field. 1578.
Richard Prowse.
Jeffery Thomas.
William Perry.
Thomas Turberville
William Shepherd.
1579.
Wm. Chapell, Ob.
Simon Knight.
Thomas Raymond.
John Applin.
John Brushford.
Peter Vilvain.

1580.
Thomas Bruerton.
John Davy.
Robert Webber.
John Biggins.
Nicholas Carpenter.
1581.
Thomas Martin.
John Peryam.
Henry Hull.
Richard Dorchester.
Henry Spurway. 1582.
Michael Germyn.
George Smith.
John Howell.
John Follett.
John Moor. 1583.
Jeffery Thomas.
William Martin.
Thomas Walker.
Richard Jourden.
Nicholas Errom.
1584.
John Davy.
John Levermore.
John Prowse.
Thomas Bridgman.
Nicholas Spicer.
1585.
Nicholas Martin.
Thomas Chapell.
William Spicer.
Gilbert Smith.
Richard Perry.
1586.
George Smith.
Nicholas Spicer.
Laurence Seldon.

THE CITY OF EXETER.

131

William Brayly.
Thomas Edwards.
1587.
John Peryam.
Philip Yard.
John Ellicott.
Jasper Horsey.
Roger Selby. 1588.
Thomas Chapell.
Thomas Spicer.
Thomas Radford.
Richard Reynolds.
Thomas Greenwood.
1589.
Richard Prowse.
John Chapell.
Edward Langdon.
Walter Horsey.
John Payne. 1590.
William Martin.
Richard Sweet, Ob.
John Howell.
William Newcombe.
Walter Borough.
Thomas Baskerville.
1591.
Michael Germyn.
Thomas Walker.
Jeremy Milliard.
Hillary Galley.
John Deptford. 1592.
Nicholas Spicer.
Hichard Beavis.

Walter Body.
Alnett Budley.
Richard Wheaton.
1593.
Thomas Spicer.
Henry Hull.
Alexander Germyn.
Paul Triggs.
Henry Payne. 1594.
John Davy.
Christopher Spicer.
Hugh Crossing.
John Lant.
Clem. Old borough.
1595.
John Chapell.
Richard Dorchester.
John Chapell, Jun.
Jeffery Waltham.
John Eades. 1596.
John Levermore.
Rd. Jourden, Ob.
Alexander Mayne.
Thomas Blackaller.
David Bagwell.
Robert Parr. 1597.
George Smith.
William Spicer.
John Sandy.
Samuel Alford.
William Pope.
1598.
John Peryam.

John Prowse.
John Taylor.
Nicholas Langdon.
Richard Body.
1599.
John Howell.
Thomas Edwards.
Giles Savery.
William Martin.
Ignatius Jourden.
1600.
William Martin.
John Ellicott.
John Lambell.
Thomas Snow.
Richard Brindley.
1601.
Thomas Walker.
Walter Borough.
John Sheer.
John Marshall.
Hugh Morell. 1002.
Richard Beavis, Ob.
William Martin.
Alexander Germyn.
Robert Ellicott.
Richard Sweet.
John Modyford. 1603.
Nicholas Spicer.
Hugh Crossing.
Nicholas Beavis.
Oliver Tapper.
Robert Hind.

Chap. III.

James, the first Monarch of England of the house of Stewart, A. D.
was proclaimed with great solemnity in this city, on the 29th 160^
March, 1603, by the style and title of King" of England, James l-
Scotland, France, and Ireland.

132

THE HISTORY OF

Chap. III. The Plague again visiting this city the Mayor and Chamber,
The Pl„i,ue to prevent the spreading of the infection, provided a Pest-house
visits the for the better relief of the poor people who might be infected by
city. this dreadful scourge ; yet, notwithstanding all their precautions,
A pest- it spread through the city and raged with great violence for
house built. sometime) which prevented Lammas and Magdalen fairs from
being held this year.
A.D. The Tower of St. Sidwell's church having been greatly
T 1605-f damaged in the late insurrection of the Devon and Cornish
St°Sidwell's rebels, a contribution was voluntarily raised by the Citizens to
church defray the expences of re-building the same.
re-built. Elegant new silver Maces, with the King's arms embossed
1606. thereon, was made for the city Sergeants.
macvescmade The dangerous road without South-gate (termed, from its
Holloway deepness, Holloway) was filled up, levelled, and paved.
new paved. The prices of corn advancing greatly in the markets, a large
1607- quantity was procured from abroad, by the contributions of the
relieved"™ "cn Citizens, and this was stored and retailed to the poor at
a dearth of reduced prices.
corn. Thomas Tooker, who had been lately elected Sword-bearer
1611. Qf tri;s c[tyt being convicted of the murder of his wife, was
bea'reTexe- condemned at the Assize, held at the castle, and executed at
cuted for Heavitree gallows.
murder. The ancient counterscarp of the castle (now called Northern-
1612. hay) was levelled, trees planted thereon, benches erected, and
hay1 walk" a ^ae gravel walk made, at the expence of the Chamber, for
made. the accommodation of the Citizens.
1618. This year the great Sir Walter Raleigh, whose merits as a
w'l^t!'6' statesman, soldier, seaman, or historian, can hardly be equalled,
a eig fell a sacrifice to the cunning artifices of Gundamore, the
Spanish Ambassador.
Sir Walter had been accused of being an accomplice in a
pretended plot, in the beginning of this reign, for which he was
Confined 13 condemned to die ; but strong circumstances appearing in his
years in the favour, his execution was deferred, and he was confined a pri-
Tower of soner) under sentence of death, in the Tower of London, for
near thirteen years; during this time he wrote his incomparable
History of the World.
Is permit- At length, petitioning the King for his discharge, he was
America0'0 Permitted to undertake a voyage to Guiana, in South America,
in order to discover and take possession of some gold mines.
Returns Accordingly, with the broken remains of his fortune, he fitted
unsuccess- out tnree snjpS) an(j proceeded on his voyage ; but this proving
unsuccessful, after a series of misfortunes, and the loss of his
only son, he returned home after an absence of three years.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 133
On his return his conduct was misrepresented to the weak Chap. III.
King, who had been deceived in his hopes of the golden trea-
sure he expected from the voyage : and Gundamore, exasper
ated at the great damages Sir Walter had done the Spaniards,
in the late Queen's reign, and willing to remove him out of the
way, left no measures untried to gratify his revenge ; he
accordingly represented to the King that Sir Walter had
exceeded his commission, and done great damage to his
master's subjects.
The pusillanimous King commanded him again a prisoner to Sir Walter
the Tower ; from thence he was removed to the Gate-house, Ral.e,Sh
Westminster, and ordered to be returned to his former sen- committed
tence : thus delivered to the Sheriff, he was beheaded in the prisoner,
Palace-yard, Westminster, and his bodv buried in St. Marga- And
rets Church. beheaded.
Before his execution he in a letter to his wife desired her to
beg his body of his enemies, to be interred either in Sherborne
Church, or with his father, in Exeter Cathedral; but this small
request was not granted. The place of Sir Walter Raleigh's
birth has been disputed; some placing it at Budleigh, others at
Exeter, in the house adjoining the gate of the Bishop's Palace ;
for the latter there seems some reason, his father residing there
many years: but whether a native of Exeter or not, this tribute
is justly due to his memory.*
King James was the most pacific Monarch that had hereto
fore reigned in this kingdom ; and sooner than engage himself
in the horrors of war he submitted to many indignities which
his subjects received from foreign powers, particularly from the
Spanish and Dutch. The cruelties of the latter to the English
Merchants, at Amboyna, will be for ever remembered with a
just indignation against a Monarch who tamely suffered his
subjects to be cruelly tortured and murdered in cold blood, and
by those who but a few years before had been delivered from
the galling yoke of the Spaniards through the assistance of the
late Queen Elizabeth, and the valour of the English nation.
However, to give King James the praise where it is due, his The wool-
pacific reign proved very advantageous to his subjects, by len '"d.e
increasing their commerce, and encouraging their manufactories, ?re!Lej1f"
particularly the woollen, which was greatly advanced in this tiiis city.

* Thus fell the great and mnch lamented Sir Walter Raleigh, whose unme
rited death will ever be a stain in the annals of the weak James I. for
sacrificing the faithful servant of his benefactor and predecessor to the artful
wiles of an intriguing foreigner. And justly may the Satirist say,
Rex fail Elizabeth ; nunc est Reg inn Jacobus.
Elizabeth was a King ; but James a Queen.
M 2

134

THE HISTORY OF

CuAr. III. city, and proved a source of wealth hitherto unknown to the
The Chi. Citizens; their trade before this period being confined mostly to
zens extend the opposite coasts of France and Germany; but now it was
tbe" extended to Italy, Turkey, and other parts of the Levant; and
they sent their woollen cloths in large ships of their own, and
brought back the commodities of those countries : thus many
families rose to opulence, and laid the foundation of great
estates, which are now enjoyed by their descendants, in the

commerce.

Many
familiesenriched TheertownofneiShbourhoocl of Exeter." "They" were also concerned in the
Exeter plantation of the American colonies, many families emigrating
to America,'wheve they built a town, which they named Exeter,
in remembrance of their native city.
The Mayor and Chamber having purchased the late dissolved
Priory of St. John, within the East-gate, procured a charter
from the King for converting it into an hospital for poor men :
they also expended upwards of £400 of their own stock in the
necessary repairs of the said hospital.
The King sent down his letters patent for renewing the
commissions of the Deputy Lieutenants of this city and county.
The plague again visited this city ; its beginning here was iu
the month of July, and it continued its ravages for the space of
a year, cutting off whole families, and leaving the city almost
destitute of inhabitants.
The plague continuing to rage, Thomas Walker, Esq. who had
been elected Mayor, refused to take the office, through fear of
the disorder, and retired into the country, upon which a peti
tion was sent to the King, who, by his letter, commanded the
said Mayor to undertake the office, on his allegiance, which he
accordingly did, and executed it to the satisfaction of his fellow
Citizens.
Pest-house A Pest-house was purchased by the Chamber (in the parish
AUconT0 °^ ^' ®idwel1) f°r tne better accommodation of the poor, who
beggars might be infected with the plague : and an order was made
sent to the by the Justices for apprehending and committing to the House
House of of Correction all common beggars that should be found in the
Correction. streets.
KingJames King James died on the 27th March, 1625, and was suc-
• ceeded by his only son, Charles I.

built in
America. A. D.
1622.
The Cham
ber pur
chase the
Priory of
St. John.
1623. 162-1.
A great
plague al
most deso
lates the
city. 1625.
The new
Mayor, on
account of
the plague,
refuses the
office.

THE CITY OF EXETER.

135

MA YORS and BAILIFFS in the reign of James I. Chap. III.

1604.
John Davy.
William Newcombe.
W. Horsham, Ob.
John Penny.
Thomas Crossing.
Thomas Richardson.
1605.
Henry Hull.
John Lant.
Thomas Martin.
Edward Clement.
Peter Colleton. 1606.
Richard Dorchester.
Gilbert Smith.
John Gup will.
John Acland.
George Pyle.
1607.
Sir Geo. Smith, Kt.
Jeffery Waltham.
Robert Parr, Ob.
Peter Bolt.
George Leech.
Thomas Wakeman.
1608.
John Prowse.
John Marshall.
Thomas Amy.
Chris. Spicer.
John Blight. 1609.
Hugh Crossing.
John Sheer.
William Grigg.
John Havne.
William Birdall.
1610.
Walter Borough.

Ignatius Jourden.
Thomas Flay.
John Jourden.
John Lynn. 1611.
John Lant.
Thomas Martin.
Nicholas Spicer.
John Crocker.
John Tirry. 1612.
William Newcombe
John Modyford.
William Mace.
Abraham Paul.
Anthony Salter.
1613.
Jeffery Waltham.
John Gupwill.
John Chave.
Gilbert Sweet.
James Taylor. 1614.
Thomas Walker.
Thomas Crossing.
John Levermore.
George Passmore.
Henry Willet. 1615.
John Marshall.
John Taylor.
Richard Prowse.
Hugh Germyn.
William Bartlett.
1616.
John Sheer.
Thomas Amy.
Nicholas Martin.
Christopher Clark.
William Read.

1617.
Ignatius Jourden.
Peter Colleton.
Adam Bennet.
John Hakewill.
John Savage. 1618.
Thomas Martin.
John Acland.
Nicholas Ricroft.
Roger Yeo.
Alexander Osborne.
1619.
John Prowse.
George Pvle.
Walter Wight.
John Pearse.
George Langworthy.
1620.
Hugh Crossing.
John Lynn.
William Skinner.
Richard Sanders.
Thomas Tooker.
1621.
Walter Borough.
Thomas Wakeman.
Francis Crossing.
Henry Battishil.
John Garland. 1622.
John Modyford.
Roger Mallock.
Richard Herbert.
John Jourden.
John Mongwell. 1623.
John Gupwill.
Nicholas Spicer.

136 THE HISTORY OF
Chap. III. James Tucker. 1624. Hugh Crocker.

— John Cooze. Thomas Crossing. Nicholas Mercer.
Tristram Mitchell. Thomas Flay. Augustine Drake.
A. D. King Charles was proclaimed in this city March 31st, 1625.
1625. The plague raging in the city of Salisbury a collection was
1627 *' ma(^e by the inhabitants of this city for the relief of the poor of
Salisbury, which collection (amounting to a considerable sum)
was accordingly sent.
The King This year the King renewed the privileges of this city, and
grants a granted a new charter, which was not a confirmation only of
new charter their former rights, but an addition thereto: it follows at large,
o*f Exe't'e/ 'n a faithful translation from the Latin original.
CHARTER.
"Charles, by the grace of God, King of England, Scotland,
France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, and so forth, to
all whom these presents shall come, greeting:"
" Whereas divers of our most illustrious ancestors, or prede
cessors, late Kings and Queens of England, have (of their
Preamble sPec>al grace and royal favour, shewn towards their beloved
and consi- subjects, the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty of the city of
deration. Exeter, and towards the public good of the same city: and also
in consideration of the approved allegiance and faithful services
which they the said Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty have from
time to time done to the said Kings and Queens, and to the
crown of England, particularly in the reign of our ancestor, the
Lord Henry VII. late King of Eng land, and also in the reign of
Edward VI. late King of England, by most faithfully adhering
to the said King in the time of commotion, and the insurrection
and rebellion of his most ungrateful and unfaithful subjects, in
divers parts of this kingdom of England, in the counties of
Devon and Cornwall, and by boldly resisting the said rebels,
and by defending the said city of Exeter and the court of the
the said King against their most violent attacks, and against
those who were continually besieging and blockading [them] for
along time, and in a warlike manner, and with a great number
of people, not only to the great cost, expence, and burden of
the said Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty of the said city, but
also the great hazard and loss of their lives, and distress for
want of provisions, before the said late King with his arms and
warlike forces arrayed against them could raise the said siege)
granted and confirmed divers liberties, usages, privileges,

IS. B. The words between crotchets [thus] are added by the translator to
complete the sense.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 137
franchises, jurisdictions, and other things, by several charters, Chap. III.
or letters patent."
" And whereas we are informed that there are some defects Further
and uncertainties in the said charters and letters patent, in Preamble.
respect that some things therein contained for the good govern
ment, rule, and advantage of our said city of Exeter, and the
county of the said city, were not plainly expressed nor granted
in words sufficiently apt and proper ; and moreover the said
Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty of the said city have most
humbly besought us that we would (as far as we shall think
proper) manifest and extend our royal grace and favour in this
behalf, for explaining and reducing to certainty the defects,
uncertainties, and doubts of the said charters and letters patent;
and also for an addition of certain liberties, franchises, and
privileges, in such manner as shall seem best by us to
be done."
" We, therefore, weighing the premises, and also the alle- Grant
giance, obedience, and faithful services of the Mayor, Bailiffs, extentof
and Commonalty, of the said city, continued from time to time thecityand
to the crown of England, of our especial grace, certain know- 'famliY?.
ledge, and of our own mere motives, have willed, ordained,
granted, and constituted, and by these presents, for us, our
heirs and successors, do will, ordain, grant, and constitute,
that our said city of Exeter, and the county of the said "city,
and the circuit, jurisdiction, and precincts of the same, may
from henceforth be, and may extend and stretch themselves,
and may extend and reach, as well 'in length as breadth, as in
circuit and precinct, to such, and the like, and the same bounds,
metes, and limits, and in the same manner as the said city of
Exeter, and the county of the same, and the circuit and pre
cincts, and jurisdiction thereof might extend or reach, at any
time before the date of these presents."
"And moreover, that all and singular disputes, inconve- Principal
niences, and litigations, in or about the election of the Mayor, reasons for
the four Bailiffs, the twenty-four of the Common Council, and f™"'1"^
the four Sergeants at Mace of the said city, may be entirely ta
ken away, and that all popular tumult may be avoided, and for
making a peaceable and quiet election in that behalf, of our more
abundant special grace and certain knowledge, and of our own
mere motion, we have willed, ordained, granted, constituted,
and established, and, by these presents, for us, our heirs and Qf the
successors, we will, ordain, grant, constitute, and establish. Common
that for ever hereafter there may and shall be twenty- four of Council.
the most discreet and substantial Citizens of the Common
Council of the said city for the term of their lives: and that Arere-
none of them shall be amoved, unless it be for poverty, sickness, ™>ve.we.
old age, or some other reasonable cause ; which cause shall be
N 2

138 THE HISTORY OF
Chap. Ill, adjudged and determined by the residue of the said twenty-four
'-¦ of the Common Council of the said city, or the major part of
them ; in which cases we will and declare by these presents
that any or either of the said twenty-four of the said Common
Council are from time to time amoveable, by the residue of
them, or the major part of them, for those causes so allowed."
"^Iwdthat after the decease or amotion of any or either of such
twenty-four of the Common Council of the said city, in form
aforesaid, the rest of the said twenty-four, or the major part of
them, having notice, and being present, shall, within a conve
nient time after such death or amotion, elect and choose one
or more other person or persons of the most substantial and
discreet Citizens, and freemen of the said city, to fill up the
said number of twenty-four of the Common Council of the said
city, according to the" custom used in our city of London for the
election of twenty -four Aldermen there."
Appoints a " And moreover, for the better execution of our will and
Common grant in this behalf, We have assigned, nominated, constituted,
Council. an(j made, and, by these presents, for us, our heirs and suc
cessors, do assign, nominate, constitute, and make our beloved
and trusty John Ackland, Esq. the present Mayor of our said
city of Exeter, and our beloved Thomas Walker, Walter
Burrowe, Ignatius Jourden, John Modyford, Thomas Crossing,
and John Taylor, Aldermen of the same city, and George
Pyle, John Lynn, John Jourden, Nicholas Spicer, Thomas
Flay, Nicholas Martin, John Hakewill, Gilbert Sweet, John
Crocker, George Passmore; Francis Crossing, Adam Bennett,
Roger Mallack, James Tucker, John Hayne, John Penny, and
Richard Sanders, merchants and freemen of the said city, to
be the first and present twenty-four of the Common Council of
the said city, to continue in that office or place during their
natural lives, unless in the mean time they, or either of them,
Election of snaH f°r any cause be amoved as aforesaid. And further, we
the Mayor, will, and, by these presents, for us, our heirs and successors,
do grant unto the said Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty, and to
their successors, that it shall and may be lawful for the Mayor
of our city of Exeter for the time being, together with his
brethren and the rest of the Commonalty of the same city (being
freemen of the said city) yearly, on every Monday next before
the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel, to meet together and
assemble themselves at the Guildhall of the said city, and then
and there the said twenty-four of the Common Council, or the
major part of them, being present, may and shall, upon their
oaths, appoint and nominate (by their secret votes, to be taken
privately and separately by the Recorder and Common Clerk of
the said city for the time being, or by their deputies, and upon
their oaths to be collected and computed) two of the best and
most substantial citizens of the said twenty-four of the said

THE CITY OF EXETER. 139
Common Council : that is to say, of those who have been be- Chap. III.
fore approved in the office of Mayor or Receiver of the said city, ==
(except the Mayor for the time being) of which two, one shall
be chosen Mayor of the said city for the year then next follow
ing. And, that the said twenty-four, or the major part of them, 2f.^5 fonr
being present, shall and may at the same time elect (as well out ai ' s'
of the said twenty-four, as of the rest of the best and most sub
stantial citizens and inhabitants within our city, being freemen
of the said city, and of good name and reputation) four Bailiffs
of the said city, for the year then next following ; of whom one Of the
may and shall be Receiver of the said city. And that the said Receiver.
twenty-four, or the major part of them, being present, may on of the
the same day elect, according to their discretion, three Sergeants three Ser-
at Mace, out of the freemen of the said city, who may best geants at
perform and attend upon their office. And after such scrutiny, Mace'
nomination, and election shall have been so made and had by Declaration
the said twenty-four, or the major partof them, being present, of the two
the Recorder and Common Clerk of the said city for the time persods.
being, or one of them, shall declare and publish to the Com- thrtwenty-
monalty of the said city (being freemen of the said city) the four, and
names of those two who shall have been nominated by the major the election
part of the votes of the said twenty-four in the scrutiny aforesaid, °^ one.of,
for the office of Mayor of the said city, for the year then jyfa„or D„
following. And that the said Commonalty shall choose one of the freemen
the said two to be Mayor of the said city, for one year, then
next following. And that he who shall have the major part of
the votes of the freemen of the said city shall be placed in and
admitted to the office of Mayor of the said city. And after Declaration
this is done the said Recorder and Common Clerk, or one of°f'heolber
them, shall shew and present to the Commonalty of the said cers"
city, in the presence of the said twenty-four of the Common
Council of the said city, being present, the names of all the
other Officers elected for the following year. And that yearly,
and in every year, for ever, the said Citizen so elected Mayor,
and all the said other Officers, elected in manner and form Swearingof
aforesaid, and every of them, shall, upon Monday next the Mayor
after such assembling, election, and publication, in the Guild- and other
hall of the said city, at the court there to be held, before the Officers.
Judges of the same court for the time being, according to the
ancient usage and laudable custom of our said city of Exeter,
take their corporeal oaths, upon the holy Evangelists of God,
well and faithfully to execute their offices respectively. And
that they be so respectively elected, placed, and sworn into
those offices for one whole year, then next following, according
to the usage and custom aforesaid. And that the said Mayor, ™*g™
after he shall have been sworn in form aforesaid, shall nominate t[)e "^
and choose one able Citizen, and a freeman of the said city, to sergeant at
be the fourth Sergeant at Mace of the said city, according to Mace.

140

THE HISTORY OF

Chap. III. the ancient custom of the said city. And that in case of the
jn case of ' death or amotion of the Mayor, Bailiffs, or Sergeants at Mace,
death, or or of any or either of them, one or more other person or per-
amotion, SOns shall, within a convenient time after such death or amotion,
others to ^ eiectecj m manner and form as aforesaid, into the place or
beciosen. p,aceg Qc njm or tnem s0 happening to die or be amoved, to
continue in those offices respectively during the residue of the
year then unexpired ; and they shall also be sworn as is before
Recorder appointed. And further we will and do, by these presents, for
Clerk&c" ourselves> our heirs and successors, grant to the said Mayor,
t0 be' Bailiffs, and Commonalty of the said city, and to their succes-
chosen, &c. sors ; and we also do appoint and ordain that the nomination,
as usual, election, and swearing of the Recorder and Common-Clerk shall
ormer y. an(j mg^ from thenceforth for ever be done, made, and had, on
the same days, in the same places, and at the same time, and
in such manner and form as hath been heretofore by ancient
custom in the said city in lawful manner used and approved."
Such as "And moreover, we will and do, by these presents, for
refuse to ourselves, our heirs and successors, grant to the said Mayor,
execute Bailiffs, and Commonalty of the city of Exeter, and to their
which they successors, that if any person or persons of the Common Coun-
are elected cil, or of the rest of the Citizens and freemen of the said city,
may be (whether he or they shall be residing or abiding within or
fined, im- without the city, or the county of the same city, the liberties or
anddrsfran- Precincts thereof) who shall hereafter have been nominated or
chised, by elected into the office of Mayor or Bailiff, or into the number of
theCommon twenty-four of the Common Council, or into the office of Sheriff,
Council. Coroner, or Constable, or into any other inferior office or place
of the said city, or any or either of them, (the office of
Recorder and Common Clerk of the said city being excepted)
and, having notice and knowledge of that election and nomina
tion, shall refuse [ ] * that office, or those offices
to which he or they so refusing shall have been elected and
nominated, that then and so often it shall and may be lawful
for the said twenty-four of the Common Council of the said
city, for the time being, or the major part of them, to commit
to the goal of the said city such person or persons so refusing to
execute that office, or those offices, to which he or they shall
have been so elected or nominated, there to remain until he or
they shall be willing to execute such office or offices : And to
tax, and to impose fines and amerciaments upon such recusant
or recusants as shall in reason seem expedient to the said
twenty-four of the Common Council, for the time being, or the
major part of them ; and that they may and shall detain (in
goal) such person or persons so refusing, and committed, or to
be committed, to the goal of the said city, for the time being,
* It seems as if the word [exercere] to execute, was here omitted.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 141
until he or they shall have fully paid, or caused to he paid, Chap. III.
those fines or amerciaments to the public use of the said city ; 
and, if it shall seem expedient to the said twenty-four of the
Common Council of the said city for the time being, or to the
major part of them, to disfranchise, expel, and amove him or
them from the liberties and franchises of the said city. And
also we do, for ourselves, our heirs and successors, constitute
and ordain, by these presents, that, as well every person so as
aforesaid refusing to undertake his office in form aforesaid, as
every other person who shall disturb, hinder, or oppose, con
trary to the tenor of these presents, these our ordinances con
cerning the election of the said officers, any or either of them,
or shall, at the time of making such elections, be guilty, either
by words or deeds, of any insolence, disturbance, or breach of
peace, shall incur the penalty of the high displeasure of us,
ourheirs and successors."
" We have moreover granted, and, by these presents, for powcr t„
ourselves, our heirs and successors, do grant to the said Mayor, make Bye
Bailiffs, and Commonalty of the said city, and to their succes- Laws.
sors for ever, that if any customs, which have hitherto obtained
and been used in the said city, are in any respect difficult or Difficiles
defective, or in any respect happening de novo, for which no not clear
remedy hath been before appointed, shall stand in need 0fan<iPIain-
amendment, then the said twenty-four of the Common Council
of the said city for the time being, or the major part of them, (of
whom we would the Mayor of the said city, for the time being,
should be one) may, when and as often as it shall seem most
expedient to them, appoint and ordain, by their common assent,
a proper remedy, agreeable to good faith and reason, for the
common advantage and government of the citizens and inhabi
tants of the same city, and others our subjects resorting to the
same; so as such ordinances be profitable to us and to our
people, and agreeable to good faith and reason as is aforesaid ;
and so as they are not repugnant to the royal prerogative of us,
our heirs and successors, nor contrary to the laws and statutes
of our kingdom of England then being in force."
"And whereas the Lord Henry the Eighth, late King of Eng- Recital of
land, by his letters patent, sealed with the great seal of Eng- the letters
land, bearing date, at Westminster, on the twenty-third day Pat^
of August, in the twenty-ninth year of his reign, granted, viii.with'
amongst other things, for himself, his heirs and successors, to reSpect to
the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty of the said city, and their the Justices
successors, that the Mayor and Recorder of the county of that ofthePeace
city, and each of the other eight Aldermen who had borne, sup- l"^™1
ported, or sustained, or then after might bear and support the ^.^
burden of the Mayoralty of the said city, and their successors, assignmeDt_
as long as they should be Aldermen of the said city, should be
O 2

142

THE HISTORY OF

Chap. III. Justices and Keepers of the Peace of the said late King, his heirs
- and successors, every where within the county of the said city,
and the precincts and liberties thereof, as well within the liber
ties as without, in every place within the boundaries and limits
Second of the county of the said city. And that they, the Mayor, Re
assignment, corder, and eight other Aldermen of the said county of the city
of Exeter, or three of them (of whom the Mayor and Recorder
for the time being were, by all means, to be two) should from
henceforth, for ever, be Justices of the said late King, his heirs
and successors, there to enquire of, hear, and determine all
and singular such and the like felonies, trespasses, and other
misdeeds, from thenceforth to be committed and perpetrated
within the same county of the city of Exeter, and the liberties
thereof, happening as well within the liberties as without; and,
in the same manner as the Justices of the said late King
assigned to keep the peace of the county of Devon, could or
might enquire of, hear, and determine, by virtue of the com
mission of the said King directed to them, and by force and
Gaol authority of the laws of this kingdom of England. And that
delivery, the same Mayor, Recorder, and Aldermen, or three of them (of
whom the said Mayor and Recorder for the time being were, by
all means, to be two) should be Justices of the said late King,
his heirs and successors, to deliver the gaol of the said county
of the city of Exeter, from time to time, as often as there should
be occasion, of the prisoners then being therein, according to
the law and usage of the kingdom of England. And for the
doing and performing divers other things, for the keeping the
peace of the said late King, his heirs and successors, within the
county of the said city, and the liberties thereof, as well within
the liberties as without, in the said letters patent more fully and
Justices of especially set forth ; so that neither the Justices and Keepers of
the county the Peace of the said late King, his heirs and successors, nor
not tolnter- the Justices °f him, his heirs and successors, assigned, or to
meddle. be assigned, to enquire of, hear, and determine, divers felonies,
trespasses, and other misdemeanors, nor the Sheriff, Coroner,
Escheator, nor any other Justice of the said late King, his heirs
and successors, of the said county of Devon, nor either of them,
should enter within the county of the said city and the liberties
thereof, on account of any tiring, causes, complaints, matters,
defaults, or articles belonging or appertaining to the Justices
of the Peace of the said late King, his heirs and successors,
or to the Justices of the said late King, his heirs and successors,
assigned, or to be assigned, to enquire of, hear, and determine
divers felonies, trespasses, and other misdemeanors ; nor should
they, or either of them, in any manner, on any account,
intrude themselves there, in respect thereof, as by the said
letters patent particularly and more fully appeareth. And

THE CITY OF EXETER. 143
whereas also it may happen, that the Mayor and Recorder of Chap, hi.
the said city, (who alone are appointed Justices of the quorum Recital 0f
by the said letters patent) or one of them, being prevented by someincon-
sickness or infirmity, or some other unavoidable cause, may not veniencesin
be able to attend the neccessary business of the said city, so tlJe ^harter
that the rest of the Justices cannot proceed in holding the Ses- \ni"y
sions for the said city and county thereof, to the furtherance of
the service of the public there in the absence of the said Mayor
and Recorder, or one of them, to the delay of justice, or the
impunity of offenders, we, (being willing to apply a remedy in Remedy.
this behalf, and that our Peace may be the better kept, and that
all other acts of justice may be there in all future times perfor
med duly and at their proper seasons, and may remain firm and
established) of our special grace, and of our certain knowledge,
and our own mere motion, have granted, and by these presents,
for us, our heirs and successors, do grant to the said Mayor,
Bailiffs, and Commonalty of the said city, and to their succes
sors, that the Mayor, Recorder, and Aldermen of the said city The Mayor,
for the time being, in all times to come, may and shall be Jus- Rei°Z??r'
tices, and every of them shall be a Justice, of us, our heirs and m"eI1 10 l'e~
successors, for the preserving and keeping, and causing to be Justices.
preserved and kept, the peace of us, our heirs and successors,
within the city of Exeter, and the county of the city of Exeter, a"s\lnmeni
and within the limits, liberties, and precincts of the said city
and county thereof, as well within the liberties as without.
And also, for the correcting, [offences against] preserving, and ^ab.0V'|ers'
keeping, and causing to be corrected, [offences against] the an^'g
statutes concerning artificers' and labourers' weights and mea- Measures.
sures within the said city, and the county of the same city, and
within the limits, liberties, and precincts aforesaid. And for Central
the doing of all other things which do belong, or which here- wor(ls-
after shall belong, to be done by Justices assigned to keep the
peace. And that the said Mayor, Recorder, and Aldermen, Sec.ond
so as aforesaid made and constituted, or to be made and con- Sessions.
stituted, Justices of the Peace, by virtue of these presents, or
any three or more of them, (of whom we would that any [two] Qa°runl>
of the said Mayor, Recorder, and two first and senior Aldermen 0f election!
of the said city for the time being, should be two) may and
shall appoint, hold, and keep the Sessions of the Peace, in the
same manner and form as any other Justices assigned, or to be
assigned, to keep the peace, or to hear and determine misdeeds
or trespasses, in any counties of England, can, or may now or
hereafter. And that they shall have full power and authority
to enquire of all offences, crimes, defaults, and articles what
soever, done, promoted, or committed, or hereafter to be done,
promoted, or committed, within the said city and county of the
said city, and within the liberties, limits, and precincts of

144 THE HISTORY OF
Chap. Ill, them or either of them. And to do and execute all other things
 there, which Keepers and Justices of the Peace, in any county
of our kingdom of England, can and may, or in future shall
and may, enquire of, do, or execute, by the laws and statutes
of the said kingdom of England, as Justices of the Peace, or as
Justices assigned, or to be assigned, to hear and determine
felonies, trespasses, and other misdemeanors committed within
any county, or any city, town, or borough incorporate within
Foreign this kingdom of England ; so that no other Justice or Justices
Justices assigned, or to be assigned, to keep the peace of us, our heirs
tnide0 n ancl successors, shall, hy virtue or pretence of any commission,
or of any association or otherwise, by any means, in any man
ner, intrude himself or themselves, to make, do, or order, any
matter or things within the said city, or the county of the same
city, or within the liberties, limits, or precincts thereof, which
do or shall respect or belong to Justices of the Peace, so
assigned to keep the peace, there."
Gaol ,, yye w^ a^so^ an(j jjy tbese presents, for us, our heirs and
e ivery. successorSj do grant to the said Mayor, Bailiffs, and Com
monalty of the said city, and to their successors, that the
Ouo m Mayor, Recorder, and Aldermen of the said city for the time
being, or three or more of them (of whom we would that the
Mayor, and Recorder, of the said city for the time being, should
be two) may, from time to time, for ever, be Justices of us, our
heirs and successors, to deliver our gaol of our said city of
Exeter, and county of the city, of the prisoners being therein
from time to time, according to the laws, customs, and statutes
Sheriff and 0f our kingdom of England. And that the Sheriff and Coroner
oroner o Qc ^ jj county for the time being shall make return of all
be attend- ......-' . ° . .
ant on the juries, inquisitions, pannels, attachments, and indentures
Gaol deli- taken, or hereafter to be taken, by them, before the said
very. Mayor, Recorder, and Aldermen of the said city for the time
being, or any three or more of them (of whom we will that the
Mayor and Recorder of the said city for the time being, in
form aforesaid, should be two) from time to time, when and as
often as they shall have determined to deliver the gaol of the
prisoners being in the same gaol ; and shall be attendant upon
them in every thing concerning the delivery of the said gaol ;
cute Pre-" and S^A^ ^'om time to t'Ille execute the precepts of them, the
cepts. Mayor, Recorder, and Aldermen of the said city for the time
being, or of any such three or more of them as aforesaid, in
the same manner and form as any Sheriffs or Coroners within
our kingdom of England have been accustomed and ought to
do, return, attend upon, or execute before Justices assigned,
or to be assigned, to deliver the gaol in any other counties in
the kingdom of us, our heirs and successors, in any manner
whatsoever, by the laws and statutes of this our kingdom of

THE CITY OF EXETER. 145
England. And that the said Mayor, Recorder, and Aldermen Chap. III.
of the said city for the time being, or any or either of them, may, p0Wer t0
by themselves, or by their officers or deputies, take and arrest commit
all murderers, persons accused of homicide, felons, thieves, murderers,
and other malefactors found, or to be found, within the said felons> &c-
city, suburbs, liberties, and precincts thereof, and within the
county of the said city, and shall cause them to be safe kept
there until they shall be delivered by due course of law; any
other ordinance, decree, order, or custom in any wise notwith- N
standing; so that neither they, nor either of them, shall in any termine
manner hereafter proceed to the determination of any treason, treason,&c.
or misprision of treason, within the said city, liberties, or pre- without the
cincts thereof, or within the county of the said city, without r0^al man"
the special mandate of us, our heirs and successors."
"And moreover, of our more abundant grace, and the support Grant of
and improvement of our said city of Exeter, we have granted, '
and, by these presents, for us, our heirs and successors, do
grant to the said Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty of the said
city, that they and their successors, from henceforth for ever,
shall have all and all manner of fines forfeited, and to be for
feited, redemptions, issues, and forfeitures, as well real as not
real, recognizances forfeited and to be forfeited, and all forfei
tures and amerciaments whatsoever (although we, our heirs or
successors, shall be parties) for trespasses, oppressions, extor
tions, deceits, conspiracies, concealments, regrating, forestall
ing, maintenance, ambidexters, forgeries, escapes, neglects,
felonies, misprisions, and all crimes and misdemeanors whatso
ever, and all fines pro licentia concordandi ; and all and all
manner of amerciaments, redemptions, fines, issues forfeited,
real and not real, chattels of felons of themselves, of fugitives,
and of those put in the exigent, deodands treasure-trove, for
feited, and all and all manner of forfeitures, as well by all
writs, precepts, bills, and mandates of us, our heirs and suc
cessors, and every thing which may or ought to belong to us or
our heirs, by the laws or statutes of this kingdom of England,
arising, or hereafter to arise, by reason of any murders, escapes
of felons Iiappening through negligence, rapes of women, from
all kinds of felonies, and from any other cause whatsoever,
within the county of the said city, which are [prosecuted] either
at the suit of us, our heirs and successors, or at the suit of
another, or himself, or at the suit of another who [sues] as well
for us, our heirs and successors, as for himself ; and happening
or arising of and from all and singular the subjects of us, our
heirs and successors, abiding or residing within the county of
the said city for the time being, in any courts or court of us,
our heirs or successors ; or before us, our heirs and successors,
wheresoever we or they shall be in England ; or before us, our

146

THE HISTORY OF

Chap. Ill, heirs and successors, in the chancery of us, our heirs and sue-
Kin ¦ cessors ; or before the Treasurer and Barons of the Exchequer
Bench. of us, our heirs and successors; or before the Barons of the
Exchequer of us, our heirs and successors ; or before the Justices
of us, our heirs or successors, [assigned] to hold pleas before
us, our heirs or successors; or before the Justices of us, our
Common j^rs 0r successors, of the common bench ; or before the Steward
Pleas" and Marshall of the Household of us, our heirs or successors ;
or before the Coroner of the Household of us, our heirs or suc
cessors ; or before the Clerk of the Market of us, our heirs or
successors, for the time being ; or before the Justices in Eyre of
us, our heirs or successors, assigned to hear aud determine the
common pleas of our crown ; or before the Justices of us, our
heirs or successors, assigned, or to be assigned, to hear and
determine felonies, treasons, murders, trespasses, oppressions,
excesses, or any other grievances and misdemeanors, as well at
the suit of us and our heirs, as of any other person or persons ;
[or before] our Justices assigned, or to be assigned, to take
assizes, juries, certificates, and any other inquisitions, or to
deliver a gaol ; or [before] Justices or Keepers of the Peace of
us, our heirs or successors, assigned, or to be assigned, to cause
to be kept the statutes and ordinances concerning artificers,
labourers, servants, workmen, victuallers, forestallers, and
concerning weights and measures ; as before any other Justices,
Officers, and Ministers of us, our heirs or successors, as well
in the presence as in the absence of us, our heirs or successors,
wheresoever it shall happen that such subject of us, our heirs
or successors, or either of them, within the said county of the
They who said city of Exeter, or their successors, or either of them, shall
shall sue- (je adjudged to make fines, to be amerced, to forfeit issues, to
cee em. forfejt recognizances, [to incur] forfeitures on [account] of es
capes of felons happening through negligence, murders, or
other felonies, although we ourselves, our heirs or successors,
or any of us, should be a party or parties thereto ; and although
To the any other person or persons shall have prosecuted for himself,
suit. or themselves ; which said fines, issues, amerciaments, recog
nizances, forfeitures in respect of escapes of felons, murders,
felonies, being forfeited, ought to belong to our heirs and suc
cessors, if they had not been granted by these presents to the
said Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty of the said city, and
their successors. And that it shall be lawful for the said
Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty of the said city, and their
successors, for ever, by the said Bailiffs and Sheriffs, or their
Officers, to levy, collect, take, and have all the said fines,
amerciaments, redemptions, issues, recognizances, forfeitures
made, or to be made, and every thing which can or may belong
to us, our heirs or successors, from the said murders, felonies,

THE CITY OF EXETER. 147
escapes, and other premises ; and to put themselves in posses- Chap. III.
sion thereof, to the use and benefit of the said Mayor, Bailiffs, ' "
and Commonalty of our said city of Exeter, and their successors,
without the challenge, impeachment, or hindrance of us, our
heirs or successors ; or of any Justices, Officers, or Ministers
of us, our heirs or successors; or of any other Justices, Eschea-
tors, Sheriffs, Coroners, Mayors, Bailiffs, Constables, Ministers
of us, our heirs or successors; although the said subjects of us, Persons
our heirs or successors, or either of them, their, or either of fme(i> &c-
their, pledges, manucaptors, or bail, or either of them, shall
hold [lands] of us, our heirs or successors, or of any other
person or persons, within the said county of our said city of
Exeter, or elsewhere; and although the said subjects of us,
our heirs and successors, or any of them, shall be Bailiffs,
Officers, or Ministers of us, our heirs and successors, or of the
said Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty, and their successors,
or of any other person ; and also, although the said pledges,
manucaptors, or bail, or either of them, shall dwell or inhabit
within the said county of the city of Exeter, or out of the said
county." " And moreover, we have granted, and, by these presents, No process
for us, our heirs and successors, do grant to the said Mayor, S"m.
Bailiffs, and Commonalty of the said city, for ever, that neither t0 return
the Treasurer, Chancellor, nor Barons of the Exchequer of us, estreats.
our heirs or successors, nor any nor either of them, shall, for
the future, make any process against any Justice of the Peace
of us, our heirs or successors, of the said county of our city of Issue-
Exeter, nor against any Justices of us, our heirs or successors,
assigned, or to be assigned, to hear and determine divers felo
nies, trespasses, and other misdemeanors, committed, and to
be committed, within the said county of the said city of Exeter,
and the liberties thereof; nor against any or either of them, for
the sending or delivering into the exchequer of us, our heirs or
successors, any estreats of their sessions there made, or hereaf
ter to be made : but we will and grant, by these presents, for
ourselves, our heirs and successors, that all and singular such
Justices of us, our heirs and successors, and every of them, So far as
shall for ever, by these presents, be exonerated as against us, ™en*™n d
our heirs and successors, from the delivery of such estreats of
their sessions, to be made for the future as aforesaid."
"And whereas, in our said city of Exeter, and the county of Statufe
the said city, and in the parts adjacent, many merchants andmerclaut-
clothiers do reside, in respect of whose daily commerce and
traffic there, it would much conduce to the public good of the
said city, and the better expediting [the business] of our sub- The reco-
jects living in those parts, and resorting thither, in their mer- ^s°f
cantile contracts and agreements, that the Mayor, Bailiffs, and

148 THE HISTORY OF
Chap. III. Commonalty of the said city, and their successors, should have
" the power to recognizance between merchant and merchant, and
to make executions thereupon, according to the statute De
Mercatorihus, and the statute lately enacted at Acton-Burnel,
in like manner as in other cities, boroughs, and towns corporate,
of less eminence, hath been long since granted and established :
we, graciously consenting to the common advantage of our said
city of Exeter, and of the public good and benefit of our sub
jects, in those parts, will, and, by these presents, for us, our
heirs and successors, of our more abundant special grace, cer
tain knowledge, and our own mere motion, do grant to the
Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty of our said city of Exeter,
The Mayor and to their successors, that the Mayor of the said city, for the
and Clerk. tjme De;„g( and the Clerk (to be appointed in manner and form
hereafter in these presents expressed or mentioned, for the
taking and sealing the recognizances of debt, according to the
form of the statute De Mercatoribus, and of the statute lately
made at Acton-Burnel) shall have, for ever, full power and
authority to take and receive all recognizances, and to make
executions thereupon, according to the form of the statute De
Mercatoribus, and of the statute lately made at Acton-Burnel ;
and also, to do and execute all other things within the said
city, and the county of the said city, which doth, or can, or
may belong, by force of the said statutes, or of either of them,
to any Mayor, Sheriff, Bailiff, or other Officer, and to any
Clerk, or either of them, appointed to [take] recognizances of
debts, according to the form of the said statutes, or of either
of them, in any city or borough incorporate, within these our
kingdom of England. And that the Mayor and Clerk for the
The seal time being may and shall have, and, by force of these presents,
for the re- shall make, take, and use, one seal, of two pieces, (of which
cognizances one snau i)e the greater part, and the other the lesser part) for
the sealing of the said recognizances, to be hereafter acknow
ledged before them, according to the form of the said statute De
Mercatoribus, and of the statute lately made at Acton-Burnel ;
which said seal shall be, and shall be called, from henceforth,
for ever, the King's seal, for the sealing recognizances, to be
taken within our said city of Exeter ; of which said seal the
greater part shall always remain in the custody of the Mayor of
the said city, for the time being, and the other part of the said
seal shall be and remain always in the hands and custody of the
Clerk, for the time being, deputed and appointed to write and
enroll the said recognizances, according to the intent of these
cfeTto'be our letters Patent- And that the Common Clerk of the said
Clerk o°f 6 *%>. for l.ne time being, may and shall be, as long as he shall
the recog- continue in that office, the Clerk of us, our heirs and succes-
nizances. sors, to take, write, and enroll the recognizances of d*bts,

THE CITY OF EXETER. 149
according to the form of the said statutes, or either of them, Chap. III.
within the city and the county of the said city, and the liberties, _ 
limits, and precincts thereof; and to preserve and keep the
rolls, memorandums, and records thereof; and to keep the
lesser piece of the said seal ; and to do and execute all other
things which belong to any Clerk appointed [to take] recogni
zances of debts, to do and execute according to the form of the
said statutes, or either of them."
" And we do, for us, our heirs and successors, make, ordain, The ap-
and constitute, and, by these presents, without any writ to be pointment.
obtained in this behalf, and without any other election to be
made, the said Common Clerk of the said city, the Clerk of us,
our heirs and successors, to take, write, and enroll the recog
nizances of debts within the said city, according to the form of
the said statutes, and either of them, and to keep the lesser
part of the said seal ; and, moreover, to do and execute all
other things which belong to any Clerk appointed to take
recognizances of debts, to do and execute according to the form
of the said statutes, or either of them."
" And whereas, also, divers lands, tenements, and heredita- Feoffees to
ments, have been heretofore given and granted to certain charitable
feoffees and trustees, for the fulfilling several good and pious uses majr
uses within the said city, and county of the said city, which fa*d' tVthe
said feoffees desire to place such lands, tenements, and here- twenty-four
ditaments, in the hands of the said Mayor, Bailiffs, and
Commonalty of our said city of Exeter, for the better security
of the said lands, tenements, and hereditaments, and for the
better disposing and governing the same, according to the
laudable intention of the first and original donors thereof, we,
graciously approving such good desires, of our especial grace,
and of our certain knowledge, and of our own mere motion,
have given, granted, and, by these presents, for us* our heirs
and successors, do give and grant to the said Mayor, Bailiffs,
and Commonalty of the said city, and to their successors, that
it shall and may be lawful for all and singular such feoffees of
any manors, lands, tenements, tithes, rents, or hereditaments,
to fulfil any good or pious use within the said city, or county of
the said city, being seized of an estate of inheritance therein,
to give, grant, and alien the same manors, lands, tenements,
and other the premises of the said Mayor, Bailiffs, and Com
monalty to the said city, and their successors : and also, that who may
it shall and may be lawful for the said Mayor, Bailiffs, and take them,
Commonalty, of the said city to have, require, and take to
them, and their successors, for ever, the said manors, lands,
tenements, tithes, rents, or hereditaments, from the said feoffees,
and the survivors of them, the statutes concerning the not
putting lands and tenements in mortmain, or any other statute
Q 2

150

THE HISTORY OF

Chap. Ill, or provision, law, restraint, or custom, to the contrary thereof
 notwithstanding. Provided always, that the said Mayor,
Bailiffs, and Commonalty of the said city, and their successors,
shall be bound to convert and dispose of all and singular the
said manors, lands, tenements, and hereditaments, so granted
to them, as aforesaid, by virtue of these presents, and also the
Tothesame issues and rents proceeding from time to time therefrom, to such
uses. and the same pious and public uses to which the said manors,
lands, tenements, and hereditaments respectively were first
and originally given and granted, according to the will and true
intention of the donors of the said manors, lands, tenements,
Theirdeeds and hereditaments, declared respectively in their writings, and
°f g'ft. according to the form of the statutes of this our kingdom of
wills, &c England, in this behalf made and provided, or hereafter to be
made and provided, anything in these presents to the contrary
thereof notwithstanding."
Power to " And furthermore, know ye, that we, to the intent that the
purchase Mavor) Bailiffs, and Commonalty of the said city, from time
exceeding to time, be the better enabled to sustain and support the public
100'. per charges and expences of the said city, of our special grace, and
ann.besides of our certain knowledge, and own mere motion, have given
those they an(j granted, and, by these presents, for us, our heirs and
a rea y a successorSj d0 give ancl grant to the said Mayor, Bailiffs, and
Commonalty of the said city, and their successors, special
licence, and free and lawful power, capacity, or authority, of
having, acquiring, and taking, to them, and their successors,
for ever, as well from us, our heirs and successors, as from any
other the subjects and liege people of us, our heirs and
successors, or of any other person whomsoever, any manors,
messuages, tenements, rectories, tithes, rents, reservations,
services, and other possessions and hereditaments, (which are
not held of us, our heirs and successors, in capite, nor by
Knight's service, nor of any other person or persons not
consenting by Knight's service) not exceeding in the whole the
yearly value of one hundred pounds, over and above all charges
and reprisals; and besides all manors, lands, tenements, and
hereditaments, heretofore granted to the said Mayor, Bailiffs,
and Commonalty, or to their predecessors, by any or either oif
our ancestors or predecessors, late Kings or Queens of England;
and besides all other lands, tenements, and hereditaments, which
they or their predecessors have heretofore purchased, or which
they or their successors can or may hereafter purchase, by virtue,
force, or pretence of any other charters or letters patent,
[granted] by any of our ancestors or predecessors; the said
statutes concerning the not putting lands and tenements in
mortmain, or any other statute, act, provision, law, restriction,
or custom to the contrary thereof, in anywise notwithstanding :

THE CITY OF EXETER. 151
wherefore we will, and, by these presents, for us, our heirs Chap, hi.
and successors, do give and grant to every and any the subject ~  ~~
and subjects of us, our heirs and successors, that they, any or
either of them, may and shall have power to give, grant, sell,
devise, or alien, to the said Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty
of the said city, and to their successors, any manors, messuages,
lands, tenements, rectories, tithes, rents, reservations, services,
and other possessions and hereditaments, which are not holden
of us, our heirs and successors, in capite, or by Knight's
service, or of any other person or persons not consenting by
Knight's service ; so that the said manors, messuages, lands,
tenements, and other hereditaments, so to be given, granted,
devised, or alienated, do not exceed in the whole the clear
yearly value of one hundred pounds over and above all charges
and reprisals ; and besides the said manors, lands, tenements,
and hereditaments, so as aforesaid granted, purchased, or to be
purchased, the said statutes concerning the not putting lands
and tenements in mortmain, or any other statute, act, ordinance,
law, provision, or custom, to the contrary thereof in anywise
notwithstanding." " And moreover, we will, and, by these presents, for us, our Confirma-
heirs and successors, do grant to the said Mayor, Bailiffs, and '10n of a11
Commonalty of our said city of Exeter, and their successors, °™fT
that the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty of the said city, and liberties',
their successors, may, for ever hereafter, have and hold all and and fran-
all manner of liberties, authorities, exemptions, manors, lands, cnis«s.
tenements, fines, forfeitures, redemptions, issues, and other
hereditaments, privileges, quittances, jurisdictions, and fran
chises, which are mentioned to have been granted by any letters
patent, of any of our ancestors or predecessors, to the Mayor,
Bailiffs, and Commonalty of the county of the city of Exeter,
or which were granted ever heretofore to the said Mayor,
Bailiffs, and Commonalty of the said city, by any name,
or by any incorporation, or by pretext of any incorporation, or
which the said Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty of the said
city of Exeter now have or hold, or which they have used and
enjoyed, or ought to have, hold, use, or enjoy, of any estate
of inheritance, by reason or pretext of any charters or letters
patent, in any manner heretofore made, granted, or confirmed,
by any of our ancestors or predecessors, Kings or Queens of
England, or by any other lawful method, right, title, custom,
usage, or prescription heretofore lawfully used, had, or accus
tomed; although the same, any or either of them, have or hath
been heretofore not used, or abused, or ill used, or discontinued.
And although the same, any or either of them, are or have been
forfeited or lost, to have, hold, and enjoy [the same,] to the
Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty of the said city, and their

152 THE HISTORY OF
Chap. Ill, successors for ever ; and yielding and paying therefore to us,
_ our heirs and successors, every year, so many, so much, such,
the same, and the like rents, services, sums of money, and
demands whatsoever, [as] have been accustomed to be rendered
and paid for the same to us heretofore, or as they ought to yield
or pay : wherefore we will, and, by these presents, for us, our
heirs and successors, firmly enjoin and command, that the said
Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty of our said city of Exeter,
and their successors, may have, hold, use, and enjoy, and may
and shall be able fully and absolutely to have, hold, use, and
enjoy, for ever, all liberties, free customs, authorities, jurisdic
tions, quittances aforesaid, and other the premises, according
to the tenor and effect of these our letters patent, without the
let or impediment of us, or any of our heirs and successors ;
willing that the said Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty of the
said city, and their successors, or any or either of them, should
not be hindered, molested, harrassed, or aggrieved, or in any
respect disturbed by us, or by our heirs or successors, by reason
of the premises, or of either of them ; willing, and, by these
presents, for us, our heirs and successors, commanding and
charging, as well the Treasurer, Chancellor, and Barons of the
Exchequer of us, our heirs and successors, as our Attorney-
General for the time being, and every of them, and all other
Officers and Ministers of us, our heirs and successors, that nei
ther they, nor any, nor either of them, shall sue out or continue,
or cause to be sued out or continued, any writ or summons of
quo warranto, or any other writ or process whatsoever, against
the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty of the said city, or any
or either of them, for any causes, things, or matters, offences,
claims, or usurpations, or any of them, due from, claimed,
attempted, used, had, or usurped, by them or any of them'
before the day of making these presents ; willing also, that the
Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty of the said city, or either of
them, should by no means be molested or charged by any per
son or persons, Justices, Officers, or Ministers aforesaid, in or
about any dues, usages, claims, usurpations, or abuse of any
other liberties, franchises, or jurisdictions, before the day of
making these our letters patent, nor be compelled to answer for
these things or either of them. Notwithstanding that express
mention is not made in these presents of the true annual value
of the certainty of the premises, or of either of them, or any
gifts or grants heretofore made by us, or by any of our ances
tors or predecessors, to the said Mayor, Bailiffs, and Common
alty ; or any statute, act, ordinance, provision, proclamation,
or restriction heretofore had, made, published, ordained, or
provided, or any other thing, cause, or matter whatsoever, to
the contrary thereof in anywise notwithstanding."

THE CITY OF EXETER. 153
"In testimony whereof, we have caused these our letters to be Chap, hi.
made patent. Witness myself, at Westminster, the seventeenth 
day of December, in the third year of our reign."
" By writ of privy seal." " WOLSELEY."
" Fine assessed at XX. marks."
"Tho. COVENTRY."

The town of Cambridge being infected by the plague, a con- a. d.
siderable sum of money was collected by voluntary contribution, 1629.
in this city, and sent to the relief of the poor of that town.
A scarcity of corn being likely to ensue, from the extreme 1630.
wetness of the summer, the Mayor, this year, Thomas Flaye, In a soar-
Esq. imported a large quantity from abroad, which, with a^lyl e
large quantity of fuel, he laid up in storehouses, and retailed to i„ip0rts
the poor, in the ensuing winter, at prime cost, to their great corn from
relief, and without any profit to himself; a laudable example abroad.
to succeeding Magistrates.
Nicholas Vaughan, Gent, was elected Muster Master of this 16S1.
city and county, with a pension of (Si. per annum.*
Part of St. John's Hospital was converted into a free-school, 1632.
(for instructing the youth of this city in classical learning) at |free
the expence of the Mayor and Chamber, who also built a con- St jonn>g
venient dwelling-house, adjoining the said school, for the master, Hospital
and endowed the same with an annual salary of 30Z. a year for founded by
the master and 10^. for an usher.f andCl?"'
A new cap of maintenance, and scabbard for the sword, of ber
velvet, richly embroidered with gold, were ordered to be made, 1634.
and worn by the sword-bearer.
The new burying ground, dedicated to St. Bartholomew, (the 1636.
land of which had been given by the Chamber) was enclosed St- Barth°-
with walls, at the joint expence of the church and city, and Durv;ne
consecrated by Bishop Hall, on the 24th of August, being St. ground con-
Bartholomew's day. secrated,
The plague raging in Taunton, the sum of 185Z. 17s. 4d. was /i"
collected by voluntary contributions of the inhabitants of this
city, and sent to relieve the poor of that town.
The Mayor this year, Robert Walker, Esq. and Simon Snow,
Esq. were elected Citizens to serve in the ensuing Parliament, t
* This gentleman, in the dissension which soon after broke out between the
King and Parliament, endeavouring to seize some arms belonging to the rebels,
was slain by a shot from a window, at Dunsford, in the county of Devon; and
interred, with military honours, in St. Bartholomew's burying ground.
t The donations of several benefactors towards this foundation, and other pious
uses, will be given in their respective places in the descriptive part of this work.
X There seems to be some mistake in the date of this return, (King Charles
called this parliament in 1640) unless the two representatives for this city were
removed by death, and others chosen in their room.
R 2

&c.
1639.

154 THE HISTORY OF
Chap. III. The misunderstanding which had for a long time subsisted
=Y=D== between the King and his Parliament now unhappily broke out
1642! into an open war. The occasion of these dissensions have been
The war s0 faithfully related by Lord Clarendon, and other historians,
breaks out tl)at it wouirj be needless to repeat them here. In the account
the King of this war X sha11 only particularize such events as most ma-
and Par- terially relate to the share which the city of Exeter and its
liament. neighbourhood had in it, and leave the reader to the above
mentioned authors for further information.
The Militia On the 2nd of March both houses of Parliament (by an act
takenoutof0f t|leir own) wrested the power of ordering the Militia* out of
band's'"8'8 tne King's hands ; and appointed such Lord-Lieutenants of the
NeVLord- several counties as were considered their friends, in opposition
Lieutenants to those who were legally appointed by the King : accordingly
appointed Francis, Earl of Bedford, was sent down by them as Lord
ly lye Lieutenant of the county of Devon, and city of Exeter, with full
!" 'amen ' power to assemble and regulate the Militia: he, therefore, on
his arrival, ordered them to assemble at Exeter, where he
cashiered those officers who were suspected of being friends to
the royal cause, and filled their places with such as he could
depend upon.
The Earl The Earl having thus got possession of Exeter, disarmed the
garrisons ]0ya\ part of the Citizens, made additions to the fortifications,
theVarlia- mounted twenty-five pieces of cannon on the walls, and garri-
ment; and soned it for the Parliament, to the great discontent of, by far,
mounts 25 the major part of the inhabitants, who, being thus surprised,
pieces of were obliged to submit patiently to the exactions and outrages
cannon on f. ., ,,¦ u-
thecity of the republican soldiers.
waUs. The Parliament next proceeded to abolish Episcopacy, as too
1643. much resembling the hierarchy of the church of Rome; and
Episcopacy sucrj 0f the clergy whose consciences would not suffer them to
bv°the e comply with such new regulations were ejected from their
Parliament, livings, and their places filled with presbyterian or independent
preachers. f
The estates They next made an order for sequestrating the estates of the
of the Roy- R0yaiists ; another for levying a tax throughout England and
questered. Wales, for the support of their armies ; and appointed Commis
sioners in the several counties, cities, &c.
Commissi- The Commissioners appointed for the county of Devon were
oners. Sir Peter Prideaux, Sir George Chudleigh, Sir John Pole,
Sir John Northcote, Sir Edmund Powell, Sir Samuel Rolle,
Sir Shilston Calmady, Sir Nicholas Martin, Sir Francis
Drake, Sir John Davie, Baronets; Robert Savery, Henry
Walrond, John Worthy, Hugh Fortescue, Arthur Upton, and
* In those days termed Trained-bands.
t The whole of the clergy belonging to Exeter Cathedral, and thirteen of the
parochial ministers, were thus dispossessed of their livings.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 155
George Trowbridge, Esquires; and, for the city of Exeter, Chap. III.
Christopher Clarke, Esq. Mayor ; Richard Saunders, Thomas Commissi-
Crossing, Adam Bennet, Walter White, John Hakewill, oners
Esquires, Aldermen ; and James Gould, Esq. Sheriff. empowered
These Commissioners were invested with full power of de- n°orssee^e
nianding and seizing horses, arms, provisions, money, plate, armSj" &0,
and whatsoever they might judge necessary for the service of for the use
the Parliament army : on these seizures they were to set such ofthf
rates and value as they thought proper, to be paid on the public Parliament
faith (which never was fulfilled) at the conclusion of the war. arm7'
The Earl of Bedford, having settled his business at Exeter, _,.
left the Earl of Stamford governor of it, with a sufficient Stamford
garrison to overawe the Citizens and the neighbouring country, left govem-
and set out to join the Parliament army under the command of or of
the Earl of Essex. Exeter.
The war had now spread itself throughout the whole kingdom ;
parties were in arms in most of the counties, and many skir
mishes and battles had been fought, with various success : in
the west the Parliament committee were in possession of the
whole county of Devon and part of Cornwall.
At this time the Marquis of Hertford, having transported An army of
himself from Wales into the latter county, with a small body of Royalists
Royalists, was joined by Sir Ralph Hopton, with about 150 £™ed in
horse, and soon after by Sir Bevil Greenville and other gen- ornwa
tiemen ; when, setting up the royal standard, the gentry and
inhabitants of that loyal county resorting to them in great
numbers, a considerable army was soon formed ; they then TheRepub-
altacked the Parliament forces on Braddock Down, near ^aJ^TI
Leskeard, and defeated them, taking all their cannon, most of the Roy-
their colours, and 1250 prisoners, with very little loss on the alists.
King's side. Soon after this victory the Royalists advanced T, F ,
to Tavistock, where the Earl of Stamford was endeavouring to Stamford
collect the scattered remains of the defeated army; but on the retreats to
approach of the Royalists he retreated, with what forces he Exeter.
could collect, to Exeter.
The Parliament having passed the ordinance for levying a Cessation
new tax, by which no less a sum than £33,936 was to be of arms he-
collected weekly throughout the kingdom, and delivered to their tween the
Commissioners, proposed (in- order to secure the payment °f De'von^and
that part allotted to the county of Devon, and which county Cornwall.
was very rich, populous, and entirely under their subjection)
a cessation of arms between the two counties of Devon and
Cornwall; and this proposal being agreed to, the Royalists re
tired into the latter county.

156 THE HISTORY OF
Chap. III. This treaty, although ratified by the most solemn oaths and
TheRepub- obligations, was no longer adhered to by the Republicans than
licans break while it served their purpose ; for after collecting a large sum of
the treaty, money, (both from their friends and enemies) and recruiting their
a^dsa"ermpt forces, their Major General, James Chudleigh, attempted, at the
Launceston head of a large party of both horse and foot, to surprise Laun
ceston, the head quarters of the Royalists ; but, after a sharp
conflict, being repulsed, he retreated to Oakhampton.
The Earl of About the middle of May the Earl of Stamford, having re-
Stamford crl,ited his forces, marched from Exeter against the Royalists ;
from Exe- his army consisted of 1,400 horse and 5,400 foot, with thirteen
ter against pieces of brass cannon, one mortar, and a large magazine of
the Roy- ammunition and povisions. The Royalists, though not con
sists, sisting of half that number, and in great want of ammunition
and stores, were determined to give them battle, and accord-
c'h ^e0rge 'nS'y ^ade every preparation. During this the Earl had
dispatched detached Sir George Chudleigh on an attempt to surprise the
to surprise Sheriff of Cornwall and some other gentlemen, who were assem-
the Sheriff bled at Bodmin. The Royalists having obtained intelligence of
of Cornwall his march thought it a fair opportunity of attacking the enemies
camp, while their horse were separated from them.
Battle of Reduced as the Royalists were, even to the bare subsistence
of a biscuit per man, for a whole day, they marched with great
resolution, and attacked the enemies camp at Stratton, which,
after a bloody and well disputed battle, they forced, and gained
a complete victory.
Tj^ePub" In this battle a great number of the Republicans were slain ;
fetted, " Major-General Chudleigh, with 30 other officers, and 1,700
with the men taken prisoners ; and all their artillery, stores, tents, and
loss of all baggage, with seventy barrels of gunpowder, and a great quan-
ler'1 &c''" *'*y °^ Provisi°ns> feU into tne hands of the conquerors.
Earl of"' Tne Earl of Stamford fled to Exeter, (being the first to carry
Stamford the news of his defeat to his Republican party in that city,
and Sir which threw them into the greatest consternation) and was
Chudfei h S00n after followed by Sir George Chudleigh. The con-
seek refuge querors having solemnly returned thanks to God, in the field
in Exeter, of battle, for their signal victory, refreshed themselves a day
Royalists and a night in the camp, on the spoil of the enemy, and then
march into marched into Devonshire, intending to attack either Exeter or
Plymouth, the two most considerable garrisons in that county.
But receiving an express from the King, informing them that
he had sent his nephew, Prince Maurice, and the Marquis of
Hertford, with a large body of horse, to reinforce their army,
and that the Parliament designed to send Sir William Waller,

THE CITY OF EXETER. 157
with a fresh army, into the west, the Royalists (leaving a small Chap. III.
party of horse and foot at Saltash, to defend the borders of skirmish at
Cornwall) marched, by Exeter, to Tiverton, where they sur- Tiverton.
prised a Republican regiment, commanded by Colonel Ware : Joined by
they then proceeded to Chard, where they were joined by Prince m"10.6
Maurice and the Marquis of Hertford. ' cimrd?6 "'
The greatest part of the county of Devon was still in the Sir John
hands of the Parliament forces ; and the Royalists had not a Ackland
single garrison throughout the whole county, except Sir John Barrisons
Ackland's house, at Columb-John, which he had fortified and at columb-
garrisoned with a small but resolute band : this band made John, for
frequent incursions, even to the gates of Exeter, and kept that the King.
garrison in continual alarm.
Prince Maurice then sent Sir John Berkley back into that
county, with Colonel Howard's regiment of horse ; and he,
being joined by great numbers of gentlemen, and other well R ..
affected persons in the King's cause, soon formed a body of blockade
troops sufficient, not only for keeping the disaffected in awe, Exeter.
but for blockading several of the Parliament garrisons, particu
larly that of Exeter, extending their quarters within a mile,
and fixing guards even in the sight of the gates of the city.
The Earl of Stamford, expecting to be besieged, ordered all The Go-
the houses in the suburbs, near the city walls, to be demolished; Tern°r
and the trees on Nortkernhay and Southernhay (some of which °^e" a"
were upwards of one hundred years growth) to be felled, and near the
thus laid open all the approaches to the city walls, and made city walls to
every preparation for a vigorous defence. De PuUed
Prince Maurice, after taking Dorchester, marched for Exeter, th°ewfn' an^
and summoned the Governor to an immediate surrender ; this be felled,
being refused, he blocked up all the avenues to the city and Prince
commenced a close siege. The Parliament being informed ofMaur|ce
the siege of Exeter, ordered the Earl of Warwick, who com- py* siege
manded their fleet, to harass the coast of Devon, thinking
thereby to force the Royalists to abandon their attempt ; but Tlle Earl of
Sir John Berkley being sent with all the horse to watch their Warwick
motions, the Earl seeing no likelihood of making good his ra;se [ne
landing, sailed for the mouth of the Exe, hoping, by means of siege by
his smaller vessels getting up the river, thereby to raise the nis fleet.
siege, or throw in succours of relief.
Accordingly, with a flood tide and a fair wind, they pro
ceeded up the river ; but Sir John Berkley, by forced marches
from Totnes, coming time enough to take possession of some
points of land which commanded the channel, and being sup
plied with some cannon from the Prince's army, so effectually

s 2

158 THE HISTORY OF
Chap. Ill, opposed their passage, that, after a warm action of nearly four
But wish- hours, they gave up their attempt, and endeavoured to retreat,
out success leaving three of their ships, (which had grounded by reason of
and with the the tide's failing) one of which was burnt, and the other two
loss of 3 of were taken possession of by the Royalists. While the siege of
Exeter was thus continuing, the garrison of Plymouth, in con
junction with the inhabitants of the North of Devon, (who were
notoriously disaffected) assembled what forces they could, in
order to force the Royalists to withdraw the siege. On notice
TheRepub- of this, Sir John Berkley sent Colonel Digby, with a party of
hcan army horse and foot, to Torrington; and the Republicans having
Bideford * assembled at Bideford, to the number of about 1200 foot and
300 horse, under the command of Colonel Bennet, proceeded
Repubh- to attack the Royalists at Torrington : but they, having notice
featedat °^ their coming, marched from the town to meet them ; and
Torrington. though greatly inferior in numbers, after a short action en
tirely defeated them, killing 200 on the spot, and in the pursuit
i e ord, taking 200 prisoners. Colonel Digby immediately proceeded to
and Apple-' Bideford, which, with Barnstaple and Appledore, surrendered
doie taken, on the first summons, and were taken possession of by the
Royalists.
Exeter sur- -phe garrison of Exeter, thus deprived of all hopes of relief,
the Kb °- surrendered, on articles, on the 4th of September ; and on the
troops, and King's troops taking possession, Sir John Berkley was ap-
Sir John pointed governor, to the great joy of the major part of the
Berkley Citizens, who were firmly attached to the royal cause.
governor Tne ^l"S> Quee,1> and family, who had for some time resided
A. d. at Oxford, being apprehensive that that city would be besieged
1644. by the Parliament army, under the command of the Earf of
The Queen Essex ; and the Queen being then pregnant, she was removed,
Exeter as a at ner own re(luest> to Exeter, as a place of greater security :
place of she was received with great acclamations of joy by the garrison
more safety and loyal Citizens, who conducted her to Bedford-house, which
and lodges had been fitted up for her reception. Soon after the Queen's
hofsef f°rd arrival in Exeter (16th June) she was delivered of a Princess,
The Queen w'io was baptized in the Cathedral, by the name of Henrietta
delivered of Maria: the sponsors were Sir John Berkley, Lady Poulett,
a Princess. anc] £ady Dalkeith; on this occasion a handsome font was
-prial°"°s erected in the body of the church, under a rich canopy of
baptized, state, and Doctor Burnell, Chancellor of the church, performed
the ceremony.*

* This Princess, for her beauty and personal accomplishments, was
esteemed the handsomest in Christendom. She was afterwards married to
the Duke of Orleans, (brother to the French Kiug) but did not long survive
her marriage.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 159
The Earl of Essex proceeded rapidly towards Devonshire, at Chap. III.
the head of a powerful army. This put the Queen in fear of The Queen
her personal safety, and she removed to Falmouth, where she goes to
embarked for France, and safely arrived, escaping the vigilance Falmouth,
of the Republican cruisers that were purposely sent to inter- a° „„„!n,°^
, ln .... ,. *-? » escapes to
cept her. Before her departure from Exeter she was presented, France.
in the name of the Citizens, with a purse containing £200 in
gold, which she most gratefully received.
The Earl of Essex made no attempt on Exeter, but pro- Earl of
ceeded to Tiverton, which surrendered to him after a slight E.ssex at
defence. Among the prisoners taken there was a Captain Captain
Howard, a near relation to the Duke of Norfolk ; who, being Howard
charged with desertion from the Parliament army, was tried by a executed
court martial, condemned, and executed. Sir John Berkley, Jly °ij ?eT. °.
being informed of this circumstance, immediately ordered that Essex.
Turpin, a sea Captain, who had been taken prisoner in one of the Cap.Turpin
ships that attempted the relief of Exeter, and who had deserted executed
from the Royalists, to be executed in a similar manner.* by order of
The Earl of Essex continued at Tiverton, until he received Berkley.
advice of the King's following him with a large army ; and
finding no possibility of retreating eastward, he marched into r
Cornwall. His Majesty, after defeating several rebels in his .£
route, came to Exeter, accompanied by the Prince of Wales, Exeter in
and a great number of noblemen and gentlemen who had con- pursuit of
tinued stedfast in their loyalty. At his entrance into the city, the Earl °f
he was received by the Mayor and Citizens with every token of Essex-
respect and congratulation. His Majesty took his residence at
Bedford-house ; the Prince, at the Deanry ; and the noblemen
and others were lodged in the houses of the principal Citizens,
who entertained them with the greatest hospitality. During
the King's stay at Exeter a negociation between him and the T, „. .
Earl of Essex was attempted ; but the Earl's demands running zensmakc
very high, it proved unsuccessful. Before his Majesty departed apresentof
the Citizens presented him with £500 in gold, and the Prince £sootothe
with £100. The King proved successful in his expedition into ^iooVlh
Cornwall; and having defeated the Earl of Essex, and dis- pri„ce.
persed his army, returned in triumph to Exeter, where he staid
but one night, and then proceeded to Oxford.
The King being defeated at the fatal battle of Naseby, by A. D.
Cromwell, his affairs began to decline. General Fairfax was 1615,
sent, by the Parliament, with an army into the west; and after

A retaliation unjustifiable by the dictates of humanity .

160

THE HISTORY OF

Chap. Ill,
Tivertontaken by
Fairfax.

Major Sad
ler exe
cuted on
Southern-bay.Fairfax
places garrisons
in the vil
lages, &c.
round Exeter.

A. D.
1646.
Sir Hardress
Waller takesCrediton. A party of
the Royal
ists surpri
sed at Bo-
vey Tracey.
Dartmouth
taken by
storm.

Battle at
Torrington

TorringtonChurch
blown up.

taking Bridgewater, he rapidly reduced most of the King's
garrisons in his march; took Tiverton by assault, and made the
garrison, which consisted of about 300 men, prisoners ; among
whom was a Major Sadler, formerly an officer in the Parlia
ment army ; who, deserting it, had entered into the King's
service, and being tried for this by a court martial, he was
condemned to die: but making some overtures to Fairfax, was
released, and came to Exeter, where he pretended he had broke
from his prison : he was however suspected by the Royalists,
and being detected in a traitorous correspondence, he was tried
and convicted, and was shot on Southernhay.
It was now the depth of winter ; and Fairfax, not thinking
it proper to besiege Exeter, contented himself with blocking up
all the avenues to the city, by placing parties of his troops in
the different villages and gentlemen's seats in its vicinity, in
order to prevent any intercourse between the garrison and the
neighbouring country : particularly at Bishop's Clist, Stoke
Canon, and Poltimore-house. He then proceeded to Ottery
St. Mary, where he fixed his head quarters ; and a sickness
breaking out among his troops, he rested for some time in
that town.
During his stay at Ottery, he detached Sir Hardress Waller
to seize Crediton ; and other parties to take possession of, and
garrison, Powderkam Castle; Sir George Chudleigh' s house,
at Ashton; Lord Chichester's and Mr. Davy's, at Canonsleigh;
which so straitened the garrison of Exeter that they were re
duced to the greatest distress for want of provisions.
Fairfax, having ordered his army to rendezvous between
Crediton and Oakhampton, sent Lieutenant- General Cromwell
to Bovey Tracey, where he surprised a party of Royalists,
, under the command of Lord Wentworth; took most of the men
prisoners, 400 horses, and seven stand of colours.
Fairfax now proceeded to Dartmouth, and taking it by
storm, he raised the siege of Plymouth, and then marched
to Torrington, where the Royalists had assembled the greatest
part of their forces, in order to endeavour to raise the blockade
of Exeter. On the 14th of February the armies came to a
general action, which was fought with great inveteracy and
slaughter on both sides, and ended in the total defeat of the
Royalists. Soon after the conclusion of the battle a melancholy scene
ensued : the Royalists who had been taken prisoners were
crowded together in Torrington Church, in which were nearly
eighty barrels of gunpowder ; these, by some unknown means,

THE CITY OF EXETER. 161
took fire and blew up, with a dreadful explosion, which not Chap. III.
only destroyed the unfortunate prisoners, but many of the —
captors, demolished the church, and laid in ruins great part of
the town.
Fairfax pursued his victory and immediately marched into The Royal-
Cornwall, where he again defeated Lord Hopton, (who had is,s asa'n
collected together the dispersed Royalists) and in a short time °efea,e<j m
i 1 .1 , , ¦ ^ -r. J i *-. n r , Cornwall.
reduced the whole counties of Devon and Cornwall (except the
city of Exeter) to the obedience of the Parliament. After this sir
he directed his march towards Exeter, and closely invested it ; *r.| ss
and sent Sir Hardress Waller to besiege the fort at Exmouth, takes
which very soon surrendered. Exmouth.
The governor and garrison of Exeter being in great want of Exeter
provisions, and seeing no hopes of relief, agreed to a truce of s"rremlcr"
six days ; at the expiration of which they surrendered on fax upon
articles : the principal of these articles were, that the garrison articles.
(except the officers, who were to retain their swords) should lay . . .
down their arms, and have liberty to depart to their own homes, surrender.
or to the nearest garrison belonging to the King, without any
hurt or molestation from the Parliament troops ; that the Citi
zens should not be plundered, and that they should enjoy the
liberty of choosing their own magistrates, and all such other
privileges of which they were possessed before the war ; and
that the Princess Henrietta, her governess, and household,
should have liberty to pass, with their plate, money, goods,
&c. to any place in England or Wales, at her desire, in twenty
days. The articles of capitulation for the surrender of the city
and castle were executed and signed at Poltimore-house.
The Parliament forces took possession of the city and castle TheParlia-
on the 9th of April; and, in violation of the articles which had ment a™y
been agreed to, they made the Citizens suffer severely for the e. pos"
part they had taken in behalf of their King and constitution : break t'be
they demanded a large sum of money, by way of contribution, to articles,
preserve them from being plundered ; free quarters for a large displace the
body of troops ; and displaced the city Receiver, who had be- R«c"ver>
come obnoxious to them by his loyalty. They again ejected out ti,e
from their cures all the episcopal ministers, and took possession church
of the houses of the Bishop, Dean, and other residentiaries. ministers,
The cathedral they divided into two parts ; one for a Presby- and Sreat'T
. . in t i i . , • ,- i damage the
terian and the other tor an Independent meeting, separating the catbedral.
choir from the nave by erecting a wall, where the screen which
supports the organ now stands. The beautifully painted glass
of the windows they beat to pieces as objects of Romish super
stition : they did the same by the sepulchral monuments, and
other sculptures, which time and the Reformation had spared ;

T 2

162 TIIE HISTORY OF
Chap. III. the Bishop's throne they ordered to be taken down as useless ;*
The and the soldiers wantonly fired their muskets at the altar-piece,
Bishop's (the marks of the bullets are still visible ;) in short, they commit-
throne ted the most horrid outrages in this venerable and ancient
taken down house of God, not sparing even the dead, whose sepulchres
* "'" they ransacked, and scattered their bones for the sake of the
leaden coffins.
The Chap- The Chapter-house they turned into a stable for the troopers'
made°aSe horses; and the Bishop's Palace, Deanry, and Canons' houses,
stable ; the into barracks for soldiers.
Bishop's The parish churches being deprived of their pastors, and the
Palace, &c. incomes reduced, by the smallness of the congregations, none
l^f'th8' of the dissenting ministers would accept of the cures, and
parish thirteen of them were exposed for sale by the common crier.
churches Fairfax, having thus reduced the counties of Devon and
exposed for Cornwall, marched with his army to Oxford; leaving Lieu-
sale by the tenant -General Hammond governor of Exeter, with a garrison
of three regiments of foot.
A. D. John Lovering being appointed Receiver of this city refused
1648- to be sworn, for which he was fined £100 ; and Nicholas
Brooking was, three months after, appointed in his room.
16*?- On General Fairfax approaching Oxford, the King left
takes re-S that city ; but not knowing where to go for safety he repaired
fuge with to the Scotch army, (then in England) on a supposition that
the Scotch they would protect him. The iScors paid him at first all the
ar™?' honours due to Majesty, but afterwards basely delivered him to
liver him" *he Parliament Commissioners, who imprisoned him for a con-
to the siderable time in different places.
Parliament. After this the House of Commons (composed entirely of
k'k ^'°f Independents) established a pretended high court of justice, by
which the King was condemned to be beheaded ; and this sen
tence was executed on January 30th, 1649. f
The Mayor Soon after the death of the King proclamations were sent,
refuses to jjy tne assurrjed government, to James Gould, Esquire, the
Parliament then Mayor of this city, which he refused to receive or publish,
proclauxati- and (the messenger having left them in his house) threw them
on, and out of his door : when the Judges of assize came on their
pays no cjrCuit he likewise slighted them, nor would he acknowledge
the8 Tudge^s. tneir power ; for this they fined him £200, and sued him in the
* Some worthy gentlemen took care of the materials of the throne, and had
them privately conveyed to a place of security, where they remained until the
Restoration, when they were replaced, with happily very little damage. The
Dean of Exeter, Dr. William Peterson, was maintained by Sir William
Courtenay, at Powderham Castle, during the whole time of the usurpation.
t Impartiality obliges us to observe that it was neither the Scotch, nor the
Presbyterians, nor the Parliament, who put the King to death ; but the
Independents, who hated them all.

THE CITY OF EXETER.

163

Court of Exchequer for the sum ; but he defended himself so Chap. III.
well that the Attorney-General entered at length a noli prosequi The Assi.
against him. The next summer assizes the Judges executed zes held at
their commission at Tiverton, (which had never been done Tiverton.
before, nor has since) to revenge in some manner on the Citi
zens the behaviour of their Mayor. This gentleman, though
low in stature, was of undaunted courage and resolution.
A melancholy accident happened about this time at the Two men
White Hart Inn, in South-gate- Street : two carpenters, Paul ?u ooatljd
Penrose and William Johnson, being employed to cleanse a
well, which had long been neglected and covered up; the for
mer was let down into the well, and instantly suffocated by an
uncommon stench ; the latter went down after him and shared
the same fate ; a third man went down to endeavour to save his
friends, and would have also fallen a victim had he not been
immediately drawn up ; he was almost expiring, but proper
medicines being used was restored : he declared that such a
putrid effluvia arose from the bottom of the well that it
overpowered his senses : this must have been occasioned by the
stagnant air, which had long been confined, and produced a
mortal damp.
MA YORS and BAILIFFS in the reign of Charles I.

1625.

Francis Crossing.

John Parr.

Thomas Walker.

John Taylor, Jun.

Marm. Bevercombe

Nicholas Martin.

John Cupper.

William Golding.

Humphrey Bid good

1632.

James White.

John Hakewill.

George Jourden.

1629.

James Tucker.

Nicholas Spicer.

Richard Crossing.

1626.

Adam Bennet.

Ralph Herman.

John Taylor.

John Martin.

Richard Mayne.

John Hakewill.

Thomas Blackall.

Robert Walker.
John Maddock.
1633.
John Berry.
Gilbert Sweet.
Joseph Trowbridge.
1630.
Robert Walker.
Thomas Flaye.
Philip Crossing.
1627.
Roger Mallock.
Richard Yeo.
John Ackland.
James Gould.
Edward Anthony.
Gilbert Sweet.
John Gill.
George Harris.
William Blackall.
1634.
John Anthony.
Francis Crossing.
Richard Maddock.
1631.
John Hayne.
Nicholas Martin.
Chris. Broderidge.
1628.
John Crocker.
Thomas Knott.
John Lynn.
Simon Snow.
164

THE HISTORY OF

Chap. III. John Pinhay. 1635.
Adam Bennet.
John Penny.
James Marshall.
John Clark, Ob.
Robert Trescott.
Stephen Olivean.
1636.
Roger Mallock.
Richard Saunders.
Alan Penney.
Thomas Ford.
Henry Every. 1637.
Thomas Crossing.
Thomas Tooker.
John Colleton.
Nicholas Carwithen
Humphrey Tooker.
1638.
James Tucker.
Christopher Clark.
Christopher Parr.
Oliver Tapper.
Richard Evans.
1639.
Robert Walker.
Henry Battishill.
Richard Sweet.

Thomas Kendall.
William Spiller.
1640.
John Penny.
Walter White.
Samuel Crocker.
John Lovering.
John Butler. 1641.
Richard Saunders.
Hugh Crocker.
Nicholas Broking.
Thomas Pitt.
John Lavers. 1642.
Christopher Clark.
John Capper.
Chris. Clark, Jun.
Philip Foxwell.
Nicholas Brinley.

1643.
Sir Hu. Crocker, Kt
Richard Yeo.
Chris. Lethbridge.
William Holmes.
Isaac Mauditt. 1644.
Nicholas Spicer.
John Martin.
William Sandford.

Nicholas Somers.
Henry Gandy. 1645.
John Cupper.
John Colleton, re
moved.
James Gould.
James Tucker, Jun.
George Edmonds.
Edward Painter.
1646.
Walter White.
Richard Crossing.
Bernard Bartlett.
Henry Prigge.
Edward Laurence.
1647.
Adam Bennett.
John Lovering, re
fused the office.
Nicholas Broking.
Thomas Ford.
Richard Ledgiuham.
Francis Dyett.

1648.
James Gould.
Ralph Herman.
Francis Lippincot.
George Macy.
Thomas Tacke.

INTERREGNUM.
1649. The Independent party in the House of Commons having
The Com- thus removed the King published a declaration against the
monwealtb. proclaiming Charles Stuart, (the late King's eldest son) or any
other person whatsoever, on pain of being punished as in cases
of high treason. They next passed an act for abolishing the
kingly power, as entirely useless, burthensome, and dangerous ;
and soon after set a price on Priuce Charles's head : they also
annulled the House of Lords, set up a Commonwealth, and
obliged all persons possessed of any public post or office to take

THE CITY OF EXETER. 105
out new grants and fresh oaths, in order to qualify themselves Chap. III.
for holding the same. 

This year Richard Crossing, Esq. being elected Mayor, The Mayor
refused to take the oaths appointed by the now usurped govern- elected re-
ment; and no fine being set on him, nor any other Mayor fuses ,0 be
chosen, the office for the year was supplied by deputies.
Richard Culling was appointed one of the Bailiffs, but he, a. D.
refusing the office, was fined, and William Cowell placed in 1650.
his stead.
Edward Foxwell was appointed to the said office, and re- 1651.
fusing the same, was fined, and accordingly paid ; but, being
appointed again, the year following, he executed it.
There not being a sufficient number of members in the 1652.
Common Council below the chair, that had qualified themselves
(by having been either Receivers or Bailiffs) to serve the office
of Mayor, two Receivers were this year appointed for that
purpose ; and the same method was pursued the following-
year. A remarkable accident happened to Mr. John Bettison, 16.>3.
Rector of the parish of St. Mary Clist; he, on the 11th (,f The Parson
January, about six o'clock in the evening, was returning home cn^^
from Exeter, on horseback, with his wife behind him, when in horseback
going down Paris-Street the horse, with its riders, fell into with his
a well, near forty feet deep, which had been but slightly wife fa"
covered over. The neighbours being alarmed came to their m'o a wel1
assistance, and, by the help of ropes, extricated the Parson street.
and his wife porvidentially unhurt: but the horse being much
bruised died.
Oliver Cromwell, having established his authority on the Oliver
ruins of the Parliament, caused himself to be proclaimed Cromwell
Protector of the kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland; p^t^c'tor.
and accordingly he was proclaimed as such in this city, with
great military pomp, on the 19th December, 1653.
Some gentlemen of Wiltshire, uneasy at the persecutions 1655.
which the Royalists experienced, had recourse to arms; and An lnsur-
on Sunday, March 11th, entered Salisbury, with about 200 [^'^1-
men, where they seized all the horses they could find, and took jsls in "
the commissions from the Judges, it being then the time of the Wiltshire.
assizes: but finding their numbers increase but slowly, (as
the people were deterred from joining them, through fear of the
consequences) and having no prospect of success in Wiltshire, They re.
they retreated into Devon, where some troops of horse were treat into
sent in pursuit of them, which overtook them at Southmolton: Devon.
a slight skirmish ensued, when, overpowered by numbers, they
surrendered, on promise of pardon, and were brought, prisoners

u 2

16g THE HISTORY OF
Chap. Ill, to Exeter, where, as the goals were full of them, and they in
^r great distress, the Citizens charitably administered every relief
powered, and consolation in their power.
and brought A special commission of Oyer and Terminer was held at the
prisoners Castle for the trial of these unfortunate men ; a great number
to Exeter. ^^ found guilty, and (in violence of the promise made to
them on their surrender) John Penruddock and Hugh Grove,
Al?t"ed Esquires, were beheaded in the castle; several hanged at
cuted*"' Heavitree; and a great number transported to America.
The body of Mr. Penruddock was buried in St. Lawrence's
church, and that of Mr. Groveia St. Sidwell's.
The Church-yard of St. Peter (which had hitherto been the
A-D- common Cemetery for the city at large) was levelled and railed
s/pT 's in at tne so1"' exPence °f the Chamber; and for this purpose one
Church" S hundred trees were felled and brought from Duryard Wood:
yard the Chamber also ordered the horseway from the Broad-gate to
railed in. De paved at their expence.
1658. The Corn Market was removed from the Fore-Street to the
new Shambles.
Oliver Cromwell died on the 3d September, 1658 ; and was
succeeded by his eldest son, Richard, in the Protectorate.
Oliver had greatly augmented the naval power of England,
and encouraged its commerce and manufactures, which greatly
increased the riches of the kingdom ; and Exeter shared in the
general benefit, by an extension of its woollen manufactories.
Richard Richard was proclaimed Protector in this city September 7th,
Cromwell 1658 ; but, not having the abilities of his father, the general
proclaimed officers of the army soon usurped the whole power of govern-
Lonzeparl ment, and considered him as a mere cypher ; and after a short
liament anarchy restored the long Parliament, which had been dissolved
restored, by Oliver in 1653.
1659. The nation at this time was divided into three parties ; the
Parliament, or Commonwealth; the Army; and the Royal
ists, who hoped for the restoration of the exiled King.
The Pres- The latter were joined by a great number of Presbyterians,
byterians among whom were many of the principal ministers, who equally
r" vt drea^d the assumed power of the army and the hatred of the
in pr0. Independents: hence commotions arose in different parts of the
moting the kingdom, and particularly in Exeter, where the inhabitants
King's Re- assembling in arms, declared for a free Parliament : this
storation. created such a confusion that it put a stop to all kind of bus
iness, insomuch that the shops were not opened for the space
of three days.
These disturbances happening in the sessions week the Justices

THE CITY OF EXETER. 167
and principal gentlemen of the county of Devon were assem- Chap. III.
bled in the castle, when a remonstrance was by them agreed to, ^ic~^o~n- —
and sent to the Parliament, couched in the following terms : — strancesent
to Parlia-
TO THE lnent'
RIGHT HONOURABLE WILLIAM LENTHALL, Esq.
SPEAKER OF THE PARLIAMENT.
" We, the gentry of the county of Devon, finding ourselves
without a regular government, (after your last interruption)
designed a public meeting to consult remedies, and which we
could not so conveniently effect till this week of our general
quarter sessions at Exon, where we found divers of the inhabi
tants groaning under high oppression and a general defect of
trade, to the utter ruin of many, and fear of the like to others,
which is as visible to the whole county that occasioned such
disorders as were no small trouble and disturbance to us, which,
by God's blessing upon our endeavours, were soon suppressed
and quieted without blood ; and though we find, since our first
purposes, an alteration in the state of affairs, by your re-es
tablishment at the helm of government, yet conceive that we are
but in part redressed of our grievances, and that the chief
expedient will be the recalling all those members who were
secluded in 1648, and sat before the first force upon the Parlia
ment, and also by filling up vacant places, and all to be admit
ted without any oath, or engagement previous to their entrance,
for which things if you please to take a speedy course, we shall
defend you against all opposers, and future interruption, with
our lives and fortunes, for the accomplishment whereof we
shall use all lawful means, which we humbly conceive may best
conduce to the peace and safety of the nation."
This remonstrance was accordingly sent to London, and pre- an(J pre.
sented by Thomas Bampfylde, Esq. and became a precedent sented by
for many other cities and towns to follow their example. The Thomas
whole power of government was usurped, at this period, by a Bampfylde,
committee of twenty-three persons, most of them officers in the
army ; and the Parliament not being able to wrest the authority
from their hands, endeavoured to draw over General Monk
(then in Scotland) to side with them : Monk, who had long
designed the King's restoration, took advantage of this oppor
tunity, and declared for the Parliament : his example being Gen Monk
fojlowed by others, he assembled his army and marched for marches
London, where, gaining the good will of the Citizens, he, for London.

168

THE HISTORY OF

A.D.
1660.

Chap. Ill, according to the general desire of the nation, restored the
~~ — Parliament that had been secluded in 1648.
The Parliament thus restored dissolved themselves in a few
days after their meeting, and summoned a new Parliament to
meet on the 25th April following.
The King The new Parliament soon came to a resolution of restoring
proclaimed the King, and the ancient form of government: accordingly
and in this 'hey sent some of their members to invite his Majesty over.
city. He was proclaimed in London, 8th May, 1660; and on the
Friday following at the usual places in this city, viz : at the
Guildhall, the Little Conduit, in St. Peter's Church-yard,
the Serge Market, at the Great Conduit, and at St. John's
Bow: the procession was conducted with great solemnity and
magnificence; consisting of the Mayor, Aldermen, Members
of the Common Council, and city Officers, in their scarlet and
other robes; the different incorporated companies, or trades, in
their livery gowns, preceded by their beadles and banners ;
then the Herald at arms, dressed in his tabard, and mounted
on a stately horse, surrounded by the Constables of the
different wards, and attended by a troop of horse, with silver
trumpets, commanded by Major Hagedott ; then followed the
different companies of the city Trained- bands, armed, and in
their buff coats; the whole attended by many thousands of the
Citizens, who testified their joy by repeated and loud acclama
tions; the conduits poured wine; the bells rang; and the
thundering of cannons from the castle, with repeated volleys of
musketry, rent the air; while every thing contributed to testify
the happiness of the Citizens in being delivered from anarchy
and confusion to a settled form of government both in Church
and State.
MA YORS and BAILIFFS during the Interregnum and
Usurpation.

1649.
Richard Crossing,
refused.
Richard Saunders.
Adam Bennett,
deputies.
Richard Evans.
Samuel Slade.
Richard Candish.
William Rolstone.
1650.
Richard Evans.

Richard Sweet.
Francis Lippingcott.
Richard Cullen,
refused.
J. Mongwell, Jun.
William Cowell.
1651.
Richard Sweet.
Thomas Ford.
Walter Deeble.
William Bruen.
Edward Foxwell.

1652.
Ralph Herman.
James Pearsey,
resigned.
Simon Snow.
Richard Spicer.
Richard White.
Edward Foxwell.
1653.
Simon Snow.
Chris. Clark, Jun.
resigned.

THE CITY OF EXETER.

169

James Marshall.
John Pynn.
Walter Hold itch.
Thomas Dix.
1654.
Richard Crossing.
Chris. Lethbridge.
Malachi Pyne.
John Crook.
John Atwill. 1655.
Nicholas Broking.
Bernard Bartlett.
Bernard Sparke.
John Mayne.
Thomas Crispin.

1656.
Thomas Ford.
Henry Prigg.
William Pyne.
William Shower.
Tobias Allen. 1657.
James Pearse.
Henry Gandy.
John Gupwill.
Edmund Starr.
William Penny.
1658.
James Marshall.
Walter Deeble.

Edward Wheeler.
Samuel Beard.
William Hooper.
1659.
Chris. Clarke, Jun.
William Bruen.
Paul Draper.
John Elwill.
John Guswill. 1660.
Chris. Lethbridge.
John Pynn.
John Anthony.
Edward Eveleigh.
Abraham Gibbs.

Chap. III.

End of the Third Chapter.

x 2

170

THE HISTORY OF

CHAPTER IV.

From the Accession of King Charles II. to the
44th of King George III.

Chap. IV.
aTd.
1660.
GeneralAlonk crea
ted Duke of
Albermarle &c.

The King
presented with 700?.
and his
sister with 200/.

KING CHARLES, immediately after his restoration, re
warded General Monk for the great share he had in pro
moting that desirable event, by creating him Duke of Alber
marle, Earl of Torrington, Baron Monk, of Potheridge*
Beauchamp, and Hays, and Knight of the Garter; and the
Citizens of Exeter, in testimony of the great regard they had
for him and his merits, presented him with the freedom, and
elected him, by a patent under their common seal, to be Lord
High Steward of their city.
The Citizens, to welcome his Majesty's return home, pre
sented him with plate to the value of £700 ; and his sister,
Princess Henrietta Maria, with plate to the amount of £200
value.

* General Monk, son of Sir Thomns Monk, was born at Potheridge, sear
Great Torrington, in the county of Devon. Sir Thomas having a large family,
and living in an expensive style, much superior to his income, greatly reduced
his paternal fortune, and involved himself in such difficulties that he was
obliged to secrete himself from his creditors. It happened at a particular
time that there was to be a general meeting of the gentlemen of the county of
Devon at Exeter Castle; Sir Thomas rightly judging that some writs had been
issued against him, and yet being desirous to attend the meeting, applied to the
Sheriff', by letter, desiring that such writs may not be executed at that time ;
but that if he could not make a compromise with his creditors, he would sur
render himself when called for. The Sheriff' relumed in answer "that upon
his honour Sir Thomas should be free from his officers during the time of the
said meeting;" but contrary to this promise he caused Sir Thomas to be
publicly arrested in the presence of the whole meeting. This news being
brought to the young George Monk, (afterwards the General) so exasperated
him that he immediately took horse and came to Exeter, where, in the presence
of all the gentlemen, he not only upbraided the Sheriff, but caned him very
severely: for this a prosecution was commenced against him, and he was
obliged to seek for safety by flight; and lo shelter himself from his pursuers he
entered as a common sailor on board a King's ship, where after some time he,
for his good behaviour and bravery, was made a Lieutenant; and this was the
hrst beginning of his warlike career.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 17]
The Bishops were now restored to their Sees'; and those which Chap.IV.
had been vacated by death, since the abolition of episcopacy, The
were filled up : among these Dr. John Gauden was promoted Bishops
to that of Exeter. restored to
On his first visit to his Diocess he was met by the principal *£?" Sees'
gentlemen of the county of Devon, who attended him to Gauden's
Exeter, forming a grand cavalcade of coaches, and some hun- entrance in-
dreds of horse : when he entered the city he was received at t0 tnis city-
the East-gate by the Mayor, Chamber, and incorporated Trades,
in their usual formalities, and some thousands of Citizens, who
conducted him to the Cathedral, with great testimonies of joy
and respect.
Greenville Weeks, Gent, was elected Muster-Master of this Any person
city and county, and a yearly pension of £6 was allowed him. arres'">g
An ancient usage in this city was ordered to be continued by auc°t leF| °.n
the Mayor and Bailiffs : that if any person should be here is to file a
imprisoned upon a plaint, (issued from the Provost Court) and declaration
the Plaintiff bring not the declaration in writing into the court within
within three weeks after the arrest, and file the same, that the wer^s
Defendant should be discharged from his imprisonment.
Sir James Smith, Knight, and Robert Walker, Esq. were
elected representatives in parliament for this city.
The Musical Waits (after many years sequestration) were re- The City
stored by the Mayor and Chamber to their places and salaries. Waits
The Queen-mother, returning to England, was presented, in "^a'd."
the name of the city, with plate to the value of £300, as atesti- 1661.
mony of their joy for her safe arrival. The city
An act of parliament was this year passed, which enabled the Prese"ts
King to grant commissions to divers gentlemen in the several m°tiier e"'
counties, for the regulation of all corporations within their w;th £300
respective districts : those appointed for the county of Devon in plate.
were Sir Coplestone Bampfylde, Sir James Smith, and
Thomas Walker, Esquire, (the two latter were representatives
for this city in parliament, and had greatly distinguished them
selves by able speeches in the house,) Sir Edward Seymour,
Sir Thomas Berry, Sir Courtenay Pole, Sir Peter Prideaux,
and Sir Henry Ford.
John Martin, Esq. being elected Mayor, refused serving 1662.
the office; of this notice being given to the King, he commanded Tbe Mayor
him on his allegiance to accept the same, to which he assented, f„se5etore"
and executed it with reputation and honour. accept the
Two new Receivers were chosen and sworn successively to office.
qualify themselves for serving the office of Mayor : the like
precedent was pursued in the following year for the same
purpose.

War de
clared

172 THE HISTORY OF
Chat. IV. The road in Paris-Street* being much out of repair, and full
— X/d. °f noisome and dangerous pits, was repaired and paved under
1663. the inspection of the Mayor, John Butler, Esq.
1664. On the 23d of March war was declared in this city against
the states of Holland, with the usual solemnities, by the Herald
against the at Arms, preceded by the Lord- Lieutenant, (the Mayor being
Dutch. deceased and no other elected in his stead) Aldermen, &c.
and attended by a troop of horse, with four silver trumpets,
and other martial music.
Northern- -pne pui>lic walk on Northernhay having been ruined in the
new made ^a'e c'v'' wars> the fine elms cut down, and the site again
converted into an outwork or counterscarp of the Castle, it was
now levelled, new gravelled, upwards of two hundred young
elms planted, f and seats elected.
Southern- A new burial place being much wanted, the lower end of
hay burial Southernhay Green was enclosed with a brick wall, at the
fenced and exPence °f [he Chamber, and solemnly consecrated on the 28th
consecrated °f October, (for that purpose) and dedicated to the Holy
Trinity, by Bishop Ward.
Dissenting King Charles, forgetting the obligations he lay under to the
clergy per- Presbyterians, for the great share they had in promoting his
restoration, prevailed on the Parliament, in the year 1662,
by the persuasion of his ministers, to pass an act of uniformity
in religion ; and which was this year tacked to the corporation
act, and again passed both Houses : by this all persons holding
offices either in Church or State were obliged to qualify them
selves by receiving the communion according to the Church
of England; and this act being put into force with great
rigour, many learned and worthy men who refused compliance
were deprived of their livings, and cruelly persecuted by fines
and imprisonment.
ete'cted"3 Among those ejected in this city were Ferdinando Nichols,
B. D. Thomas Ford, A. M. Alexander Hodges, A. M. Thomas
Penalties I)owne' A- M- Thomas Powel, A. M. Robert Atkins, A. M.
on Dis- a"d Mark Downe, A. M. By this act they were forbid to
senting preach or pray in any private conventicle, under the following-
Ministers, penalties: for the first offence a fine of £5, or three months'
imprisonment; for the second £10, or six months' imprisonment;

* This road is now kept in repair at the evpence of the parish of St.
Sidwell. t Some of the elms planted at this time are still standing in situ, and
are a great ornament to the walk, from their majestic height, bulk, and
agreeable shade.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 173
and for the third offence transportation to some of the American Chap. IV.
plantations.  "
A large contribution of several hundred pounds, collected from Acollection
the voluntary contributions of the Citizens of Exeter, was sent "^"J1"1
to London and different towns, which were infected by the London,
plague, towards the relief of the poor; and for the better &c. for '
preventing the spreading of this dreadful calamity, should it relief of
visit this city, a Pest-house was purchased in an airy and the l>oor
detached situation, near the city, with proper conveniences
for the reception of patients who might be visited with this
malady. The King's Arms which had been placed at the entrance of King's
the new canal or haven, (on the point of land from thence rmsattn^
termed King's Arms Point) having been demolished during tue haven
the late usurpation, another was erected at the expence of the re-erected.
Chamber. On the last day of February war was declared in this city A. D.
against the French. I665-
The greatest part of the town of Bradninch having been A great fire
consumed by an accidental fire, a voluntary contribution was at. Bfad-
made by the Citizens of Exeter towards the relief of the dis- nmc '
tressed inhabitants of that town.
A dreadful fire, on the 2d of September, this year, having l666-
destroyed the greatest part of the city of London, the sum of ^""ondon
£270 19s. was collected in this city, and sent towards the re
lief of the poor, who were. reduced, by the catastrophe to the
greatest distress.
The old lines and outworks to the city walls, upon Southern- 1667.
hay, were levelled and laid out in pleasant walks, on which
upwards of two hundred young elms were planted in different
rows. On Midsummer-eve, this year, and about midnight, a fire 16G9-
was discovered in the stable of the Blue Anchor Inn, near St. ^f"_lalbe
Lucie's- Lane* in the High-Street; which raging violently, con- street.
sumed several stables and outhouses, with many horses that
were therein, and greatly endangered the whole neighbourhood,
but providentially, by the exertions of the inhabitants, it was
happily prevented from spreading its ravages.
In the month of June a Sturgeon was taken by an inhabitant A larSe
of this city in the river Exe, (opposite the Red Rock, or Good- (j^ j°"ne
man's-well, on this side Topsham) which measured nine feet r;ver Exe.
and a half in length, and six feet in girth.
A new Citadel having been built at Plymouth, his Majesty The Ki '
came by water to view it : and, on his return to London, taking visits tnis
this city in his route, he was received by the Mayor, Chamber, city.
* Now Gandy s-Lane.
Y 2

174 THE HISTORY OF
Chap. IV. an(j incorporated trades, at the West-gate ; and after the usual
solemnities of presenting the city regalia, keys of the gates, &c.
he was conducted to the Deanry, where he lodged that night.
During his stay the Mayor, Aldermen, and members of the
The King Common Council, where admitted into his presence, and had
Knights the honour of kissing his hand ; he also knighted the Mayor,
the Mayor. Benjamin Oliver, Esquire. The next morning he pursued
his journey.
A- D- On the 7th of February this year a sudden fire happened
A fi ' about midnight without the West-gate, which destroyed four
without houses, and most of the inhabitants' goods. Three persons, viz :
West-gate : Thomas Hayne, his wife, and niece, a girl of seventeen years
3 persons 0f age, perished.
War ro- ^n 'he 16th of April war was proclaimed against the Dutch.
claimed The King, when on his visit to this city, having promised, as
against the a testimony of his regard, to present it with a portrait of his sis-
Dutch, ter, the late Duchess of Orleans* sent it down agreeable to his
sends l'Lf word, in a rich gilt frame, and which, with that of the late
sister's General Monk, was fixed up in the Guildhall.
portrait to A number of beggars and idle people infesting the streets of
this city, the city, pointed out the utility of a public Work-house; and
as several sums of money had been bequeathed by different
benefactors for employing and setting the poor to work, the
same was now taken into consideration ; and in addition to the
said benefactions a general contribution among the Citizens
enabled the Trustees to erect a convenient Work-house at the
end of Paris-street ; f hy which the streets were cleared from
the nuisance complained of, the incorrigible punished, and the
aged, with the infant and industrious poor, relieved.

* This amiable Princess was poisoned, as plainly appears from a letter of
the Duke of Montague, then Ambassador at the Court of France, wherein he
says that Madame the Duchess being at St. Cloud, on Sunday, 29th June, 1670,
with a great company, called, about five o'clock in the afternoon, for a glass of
Chicory, or Succory Water, which was prescribed for her as a drink, she having
found herself for two or three days after bathing much indisposed : that she had
no sooner drank it, than she cried out "J am dead," fell into Madame Masebourg's
arms, and desired to be put to bed ; then sent for her Confessor : she continued
in the greatest agony imaginable till three o'clock in the morning, when she died.
t This Work-house (after the building of the present one) was used as a Bride-
welltor the city : after which it was converted into an Infirmary, by the name of
the Exeter Hospital, but being united to the present Devon and Exeter H ospital,
the house, &c. was converted into a manufactory for weaving Tapestry, under
the protection of his Royal Highness tbe Prince of Wales ; but not meeting with
due encouragement, it failed; and the premises are now occupied by poor tenants.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 175
The street of St. Sidwell's, from Eastgate to St. Ann's Cha- Chap.iv.
pel, was paved at the expence of the Dean and Chapter of the " a. d7~
Cathedral, they being Lords of the manor ; part of the city wall, 1673.
near the new burying ground on Southernhay, 90 feet in length St.Sidwclls
and 30 feet in height, fell down suddenly, in the night, but "e w Paved-
without hurt to any one ; and was rebuilt at the expence of the city' Palis'6
Chamber. fall down-
Mrs. Elizabeth Flay, widow of Thomas Flay, Esq. bequea
thed by will a silver bason and ewer, partly gilt, to the
Chamber, for the use of the Mayor of this city, and his succes
sors, for ever.
Thomas Walker, Esq.* an Alderman of this city, was elected Thos. Wal-
one of its representatives in parliament, in room of his father, k.er' Esl-
deceased. 1!° k a r
r . . member of
A great scarcity of corn happening at this time, and the price parliament.
increasing, the Mayor, Isaac Maudit, Esq. procured the sum A scarcity
of 300Z. with which he provided a public granary, from whence of corn-
wheat, ready ground, was sold to the poor at a much less price
than they could purchase it in the markets.
About seven o'clock on the morning of December 29th the 1674.
house of Richard Jewell, in the parish of St. Sidwell's, suddenly A house in
fell down, by which the said Jewell was dangerously hurt, and =,t>s,dwel,s
his wife and grand-child were killed on the spot. ,wo people'
Sir William Courtenay, of Powderham Castle, was made a killed.
freeman of this city.
An Act of Parliament having been passed for the better regu- 1675.
lating of the Militia, his Grace Christopher Duke of Albermarle, The Duke
(son of the late General Monk) Lord-Lieutenant of the county of A,ber-
of Devon and city of Exeter, came here for that purpose ; and thJ CJ'
during his stay (which was upwards of three weeks) lodged at
the Deanry, where he kept a plentiful table, and gave free
entertainment to all visitors. He twice honoured the Mayor's
table with his presence, and was elegantly entertained : he fre!e!do>mi
accepted the freedom of the city ; and for this purpose went to aDd takes
the Guildhall, and there took the accustomed oath : his Grace the accus-
was attended by Sir Edward Seymour, Sir Copplestone tomed oath.
Bampfylde, Sir Arthur Northcote, and Sir Hugh Ackland,
Baronets; Sir John Rolle and Sir William Leach, Knights
of the Bath; Sir Thomas Daniel, Sir William Wallrond, and
Sir Henry Ford, Knights Bachelors; with several other

* There are two descendants from this gentleman who, at the present time,
(1801) fill the important offices of Justices of the Peace and Aldermen of this
city, viz: Edward Walker, Esq. (brother-in-law to the Right Honourable Earl
St. Vincent and Viscount Hood) and Benjamin Honeycombe Walker, Esq. a
Captain in Colonel Wright's regiment of Exeter Volunteers.

170

THE HISTORY OF

Chap. IV.

The naviga
tion of the
river great
ly improved

The Quay
levelled, &<

A. D.
1681.
The 4th
Regiment
of Foot
raised in
Exeter.

1682.
Three wo
men tried
and execu
ted for
witchcraft.

gentlemen of quality, who were likewise complimented with
their freedom, and sworn accordingly.
The Wharfage of the City Quay (which had heretofore been
farmed by lease) reverted into the hands of the Chamber; and
by the indefatigable diligence of Mr. Henry Smith, Receiver-
General, the navigation to the city was much improved, by
cleansing the river, cutting a new leat through the marshes,
about half a mile in length, and enlarging the pool; making it
so capacious that one hundred sail of ships may safely ride
therein ; by this means vessels, which before were often de
tained upwards of a fortnight waiting for the spring tides,
could now daily pass up and down, to the great advantage of
the merchants and others ; and thus abated the price of con
veyance of goods nearly one third. The Quay and adjoining
island* were also levelled and encompassed with a strong wall,
alongside which ships may lie with great conveniency, either to
discharge or take in their cargoes. A new Custom-house was
built on the Quay, with convenient offices and cellars for storing
goods. In these works the Chamber expended upwards of
£3,000, exclusive of the great benefactions received from
different well-wishers to the undertaking, among whom ought
not to be forgotten the Rev. Dr. George Carey, Dean of the
Cathedral, who was a most liberal benefactor.
The town of Tangier, on the coast of Africa, near the
Straits of Gibralter, (part of the portion received by the King
with his Queen, Catharine of Portugal) being besieged by the
Moors, of Barbary, a new regiment of foot was ordered to be
raised, as a reinforcement to that garrison : accordingly a com
mission was issued for that purpose to the Duke of Albermarle,
and he appointed the city of Exeter to be the rendezvous for
assembling and training the said regiment; which, through the
Duke's great influence in the said city and county of Devon,
was soon completed, and honoured with the title of the King's
own Tangierene Regiment, f
At the summer assizes, this year, three poor ignorant and
aged women, named Temperance Lloyd, Mary Trembles, and
Susannah Edwards, were tried and convicted at the Castle, for

* Now termed the Coal Quay.

t This regiment, now known by the name of the King's own, or 1th regiment
of foot, (consisting at first mostly of natives of Exeter and the neighbouring
country) were termed the Exeter Guards, which epithet they never disgraced.
They have ever been remarked for their steady discipline and valour, in the
various actions in which they have been ; and have more than once been hon
oured with the thanks of their King and country. — Barrel's regiment, at the
battle of Culloden, 1746, much distinguished.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 177
witchcraft. The evidence against them was direct and positive, Chap. IV.
which was confirmed by the confessions of the prisoners them- 
selves, who acknowledged that many parts of the accusation
against them were true. This confession, which nothing but
their own weakness of mind could have induced, or the most
consummate ignorance could have believed, was the only ground
of their conviction ; and even at the gallows the poor deluded
wretches assented to its truth. They were natives of Bideford,
and were executed at Heavitree, on August 25th, 1682, and
were the last sufferers, under the detestable statutes enacted
against the supposed crimes of sorcery and witchcraft, in this
county.* The unbridled licentiousness of the King, and the ill govern- a. D.
ment of his ministers, created great discontent among his sub- 1683.
jects, and it seems as if it reached this city : for this year his Tlle KinB
Majesty, by a quo warranto, demanded a surrender of the ^"'J *
charter, which was accordingly delivered up: and in the follow- charter.
ing year (1684) a new charter was granted, by which the
following gentlemen were nominated and appointed, viz: —
James Walker, Esq. Mayor.
Thomas Gibbon, Esq. Recorder.
ALDERMEN.
Henry Smith. George Saffin. John Cholwich.
Endymion Walker. John Snell. Christopher Bale.
Robert Dabynott. Edward Cross, Esq. High Sheriff.
COMMON COUNCILMEN.
John Carwithen. Richard Pidgsley. Edward Dally.
Malachi Pyne. John Matthew. William Jope.
Humphrey" Leigh. Charles Alden. Trist. Bowdidge.
Christopher Coke. Thomas Hill. Thomas Potter.
John Gandy.
* The particulars of this extraordinary trial, which made a great noise
throughout the country, was printed and published ; and the nature of the evidence
may be seen from the following extract ot Elizabeth Eastchant, one of the principal
witnesses. " The said informant, upon her oath, saitb, that upon the 2d day of
July, the said Grace Thomas, (one of the persons supposed to have been under
the power of witchcraft,) then lodging in this informant's husband's house, and
hearing her complain of great pricking pains in one of her knees, she, this
informant, did see her said knee, and observed she had nine places in her knee,
which bad been pricked ; and that every one of the said pricks was as though it
had been the prick of a thorn ; whereupon this informant, upon the 2d of July,
did demand of the said Temperance Lloyd whether she had any wax or clay in the
form of a picture, whereby she had pricked and tormented the said Grace Thomas;
unto which tbe said Temperance made answer, that she had no wax or clay, but
confessed that she had only » piece of leather, which she had pricked nine
times."
z 2

it

178

THE HISTORY OF

Chap. IV. King Charles died on the 5th of February, 1685,* and was
— a7iT — succeeded by his only surviving brother, James, Duke of York;
1685. who was accordingly proclaimed King in this city on the 9th of
February. MA YORS and BAILIFFS in the reign of Charles II.

1661.
Henry Gandy.
John Acland.
Benjamin Oliver.
George Knowling.
George Shapcote.
1662.
John Martin.
Isaac Mauditt,
declined.
John Butler, ditto.
Alan Penny.
George Tuthill.
John Gibbons.
Andrew Quash.
1663.
John Butler.
Stephen Olivean,
declined.
Anthony Salter, do.
Nicholas Isaac.
John Gandy.
Benjamin Beard.
Henry Smith. 1664.
Alan Penny, Ob.
Anthony Salter.
George Tuthill.
John Parr.
Robert Buckland.
Richard Hooper.

1665.
Nicholas Isaac.
Peter Hagedot.
John Collins.
Francis Maypowder.
Edward Cheeke.
1666.
John Acland.
James Slade.
Endymion Walker.
Robert Dabynot.
John Somers. 1667.
Thomas Walker.
Benjamin Oliver.
John Sparke.
John Carwithen.
Samuel Calle.
1668.
George Tuthill.
William Sandford.
Robert Davy.
Joseph Mauditt.
Edward Cross.
1669.
Peter Hagedot.
Isaac Mauditt.
Humph. Levermore.
George Saffin.
John Baker.

1670.
Sir Ben. Oliver, Kt.
Chris. Broderidge.
Peter Risdon.
John Cholwich.
Edward Heckman.
1671.
William Sandford.
John Parr.
Francis Kingwell.
John Warren.
Thomas Edmonds.
1672.
Henry Gandy.
John Collins.
William Bodley.
William Cove.
Abisha Brocas. 1673.
Isaac Mauditt.
Wm. Glyde, Jun.
Henry Cudmore.
Humphrey Leigh.
Edward Hill.
1674.
Chris. Broderidge.
Andrew Quash.
Nicholas Trype.
Simon Trowbridge.
Job Beard.

* Great suspicion was held that the King was poisoned, as the prevailing
party at court would not allow the surgeons who opened the body a sufficient
time to examine his body and intestines ; and but a few hours after his death
suoh an offensive smell came from the corpse that the attendants were obliged
to leave the room : a circumstance very extraordinary in one of so healthy and
vigorous a constitution.

THE CITY OF EXETER.

119

1675.
John Parr.
Henry Smith.
Francis Worth, Ob.
Thomas Smith.
John Pearse.
John Lee. 1676.
William Glyde.
Thomas Bale.
Daniel Gundry.
George Sandford.
Joseph Boson. 1677.
George Tuthill.
Endymion Walker.
Robert Hutchings.
John Boyland.
Thomas Barons.
1678.
William Sandford.

Robert Dabynott.
Simon Gandy.
Edward Dally.
Thomas Horn.
1679.
John Collins.
George Saffin.
Philip Cheeke.
Peter Battishill.
Thomas Gould.
1680.
Henry Smith.
John Snell.
Roger Cheeke.
Gilbert Yard.
Andrew Bowman.
1681.
Isaac Mauditt.
Charles Alden.
John Carwithen.

Wm. Southmead.
Nathaniel Gist.
1682.
Endymion Walker.
John Cholwich.
Richard Pidgsley.
William Bolithoe.
Arthur Glanvill. 1683.
Chris. Broderidge.
Christopher Bale.
Edward Seaward.
John Case.
William Jope.
1684.
James Walker.
Malachi Pyne.
Benjamin Ivie.
Roger Mallock.
Thomas Boyland.

Chap. IV.

King James ascended the throne amidst the greatest acclama
tions of his subjects, and was crowned the 23d of April, 1685.
In his first speech from the throne he declared " that he was
determined to defend and maintain the Church of England,
and to preserve the government in Church and State, as es
tablished by law ;" and had he fulfilled this promise he would
have prevented the miseries which afterwards befel himself and
his family : but his well known predilection for the Popish reli
gion gave just grounds to his subjects to doubt his sincerity ; and
therefore, before he was settled on his throne, a rebellion broke
out in Scotland.
The Duke of Argyle (who had been banished in the late
reign) landed in Scotland with a small force, which was joined
by many zealous Protestants, amounting to near 3000 ; with
this reinforcement he erected his standard, and declared his
intention of supporting the Protestant religion : but government
receiving early intelligence of his designs, he was defeated,
taken, and beheaded.
This commotion was no sooner over than another broke out
in England, when the Duke of Monmouth (a natural son of the

A. D.
1685.
James II.

Duke of
Argyle rai
ses a rebel
lion in
Scotland,
is taken
prisonerand be
headed.

J80 THE HISTORY OF
Chap. IV. late King) landed at Lyme, on the 11th June, accompanied by
Pnke of near one hundred officers and gentlemen, and bringing with him
Monmouth arms for 5000 men. As soon as his little troop were got on
lands at shore he published a declaration, which charged the King with
LJme- burning the city of London, of poisoning his brother, (King
Charles) and of his intentions to introduce Popery into this
kingdom. This declaration brought numbers of the middling
and common people to join his standard ; and he soon found
himself at the head of 6000 men, whom he regimented, though
he could not completely arm. Four days after his landing he
to^Ax- marched to Axminster ; to which place the Duke of Albermarle
minster. (who had hastily assembled the Militia of the county of Devon)
was marching from Exeter, with 4000 men : Monmouth having
taken possession of and fortified the avenues, the King's troops
retreated in great confusion back to Exeter.
Marches to On the 18th of June the Duke of Monmouth (instead of pur-
Taunton, slljng the fugitives)1* marched for Taunton, where he was
proclaimed received with great acclamations and testimonies of joy: in this
King. town he was proclaimed King, and thence proceeded to
Bridgewater, where he was also proclaimed by the Mayor, Mr.
Alexander Popham ; but this epitome of royalty was of short
duration.
Isdefeated, The King's troops having collected together under the corn-
taken pri- raand of the Earl of Feversham, a general engagement took
f°|er', a^ place on Sedgmoor, near Bridgewater, in which the Duke was
defeated and taken prisoner; and being carried to London, was
beheaded. This ill-timed rebellion (though greatly instrumental in pro
moting the glorious Revolution) proved fatal to numbers of the
Duke's unhappy followers. That monster of cruelty, Lord
Lord Chief Chief Justice Jefferies, was sent into the west, with a special
Justice commission of Oyer and Terminer to try the delinquents,
Jefferies' attended by a body of troops, under the command of Colonel
"ae '' Kirk, a barbarian like himself: they proceeded to the greatest
acts of cruelty, sparing neither age nor sex. In the course
of their circuit they condemned above 500 persons ; 239 were
executed, 80 of whom suffered in Exeter ; and their mangled
quarters were exposed on trees in the public roads, to the great
annoyance and terror of passengers.
A. D. The Right Honourable the Earl of Bath, on being appointed
16J6- Lord-Lieutenant of the county of Devon and city of Exeter,
Bath " ° vvas presented w'tn the freedom of the city : and the following
admitted to
the freedom
of the city. * The Duke has been much blamed for not pursuing the fugitives to Exeter,
as he might easily have taken it, and provided his men with sufficient arms and
stores, of which they were much in need.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 181
year the Earl of Dartmouth was admitted to the same privilege. Chap.IV.
The King, listening entirely to the advice of his Popish coun- aTd.
sellors, stretched the royal prerogative to the utmost ; and, by 1687.
the unjust decisions of his Courts of Justice, alienated the Earl of
affections of his subjects, which occasioned a general discontent. Djart-^°j l!'
Among other stretches of his power, he sent a mandamus to the freedom
this city for removing the Mayor and other officers, and of the city.
appointing others in their room : the letter was couched in the The K'DS
following terms : — sendf a
° mandamus for re-
" James Rex," moving the
"Trusty and well-beloved, We greet you well. Whereas we Mayor, &c.
have, by our order in council, thought fit to remove John Snell,
Esq. from being Mayor, and one of the Aldermen of that our
city of Exeter ; George Saffin, John Chohvich, James Walker,
and Henry Smith, from being Aldermen ; Christopher Coke,
from being one of the Sheriffs, and of the Common Council;
Humphrey Leigh, Charles Alden, Thomas Potter, Nathaniel
Gist, Malachi Pyne, Edward Dally, John Carwithen, and
William Joyce, from being of the Common Council ; and New
Richard Rous, from being Sword-bearer of our said city : We Mayor, &c.
have thought fit hereby to will and require you forthwith to aPP0"1 e •
elect and admit our trusty and well-beloved Thomas Jefford,
Esq. to be Mayor and one of the Aldermen ; George Tothill,
Merchant, William Glyde, Gent., Edmund Starr, Merchant,
and Thomas Atherton, Merchant, to be Aldermen; Richard
Cunningham, Gent, to be one of the Sheriffs, and of the Com
mon Council; John Curson, Receiver, and of the Common
Council ; John Starr, Merchant, John Pym, Merchant, John
Boyland, Merchant, Robert Buckland, Vintner, Jeremiah
King, Grocer, Robert Tristram, Merchant, Tobias Allen,
Merchant, and Hugh Bidwell, Fuller, to be of the Common
Council ; and Joseph Bradshaw, to be Sword-bearer of our
said city, in the room of the persons above-mentioned; and
Humphrey Bowden, Fuller, to be one of the Aldermen in
room of Endymion Walker, deceased ; without administering
to them any other oaths but the usual oath for their executing
of their respective places, with which we are pleased to dispense
in this behalf; and for so doing this shall be your warrant; and
so we bid you farewell."
"Given at our Court, at Whitehall, this 28th day of Novem
ber, 1687, in the Third Year of our reign."
" By his Majesty's command,"
" SUNDERLAND.''
" To our trusty and well-beloved the Deputy
Recorder, Aldermen, Common Councilmen, and^
Freemen of the Corporation of the city of Exeter."
A3

182 THE HISTORY OF
Chap. IV. On the 24th January, 1687, Mr. Jefford* the Mayor, was
The~cHy~~ desired by the then Chamber to surrender into his Majesty's
chartersur- hand the former charter, which was done accordingly ; and on
rendered, the 27th March, 1688, the new charter was first executed ; and
the new Mayor knighted by the King.
On the 27th September following the King's mandate was
sent down to elect and continue Sir Thomas Jefford to be
Mayor of this city, and Richard Cunningham, Esq. to be
Sheriff, for the year ensuing, in the following words: —
"James Rex," " 27 die Septembris, 1688."
The King's " Trusty and well-beloved, We greet you well. Whereas vie
mandate for are well satisfied of the loyalty and ability of our trusty and
continuing weu_beloved Sir Thomas Jefford, Knight, the present Mayor,
M^rTn'd and Richard Cunningham, Esq. the present Sheriff of that
She'rifffor our city of Exeter: We have thought fit hereby to require you
another to elect and continue him the said Sir Thomas Jefford to be_
year. Mayor, and the said Richard Cunningham, Esq. to be Sheriff
of our said city, for the year ensuing, with all the rights,
profits, and advantages thereunto belonging, without ad
ministering to them any oath or oaths but the usual oath for
the execution of their respective places, with which we are
graciously pleased to dispense in this behalf, and for so doing
this shall be your warrant; and so we bid you farewell. Given
at our Court, at Windsor, this 27th day of August, in the
Fourth Year of our reign." " By his Majesty's command,"
"SUNDERLAND."
A. D. "The King now threw off the mask by his public profession of
Th K' *"ne R°man Catholic religion ; and, in order to reconcile his
endeavours three kingdoms to the Holy See, he sent the Earl of Castlemain
to restore Ambassador to the Pope ; he likewise (the better to answer his
the Papal purpose) dispensed with several of his officers and councillors
religion. frotn complying with the Test Act ; and by the advice of his
Popish ministers laid aside the penal laws ; and sent a circular
letter to the Bishops, with orders to prohibit the inferior clergy
from preaching upon controverted points of Divinity ; he also

* Sir Thomas Jefford was very skilful in his profession of a Dyer, by which
he accumulated a large fortune : but being ambitious and aspiring to honours,
procured himself the civic chair of this city, which he enjoyed but a short time.
There is a tradition that having dyed a piece of fine broadcloth blue on one
side and crimson on the other, he presented it to the King, who was so much
pleased with it that he ever after held him in great esteem. Sir Thomas,
with the other members of this new created Chamber, were Presbyterians,
which seems to be the reason for the King's dispensing with the usual
oaths of qualification.

THE CITY OF EXETER. ]83
published a declaration granting liberty of conscience to Chap. IV.
Dissenters of all denominations, which declaration he ordered =^===
to he publicly read in all the churches and chapels. Several of
the Bishops refusing to comply with this order, the Archbishop
of Canterbury and six other Bishops* were committed pri- s'xBisb°ps
soners to the Tower of London ; but being tried in the Court i^'0 the
of King's Bench were acquitted, to the great satisfaction of
the people. Those acts of oppression, and the apprehension
of again being subjected to the superstition and tyranny of the
Court of Rome, entirely alienated the affections of his sub- Pe°p'e
_ *^ uncftsv
jects ; and the Episcopalians, uniting with the Dissenters,
resolved to set the Prince of Orange on the throne. Several T1>e Prince
noblemen and other persons of distinction went over (on various of 0range
pretensions) to the Hague, to consult with the Prince of Orange,
and to desire assistance in rescuing the nation from the im
pending dangers which now hung over it ; to this his Royal
Highness consented, and accordingly set sail from the Brill, in ^ets sal1
Holland; and on Monday, the 5th of November, 1688, the jj0™an(1
fleet, consisting of fifty capital men of war, twenty-six frigates,
twenty-five fireships, and about three hundred transports and Lands at
storeships, came into Torbay. The Prince was on board a new Torbay.
ship of thirty guns, whose flag was the English colours, with
this motto: the Protestant religion and liberties of England;
and underneath, I will maintain it. He then hoisted a red flag
at the mizen-yard arm, and proceeded to make good his landing,
which was accomplished without any opposition, the people
welcoming and hailing him as their deliverer, bringing in all
necessary provisions both for man and horse, for which they
were honestly paid their demands. The Prince the same day sent
a Captain to search Tor Abbey (and other houses inhabited by
Papists) for horses and arms.t
The Prince's army, consisting of near 30,000 well armed and
disciplined troops, were safely landed by Tuesday afternoon; and
their baggage, ammunition, and stores, were sent to Topsham,
by water, from whence they were brought strongly guarded to
this city. On Wednesday, the 7th, the Prince came to Ford- He lays at
house, near Newton Bushel, where he was most hospitably Ford bonse-

* One of these Bishops was Sir Jonathan Trelawney, then Bishop of Btistol,
but afterwards of Exeter, » native of Cornwall; and his confinement greatly
exasperated the Cornishmen.
t A Popish Priest, residing at Tor Ahbey, discovering the fleet, and the
white flags on some of the men of war, concluded it was a French fleet come
to the assistance of King James, against the Prince of Orange, and (transported
will, joy) ordered all the family to repair to the chapel, to sing Te Deum
for the arrival of the French: but he was soon undeceived, and laughed at
for his mistake.

184

THE HISTORY OF

Chap. IV. received and entertained, by order of the noble owner, Sir
¦ William Courtenay, where "he lay that night. At Newton
Bushel he was met by a clergyman, who preceded him to the
market place, where he read the Prince's declaration, which
was received with every demonstration of joy.
Capt.Hicks The same day Captain Hicks, with a party of horse, came to
comes to Exeter, where great numbers flocked to him to enlist themselves
Exeter and jn tne prlnce's service, which the Mayor hearing of sent for him
i° |neS me° and questioned him if he had a commission for what he did ; to
Prince's which he would return no direct answer, nor give any account
service. 0f the Prince's designs. For this contempt he was ordered to
Is ordered prison ; but the populace, who were assembled in great numbers
to prison, about the Guildhall, would not permit his being carried away;
but is therefore he was suffered to remain in the Hall under the
rescued by cust0fiy 0f two Constables, and was amply provided for, during
t e peop e. ^.g snor(. confjnement, by the Mayor's orders. Thursday the
Lord Lord Mordaunt and Dr. Burnet, (afterwards Bishop of Salis-
Mordaunt Dury) with four troops of horse, came to Exeter. When they
thisdt'0 arrived at the West-gate they found it shut against them; upon
which Lord Mordaunt ordered the Porter to open the gate
on pain of death, * which being presently done he required
him on the same penalty not to shut it again. As soon as they
were entered the city Lord Mordaunt went to the Guildhall
and set Capt. Hicks at liberty. That afternoon Lord Mordaunt
The Mayor and Dr. Burnet waited on the Mayor, requesting him to meet
refuses to the Prince at the gate, and govern the city under him, which he
meet the absolutely refused, and told them that he was under the
Eo'vern the obligation of an oath to his Majesty, and desired that the Prince
city under would lay no commands on him that should be prejudicial to
him. his conscience : and after some further debate on the matter
his Lordship departed much dissatisfied. All Thursday the
The Prince soldiers continued to enter the city ; and on Friday the Prince
ofOrange came with his guards, who continued marching through the
arrives. cj^ t0 tne afjjacent villages and towns, without ceasing, for
the space of three hours. The Prince's public entry into
•H.ISgDtY Exeter was very magnificent, and conducted in the following
' manner : the Right Honourable the Earl of Macclesfield, with
two hundred horsemen, most of whom were English nobles and

* There is a tradition that the Porter refusing to open the gate, George
Tuthill, Esq. one of the Aldermen, opened it and admitted the troops ; and that
he afterwards meeting with great losses at sea was much reduced in his
circumstances, which coming to the knowledge of the Prince, after his
advancement to the throne, he gratefully rewarded him with a pension of
£200 per annum.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 185
gentlemen, richly mounted on Flanders steeds, completely Chap. IV.
clothed in bright armour; two hundred Negroes (attending the 
said gentlemen) had on embroidered caps, lined with furs, and
plumes of white feathers ; two hundred Finlanders, clothed in
beavers' skins, in black armour and with broad swords ; fifty
gentlemen and as many pages to attend and support the Prince's
standard ; fifty led horses all managed and broke for war, with
two grooms to each horse ; two state coaches ; the Prince on a
milk white horse, in a complete suit of bright armour, a. plume
of white ostrich feathers on his head, and forty-two footmen
running by his side ; two hundred gentlemen and pages on
horseback; three hundred Siviss guards, armed with fusees;
five hundred volunteers, with two led horses each ; the Prince's
guards, in number six hundred, armed cap-a-pie; the rest of
the army brought up the rear: they had fifty waggons loaded
with cash, and one hundred and twenty pieces of cannon.
On the road his Highness was met by great multitudes of
people who welcomed him by loud huzzas and acclamations :
the same was done at Exeter, where the streets were thronged,
and the windows filled with joyful spectators : he was con- kehee f n'^ce
ducted to the Deanry, which had been prepared in a hasty Courtatthe
manner for his reception, and where he kept his court during Deanry.
his residence in this city ; and by his affability, and the strict
discipline and good behaviour of his troops, gained the esteem
of all ranks of people.*
After taking some refreshment the Prince went to the Cathe- Go«s to 'he
dral to render thanks to Almighty God for his safe arrival, Cathedral.
when being seated in the Bishop's throne, the choir sung Te
Deum, and after Divine service Dr. Burnet read the Prince's r- Burnet
declaration. On Sunday he again attended Divine service, at the pre c>t
Cathedral, when Dr. Burnet preached ; the text was taken
from the last verse of the 107th Psalm, "whoso is wise will
ponder these things, and they shall understand the loving kind
ness of the Lord." Notwithstanding this kind reception the The Magis-
Prince met with from the middling and lower classes of people, trates of
the magistrates and clergy were very backward, particularly in b "ward0"
this city, where only Alderman Tuthill and one other member in declaring
of the Chamber declared in his favor ; it was likewise the for the
same with the gentlemen of the county of Devon, not one ofP"nceof
whom joined his standard, except Mr . Burrington, of Sampford, ra"Se-

* Bishop Latnplugh on the news of the Prince's approach left the city in a
great hurry and repaired to the King, (by whom he was advanced to the
Archbishopric of York) and was soon after followed by the Dean and most of
the resident clergy.
B 3

186

THE HISTORY OF

Chap. IV.

The Prince
has some
intentions
of retreat
ing. Lord
Colchester,&c. comes
to Exeter.
The gentle
men of
Devon
join his
standard. And enter
into an as
sociation.

(a Major of the Militia) who came to him on the Monday
and was kindly received.
It does not appear that this backwardness proceeded from any
ill motive or design to retard the Prince from proceeding on his
expedition, but rather from a dread of its failure; they having
had sufficient experience of the sanguinary disposition of the
King and his Ministers from (he recent examples made of the
unhappy followers of the late Duke of Monmouth, their man
gled bodies being still exposed to their view.
The backwardness of the Devonshire gentlemen damped the
spirits of the Prince, and he had some thoughts of abandoning
his design ; but he was soon relieved from his anxiety by the
arrival at Exeter of the Lord Colchester, (who brought some of
the King's troops with him) he was soon after followed by many
other persons of distinction, and many gentlemen of the first
quality in the county of Devon now repaired to his standard,
who assembling together in the Cathedral, at the instigation of
Sir Edward Seymour, Recorder of this city, entered into and
subscribed the following association : —
" We, whose names are hereunto subscribed, who have now
joined with the Prince of Orange, for the defence of the
Protestant Religion, and for the maintaining of the ancient
government, and the laws and liberties of England, Scotland,
and Ireland, do engage to Almighty God, to his Highness the
Prince of Orange, and to one another, to stick firm in this
cause, in the defence of it, and never to depart from it,
until our religion, laws, and liberties are so far secured to us
in a free Parliament that we shall be no more in danger of
falling under Popery and slavery. And whereas we are en
gaged in this common cause, under the protection of the
Prince of Orange, by which case his person might be exposed
to danger, and the cursed attempts of Papists and other
bloody men, we do therefore solemnly engage to God, and to
one another, that if any such attempt be made upon him we
will pursue not only those that make it, but all their adherents,
and all that we find in arms against us, with the utmost
severity of a just revenge to their ruin and destruction. And
that the execution of any such attempt, which God of his
infinite mercy forbid, shall not divert us from prosecuting this
cause which we now do undertake, but that it shall engage
us to carry it on with all the vigour that so barbarous an action
shall deserve."
"Given under our hands and seals, in the Cathedral Church
of St. Peter, Exeter, this 17th day of November, 1688."

THE CITY OF EXETER. 187
This association was speedily published throughout the Chap. IV.
country, and many noblemen and others came to the Prince ; "
whilst King James (who had assembled his army at Salisbury) The King
finding himself daily deserted by many of his principal noble- j]fserl|-d by
men and commanders, who brought entire regiments with them &* n° es'
and joined the Prince at Exeter, now too late perceived his
error, and published a declaration promising to call a free Pablisn? s a
Parliament, and to govern according to the laws ; but this Jh^his'not
declaration was little attended to, and he found himself de- attended to.
serted by those he put most confidence in.
The Prince of Orange (thus encouraged) after a stay of twelve The Prince
days marched for London,* leaving the government of Exeter of Orange
to Sir Edward Seymour, the Recorder, and Colonel Gibson, marches for
with a small garrison, in charge of his heavy artillery and stores, oml011,
which, on account of the badness of the roads, he was obliged
to leave behind him.
Before the Prince left Exeter several thousands of men
enlisted themselves in his service ; and many thousands more
would have followed their example had they been permitted,
but no occasion existed for their services. On the news of the
Prince's approach the King driven to despair, and not knowing
whom to trust or confide in, left his army and returned to Lon
don, from whence, on December the 23d, he abdicated the The King
government, and secretly made his escape to France, to escapes to
which country he had before sent his Queen and son, the France
Prince of Wales.
Impartial historians all agree that this unfortunate Monarch
was a kind father, a tender husband, a good master, and
would have been a good King had he not been misled by his
wicked ministers ; and that the religion he professed was the
source of all his troubles, it being highly probable that his
reign would have been propitious had he been a Protestant, or
his subjects Roman Catholics.
MA YORS and BAILIFFS in the reign of James II.
1685. Edward Ball. Christopher Coke.
Robert Dabynott. Daniel Ivie.
Humphrey Leigh. 3686. Edward Collins.
William Sanford. George Saffin. Robert Foster.
Isaac Gibbs.

* Previous to the Prince's departure he caused the surrounding heights to
be surveyed, intending to fortify the city, to secure his retreat in case he
should be compelled so to do ; but his engineers representing to him the
almost impracticability of it, by tbe nature of the city's situation, he abandoned
his design.

188

THE HISTORY OF

Chap. IV. 1687.
 -" John Snell.
John Gandy. t Removed by
John Burell. \ the King's
Richard Peryam. {Mandate.
Thomas Salter.

1687.
SirT.Gifford.Ktr John Curson. / Appointed
Anthony Vicarv. \in their
William Atkins". 1 P1™"-
William Reynell.

1688.
Sir T. Gifford, Kt. ) Removed
John Harris.
John Keese.

A.D. 1689.
Wm. III.
andMary II.

King
"William and Queen
Mary pro
claimed in
this city.

i Privy
J Council.

1688.
The Charter restored.
Christopher Bale.
John Gandy.
John Dally.
Henry Newcombe.
Oliver Mostyn.

Chris. Broderidge, reinstated.
Chris. Bale, elected Dec. 8th.
Edward Seaward.
John Case.
William Jope.
On the Prince of Orange's arrival in London the Peers then
in town desired him to take the administration upon himself,
till they should have assembled the estates of the kingdom, by
the style and title of Convention, which was summoned for the
22d of January, 1689. At this meeting the House of Commons
declared the throne vacant by the abdication of the late King,
which being agreed to by the House of Peers, it was resolved to
offer the crown to the Prince and Princess of Orange, and they
accepting the offer were proclaimed in London King and Queen
of Great Britain on the 17th of February ; and in this city
(with the usual solemnity, and great acclamations of the
inhabitants) on the Friday following.*
Before King James's abdication he, in order to regain the
lost affections of his subjects, issued a proclamation for re
storing the charters of such cities and towns which he had
deprived them of, excepting those only who had come into his
measures by a voluntary surrender of their franchises, of
which the city of Exeter was one ; but on the 5th day of
November, 1688, the following order from the King was re
ceived in this city :

* On this occasion there were great rejoicings in this city ; the conduits
ran with wine, and at night there were great illuminations. The populace,
almost mad with joy, insulted the houses of the Papists, and were proceeding
to acts of violence, when a timely stop was put to it by the interference of
the Magistrates.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 189
"AT THE COURT AT WHITEHALL."
"November 1st, 1688."
" The King's most excellent Majesty in Council. Whereas, Thbaertce!tys
in his Majesty's late Proclamation, issued for restoring Corpo- restored.
rations to their ancient charters, liberties, rights, and franchises,
the ancient Corporation and Body Corporate of the city of
Exeter is one of those therein excepted, upon a supposition
that the deed of surrender by them made to his late Majesty
was recorded ; but upon farther examination, and producing
the said deed of surrender, it appearing that the same never
was recorded, his Majesty in Council, (designing the same
benefit to the said city, and the ancient Corporation thereof, as
to other cities in the said Proclamation not excepted) in
pursuance to the power reserved to his Majesty in the Charter
of Incorporation lately granted to the said city, is pleased to
order, and it is hereby ordered, that the Mayor, Sheriff,
Recorder, Town-Clerk, Aldermen, Common Councilmen, and
all and every other Magistrate, Officer, and Minister of or in
the said city, be and they are hereby removed, displaced, and
discharged, of and from the said offices, magistracies, and
places ; saving and reserving to them, and every of them, such
right, privilege, place, or office, as they have or lawfully may
claim by the ancient charter or franchises of the said city : and
it is further ordered, that the Mayor, Sheriff, Aldermen,
Recorder, Town-Clerk, Common Councilmen, and all and
every other minister and officer of the said city, that were
such at the time of the sealing of the said deed of surrender,
do take upon them the execution of their respective offices
and magistracies, and proceed to make due elections, and to
act and do as they lawfully might if no such deed had ever
been had or made."
" PHILIP MUSGRA VE."
This order, on account of the dissensions occasioned by the The old
Revolution, was not immediately put in execution; but soon Mayor, , .
after Christopher Broderidge, Esq. was reinstated in the office "^ew ona '
of Mayor, and on the 8th of December Christopher Bale, Esq. chosen.
was elected for the residue of the year.
The kingdom of Ireland espousing the cause of the abdicated
King, a rebellion broke out, and most part of that island (a few A rpg;ment
garrisons in the north only excepted) declared in favour ofoffoot
King James: the French King sent a large army to their raised in
assistance, and therefore orders were sent to different parts of Exeter.
England for levying troops; and a commission for raising a

c 3

190 THE HISTORY OF
Chap. IV. regiment of foot being sent to Exeter, many gentlemen of the
- city and the neighbouring country accepting commissions therein,
the regiment was soon completed and sent to Ireland, where
they behaved with great bravery.*
About the latter end of the seventeenth century one Moses
Pitts, a Bookseller, attempted an investigation of the different
prisons throughout England and Wales, and procured various
accounts from the principal goals, collected generally from some
of the resident prisoners. This collection he caused to be
printed ; and from the said book the following extracts of the
wretched state of the goal belonging to the county of Devon
follow verbatim : —
A.D. "From Stock (probably Stoke) in the county of Devon,
1690. 18th November, 1690. — The goal in the county of Devon is
Wretched kept at gtocjl! above three miles from any town, in a small
count °fth<! v>'lage. The house is very small for such a numberof men and
Goal. women as are there — the goaler puts three or four beds in a
chamber, and three persons in every narrow bed, that they
have not room to turn themselves. Every particular person
pays two shillings and sixpence per week, so that their chambers
are twice as dear as any in the King's Bench or Fleet. Besides
the misery of being so thronged, there is not nigh as much
room again in the chambers as the beds take up. The prisoners
have been denied their victuals to be brought into the house,
and their laundresses were kept out for a month, that the
prisoners were forced to put all things out of the window.
There is no other drink allowed but ale, of six, eight, and ten
days old — the goaler sells to the tapster for forty-three shillings
per hogshead, and the tapster will sell little more than a pint
for two-pence, which we can have stronger from abroad for
one penny; but the prisoners dare not send for it, if tbe keeper
lie in the way, nor have it brought in at the door, but put in
to them at the window, in small quantities. Several have
perished for want — one Fursden was starved to death, ac
cording to the return the jury gave the coroner, one Mr. Wills,
* In this Irish war the Rev. Mr. Walker, a native of this city, gave signal
proofs of his bravery and zeal for the Protestant religion. The city of
Londonderry being besieged by King James, at the head of a numerous army,
and the garrison being most cowardly deserted by its governor, at the desire
of the garrison and inhabitants this gentleman took upon himself the government,
and made a most remarkable and gallant defence during the siege, in which
tbe inhabitants were reduced by famine and sickness to the greatest distress :
he acted in a three-fold capacity ; preaching in the morning, then presiding in
judicial matters, and in the afternoon visiting the fortifications, exhorting the
soldiers, and oftentimes beading the sallies which were made on the besiegers ;
in short, by his exemplary conduct and prudence, he prevented that important
fortress from falling into the hands of the enemy, and preserved the north of
Ireland. This gentleman was slain by a musket ball, at the battle of the Boyne,
on the 1st of July, 1690, greatly regretted by King William, and all the army.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 191
who did not make a due return of the said Fursden, as of Chap. IV.
others. And also David Hart and John Soper were put in irons 
for no other reason but because they put their names as witnesses
to an indictment against Alexander Symons, the keeper, for
murthering a prisoner in November, 1688. That he kept the
said Hart so long in irons, that it had liked to have cost him
his life. The said keeper is a butcher by trade, and keeps
twenty or thirty hogs in a court, within twenty feet of the kitchen
door. The keeper frequently intercepts the prisoners' letters, and
either burns them or throws them into the river, that they are
forced to send all their letters of concern by private hands,
which costs the prisoners ten pounds per annum ; that they
have but one house or office for nigh seventy people ; and that
is uncovered, and is very noisome, as is the house and yard, being
low and level, so that strangers complain when they come it al
most takes away their breath. To all these particulars I am ready
to make oath. Witness my hand this 18th November, 1690."
"JOHN WHITBURROUGH."
The Right Honourable the Earl of Danby was presented with A. D.
the freedom of this city. 1692.
On the 29th of May great rejoicings were made foT the The French
glorious victory gained by the British fleet over that of the fleet de-
French King, off Cape le Hague, in Normandy, on the 19th stroyed at
of this month; in which the French lost nineteen of their LeHo'n
largest ships, besides their Admiral, and a great number of "
transports, which were burnt : this fatal blow almost ruined the
French navy, and put a stop to their invasion of this kingdom.
The utility of having the water from the river Exe conveyed 1694-
to the houses of this city being taken into consideration by the engine
Chamber, an act of parliament was procured, and an engine for erected.
that purpose erected (at the head of the new leat) on a very
ingenious model, which, notwithstanding the elevated situation
of the city, plentifully supplies (by the help of wooden pipes)
such inhabitants who, on the payment of an annual rent, are
desirous of being furnished therewith.
The bad state of the silver coin requiring the interference of 1696.
the legislature, six new Mints were established, by an act of ^J.'^
parliament, one of which was placed in this city ; the Chamber inthiscity.
granting for that purpose part of Hele's (or the Blue Maid's)
Hospital; where furnaces were erected, and an Assay Master
and proper officers appointed. In this Mint a large quantity of
silver was coined, all which may be distinguished by having the
letter E placed under the bust. Queen
Queen Mary died of the small pox, on the 28th of December, Mary's
greatly regretted by the King and the whole nation. death.
A patent, under the common seal of this city, was granted lo9T-

192

THE HISTORY OF

Chap. IV.
Peace of
Ryswick.

A.D.
1702.
Death of
King William.

The Trade
of this city
greatly
increased
through the
Revolution.

to James, Duke of Ormond, to be Lord High Steward thereof;
he likewise was admitted to the freedom of the city. This year,
on September 10th, the famous Peace of Ryswick, which
secured to King William the quiet possession of the three
kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, as also the
restitution of his principality of Orange, was signed ; and on
the 29th of the same month peace was proclaimed at the usual
places in this city. Notwithstanding this treaty, so lately
signed, the perfidy of Lewis XIV. King of France, con
cerning the Spanish succession, again set Europe in a flame ;
and King William preparing to revenge himself on this
perfidious Monarch was prevented by a fall from his horse, near
Hampton Court, which occasioned his death, on the 8th of
March, 1702. The death of this Prince was greatly lamented
by his Protestant subjects, as he was a zealous defender of both
their civil and ecclesiastical liberties, as well as the Protector of
Europe from the encroachments of the perfidious French
Monarch. On the death of the King the crown (by the act of succession)
devolved to his sister-in-law, the Princess Anne, second daugh
ter to the abdicated King James, and wife of George, Prince
of Denmark.
The city of Exeter enjoyed a share, with the rest of the
British empire, in the good effects of the Revolution; its foreign
trade greatly increased, and liberty of conscience being tolerated
to christians of all denominations, encouraged many foreign
merchants to settle here, which enlarged its correspondence, and
opened new markets for its woollen manufactures ; ships sailing
every year with cargoes of woollen and other goods to most
parts of the world, even to Turkey and the West Indies. And
a sugar-house and glass-house were built between this city and
Topsham, which employed a great many labourers, to the
general benefit of the country.
MA YORS and BAILIFFS in the reign of King William III.

1689.
John Snell.
Edward Cross,
resigned.
Gilbert Yard.
Edward Bamfield.
John Pyle.
John Monkley. 1690.
Edward Cross.

Richard Peryam.
Richard Pounsford.
William Arnold.
John Newcombe. 1691.
Edward Seaward.
John Burell.
Francis Lydstone.
Joshua Hickman.
William Hibbert.

1692.
Christopher Coke.
William Bollithoe.
Richard Smith.
Roger Prowse.
Joseph Hussey. 1693.
John Gandy.
Daniel Ivie.
John Gandv, Jun.

THE CITY OF EXETER.

193

James Kingwell.
George Cary. 1694.
Robert Dabynott.
Isaac Gibbs.
Richard Atwill.
John Vicary.
Clement Weekes.
1695.
Gilbert Yard.
John Monkley.
Edward Spicer.
Daniel Slade.
Emanuel Hole.
1696.
Christopher Bale.
Joshua Hickman.

Edward Cheeke.
William Carthew.
Richard Veale.
1697.
John Cur son.
George Yard.
John Hornbrooke.
Thomas Bury.
John Gilbert. 1698.
John Burell.
Edward Dally.
William Gandy.
Christopher Gird.
John Bolt. 1699.
Joshua Hickman.

John Gandy.
Jacob Rowe.
Philip Pear.
William Pitfield.
1700.
John Snell.
John Newcombe.
Nath. Dewdney.
Edward Allen.
John Dell. 1701.
John Chohvell.
Oliver Mostyn.
Robert Lydston.
Alexander Sampson.
Thomas Robinson.

Chap. 1 V.

Queen Anne was proclaimed in this city on March 13th, a. D.
1702 ; and immediately on her accession to the throne declared 1702.
her resolution of pursuing the plan formed by her predecessor, Queen
of curbing the exorbitant pride and power of the French Anne-
Monarch, and securing the liberties of Europe from his
encroachments ; accordingly a war, which was declared in this
city, May 8th, 1702, proved glorious to the British nation, as War deda-
it was attended with an almost uninterrupted series of prosper- "^d against
ities, victories, and triumphs, which humbled the pride of
France, and almost annihilated her navy.
This year Sir William Courtenay, Bart, and Robert Rolle,
Esq. were returned Knights of the Shire for the county of
Devon; and Sir Edward Seymour, Bart, and John Snell, Esq.
representatives in parliament for this city.
The Earl of Rochester coming to Exeter was complimented
with the freedom thereof: during his stay (which was for several
days) he was elegantly entertained by the Mayor.
On the 26th of November, this year, about eleven at night, 1703.
a terrible storm of wind arose, which did incredible damage A great
throughout most parts of England, mostly on the coasts, where *y?™ °
a great number of ships were wrecked, and many thousands of
men drowned : this hurricane continued with great violence
until four o'clock the next morning; in this city many houses
were unroofed, stacks of chimneys blown down, and trees torn
up by the roots, particularly in St. Peter's Church-yard, where

D 3

194 THE HISTORY OF
Chap.IV. a row of large elms, of nearly one hundred years' growth, were
a7d! mostly destroyed.*
1704. The beginning of September, this year, news arriving of the
glorious victory obtained over the French, by the Duke of
Marlborough, at Blenheim, occasioned great rejoicings in
this city.
Sir Edward Seymour, Baronet, who had filled the office of
Recorder of Exeter for many years, resigned it on account of
his great age ; and Sir Nicholas Hooper, Knight, was elected
in his room.
In the year 1699 an act of parliament was procured for the
the better employment and maintenance of the poor inhabitants
of this city and county, and the next year a new Workhouse
17w ' x, was begun> on an elevated and healthy spot of ground, in the
i ew u°ri, parish of St. Sidwell, which was carried on with such vigour,
housebuill. r. . , , . .. ,.
that in the same year the central part of the building was
finished ; but the whole was not completed till the year 1707, at
a very great expence to the Citizens. This building forms a large
DescrlPtl0n quadrangle, open towards the south: the centre contains a
Workhouse handsome chapel, (terminated by a cupola, in which is a clock
and dial) convenient apartments for the governor, different
offices for the use of the house, and spacious rooms for the
meeting of committees; the wings, which extend to a great
length, are divided into wards or ranges, which are kept clean
and wholesome, and are spacious enough to contain several
hundred paupers ; behind which are buildings designed for the
better accommodation of those who, having lived in credit, are
reduced through misfortunes to apply to their parishes for
relief. There are likewise workshops and other conveniences,
with a spacious green in front, planted with rows of trees, where
the poor inhabitants may both take the air and recreate them
selves. A Chaplain is also provided, who preaches every
Sunday, and reads prayers twice in every week, when each
pauper, if not bedridden, is obliged to attend. The whole
building, green, and gardens, are surrounded by a lofty brick
wall; and at the time of its erection was esteemed the first build
ing of its kind in England.
Govern- The government of this house is invested in forty Citizens,
Workhouse W-h° &K termed Guardians of the Poor, and are chosen at the
andPoor of different Wardmotes, for life, (unless incapacitated through in-
Exeter. firmity or insolvency) by the inhabitants of the respective wards,

* The remaining elms were felled by order of the Dean and Chapter, for the
sake of uniformity, and lime trees planted in their room ; but these not thriving
most of them were grubbed up, and standing elms planted.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 195
who pay two pence per week in their own right towards the Chap.IV.
poor-rates ; these, with the Mayor, Recorder, and Aldermen, 
for the time being, are invested with full power of levying such
rates on the different parishes and precincts, within the city and
county, as the necessities of the poor may require, which are
collected by the different Overseers, and paid to the Treasurer,
who is annually elected by and from the forty Guardians. This
body corporate has the sole government and management of the
poor within the city and county of Exeter.
This year is memorable for an institution which reflects A.D.
immortal honour on its pious author, Dr. Offspring Blackall, 17.08-
Bishop of this Diocess : this worthy Prelate observing with g^ois
great concern that numbers of poor children in this city and founded in
neighbourhood, either through the inability or negligence of Exeter
their parents, were bred up in a very illiterate manner, and through the
without any instruction of their duty as christians, cither to God 1"SgFatlon
or their neighbour, preached a sermon on the occasion, in which Blackall.
he strongly recommended the duty of charity, and the benefits
occurring to the community at large, by rescuing from ignorance
and providing for the education of the children of their poor
neighbours, and by erecting public Schools for that purpose ;
his Lordship also sent a circular letter to the clergy of his
Diocess, exhorting them to promote this work of piety and And by the
charity. This sermon was blessed with its desired effects ; for voluntary
the very next day a great number of the inhabitants of this city f.tt scrl,p".
1 - i • r i ¦ • • r i i-ii ll°DS °1 the
entered into a subscription for the institution of the charitable citizens.
purposes therein recommended, and they were greatly assisted r
by the resident and other clergy, the Dean and Chapter tere reaap"
granting towards its support the money arising from a dona- benefactors
tion of Sub-Chanter Sylke's, which wa sgiven for the purpose tothework.
of maintaining lights in the Cathedral, during the afternoon
service, from Allhallow-tide to Candlemas. The Chamber also Likewise
greatly promoted this pious work, not only as individuals, but 'he
by a large benefaction from their public stock ; and granted Chamber.
part of the Blue Maids' Hospital, in St. Mary Arches Lane,
for the use of one of the Girls' schools; thus, through the well
timed benevolence of people of all ranks and denominations,
four Schools were established in this city, two of which were
appointed for boys, and two for girls, each consisting of fifty
children. The Masters were allowed a salary of thirty pounds
per annum, each, with a convenient house of residence ; and
the Mistresses twenty-five pounds, with a house each : the boys
are instructed in reading, writing, and arithmetic, so as to

* The salaries, I am informed, have been since augmented.

196 THE HISTORY OF
Chap. IV. qualify them for the middling ranks of life ; and the girls are
~ taught to read, sew, and knit : they are all decently and com
fortably new clothed, annually, at Easter, from head to foot,
with the addition of new shoes and stockings every fifth day of
November. They are furnished with bibles, common prayer
and spelling books; and attend Divine service at the Cathedral
every Wednesday and Friday, and on Festival days, at six
o'clock in the morning, from Lady-day to Michaelmas ; and are
examined in their catechism every Sunday evening.
The benefits of this well intended institution have been
happily experienced by the succeeding generations ; many
worthy characters have received their education through this
charity, and by that means have risen to opulence and magis
tracy, who otherwise might have ended their days in poverty
and ignorance.
At the first institution of these schools the subscriptions and
Benefac- benefactions amounted to about £250 per annum ; but since
tions of the have been greatly increased by the care of the trustees, and by
Charity succeeding donations. The following benefactions having come
Schools. tQ ffly knowledge — I cannot forbear mentioning them, in order
to record the pious intention of the donors. In 1712, Mr.
William Eakins, of this city, Goldsmith, by his last will and
testament, gave £50 per annum, for ever, to the charity schools,
for the instructing boys therein educated in the mathematics,
especially navigation. In 1713, Mr. Nathaniel Rowland,
Merchant, gave £200 for the benefit of the poor children
educated in these schools. In 1721, Richard Sandford, Gent.
a native of Exeter, by his last will gave £300 to be laid out in
the purchase of an estate, the produce thereof to be appro
priated to the benefit of the said schools.*
A.D. The Right Honourable Lord Poulett, Baron, of Hinton
1709. St, George, being appointed Lord-Lieutenant of the county
of Devon, and city of Exeter, was admitted to the freedom of
the city.
1710. In this year Sir Coplestone Warwick Bampfylde and
John Snell, Esquire, were elected members of parliament for
this city.
1711. The war with France now raged to such an height, and
caused so great a loss of men, that recruits could not be procured
to fill up the vacaucies in the army, any otherwise than by the
A very hot unconstitutional mode of pressing ; and warrants for that
press. purpose were sent to this city, which were executed by the

* Many considerable benefactions to this charity have from time to time been
given, too numerous to be mentioned in this work.

THE CITY OF EXETER.

197

Constables with such rigour that they did not spare even the Chap.IV.
poor peasants, whose business brought them into the city, but ~~
forced them from their horses and sent them away immediately ;
this was attended with very bad consequences to the Citizens, as
a general scarcity ensued, from the countrymen being thus
deterred from bringing in the necessary supplies.
John Harris and Nicholas Wood, Esquires, were elected a. D.
representatives in parliament for this city. 1713.
The major part of the nation, tired of a long, bloody, and
expensive war, were clamorous for peace ; and the Queen accord
ingly entering into negotiations for that purpose, a peace was peace
concluded, and signed at Utrecht, on the 11th of April, 1713, proclaimed.
which was proclaimed in this city, with the usual solemnity, on
the 30th of April following.
The Queen did not long enjoy the blessings of peace ; she 17h"'f
was seized with a kind of lethargy, and expired (to the great Queen
grief of her subjects) on the 1st of August, 1714 ; and on the Anne.
same day,* George, Elector of Hanover was proclaimed King
of Great Britain, &c.
MAYORS and BAILIFFS in the reign of Queen Anne.

1702. ]70.>.
John Gandy. Thomas Barons.
Thomas Barons. Edward Collings.
William Battishill. Thomas Jeffery.
Thomas Coplestone. Benjamin Brown.
Charles Knolles. John Southcombe.

1703.
John Newcombe.
Edward Spicer.
Trist. Whitehair.
James Taylor.
William Staplehill.
1704.
Gilbert Wood.
Nicholas Yard.
John Elston.
John Stephens.
Charles Yeo.

1706.
Nicholas Wood.
Thomas Salter.
Hugh Palmer.
Benjamin Pearce.
Samuel Symons.
1707.
Edward Dally.
Jacob Rowe.
James Fortescue.
Robert Mudge.

1708.
Edward Spicer.
John Pyle.
Thomas Townsend.
Edward Edmonds.
Philip Bishop. 1709.
Edward Collings.
William Sandford.
John Peryam.
William Drake.
Robert Dawe. 1710.
Thomas Salter.
Nathaniel Dewdnev.
John Phillips.
Anthony Tripe.

George Langworthy. Jasper York

* The 1st of August being the day of accession of the present Royal Family
to the throne, was for many years commemorated in this city by the ringing of

the Cathedral bells.

E 3

198

THE HISTORY OF

Chap.JV. 1711.
==  ' Joshua Hickman.
Philip Pear.
Edmund Cock.
Henry Gird.
Clement Chessman,

1712.
Jacob Rowe.
William Gandy.
Hugh Shortrudge.
Charles Ford.
Bernard Sampson.

1713.
John Newcombe.
Nathaniel Bussell.
Arthur Culme.
William Stabback.
John Brutton.

A. D.
1714.

On the receipt of the news of the death of Queen Anne,
George Lewis, Elector of Hanover, was proclaimed in this city,
proclaimed. on the 4th of August, King of Great Britain, France, and
Ireland, in six several places, viz: at the Guildhall, in St.
Peter's Church-yard, the Serge Market, at the Great Con
duit, St. John's Bow, and before the New Inn, in the High-
Street, with great solemnity, by a Deputy-Herald at Arms,
mounted on a stately horse, and dressed in his tabard,
preceded by the Mayor, Aldermen, Common Councilmen, and
the other city officers, in their scarlet and other robes, accom
panied by the different incorporated trades, in their respective
livery gowns, with their banners displayed ; whilst an innumer
able concourse of spectators testified their joy by repeated
acclamations. The day was spent in great rejoicings, and at
night there were bonfires, and grand illuminations : the gentle
men of the Chamber and the principal Citizens, at the invitation
of the Mayor, met at the Guildhall, where they drank (in
repeated bumpers of wine) to the health of his Majesty, and the
rest of the Royal Family, and passed the evening in joyous
festivity. At his Majesty's coronation, which was performed October
Greatriois 20th, rejoicings were made throughout the kingdom, which
throughout were much disturbed by some factious persons, who committed
great outrages, particularly in London and Bristol, the rioters
breaking windows and pulling down several Dissenting Meeting
houses : symptoms of the like kind appeared in this city, but
the timely interference of the magistrates preserved peace and
tranquillity. A new parliament having been called the election throughout
the kingdom was much contested, the nation being divided into
two parties, which were termed High and Low Church, or
Country and Court. The contest was carried on amidst great
tumult and acrimony ; much blood was spilt from the broken
heads and noses of the contending mobs : the dispute however
was terminated in favour of the Blue, or Country party ; and
John Harris and Nicholas Wood, Esquires, were returned
duly elected.
About this time the Honourable Sir William Courtenay was
Lieutenant, appointed Lord-Lieutenant and Custos Rotulorum of the county

thekingdom.

1715.

Sir
William Courtenay appointedLord-

THE CITY OF EXETER. 199
of Devon, and city and county of Exeter. The Duke of Chap.IV.
Ormond, Lord High Steward of Exeter, being attainted by His Roval
parliament, and withdrawing himself from this kingdom, was Highness
deprived of his office; and his Royal Highness, George, Prince the Prince
of Wales, being pleased to honour the city with his acceptance of Wales
of it, a patent under the city's common seal was granted for Lord'Hlgh
that purpose, which was presented to his Royal Highness by steward of
Sir Peter King* a native of Exeter, Lord Chief Justice of the Exeter.
Common Pleas.
The friends of the exiled family now caused great commotions
throughout the kingdom, on which occasion the famous Riot Riot Act
Act was passed, which made it death for any tumultuous passed.
persons, to the number of twelve, to continue together for the
space of one hour after proclamation being made for their
dispersing. The Jacobites not being contented with sowing dissensions \ rebellion
throughout the realm, broke out into open rebellion in Scotland in the
and the North of England, where they proclaimed the Pretender north.

* This great and eminent lawyer was the son of Mr. King, a reputable
grocer, in the High-Street of this city ; who, designing his son for the same
profession, gave him but a slender education ; and, at an early age, when he
had attained but very little knowledge of the classics, took him from school, in
order that he might assist in the busiuess ; but young King paying little
attention to trade, and constantly employing himself in reading such books as
fell into his hands, made the old gentleman uneasy, and he often complained
to his acquaintance that his son Peter would never be fit for any thing ;
however, the young man, by a strong application to his studies, attained such
a degree of knowledge, that before he came to manhood he published several
learned treatises, which gained him the esteem of his friends, and they prevailed
on his father to send him to the University, where he studied Divinity; but
wisely judging that study an unlikely road to preferment, (he having been
bred a Dissenter from the established Church) he turned his thoughts to the
study of the Common Law, in which he made such proficiency that he was
soon called to the Bar, where he gained so much reputation that he was
appointed Queen's Sergeant at Law ; and from thence one of the Judges of the
Court of Common Pleas ; next Lord Chief Justice ; and afterwards Lord
Chancellor: his Lordship was also created, by patent, a Baron of this kingdom,
by the title of Lord King; and this honour is still enjoyed by his descendant,
the present Lord King. It has been reported by many aged people, who well
knew the parties, that Mr. King intending to visit his son after he was created
Lord Chancellor, being of a mercenary disposition, went on foot to London for
that purpose ; and on his arrival, being directed to his son's house, enquired
for Peter King : this so irritated tbe Porter (little judging, by the meanness of
his dress, the near affinity he bore to his Master) that he shut the gate against
him, and a scuffle ensued betwixt them. His Lordship hearing the noise and
coming to the window perceived his father, whom he instantly recollected, and
hastening to tbe door befell on his knees to ask his blessing; tbe sight of which
so frightened Ihe Porter that he fell on his knees and humbly begged for
pardon ; this bis Lordship, after severely reprimanding him for his insolence,
granted.

'200

THE HISTORY OF

Chap.IV.
An Associ
ation for
supporting KingGeorge
formed in
this city.

A.D.
1716.
Bampfylde& Drewe's
Election.
A great
frost.

1719.

A Camp on
ClistHeath. 1721.

1727.

King of Great Britain and Ireland; on which occasion the
friends to the Protestant succession entered into associations
for supporting his Majesty King George ; one for that purpose
was agreed to, and signed by several hundred of the principal
inhabitants and merchants of this city, by the name of the Con
stitutional Society : this greatly strengthened the Protestant
interest, and quelled the intended insurrection in the West; and
on the 9th November, the rebels being defeated at Preston, in
Lancashire, tranquillity was again restored.
The Right Honourable Lord Carteret was appointed Lord-
Lieutenant, &c. of the county of Devon, and city and county
of Exeter. Francis Drewe and John Bampfylde, Esquires,
were this year elected members of parliament for this city.
The close of the last year, and the beginning of this, were
remarkable for a very severe frost ; the Exe was frozen over for
near six weeks, a stop put to all business, and many post-boys
and others were frozen to death.
The nation was greatly alarmed at the vast preparations made
by the French, for the invasion of England ; and the govern
ment, in order to counteract their designs, fitted out a strong
fleet, and sent many regiments of horse, foot, and dragoons,
into the West of England, three regiments of which came to
Exeter, and encamped during the summer on Clist Heath.
A custom which had long been established, that of the Mayor
and Chamber providing a public dinner for the Judges and
Grand Jury, at the Assizes, proving very expensive, was this
year discontinued ; and in lieu thereof a present of wine is sent,
and handsome lodgings provided for them at the Mayoralty-
house during their stay in this city.
His Majesty paying a visit this year to his electoral dominions,
was seized with a lethargic disorder, which terminated in his
death, at Osnaburg, on the 11th of June, in the 68th year of
his age ; and he was succeeded by his only son, George, Prince
of Wales.

MA YORS and BAILIFFS in the reign of George I.

1714.
John Gandy.
Thomas Coplestone.
Humphrey Bawdcn.
William Davy.
John Parsons.

1715.
William Sanford.
John Phillips.
Richard Sanford.
John Wallis.
Philip Elston.

1716.
Nathaniel Dewdney.
Philip Bussell.
Thomas Collings.
Richard Jackson.
Edward Martyn.

THE CITY OF EXETER.

201

1717.
Philip Pear.
John Elston.
Sampson Hele.
Christopher Aunt.
James Rous. 1718.
John Burell.
Arthur Culme.
J. Newcombe, Jun.
John Kelly.
Thomas Somerton.
1719.
Thomas Coplestone.
Anthony Tripe.
Nathaniel Taylor.
Nicholas Wood.
Lewis Potburv.

1720.
William Gandy.
Humphrey Bowden.
William Bellew.
Robert Bussell.
Nicholas Lee.
1721.
John Phillips.
Emanuel Hole.
Thomas Bale.
Matthew Spry.
John Southard. 1722.
Thomas Salter.
Robert Lydston.
Robert Lawe.
Robert Taylor.
Robert Saunders.

1723.
Philip Bussell.*

1724.
Humphrey Bowden.

1725.
Anthony Tripe.

1726.
Emanuel Hole.

Chap.IV.

1733.

His Majesty King George II. was proclaimed in this city A. D.
on Friday, the 23d day of June, 1727. On the 7th of August 1727-
the Parliament was dissolved, and a new one summoned : at the
election in this city, parties ran to very great lengths ; but after
a smart contest Sir Coplestone Warwick Bampfylde, Bart, and
John Snell, Esq. were duly elected.
On the 14th March the famous, but impolitic, scheme of Sir
Robert Walpole, for a general Excise, was brought into the
House of Commons, which created a great tumult and discon
tent among the people. It was petitioned against by this and
many other cities, and the bill was dropped, which caused
great rejoicings.
In August, this year, war was declared against Spain.
This year commenced with a very severe frost, which has since
been termed the hard winter: the cold was so very intense that
the fowls and fishes were frozen to death ; the poor suffered
much, many of them perished through the severity of the season.
Many worthy and benevolent Gentlemen, duly reflecting on
the numerous accidents and disorders to which the mechanics _
and labouring poor are subject to, and the consequent distresses Exeter
they suffer, from not having the means of obtaining medical Hospital.
advice and assistance, in cases of the greatest need, were

1739.
1740.

1741.
Devon and

* The list of Bailiffs, from the year 1722 to 1753, being either lost, or
discontinued at the Town-Clerk's Office during that period, the author is
obliged to leave this chasm in tbe list, for which he humbly solicits public
indulgence.
F 3

202 THE HISTORY OF
Chap.IV. strongly influenced to provide a proper place of reception for
 " such unhappy objects : accordingly, through the indefatigable
Hospital, industry of the pious and benevolent Dr. Alured Clarke,
Dean of this Cathedral, a meeting was appointed at the Castle,
to which were invited all such who were willing to encourage
so useful and charitable an institution. The first meeting of
subscribers was held in the Chapter-house belonging to the
Cathedral, 23d July, 1741, when a Chairman and Treasurers
were elected, and many subscriptions and benefactions reported.
John Tuckfield, Esq. one of the worthy representatives for
this city, generously accommodated the Governors with a
convenient piece of ground, situate at the lower end of South
ernhay, and all the materials on it, for erecting the Hospital ;
for though it was thought necessary that those lands should be
formally purchased of Mr. Tuckfield, by the Governors, it was
really a donation, he very generously giving back the whole
price fixed on, as the consideration in the deed of conveyance,
and was therefore recorded, by a General Court of Governors,
as the most generous founder of this institution. On Thursday,
the 27th August, 1741, the foundation stone was laid in a very
solemn manner ; on which occasion a great number of gentlemen,
benefactors to this charity, assembled in the Chapter-house,
(where several meetings respecting this institution had been
held) from whence they went in procession to Southernhay,
where a party of soldiers were drawn up, who saluted them
with three volleys of small arms. The stone was then laid by
Dean Clarke, assisted by Humphrey Sydenham, Esq. member
for this city, and other gentlemen, who acted as proxies for
John Tuckfield, Esq. in presence of several thousand specta
tors. The ceremony being ended the Dean made an excellent
and solemn oration on the occasion, offering up his prayers to
the Almighty for success in the undertaking, recommending to
those who were in affluent circumstances the duty of assisting the
poor in time of sickness, and exhorting the poor to be
obedient to their superiors, and grateful to their benefactors.
The Cathedral and other bells were rung on the occasion, and
general gladness prevailed amongst every class of people. The
building was carried on with great alacrity ; and the Hospital
was opened, with thirty beds, for reception of patients, the 1st
of January, 1742-3. Thus, by the zealous endeavours of this
excellent Divine,* the Devon and Exeter Hospital justly owes
its foundation : an institution which will always reflect honour
on its promoters. Its benefits having been so great, that before

* He had before been instrumental in the foundation of an Hospital at
Winchester, in 1736.

THE CITY OF EXETER. t>03
Lady-day, 1805, upwards of 42,000 patients were restored Chap.IV.
to the blessings of health; and nearly 10,000 more received " 
considerable benefit. Hospital.
This Hospital, through the donations of many charitable
persons, and the care of the Governors, has received great
additions; and the beds for patients have at several times been
augmented. In 1748 they amounted to one hundred. It does
not come within the compass of this work to point out all the
particular times when additions and improvements were made in
the institution to the year 1790, when one hundred and eighty-
four beds were open for the reception of patients. In 1796,
owing to the reduced state of the finances, no less than forty-
three beds were obliged to be shut up; but in 1797 award
containing nine beds ; in 1799 another of ten beds ; and in
1802 a ward in which were six beds, were again re-opened,
which made the number for accommodation of patients to be
then one hundred and sixty-six. This establishment continued
until the present year, 1805, when it was found necessary to
examine into the state of the finances of this institution, and a
select Committee of Governors was appointed for that purpose:
in consequence whereof a report was made by them to a General
Court, held on the 13th of June, "that on examining into the
alarming state of the funds, they found the expenditure, on on
average, for the last seven years, had exceeded the income,
annually, £391 18s. Id. though the average number of in-pa
tients, during that period, had been only one hundred and
forty." In consequence of this report it was reluctantly but
unanimously resolved to reduce the patients' beds to one hun
dred and twenty. The report of the select Committee and the
resolution of the general Court being published, a considerable
number of nobility and gentry, and particularly those within
the county of Devon and this city, came forward with large
donations ; many volunteer companies devoted one day's pay ;
friendly societies, of labouring mechanics, for support of sick
members, &c. made their contributions. The Right Reverend
the Lord Bishop of Exeter (who gave a handsome benefaction
himself) sent a circular letter to all his clergy, within Devon
and Exeter, in which his Lordship requested them to preach in
each of their churches a sermon, as soon as possible, exhort
ing their hearers, by every motive they could urge, to support,
by their liberal and voluntary contributions, this excellent and
truly christian institution. An eminent dissenting minister, of
the city of Exeter* likewise sent a circular letter on the same
occasion to the different meeting-houses in the county ot
Devon. The contributions in consequence whereof were liberal

* Rev. James Manning.

204 THE HISTORY OF
Chap.IV. beyond expectation; and the Governors were, on the 10th of
===== September,* enabled to devote one hundred and forty beds to
Hospital, the reception of patients. Besides the in-patients, there are a
great number of out-patients, (sometimes there have been up
wards of two hundred) who are relieved with advice and
medicines gratis. Prayers are read in some ward by one of the
resident clergymen in Exeter, who, in weekly rotation give
their attendance. The Physicians and Surgeons, who give
their advice gratis, regularly visit the patients under their care;
and the Apothecary, who "resides in the house, attends every
sick person daily, and administers such medicines as are ordered
by the Physicians : in short nothing is wanting for the comfort
and relief of the objects under their care.
A. D. On the 4th of April, 1744, a war was declared in this city
1744. against France.
1745. An alarming rebellion broke out this year, in Scotland, which
threw the whole kingdom into great consternation : the young
Pretender having landed in that kingdom. Many associations
were formed for the support of his Majesty and the present
government, at (he hazard of their lives and fortunes : but the
retreat of the rebels into Scotland, and their total defeat, on
the 16th of April, 1746, by the Duke of Cumberland, at the
battle of Culloden, put a stop to the apprehensions of the
people, and restored domestic tranquillity.
His Majesty, in return for the loyalty of the Citizens of
Exeter, was graciously pleased to send them a letter of thanks,
couched in the warmest terms.
His Majesty, on the 18th of June, dissolved the parliament,
and a new one being summoned, Humphrey Sydenham and
John Tuckfield, Esquires, were duly elected for this city.
On April the 19th, 1748, preliminary articles of peace were
signed by the contending powers, and in July following the
definitive treaty was concluded, to the great joy of the whole
nation. Great celebrations were made here on the occasion ;
splendid fireworks were exhibited on the Friars, at the expence
of Mr. Claude Passavant, an eminent merchant, to the amount
of £500.
1752. A" act was this year passed for the more speedy execution of
murderers and delivering their bodies to the surgeons to be
anatomized. The first person executed on this act in Exeter
was Mr. Huish, a gentleman of some fortune, who had served
an apprenticeship in this city, with Mr. Arundel, a capital
serge maker; but turning out very wild, and undutiful to his
parents, (who lived at Cheriton Fitzpayne) he was accused of
poisoning his father, and beating his mother to death ; the
* A motion was this day made for establishing a fever ward, which was
seconded, but after some discussion it was withdrawn.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 205
first of these crimes he was acquitted of, on his trial, but found Chap.IV.
guilty of the second, for which he was executed at Heavitree 
Gallows, and his body sent to the Devon and Exeter Hospital,
where it was anatomized : his bones remained there in the
cupola for many years, (a striking example to all parricides)
until they mouldered into dust.
The King this year dissolved the parliament, and writs were A.D.
issued for electing a new one. The contest in this city ran 1754.
very high ; great opposition being made against Humphrey
Sydenham, Esq. one of the representatives in the last parlia
ment, on account of the decisive part he took in carrying in the
bill and voting for the naturalization of the Jews; consequently
he lost his election, and John Tuckfield and John Rolle
Walter, Esquires, were duly returned.
A great riot happening in St. Sidwell's, where some evil
disposed persons, on the 10th of June, (being the Pretender's
birth day) decorated the sign of the Poltimore Inn with white
roses, which being judged a mark of disaffection to the govern
ment, some soldiers belonging to the 4th regiment of foot (then
quartered in Exeter) pulled down the sign post, with the
obnoxious badges thereon ; immediately a great tumult ensued,
and many persons were severely hurt ; but the magistrates
interfering, many of the rioters were apprehended and commit
ted to South-gate, and after being convicted of the said offence
were punished by fines and imprisonment. About this time
also several of the inhabitants making themselves foolishly con
spicuous, by wearing white roses on the 10th of June, were
taken into custody ; and one Mark Farley, for printing a
seditious song, was imprisoned in South-gate, where he was
confined for many years.
On the 1st of November, 1755, a most dreadful earthquake 1755.
happened at Lisbon, which laid that city in ruins, and destroyed rbj.g;rea1'
upwards of 10,000 of its inhabitants ; the news of which very ^Lisbon.6
much alarmed the merchants of Exeter, who had great con
nexions and property there; but their loss, which was very
considerable, did not prevent them from expressing their
philanthropy, and entering into subscriptions for sending relief
to the distressed inhabitants ; accordingly two ships were sent
from this port, laden with provisions, household furniture, and
other necessaries, which arrived safe, to the great comfort of
the afflicted Portuguese.
On Friday, the 22d of May, 1756, war was declared again 1750.
in this city against France. . 1T57
The war having greatly increased the price of provisions, and provisio,lls
the poor being unable to purchase the necessaries of lite at the great]y
advanced prices subscriptions were opened in Exeter, and a advanced in
" ' price.
G 3

embodied at Exeter

206 THE HISTORY OF
Chap.IV. considerable sum of money collected for their relief; large
Th^or quantities of wheat, rice, and flour, were purchased, and sold at
relieved by the different churches to the poor of the respective parishes, at
collections, reduced prices, which greatly alleviated their distresses.
A. d. An act of parliament having lately been passed for forming a
1758. national Militia, it was this year put in force, and 1,600 men
Militia (the quota to be raised by the county of Devon and city of
Exeter) were formed into four battalions; the head quarters of
the eastern regiment was fixed at Exeter, where they accordingly
rendezvoused, and after being disciplined, marched, under the
command of their Lieutenant-Colonel, Sir Richard Warwick
Bampfylde, to Tavistock. The great benefit accruing to the
nation from the establishment of a Militia is evident, as it gives
an opportunity of sending considerable bodies of our regular
troops on foreign expeditions.
Anactof March 23d, 1758, a new act of parliament was passed for
parliament explaining and amending the act of the 9th and 10th of King
for the William III. for the better employment and maintenance of the
better c ... r J
government P°°r, of tms cltV- .
of the poor. This year writs were issued for summoning a new parliament,
1761. and a great contest ensued at the election for this city : the mem
bers in the late parliament, John Tuckfield and John Rolle
Walter, Esquires, were opposed by William Mackworth Praed,
Esq. and Sir Thomas Seivell, Knight; the two first were support
ed by the interest of both the Chamber and Church, and the High
Church or Country party ; the other by the Merchants in
general, the Dissenters, and by those who were termed the Low
Church : the contest ran very high, and the opposite parties
expressed the greatest acrimony against each other ; at the
beginning of the poll the mob in favour of Messrs. Praed and
Sewell got possession of all the avenues to the hustings, and
prevented the votes of the other party from polling ; the
managers for Messrs. Tuckfield and Walter, in order to coun-
verj'uigh!11 teract tnese unfair proceedings, very injudiciously sent into the
country for their labourers and dependants, who, to the number
of four hundred men, came the next morning into the citv,
armed with mop-staves, and took possession of the Guild
hall ; this so irritated some of the Merchants that they sent a
messenger to order up the crew of the Exeter Greenland ship,
then lying at Lympstone, and such other sailors as they could
collect; these, to the number of between fifty and sixty,
parading into the city, with flags flying and a drum beating
before them, were soon joined by a large mob of the Citizens, who
proceeded to the Guildhall, when a "desperate conflict ensued,

THE CITY OF EXETER.

207

the sailors falling on the poor ill-advised countrymen, beat them Chap. IV.
so desperately that they were soon driven from their station, Pesperate
and forced to fly for shelter in every direction ; many of them conflict
were dangerously wounded, and one of them (reported to be between
Mr. Tuckfield' s gardener) died of his wounds. These disorders tlle "r0""
putting a stop to the election, an agreement was made by the Jjobs"8
contending parties for proceeding in a more peaceable manner,
when the poll again commenced, and at its final close John
Tuckfield and John Rolle Walter, Esquires, having a very
decided majority, were returned duly elected.
His Majesty King George II. suddenly departed this life,
at his Palace of Kensington, on Saturday morning, the 25th
of October, 1760, deeply regretted by his subjects, by whom
he was greatly beloved ; and the next day his grandson,
George, Prince of Wales, (our present most gracious Sovereign)
was proclaimed in London King of Great Britain, France,
and Ireland.

MAYORS and BAILIFFS in the reign of George II.

1727.
John Elston.

1731.
Ethelred Davy.

1735.
Matthew Spry.

1728.
Robert Lidstonc.

1732.
Richard Vivian.

17^6.
Samuel Symonds.

1729. 1733. 1737.
William Stabback. Samuel Symonds. Arthur Culme.

1730. 1734. 1738.
Nathaniel Dewdney. John Newcombe. Thomas Heath.

208

THE HISTORY OF

Chap.IV. 1739. 1746.
Nicholas Blake. Matthew Spry.

1740.
Nicholas Lee.

1747.
John Manley.

1741. 1748.
William Newcombe. Lewis Portbury.

1753.
John Luckett.
Joseph Elliott.
Edward Walker.
Nicholas Jackson.
George Midgyett.
1754.
Nicholas Arthur.
Richard Densham.
John Flood.
John Cave.
Henry Flood. 1755.
Lewis Portbury.
Richard Jackson.
Benjamin Godfrey.
William Ley.
Thomas Brown.

1742.
Nicholas Medland.

1749.
Thomas Heath.

1756.
William Trosse.
Samuel Pearse.
Charles Pearse.
Thomas Flood.
John Williams.

1743.
Philip Elston.

1750.
William Trosse.

1757.
Joseph Elliott.
Samuel Dix.
Thomas Dodge.
Joseph Johnson.
John Churchill.

1744.
John Hawker.

1751.
Nicholas Lee.

1758.
Richard Densham.
Edward Walker.
Christopher Burnett.
James Grant, Jun.
John White.

1745.
Francis Brayne.

1752. 1759.
Robert Dodge, Ob. Richard Jackson.
Nicholas Lee. Gregory Jackson.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 209
John Gattey. 1760. Edward Manly. Chap.IV.
Isaac Sercombe. Samuel Pierce. Matthew Skinner. " 
John Hay ward. Jacob Rowe. Moses Hern.
King George III. ('whom God long preserve to be a blessing Georgellf.
to his subjects) was proclaimed in this city on the 29th day of 17'0 }'
October, with great solemnity and rejoicings.
The war, which had been glorious and successful on the part 1763.
of the British nation, whose arms were victorious in every ea<Je. ,
r n i i_ -.ii J proclaimed.
quarter ot the globe, was now terminated, and peace was pro
claimed ; though not upon such terms as were satisfactory to
the generality of the people.
Twelve new alms-houses, for poor decayed freemen, were built Twelvenew
and endowed by the Chamber, on the city walls, near North-gate: a,ms~
these are comfortable habitations, consisting of an under and , °?,*e^ ,,
¦ i j • l-i-i Dul't °y "Ia
upper room each, with convenient places behind, supplied with chamber.
water from the river ; and the endowment consists of Two
Shillings and Sixpence weekly to each poor resident.
Soon after the settlement of the peace an act of parliament Tax on
was passed for laying a heavy tax upon cider, which subjected '
both the grower and dealer in that necessary article to the
unconstitutional and disagreeable visitation of the Excise
Officers. This tax caused a great murmuring in the cider coun- Occasions
ties, and was likely to be attended with disagreeable consequences, Sreat d'f-
most people expressing their dissatisfaction in very plain terms, this 0Jt '"
particularly in this city : on the Thanksgiving-day for the peace,
when the Mayor went to the Cathedral, according to custom,
not a single member of the Chamber attended him ; and during
the time of Divine service an apple tree and empty hogshead,
decorated with black streamers, and labels, inscribed with
Excise the first Fruits of Peace, were paraded through the
streets in a cart : and in the evening those who illuminated
their houses had the same legend in transparent paintings.
This tax, which at first was estimated would produce £70,000
per annum, the first year scarcely realized half that sum ; but
in the next, which was more productive of fruit, about £50,000
was raised by it. Many farmers grubbed up their orchards,
and it was feared the landed interest would be greatly hurt ;
strenuous endeavours were made to get the act repealed ; and
several well written tracts were published, strongly representing
the consequences that would ensue if it were not repealed, and
forcibly reprobating it ; one of which, written by Benjamin
Heath, Esq. Town-Clerk of this city, described its fatal effects
in the most poignant language. Many petitions were sent to the

H 3

2|0 THE HISTORY OF
Chap: IV. House of Commons, and instructions to the members for those
places most immediately concerned, praying relief; and on the
A etition alst January* 1765> at a nieeting lield at the Guildhall for
from Exe"- that purpose, a petition was agreed to, and signed by the Mayor,
ter praying the gentlemen of the Chamber, and most of the principal in-
for a repeal habitants. The Right Rev. and Hon. Dr. Frederick Keppel,
of tfie cider w[jo ,ia(1 for some time been app0inted Bishop of Exeter,
""a.D. coming down about this period, and it having been reported
1765. that he had voted for the cider tax, was not received with the
The Bishop usuai eciat ; the mob hissed and insulted him, and one fellow
insulted. ^ tne assurance to throw an apple at his head.
A great fire A terrible fire broke out on Friday, the 6th of February,
ernhay0 " between the hours of eleven and twelve at night, at the work-
style, shop of Messrs. Harold and Cank, Coachmakers, near North-
ernhay-style, which in a short time entirely consumed the shop
and dwelling-house, with all their stock in trade, books of
accounts, several new carriages, and most of the workmen's
tools.
1766. The latter end of this year died John Tuckfield, Esq. one of
W. Spicer, tue representatives of this city in parliament. He was truly
WLV. ia regretted by his constituents, from his upright conduct as a
roomof Mr. senator, his unbounded charity, and zealous attachment to the
Tuckfield. interest of his country. William Spicer, Esq. was elected,
without any opposition, in his place.
Cider tax The ministry finding the cider tax not so productive as was at
repealed. fjrst imagined, listened to the great number of petitions which
had been presented for its repeal : the request was acceded to
in this session of parliament, and there were great rejoicings in
Exeter on the occasion.
Coins, &c. In digging for the foundation of the present house and work-
foundinSt. sn0pS 0f jyjr Harold, Coachmaker, opposite Paris-street, in
1768 a deep pit, surrounded with bricks, and covered over with
stones and loose earth, the workmen found some old plate,
many gold, and several hundred silver coins, supposed to have
been concealed there in the grand Rebellion, as they consisted
mostly of James and Charles I. coins, none being of a later
date. The houses which formerly stood on this ground were
burnt in those troubles, and not again rebuilt. The gentlemen
of the Chamber demanded the whole as treasuretrove, and re
covered a great part.
Improve- The spirit of improvement began now to manifest itself in
^Exeter!" tnis "ty' and il may Justl>' date its beginning from the public
spirit of William Mackworth Praed, Esq. who coming into
possession of an estate in the High-street, (formerly the Green
Dragon Inn, Sfc.) opposite St. Lawrence's Church, and finding

ri

Q
51

THE CITY OF EXETER. 211
it in a ruinous condition, rebuilt the houses in a more modern Chap.IV.
style : and the want of a commodious room for holding public ~
halls, assemblies, concerts, &c. being much complained of, the
same gentleman built the Hotel, in St. Peter's Church-yard, in
which he erected a large and elegant room for those purposes.
Before this period the assemblies, &c. were held at the Vine
Tavern, in a very inconvenient and irregular room, (now Mr.
Dyer's library) and the concerts in the hall belonging to the
College of Vicars Choral.
The tower of St. Mary Major* being in a ruinous state, and Tower of
the upper part declining from the perpendicular, near two feet ?J- .Mar^
over its base, it was thought necessary (to prevent the accidents pa^u taken
that might accrue from its fall) to take down the upper part of down.
it, which was done to near forty feet, and the present cupola
erected in its place ; and towards defraying the expences thereof
the parishioners sold five of their bells.
The great increase of wheel carriages made it necessary to A. D.
improve the avenues into this city, and particularly that from 1769-
the north ; that ancient bulwark the North-gatei (which had ^e^down
often prevented the entrance of besieging enemies, withstood
many a storm, and was no doubt erected in the Saxo?i era) was
taken down, together with several houses outside it; and in
order to ease the declivity of the hill, the deep ravine without
was filled up, a lofty wall erected, the present road made,
and a row of brick houses built on the left hand of the entrance
into the city.
The Duke of Bedford, who had made himself obnoxious to Duke of
the people; by consenting, as reported, to a secret article in the Bedford
late treaty of peace, by which the French were allowed to !_ls,ts
import their silk and other manufactures into this kingdom, on xe er-
the 19th of July, 1769, paid a visit to this city, (the first after
his appointment to the Lord-Lieutenancy of the county of
Devon, and city of Exeter) and was very ill treated by the Insulted
populace: on coming out of the Guildhall (where he went to by t,J.e
O ^ _ I) 0 D U 1 3 C C
receive the freedom of the city) the mob insulted him with

* The reader will see a particular account of this ancient building in the
descriptive part.
t This gate, from its singular construction, bore evident marks of great anti
quity ; it had no flanking bulwarks, but projected from the wall, with two
small curtains, in which were stairs that led to two guard-rooms ; they had
orillons for the defenders to discharge their missile weapons on any attack of
the enemy ; on the top of the gate was a square platform, with a lofty battlement-
ed curtain. There were no remains of armorial bearings or sculptures, which
is another proof of antiquity ; on the top was also a vane, which now sur
mounts the Wharfinger's Office, at the Quay. The interior was occupied as a
public-house, which (from the darkness of its rooms) was ironically termed hell.

212 THE HISTORY OF
Chap.IV. hisses, so much that the Mayor with his officers were obliged
^==== to protect and conduct him to Bampfylde-house ; from thence
he went to the Castle, where he received fresh insults; he then
proceeded in his coach to the Cathedral ; the Bishop, Clergy,
and Choir waited to receive and pay him the customary honours,
but as soon as he alighted there was great confusion, the mob
rushed upon him, dispersed his attendants, and it was with
extreme difficulty he got into the Choir unhurt. They likewise
insulted the Bishop ; and the Rev. Mr. Chanter Snow, being
infirm, was thrown down, and miraculously escaped with his
life. His grace, to escape the fury of the populace, went by
a back way into the Bishop's Palace, where he remained until
the evening, when the mob had dispersed.
A-D- His Majesty this year was graciously pleased to renew and
The cit°''s connrm tne privileges of this city. By his charter, granted to
charter re- the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty of this city of Exeter,
newed, and in the tenth year of his reign, dated 25th of April, 1770, the
more Justi- Mayor, Recorder, and seven senior Aldermen, were made Jus-
toeSthedded tices of the Quorum-
quorum. The passage from the High-Street to the Castle being very
New road narrow and dangerous for wheel carriages, the ancient avenue
to the was again opened ; several houses were taken down to enlarge
F a- t' '*"' a t'lus a v'evv °'" ^le venerable Saxon entrance to the
of the *n- Castle, which before was obscured, opened to the High-street :
cient draw- the old gate was taken down and a new one built, over which
bridge, and was placed a sham portcullis. In levelling the road the foun-
several Nation of the ancient draw-bridge which crossed the fosse was
Roman .. . . ,. ° , ., . , .
coins discovered ; and the present gateway was built with the stones
discovered, of it : several brass Roman coins were found, particularly
one of Nero, two of Constantinus, and one of Alectus, in good
preservation.
Great con- i>he great Conduit at Carfoix, venerable for its antiquity,
down. which had been standing near three hundred years, and had
often poured wine to the rejoicing Citizens, now fell a victim
to modern improvers. Its situation, in the centre of the High-
street, not only intercepted the view, but frequently caused a
stoppage of carriages, to the great inconvenience of the neigh
bouring inhabitants, and danger of passengers; for this reason,
sentence being passed upon it, it was taken down, and a new
building erected, to which the cistern was removed.*

* This was originally a very beautiful edifice. It was decorated with
pinnacles at the four corners, on which were (anciently) vanes , but they have
long since fallen victims to time and weather ; there were also niches in

EXETEFL.

5s

THE CITY OF EXETER. 213
The intricate and inconvenient entrance into the city over the Chap. IV.
Old Bridge (by which all carriages and travellers were obliged ~\/\).
to enter at West-gate, and to avoid the steep ascent of Fore- 1770.
street-hill proceed commonly by the way of Rock-lane) made
an alteration absolutely necessary : accordingly a plan was
drawn for building a New Bridge, in a line from the bottom of
Fore-street, across part of Exe-Island, a little above the old
one ; the expences to be paid by an additional toll at the
turnpikes. An act of parliament having been passed for this
purpose, the first stone was laid October 4th, 1770, in the First stone
presence of many thousand spectators, by the Right Worshipful of the New
John Floud, Esq. then Mayor of the city of Exeter, under the Brl(,ge Iaid
direction of a Mr. Dixon, an Architect, from London, and the
building proceeded with great rapidity, when an unlucky acci
dent put a stop to it : the arch on St. Thomas's side was
completely finished, and the greater part of the centre arch
turned, when suddenly, a flood happening, the whole fell down,
owing to the negligence of the Architect, in not having a
proper foundation for the piers, and not striking the centres,
which penning back the water caused a great pressure on the The New
piers; and the Old Bridge must have shared the same fate if Bridge falls
timely precautions had not been taken in clearing the arches
from the wreck of the centres, which beat against them with
great violence, and made the whole fabric shake. This disaster
not only greatly increased the expence, but put a stop to the
building, as it required much time to recover the stones which
had fallen into deep water. Mr. Dixon being discharged from
the work, Mr. John Goodwin, who had been an assistant to
the former, undertook to complete the work. Well acquainted The build-
with the errors of his predecessor, he proceeded in a very '"s aSain
different manner : he turned the course of the river by erecting comn>enced
a strong dam and cutting a canal at the foot of the Old Bridge ;
and to prevent the water from penning back, he caused another
bay to be built below the first; and then, by the assistance of
chain and other pumps, he effectually cleared the bed of the
river, and laid a firm foundation on the solid rock.* In the course

the east and west fronts, in which were mutilated statues. On the top of the
architrave, at the coiners, were two lions and two unicorns. (These must have
been placed long after tbe erection of the edifice, as it was well known that the
unicorn was substituted in the room of a dragon, as a supporter to the British
arms, by King Jitmes I.) It was likewise adorned with cherubims and
armorial bearings, which were so much injured by time that only those of the
Courtenay family could be distinguished.
* The arches gave way 16th January, 1775 ; and the first stone of the new
foundation was laid, by the Rev. Mr. Chancellor Nntcombe, 15th July, l(7b.
i 3

214

THE HISTORY OF

Chap.IV.
The New
Bridgefinished.

The Old
Bridge
takendown.

A.D. 1772.
TwelveAlmshouses built on
Northern-

1773.
Bedford
Circusbuilt.

of a few years the building was completed, to the great credit
of the Architect, who had many difficulties to encounter. In
some places it was necessary to elevate the ground near forty
feet, in order to form a level ; and arches were turned over the
mill leats and avenues into the Island and Bonhay. At the
bottom of Fore-street, directly in the way of the intended
opening, stood the tower and remains of the parish church of
St. Allhallows on the Walls,* which was taken down : in short,
though this undertaking was attended with the expence of near
£30,000, the great improvements made by it counterbalances
the expenditure, as the entrance from the west (which was
before infamous and dangerous) now gives a view of the city
and neighbouring country which can scarcely be parallelled at
the entrance of any city or town in this kingdom. As soon as
the new bridge was completed the greater part of the old onef
was taken down, as far as the houses at the eastern end, and a
road made from the new bridge to that part of the old left -
standing, a great conveniency to such people as have occasion
to go to the southern parts of the city.
Some estates which had long been withheld from the Cham
ber falling into their hands, they, according to the will of the
donor, erected twelve alms-houses, neat and convenient, which
at first they endowed with two shillings, but since with four
shillings, per week. They stand in a pleasant and healthy
situation, at the lower end of Northernhay, and enjoy every
conveniency, water being conveyed to them by leaden pipes
from the river. On a marble stone in front is this inscription,
"For poor and impotent woollen manufacturers, by the charity
of Lawrence Atwell, erected 1772."
The ancient residence in this city of the Earls and Dukes of
Bedford, commonly called Bedford-house, formerly a Priory of
Benedictine Monks, and granted at the Reformation to John

* This church was demolished in the siege of this city, by the Parliament
army, during the grand Rebellion ; and on removing the foundation at this time
the remains of many human bodies, and fragments of iuscribed tomb-stones, were
dug up.

t The Old Bridge, which consisted of thirteen pointed and irregular arches,
(not two of which were alike) was similar to most ancient bridges, very narrow,
and had recesses on the piers ; houses were at each end, (of which those at the
east are remaining) and an open space was in the centre, where was a door
way and a flight of steps that led to a long vaulted room, commonly called the
Pixey or Fairy House. There was a wattled weir below tbe bridge to prevent
the fall of water from injuring the foundation, which was of square stone, laid
on an innumerable quantity of oak piles driven thick into the ground. Some of
these on being drawn up were very hard and black as jet.

,=1K!

I s

THE CITY OF EXETER. 215
Lord Russel, which had been for many years let to different Chap.IV.
tenants, was now taken down, and the site and gardens let  '
on a building lease to Mr. Robert Stribling, of Exeter,
Builder, who erected thereon the present regular and elegant
line of buildings called Bedford Circus, the first stone of which
was laid May 27th, 1773.
In digging for the foundation a great number of human bones Several
were dug up, with the foundation of a church, broken mould- antiquities,
ings, fragments of sepulchral monuments, and other ruins of lead coffins,
a sacred edifice and its adornments ; and in the garden were *nd ^ufma "
discovered, some feet deep, several lead coffins, containing
human skeletons ; also a thick leaden box or chest, contain
ing the remains of three or four human sculls and other
....
bones. This discovery occasioned various conjectures, as
there was not length enough for receiving a body. All these
were emptied of their contents, for the small value of the lead,
and the bones thrown among the rubbish, to the disgrace of
humanity : a lasting odium must ever shade the name of a
mercenary unfeeling man!
On the 7th day of November, 1773, died the learned and Death
facetious Mr. Andrew Brice, Printer, and native of this city, AfJ^
author of the laborious and now highly esteemed work, " Brice s Bri™™o(
Topographical Dictionary," and several others. The satirical Exeter,
vein of humour in his " Mobiad, or Battle of the Voice," Printer.
(which strongly exposed and reformed many ridiculous customs
of his fellow Citizens) will for ever entitle his memory to
esteem and gratitude. His remains were interred in St. Bar
tholomew's burying ground, November 14th, attended to the
grave by many lodges of his brother masons, and a great
concourse of spectators.
The old Courts in the Castle being very inconvenient, and A.D.
greatly beneath the dignity of the large and opulent county of Ne^704-
Devon, were taken down, and the present structure began ; the CourtsbuiIt
first stone of which was laid by the Right Honourable Lord ;„ the
Viscount Courtenay, March 25th, 1774. - Castle.
For holding the Assizes, County Courts, &c. during the time
of building new ones, two temporary Courts were erected.
They were afterwards taken down, as also the chapel and
Castellian's house, when a new house and guard-house were
built; the area of the Castle was levelled and gravelled and
the banks planted with young elms. In the course ot these ^.^ &c
alterations many Roman and other coins were found ; and numan (ound
bones dug from under the foundation of the chapel and
several other parts of the Castle. Those venerable remains ol The SaI)j.
ancient fortifications, the Donjon, Sallyport, with its cove^ port, &c
ancieni loriuiLaiiu , • s gateway walled destroyed.
way and Square loire) , (in vuucn was a i"> .» &

2IG

THE HISTORY OF

Chap.IV. up) were at this time taken down, greatly regretted by the
A D antiquarians.
1774. On the 25th day of October, 1774, about ten o'clock in
Slight the evenino-, a slight shock of an earthquake was felt, in this
shock of an cjty Its direction seemed from south to north; the tremulation
fea|"in'Uake of 'the earth lasted about two seconds, and greatly alarmed
Exeter. several families, particularly that of Colonel Newton, in
James s-street, where several doors were thrown open, and the
house bells rang by the shock ; it was also very much felt at the
1775. houses of John Short, Esq. and Mr. Gibbs, Surgeon, near
American. palace-gate.
war# In this year the unhappy disputes between Great Britain
and her American Colonies broke out into open hostilities ; an
event which involved this kingdom in a long, ruinous, and
Mr. expensive war, that was most severely felt by the inhabitants
Baring's of Exeter,
election A long contested and disputed election for a representative
for this city in parliament, between John Baring and John
Burridge Cholwich, Esquires, was determined, on the 3d of
Dreadful November, 1776, by a large majority in favour of Mr. Baring,
fire on the wj,0 was accordingly returned duly elected.
OldBndge. About this time a dreadful fire happened at a house on
the Old Bridge, used as a lodging-house for poor travellers.
The fire breaking out in the lower part of the dwelling, and
the doors being locked, the unfortunate lodgers had no way
of escape ; how many fell victims to the flames was not
known for a certainty, but nine bodies, shockingly scorched
1779. and burnt, were found in the ruins and carried into St.
Edmund's church.
The French nation assisting the American colonies in their
revolt, occasioned an open rupture between the two nations ;
and the Spaniards and1 Dutch also joining in the confederacy
they made great preparations for an invasion of this kingdom.
The combi- Accordingly the combined fleets of France and Spain entered
ned fleets of tne British Channel and appeared off Plymouth, whilst the
France and _ . . . „ , . 1 • j j ¦
Spain British fleet, by a strong easterly wind, were driven many
appear oft' leagues to the westward of the Scilly Isles, and unable to work up
Plymouth, the channel. The unusual appearance of an hostile fleet upon
the British coast caused a great consternation ; but the people
soon recovering from their fright, and their ancient daring
spirit reviving, every preparation was formed to give the enemy
a warm reception, should they have the temerity to attempt' a
a descent ; particularly at Plymouth, supposed to be their
principal object, in order to destroy the Dock Yards and Naval

THE CITY OF EXETER. 217
Arsenals. All the troops that could be collected were marched Chap.IV
to that important fortress, and the French, Spanish, and fjoo 

American prisoners, upwards of 1,300 in number, were ordered French
to be removed to Exeter, to which city they were conducted and other
under a guard of volunteers, collected together by William Priso.ners
Bastard, Esq. of Kit ley, who commanded them in their march. E^te"'."
On this account the greatest exertions of the Citizens were re
quisite, no military force, except one company of the Hereford
Militia, (left behind sick and unfit for duty, when the other
members of the regiment marched for Plymouth) being in
Exeter at the time ; therefore, at a meeting called at the Guild
hall, it was resolved that such as would voluntarily come forth
to do military duty, should appear in the afternoon on South
ernhay, and there enroll themselves, ballot for their respective
companies, and choose their officers; and so great was the
spirit and loyalty of the Citizens at this alarming crisis, that
upwards of eight hundred enrolled, were provided with arms,
and formed into a regiment, under the command of John
Baring, Esq. one of the representatives in parliament for
Exeter. There being no fit place for the reception of such a
number of prisoners, the county Justices generously gave up
their Bridewell, in St. Thomas's parish, which was fitted up
for the purpose.
On the arrival of the prisoners at Alphington Cross, they Citizens of
were met by two companies of the Exeter Volunteers, who were .Exet^f
on that day appointed to do duty over them, and conducted to se|ves ;„,„
their respective places of confinement, the county Bridewell, a regiment
and some houses on Alphington causeway. These volunteers a"d do duty
having thus taken the charge of the prisoners, continued on ov.er tlle
duty during their stay (which was for some time) with such
care that not one escaped ; and for this, on the removal of the
captives, his Majesty was pleased to signify his approbation
by sending them his letter of thanks, which was read at the
head of each company.
When the 'regiment was disbanded some geutlemen of the
city, willing to continue their services, obtained his Majesty's
licence for forming themselves into a company of foot; and
being armed and cloathed, at their own expence, they met for
exercising themselves in military discipline at stated times
during the war.
The parliament being dissolved Sir Charles Warwick Bamp- a. d.
fylde, Bart, and John Baring, Esq. were re-elected representa- 1780.
tives for this city.
The American war was now terminated, and a general peace 1783.
ensued, to the great joy of all ranks of people. 1784
In order to improve the entrance into the city it was deemed East-gate
takendown.
K 3

218 THE HISTORY OF
Chap.IV. expedient to take down East-gate, by which a beautiful vista
was opened from St. Sidwell's into the High-Street, a very
great and necessary improvement.*
A. P. The King again dissolving the parliament there was a smart
1784. contest at the election for this city : the candidates were Sir
Cl°ctioned Charle* Warwick Bampfylde, John Baring, and James
e ec ion. Buller, Esquires; the poll lasted near four days: the two first
gentlemen were returned duly elected.
1789. His Majesty making a tour through the western counties
His Ma- intimated his design of visiting Exeter. Every necessary pre-
jesty visits parati0n was made, becoming the dignity of the city, for his
' xeter- reception; upwards of three hundred of the principal inhabi
tants were sworn as additional constables, and the streets, from
the end of Paris-street to Broad-gate, railed in and gravelled
over. The Chamber, at a great expence, decorated the Guild
hall with variegated lamps and festoons of artificial flowers ;
and a grand chair of state, with a footstool, covered with
crimson velvet, edged with gold, was erected, in expectation of
their Majesties honouring it with their presence. No expence
was spared by the Chamber to receive and welcome their be
loved Monarch and his family.
On the 13th day of August, 1789, about four o'clock in the
afternoon, their Majesties, with three of the Princesses, and
suite, arrived at the bottom of Paris-street, where they were
received by a party of constables, who conducted them into the
city, amidst an amazing number of spectators. At St. John's
Hospital they were received by the Mayor, Jonathan Burnett,
Esq. attended by the gentlemen of the Chamber, and the
different corporations, in their scarlet and other gowns. On
his Majesty's coach stopping, the Recorder, Stephen Hawtrey,
Esq. addressed him, in the name of the Mayor and Chamber,

* This gate, which was much ruined by Perkin Warbeck, during the siege of
Exeter, and soon after rebuilt in a very strong manner, consisted of a curtain
flanked by two bulwarks. The exterior arch was very strong and lofty, over
which rested a statue of King Henry VII. in a Roman toga, holding a globe and
sceptre : the arms of the same King (viz. France and England, quarterly)
appeared above it, the compartment decorated with roses and portcullises, to
signify his descent from the house of Beaufort, whose cognizance it was ; and
the latter still is borne as a crest by the Dukes of Beaufort. This statue and
the arms are preserved ; they are placed in front of a house erected on the site,
and built with part of the materials of the old gate. Near the-bottoiu of the
flanking towers were port holes for the great port cannons, and look-outs on
each story. In the centre of the gateway was a strong semicircular arch,
apparently very ancient; (according to the opinion of the learned Dr. Stuckley,
this arch was of Roman construction) the interior front was adorned with a
clock and dial, which were afterwards placed in front of St. John's Hospital.
The gate was occupied as a public-house, known by the sign of the Salutation.

M

THE CITY OF EXETER. 219
in a loyal and eloquent speech, expressing sincere and zealous Chap. IV.
attachment to his Majesty's royal person and government, and —
their grateful thanks for his condescending to visit their city.
The Mayor then presented the sword of state, which his
Majesty was pleased to return, saying it could not be entrusted
into better hands. Their Majesties then proceeded (through
multitudes of joyful spectators, assembled from all parts of the
surrounding country) to the Deanry, prepared for their resi
dence during their stay. In St. Peter's Church-yard a regiment
of dragoons (quartered! at the time in the city) were drawn up,
and they saluted their Majesties as they passed by, and then
mounted guard at the Deanry.
In the evening there were bonfires, fireworks, and illumina
tions, with many emblematic transparencies. The next day
their Majesties attended Divine service at the Cathedral ; but
the concourse of people being very great, they were prevented
at that time inspecting the curiosities of that ancient edifice.
After the service they repaired to the Bishop's Palace, where the
King held a levee, at which the Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen,
&c. were presented. The customary honour of knighthood was
offered to the Mayor, but he declined it. In the afternoon
their Majesties, Princesses, &c. went in private to the Cathedral,
where they minutely observed every thing worthy of notice, and
seemed highly gratified in observing the beauty of the building,
the organ, Bishop's throne, painted windows, and other orna
ments of that sacred pile. A general illumination was displayed
again in the evening, throughout the whole city and its
environs. His Majesty did not honour the Chamber with a
visit to the Guildhall, it being contrary to usual etiquette, and
to prevent giving umbrage to the other cities and towns he
had passed through. After a stay of two nights the Royal
Family and suite proceeded on the road to Lord Borringdon's
house, at Saltram, near Plymouth, where they resided near a
fortnight ; and on return slept one night at the Deanry, and
the next morning continued their travel to Weymouth.
A supposition arising that a dissolution of parliament would A- D-
speedily take place, James Buller, Esq. of Downes, was in- _ ¦
¦ 11 1 c i r .1 • •. . c i Contested
vited by a great number ot electors ot this city to come torward Election
as a candidate, to oppose the sitting members, which he between
accepted, and his declaration appeared as early as November, John
in the preceding year; the pernicious practice of Quilling* jaan"enss and
Buller,Esquires,
and Sir
C. W.
, », . s i v Bampfylde.
* Quilling, (in some places justly termed Ranting) a term almost peculiar
to Exeter, signifies treating the electors with victuals and drink ; or more
properly subverting the morals of the lower class, to the ruin of many oftbem.

220 THE HISTORY OF
Chap.IV. then commenced, and was continued, with very few intervals,
until the month of June following, attended with an enormous
expence to the candidates, and more injury than benefit to the
electors. At the close of the poll (which continued for four
days) John Baring and James Buller, Esquires, were returned
duly elected.
A. d. The friends of Sir C. W. Bampfylde, not satisfied with the
1790. return, petitioned parliament, complaining of an undue return ;
and a Committee of the House of Commons being appointed to
try the merits of the said petition, it was decided in favor of
John Baring, Esq. who was declared duly elected.
The bad state and inconveniency of the criminal prison,4 for
the county of Devon, being justly complained of, an act of
parliament was passed for building a new one. A healthy spot
of ground, on an elevated situation, near Danes' Castle, being
purchased, it was began this year, and completed in about four
years. The principal part consists of brick, made and burnt
on the same spot, with moor-stone copings; the lodge in front,
which is of moor-stone, is furnished with baths.
The chapel is very neat, and the Gaoler's house commo
dious, and every necessary accommodation for the health, as
well as security, of the prisoners is provided. On the roof
of the lodge, which is flat, and covered with lead, a temporary
platform and gallows is erected for the execution of malefactors. f
Melancholy At the commencement of this building, a malancholy acci-
accident. dent happened to one of the labourers employed in sinking the

* The custody of the goal was granted hy William the Conqueror to William
Porto, one of his servants, together with the Manor of Bicton. Henry I.
conferred the said Manor to one John, surnamed from his office Janitor, who
by the tenure of these lands, was to keep the common Prison within the countv
of Devon. Galfrid de Bolster held the Manor by the same service, in the reign
of Edward ]I. from which family, through Sackville, it descended to Henry
Coplestone, Esq. whose grandson sold it to Sir Thomas Dennis; and by Anne
one of his daughters and co-heiresses, who was married to Sir Henry Rolle, the
said Manor and office came into the family of the Rolles; and the same is now
enjoyed by the Honourable John Lord Rolle; who, upon paying a certain sum
according to the act, was released from having any further connexion with the
said goal ; and the government thereof was conferred on the Justices of the
county of Devon.
t Before the erection of the New Goal, the place of execution was about two
miles from the city, called Heavitree-Gallmvs , (though being in Sowton parish)
adjoining to which is a small inclosed spot of land for the interment of those
unfortunates who suffered. It was environed by a stone wall, at the expence
of Mrs. Joan Tuckfield, of this city, who left an estate to the Corporation of
Taylors, of Exeter, in trust, for keeping the said wall in repair.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 221
well ; after getting to the depth of near thirty feet, the sides, Chap.IV.
not being properly secured, gave way, and he was crushed to
death: some time elapsed before he could be dug out, when a
shocking spectacle presented itself to the spectators.
A plan having been adopted by the legislature for erecting A.D.
Barracks in the different parts of this kingdom, two large fields 1792.
were purchased for that purpose near the new Gaol, in the gW ,
parish of St. David; and the building was soon after began, for Horse
and in a few years completed. It is an elegant quadrangle, began to be
situated on an eminence, commanding an extensive and beautiful b"il'-
view of the surrounding country : at the upper end are apart
ments for the officers, and in the two wings are stabling for two
hundred and two horses, over which are lodging-rooms for the
privates. There is also a riding-school, hospital, farrier's
shop, suttling- house, guard-house, powder magazine, granaries,
and every other conveniency that could be adopted for the ease
and comfort of the stationed troops.
About this period the emissaries of France (having entirely 1793.
altered their system of government) endeavoured to excite com
motions in this kingdom: the well-affected and loyal Citizens of
Exeter entered into associations for supporting the constitution
and government. In order to counteract their pernicious de
signs large bounties were given by the Chamber, and subscrip
tions opened at different places, (the Country-house in particular)
for the purpose of enlisting men for his Majesty's service, in
both army and navy.
Not satisfied with assisting merely by their purses, many 1794.
offered their services in person, and being accepted, a company The first
of volunteers was immediately raised,* consisting of sixty Company of
gentlemen, under the command of Captain Mackenzie, an old volunteers
established officer. They were supplied with arms from the raised.
King's Arsenals, but their complete military clothing was at
their own expence.
The victories gained by the French on the Continent, together Devon and
with the apprehension of troubles from the discontented at home, Cornish
called for strong exertions to provide for the interior security of Feno,l>le
the nation ; commissions were therefore granted for raising a raffe™j„
number of fencible regiments, both horse and foot. Two gen- Exeter.
tiemen of this city, viz : Colonel Robert Hall and Colonel
Thomas Stribling received commissions for levying two regi
ments. The first of these, by vigorous and prudent exertions,
soon completed his quota of men, and they were regimented

* The gentleman who suggested in the Guildhall the idea of raising a
company of volunteers was Mr. Robert Hemer, Attorney-at-Law, of Exeter, for
which service the Chamber couferred upon him the freedom of the city.
L 3

222 THE HISTORY OF
Chap.IV. under the name of the Devon and Cornish Fencibles. Just
~  after they were embodied they were ordered to Ireland,
where they continued during the remainder of the war; and
by strict discipline and good behaviour they not only pre
served the tranquillity of the western parts of that kingdom,
but gained the esteem of the inhabitants in every station they
were quartered at.
By the tenure of their engagements the several fencible
regiments were to serve during the war, but in the British
Islands only.
A.D. Colonel Stribling, through the ill conduct (we use no harsher
1795. term) of those employed by him in recruiting, after expend-
econ c ins- a large sum of money, failed in his endeavours to complete
companyot » , , . . 1 1 i> , , i •
Exeter a regiment by the time agreed on, and those enlisted by him
Volunteers were draughted into and incorporated with other corps.
raised. About this period a second company of Exeter Volunteers,
v i'00.p ° under the command of Alderman Benjamin Honeycomb
Volunteer nJ &
Horse Walker, was completed and added to the first.
raised. A troop of Volunteer Horse, consisting of gentlemen and
yeomen of this city and neighbourhood, under the command
of Sir Stafford Henry Northcote, Bart, was also completed ;
the troopers furnished their own horses, helmets, and uniforms,
but were provided by government with arms. Soon after a
second troop was raised, commanded by James Lardiner, Esq.
Riot owing The price of provisions, especially wheat, advancing greatly,
d'earth of created much murmuring and dissatisfaction among the common
Corn. people; who, judging the evil to have arisen from nefarious
practices of the opulent millers (whom they suspected of en
grossing great quantities of grain) collected in a mob and
proceeded to Belle Marsh Mills, near Chudleigh, which they
partly demolished, plundered what grain they could find, and
furiously insulted and ill treated the proprietor, Mr. Balle.
For this offence one Mr. Campion, a Blacksmith, of Drews-
teignton, was apprehended as a ringleader, committed to gaol,
and on trial, being convicted, was sentenced to be executed
near the spot where the crime was committed.
Mr. In order to strike terror, and prevent future commotions, the
Campion execution was conducted in a manner hitherto unknown in this
as I°Ute Clty> uemS entirely military, and entrusted to the care of Major
ringleader. Shadwell, of the 25th regiment of light dragoons.
The unfortunate man (much pitied) was conducted from the
new Goal to the place of execution in a mourning coach,
guarded by the light dragoons, the troops of volunteer cavalrv
of Sir Stafford Northcote and Sir John de la Pole, the two

THE CITY OF EXETER. 223
companies of Exeter and several other of the neighbouring Chap.IV.
volunteers; and, in order to prevent a rescue, a battalion of
militia, with two field pieces, were ordered to march to the
neighbourhood. The execution, which was solemn and peace
able, struck great awe in the minds of the spectators, while the
unhappy victim to the laws was much lamented, as he ever
bore a good character. He declared he was obliged to leave
his work and join the rioters.
The parliament being dissolved, writs were issued for electing A.D.
a new one ; and, James Buller, Esq. declining to offer himself 179G.
as a candidate, John Baring, Esq. and Sir Charles Warwick ^"^"sif
Bampfylde, Bart, were returned duly elected. Charles W.
A great disturbance happened, occasioned by a new raised Bampfylde
regiment of foot, which were levied at Londonderry, in Ireland, elected
by the name of the Londonderry Fencibles, and from thence me™bers of
removed to this city. It being the intention of government to
draught them into other regiments, the men refused compliance, Disturb-
and manifested symptoms of mutiny ; they declared that accord- anoe .
ing to their engagements they were to serve only in their own b forc;nz
regiment, and under their own officers. Upon this the military into service
forces then lying here were called in to enforce the orders of the London-
government ; and the Londonderry -men being drawn up in St. 'tTry.,
Peter's Church-yard, and refusing to obey new officers, were encl es"
attacked and dispersed by the 25th regiment of light dragoons,
assisted by a large party of the first fencible cavalry. They
fled in every direction, and were pursued by the horse, under
command of Major Shadwell, who executed his orders with the
most brutal severity, dreadfully wounding many of the poor
fellows, and driving them to the Castle, where they were
disarmed and forced into compliance. During the time this
scene lasted the whole city was in a state of confusion, and ex
hibited a melancholy idea of a military government. The light
dragoons behaved with the greatest insolence, not only insulting
the peaceable Citizens, but riding over many who were inca
pable of getting out of their way.
A third company of volunteers, consisting of gentlemen of 1797.
the first distinction in this city, (who provided themselves with Third
arms, military accoutrements, and clothing) formed themselves company of
into a corps, for the interior defence and securing the property Volunteers
of the Citizens, in case of any intestine troubles. They were formed.
commanded by Major Hamilton, an old and experienced
officer, who had long resided in Exeter; and, meeting with the
approbation of his Majesty, commissions were granted to the
officers ; and the gentlemen regularly attended their discipline
during the continuance of the war.

224 THE «ISTORY OF
Chap.IV. The French nation, exulting in their great successes, set
A. d. no bounds to their ambitious views ; and, exasperated against
1798. Great Britain, who almost singly withstood her power, and
The French prevented her favourite scheme of absolute dominion, breathed
threaten an reveno.e an(i menaced the English with the threats of a
Invasion. & ' . J
powerful invasion.
The British ministry made every preparation of defence :
signal-houses were erected to give early intelligence of the
enemy's approach ; and the most vulnerable places on the coast
were fortified and guarded. They also had recourse to the
constitutional mode of our ancestors, the Saxons, viz : arming
the effectual force of the country, and calling forth the whole mass
of Citizens for defence. Circular letters were sent to all parts of
General tne courltry : on receipt of those to this city a general meeting
Citizens in" was held at the Guildhall, where the true spirit of the British
coming nation appeared in the most conspicuous manner. The opulent
forward for not only subscribed large sums of money, but offered personal
the defence assistance ; and the heroic flame caught hold of all ranks of
country. men. Nearly every one capable of rendering any service in
this city enrolled their names in the different classes proposed
and adopted in which they judged they should be of most
effectual use to their country.
Troop of A troop, who furnished their own uniforms and horses,
Exeter was forrne(j under the command of John Short, Esq. ;* like-
raised w'se a regiment of foot, by the name of the Exeter Loyal
Colonel Association, who served without pay or emolument from
Granger's government; they found their uniforms, (at a great expence)
regiment. gu(. were supplied with arms from his Majesty's Arsenals.
Edmund Granger, Esq. a respectable merchant of this city,
Six other commanded them, as Lieutenant-Colonel. Besides these there
companies were two companies, who clothed themselves, under command
raised. 0f Alderman Reuben Phillips and Captain Laurence Williams;
and three companies under Captains Blackall, Collins, and
Tremlett ; also a company of light infantry, who termed
themselves the Exeter Fusiliers, under command of Captain
Trewman:\ they had an allowance from government towards
their clothing.
Exeter The last six companies were afterwards united to the first
Regiment of an)j secon(j 0f Exeter Volunteers, the whole forming- a regiment
Volunteers. ° °

* This gentlemen soon afterwards dying, (universally lamented for his
benevolence, and the many amiable qualifications he possessed) was succeeded
in command by Philip Cornish, Esq.
\ Captain Trewman being promoted to a command in the Regulars, the
command of the company devolved on Samuel Luscombe, Esq.

Wat?- ©©bssws'i? Sss'S'iia.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 225
complete, of eight companies, under the command of Lieutenant- Chap.IV.
Colonel John T. Wright, Collector of his Majesty's Customs ;=^^==
for the port of Exeter, and brother-in-law to Sir Stafford H.
Northcote, Bart, an old and experienced officer. AH these
corps continued their services during the remainder of the war,
and were of great utility in preserving the peace of the country,
and intimidating our enemies from their projected invasion.
The advance in the price of provisions still increasing, (occa- a. d.
sioned by a partial failure in the harvest, and the great demands 1799.
for supplying our fleets and armies) created much discontent H'.S"
among the middling and lower class of people, particularly at plloe. °f
the Corn Market, which was but scantily supplied. The Mayor, 1>rov's'ons-
Jonathan Worthy, Esq. constantly attended the markets, ex
erted himself for their relief, and preserved the public peace,
for which he justly merited their thanks.
The situation chosen, on the removal of the Great Conduit TheConduit
in the High-street, proving very incommodious to passengers, amoved to
by reason of the great resort of people to draw water, a st°"g,' "gate"
complaint was laid by the neighbouring inhabitants, and the
Chamber once more caused it to be removed. It was placed
at the bottom of Cook-row, South-gate-street, where formerly
stood the Old Shambles, over which was the Wool and Yarn
Market, just before taken down, in order to widen the street,
which was then very narrow,* and, from the great and almost
continual passing of waggons, carts, &c. extremely dangerous
to passengers.
On the 28th day of July a dreadful fire, which consumed A great fire
thirteen houses, inhabited chiefly by poor weavers, happened '". SL
near the Black Boy Turnpike, in the parish of St. Sidwell; ' wc s'
occasioned by a brick kiln being erected too near a large stack
of furze, which taking fire, communicated itself to the adjoining
houses. By this accident a number of poor families were re
duced to great distress.
The great consumption of provisions, occasioned by the vast 1800
supplies for victualling our navy and army, now caused the Great
war to be felt by all ranks of people ; and though, by our distress of
insular situation, and the vigilance of our naval commanders, 'lle P°°r
we were preserved from the ravages of a foreign enemy, every ^- . ?ce
necessary article of life advanced to an enormous price, 0fpro-
and appearances were very similar to an actual famine, visions.

* The narrowness of the street at this place occasioned frequent accidents :
a few years since a countrywoman was crushed to death ; being unable to
extricate herself from a waggon that pressed her against one of the houses.
M 3

226 THE HISTORY OF
Chap.IV. Wheat was upwards of a guinea, and barley 14s. per bushel ;
beef, mutton, and pork, lOrf. and butter Is. 8d. per pound;
_. potatoes (though of the very worst kind) 2s. per peck ; whilst
be'in to^e trade was almost stagnated. This occasioned great murmur-
riotous, ings and clamours, especially among the middling and lower
classes of society, who had hitherto borne their sufferings with
an unexampled patience. They loudly exclaimed, without
exaggeration, on the distresses of themselves and families, and
flocked to the markets in such numbers that the Mayor,
Richard Jenkins, Esq. was obliged to order out the constables
to protect the country people, as the populace, driven almost
to despair, crowded on them. With the greatest anxiety, the
people endeavoured to purchase their commodities, even af. the
most enormous prices, the necessary supplies being very scanty.
How these evils originated it is not in the author's power to say;
but most certainly many cruel avaricious persons reaped great
advantage from the melancholy distress ; their hoarding and
monopolizing increased the grievance, as they kept from the
markets the usual supplies.
Assemble The poor, no longer able to provide proper sustenance for
on South- tne;r families, assembled together in many different places,
particularly on Southernhay, from whence they proceeded in
divisions to the principal landowners and farmers of the sur
rounding country, desiring some, and compelling others, to sign
a contract (which they produced) for selling their wheat and
other necessaries at reduced prices.
The Magis- Though the mob (much to their credit) proceeded not to acts
trates m- 0f vj0ience) yet danger was feared if such tumultuous meetings
numbers of were suffered to continue, the greatest exertions therefore of
additional the magistrates were required to put a stop to them. Most of the
Constables householders in the city were sworn as additional constables ;
are sworn. anc| j.ne m0^ being prevented from holding any more meetings,
by the vigilance of the Mayor, quietness in some degree was
restored .
The poor The sufferings of the poor needing immediate relief, a meeting
relieved by 0f the principal Citizens was held at the Guildhall, where a
su rip- subscription was opened, and large sums were subscribed. It
was greatly assisted by government bounties, who ordered quan-
Sa,t. tities of salted herrings and other fish to be sent to the different
herrings ports, which were retailed at moderate prices ; bounties were
also given for the importation of wheat, rice, and other kinds
Bread sold 0f provisions, from foreign ports. Large quantities of an in-
*"he Jar,sh ferior kind of bread (a mixture of wheat and barley, with other
grain) was ordered to be baked in this (jity, and sold, under the
direction of the overseers, at ihe different parish churches, at

THE CITY OF EXETER. 227
a much lower price than the bakers sold at ; and, in order to Chap.IV.
lessen the consumption as much as possible, an act of parlia- Act of
ment was passed to prevent Bakers and others from selling Parliament
(under a severe penalty) any kind of bread within twenty-four t0 Prevent
hours after the same was baked : it was likewise recommended ^/j^"/
to all families to retrench as much as possible the quantities
of bread made use of in their houses ; in short, every prudent
measure was adopted to alleviate the distress of the country,
and prevent, if possible, the horrors of an expected famine,
until it should please the Almighty disposer of all events to
remove this dreadful scourge by an abundant harvest. Go- Bounties
vernment also exerted itself to remedy this calamity ; one granted for
expedient was by giving a bounty to such person or persons "ringing
who should supply the markets with a certain quantity of fish; /° ,
this measure was happily attended with success, greater quan
tities of that useful aliment was brought to the markets of this
city than was ever before remembered, to the great relief of the
Citizens ; and one Mr. Thomas Bale, Fishmonger, received
upwards of £160 as his share of the bounty.
The rumour of a French invasion was now more prevalent Fresh
than ever, and the British government made every necessary rumours. of
.. r , . ,.° , . ,. „ -' •> an invasion.
preparation tor their reception. Large bodies ot troops were
stationed on the sea coasts, and many corps of volunteers were Exeter
embodied for actual service. A large train of artillery, among [u",'.e31rs
which was four long twenty-four-pounders, with the necessary
ammunition and stores, was brought from Plymouth to this Large train
city : the cannon were for some time lodged in the Castle, and °f Artlllel7
the ammunition in a place procured for that purpose at Polsloe. jj™"ter
A camp of horse and foot was formed on the commons, near
Woodbury, to which the park of artillery was moved, and ^arap,
stationed in the old camp, commonly termed Woodbury Castle, Woodbur^
where they remained until the breaking up of the camp, and
then was brought back to Exeter Castle.
A great nuisance which had long been complained of, viz : J* f;w
the filthiness of the streets of this city, was this year removed by chamber '"
the Chamber; who, by an act of Common Council, made a for keeping
law forbidding, under very severe penalties, any person from tbe streets
throwing or laying ashes, human ordure, or any kind of filth clean-
or dung in the streets or kennels; and compelling every house- a. D.
holder to sweep the pavement before their houses three times 1801.
in every week. Proper scavengers were provided, who, \v ith wiiich is
carts, attended daily to convey away any dirt. This regulation strongly
was strongly enforced by the present Mayor, Thomas Floud, enforced by
Esq. who acted with the greatest impartiality, making no dis- the Mayor.
tiiictiou between persons against whom complaints were lodged,

228 THE HISTORY OF
Chap.IV. fining them indiscriminately ; and by this means the streets,
— which before for their filthiness had become proverbial, were
kept clean and sweet, to the great comfort and health of the
Citizens, whereby a great reproach was removed from the city.
The waste The wastewater from the Conduit was, by means of pipes,
™at!,r f™m conveyed into the Butcher-row, where its current was of great
conveyed to utility in cleaning the kennels of the blood and filth which
the Butch- before lodged in them, and was very noisome to passengers.
er-row. ln return for this very necessary improvement, the inhabitants
of the Butcher-row gratefully returned the Mayor thanks, in an
advertisement, in the public papers.
Alteration This gentleman, likewise, on his first coming into office,
s°a d" d f a'*;ere(J the method of setting the assize of bread, after the
bread. custom of the city of London. Before this the weight of the
loaves altered according to the price of wheat in the market,
but they are now always to be of one standard weight, and the
variation is in their price, the standard of which is set in the
Mayor's Court every Saturday, from the returns made by the
Clerks of the Market of the prices of wheat the preceding
market day. He also strictly enforced the laws against carters
and others for leaving their carriages in the streets, riding on
the shafts, &c. fining all offenders impartially, by which
frequent accidents were prevented. The fines for these and
other misdemeanors, for the first quarter of his Mayoralty,
amounted to a sufficiency to purchase seven hundred half-
quartern loaves, which he ordered to be given to the poor at
Christmas.* This Mayor likewise paid great attention to the justness of
weights and measures, and rectified all abuses in them, parti
cularly in one nefarious practice, that had for a long time
prevailed unnoticed, viz : the shameful custom of paring round
the edges of their wooden measures, (such as pecks, half-
pecks, &c.) by which the quantity of proper measure was much
lessened. To prevent such iniquitous practices for the future,
Regulation he issued orders that no measures of that kind should be used,
in the unless they were encircled round the brim with iron. He also
MaUUre°f reSu,ated tne measuring of that necessary article of life, coals;
and two sworn Coal Meters were appointed to examine and
measure all coals sent from the wharf.
On the conclusion of this gentleman's Mayoralty, he was
presented with an elegant piece of plate, of the value of fifty
guineas, on which was engraven the following inscription :

* The said fines for the remaining part of his Mayoralty were given towards
the support of the Devon and Exeter Hospital.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 229
"Exeter, 9th October, 1802." Chap.IV.
" At a meeting of the principal inhabitants of the city of ^==^=
Exeter, together with the nobility and gentry of its vicinity,
this piece of plate was presented to Thomas Floud, Esq. the
late Mayor, as a testimony of the sense they entertain of his
public services, in the execution of his office."
On the 14th day of October, preliminary articles of peace a t>
were signed by the Ministers of the contending nations; and on 1801.
the news reaching this city it spread universal joy, evinced by Prelimina-
all ranks of people : the Cathedral and other bells were Ty. artloles
immediately rung, and the next day there were general illumi- "j^ed06
nations and other demonstrations of gladness ; the preparations
for carrying on the war were stopt, and the park of artillery,
&c. sent back to Plymouth.
The definitive treaty was signed at Amiens, on the 27th day 1802.
of March, 1802. On this occasion another general illumination Definitive
took place, but much superior to the first, in which many fine treaty of
emblematical transparent paintings were exhibited, and fire- pface 51s°"
works and bonfires were to be seen in every street. In the rejoicings
evening the principal Citizens, by invitation of the Mayor, met in Exeter
at the Guildhall, where they enjoyed themselves in the greatest on ""J
festivity ; every one expressed the most lively joy at the happy oocas'on-
return of peace, and being relieved from so long, bloody, and
expensive a war, during which they had struggled with the
greatest calamities, not only by an almost total stagnation of
their trade, heavy and oppressive taxes, but by a deprivation
of the comforts and common necessaries of life, from the
exorbitant prices demanded for them.
On the 19th and 20th of April, the East Devon regiment Militia and
of Militia (after being in service for ten years and upwards) y**ler
was disbanded in this city, and sent to their respective homes : disbanded"
and on Sunday, April 25th, his Majesty's letter of thanks, and
orders for their dismissal, was read to Colonel Wright's regiment
of Exeter Volunteers.
On Saturday, May 1st, Colonel Granger's regiment of Colonel
Volunteers was disembodied, and the arms delivered up ; the Gra"Ser *
Colonel, in return for their good behaviour, entertained the Jife'm'!n
whole body, with a splendid dinner, at the Swan Tavern; the bodied.
corps unanimously voted a gold snuff box, of fifteen guineas
value, to present to him as a token of their esteem and gratitude
for his kind and polite behaviour.*

* Similar presents were likewise presented to Sir Stafford Northcote and
Colonel Wright, by their respective corps.
N 3

230 ™E HISTORY OF
Chap. IV. On Wednesday, May 5th, his Majesty's proclamation for a
Peace general peace was delivered in Exeter, and joy appeared in the
proclaimed, countenance of every spectator. The procession consisted of
the different incorporated trades, in their livery gowns, pre
ceded by their Beadles and banners; the band of music
belonging to the 6th regiment of Dragoons, and a party of the
men, unarmed, flanking the procession ; a Deputy Herald at
Arms, mounted on a stately horse, and clothed in an Herald's
tabard, richly embroidered with his Majesty's armorial bearings;
the children of St. John's Hospital ; the corps of Constables
belonging to the city and county, with their staves ; the city
Officers, Mayor, Aldermen, Common Councilmen, and Bailiffs,
in their scarlet and other robes. After the Herald had read
his Majesty's proclamation in the front of the Guildhall, the
whole proceeded to St. John's Hospital, where, before the
Chapel, it was again read ; from thence they moved on to St.
John's Bow, the corner of Bear-Lane, in South-gate-street ,
and to the west front of the Cathedral, at each of which places
it was again read ; the procession then returned by way of St.
Martin 's- Lane back to the Guildhall.
During the whole time the Cathedral and parochial bells
rang, and the immense concourse of people gathered together
on the occasion testified their sincere joy; loud huzzas re
sounded through the streets, and the most perfect propriety of
behaviour was observed.
The weather having been remarkably dry for near two months,
the Mayor, to prevent accidents by fires, very prudently (by
hand-bills) requested the Citizens not to illuminate their houses
on this occasion.
Thanksgiv- June 1st was observed with the greatest decorum, it being
ing day. the day appointed, by his Majesty's proclamation, for a general
thanksgiving. The morning was ushered in by the ringing of
the Cathedral and parochial bells ; at ten o'clock the Mayor,
Aldermen, &c. preceded by the different incorporated trades,
with their usual insignia, went in procession to the Cathedral ;
the 6th regiment of Dragoons, with their military band, marched
to the same place from the barracks : part of Sir Stafford
Northcote's corps and the Exeter troop of Volunteer Horse
(who were not disbanded) also attended Divine service. After
prayers, the inner choir not being capacious enough to contain
the numerous congregation, an excellent sermon was preached
in the outer choir, by the Rev. Canon Massey. The parish
Churches and Dissenting Meeting-houses were crowded ; every
shop was closely shut, (excepting a few Quakers) and the whole
forenoon had the appearance of the strictest Sabbath.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 231
Mr. Harold, of St. Sidwell, Coach Maker, with his nu- Chap.IV.
merous body of journeymen and dependants, after attending 
Divine service in the parish church, walked in procession
through the Fore-street, preceded by a small phaeton, decorated
with blue ribands and flowers, in which sat a little boy. It
was carried on men's shoulders; and after their parade they
proceeded to their large working loft, which was elegantly
decorated with green boughs, lamps, and emblematical inscrip
tions, where the whole, consisting of upwards of seventy persons,
sat down to an elegant dinner of the true good old English
roast beef and plum pudding, &c. and spent the remainder of
the day in the greatest conviviality, testifying their loyalty by
many constitutional songs and toasts.
Many other companies dined together on this occasion,
and mirth and good humour prevailed amongst all ranks of
society. On the Friday following, being the birth-day of our Sove- Display of
reign, a grand collection of fireworks was displayed on Fireworks.
Southernhay Green, by Mr. Paddon, of this city, the expences
of which were defrayed by a voluntary contribution of the
Citizens. The Parliament being dissolved, writs were issued for electing SirCW.
a new one : John Baring, Esq. of Mount Radford, who had BamPfvlde
worthily represented this city in five succeeding parliaments, Buller'Hsq
having previously declared (by reason of his advanced age) elected
his resolution of declining that important trust, the candidates Membersof
were Sir Charles Warwick Bampfylde, Baronet, James Parliamenl-
Buller, Esq. of Downs, and Edmund Granger, Esq. of this
city: the poll, which commenced July 2nd, continued near
four days, and at its final close the numbers were, for James
Buller, Esq. 786, Sir C. W. Bampfylde 637, and Edmund
Granger, Esq. 444, upon which the two former were returned
duly elected.
The restless and insatiable ambition of the Corsican Usurper, A. D.
Buonaparte, who, under the title of first Consul, assumed the 1803.
government of the French nation, unavoidably plunged this ~^" asam
country into a new war. This haughty tyrant, this modern France-
Attilla, after grasping into his hands the sole government of
the major part of Italy, the Austrian Netherlands, and great
part of Germany, depriving the King of Sardinia of all his
hereditary continental possessions, subjugating the timid go
vernments of Spain, Naples, and the States of Holland, to
his imperious will, and in time of profound peace, (contrary to
the most solemn treaties) ravaging and overturning the ancient
government of Switzerland, the Usurper, jealous of the

232 THE HISTORY OF
Chap.IV. growing prosperity of the British Empire, the only European
power that opposed his attempts to universal dominion, endea
voured by the most arbitrary measures to annihilate her com
merce; and, by peremptory mandates, ordered his servile
dependant States to shut their ports against the importation of
all British commodities.
This, and other flagrant breaches of the late treaties, occa
sioned mild remonstrances on the part of the British government:
these remonstrances being answered, Buonaparte, in the most
haughty terms, accompanied with threats and demands too
extravagant, both for the honour and interest of the British
nation, to be complied with, and conciliatory measures being of
no avail, orders were issued for making reprisals on the subjects
of the French Republic and their allies, which was executed
with such vigour that a great number of ships were captured
and brought into the British ports.
An invasion Buonaparte, exasperated to the greatest degree, breathed the
threatened, most sanguinary revenge, threatening the entire subjugation of
the British Empire, and totally to annihilate her government ;
for which purposes immense preparations for an invasion were
made, great numbers of vessels were constructed in all the ports
of France, Holland, and Flanders, and large armies, composed
of deserters and banditti, the refuse of most European nations,
were marched to the sea coasts.
Great pre- To counteract the tyrant's intentions, the British ministry
parations of exerted themselves in the most vigilant manner. The lately
Miad"08 dismantled ships were again commissioned, manned, and sent
to sea ; a new Militia raised and embodied ; and squadrons of
ships dispatched to cruise off the French coasts, and watch
their motions. The preparations of the enemy still increasing,
the utmost efforts appeared necessary to give them a warm
reception, should they escape the vigilance of the British
navy, and have the temerity to put their proposed threats into
execution : an additional Militia, equal in number to the
former ; and an army of reserve, of 40,000 effective men, were
raised by ballot.
Camp on The East Devon regiment of Militia marched to Plymouth ;
Woodbury a camp was formed on the heights, near Woodbury, consisting
"'•I- of the two regiments of Somerset Militia, and a large park of
Artillery, which had been previously sent from Plymouth ;
batteries of large cannons were constructed on the coasts; and
beacons erected on the principal heights, to give a speedy
intelligence of an approaching enemy.
The vaunting menaces of the Corsican Usurper, instead of
damping, roused the ancient ardour and martial spirit of the

THE CITY OF EXETER. 233
British nation : large bodies of Volunteers were formed through- Chap.IV.
out the whole empire ; and in this city and its neighbourhood
the three troops of horse lately commanded by Sir Stafford
Northcote were considerably augmented ; and a regiment of
foot Volunteers, consisting of six hundred men, was soon com
pleted and armed, under the command of John Thomas
Wright, Esq. Colonel ; James N. Duntze, Esq. Lieutenant-
Colonel ; Hubert Cornish, Esq. Major ; B. H. Walker,
Samuel Luscomb, Matthew Wood, John Gullett, John Wilcocks,
Francis Turner, Laurence Williams, John Vicary, and
Francis South, Esquires, Captains. To these were soon after
added two companies of Artillery, commanded by Thomas
Floud, Esq. Major; and Samuel King don and Jas. Williams,
Esquires, Captains ; and a company of Artificers, under the
command of Thomas Russell, Esq.
All these troops volunteered to serve in any part of the
western district, which consists of the counties of Devon,
Somerset, and Cornwall. Lieutenant -General Simcoe, an
officer of distinguished merit, a native of this city, was appointed
to the chief command, in which he was assisted by Major-
General Grosvenor. In addition to these great preparations,
a formidable train of battering cannon, consisting of six long
twenty-four pounders, and upwards of fifty carronades, carrying
the same weight of metal, with a large quantity of ammunition,
military stores, intrenching tools, biscuits, &c. were brought
and deposited in this city, to be ready in case of emergency.
The six long twenty-four pounders, with part of the carronades,
were mounted in the Castle yard ; the remainder of the cannon,
with the ammunition, &c. were lodged in a field, near St.
Ann's Chapel, proper magazines, guard-house, &c. having
been purposely erected for their reception ; and the remainder
of the stores were deposited in several places hired for the
purpose : and for the better accommodation of the troops, large
additional barracks were erected, in a field contiguous to the
former barracks. In short, through the vigilance and great
exertions of the Commander-in-chief, the county of Devon was
put in a state of perfect security ; and its inhabitants bade
defiance to the Quixotic menaces of a haughty and implacable
tyrant. On the 14th day of November the Exeter regiment of
Volunteers were embodied for actual service, and took their
part of duty with the troops here quartered, in mounting guard
at the Castle, Magazines, &c. ; and six brass field pieces (six
pounders) were brought to this city, for the use of the volunteer
Artillery. And, that no human efforts should be neglected,
several hundred of the principal Citizens were sworn as
additional Constables, to assist the civil power, and prevent
o 3

234 THE HISTORY OF
Chap.IV. the unprincipled from taking any advantage of the necessity of
_ _ ^ne f.jmeS) an(j plundering their neighbours.
In the midst of those great exertions our religious and
gracious Sovereign, well judgingthat all human endeavours were
vain without the blessing of the Almighty disposer of all events,
by whose power the greatest empires rise and fall, issued a
proclamation for a general fast, humbly to implore the Divine
protector to avert his just indignation, and to preserve the
British empire from becoming a prey to a lawless usurper, who
had plundered great part of Europe, and drenched her plains
with the blood of its unfortunate inhabitants. This fast was
kept with all due solemnity by persons of all ranks and
persuasions in this city.
A. D. The chief Magistrate, on entering into his office, proposed
1804. to the Citizens the following necessary improvements in their
police, &c. viz: that an additional number of public lamps to
those already maintained by the lamp-rates should be erected
and maintained at the expence of the several parishes; that the
names of each street and lane should be painted at their
several corners, and the houses numbered, after the manner
of London and other improved cities T, and that a regular
nightly watch be established — every householder in their
several wards to watch each in their turn. These regulations
are as yet but partially attended to. Most of the parishes
have made great additions to their lamps, to the great benefit
and comfort of occasional passengers in long and dark nights;
and some have numbered their houses and inscribed their
streets ; and it is to be hoped that this necessary accommo
dation to enquiring strangers will become general, and the
Citizens experience its great utility. The nightly watch was
attempted, but not meeting with general approbation was soon
discontinued. The latter end of this year was distinguished by the founda
tion of spacious Barracks, with stables, store-houses, and every
other necessary accommodation for a large military dep6t of
artillery and stores. These Barracks, situate about one mile
south of the city, are erecting in a field heretofore called
Spicer's Park, purchased by government for this purpose :
great part of the building is nearly completed.

THE CITY OF EXETER.

235

MA YORS and BAILIFFS to the 45th year of the reign of Chap.IV.
George III.

1761.
Samuel Dix, Ob.
Francis Brayne.
John Bussell.
Nath. E. Cosseratt.
Richard Coffin.
Joseph Couch. 1762.
James Crossing.
Humphrey Hill.
Nicholas Medland.
John Yard.
Henry Kitson. 1763.
Edward Walker.
William Collings.
Wm. Spicer Dix.
Thomas Elliott.
Richard Glanvill.
1764.
Jacob Rowe.
Philip Dacie.
John Battersby.
Richard Hayne.
John Heard. 1765.
John Bussell.
Thomas Dodge.
John Lake.
John Bennett.
David Gattey. 1766.
Humphrey Hill.
John Floud.
Thomas Scott.
John Glanvill.
Robert Sparke.

1767.
Wm.. Collings, Ob.
James Crossing.
Thomas Coffin.
Samuel Moore.
Samuel Walkey.
David Gattey. 1768.
Philip Dacie.
Gregory Jackson.
John Rowe.
Thomas Legge.
David Sweetland. 1769.
Thomas Dodge.
Henry Kitson.
Robert Stribling.
Joseph Ley.
Laurence Williams.
1770.
John Floud.
Thomas Wilcocks.
Reuben Phillips.
William Hicks.
Joseph Bass. 1771.
Thomas Coffin.
John Dennis.
George Strong.
William Lane.
John Bickley. 1772.
Gregory Jackson.
John E. Pierce.
Jonas Dennis.
Daniel Floud.
Henry Edwards.

1773.
Henry Kitson.
Charles Edwards.
John Holman.
Jonathan Burnett.
Joseph Steer. 1774.
John Dennis.
John Coddrington.
William Rigg.
James Bath.
Daniel Campion. 1775.
John Eyles Pierce.
James Grant.
George Westlake.
Charles Upham.
John Foot. 1776.
Charles Edwards.
Charles Furlong.
John Bussell.
John Pearce.
William Gattey.
1777.
Thomas Dodge..
Samuel Moore.
Benj. H. Walker.
Richard Jenkins.
Richard Daw.
1778.
James Grant.
Nicholas Brooke.
John Dacie.
Thomas Jones.
Joseph Gibbons.

236

THE HISTORY OF

Chap.IV. 1779.
"  Charles Furlong.
John Bussell.
John Robbins.
George Sloman.
William Hutchings.
1780.
Samuel Moore.
William Ilbert.
Edward Bartlett.
John Spry.
Joshua Sparke. 1781.
Nicholas Brooke.
Benj. H. Walker.
Richard Coffin.
Nathaniel Sanders.
David E. Phillips.
1782.
John Bussell.
George Westlake.
John Bartlett.
Thomas Browne.
Joseph Gattey. 1783.
William Ilbert.
Nath. E. Cosseratt.
J. Crossing, Jun.
Richard Thorn.
Charles Saunderson
1784.
Benj. H. Walker.
Richard Jenkins.
John Pinhey.
Nicholas How.
Robert Pike. 1785.
George Westlake.
Jonathan Burnett.

John Stephens.
Edmund Stooke.
William Hicks.
1786.
Nath. E. Cosseratt.
William Bate.
Ed. Bartlett, Jun.
George Hayman.
James Portbury. 1787.
Richard Jenkins.
Edward Ragueneau.
Charles Collyns.
William Chave.
Moses Hern. 1788.
Jonathan Burnett.
Reuben Phillips.
George Bodley.
Joseph Rowe.
Robert Saunders. 1789.
William Bate.
John Pinhey.
Samuel White.
Henry Floud, Jun.
Samuel Speare.
1790.
Edward Ragueneau
Rd. Chamberlain.
J. Burnett, Jun.
William G. Chave.
Richard Gould.
1791.
Reuben Phillips.
Richard Hart, Jun.
Joseph Norrington.
Edward Pym.
Richard Finch.

1792.
John Pinhey.
John Balle.
Richard Dewdney.
Moses A. Mitchell.
Thomas Saunders.
1793.
Rd. Chamberlain.
Charles Uphani.
Robert Tothill.
Jonathan Worthy.
John Gibbons. 1794.
Richard Hart.
John Brake.
John D. Worthy.
John Salter.
Richard Horsewell.
1795.
John Balle.
Joseph Gattey.
Thomas Hele.
James Penny.
D. Phillips, Jun.
1796.
Charles Upham.
Jonathan Worthy.
Thomas Turner.
George Copp.
John Rickcord. 1797.
John Brake.
Benjamin Walkey.
Robert Maunder.
Samuel Gilbert.
George Walker.
1798.
Joseph Gattey.
Thomas Floud.

THE CITY OF EXETER.

237

James Worthy.
John Gattey.
Charles Matthews.
1799.
Jonathan Worthy.
Charles Collyns.
George Maunder.
John Ford.
Samuel Kemp.
1800.
Richard Jenkins.
Samuel White.
Richard Strong.
Richard Edwards.
Thomas Wills.

1801.
Thomas Floud.
Joseph Greenway.
John Slides.
Joseph Bass.
John Reed. 1802.
Charles Collyns.
J. T. Wright.
Richard Worthy.
Thomas Hooper.
William Matthews.
1803.
John Pinhey.
S. Trist, Jun.

John W. Bennett,
William Beal.
Thomas Halse.
1804.
Joseph Greenway.
W. B. Jackson.
S. Langston, Jun.
Robert Gollop.
Richard Ferris.
1805.
John T. Wright.
Charles Collyns.
H. H. Pinhey.
John Periam.
William Davey.

Chap.IV.

Having thus, according to the best of my abilities, completed
the historic account of this ancient and truly loyal city, I hope
my fellow Citizens will continue stedfast in maintaining its
glorious motto of " Semper Fidelis" until time shall be no
more ; and may the Almighty be graciously pleased to restore
the blessings of a lasting peace, when commerce and trade
shall again return to comfort the industrious Citizen, and the
drum and fife be succeeded by the more pleasing sounds of
the shuttle and artificers' hammer, which God of his infinite
mercy grant.

End of the Fourth Chapter.

p 3

238 ™E HISTORY OF

CHAPTER V.
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
Religion of the Ancient Britons.
Chap. V. T I THE religion of the Primitive Britons was, for many ages,
Religion of •*- Pure an(^ uncontaminated, nearly resembling that of the
tbeAncient ancient Patriarchs ; (a convincing proof of an early settlement
Britons, in this island, soon after their dispersion at Babel.5) They be-
Patnarchal i;eved in one supreme Deity, to whom they offered sacrifices
and paid divine honours. Their altars were erected in the
midst of groves of oak, f and the trees they held in great
veneration ; % as they did likewise the misletoe that grew from
them, and which they esteemed as a great favour from Heaven.
This holy plant, when discovered, was cut with a knife of
gold, on a particular day, (the moon having attained its second
quarter) by the Arch Druid, clothed in a white robe, and
was preserved as a precious relic.
t'Tof10 This purity of religion continued until their intercourse with
Polytheism t^le Phoenicians and Greeks, who introduced their idolatrous
by the worship, Polytheism, and the abominable offering of human
Phoenicians sacrifices : one of these customs was to erect a stupendous
Sams' image of a giant, composed of wattled rods, the inside of
Antiquities, which they filled with the captives of both sexes, old and young,
p. 105. taken in war, and with such beasts as they were wont to offer
A dreadful m tne'r sacrifices; this image they set fire to, and thus offered
kind of up the whole as victims pleasing to their infernal deities.
sacrifice. Their Priests (the Druids) possessed great authority, but
* We find that even so late as Abraham's time that some of the Canaanites
were not infected with Idolatry: see Genesis, chap. xx. v. 3 ; where Abimelech,
Ring of Gerar, and his servants, were worshippers of the true God.
t "Abraham built an altar and planted a grove in Beersheba:" see Genesis,
chap. xxi. v. 33. Hence we see that groves have always been considered as the
most proper places for retirement; and doubtless the silence and natural
gloom which reign in those solitudes must dispose the mind to serious
contemplation. J The custom of wearing branches of oak, on particular occasions, still
remains among us, derived from the superstition of our ancestors, much more
ancient than the preservation of King Charles II.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 239
were under the government of the Arch Druid* who in- Chap. V.
structed them in their religious duties : these were never com- "
mitted to writing, consequently the graduates who were
initiated into the mysteries were obliged to retain them by the
mere strength of memory.
The Priests not only administered at the altar, but presided Great
over the education of youth ; enjoyed an immunity from war Power of
and taxes ; possessed both civil and criminal jurisdiction ; and
decided all controversies between private persons, and even
differing States.
At length their power and ascendancy over the minds of the
people became so great, that the Romans, after their conquest,
totally abolished their institutes, extirpated the Priests, and
issued penal statutes against the exercise of their religion.
After the extirpation of the Druids and their religion the The Idol-
conquering Romans introduced their own idolatrous system : atry of the
innumerable temples and altars were erected in the Roman Druids
Provinces, to their different Deities, (of which many remains L""^6?6 f
have been discovered in this kingdom;) and the Roman theRomans.
Theogony prevailed till its final dissolution, under the Emperor
Constantine. At what time the Christian doctrine was first introduced into Thepreach-
this island does not appear, but it is very probable that it was ingofthe
soon after England's being made a province of the Roman g°spel in
empire. The story of Joseph's, of Arimathea, preaching the ' "¦ ,
gospel here, and the foundation of Glastonbury Abbey, is not a. d.
sufficiently authenticated. Gildas, a native of this country, 64.
and a faithful historian, assures us that the gospel was preached Gildas-
in England before the insurrection of Boadicea against the
Romans, in the time of the Emperor Nero, A. D. 64. St. St- Chry-
Chrysostom speaks of the event likewise, as also does St. sostom-
Jerome. From different passages in the writings of these St. Jerome.
eminent authors we have sufficient proof of the early plantation
of the gospel in this island. It is evident the doctrine of Christ 169.
was spread, and churches erected throughout the whole pro
vince of South Britain; and if the accounts mentioned by
Bede may be depended upon, of Lucius, \ a British King,

* Some eminent authors have supposed, from the Druidical remains at
Drewsteignton, it was the residence of the Arch Druid of the Danmonii, and
from that it received its name, which implies the Druids' town on the river
Teign. t Bede says that this King was converted to Christianity, by Priests sent Bede.
from Eleutherius, Bishop of Rome, A. D. 169 ; and that after he had purged the
Heathen Temples, and destroyed the images of their false Gods, he erected
three Archbishoprics, one at London, one at York, and one at Caerleon
upon Uske.

240

THE HISTORY OF

Chap. V.
A.D. 290.
Dreadful
persecution of the
Christians.

306.
Christian religion
firmly esta
blished in
England.

477.
BritishChurchesdestroyed
by the
Saxons.

erecting three Archbishops' Sees in his dominions, Christianity
must have been the prevailing religion.
The Christian religion was nearly annihilated in this island
in the reign of the Emperor Dioclesian, who raised the
severest persecution on the followers of our Lord that they had
yet felt.
The British Churches were every where demolished, their
bibles burnt, and the penalty of death laid on such as con
cealed any : their Pastors suffered under the most cruel
torments, and every means was practised to root out the very
name of their religion.
History records the name of St. Alban, the Protomartyr of
this island, St. Amphibalus, his tutor at Verulam, (now
St. Albans) in Hertfordshire, and Julius and Aaron, two Citi
zens of Caer- Usk* in Monmouthshire, as the principal Martyrs
who suffered in Britain ; and so many were put to death at
Litchfield \ that it resembled another Golgotha ; some authors
make them amount to upwards often thousand.
This was the last and most violent persecution the Primitive
Christians suffered under the Roman Emperors, for Constan-
tinus Chlorus, who succeeded Dioclesian, greatly favoured
them, and permitted them to rebuild their Churches and enjoy
the public exercise of their religion. His son and successor,
Constantine, (whose mother, the Empress Helena, was a Briton
by birth, and a Christian) publicly embraced the doctrine of
Christ ; and from this time it flourished in Britain, and
became the national religion, until the conquest of England by
the heathen Saxons.
Though there remains not the slightest record of British
Churches in this city, yet that it enjoyed the blessings of the
gospel of Christ with the rest of Britain cannot be doubted.
By the establishment of the Saxons in England the professors
of the Christian religion (the remains of the Britons) were
driven to the remote corners of the island ; the Churches were
destroyed, and the Pastors cruelly butchered ; in short, the
most horrid devastations extended to every place where the
invaders possessed power.
Gross idolatry was introduced by them ; they offered human
sacrifices to their gods ; even their princes and most eminent
men were chosen by lot for that purpose.

Cambden.

* Mr. Cambden, p. 75, says they were Citizens of Caer-esk, (Exeter) but
this must be a mistake.

t From this event some authors conceive its name to have been Leachfield,
that is a field of dead carcases ; and for this cause the city bears for its arms
an escutcheon charged with many martyrs.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 241
Sometimes the handsomest of their captives were selected and Chap. V.
put to excruciating tortures; their bodies were opened while
alive, under pretence that by viewing them they could portend
future events, as success in battle, &c.
Their principal Deities were the Sun, Moon, Tuisco, Woden, Saxon
Thor, Friga, and Seater, to whom they dedicated the days of Deities.
the week.
The Saxons were sunk in the extreme of idolatry, until their A.D.
conversion by Augustine, the Monk, in the reign of Ethelbert, 597-
King of Kent, A. D. 597, who embraced Christianity from the 1"°°^"
persuasion of his Queen. receive the
The West Saxons did not receive the Christian faith until the Christian
reign of Kynegills, A. D. 611, who, by the preaching offa'tb.
Berinus, an Italian, sent from Rome, was convinced of the •
errors of idolatry, and was baptized, with many of his nobility. Saxons con-
By frequent irruptions and cruelties of the Pagan Danes deso- verted to
lation was again brought upon the country, and the Christian Christianity
religion once more nearly exterminated.
Even Christianity softened not the manners of the English
Saxons ; nothing could exceed their ignorance at this period ;
for, as they received the doctrine through the corrupted channels
of Rome, credulity and superstition were implanted with it.
Bounty to the Church atoned for every vice, and the blackest
crimes were pardoned by penance, while servility to the Monks
was observed to a gross degree, and large benefactions were
continually made by the nobility to the Court of Rome.
Wilfrid, Bishop of Lindisfarne, sole Prelate of Northumber- Great su-
land, preached to his ignorant auditors "that St. Peter, to perstition
whose custody the keys of Heaven were entrusted, would refuse of the Ume3-
admittance to every one who should be wanting in respect to Saxon
his successor." This suited their vulgar conceptions, and Chronicle.
increased the influence of the Papal See.
The great extent of the Diocesses in that early age made a 905.
regular visitation of the Bishops almost impracticable. King
Edward the Elder, about 905, visiting the western parts of his
dominions, found the Churches deserted and in ruins, no
Pastors, the people wrapt in the deepest ignorance, and
nothing but the name of Christian left among them : to remedy
this evil he, by the advice of Plegmundus, Archbishop of
Canterbury, erected two more Sees,* one at St. Petrocs, at
Bodmin, for Cornwall, the other at Tawton, for Devon,
appointing Werstanus the first Bishop.

* Prior to this the See of the West Saxons had been removed to Winchester,
from Dorchester in Oxfordshire, aud the Diocess divided into two, viz:
Winchester, and Slierborne in Dorsetshire.
Q 3

242

THE HISTORY OF

Chap. V.

Werstanus.

A.D. 906.
Putta. 912.
Eadulphus.
The See
removed to
Crediton. 934.
Ethelgarus.

944.
Algarus. 954.
Alfwoldus.

970.
Alwolfus.
Sidemannus

Cathedral
at Bodmin
burnt by
the Danes.

Alphredus.

Bishops of Devon.
1st. Werstanus, after his consecration, fixed his See at
Tawton, near Barnstaple, but did not enjoy his new dignity
long; he died in the following year, was buried in his own
church, and succeeded by
2nd. Putta, who had also fixed his See at Tawton; but,
about the year 912, taking a journey to Crediton, to visit the
King, or, according to others, Uffa, Earl of Devon, was slain,
supposed by the said Earl's followers.
3rd. Eadulphus,* on the death of Putta, was consecrated
Bishop of Devon, at Crediton, to which place he removed his
See, and built a magnificent church. He continued Bishop
twenty-two years, and dying was buried in his own church.
4th. Ethelgarus succeeded. In his time King Athelstan
founded a Benedictine Monastery in the city of Exeter, which
he dedicated to the Virgin Mary. He held his See ten years,
and then dying was buried in his own church.
5th. Algarus. He was installed at Crediton, and held the
See about ten years. He was buried in his own church, and
succeeded by
6th. Alfwoldus, who was consecrated by Dunstan, Arch
bishop of Canterbury. In his time, Orgar, Earl of Devon,
built the stately Abbey of Tavistock; and King Edgar restored
the Benedictine Abbey, founded by Athelstan, in Exeter, re
called the Monks who had been dispersed, and made Sidemannus
Abbot thereof. Alfwoldus governed his Diocess about sixteen
years. He also was interred in his own church.
7th. Alwolfus, according to Dicetas, was consecrated Bishop
of Crediton, who held his See about nine years, and then dying
was buried in his own church.
8th. Sidemannus, Abbot of Exeter, was elected in the room
of the last Bishop. During his government the Danes made
dreadful havoc in the counties of Devon and Cornwall; they
burnt and destroyed, by different means, the country, and
spared neither sex nor age : among other outrages they burnt
the Cathedral church at Bodmin, on which account the See
was removed to St. Germans. Sidemannus, after enjoying his
Episcopal dignity for twelve years, died, and was interred in
his own Cathedral.
9th. Alphredus, (named by Dicetas, Alfricus) Abbot of
Malmsbury, was installed at Crediton. He was esteemed a

* Mr. Hoker makes this Bishop brother to Alpsius, Duke of Devon and
Cornwall, but this must be an error, for Uffa, at this time, was Earl of
Devon; the title of Duke was not known then ; besides, the name Alpsius
is not Saxon.

THE CITY OF EXETER.

243

learned man, and wrote two books: the one entitled, De Rebus Chap. v.
Cmnobii Sui, the other De Rerum Naturis. In this Bishop's
time King Ethelred endowed the Bishopric of St. Germans
with lands, great liberties, and immunities. The Danes a»"ain
ravaged Devon and Cornwall, spoiled and burnt the Abbey of Danes
Tavistock, and besieged Exeter, but were defeated at Pinkoe r(Xof "'
with great slaughter. Alphredus died A. D. 999, and was
interred in Crediton church.
10th. Alwolfus (according to Dicetas) was the next Bishop. A.D.
In his time Sweyn, King of Denmark, took and destroyed the "9-
city of Exeter. In this general destruction the remains of A,wolfus-
British antiquity, Churches, and Monasteries, fell a prey to '?xeter
the flames, and the whole city was left one heap of ruins. uys,tn°J,e
Alwolfus was Bishop of Crediton, but he enjoyed but little Danes.
comfort, being continually in terror of the Danes, to whom he
was obliged to pay submission. He died A. D. 1014, and was
interred in his own church.
11th. Alnoldus, according to Matthew of Westminster, 1;>14.
succeeded, and was installed at Crediton. In the time of this Alnoldus.
Bishop's government King Canute, to expiate the crimes of his
father, Sweyn, repaired the Benedictine Abbey of Exeter,
granted the Monks great privileges, and gave to the Abbot,
Athelwold, many holy relics, with grants of lands, (particularly
the Manor of Stoke Canon) besides large immunities. Alnoldus,
after sitting in the Episcopal chair fifteen years, died, and was
interred in his own church.
12th. Levigus, (or Levingus) Abbot of Tavistock, and 1029-
nephew to Brithwald, Bishop of Cornwall, was the next sue - LevlSus-
cessor. He was high in the favor of Canute, whom he attended
in his pilgrimage to Rome. On the death of his uncle, the
Bishop of St. Germans, he obtained that See, and united it to The Sees of
that of Crediton, which has ever since continued one Bishopric. Cornwall &
After fifteen years he was removed to the See of Worcester, une;t°d
where he died and was buried. Some affirm that falling under
the displeasure of the King, Hardicanute, he was deposed, and
returned back to Tavistock, and there died.
13th. Leofricus. He was a native of Lorrain, and on 1044.
account of his noble descent, wisdom, and learning, greatly in Leofricus.
favour with King Edward, the Confessor* who made him one Tl.ie
of his Privy Council, Lord Chancellor of Enqland, and after- BlshoP's
¦ ii* i c i-y-tz- i i *ee re
wards promoted him to the vacant See ot Crediton, where he ,nove(j rrom
was installed ; he then removed his residence to Exeter, a Crediton to
place of more note and security in such troublesome times; Exeter.

* King Edward, by his partiality to foreigners, (for he promoted them to
places of the greatest trust) was greatly instrumental to the Norman Conquest.

244 THE HISTORY OF
Chap. V. and at his request the King, with his Queen, Editha, came to
~ this city, and removed the Monks from the Benedictine Abbey
to that of Westminster, which he had lately built. He also
translated the See from Crediton to Exeter, and put the Bishop
in possession thereof; the King taking him by the right hand,
and the Queen by the left, conducted him to the high altar,
and there placed him in a seat appointed for that purpose.
Leofricus, thus installed, suppressed several religious houses
within the vicinity of his church, and appropriated their
revenues to its service; and by his great interest with the King
obtained of him large possessions, privileges, and revenues. In
his time William the Conqueror possessed himself of this
kingdom, besieged and took this city.
This Bishop filled the Episcopal Chair with dignity and
honour for twenty-three years, died in peace, and was interred
in the cemetery of his church, which place, by the enlargement
of the sacred pile since, is under the south tower. A new
monument was erected to his memory, about the year 1568, at
the expence of the Dean and Chapter, through the influence
of Mr. John Hoker, (author of the ancient History of Exeter)
who composed an elegant Latin epitaph which is now entirely
obliterated ; the only one remaining (which has lately been
repaired) is, " Leofricus fyrst Bishoppe of Excester lyeth here."
A.D. 14th. Osbertus, by birth a Norman, was, in 1074, installed
1074. into this Bishopric, which he held for near thirty years, the
Osbertus. latter part of which he was almost blind from age. He died
A. D. 1104, and was buried in the cemetery of his church, near
his predecessor.*
1104. 15th. William Warlwest, a. Norman, Chaplain to the Con-
William queror, and his sons and successors, William and Henry, was,
Warlwest. ty the iatterj preferred to this Bishopric, and consecrated by
1107. Anslem, Archbishop of Canterbury, in 1107. He first began
to enlarge his Cathedral, which at that time occupied the site
of that part only now termed the Lady's Chapel. He also
founded a Monastery for Canons Regular at Plympton. In his
latter days he lost his sight, yet so great was his reputation for
wisdom that it did not prevent his being sent Ambassador to
Pope Paschall, where he executed his commission with so
much prudence that he effected a reconciliation between the
said Pope and his Master, who before were at high variance.
On his return he was received with marks of the greatest
esteem, notwithstanding which, judging himself unfit (from his

* Adjoining the wall, under the south tower, is a very ancient altar tomb
without any inscription remaining, which is supposed to cover the remains
of this Bishop.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 245
blindness) to perform the duties of his sacred function, he Chap. V.
resigned his Bishopric, and retired to Plympton, where, becom-
ing a Canon in the house he had caused to be built, he died,
and was buried there. He filled the Episcopal chair about
twenty years.
16th. Robert Chichester, Dean of Salisbury, was consecrated A.D.
by Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury, in 1128. He was a 1128>
descendant of a very respectable family in the county of Devon, ci°bcehrtst
and esteemed for his great zeal in religion, often (according to
the ignorance of those times) performing Pilgrimages to Rome,
and other places, and bringing home relics. He continued the
additional buildings to his Cathedral began by his predecessor,
on which he expended great sums. After having enjoyed his
dignity about twenty-two years he died, and was interred in
his own Cathedral, on the south side of the high altar.
17th. Robert Warlewest, nephew to the late Bishop William, 1150.
Dean of Salisbury, was consecrated by Theobald, Archbishop Robert
of Canterbury, in 1150. He continued the building of his Warlewest'
Cathedral, and after filling the See about nine years, died, and
was buried at Plympton, near his uncle.
18th. Bartholomew Iscanus (so named from the place of his 1159.
birth, he being born in Exeter) succeeded. He was the son of Bartholo-
a poor citizen ; but being noticed in his early age for his apt and mew
ready wit, and great inclination to learning, his parents, with IscaDas-
the assistance of friends, put him to school, where he made
such proficiency that he attracted the notice of his superiors,
and was by them advanced in the Church. After his elevation
to the Episcopal throne he wrote several books, on Predesti
nation, Free Will, Penance, and other superstitious errors of
the times. He was a great opposer of that arch rebel and pre
tended Saint, Thomas Becket, particularly in the Parliament
held at Northampton, where in his speech he convinced his
auditors of the justice of the King's cause and the fallacies of
Becket's pretensions, which occasioned the Archbishop's banish
ment. After Becket's murder this Bishop was sent Am
bassador to Pope Alexander III. to endeavour to effect a
reconciliation between him and King Henry, which he performed,
and returned home with great honour. In this Bishop's time
Baldwin, surnamed of Exeter, being a native of this city, ?al?w.ln'
presided in the Archiepiscopal chair of Canterbury. He was 0fc^e°.p
born of poor parents, but from his childhood evinced a great bury, a
desire for learning, by which he attracted the notice of the native of
Prior and Monks of St. Nicholas* in this city, who instructed Bxeter-

* The only instructors at that time were Monks and Friars ; and the little
learning then known was entirely confined to the Cloisters.
R 3

246

THE HISTORY OF

Chap.V.

A.D.
1184.
John the
Chanter.

1191.
Henry
Marshall.

1206.
Simon de
Apulia.

Joseph Iscanus.
Alexander Nequam.

JohannesDevonius.

him in school Divinity, and other branches of learning taught
in those times; under these instructors he obtained great
literary knowledge, and through merit alone was advanced to
the highest dignities in the English church.
Between those fellow Citizens, Bartholomew and Baldwin,
an early intimacy commenced, which lasted during their lives.
This Bishop presided over his Diocess about fourteen years, but
where he died or was buried is not ascertained.*
J 9th. John, surnamed the Chanter, from his office, having
been Precentor of this Cathedral, was consecrated and installed
Bishop of this Diocess in 1184. He continued the building of
his Cathedral, wherein he was nothing inferior to his prede
cessors. He died in 1191, (after being Bishop of this See about
six years) and was interred on the south side of his own church,
opposite the door leading to the Bishop's Palace.
20th. Henry Marshall, Archdeacon of Stafford, brother to
Walter, Earl Marshal of England, was consecrated by Hubert,
Archbishop of Canterbury, in 1191. He proceeded in the
work began by his predecessors with much vigour, and com
pleted the Choir of the Cathedral ; after which he purchased
the Manor of Woodbury, of one Albermarle, which he gave
and impropriated to the Vicars Choral of his church. He died,
after governing his Diocess with great reputation twelve years,
and was interred on the north side of the choir of his Cathedral,
under an altar tomb, erected in 1206, on which his effigy
lies at full length, with a mitre on its head, and a crosier in
its hand : the whole well executed in grey marble ; but no
inscription remains.
21st. Simon de Apulia, by birth an Italian, was installed in
1206. He revived the ordinances of his primitive predecessor,
Leofricus, that all his Canons should take their diet in common
at one table ; and for this purpose a steward was appointed to
provide them necessary victuals. During this Bishop's time
two learned men flourished, viz : Joseph Iscanus (so named
from receiving his birth in this city) and Alexander Nequam,
Prior of St. Nicholas. The former was deeply learned in the
Greek and Latin languages, an excellent mathematician, and
well acquainted with the liberal sciences; the latter was a
profound philosopher, an eloquent orator, a pleasant poet, and
well versed in Divinity.
About 1212, John, surnamed Devonius, a native of this

* Mr. Izacke, in his list of Bishops of Exeter, says he was buried in his
own Church.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 247
county, was much noticed for his learning and other qualifica- Chap. V.
tions: he was greatly in favour with King John, who made him ~=====~
his Chaplain and Confessor. He was an intimate acquaint
ance of his countryman, Baldwin, Archbishop of Canterbury ;
was made Abbot of Ford, in this county, by the Pope, and
wrote several learned treatises. He was buried in his Abbey of
Ford, much lamented by all who knew him.
Simon de Apulia held his See eighteen years, and was
buried in his own church, on the north side of the choir,
behind the pulpit, under a plain altar tomb ; but no inscription
or effigy is remaining to his memory.
22nd. William Brewer was elected soon after the death of a. D.
Simon, and was consecrated by Stephen Langton, Archbishop 1224.
of Canterbury. He was descended from a noble family, being William
brother to William Brewer, Earl of Devon. He was much Brewer-
esteemed for his wisdom, and in great favour with King Henry
III. who selected him as a guardian to conduct his sister, the
Lady Isabella, into Germany, to her intended marriage with
the Emperor Frederic; through the whole of which journey he
was received with the greatest honours ; and, after having
executed his commission to the satisfaction of all parties, he
returned home loaded with presents.
Soon after his return he constituted a Dean and twenty-four Constitutes
Prebendaries within his Cathedral: to the Deanry he im pro- a Dean and
priated the Rectories of Brampton and Colyton Rawleigh ; twenty-four
and for the support of the Prebendaries he purchased lands, the aries in ^
rent of which amounted at that time to £4 each annually: of Church.
these Prebendaries he constituted his Chapter.* He governed
his Diocess with great reputation about nineteen years, and
was interred in the middle of the choir of his Cathedral, under
a plain marble stone.
23rd. Richard Blondy was consecrated by Boniface, Arch- 1245.
bishop of Canterbury, in 1245. He is reported to have been Richard
a man of meek temper and mild disposition. Being much B'«"><ty-
advanced in years he was entirely governed by the principal
officers of his household, who, taking advantage of his weakness,
endeavoured to enrich themselves by granting conveyances of Four of the
estates, and advowsons of church livings, without his knowledge Bishop's
or conseut; but these nefarious practices being timely dis- P"nclPa'
covered, Lodesivell, his Chancellor, Sutton, his Registrar, penaD(.e
Fitzherbert, his Official, and Ermcstow, the Keeper of his in the
Seal, the principal offenders, were excommunicated, and obliged Cathedral.

* From this account it appears that the whole of the Prebendaries originally
constituted the Chapter, though now confined to the Canons only.

248 ™E HISTORY OF
Chap. V. by the succeeding Bishop to do penance *' for their crimes; and
===== this they accordingly performed on Palm Sunday, the 19th day
of March, 1257, in the Cathedral of St. Peter. Bishop
Blondy held his See near twelve years, and was buried on the
north side of his own church.
A.D. 24th. Walter Bronscombe was consecrated at Canterbury,
1258. j,Y Archbishop Boniface, on Palm Sunday, 1258. He was a
Brons- native 0f this city, and of poor parentage; but being of good
combe". disposition, and fond of reading, his parents, with the assistance
of friends, placed him at school, where he made so great a
proficiency that he was removed to Oxford; and there, by his
diligent application to study, he made himself complete master
of most branches of literature then taught in the public schools.
From Oxford he was elected to the Episcopal chair of this
Diocess ; but not having taken on him Priest's orders his
consecration was deferred (according to the rules of the church)
until he had so qualified himself.
Very During his Episcopal dignity he acquired great riches, and
bountiful to highly distinguished himself by his generosity and bounty.
the Church, Among many other acts of benevolence he purchased the Bartons
of Rokesdon and Clist, and gave to them the Hospital of St.
John, in this city; founded a College for Canons Regular, at
Glasceney, near Penryn, in Cornwall; and instituted in his
own Church a Feast, named St. Gabriel's.
Remarka- Notwithstanding these marks of his benevolent disposition
hie instance jle ;s taxed with fraudently obtaining the patronage of Clist
0 ...1S Fomeson, now called Sowton. The story is related by historians
getting ,, , ,, J J
possession m the following manner: —
of the living The Bishop having built a large house, for the residence of
of Sowton. himself and his successors, at Clist Sackville, now Bishop's
Clist, and being desirous of enlarging the estate prevailed on
the Dean and Chapter to give up to him a contiguous estate,
named Cornishwood ; but not contented with this he wanted
the patronage of the church of Clist Fomeson also, and made
application for that purpose to the owner, Mr. Fomeson, who
positively refused surrendering his paternal estate, which had
long been the residence of his ancestors. The Bishop was much
displeased at this, and a circumstance happened soon after
which enabled him to obtain by compulsion what he could not
get by persuasion. A Friar, the Bishop's Chaplain and Con
fessor, died in the Bishop's house at Clist; and, according
to custom, ought to have been buried at Farringdon, in which
parish the Bishop's house was situated ; but that being at

* A very small punishment for so heinous an offence, which plainly proves
how easily, in those days, Ecclesiastics got their necks clear of the halter.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 249
some distance, the weather rainy, and the roads deep and Chap. V.
dirty, his Lordship ordered the corpse to be carried to the
church of Clist Fomeson, which was near and adjoining to his
Manor, and separated only by the small river Clist. Mr.
Fomeson receiving notice of this intended funeral, and that a
leach-way was to be made through his lands without his
consent, and being moreover well aware of the crafts of the
clergy, called out his tenants together and went to the bridge,
the only avenue from one estate to the other ; there he met the
Bishop's men bringing the corpse, and strictly forbade them from
trespassing on his lands ; but they persisting, and attempting
to force a passage, a scuffle ensued, and in the conflict the
body of the poor Friar fell into the water, and was thoroughly
soused ; a very heinous crime in those days. The Bishop was
highly exasperated at such irreverent usage of a holy Friar,
his own Chaplain and Confessor, and sued Mr. Fomeson at law ;
nor did he cease harassing him until he had brought him to a
compliance of surrendering his patronage of the church and a
piece of land, in order to save the remainder.
This Bishop held his Diocess about twenty -three years, and
was buried on the south side of the Lady's Chapel, in his own
Cathedral. On a sumptuous tomb is his effigy at full length,
in pontifical robes, and other insignia of his sacerdotal office :
the canopy is decorated with angels, holding labels, on which
were legends, which, with the epitaph, is now mostly obliter
ated ; the copy of the latter, as preserved by Mr. Izacke, in his
Memorials, follows : —
Olim sincerus pater omni dignus amore,
Primus Walterus magno jacet hie in honor e,
Edidit hie plura dignissima laude statuta,
Qua tanquam jura servant nunc hie omnia tuta:
Atque hoc Collegium quod Glasney plebs vocat omnis,
Condidit egregium pro voce data sibi somnis,
Quot loca construxit? pietatis quot bona fecit?
Quam sanctam duxit vitam, vox dicere qua scit ?
Laudibus immensis jubilet gens Exoniensis,
Et chorus 8r turbte, quod notus in hacfuit urbe,
Plus si scire velis, Festum statuit Gabrielis.
Gaudeat in cadis igitur pater iste fidelis. A.D.
25th. Peter Quivill was installed Bishop of this Diocess 1281.
on the 10th of December, 1281. He was a great benefactor to Qea"lU
his church, and first began the building of the nave or body of The body
the church, from the choir, westward; of this he laid the of the
foundation ; he first instituted the office of Sub-Dean, and im- Cathedral
propriated the Rectory of Egloshall, in Cornwall, for its support; beSan-

s 3

250

THE HISTORY OF

Chap.V.

A sudden
accident occasions
theBisbop' death.

A.D.1293.
ThomasBitton. Learnedmen at
this time.

1307.
Walter Stapleton.

he also added greatly to the revenues of Precentors,* by
granting them the impropriations of Paignton and Chudleigh.
He was a great benefactor to the Hospital of St. John, in this
city, which he endowed with goods and lands.
In the year 1285 the murder of the Chanter, Walter
Lechlade, happened, which occasioned the King to visit this
city, as has been already mentioned in the civic part of this
' history ; and the dispute broke out between Bishop Quivill
and the Franciscan Friars, which occasioned him much
trouble. His death was sudden, from drinking a syrup too
hastily. This happened in the year 1292, in the eleventh of
his episcopal dignity, and he was buried in the Chapel of the
Virgin Mary, in his own church.
26th. Thomas Bitton was elected Bishop in the year following.
The See of Canterbury being vacant at this time he was conse
crated by John Roman, Archbishop of York. Bishop Bitton
continued the building of the Cathedral, and was a great patron
of learning and learned men, particularly those in his own
Diocess ; among those of most note were Robert de Plympton,
a Canon Regular of the Abbey of Plympton, and Professor of
Divinity ; he wrote two books, the titles of which are not men
tioned ; Walter, of Excester, a Franciscan Friar, of St.
Carocus, in Cornwall, who, at the request of one Baldwin,
of Excester, wrote the noted history of Guy, Earl of Warwick ;
William, of Excester, D. D. Warden of the Franciscan
Friars, in this city ; and Godfrey, surnamed de Cornwall,
Lecturer in Divinity, sometimes at Paris. Bishop Bitton died
in 1306, and was interred in the choir of his own church, near
the foot of the high altar. \
27th. Walter Stapleton was consecrated on the 28th of De
cember, 1307, by Robert Winchelsea, Archbishop of Canter
bury. He was descended from a noble family, and was so
eminent for his learning, wisdom, and political knowledge, that
he obtained the King's favour, who made him one of his Privy
Council, and Lord High Treasurer of England. His installation

* Mr. Hoker says he founded the office of Chanter ; bat this must be a
mistake, as Bishop John, surnamed tbe Chanter, filled that dignity in this
Cathedral before the year 1184, more than a oentury prior to this period.
t On removing the old pavement of tbe choir, in the year 1763, the body of
Bishop Bitton was discovered, enclosed in a lead coffin ; the body was almost
entire, and clothed in pontifical vestments ; the face was covered with a
sudarium, which had the appearance of tinder, through age; in the coffin was
a small chalice and paten, of silver gilt ; and among the dust was found a gold
ring, in which was a large emerald. The body, after being inspected by the
then Dean Milks, was again deposited in the same grave, and arched over; but
the chalice, paten, and ring were preserved, by order of the Chapter, and
enclosed in a box, v.ith a glazed lid, for the inspection of the curious.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 251
was attended with great solemnity. On entering the city he Chap. v.
was met by the Mayor and Citizens, in their livery gowns, and '
a great number of gentlemen of the first distinction in the
county of Devon. On alighting from his horse he was con
ducted on foot to the Cathedral : the streets were covered all
the way with black cloth, which was given afterwards to
the poor.
Previous to this ceremony a great dispute arose : Hugh Hng;n
Courtenay, Esq. son and heir to Sir Hugh Courtenay, Knight, Courtenay,
claimed the honour of being chief Steward at the Feast, as the'office'of
holding the Manor of Slapton by that service; but a compromise chief
took place, on the following conditions : that the said claimant, Steward
and his heirs, should, at the installation of every Bishop, meet ?l tnfr, .
him at the East-gate of the city of Exeter, and from thence, reast
proceeding on his right hand to the Choir of the Cathedral,
should prevent the people from crowding or pressing on him,
and so incommoding him ; and that he should at the said
installation feast serve in the first course, at the Bishop's own
table ; and that in consideration of the said service, he should
have for his fee four silver dishes, (of those which shall have Fees for
been placed at the first course) two salts, one cup, (out of executing
which the Bishop shall have drank at the said feast) one wine "_? sal<1
pot, one spoon, and two basons, all which vessels shall be of
silver ; and that in case the said claimant, or his heirs, should
be sick, or in nonage, and not capable of performing the duties
of the office, proper substitutes should be provided ; and in case
of non-compliance the fees should not be demanded.
This agreement was made at Newton Plympton, and given
under the seals of the said Bishop, Dean, and Chapter, the
morrow after the Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle, A. D. 1308,
witnessed by William Martin, Philip Courtenay, Thomas
Chichester, Stephen Haccomb, Roger Novant, Thomas Arch
deacon, John Bickton, and John Troyagn, Knights ; Robert
Stockhay, John Buttlesgate, Robert Up~Ex, and Henry
Buckerell, Esquires. This Prelate greatly increasing in wealth
employed part of it to the most beneficent purposes. He ™*ho ,
founded and endowed two houses in Oxford, one named grea't
Stapleton 's Inn, (since Exeter College) the other Hart Hall; charity.
and among other charities he was a great benefactor to St.
John's Hospital, in this city, to which he granted the impro
priated Rectory of Ernescombe, for the relief of the poor
children in the said Hospital.
About the year 1322 he was sent Ambassador to France, to
endeavour to reconcile the differences between the two courts,
which he effected. In the unhappy disputes which soon
after broke out between King Edward and his Queen, Isabella,

252

THE HISTORY OF

Chap. V.

The Bishop
and his
brother
murderedby the
Londoners.

A.D.
1328.
James Berkley.

John
Grandison.

he strenuously asserted the cause of his Sovereign, and was by
him made Custos of the city of London ; when refusing to
deliver the keys of the Tower to the mob, (the Queen's party)
they broke open his Palace, and plundered it of all his plate,
jewels, and household goods. He then, to escape their fury, en*
deavoured to fly to the Cathedral of St. Paul, but being
overtaken, they dismounted him, beat and insulted him in a
cruel manner, dragged him into Cheapside, and there pro
claimed him a traitor ; he was then beheaded, with two of his
domestics ; after which their bodies were drawn from the place
of execution and buried in the rubbish of a Tower, which the
unfortunate Bishop was erecting near the Thames.
Soon after his brother, Sir Richard Stapleton, was seized
and murdered in a similar manner: these cruel assassinations
were committed on the 15th day of October, 1327. The
Bishop's body and that of his brother were soon after taken up
and removed to this city, and received interment, with great
solemnity, on the north side of the high altar, in the Cathedral,
and an elegant monument was erected. In this, which is
beautifully decorated with gothic sculpture, the Bishop's effigy
lies at full length, in his pontifical robes, and other insignia,
painted and gilt ; on the canopy over is painted the figure of
our blessed Saviour, with his hands extended, and the wounds
he received by the nails, at his crucifixion, are depicted on
them and his feet. On a large circular entablature is a long
Latin inscription, relating the particular passages of his life,
and an account of his death. It was repaired some years ago,
and repainted and gilt, at the expence of Exeter College,
Oxford. Sir Richard Stapleton's monument is in the wall of the
north aisle, opposite to that of his brother. His effigy lies at
full length, in complete armour, but it is now much mutilated,
and the inscription defaced.
28th. James Berkley, descended from the noble family of
the Lord Berkley, in Gloucestershire, was consecrated Bishop
of this Diocess soon after the murder of his predecessor; but
enjoyed not the dignity long, for he died within four months
after his consecration, and there is no certain account of the
place of his interment.
29th. John Grandison, of noble birth, being descended from
the Dukes of Burgundy, and who was in Italy when Bishop
Berkley died, was appointed by the King his successor ; and
this nomination being approved by the Pope, John XXII. he
consecrated him Bishop of this Diocess on the 18th of October,
1328. He was much addicted from his childhood to literature^

THE CITY OF EXETER. 253
in which he made so great a proficiency that at an early age he Chap. V.
was appointed Professor of Divinity, on which he wrote two
books, viz: Pontificates Majores and Pontificates Minores:
these gained him the esteem of the Pope so much that he made
him one of his Privy Council, and Apostolical Nuncio.
In this quality he sent him as his Ambassador to the
principal Potentates of Europe ; his last embassy was to
England, his native country, where the great talents he dis
played caused him to be noticed by King Edward, who procured
his dismissal from the Pope's service, and gave him the
Archdeaconry of Nottingham, with several other benefices,
made him one of his Privy Council, and fixed him in this
Bishopric, where he acquired great riches, and employed them
in acts of charity and benevolence.
He built and endowed the College of St. Mary Ottery; was Bishop
a great benefactor to the Choral Vicars of his own Cathedral, Crandison's
and to the College of Glasceny, near Penryn; he built the two D*j>|j"n'Tse
last arches and the west front of the Cathedral, vaulted the
roof, and thus completed a building began 437 years before; St. Peter's
the first foundation having been laid in the reign of King ^a. "!e ,
Athelstan:* he also gifted large quantities of plate, ornaments,
&c. on the Cathedral.
At Bishopsteignton he erected a large house, which he well
furnished, and left to his successors : he impropriated to it the
Parsonage of Radtvay, for this purpose, (as he expresses in
his last will) " that they should have a place to retire to
should the King seize their temporalities." -f He greatly re
trenched the expences of living practised by his predecessors ;
and notwithstanding the great charge of building, and the sums
he expended in charity, he was at his death possessed of great
riches, which he left entirely to charitable uses, and in legacies
to friends and relations.
At this time William of Excester, a learned man, and Canon William of
of the Cathedral, with several others, preached against the Excester
temporal possessions of the clergy, asserting that Christ and P™?°g"h
his Apostles were poor men ; neither was any prince or layman *fear'°y.
subject to the Pope, except in matters of religion.
This doctrine greatly alarmed the Court of Rome, and
William, with his abettors, were excommunicated. The Canon

* The reader will remember that the original building, founded by King
Athelstan, was destroyed by Sweyne and his Danes.
t This prediction of the Bishop seemed almost prophetical, for not only this
house and impropriation, but the greatest part of this Bishopric's temporalities
were alienated, and became the inheritance of laymen.
T 3

254

THE HISTORY OF

Chap. V.
William of
Excester
recants.

A.D.
1370.
Thomas Brenting-
ham.

1395.
EdmundStafford.

1419.
John
Catherike.

affrighted at the threats of being proceeded against with his
associates, as heretics, and to save his life and livings, secretly
left his companions, and openly recanted his former doctrine.
Bishop Grandison occupied the Episcopal chair near forty-
two years; he died on St. Swithen's day, 1369, and was
interred in a small Chapel, in the front wall of his own
Cathedral.* 30th. Thomas Brentingham, a native of Devon, was elected
Bishop of this Diocess and that of Hereford nearly at one time ;
but preferring the See of Exeter, he was consecrated accord
ingly, on the 10th of March, 1370, by William, Archbishop
of Canterbury. He was highly respected for his great ex
perience in the laws, both civil and ecclesiastical ; and was one
of the thirteen Peers appointed by Parliament, in the tenth
year of Richard II. to take charge of the affairs of the nation.
In the year 1377, he was made Lord Treasurer of England,
and one of the King's Privy Council ; he finished the buildings
in the Calendarhay , f which were began by the preceding
Bishop, for the habitations of the Vicars Choral ; and after
well governing his Diocess twenty-four years died on the 3rd
of December, 1394. He was buried on the north side of the
body of his own church, under a large marble stone, whereon
was his effigy, inlaid with brass, which is now so defaced that
nothing but the brass studs which fastened it are remaining.
31st. Edmund Stafford, brother to Ralph, Lord Stafford,
was consecrated at Lambeth, by William Courtenay, Archbishop
of Canterbury. He was a learned man, and from his abilities
was advanced to be one of the King's Privy Council, and Lord
Privy Seal ; he founded two Fellowships in Stapledon Inn,
Oxford; he also reformed the statutes of the said house, and
refounded it by the name of Exeter College. He governed
his Diocess about twenty-three years, with much honour, and
died on the 4th of September, 1419: he lies on the north side
of the Virgin Mary's Chapel, in a beautiful tomb, on which is
his effigy elegantly carved in alabaster. This monument was
greatly injured in the troubles of King Charles I. and the
inscription is totally obliterated.
32nd. John Catherike, a native of Cheshire, was translated
from the See of Litchfield to this Diocess, and installed on

* According to Mr. Izacke, who was living at the time, his tomb was
ransacked by the Parliament soldiers, in the grand Rebellion, and the lead
coffin taken up in hopes of prey, his ashes scattered about, and his bones
thrown no one knew where. This Chapel, which had been made a receptacle
for filth, has since been cleansed, by order of the Dean and Chapter, the walls
whitewashed, and windows glazed ; but there is no inscription or memento
to the memory of this beneficent Prelate.

t Now tbe College.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 255
the 8th of November, 1419. He did not long enjoy his new Chap, v.
dignity, as he died within two months after his installation, 
on his journey to Rome, at Avignon, in France, where he
was buried.
33rd. James Cary, Bishop of Chester, a native of this JamesCary.
country, being at Rome when the account of Bishop Stafford's
death came to Pope Martin V. was by him made and
consecrated Bishop of this Church ; but he did not long hold
the promotion ; he died within six weeks after, and was there
interred. 34th. Edmund Lacie, Bishop of Hereford, was thence trans- a.D.
lated to this See ; he was esteemed as a learned and religious 1420.
man, but is accused of paying too much attention to flatterers, Edward
which often led him into errors. He was very strenuous in sup
porting the liberties of his Church, and this occasioned a long
and troublesome lawsuit between him and the Citizens of Exeter,
which was at last ended by arbitration. He claimed cognizance
of all pleas within his court and liberties.
In the second year of his Bishopric great complaints were
made in the parliament held at Westminster, against the disso
lute lives of the Monks, and other religious fraternities; and the
matter being brought before a general convocation of the Clergy,
this Bishop (being chosen Prolocutor) made a learned oration
on the subject, wherein he lamented that religious men should
use such practices, contrary to the rules of their profession ; and
at the conclusion he presented several articles in writing pray
ing for a reformation.
In this convocation it was finally agreed that every third
benefice in the gift of any of the Prelates or Monasteries should
thenceforth be bestowed (for seven years) on some scholar of
either of the Universities of Oxford or Cambridge.
Bishop Lacie was a great benefactor to the College of Vicars
Choral : he died on the 25th March, 1455, and was interred
on the north side of the Choir of his own Cathedral.*
After his death many miracles (according to the ignorance
and superstition of the times) were said to have been wrought
at his tomb ; and this occasioned a great resort of the common
people to it, in pilgrimages, and to be healed of their different
diseases. 1455.
35th. George Nevil, (the second sou of Richard Nevil, Earl George
of Salisbury) a young man not twenty years of age, was promoted Nevil.
* A plain altar tomb of variegated marble covers the remains of this Bishop ;
on the upper stone was inlaid his effigy, in brass or some other metal, as
plainly appears by the indented marks : there is no sculpture or inscription to
be seen ; but on the top of the choir-screen, directly over the tomb, is a
large shield, on which are the Lacies' arms— three shovellers' (or wild ducks')
heads, erased.

256

THE HISTORY OF

Chap.V.

The Chap
ter-house
finished.

A.D.
1466.
John
Booth.
Bishop's
throne erected.

1749.
Peter
Courtenay

Bishop
Courtenayoonspires
with others
against Richard
III.

to this See, and consecrated the 25th day of November, 1455.
' At the age of twenty-five he was made one of the King's
Privy Council, and Lord Chancellor of England; and soon
after elected Chancellor of the University of Oxford. He
finished the building of the Chapter-house, which was began
by Bishop Lacie. After holding the Bishopric about ten
years he was translated to the Archiepiscopal chair of York,
A. D. 1465.
36th. John Booth, a native of Cheshire, was elected and
consecrated by Thomas Bouchier, Archbishop of Canterbury,
the 22nd of February, 1466. He erected the stately throne for
the Bishops, in the Choir; and, during his residence, governed
his Diocess with honour; but on the unhappy disputes arisino-
between the Earl of Warwick and King Edward IV. he
removed for more security to his own house at Horsleigh, in
Hampshire, where he died, in the twelfth year of his Prelacy,
the 5th of April, 1478; and his remains were interred in the
church of St. Clement Danes, without Temple Bar, London.
37th. Peter Courtenay, descended from the ancient Earls
of Devon, was the third son of Sir Philip Courtenay, of
Powder ham Castle; he was educated at Exeter College, Oxford,
where he took the degree of Bachelor of Law ; he then went
to Italy, and had the degree of Doctor of Law conferred
on him, by the University of Padua; and in the year 1477
he was admitted to the same degree in Oxford, with great
solemnity, and gave a splendid entertainment on the occasion
to the University.
Soon after his return he was made Archdeacon of Exeter,
and in a short time after Dean of the same. While in this
dignity a dispute arose between the Mayor and Corporation
of Exeter and the incorporated Company of Tailors, which,
after the expenditure of large sums of money in law, was left
to be determined by King Edward IV. who sent his final
decision to Doctor Peter Courtenay, to be by him delivered to
the contending parties.
In 1479 he was promoted to the vacant Bishopric of this
Diocess, and consecrated by Thomas, Archbishop of Canter
bury ; and no sooner had he taken possession of the Episcopal
chair than he began to reform the abuses which had crept
into his Diocess, to fill up the vacant benefices, and to re
trench the pluralities of the Clergy: but, in the year 1483,
when Richard, Duke of Gloucester, had murdered his nephews'
and usurped the throne, the Bishop, with his brother, Sir
Edward, and several others of the Courtenay family, entered
into a conspiracy with the Duke of Buckingham, &c. to
dethrone the usurper, and place the Earl of Richmond on the

THE CITY OF EXETER. 257
throne. These intentions being discovered before they were Chap. V.
brought to a state of maturity, Buckingham was taken and ======
beheaded ; but the Bishop and his friends, by a timely flight _
into Britany, escaped the vengeance of Richard. Here he France8 °
continued with the Earl of Richmond, and afterwards accom
panied him in his successful expedition into this kingdom.
On Richmond's gaining possession of the crown, the Bishop is restored
was restored to his Diocess; and in the year 1486, in reward to his
for his good services, King Henry VII. translated him to the Diocess.
valuable Bishopric of Winchester.
During his residence in the Diocess of Exeter he expended Bishop
great sums in extending and beautifying his Cathedral; finished Courtenay
the building of the north tower, and placed in it the great bell, finismes the
weighing 12,500lbs. called, from his name, Peter's bell. He °°*^ &0
erected a very curious clock, (for the invention of those days)
which shews the changes of the moon, the day of the month,
and the hour of the day. * He repaired and beautified his
Episcopal Palace in this city, (as appears by an elegant
chimneypiece still remaining;) he was a great benefactor to the
poor; and died at Winchester, on the 20th of December, 1491 ;
and, according to Bishop Godwin, was interred in that
Cathedral ; but Mr. Cleveland thinks he was buried in Pow-
derham church ; for he says that in the middle of the chancel
of that church there is a broad stone, on which is the effigy of
a Bishop, with his mitre, inlaid in brass, which could not be
designed for Archbishop Courtenay, he not being of the Pow-
derham family, nor for Richard Courtenay, Bishop of Norwich,
as he was buried in Westminster Abbey.
38th. Richard Fox, born in Lincolnshire, was, on the A- D.
translation of Bishop Courtenay, elected to this See, and R- h j'
consecrated by Thomas, Archbishop of Canterbury, in 1486. -pox.
He was much esteemed for his learning and other qualifications;
and being a student at Paris, during the exile of the Earl of
Richmond, (afterwards Henry VII.) he became acquainted with
him, assisted him with his advice, and accompanied him in his
perilous expedition to England.
This enterprise succeeding he was much noticed by the King,
who made him one of his Privy Council, and Lord Privy Seal;
sent him also several times Ambassador to the Kings of France
and Scotland, in which capacity he executed the trusts with
such wisdom and fidelity that the King held him in high favour,
and made him godfather to his second son, who was afterwards
King Henry VIII.
* This clock was thoroughly repaired, and a minute part added, about the
year 1760, by Mr. William Howard, an ingenious meohanic of this city, at tho
expence of the Dean and Chapter.
u 3

258

THE HISTORY OF

Chap. V.

A.D.
1492.
Oliver King.

1499.
RichardRedmain.

1504.
John Arundel.

15116.
Hugh Oldham.

A great
benefactor to the
Vicars Choral.

He was a great encourager of learning ; and in part founded
Corpus Christi College, in Oxford. After presiding six years
over this Diocess he was translated to Bath, and thence to the
Bishopric of Winchester, where (having lost his sight through
age) he died, and was buried in the Cathedral.
39th. Oliver King, a native of Cornwall, being appointed
to this See was consecrated by John Morton, Archbishop of
Canterbury, on the 20th of February, 1492. He was Chaplain
to Henry VII., Dean of Windsor, and Registrar of the Order of
the Garter. He held this See about five years, and died in
1497, and, according to Mr. Izacke, was buried at Windsor.
40th. Richard Redmain, descended from a most respectable
family in Hertfordshire, was translated, on the death of Bishop
King, from a Bishopric in Wales to this Diocess, and installed
the I4th of December, 1499. He left no particular memorials
behind him, saving an estimation for his wisdom and erudition ;
and after five years service in this See he was translated to
that of Ely.
41st. John Arundel, a descendant from the ancient and
respectable family of the Arundels, of Llhan-herne, in Corn
wall, was translated from the See of Litchfield and Coventry,
at his own request, and was installed Bishop of this Diocess on
the 15th of March, 1504; but he did not long enjoy it, as
having occasion to ride to London two years after his installation,
he died there, and was buried in St. Clement Danes church,
without Temple Bar, near his predecessor, Bishop Booth.
42nd. Hugh Oldham, a native of Lancashire, Chaplain to
the Countess of Richmond and Derby, (mother to Henry VII.)
was, through her interest, promoted to this See. It is related
of him that he was a man of more zeal than knowledge, and
that though rough in his speech, he was friendly in his actions.
He strongly defended the liberties and prerogatives of his church,
which caused continual lawsuits between him and the overbearing
Abbot of Tavistock.
He was very liberal to the Vicars Choral of his Cathedral ;
he repaired their College, and brought them back to their
ancient usage of keeping commons, for the maintenance of
which he increased their revenues, and impropriated to their
use the Rectory of Camwood.
Though he was not a learned man himself he was a great
promoter of public schools and seminaries for giving learning
to others ; he and Bishop Fox, of Winchester, were the joint
founders of Corpus Christi College, in Oxford, and which they
endowed with great revenues. He founded and endowed a
school at Manchester, for the instruction of youth in good and
useful literature.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 259
At the time of his death, on the 25th of June, 1523, the suit Chap.V.
between him and the Abbot of Tavistock not being terminated, ~
he was under the sentence of excommunication, and his body
was not suffered to be interred till an absolution was procured
from Rome; this being obtained he was buried in a chapel
purposely erected, at the upper end of the south aisle, in his
own Cathedral.
This chapel has a vaulted stone roof, decorated in compart
ments, with his cipher, H O, and owls, being a part of his
armorial bearings. At the east end is a mutilated altar, over
which was a beautiful representation, cut in stone, in alto
relievo, of our Saviour's birth, passion, and resurrection ; but
the whole was greatly injured by the fanatic hands of the
parliamentary soldiers in the grand Rebellion. On the south
side is the Bishop's tomb, under the arch of which is his
effigy, lying at full length, clothed in the pontifical habit, a
mitre on his head, and crosier in his hand, the whole painted
and gilt, and on the architrave over the tomb is this inscription,
in gold letters : *
" Hie Jacet Hugo Oldham eps. q' obijt xxv. die Junij An. Dni.
¦millo cccccxxiii."
43rd. John Voisey, (alias Harmon) born at Sutton Colefield,
in Warwickshire, was, on the death of Bishop Oldham, pre
ferred, by King Henry VIII. to this Bishopric. He was greatly
favoured in the early part of his life by the King, who employed
him in several embassies, made him Lord President of Wales,
and entrusted to his care the government and education of his
daughter, Mary, who so strongly imbibed, while under his
tuition, the superstitions of the Romish Church that they never
after could be eradicated.
This Bishop affected great pomp; he attended the court, Bishop
and kept a large retinue of servants, all which was attended Voisey's
with such great expences that he almost alienated the revenues prodigality
of his Bishopric ; out of twenty-five Lordships and Manors, *u™n°s,he
enjoyed and left by his predecessors, of great yearly income, gee 0r
he left but three, and those leased out ; of fourteen houses well Exeter.
furnished, and the demesnes well stocked with cattle, deer, &c.
he left to his successor only one, and that plundered of most
of its furniture, and charged with several annuities.

* This monument was repaired and fresh painted, in the year 1763, by the
Provost and Fellows of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, from gratitude to
their founder and benefactor, as appears on a tablet placed over the monument.
Capellam hanc Gratiludinis Ergo Sumptibus suis Ornandum Curaverunt Pr. Sc Soc.
C. C. C. Oxon, 1763.

260

THE HISTORY OF

Chap. V.

King
Henry
throws off
all sub
jection to
the Pope.

A.D. 1550.
Miles
Coverdale.

A zealous
Protestant. Is forced to
retire into
Germany,
and there
prints the
Bible in the
English

In a word, by this Bishop's profuseness, the See of Exeter
from being one of the most valuable is become one of the
poorest, and the saying of Bishop Grandison verified, that the
Bishop hath now scarce a place to lay his head in.
In the year 1535, the Pope having excommunicated King
Henry VIII. he in return threw off all subjection to and
dependance on the Roman Pontiff, in which he was supported
by the English Parliament, who, by an act, declared the King
supreme head of the Church of England, granting him the
first fruits and tenths of the revenues of all benefices, together
with the power of nominating to all Bishoprics. Another act
was also passed to deprive all persons charged with treason
from the privilege of sanctuary ; and thus the power of the Pope
ended in this kingdom.
The Protestant religion being established by King Edward
VI. Bishop Voisey resigned his Bishopric into the King's hands,
reserving only to himself the rents of the temporalities, and
retired to the place of his nativity, Sutton Colefield, which he
greatly improved by buildings, procured for it a charter of
incorporation, the grant of a weekly market, and established a
manufacture of kerseys.
44th. Miles Coverdale, on the resignation of Bishop Voisey,
was promoted by King EdivardVl. to this See, and consecrated
by Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, at Lambeth,
in 1550. He was educated in a Convent, in Yorkshire, where
he took upon himself the habit of a Monk ; but, observing the
dissolute lives of his companions, he left the monastery, and
closely applied to reading and studying the holy scriptures ;
from which, being convinced of the errors of the Romish church,
he became a zealous Protestant, and assisted Mr. Tindal in
his translation of the Bible into English. He also wrote
several treatises against the doctrines of the then prevailing
church, which made him obnoxious to the prelates and clergy,
who persecuted him with the greatest acrimony. He escaped
their malice by privately retiring into Germany, where he set
up a printing press, and printed a great number of Bibles (of
his own translation) in the English language, and sent them
into England, where they were eagerly sought after, upon the
profits of which he then chiefly subsisted.
This coming to the knowledge of Stokesly, Bishop of London,
and other Prelates, they, in order to prevent the dispersion of
the books among the people, as it would open their eyes, and
too much expose the fallacy of the Romish doctrine, bought
them all up thinking no more would be sent over; in this
however they were egregiously mistaken ; for the money paid
for the books being remitted to Mr. Coverdale, it enabled him

THE CITY OF EXETER. 261
to print a great number, which being secretly sent and dispersed Chap. V.
over the kingdom greatly promoted the increase of the Protestant 
religion. From this the Prelates did all in their power to entrap him ; Keeps a
but he, well acquainted with his danger, retired farther into *?n°o1 foT
Germany, for better security, and put himself under the shteo<se.
protection of the Elector Palatine, who was a Protestant.
There he earned at first a scanty subsistence, by keeping a J-5 promoted
school for young children ; but, by diligent application, having Elector
acquired the German language, the Elector gave him a benefice, Palatine.
named Burgh-saber, on the profits of which, with the friendly
remittances of the Lord Cromwell, he lived comfortably during
his exile.
On the accession of King Edward VI. he returned to Returns to
England, where he was much caressed, particularly by his England.
kind patron, Lord Russel, who took him into his family and
made him his chaplain : he attended his Lordship during his Is. made
expedition into the west, for the suppression of the Devon and j?'slloPof
Cornish rebels ; and was soon after, for his exemplary piety,
zeal for the Protestant religion, and great knowledge of the
scriptures, deservedly promoted to this vacant Diocess.
During his church government he gained the esteem of all,
by his benevolent disposition, extensive charity, and unaffected
piety: he continually exercised his duties as a pastor, preaching
every sabbath and holy day, and reading prayers twice a week,
in one or other of the churches in this city, insomuch that he
was compared to one of the primitive Bishops.
This sunshine of the gospel did not last long ; for King Bishop
Edward dying, and hisbigotted sister, Mary, getting possession Coverdale
of the reins of government, this good Bishop was deprived of 1S ePrlved'
his See, having held it about three years ; and notwithstanding
the malice of the Papists, who violently hated him, and had
sworn his death, yet providence delivered him out of their
hands, by the intercession of the King of Denmark, to whom
he was suffered to retire.
After residing there some time he went again into Germany, And again
to his former friend and protector, the Elector Palatine, who "!tlres lnto
reinstated him in the benefice of Burgh-saber, in which station ermwaj.
he continued till the death of Queen Mary.
On the restoration of the Protestant religion, by Queen Returns to
Elizabeth, he returned to his native country, but such was his England,
humility that he could not be prevailed on to return to his t0 b*e uses
Diocess. During the latter part of his life he lived privately, reinstated
in London, exercising the duties of a minister of the gospel in his
till death put an end to his labours, in a good old age, on the D'0""-

x 3

262 THE HISTORY OF
Chap. v. 25th of June, 1565 ; his remains were interred in St. Bar-
- -""¦—== tholomew's church, behind the Royal Exchange, London.*

Bishop On the deprivation of this exemplary Bishop, John Voisey
Voisey was restored to this Diocess ; and for the better settling the
restored. Bomish religion, he (contrary to his usual practice) remained
here for some time; but having a strong attachment to his
native place, he returned there for the remainder of his life ;
he died in the 103d year of his age, and was buried in the
parish church there.
A D 45th. James Troblefield, (or Turburvill) a native of the
1556. county of Dorset, succeeded Bishop Voisey, and was consecrated
James in 1556. He was descended from a good family, and was gentle
Troblefield. an(j courteous in his disposition ; and though very zealous in
the defence of the Papal doctrine, he is not taxed with being
either cruel or bloody.
Nevertheless, to please his superiors, and that it might not
be said he did nothing, he prosecuted and condemned a poor
woman (Agnes Priest) for heresy, and she was accordingly
burnt on Southernhay.
He endeavoured to recover part of the lands alienated from
the Bishopric by his predecessor, and accordingly succeeded in
obtaining from Queen Mary the fee-farm rents of the Manor
of Crediton. On the accession of Queen Elizabeth he, re
fusing to take the required oaths, was deprived of his Bishopric,
and committed to prison ; but being soon after released he
lived for the remainder of his days a private and obscure life;
he was interred in the choir of this Cathedral.
1561. 46th. William Alleigh, Professor of Divinity, a learned and
William zealous advocate for the Protestant religion, and Lecturer of
St. Paul's, London, was preferred by Queen Elizabeth to this
Bishopric, and installed the 6th of August, 1561.
During the reign of Queen Mary he, being a married priest,
was ejected from his living, and for a subsistence practised
physic, travelling with his wife from place to place in the north
parts of England, where they were not known.
His advancement in the church did not alter his disposition ;
he still continued humble, and constantly fulfilled the duties
of his function : he was affable to the rich, and bountiful to
the poor; loath to offend, ready to forgive; in short, his life
was a continued scene of good actions. He wrote several
religious books, particularly one, which he called The Poor
Man's Library.

* Mr. Izacke says he was buried in a Chapel on the south side of bis own
Church ; but this must be a mistake, as an inscription to his memory was
remaining not many years since in the above-mentioned church.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 263
Queen Elizabeth highly respected him, and sent him yearly Chap. V.
a silver cup as a new year's gift. He died, greatly lamented, ==
the 15th of April, 1570; and was interred in the choir of his
own Cathedral, near the high altar, under a marble stone, on
which was the following inscription : —
Reverendus Pater Gulielmus Alleigh Exoniensis Episcopus,
acerrimus Evangelical veritatis propugnator, morum probitate
pracelebris, bonarum Disciplinarum mirabili scientia clarus,
in Christo Domini sub hoc marmore quiescit. Obiit Decimo
Quinto Aprilis, Anno Domini 1570.
47th. William Bradbridge, Professor of Divinity, and Dean A.D.
of Salisbury, was consecrated Bishop of this Diocess, at l5.70-
Lambeth, on the 24th of April, 1570. He left no great Wr"dbrid e
memorials behind him, except that he seldom resided at his
Episcopal Palace, but preferred a country residence, which was
very troublesome to his Clergy, and others who had business
with him. After holding the dignity about eight years, he died
suddenly, at Newton Ferrers, on 29th July, 1578, and was
interred on the north side of the choir of his own Church, near
the altar, under a plain altar tomb, over which is a tablet in
the wall of the choir, and on which was an inscription, but it is
now entirely obliterated, and whitewashed over : there is still a
shield remaining, on which is his coat of arms, a pheon argent,
carved in relievo.
48th. John Wolton, a native of Lincolnshire, Canon Resi- 1578.
dentiary of this Church, succeeded, and was consecrated at John
Lambeth, August the 24th, 1578. He very early professed the Wolton.
Protestant religion, and which doctrine he most zealously
preached : this making him obnoxious to the Roman Catholics
he was forced to take refuge in Germany during the reign
of Queen Mary.
On his return his eminent learning and pious principles being
noticed by Queen Elizabeth she preferred him to the Church,
and at length to this Diocess, which he worthily governed
fourteen years, and dying, on the 13th of March, 1593, was
interred on the south side of the choir of this Cathedral, near
which a monument (in an antique and most wretched taste)
is erected to his memory; on it is inscribed the following
epitaph : —
Epitaphium in obitum Reverendissimi Patris Johannis
Woltoni Episcopi Exoniensis.
Hicjacet, hand jacet hie tuniulo quern eredis in esse,
Terra nequit tantum contumulare virum,
Ingenium, genium, mores, pietatis honores,
Eloquiumque pium busta perusta tegent
Falleris, Ultonus tonus est, sic spiritus unde
Hoc nostri 1 tonus est c&lestis orbe totians.

264

THE HISTORY OF

Chap. V. 49th. Gervis Babington, born in this county, was translated
to this See, from Llandaff, and consecrated the 2nd of M ay,

1593! 1593. He alienated the valuable Manor of Crediton, the
Gervis largest part of the temporalities left to this Bishopric, in favor
Babington. 0f gir \YUUam Killegrew ; and after holding the See about
three years he was translated to Worcester.
1597. 50th. William Cotton, D. D. after the translation of Bishop
William Babington, was consecrated to this Diocess, the 16th of March,
Cotton. 1597. He was a native of London, and before this promotion
was Archdeacon of Lewes, and Canon Residentiary of St. Paul's.
He paid great attention to the duties of his Episcopal office
near twenty-three years; he died the 26th of August, 1621, and
was interred in the south aisle of his own Cathedral, where a
stately monument was erected to his memory. His statue lies
at full length, in Episcopal robes, well executed in alabaster,
painted in proper colours: on a large tablet over the statue is
the following epitaph, now partly obliterated : —
Memorial Reverendi Patris Dignissimi Prasulis Domini
Gulielmi Cottoni olim Exoniensis Episcopus Sacrum.
Venentur titulos alii atque encomia captent,
Tu propria virtute nites ( Dignissime Prasul! )
Corda virum tumulus tibi sunt Epitaphia lingua
Virtutisque tua tituli qua dissita multis ;
Juncta tibi zelus prudens, prudentia mista
Serpentem innocua caute Moderata Columba
Fata operumque fides, opera edita, Sr abdita mundo,
Abdita ( sic humilis pietas jubet ) edita calo!
Mite supercilium , fades augusta, sereni
Vultus, majestas frontis veneranda serena.
Irafugax, solem rarovisura cadentem
Mensa benigna, domusque patens, aditusque paratus
Condivit tua dicta lepos gravitasque leporum,
Pacificis placidus, tantum hostis seditiosis.
Non tibi sublimi mores insede superbi
Vita nee in prima (ut multis) fuit ima Cathedra
Pralatusque gregi, sed non elatus honores es.
And underneath is the following couplet : —
A Paulo ad Petrum pia te Regina vocavit
Cum Petro 8f Paulo Cali Rex arce locavit.
1621. Slst- Valentine Cary, Dean of St. Paul's, and Master of
Valentine Christ's College, Cambridge, was, on the death of Bishop
Cary. Cotton, consecrated Bishop of Exeter, the 20th of November,
1621. He held this See almost six years, and died in London,
on the 10th of June, 1626, and was buried in St. Paul's
Cathedral ; but a handsome monument was soon after erected
to his memory in the north aisle of his own Church, where his

THE CITY OF EXETER. 265
effigy lies at full length, beautifully represented in alabaster; Chap. V.
over the effigy is the following inscription : —
IN MEMORIAM VALENTINI
CARY OLIM HUJUS ECCLESI^ EP1.
QUI OBIJTXo. JUNIJ MDCXXVI.
And on the plinth of the cornice is the following legend:—
SANCTUS JESU CHRISTI PURGAT
ME AB OMNI PECCATO.
52nd. Joseph Hall, a native of Leicestershire, succeeded A D
Bishop Cary, and was consecrated on the 23rd of December, 1626.
1626. This Bishop's piety and godliness were most exemplary, Joseph
his charity universal, and learning most eminent : of these the a •
voluminous works he left behind him will be a sufficient
testimony as long as the English language shall exist. After
holding this See about fourteen years he was translated to
Norwich, where, notwithstanding his advanced age, he con
tinued his studies to the last; and expired (as it were with the
pen in his hand) on the 8th of September, 1656. He was
interred in Hyem church, near Norwich. By his last will he
desired that he might not be buried with any funeral pomp, and
therein declared that "he did not hold God's house a meet
repository for the bodies of the greatest saints."
53rd. Ralph Brownrig, Doctor of Divinity, a gentleman of 1642.
Suffolk, was, on the translation of Bishop Hall, nominated to Ralph
this See, and consecrated the 3rd of May, 1642. He possessed B">wnrig.
the title of Bishop near eighteen years, but enjoyed little of the
profits; for the civil wars commencing soon after his promotion,
and the Puritans prevailing, Episcopacy was abolished, and all
the temporalities of the Church seized into the hands of the
Parliament Commissioners, the residentiary houses of the
dignified clergy either sold or granted to their own creatures,
and the church made a scene of desolation. From these cir
cumstances this Bishop never took possession of this See, nor
once visited it, but lived a private life in London, where he died,
(before the Restoration) on the 7th of December, 1659, and
was buried in the Temple church.
54th. John Gauden, Doctor of Divinity, born in Essex, 1660.
was, on the happy restoration of Monarchy, and consequently £ohn
Episcopacy, appointed by King Charles II. to this See, and
consecrated on the 2nd of December, 1660. On his first
visitation he was met by a great number of gentlemen of the
highest distinction in the city and county of Devon, who
formed a grand cavalcade, and triumphantly conducted him to
the Cathedral, amidst the acclamations of thousands. He
filled the Episcopal chair about a year and a half, and was
Y 3

266 THE HISTORY OF
Chap. V. then translated to Worcester, where he died, on the 21st of
September, 1665, and was buried there.
AD. 55th. Seth Ward, D. D. of Hertfordshire, succeeded Bishop
l6w' a Gauden, being promoted from the Deanry of this church ; he
Ward. was consecrated on the 20th of July, 166*2. In 1664 he con
secrated a new burial ground, at the lower end of Southernhay,
and dedicated it to the Holy Trinity, on which occasion the
following verses were written and published : —
" What boldfac'd Sadducee dare now mistrust
That, long'd-for ressurrection of the just?
Whose martyr 'd temples, which before our eyes
Were once distom'b, more beautiful arise ;
And that the saints have elbow-room to rest,
This day a plat profane is truly blest !
Thou angel of our church, may'st thou ne'er be
Translated, till to immortality !
That all our foes who do us disregard,
May be kept out by this our well-fenc'd WARD."
Bishop Ward was translated from this Diocess to that of
Salisbury, the 5th of September, 1667.
1667. 56th. Anthony Sparrow, D. D. author of the Rationale on
Anthony tne Common Prayer, was elected, on Bishop Ward's removal,
parro.. ^ ^.^ g^ consecrated in London the 3rd of November, 1667,
and installed (by proxy) on the 23rd of the same month.
After holding the dignity about nine years he was translated to
the Bishopric of Norwich.
1676. 57th. Thomas Lamp tug h was consecrated Bishop of Exeter
Thomas at Lambeth, by Gilbert, Archbishop of Canterbury, the 12th
plugh. of November, 1676. On his receiving the news of the Prince
of Orange landing at Torbay, he immediately set off post for
London, and was the first that carried the unwelcome news to
the Court; he was rewarded with the then vacant Arch
bishopric of York, which, on his compliance with the change
in the government, was confirmed to him by King William and
Queen Mary.
1689. 58tll> &ir Jonathan Trelawney, Bart, (of an ancient and
Sir worthy family in the county of Cornwall) Bishop of Bristol,
Jonathan was removed to this See, and consecrated the 1st of April, 1689.
Trelawney. He was an eminent divine, much esteemed for his learning, a
sound preacher, and a zealous defender of the civil and eccle
siastical liberties of his country, for which he had been
committed a prisoner to the Tower of London, as before related.
He worthily governed his Diocess near nineteen years ; and in
1708 1708 was translated t0 Winchester. He died on the 20th of
Offspring Julv> 1721, and was interred at Plesint, in Cornwall.
Blackall. 59th. Offspring Blackall, D. D. born in Middlesex, was

THE CITY OF EXETER. 267
consecrated Bishop of Exeter on the 8th of February, 1708. Chap. V.
To this Bishop's great zeal and charitable disposition, together —
with his most strenuous endeavours, posterity is indebted for
the foundation of the charity schools in this city. He was a
learned and pious prelate, an ornament to the age he lived in,
and made his Diocess happy under his government for about
nine years; when, on the 29th of November, 1716, he was
translated to partake of the joys of heaven. By his last will
he desired to be buried without any funeral pomp, and left
particular orders that no monument or tomb should be erected
to his memory ; but his good works will more perpetuate his
name than the perishable though elegant touches of the
sculptor. His remains were deposited in the chapel, at the
upper end of the south aisle of his own Cathedral.
60th. Lancelot Blackburn, D. D. Dean of this church, was A D
then elected, and consecrated on the 19th of March, 1717. It 1717'
is said that he was a perfect courtier, very haughty in his Lancelot
behaviour, and not much beloved by his clergy. He filled the Blackburn.
Episcopal chair here about seven years, and was then translated
to the Archbishopric of York.
61st. Stephen Weston, D. D. succeeded in this See, and 1724.
was consecrated in 1724. This Bishop was father of a numerous Stephen
family, which he placed very advantageously abroad in the Weslon-
world. He was meek and kind in his disposition, charitable to
the poor, and discharged the duties of his function with great
credit to himself and happiness to his clergy. He died in the
year 1741, and was buried in the south aisle of his Cathedral,
where an elegant monument is erected to his memory : the base
of the monument is of white marble, representing a kist-vaen,
or stone chest, on which is erected a large sarcophagus of black
marble, supported by carved brackets, on which an angel
stands, with wings expanded, about five feet in height, and
finely executed in white statuary marble ; the figure holds a
Bishop's crosier in its left hand, and points with the forefinger
of the right to an inscription which is cut on the back part
of the monument, of white marble, in form of a pyramid:
on the upper part, in two shields, are his Lordship's arms,
impaled with those of his Diocess and of his wife, emblazoned
in their proper colours.
On the pyramid is a long Latin inscription recording his
amiable disposition, extensive charity, zeal for the established
religion, and well governing his Diocess ; also a short memorial
of his amiable widow and relict Lucia Weston, who was interred
in the same vault with her husband.
62nd. Nicholas Clagget, on the death of Bishop Weston, was m^™
elected and installed in this Diocess, which he possessed about CIaggct.
four years.

268 THE HISTORY OF
Chap. V. 63rd. George Lavington, Doctor of Divinity, succeeded
— ^TiT — Bishop Clagget. This worthy and venerable Divine was
1747. universally beloved and respected for his humility, charitable
George benevolence, and strict attention to the duties of his function.
Lavington. jje jeft ]>ehtud him one daughter, an inheritor of his virtues,
wife to the Rev. Nutcombe Nutcombe, Chancellor of this church.
He worthily governed the Diocess upwards of fifteen years, and
died on the 13th of September, 1762, greatly lamented, and
was interred in the south aisle of his own church, behind the
Bishop's throne. On a plain marble tablet, fixed on the back
of the throne, is the following beautiful and just eulogium to
his memory : —
To the Memory of George Lavington, L. L. D.
Who having distinguished himself
By a conscientious and disinterested attachment
To the cause of liberty and the Reformation,
Was successively advanced to dignities
In the Cathedrals of Worcester and St. Paul,
And lastly to the Episcopal cliair of this church.
Endowed by nature with great abilities,
Rich in a great variety of acquired knowledge,
In the study of the holy scriptures consummate,
He never ceased to improve his talents
Nor to employ them to the noblest purposes.
An instructive, animated, and convincing preacher,
A determined enemy to idolatry and persecution,
A successful exposer of pretence and enthusiasm ,
Happy in his services to the church of Christ :
Happier, who could unite such extensive cares
With a strict attention to his immediate charge ;
His absences from his Diocess were short and rare,
And his presence was endeared to his clergy
By an easy access and graceful hospitality,
A winning conversation, and condescending deportment:
An unaffected scantity dignified his instructions,
And indulgent candour sweetened his government.
At length, having eminently discharged the
Duties of a man, a christian, and a prelate,
Prepared by habitual meditation to resign
Life without regret, to meet death without terror,
He expired, with the praises of God upon his lips,
in his 19th year, September 13th, 1762.
1763. (J7th. The Honourable Frederic Keppel, third son of the
Repp™ Earl of Atoermarle, was elected and consecrated Bishop of
this Diocess, in the year 1763. A false report having been
propagated that he had voted in the House of Lords for the

THE CITY OF EXETER. 269
tax on cider, he was much insulted by the populace on his first Chap. V.
coming to Exeter; but his great affability and dignity of~
behaviour soon removed this odium, and he was greatly caressed.
He expended great sums on the Bishop's Palace, which was
very much out of repair, having been sadly neglected by his
predecessors, and also made great additions to it. A complaint
being made of the hardships which the inferior clergy laboured
under from the smallness of their salaries, he caused a strict
enquiry to be made, and after a thorough investigation he
ordered their incomes to be increased according to the value of
the benefices under which they served their cures. When he
had held this See for some time his Majesty gave him the
Deanry of Windsor, which he held in commendam with his
other benefices ; but these he did not enjoy long, as he died
within a few years, in the flower of his age, at his Deanry-house
there.^and was interred in the Collegiate Church.
68th. John Ross, D. D. was promoted to this Diocess, and a.D.
installed (by proxy) on the 3rd of February, 1778. He was 1778.
unmarried, of a mild disposition, affable to all, kept but few Jolln Ro"'
servants, and lived retired without any pomp or ostentation.
He held the See about fourteen years, and dying at his Episcopal
house here, was interred in the south aisle of the Cathedral,
where a small but neat marble tablet is erected to his memory,
on which is the following modest inscription : —
John Ross, Bishop of Exeter,
Born at Ross, in Herefordshire,
June Ibtk, 1719,
and Died August \Qth, 1792.
69th. William Buller, D. D. uncle to Judge Buller, and 1792.
uncle to James Buller, Esq. of Downes, near Crediton, was a William
descendant from the ancient and truly respectable family of the Bu,ler-
Bullers of Devon and Cornwall. He was Dean of this church
when his Majesty King George III. with his royal consort and
daughters condescended to visit this city, and to accept the
offer of his residentiary-house for their accommodation; and his
Majesty being well pleased with the great attention and respect
paid him by the Dean soon after removed him to the more
valuable Deanry of Canterbury; and on the death of Bishop
Ross recommended him to the Dean and Chapter, to be by them
elected Bishop of this Diocess, and he was accordingly installed
(by proxy) in the year 1792. He filled the high station with
great dignity during the short time he enjoyed it: he was
greatly respected, and died much lamented : his remains were
interred in the south aisle of his Cathedral, opposite the door
leading to the Bishop's Palace, and a small elegant monument,
of black and white marble, is erected to his memory in the
z 3

270 THE HISTORY OF
Chap. V. transverse aisle, behind the high altar, with the following
"" inscription: — William Buller, D. D.
Bishop of Exeter,
Born at Morval, in the county
of Cornwall,
August the 20th, 1735,
Died December the 12th, 1796.
A. D. 70th. Henry Reginald Courtenay, Doctor of Divinity, rector
1797. 0f gt. George's, Hanover Square, London, son of Henry
Reginald Reginald Courtenay, Esq. sometime member of parliament for
Courtenay. Honiton, and grandson to Sir William Courtenay, Bart, of
Powderham Castle, succeeded Bishop Buller in 1797.
JohnFisher 71st- ®n tne death of Bishop Courtenay, (which happened
in London, where he was interred) John Fisher, D. D. Canon
of Windsor, and Chaplain to the Queen, was elected in his
room, and consecrated at Lambeth, by the Archbishop of
Canterbury, on Sunday, July the 24th, 1803, and soon after
making his public entry into this city, he was received with the
usual respect and dignity. He is now the seventy-first Bishop
of this Diocess.

End of the Fifth Chapter.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 271

CHAPTER VI.
GENERAL AND PAROCHIAL
DESCRIPTION.
A GENERAL description of this ancient city has already Chat. VI.
been given in the former part of this work ; therefore I 
shall not tire the reader's patience with needless repetitions.
The wisdom of our ancestors in their choice of this site for
the capital of the Danmonii must be evident to every curious
observer, whether they consider it for the strength of situation
or for health and convenience : for the former no site could
better answer their purpose, situated on the sloping part of a
hill, washed at the foot by a river, which no doubt, in those
ages, formed an impassable morass, from the flux of the tide
and stagnated floods, and which, as the river was not banked
within bounds, extended over all the valley between the city
and the rising grounds at Bowhill. From the river, all the
north side, entirely up to the castle, is elevated ground, with
a steep ascent ; and through the bottom a brook spread itself,
which, from reasons above mentioned, must have rendered the
ground deep and marshy, and consequently the approach very
difficult : from the castle to the river nature was assisted by
sinking a deep fosse ; and it is probable that more care was
taken for the fence on this side in after ages, as the only
remains of towers are (excepting one) on this part of the walls.
As to the health and convenience of their chosen spot no
place in the neighbourhood could exceed it : to the north and
north east it is covered by the heights of Stoke, which screen it
from the bleak winds from those points ; and being open to the
south and west it enjoys the prolific benefits of the sun.
The prospect from the city walls is truly delightful: the eye
extends over a large tract of well cultivated country, diversified
with parish churches, villages, gentlemen's seats, farm houses,
woods, and hedgerows, bounded by the bleak and uncultivated
hills of Haldon, Penhill, and others, which terminate the
prospect : it is also highly enriched by the estuary, or arm of
the sea, from Topsham to Exmouth; the navigable canal, the
meanders of the river Exe, and the buildings erected on the

272 THE HISTORY OF
Chap. VI. different heights, particularly Lord Courtenay's Belvidere, the
 Obelisk, on Haldon, Lawrence Castle, on Penhill, built by
the late Sir Robert Palk, with Whitestone Church and Tower:
nor is that necessary article of water wanting, as besides the
vicinity of the river the whole of the hills abound in springs ;
it is also easily procured by means of wells, which are of no
great depth.
Ancient The form of the city government during the British and
government Boman period is now unknown ; but in the Saxon era the chief
ie ci y. magjstrates were four in number, and were termed Portgreves,
from Porta, a maritime town, and Greve a ruler ; after the
Norman conquest they were reduced to two, who were styled
Prafects, or Provosts; but these magistrates had very little
authority, as most of the judicial power was engrossed by the
Earls of the county and Bishops of the Diocess: this con
tinued till the reign of King John, who in the second year of
his reign, A. D. 1200, granted to the Citizens a charter em
powering them to elect a Mayor, and two other officers, by the
name of Ballivi, or Stewards; these stewards were some time
afterwards increased in number to four.
Present By several charters which have been granted by succeeding
government Monarchs the present government is invested in a Mayor, eight
Aldermen, and fifteen Common Councilmen, who form the body
corporate of the chamber, and have, by their charters, great
power and authority lodged in their hands.
The Mayor, Recorder, and the eight Aldermen are Justices
of the Peace, within the city and county of the city ; and are
also (except the junior Aldermen) Justices of the Quorum ;
they have power to hold Courts of Goal Delivery, Quarter
Sessions, <fec. for trials of murders, felonies, and all other
crimes committed against the peace of our Sovereign Lord
the King, (except in cases of high treason) within the city and
county of the same.
The Mayor is chosen annually, on the Monday after the
Feast of St. Matthew, the Evangelist, by the Freemen assem
bled in Common-Hall for that purpose, out of two members of
the Chamber, who have been previously nominated to them,
by the Justices and Common Council, -according to the charter
of King Henry VII. At the same time the Chamber appoints
four respectable Citizens to the office of Bailiffs, or Stewards ;
one of which, chosen out of their own body, is likewise ap
pointed Receiver-General of all the rents and revenues belonging
to the city.
The Mayor holds his court every Monday and Saturday, at
the Guildhall ; and the Stewards hold a court every Saturday
at the same place, which is called the Stewards' court, where

¦4
y K

THE CITY OF EXETER. 273
they preside as Judges, and try actions of debt : to this court Chap. VI.
belong six Attornies, who must be freemen of the city ; and ====
these alone may act as Solicitors in it.
There is also a Recorder, Sheriff, Under-Sheriff, Town-
Clerk, Chamberlain, Deputy Town-Clerk, Sword-Bearer, four
Sergeants at Mace, (who are termed Sub-Ballivi) and four
Staff- Bearers, or Scavengers, so called from their preceding the
Mayor, &c. in all public processions, with brass-headed staves.
One of the Sergeants and a Staff-Bearer constantly attend in
turn at the Mayor's house to wait on him and to carry messages :
there is likewise a Headborough, or Captain Constable, who
issues all precepts to the other Constables for billeting soldiers,
impressing waggons, &c. and thirteen other Constables for the
city, who are sworn to attend the Mayor every Sunday that he
goes in state to the Cathedral; and every Monday to and from
the Guildhall.
There are twelve Constables also for the county of Exeter,
who attend only at Quarter Sessions and some particular
occasions. Other officers are Wardens of the Shambles, Keeper
of the Sheriff's Prison, &c. The Commissioners of the Court
of Requests, for the recovery of small debts under forty
shillings, are chosen from the principal Citizens, at Wardmote
Courts. The government of the poor is invested in the hands
of a different Corporation ; but their rates are subject to the
inspection of the Justices, and must be signed by them. In
short, the Police of the city is well regulated ; enormous crimes
are seldom committed ; small offences are punished with
clemency ; and though no nightly watch is kept the streets are
as quiet at night (notwithstanding the numerous inhabitants) as
those of a country town.

Rougemont Castle.
This ancient Castle is situated on the highest part of the hill, The Castle.
and at the northern extremity of the city : it owes its origin to
the Saxons, as appears evidently from the strong and stately
gateway still remaining, (the original entrance from the city)
and which is perhaps as venerable a vestige of Saxon fortification
as any now existent in this kingdom. It consisted of an inner
and outer gate, flanked by strong curtains, supported by

A 4

274 THE HISTORY OF
Chap. VI. buttresses; on the top of the gate are lunettes and machiola-
z==—== tions for throwing down offensive things on the besiegers in
case of an attack ; and in the inner gate there are grooves for
letting down a portcullis. The whole of the gateway projected
from the wall and flanked the ditch : it is now used as a black-
hole for offending soldiers, and withinside is built a guard-house
and store-rooms for the East Devon regiment of Militia.
The area of the Castle, within the walls, is but small, and is
of an oval form ; at the upper end is a large, plain, and con
venient building, containing spacious courts for holding the
Assizes, County Courts, and other public business of the
county ; a Chapel, rooms for the Judges, Grand Jury, with
suitable offices for the Sheriff, County Clerk of the Peace, &c.
Opposite the guard-house is a neat house for the Castellain, and
on the banks, within the walls, are planted a number of elms,
and the area is neatly gravelled.
On the top of the ramparts is a pleasant walk, from which is
a delightful prospect of the city, surrounding country, and
part of the British Channel. Within the area of the Castlewas
a small ancient Chapel, formerly collegiate and well endowed,
which was taken down a few years since.
History is silent as to the time of the first erection of this
fortress ; but that it was standing before the Norman conquest
is evident from the Conqueror's altering its gates, in token (as
related) of his victory, and granting it to Baldwin de Brioniis,
one of his Norman followers ; and about this period we may
date the alteration of its name to Rougemont Castle, which is
clearly of Norman derivation, and signifies red hill.*
From the family of De Brioniis it came by marriage to the
De Breweres, one of whom founded and endowed a collegiate
church within the same, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, to
which he annexed four Prebendaries, viz : Loeghen, near
Exeter, with Clisthays; Cutton, with the tithing of Hemington,
in the county of Somerset; Carswell, in the Manor of Kenn ;
and Ash Clist: the last of which was given to the Abbey of
Torr, by Robert de Courtenay, Viscount of Devon.
It is on record that in the reign of King Stephen, A. D.
1140, Baldwin de Riveriis, taking part with Queen Maud,
fortified this Castle and expended great sums of money on it,
but that after a long and tedious siege he was obliged to
capitulate, and seek refuge in the Isle of Wight. From the
De Breweres it came by marriage to the Courtenays, Earls of
Devon, many of whom resided in it with great state ; and in

* The British name of Exeter, Caer-rulh, signifies the same ; which has
caused some to conjecture that the Castle retained its British name till the time
of the Conquest.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 275
the year 1216, and the eighteenth of his reign, King John sent Chap. VI.
his commission to Robert de Courtenay, who had then the —
custody of the Castle, to admit William de Brewere, with his
soldiers, into the said Castle, to assist him in the defence of it:
and about the same time ordered £30 to be issued from his
Treasury to pay the soldiers in garrison there.
In the reign of King Henry III. 1217, the custody of this
Castle, with the honours appertaining to it, were claimed by
Prince Henry, eldest son of Reginald, Earl of Cornwall; but
the King, by his writ, confirmed the possession to Robert de
Courtenay. Notwithstanding this the King seized the Castle
into his own hands, and appointed Robert de Albermarle the
governor of it ; but in the month of May following he granted
it again to the said Robert de Courtenay, in whose possession
it continued till the year 1232, when the King seized this and
many other Castles in order, as it is said, to deprive the Barons
of their strong places of refuge : and thus the Courtenays were
deprived of the custody of the Castle after its having been in
their and their ancestors possession nearly two hundred years.
In 1247 Richard, Earl of Cornwall, the King's brother,
held the custody of Rougemont Castle, which he fortified and
retired to for security, during the wars between the King and
his Barons, and resided there for some time: it continued in
the possession of the Earls of Cornwall till the year 1336, the
tenth year of King Edward III. who creating his son, Edward,
Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall, this Castle, with a
small district adjoining, (formerly the Castle garden) now termed
Bradninch, was annexed to the said Dutchy, and it hath ever
since continued a parcel of it.
In the twenty-first year of Richard II. 1397, (the title of
Prince of Wales lying dormant) the King created John Holland,
Earl of Huntingdon, Duke of Exeter, and granted him the
government of the Castle, which the Duke highly beautified,
and built a stately palace in it for his own residence ; hut on
the accession of King Henry IV. who created his son, Henry,
Duke of Cornwall, it again reverted to that Dutchy, and
continued to be a royal garrison down to the reign of Edward
VI. the governors being appointed by the Dukes of Cornwall:
for we find that during the rebellion of the commons of Devon
and Cornwall there was a party of soldiers in the Castle who
were not under the subjection of the Magistrates of the city.
During the unhappy dissensions between King Charles I.
and the Pariiament, it was then considered as a place of
strength, and several pieces of cannon were mounted on its
walls: but on its surrender to the Parliament forces it was

276 ™E HISTORY OF
Chap. VI. dismantled, by order of Oliver Cromwell, and all its towers
 " and battlements destroyed.*
There is not the least vestige of the ancient buildings re
maining, except what has been already mentioned ; but in the
great alterations which have been made of late years many
relics of antiquity have been discovered ; such as Roman and
other coins, pieces of armour, arrow-heads, broken cannon,
and human bones. In the old Armoury, at the end of the
Chapel, was a large collection of ancient armour, consisting of
helmets, morions for foot soldiers, back and breast pieces, &c.
which were either dispersed among the curious, or throw by as
old iron : the remainder is now lodged under the gallery, in the
Nisi Prius court.
Before I enter into a parochial description I shall give a brief
account of the Cathedral, its principal ornaments and curiosities,
and the monumental inscriptions not mentioned in the Ecclesi
astical History ; together with a summary view of other parti
culars worth describing.

The Cathedral Church of St. Peter.
Cathedral. This Church was, according to Leland, dedicated originally
to St. Peter and St. Paul, and this seems to be corroborated
by the armorial bearing of the See, being two keys in saltier,
or; the common emblem of the former; and a sword in pale,
argent, hilted, or; the instrument of the martyrdom of the latter.
The principal entrance from the west end presents a view
scarcely to be equalled for its magnificence and grandeur, and
which would be highly improved were the seats and pews in the
nave removed. The just proportion and symmetry of the
whole building have a pleasing effect, whilst the spreading of

* It is worthy the trouble of a curious observer to examine the northern
tower or bastion of the Castle, (projecting into Northernhay) particularly the
pilasters and mouldings round the base, with which it is adorned : it will be
observed that the masonry is different, and far superior to any other part of
the walls or towers, and that it seems to be of more ancient date than the
Saxon times, as well as of better work than is commonly found in their
buildings ; neither is there any kind of sculpture or armorial bearings to be
seen in this or any other part of the tower or walls. The pilasters appear to be
of Tuscan order, a style of building unknown to, and consequently never used
by, our Saxon or Norman ancestors.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 277
the groins, supporting the vaulted roof, the distant perspective Chap. VI.
of the gothic screen, upholding the majestic organ, with the 
partial view of the Bishop's throne, terminated by the eastern
window, fill the mind with a pleasing awe and reverence.
The origin of this sacred edifice is ascribed to King Athelstan, Its
who on or near the site of the Virgin Mary's Chapel erected a supposed
house of Benedictine Monks; but this must have been destroyed anlllult.y>
in the total subversion of the city by Sweyne, the Dane ; and no
part of the present Chapel can, from its style of architecture,
boast of a Saxon founder.
It may be probable that the present building was began soon
after the removal of the Episcopal chair from Crediton to
Exeter, by Edward the Confessor. Mr. Izacke therefore very Izacke's
erroneously asserts (and what has been echoed since by almost errors.
every Historiographer of this Cathedral) that it was not the
" opus unius saeculi," but took up 437 years in building.
The foundation of the present Cathedral may with great
probability be ascribed to Bishop William Warlewest, who,
being a Norman by birth, might have a predilection for the
architecture prevailing in his own country, and which had been
introduced there near a century before, deriving its origin
from the Saracens, in Spain. This Prelate was installed the
fourth of Henry I. 1104; and he soon after laid the foun
dation of the present choir, as well as those of the north and
south towers.
There can be but little doubt, however, that the whole plan
of the present edifice (exclusive of the two towers and a portion
of the south wall of the nave, where a circular arched doorway
leads to the cloisters) originated from Bishop Quivill, who was
consecrated to this See the tenth of Edward I. 1282. This
Prelate's taste was equal to his munificence, and to him may
not unjustly be given the ascription of patron and founder of
the present Church.
The grand design was continued by his successors in the
Episcopal chair, and brought to a completion by Bishop
Grandison, who, it is said, built the two western arches, the
front, with its most beautiful facade or screen, and finished the
vaulting and roof of the nave ; therefore the whole of this
august undertaking, from the commencement, by Bishop Quivill,
to its completion, by Bishop Grandison, could not exceed
eighty years.
This Cathedral, which is smaller than most others in the Dimensions
kingdom, measures in length (including the walls) 408 feet, in
breadth 76 feet, and the height, to the vaulted roof, is 69 feet.
The towers, to the top of the battlements, are 130 feet, and

B 4

278 THE HISTORY OF
Chap. VI. the pinnacles, to the summit of the vanes, 36 feet. The
~  " interior dimensions are as follow : the Virgin Mary's Chapel
is in length 57 feet, and its breadth 24 feet ; from this Chapel
to the entrance of the choir 148 feet six inches ; from thence
to the west end 174 feet; so that the whole length withinside is
379 feet six inches : the choir, from the altar to the screen,
(which separates it from the body of the church) is in length
123 feet, and in breadth 42 feet; and the transverse aisle, from
the walls of the towers, measures 138 feet in length.
West front. The west front is formed by an elegant facade, or screen,
divided into three parts by two projecting buttresses: in the
centre part is the principal entrance into the Church, on the
right hand of which is the founder's (Bishop Grandison's)
Chapel : in the other divisions are smaller entrances, which
differ much in their architecture and decorations; and if history
had not informed us that the whole was the work of Grandison
it may naturally be concluded that they were erected at different
periods of time.
The principal part of this admirable structure is composed of
a plinth, decorated with carved mouldings, on which rises a
regular number of divisions, separated by small carved but
tresses, supported by demi-angels ; in each division are two
rows of niches, and on the top are traced battlements, from
which angels appear to be issuing in different attitudes : in
these niches are rows of statues ; those in the lower tier are in
a sitting posture, most of them in armour, with their legs
crossed, probably erected in memory of the principal command
ers in the crusades for the recovery of the holy-land ; that on
the right hand of the principal entrance being evidently de
signed for Godfrey de Boulloinge, the commander-in-chief:
(those on the front of the buttresses in the same tier excepted,
which represent religious persons, and supposed to be the four
primitive fathers of the Roman Church, or rather the four
primitive founders of monastic indolence: three of these statues
are decapitated, but the fourth has a mitre on its head.) Those
in the upper story are in different kinds of robes, and represent
the ancient patriarchs* and apostles, except those on the but
tresses, which, by their accompanying attributes, appear to be
designed for the four evangelists : there are two in the middle,
immediately over the principal entrance, one of which is in a
sitting posture, and from his holding in his right hand a crosier,
and in the left a book, and having the arms of Bishop Leofricus

* These statues have lab«ls flowing from their hands on which originally
were inscribed their names. The name Noah was a few years ago plainly
visible on that in the northern return of the left buttress.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 279
on a shield directly beneath him, it may be justly supposed that Chap.VI.
it was designed for that Prelate. The adjoining niche is vacant, 
but, from the arms of Edward the Confessor beneath, it is
evident it contained the statue of that Monarch.
On the front of the upper part of the buttresses are two
larger statues, underneath which, on shields, are the arms of
the aforesaid Monarch and Prelate ; from which it may be
inferred that they were also designed for those personages.
Over the left entrance are four small niches, in three of which
are statues, of three of the cardinal virtues, the fourth being
now vacant: the first has the scales, representing Justice; the
second Fortitude, bearing a lance and shield; and the third is in
a religious dress, holding a heart in her hands, supposed to be
designed to represent monastic discipline : each of these statues
have crowns on their heads, and under their feet are emblem
atical figures of their opposite vices.
In the spandrils of the arch of the principal entrance are
four angels in a reclining posture ; and on the sides of the
architraves are four mutilated statues of royal personages, in a
sitting posture : over the right hand entrance are two demi-
statues of royal persons, and between them a griffon ; and on
the return of the sides pf the buttresses are four other royal
personages. The whole number of statues originally in this
ancient and venerable screen (exclusive of the angels) are as
follows : in the lower tier twenty-six ; in the upper thirty-four ;
and two in the upper fronts of the buttresses ; four small ones
over the left entrance ; and four small ones on the architrave of
the principal entrance; in all seventy. Many of the statues,
as well as other ornamented parts, are greatly mutilated and
decayed, a partial repair of which would very much disfigure
the venerable beauty, and a rebuilding would be a work perhaps
too costly for the present age.
Behind this screen rises the lofty and majestic front, of a
pyramidical form, in the upper angle of which is a colossal
statue of St. Peter, and in the central part is the great west
window, measuring thirty-seven feet in height, and twenty-seven
in breadth. This window has been greatly noticed by the lovers
of ancient architecture for the beauty of its tracery : it was re
paired and new glazed with painted glass in the year 1766; and
was the work of that ingenious artist, Mr. Wm. Peckett, of York.
The lower part is divided into nine compartments, seven of
which are beautifully painted with whole lengths of St. Peter,
the Four Evangelists, St. Paul, and St. Andrew; the other
two are enriched with mosaic paintings, and the armorial
bearings of different Baronets in the Diocess; of Drs. Lavington,
late Bishop of this See, and Littleton, Bishop of Carlile, some
time Dean of this Church.

280 THE HISTORY OF
Chap.VI. Over the portrait of St. Peter are two coats of the late Dean
 Mills; one impaled with those of the Deanry, the other with
that belonging to the office of Precentor ; and over the heads
of the adjoining portraits are those of the late Chanter Snow
and Chancellor Nutcombe Quick, impaled with those belonging
to their stations in the Church: the arms over the four other
portraits are those of the Barons Edgecombe, Petre, Clifford,
and Fortescue; and underneath the portrait of St. Peter are
the arms of the city of Exeter, with the insignia of its privileges
— the cap of maintenance, sword, and mace.
Over these compartments are the arms of Sir Richard
Bampfylde, Bart, and John Parker, Esq. representatives in
parliament for the county of Devon, and John Walter and
John Tuckfield, Esquires, representatives for the city of Exeter.
The principal tracery over the mullions composes three pointed
arches and four circles; these are sub-divided into compartments,
in the central and largest of which are the royal arms, and
around it are the arms of the West Saxon kingdom, Edward
the Confessor, the Prince of Wales, the Diocess, and Bishop
Grandison, together with the union rose, thistle, fleur de lis,
and harp.*
In the upper compartments of the circumscribing circle are
the arms of the Archbishop of Canterbury ; and in the others
those of the Dukes of Somerset, Beaufort, Bolton, and Bedford;
the Earls of Godolphin, Granville, Orford, and Buckingham
shire; Viscounts Falmouth and Courtenay, and Bishop Keppel.
The smaller compartments of this noble window are embellished
with the different insignia of royalty and ecclesiastical dignity ;
the emblems of the different nations composing the British
empire ; the several orders of knighthood ; and on the extreme
Other point of the arch is the holy lamb. + The two other windows
windows. jQ tne front; at tne en(js Qf tne aisles, were new glazed at
the same time, the colours beautifully variegated, representing
marigolds and other flowers, which have a most pleasing effect.
The rest of the windows are adorned with beautiful and
varied tracery, greatly differing in design, as no two windows

* From the tracery in this interior circle resembling a diagram, composed
of three human hearts, intersecting each other, it has been judged a designed
representation of the Holy Trinity ; and from this cironmstance it has, among
some people, received the name of the " Trinity window."
t Underneath the city arms is this inscription, Will. Peckett, Pinxit et
Tinxit. The whole work does great honour to the merit of that ingenious artist ;
but it is to be feared that the colours are not of so durable a nature as those
of the ancients ; some of them, particularly the light blues, begin already to
scale and decay.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 281
on the same side of the building are alike, though they corres- Chap.VI.
pond in their opposites.

The great eastern window, over the high altar, was repaired Eastern
and beautified, by the bounty of Henry Blackburn, Canon of window-
this Church, in the year 1390 ; when Robert Lyen of this city,
Glazier, contracted to furnish the glass at twenty-pence per
foot, and for the labour three shillings and four-pence per week
for himself, and two shillings for his family, during the time he
should be employed on the contract. This window is still in
good preservation, and has lately had some additions to the
paintings: it contains several whole length portraits, of Abraham,
Isaac, Jacob, different saints, and royal personages; particu
larly those of Edward the Confessor, and his Queen, Editha ;
also various armorial beariugs of the Plantagenet and Courtenay
families, with the different Bishops of this Diocess.
In ¦ the year 1768 this window was repaired and great
additions made to the painted glass, viz : the arms of the
West Saxon kingdom, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Bishop
Keppel, &c.
The whole of the windows were originally ornamented with
painted glass, as appears by their remains, the colours of which
are finely preserved, notwithstanding the length of time since
their erection ; but alas ! those beautiful specimens of the
skill and piety of our ancestors experienced the fury of
puritanic bigotry in the civil wars, and were wantonly beat to
pieces by the soldiery : from the remains many curious pieces
have been preserved by the care of the Chapter, and are
ingeniously arranged in the different windows of the inner
aisles, and other parts of the Church, which are worthy the
attention of the curious.
Over each end of the transverse aisle is erected a large and
magnificent tower, decorated with Norman arches, dentelled
mouldings, and other ornaments : each tower has at its four
corners lofty pinnacles, crowned with gilt vanes.* These
towers appear, from the style of the architecture, to have
been designed by Bishop Warlewest, about the year 1107;
but probably not finished, or built to their present height,
during his time.
The south tower, from two semicircular arches still perceivable

* On the north tower was a lofty spire, (in which was hung the clock bell)
on the summit of which was a gilt cock, an emblem of St. Peter; this spire was
taken down about the year 1750, the bell hnng lower down in the tower, and
the present vanes erected ; but though this adds to the uniformity of the
building, the lowering of the bell has greatly lessened the deep grandeur of Us
sound ; nor is it heard at that distance it was before tbe alteration.
c 4

282 ™E HISTORY OF
Chat. VI. in the south wall, seems to have been raised on a prior
' structure ; and although the erection of the north tower is
ascribed to Bishop Peter Courtenay, yet from the similarity of
both towers in regard to size and ornamental decorations, they
appear to have been designed by the same architect, and that
Bishop Courtenay only completed or finished it to its present
state, and added the clock and bell, from which he obtained
the honour of being deemed its founder.
These towers, according to the superstition of the times, were
dedicated to their particular saints ; that on the south having
St. John, and the north St. Paul for their patrons.
According to the fabric-rolls of the Cathedral the building
is constructed of stones from various quarries, the walls being
built of Beer stone, and the vaulted roof and groins from the
quarry at Silverton, as that stone was softer and therefore
easier to work; the clustered and other columns are of Purbeck
marble, as appears by the following transcript from the said
rolls, made by the late Dean Littleton: — "On the day of the
Sabbath next after the Feast of St. Vincent, A. D. 1332,
William Cannon, of Corfe, in the island of Purbeck, com
pounds with the Lords, the Dean and Chapter of Exeter, on
account of marble, as well for himself as his father, to the
fabric of the nave of the church of St. Peter, in Exeter, that
is to say, concerning eleven pillars and half; for the great, the
price of pillars £10 16s. making the sum of £124 4s.; also a
pair of pillars for the base and capitals £15; (the price of every
base with the capital and pillar 5s.) also for twenty-nine pillars
for the cloister, the price of each pillar Qd. in the whole
£140 5s. Qd."*
North In the north tower is a clock of a curious invention for the
tower. age in which it was constructed ; it points out the hours, days
of the month, and moon's age : the latter is described by a
globe, (one half of which is black) revolving on its axis, and
which presents the size of that luminary. This clock, together
with the great bell, is recorded to have been the gift of Bishop
Peter Courtenay. f
Great bell. The bell, from its size, truly deserves the epithet of great,
as it weighs 12,500lbs. which is 2,500lbs. more than the weight
of the boasted Tom, of Lincoln. It has a sonorous and deep
note, and is heard at a great distance: it was formerly rung

* From this account it appears that the cloisters were originally supported
by marble pillars, though at present there is not the smallest vestige of one
remaining. t Some years since a minute part and dial were added to this clock • the
workmanship of the ingenious Mr. William Hmvard, Brass-founder, of tbis'city.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 283
by the great exertions of twenty-four men ; it had double wheels Chap.VI.
and two ropes ; but the wheels are now destroyed, and its only ====
use is as a clock bell, and to be tolled every night at the hour
of eight: this is the remains of the Norman tyrant's Curfew;
the bell has obtained the name of the Peter bell from that of
its generous and noble donor.
In the south tower are eleven bells, the largest that are rung Sou(ll
in regular peal in this kingdom : the tenor is termed the tower.
Grandison, from its donor, the Bishop of that name: it weighs
7,552lbs. which is 2,000lbs. more than any other tenor in
England. In the nave, or body of the church, the principal things p-ont
deserving notice are the Font, a beautiful bason of white
marble, embellished with cherubims, supported by a black
marble pedestal, on a chequered pavement of black and white
marble, and encompassed with iron palisades. Great part
of the nave is occupied by rows of elevated wainscot seats ; but
they greatly diminish the grandeur of the building. On the
north side is the pulpit, which is a beautiful specimen of joiner's pui.,;t.
work; on the panels are carved, in alto relievo, the statues of the
four Evangelists; the angels are decorated with festoons of fruit
and flowers, and on the top of the baldequin is the statue of an
angel, blowing a trumpet, finely gilt, the whole being the work
manship of the celebrated Gibbons.
* The Peter Bell, together with the three large ones, viz : Grandison, Whitaker's
Stafford, and Cohthorn, in the south tower, being crazed, were new cast in the History of
year 1675. The Grandison and eighth bell (named the great nine o'clock bell) Manchester
were also re-cast in the year 1729. According to the Rev. Mr. Whitaker bells
were used by the Romans to signify the times of bathing, and therefore naturally
applied by the christians of Italy to denote the hours of devotion, and to summon
the people to church. They were so applied, before the conclusion of the seventh
century, in the monastic societies of Northumberland; and thence they were used
from the first erection of parish churches among us. Those of France and
England appear to have been furnished with several bells. The second excerption
of King Egbert, about the year 750, which is adopted in a French capitulary
of 801, commands every priest, at the proper hours, to sound the beils of his
church, and then to go through the sacred offices of God. In France the bells
were at times composed of irou, but in England they were frequently made of
brass ; and even as early as the middle of the tenth century there were many
cast of a large size and deep note. Two were given by Eglebrich to his own
Abbey of Croyland, in the reign of Edward the Elder ; and another, much
larger, by his immediate successor, Turketul: several were presented by
Dunstan to the monastery of Malmsbury, in the preceding reign of Edgar. The
number of bells in every church gave occasion to that singular piece of
architecture in the Campanile, or Bell Tower; an addition which is more
susceptible of the grander beauties of architecture than any other part of the
edifice, and is therefore generally the principal rudiments of it: it was the
constant appendage to every parish church of the Samns, and is actually men
tioned as such in the laws ot Athelstan. The custom of ringing regular peals,
which now are peculiar to England, commenced in the time of the Saxons, and
was common before the Conquest.

284 TI,E HISTORY OF
Chap.VI. Opposite the pulpit is an elevated seat for the Bishop,
 enriched with carving, and below this seat is another for the
Mayor: this part of the church is used for morning service,
and occasionally for sermons in the forenoon on Sabbath and
Festival days.
Almost over the pulpit is a deep gallery (designed, as supposed,
for concealing a band of musicians, on particular occasions) the
front of which is decorated with angels, playing on various
instruments of music; and is worthy the examination of the
curious in ancient music.
Over the north porch is a convenient dwelling-house for the
bell-toller; the front is embellished with three pyramidical
compartments of tracery work, in the centres of which are
niches, once occupied by statues.
Gothic The beautiful gothic screen, which divides the nave from the
screen. choir, was supposed to have been erected in the reign of James I.*
It is supported by grey marble pillars ; the pediment, highly en
riched with carving, is divided into thirteen compartments, in
which subjects of scripture history are portrayed, from the
creation to the descent of the Holy Ghost : on the summit of
the cornice is a row of carved shields, on which are depicted
the armorial bearings and distinctive badges of the different
nations composing the British empire. This elegant screen
Organ. supports the organ, which, for size, far surpasses any instru
ment of the kind in Europe; the largest pipes being fifteen
inches in diameter, which is two inches more than the much
celebrated one at Ulm, in Bavaria. Beneath this organ is a
smaller one, which fronts the choir, and on each of the adjoining
groins 6f the choir are other assemblages of large pipes, the
conductors of which are so ingeniously contrived that the whole
may be played upon by a single person at one time: the exterior
pipes are gilt, and the workmanship excellent : in short, for
majestic stateliness and beauty it is not excelled, if equalled, in
England. By an inscription it appears it was made by John
Loosemore, in the year 1666 : the whole has been lately
thoroughly repaired, and the conductors cleared from their filth,
byMr.Miche.au, Organ-builder, of this city, f
* I was at first led to believe that the screen which supports the organ, and
divides the choir from the body of the Cathedral, was erected in tbe time of King
James \. from the circumstance of a Rose and Thistle appearing in tbe ornamental
parts thereof. But whoever examines this screen attentively will easily dis
cover that they were placed there after it was erected ; and are of clumsy
workmanship when compared with the elegant foliage which surrounds them.
By the style of architecture (the arches being very similar to that of Bishop
Stapledon's monument) it is likely this screen was ereoted in the time of
Edward II. or III.
t The organ which formerly occupied the place of this was probably
destroyed in the grand Rebellion ; for it cannot be supposed that so noted a

THE CITY OF EXETER. 285
The stalls in the choir are neatly wainscoted and enriched Chap.VI.
with carved mouldings, in antique taste, corresponding to the :

building. The choir is neatly paved with Portland stones, in Choir.
form of a square, having at each angle a small square of black
marble. Near the centre, on a brass pedestal, in the form of a
tripod, enriched with crouchant lions, is a brazen eagle, with
expanded wings, supporting the lesson desk; and from the roof
of the choir hang two large and superb brass chandeliers.
On the south side of the choir is the Bishop's throne, Bishop's
elevated high above the floor, and ascended by five steps, its thron«-
area squares several feet, and in the centre is the Episcopal
chair, of crimson velvet, adorned with gold fringe; the back of
the throne is hung with crimson velvet, and the cushion is of
the same material, with gold fringe and tassels ; the curtains
are crimson moreen; the canopy is composed of pointed arches,
intersecting each other, and from the angles project cherubs,
supporting chalices, patens, and other sacred vessels; from the
canopy rises a lofty pile of gothic tracery, of a pyramidical
form, ending in different spires, and embellished with carvings,
mouldings, &c. The whole is greatly admired by connoisseurs
in ancient architecture, .being esteemed the grandest Episcopal
throne in Britain. It was originally beautifully painted and
partly gilt; and erected by Bishop Booth, about the year 1470.
Opposite the throne is a very handsome pulpit, which was Choir
erected in the year 1560; but it has had many ornamental P^P'1-
additions of late years, in which great care has been. taken not
to blend modern ornaments with the ancient ; the Chapter very
judiciously restricting themselves to the original design.
The area below the altar is divided from the choir by iron High altar.
rails, with brass pyramidical heads. From this platform there
is an ascent of three steps, of black and white marble, to the
floor of the altar, which is paved in the same manner, and sepa
rated from the steps by another row of balustrades.

Cathedral as this was without one, as we find them very early introduced into
the British and Saxon churches. " After the conversion of the Northumbrians
we find an instrument of that name familiarly used in the services of the north,
even as early as 660. But the grand combination of instruments which we now
denominate an organ was unknown in Europe at that period ; it was the happy
production of an eastern genius ; and the first that ever appeared in the west
of Europe was sent by Constantine, the Grecian Emperor, to Pepin, King of
France, in 756. The artists of the west availed themselves of the present, and
organs were constructed on the continent, and in this island, and erected in
some of our Cathedrals before the middle of the tenth century. In the reign of
Edgar, Archbishop Dunstan presented one to the church of Malmsbury, in
which instrument, (according to the historical description) the pipes were
formed, in musical proportions, of brass, and the air was impelled through them
by a pair of bellows."
D 4

286 THE HISTORY OF
Chap.VI. The furniture of the altar is sublimely grand, consisting of
 silver, richly gilt, and the whole appearance is awfully striking,
and rises a holy contemplation on the sacred duties there
performed. The altar-piece represents a perspective view of
the inside of another church, with side aisles, curiously orna
mented in the gothic style, and in the centre are the portraits
of Moses and Aaron, supporting the decalogue : the whole of
the painting is well performed, and, excepting the damage it
received from the saints-militant in the grand Rebellion, * well
preserved. It appears, by a date still remaining, that it was
painted in the year 1639.
On the south side of the altar are three arched seats, divided
by brass pillars, which support a curious pile of ancient
architecture, which for the lightness of structure, elegance of
workmanship, and neatness of carving, is much admired.
It displays the fine taste of ornamental work in the time of
Edward II. f
Behind the high altar is the ancient sacristy, now unfurnished
of its copes, vestments, and other Romish paraphernalia.
On the eastern part of the whole building is the chapel of the
Virgin Mary, which is ascended by steps, and it is enclosed
from the upper transverse aisle by a fair screen, in which are
folding doors: this screen, owing to the good taste of the present
Bishop, Dean, and Chapter, has been lately restored, and a
despicable one that covered it taken down. On the architrave
of the old screen was the following inscription : —
Hanc Capellam Beata Maria Virginis ab Athelstano Rege
olim fundatam, in Bibliothecam propriis sumptibus convertit
Robertus Vilvaine, M. D. Anno Domini, MDCLVII.
It is evident that this chapel is not of Saxon construction ;
it has been supposed to be on \ the whole site of the church
belonging to the house of Benedictine Monks, founded by

* Those anti-christian reformers wantonly fired at the heads of the portraits,
and the marks of the ballets are still visible.
t For what purpose or at what time these seats were erected is not now
known. The accounts given by some of our historians that they were purposely
built for the instalment of Leofricus, the first Bishop of Exeter, must be
erroneous if no part of the present choir was then erected.
% " Mr. William Davey, of Exeter, who has inspected tbe present building
with minute and discriminating attention, contends that the Cathedral did not
occupy the site of St. Mary's chapel, but was on part of the same ground as
the present choir, having its high altar where it still remains. The sanctuary
was the most sacred spot ; and it is extremely probable that the religious
architects of those times would rather extend their building in any directiou
than remove the site of the host. Besides, Hokes only compares the size of

THE CITY OF EXETER. 287
Athelstan, A. D. 932. It was converted into a library by the Chap.VI.
munificence of Dr. Robert Vilvaine, a native of this city, and 
has been augmented by succeeding benefactors, and particularly
by the late Dr. Glass, of this city, who bequeathed to it the
whole of his extensive and very valuable library.
The following pages will inform the reader of the number of
chapels attached to this church ; none of which merit a parti
cular description, saving the monuments within them, unless
it be that which is dedicated to St. James ; in this is a building
(which Mr. Carter calls a mural monument) of very curious
workmanship. In 1796, on opening a grave for Bishop Buller, in the south
aisle, a human skeleton was discovered, the bones of which were
united by wires ; and on the forepart of the skull was engraven
this inscription: Opera Sc Studio Joh. Ritzen et Goaf. Schloeri
Germanorum, 1632. JEtat 22^ Fui, eris.
To give a minute detail of every article worthy notice in this
ancient and venerable edifice would require a volume of itself;
therefore let it suffice only to say, that by the great care and
attention of the late and present Bishop, Dean, and Chapter,
the interior parts of the church are kept cleaner and in better
repair than most other Cathedrals in England: nor are the
outer parts neglected, as large sums have been expended in
new covering with lead most parts of its extensive roofing,
repairing the turrets, new glazing the windows, with many other
necessary repairs ; and particularly in the year 1803, when the
inside was thoroughly cleansed, coloured, and painted, at a
very great expence ; but much is yet required, which time and
former neglect have occasioned. The west front is very much
out of repair, as are also many of the turrets : it is therefore
hoped that the laudable example of the present Dean and
Chapter will stimulate their successors to proceed on so ne
cessary a work.
The ancient constitution of this Cathedral was a Dean and
twenty-four Prebendaries ; the Dean always included in that
number. For some centuries past eight of these Prebendaries
have, with the Dean, been called to residence, from whence
they take the names of Canons residentiary.* These constitute
the ancient Cathedral to the Lady Chapel." — Beauties of England and Wales,
vol. iv. page 56. Mr. Davey furnished the compilers of that work with a con
siderable part of their history of this Cathedral, from which the author hereof
has taken extracts.
* According to the first establishment of the Chapter of this Cathedral, by
Bishop Brewer, about the year 1236, no mention is made of Canons exclusively :
the original institution is thus worded: "Viginti et quatwtr Canones, sive
Prebendarii," or twenty-four Canons or Prebendaries ; no distinction being
made between them.

288

THE HISTORY OF

Chap.VI. the Chapter, and have the government of the Cathedral Church,
— and its appendages and peculiars. Vacancies are filled up
by election, by the Chapter, from the rest of the Prebendaries.
The Deanry, Precentorship, Chancellorship, and Treasurer-
ship, are the four greater internal dignities.
The four Archdeaconries and Sub-Deanry are also called
internal dignities.
The great Chapter, which is composed of the whole body,
viz : the Dean and twenty-three Prebendaries, is never called
together but for the election of a Bishop, Dean, or Convocation
Clerk. There is also a Sub-Chanter and Sub-Treasurer.
The Custos and College of Vicars consist of four ; the Lay-
Vicars are eight. These were a collegiate body corporate till
the year 1613, when the Lay- Vicars were disunited, by royal
mandate, from the College of Vicars, and their lands wholly
vested with the Priest- Vicars. Still however they retain the
right of voting at the election of a Custos, or in matters relating
to the tythes of Woodbury, of which they have a moiety ; the
whole are subject to the Bishop's visitation. They have their
own hall, in which, according to their original institution, they
formerly lived at commons ; but now they have convenient
dwellings in the College, which qualify them to vote for mem
bers of parliament for the city, as do the lands in Woodbury
the College of Vicars for those of the county.
There are five singing men, termed secondaries, (who have
each a dwelling-house in the Cloisters) and ten singing boys :
these, with the Vicars, form the choir of vocal music. To these
may be added an Organist, two Vergers, Bell-toller, and a
Beadle. There is likewise an establishment for two morning
Lecturers, one every Tuesday and the other every Friday.
Divine service is performed three times every day.
We shall now proceed to take a cursory view of the ancient
and modern monuments most worthy of attention, which have
not been noticed in the Ecclesiastical history , and shall begin
with those in the body of the church.
Nearly opposite to the south door, leading to the Cloisters,
is a very ancient table monument, (much mutilated) to the
memory of Hugh Courtenay, Earl of Devon, and his Countess,
Margaret, daughter of Humphrey de Bohun, Earl of Hereford
and Essex, and Lord High Constable of England. This Earl
Hugh died at Tiverton, in the year 1377. His lady survived
him fifteen years, dying on the* 28th of January, 1392; and,
according to her last will, was interred in this Cathedral, by the
side of her husband.
Sir Philip Courtenay of Powderham, the direct ancestor of
the present noble Lord, William Viscount Courtenay, was the
fifth son of this illustrious couple. On the covering stone of the

Hugh CourtenayEarl of
Devon.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 289
monument lie the mutilated statues of the Earl and Countess, Chap.VI.
dressed in their robes of state, formerly painted and gilt; but —
the inscriptions (if there were any) are quite lost.
Adjoining to this tomb is a large grave stone, inlaid with sir Peter
brass ornaments, within which is the portrait of an armed Courtenay.
knight, as large as life, inlaid with the same metal ; this stone
covers the remains of Sir Peter Courtenay, Knight, seventh
and youngest son of the aforesaid Earl Hugh and his Countess
Margaret. Sir Peter was greatly esteemed for his valour in the French
wars, during the reigns of King Edward III. and Richard II.
and was made governor of the important fortress of Calais,
and Lord Chamberlain of England. He died unmarried, in
the year 1409 : his epitaph, mentioned by Prince and other
authors, is now mostly obliterated, but the following copy is
preserved : —
Devonia natus, comes, Petrusque vocalus,
Regis cognatus, camerarius intitulatus:
Ecclesia gratus, capitaneus ense probatus,
Vita privatus, fuit hinc super astra relatus,
Et qua sublatus, de mundo transit amatus,
Calo confirmatusr maneat sine fine beatus.
And which is thus translated : —
The Earl of Devonshire's son, Peter by name,
Kin to the King, Lord Chamberlain of fame,
Captain of Calais, for arms well approved,
Who dying, was above the stars removed;
And well beloved went from the world away,
To lead a blessed life in Heaven for aye!
At the head of this is another brass plate to the memory of
Mrs. Ann Maria Courtenay, who was interred under the same
stone. *
Under the north tower is a small enclosed chapel, (open at William
top) in which is interred the body of William Sylke, sometime Sylke.
Sub-Chanter of this Church.
This chapel was originally embellished with fine carvings of
Romish saints, and pieces of scripture history; and under the
front arch is the effigy of a human skeleton, lying at full length
on a winding sheet, and over the arch this inscription is still
legible : — Sum quod eris, fueramque quod es, pro me precor
ora.— William Sylke. This chapel and monument are now
greatly decayed, and in a very ruinous state.
* On opening the grave for the interment of this lady the body of Sir Peter-
was discovered in good preservation, embalmed and wrapped up in a bullock s
hide ; this account the author received from several credible eye witnesses.
E 4

290 THE HISTORY OF
Chap.VI. Just at the angle of the north aisle is a monument, with a
—-"; long Latin inscription, signifying that Captain Benjamin Dollen,
DoUen? to whose memory it is erected, died in this city, on his journey
from London to Pentillie, in Cornwall, and was interred just
under. On each side of the principal entrance is a mural monument,
that on the north consists of black and white marble, erected to
the memory of Mr. Hereford, of the county of Northumberland,
and his wife. The other is of statuary marble : —
Sacred to the memory of Mary Irvine, widow of Lieutenant-
Colonel Irvine, who died on the 20th day of December, 1799,
aged 24 years.
Underneath is the following inscription : —
Tho' sacred friendship deems thy fate severe,
And fond affection drops a silent tear ;
Though childless now desponding parents sigh,
Pour the sad plaint, and turn the streaming eye
To thy cold grave — yet o'er each aching breast
Meek resignation breathes the balm of rest ;
Religion whispers peace amidst the gloom,
While pale affliction, musing over the tomb,
Submits, and lowly bends to heav'ns high will ;
Hush'd every plaint, and ev'ry murmur still,
Though all lament thy blooming graces fled,
And weep for beauty moulding with the dead,
Thy virtues still the kindred wish shall raise
To meet with thee thy God, and hymn his praise.
There are several other small mural monuments in the nave,
but they do not merit a particular description.
Grant. In the inner north aisle, just within the entrance, and against
the wall of the choir, is a neat monument of variegated marble,
the workmanship of the celebrated P. Scheemakers, on which
is the following inscription : —
Juxta S. E.
Joannis Grant S. T. P.
Ecclesia divi Dunstani in Occidente per annos LIX.
Vicarius, Cathred. Roffensis Ann. XLIV. Prabend.
Kingsdown id Com. Cant. Ann. XXVI. Rector.
Quot Tituli totidem numerantur meritorum praconia, totidem
Extant Virtutum Ecclesiasticarum Testimonia, Eminebat
quippe in eo singularis Sanctimonia, Eruditio, Integritas fy in
difficilimis Temporibus spectata Fortitudo, infame istud Regis
Jacobi.
Edicta oppugnare ausa et contemnere : ad extremum usq.
Anglicanse vindex Ecclesia: satius mala pat i quamfacere.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 291
In Consuetudine privata se facilem, fy apertum prast abat Chap.VI.
innocue facetum, et cum dignitate quadam urbanum
Et virtutibus quidem tantis gratiam pretiumq : addiit ipsa
Longavitas. Carus adeo omnibus, suisq : amabilis vixit ut
etiam
Nonagenarius morte immatura prareptus vlderetur.
Duas duxit uxores ; secundis nuptiisfilian Duncombi
Colchester Militis, practari illius Joannis Maynardi
Militis neptem, ex qua Prolem a se progenitam vidit ;
Liberumq :
Liberos. Mortuus est VI. id Quintilis A. D. cioioccxxxvi.
Juxta etiam placide requiescit
Elizabetha Joannis Grant, pradicti Joannis Grant
Filii Archdiaconi Barum, Eccles. hujus Canonici Uxor.
DomDom: Stephani Exon. Episc. per Luciam Uxorem.
FaminamLectissimam,Filia minimeindigna Paternarum amula
Virtutum, omnibusq. qua aut beatissimo Conjugi placere
poterant, aut qua talium parentum Filium decebant, plene
ornata. Per Decennium 8f amplius Comes fidessima,
Magna Particeps Sf Auctrix Felicitatis ;
Duobus Partubus Maritum felicem, at tertio eheu!
infelicem fecit Puerperio una-cum Infantulo extinct a ;
Parentibus, Liber is, Amicis, sed maxime Marito amantissimo
triste sui Desiderium reliquit, Animam effians XVI. K. Mart.
Adjoining the door of the Canons' vestry is a small marble Major
monument to the memory of Edward Drewe, Esq.* with this Drewe.
modest inscription on a plain marble tablet : —
To the memory of Edward Drewe, Esq. only son of Edward
Drewe, Barrister, who lived respected and died lamented, in
the 43rd year of his age, and whose remains are interred near
this place. Also to the memory of his said father, who lies
beneath. And of Dorothea Juliana, his beloved mother, buried
in St. Martin's Church, in this city. This marble was erected
as a lasting testimony of regard and affection to a kind brother
and tender parents, by Dorothea Juliana, wife of Arthur
Kelly, Esq. of Kelly.
In a recess in the wall, and near this monument, is an
* This gentleman was a native of this city ; he very early expressed an
inclination for the army, and on the breaking out of the American war procured
a commission in the 35th regiment of foot, and went with it to America, where
he gave such proofs of his military skill and bravery, and particularly at
the battle of Charlestown, (where he. was desperately wounded) that he was
deservedly advanced to the rank of Major in the said regiment; but having
afterwards some difference with his Colonel (Cockburn, who basely betrayed
his trust, by surrendering the island of St. Eustatiu to the French) he gave up
his commission and returned to England; but he never after enjoyed himself,
and fell a sacrifice, in the flower of his age, to the villanous aspersions of his
enemies.

292

THE HISTORY OF

Chap.VI. exquisite piece of sculpture, representing a human anatomy,
 lying at full length on its winding sheet, the flesh entirely
wasted, and nothing but the sinews and bones left under the
shrunk skin. This memento of the instability of human
grandeur, though somewhat defaced, is worthy of a curious
inspection ; over the arch is this inscription : *
Ista figura docet? nos omnes premeditari qualiter ipsanocet?
mors quando venit dominari.
A little beyond this (in another recess) is an ancient altar-
tomb, decorated with rams' faces and other ornaments, in a
wretched taste, which clearly demonstrate the low state of the
arts about the middle of the sixteenth century. On the cover-
stone is this inscription : —
Here lyeth Master Anthony Harvey, Esq*, who died the xxiii.
daye of May e, a° dmi. 1564.
Sir Richard Near this, and opposite to Bishop Stapleton 's, is the statue
of an armed knight, lying at full length, with his legs crossed,
to denote his having been on a crusade to the Holy-land. On
the western side of the arch is the statue of a man in an erect
posture, and on the opposite side are the head and fore
parts of a horse, held by a man, projecting from the wall ;
there is neither armorial bearing or any inscription remaining,
and the whole is greatly defaced, f
Almost opposite to this is a monument on which is represented
the statue of an armed knight, in a kneeling posture, before
an altar ; and on a tablet round the figure are sixteen escut
cheons, charged each with the arms of the Carews, impaled
with other different coats, alluding to the intermarriages of
that family, from which the person was descended (not from
his having married so many wives, as is vulgarly represented ;)
over the cornice is a large shield, bearing the arms of the

Stapleton.

Sir Peter
Carew.

* There is no other inscription or armorial bearing to denote to whose
memory this cenotaph was erected, except the arms of the Diocess ; but the
vergers inform falsely all visitors that it was erected for Bishop Lack, to
ridicule his attempt to fast during the forty days of Lent : human nature could
not sustain this rigorous penance above thirty days, when he died, and thus fell
a victim to his folly : but there appears to be a great mistake in this traditionary
legend, as Bishop Lacie was interred on the other side of the aisle, under the
wall of the choir, where his plain altar-tomb still remains in situ.
t According to tradition this monument was erected to the memory of Sir
Richard Stapleton, brother to the Bishop, who was also murdered by the
Londoners, at Cripplegate, (vid. Speed) as he endeavoured to enter the city of
London, to the succour of his brother : his horse took fright at some cripples
assembled at the gate, and this occasioned his being thrown to the ground, when
he fell an easy prey to the incensed mob. The figures placed on each side of
the tomb seem to be allusive to this circumstance.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 293
Carews, quartered with several other coats ; the inscription is Chap.VI.
now so much defaced as to be totally illegible; it was erected 
to the memory of Sir Peter Carew, Knight, of Haccomb.
Below this, against the wall of the choir, is a plain table
monument, the pediment supported by two pillars, and on the
tablet is this inscription, in gilt letters : —
Hie situs est, Robertus Hall, Josephi CI:
Epi : filius primogenitus.
S. S. Theologia Doctor facundus :
Hujus Ecclesia, Vivus Thesaurius
Mortuus Thesaurus. Vivus Mortuus
Residentiarius. Obiit 29 die Maii 1667. JEtatis Sua 61.
There is a small plain marble tablet in the choir wall, on
which is the following inscription : —
Near this stone is interred the body of 3tiss Henrietta
Wilhelmina Wyander Piers, who departed this life the 1th day
of December, 1764, aged 22 years, sister to Sir William
Pigott Piers, Bart, of Iristenaugh, in the county ofWestmeath,
in Ireland.
At the upper end of this aisle, in a recess in the wall, (in Sir George
the small chapel through which is the passage that leads to sPeke-
the Chancellor's house) lies the statue of an armed knight,
and over it are several shields, bearing the device of the Spekes;
there is no inscription remaining on the tomb, but from a
stone underneath it may be supposed that it was erected to the
memory of Sir George Speke, of White Lackington, in the
county of Somerset, maternal ancestor of the present Lord
North, Earl of Guildford.
In the cross aisle, behind the altar, lie interred the bodies of Judge
Sir John Doderidge, Knight, (one of the Judges in the Court Doderidse'
of King's Bench) and of his lady, daughter of Sir Amias
Bampfylde, of Poltimore. The stones which covered their
remains have been removed, and others put in their place; but
on the north side of the Virgin Mary's chapel two separate
monuments are erected to their memory ; on these their
statues are laid at full length. That of the Judge is clothed in
scarlet robes, with a court-roll in his hand, and has been finely
gilt ; over the statue is an escutcheon of his arms, impaled
with that of Bampfylde ; the epitaph is as follows : —
Learning adieu ! for Doderidge is gone
To fix his earthly to a heavenly throne ;
Rich urn of learned dust, scarce can be found
More worth inshrined in six feet of ground.
NUnC obiit Do Derig Us JUDeX.

F 4

294

THE HISTORY OF

Chap.VI.

Lady
Doderidge.

Dr.
Vilvaine.

James Raillard,Esq.

Robert Harvey, Esq.

Canon Baker, &c

Sub-DeanBarton.

At the foot of the Judge's statue lies that of his" lady, dressed
in the fashion of the times she lived in ; this has also been
painted. On a marble stone is this inscription : —
Hie jacet Domina Dorothea Uxor Johannis Doderidge
Militis, Unius Justiciariorum Domini Regis Ad. Placita
coram Rege tenenda assignati, Et filia Amisii Bampfilde
Militis, qua obiit Primo Martii, Anno Domini, 1614.
On the left side of the entrance into this chapel, fixed against
the wall, is a small monument to the memory of Dr. Vilvaine,
the first and greatest benefactor to the library ; on it is the
following inscription : —
In memoriam Robert Vilvaine Medicina Doctoris, Hac olim
Civitate nati atq : de eadem optime meriti, qui obijt 21
Februarii, 1662, JEtatis Sua 87.
Corresponding to this, on the other side of the entrance, is
a much larger monument, finely gilt, and enriched with scrolls,
erected to the memory of James Raillard, Esq. a native of
Switzerland, and an eminent merchant of this city ; it has a
Latin and Greek inscription. He died the 9th of October, 1692.
The opposite wall of this aisle is filled entirely with modern
monuments. The first (opposite to the last described) consists
of a lofty pyramid of variegated marble, from which projects
a white marble sarcophagus, and over it is a medallion of a
female head, weeping; and on a white marble tablet beneath is
the following inscription : — -
In memory of Robert Harvey, Esq. late of the Island of
Grenada, whose remains were intexred in a vault near this
place. He departed this life the 29th of July, 1791, in the
59th year of his age.
Next to this is a monument, the back of which is of varie
gated marble ; on a white marble pyramid are inscribed the
following words : —
In memory of George Baker, Archdeacon of Totnes, and
Canon of this Church, who died the 28th of January, 1772,
aged 85. And of Sarah, his daughter, wife of the Reverend
William Hatherleigh, who died the 4th of April, 1760, aged
30 ; and were both buried near this place. And of Mary, wife
of the above named George Baker, and daughter of the Right
Reverend Stephen Weston, S. T. P. formerly Bishop of this
Diocess, who died the 3rd of March, 1777, aged 76. And of
Mary Baker, daughter of the above named George Baker, who
died the 16th of June, 1768, aged 43.
Adjoining is a neat monument of black and white variegated
marble, containing the following elegant Latin epitaph : —
Ad unum suggesti gradum situs est, Philippus Barton, S. T. B.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 295
Hujus Ecclesia Cathedralis Canonicus Residentiarius et Sub- Chap.VI.
decanus,necnon Ecclesia, Parochialis de Buriton, in Comitatu
Huntonia, per annos quadraginta quatuor Rector, natus in
agro Vigorniensis, In Schola Wintoniensis alumnus dein, Coll.
Novi, apud Oxoniensis. — socius floruit. — Orator vere Christi-
anus, — cui, concionibus dum traherentur quotqvot inter fuerint
erum vin senserunt fructuorum et nitorum; eximia Doctus sua
tamen contemplex fama, utpote precipue Prator exemplum
modestus, quern omni virtute officioque ornatiss ornatissimum
propter facilem morum suavitatemconsuetudinemjucundissimam
simul ac eruditus simant ingenium omnium capax et limatum,
pietatem non simulatam, quincunque noverint suspexerunt
coluerunt. — mensis Junii die vicessimo quarto, annum agens
septuagessimum octavum MDCCXCVI. — Vita futura intentus
lubensfato cessit. — fratri bene merenti-sepulchrale hoc marmor.
— marens Maria Batchellor poni curavit.
The next monument is erected to the memory of Bishop
Buller; which has already been described in the Ecclesiastical
History. Close to this is one of variegated marble, neatly executed, on
which is the following : —
Sacred to the memory of Susanna, wife of Joseph Bealy,
M. D. who died the 21st of April, 1798, aged 22 years. The
amiable qualities of her heart, and an excellent and cultivated
understanding, ensured in an extraordinary degree the esteem
and admiration of all who knew her. This monument is erected
as a tribute to her merits, and as the last testimony of the
affection of her disconsolate relatives. Also in the same grave
lieth her only child, Joseph Pool Bealy, who died the 16th of
September, 1798, aged eighteen months: also the remains of
Ann Susanna Baker, mother of the above S. Bealy, ob. 4th of
March, 1800, JEtat 42.
The last in this row is a beautiful monument of statuary
marble ; the sculpture (which is finely executed) consists of an
altar, on which is a female figure, in a disconsolate posture,
leaning with her left hand on an urn, and holding in her right
a burning torch, reversed; underneath, on a marble tablet, is
the following inscription : —
Sacred to the memory of Rachel Charlotte O'Brien, wife of Mrs.
Captain E. J. O'Brien, of his Majesty's twenty-fourth regiment, ^f^rfeB
and daughter of Joseph Frobisher, Esq. of Montreal, in
Canada. Her death was occasioned by her clothes catching
fire : seeing the flames communicating to her infant, all regard
to her own safety was lost in the more powerful consideration
of saving her child, and rushing out of the room she preserved
its life at the sacrifice of her own. She expired on the 13th
of December, A. D. 1800, in the 19th year of her age.

296

The history of

Chap.VI. Underneath this, on a white marble tablet, representing a
• piece of drapery, are the following lines :—
If sense, good humour, and a taste refined,
With all that ever graced a female mind ;
If the fond mother, and the faithful wife,
The purest, happi'st, characters in life,
If these, when summoned to an early tomb,
Cloth' d in the pride of youth, and beauty's bloom,
May claim one tender sympathizing sigh,
Or draw a tear from pity's melting eye,
Here pause — and be the grateful tribute paid,
In sad remembrance to O'Brien's shade.
These five monuments were executed by Mr. John Kendal,
Statuary, of this city.
Treasurer At the upper end of the south aisle (almost opposite to
Hall. Bishop Oldham's, already described) is a stately monument to
the memory of Treasurer Hall. It is crowned with a lofty
curved pediment, supported by two Corinthian columns, their
bases and capitals gilt; and on the inflexed curve of the
pediment is a large escutcheon, on which are his arms, impaled
with those of his wife ; on each side of the shield is an angel,
in a sitting posture, sounding a trumpet; the base is supported
by carved brackets, between which, on another escutcheon, are
the arms of Hall, impaled with two other coats, over which,
by way of crest, is the osfrontis of a human skull, encircled
round the temples with gilt laurel, and large extended wings,
resembling those of a bat; on each side of the brackets are other
skulls. In the centre of the monument is a large oval black
marble tablet, enriched with a carved border: the whole of the
carving is elegantly executed, (particularly the skulls) and
finely painted and gilt ; on the tablet is this inscription : —
M. S.
Nicolai Hall, S. T. P.
Qui hujus Ecclesia Thesaurarius Farringdoniensis Rector
Utriusque nuper ornamentum, nunc Luctus et Desiderium,
Privata omnia sacrique muneris officio egregie explendo
Sui ordinis nemo Laudem ampliorem meruit pauci parem,
Maritus et Pater fuit suorum amantissimus,
Et ab Mis invicem unice dilectus,
Pastor omni cura in Gregis Salutem sui invigilans,
Concionibus se Pietatis strenuum prabuit Monitorem,
Exemplo Ducem.
Neque minus severam Sacerdotis Gravitatem
Suavissimis temperavit Moribus,
In sanctitate edenda sibi rigidus, aliis jucundus,

THE CITY OF EXETER. 297
In Rebus gerendis Dubium, Prudentiam prius Chap.VI.
An inviolatum miremur Justitia Studium
Pauperibus minime ostentandi se Causa liberalis
Munificentiam iis suam altiori Rivo
Quo minore Strepitu fluere voluit ;
Rara erga Amicos et de se bene merentes Fide,
Offensarum quam cito oblitus,
Beneficii accepti Memoriam nunquam deposuit,
Egregiis Mis Animi solitus parent attutit Modestiani ,
Aliena virtutes ^Estimator justissimug haud aquus sua
Idioque Invidia major plus merito Gloria,
Quoniam vivus neglexerat,
Moriens consequutus est.
Obiit VII. Cal. Mail Anno Domini MDCCIX.
Optimo Parenti
Nic. Hall, Filius natu maximus
Posuit.
Just below, against the wall of the choir, are three modern
monuments, adjoining each other. The first is composed of
white statuary marble, and consists of a square tablet, over
which, in a circular pediment, is represented, in basso relievo,
an angel, with his face hid in his drapery, reclining on an altar,
on which is placed aii urn, the whole overshadowed with
branches of cypress ; and underneath is the following inscription:
Sacred to the memory of Sarah Price Clarke, who was the Mrs. S. P.
only surviving issue and heiress of Godfrey Clarke, Esq. of Clarke.
Sutton Hall, in the county of Derby. She departed this life
in the city of Exeter, on the 24th of November, 1801. Inker
were united all the virtues which gave dignity to birth, or
utility to fortune, her mind possessed an energy which doth not
always mark the female character, her friendship was warm,
and her charity was never restrained by individual convenience,
her bosom was the seat of those energies which give activity to
virtue. Possessed of superior talents and unimpeached honour,
she never pursued frivolity with severity, or the loss of fame
with triumph. Her latter years were marked by declining
health, and her sufferings by patience. Her faith was fervent,
her reward was sure.
Adjoining is the monument (already described) of Bishop
Ross; and next to this is one, almost similar to that of Mrs.
Clarke's, excepting the angel, who is here represented full-
faced ; on this monument is the following epitaph : —
Near this place are deposited the mortal remains of Laura, I^dy
wife of George Ferdinand Lord Southampton, and second ^outhamp-
daughter of the Right Rev. Dr. Frederic Keppel, sometime

G 4

298 THE HISTORY OF
Chap.VI. Bishop of this Diocess. She departed this life at Dawlish, in
 — this county, the 10th day of June, 1798, in the 34th year of
her age. Farewell, dear shade ! but let this marble tell
What heavenly worth in youth and beauty fell!
With ev'ry virtue blest, whate'er thy lot,
To charm a court, or dignify a cot ;
In each relation — shone thy varied life
Of daughter, sister, mother, friend, and wife.
Seen with delight in fortune's golden ray,
Suffering remain 'd to grace thy parting day :
When smiling long our spoke the candid soul,
And patience check' d the sigh affection stole.
Further on, in recesses in the wall of the choir, are two very
ancient monuments, representing two knights, completely armed
in coats of mail, their left hands holding shields, which are
placed over their breasts, and their right grasping the hilts of
their swords, which are girded to their bodies by strong belts ;
their helmets are placed under their heads; their legs are
crossed, to denote their having been in some crusade to the
Holy-land, and their feet are rested on lions: thev appear to
have been painted, and on their shields were depicted their
armorial bearings, but they are now obliterated, together
with the epitaphs.
Raleigh, of One of these monuments (according to tradition) was erected
Raleigh. to tne memory of  • Raleigh, of Raleigh, maternal ancestor
to the family of Chichester; and the other to the memory of
Humphrey de Bohun, Earl of Hereford and Essex, and Con
stable of England. This Earl was father to Margaret, Countess
of Devon, wife of Hugh Courtenay, the second Earl of Devon
of that name. Over the statue was this inscription : —
Epitaphium D. Bohunni illustrissimi
Quondam Comitis Herefordensis.
Oh Bohunne Comes! claro de sanguine nate !
En ! rapit vita stamina parca tua.
Dejicit ilia viros illustri stemmate natos :
Insuper obscuros dejicit ilia viros.
Aspicite humanam Bohunni in imagine sortem?
Cunctos mors panda f alee cruenta secat*
* This Earl taking part with Thomas, Duke of Lancaster, in his opposition
to the arbitrary proceedings of King Edward II. was slain at Boroughbridgc ,
in Yorkshire, by a Welchman, who thrust a spear up his body as the Earl was
passing over a bridge. This accident happened three years before the marriage
of his daughter with the Earl of Devon; and as he died so far north it Is
very improbable that he should be buried in Exeter, where he had little or no
connexions ; but, according to Weaver, it was common in those days for

THE CITY OF EXETER. 299
Almost over these ancient monuments is one of variegated Chap.VI.
marble, lately erected ; it is small, but neatly executed, and —
records the following memento : —
To the memory of Ann Buller, widow of William Buller, Mrs. Ann
D. D. late Bishop of Exeter, and daughter of John Thomas, Buller.
D. D. late Bishop of Winchester. She died August the 28th,
1800, aged 62.
Nearly opposite is a square marble tablet, fixed on the south
wall, on which is as follows : —
To the memory of William Norris, Esq. of Nonsuch, in the William
county of Wilts, who died January the 26th, 1794, in the Norris. Esq
18th year of his age.
Against the same wall is a small but neat marble sarco
phagus, enriched with branches of cypress ; on the front is this
inscription : —
Sacred to the memory of William Corneck, Esq. who died at William
Starcross, December the 21th, 1802, aged 46. Possessed of Corneck,
liberal sentiments, all those who knew him deplored his loss. Esq.
His friendly disposition and exemplary life were singularly
conspicuous, and corresponded with the courteous manner in
which he fulfilled the duties of a husband and father. As a
tribute due to his worth this monument was erected by his dis
consolate widow.
On the same wall are fixed two more small marble tablets, on
the first of which is inscribed : —
Rev. George Nutcombe, L. L. B. born at Exeter, February Rev.
the 11th, 1769, died there May the 23rd, 1799. £™rSe
On the other: Louisa, the wife of Henry Hurford, Esq. who }^rsc"m "'
died at Exmouth, November 18th, 1803, aged 34 years. Hurford.
On the east wall of the chapel, the north side of the library,
is a new erected monument of statuary marble, beautifully
executed ; consisting of a white marble altar, supported by
carved brackets, between which is a shield, on which are
painted the arms of the defunct. On the altar is a female
figure, in a reclining posture, weeping over an urn; on the back
ground is an obelisk of black marble, shadowed on one side by
a laurel tree ; on the altar is this epitaph : — ¦
To the memory of the Honourable Lieutenant-General Bruce, Gen. Bruce.
uncle of the Earl of Elgin and Kincardine, Colonel of his
Majesty's sixteenth regiment of foot, and member in the late
parliament for Marlborough, and in the present for Great
Bed win, both in the county of Wilts, who departed this life
persons of eminent rank to have monuments erected to their memory in different
places, and probably this was erected by his daughter after her marriage ; the
inscription, which is now mostly obliterated, is not so ancient as the monument;
being written by Mr. Hoker, about the reign of King Edward VI. as appears
by the characters.

300 THE HISTORY OF
Chap.VI. December 12th, 1797, aged 58. He was hastening to the
— milder parts of Devonshire, in the hopes of restoring a consti
tution impaired by the oppressive climates of the two Indies,
when death arrested his progress in this city, where he closed
an honourable and illustrious life, worn out in the zealous
service of his country, as a citizen and a soldier.
Thomas Near the entrance of the south aisle is a small but neat
Skynner, marble monument, fixed against the choir wall, on which is the
L. L. D. following inscription : —
Near this rest interred the remains
of Thomas Skynner, L. L. D.
successively Archdeacon of Totnes,
and Pracentor of this church,
whose honour and interests
he was always zealous to promote.
To the calls of charity or public spirit
his purse was never shut.
At every place of duty
his attendance was regular and exemplary,
even when ill health might have pleaded a dispensation.
To his houses a munificent benefactor :
The one he built from the ground,
and added to the ornaments and conveniences of the other :
At length, lamented by all,
he closed a valuable life
In his 61st year, August the 1th, 1789.
Near this is a monument of black and white marble, thus
inscribed : —
Charles To the memory of Charles Hawtrey, M. A. Sub-Dean and
Hawtrey, Canon- Residentiary of this Church, who died 3rd May, 1770,
M^- Sub" aged 83. As a husband, parent, master, and friend, he was
affectionate, tender, kind, and true ; extensive in his charity,
but secret; a faithful minister of Jesus Christ: after a long
and melancholy illness, borne with the fortitude of a christian,
he was released from this world to reap the fruits of his piety
in a better.
Opposite is a plain mural monument of marble, bearing this
inscription : —
Dorothy Underneath lyeth the body of Dorothy, the wife of Robert
Bennet. Bennet, of Halmston, in this county, Gent, and daughter of
Edward Bennet, of Hexworthy, in the county of Cornwall,
Esq. who died the 10th day of October, Anno Domini, 1736,
JEtat 34.
William °n the south waI1 of the choir is a small plain monument,
Weston, w,th the following :—
Esq. To the memory of William Weston, Esq. youngest son of

THE CITY OF EXETER. 301
Stephen Weston, Bishop of Exeter, many years Captain of an Chap.VI.
Indiaman, and at his death Registrar of this Diocess. This  ~
monument is dedicated by Charles Weston, Prebendary of
Durham, Sec. his nepheio Sf exor. Obt. 30th June, 1773,
Mtat 62.
On a pillar, adjoining Bishop Cotton's monument, is one of
white marble, consisting of an oval tablet, surrounded with
laurel leaves; on the tablet is the bust of a priest, beautifully
executed in relief: a mantle is suspended below with this
epitaph : — Edvardus Cotton, S. T. P. Edward
Thesaurarius et unus e Canonicis Cotton,
Residentariis, Filius Gulielmi Cotton, ¦
Pracentoris, Filii Gulielmi, Episcopi
Hujus Ecclesia. In Argumento Se
Genio subtilis ; Doctrina, Pietate et
Charitate angclicus, ad Damnum
Ecclesia, et ad Dolorem Amicorum,
Viz. omnium, obiit II. Novembris, Anno
Salutis 1675.
In the chapel, on the north side of the library, and against Sir Peter
the north wall is a table monument of freestone, in the under Carew.
part of which lies the statue of a knight, completely armed, and
his legs crossed ; on his shield are depicted the arms of the
ancient family of the Carews ; and on the wall, behind the
statue, Sir Peter Carew, in characters, now almost obliterated.
Over him, on the table part of the monument, lie two other
figures, the one of an armed knight, and the other of a lady, Sir Gawen
representing Sir Gawen Carew and his wife. The inscription Carew and
is very much mutilated, but this remnant remains : — a y'
Walter Dowrich, of Dowrich, Esq. married the only sister of
this Sir  ***** fmyyht, under figured, elder brother to
the  ter Carew, knyght, was slayne* On this monument
are two dates, one cut in stone, 1589; the other in black
paint, 1581.
On the east wall of this chapel is fixed a very clumsy monu
ment of freestone ; on the base is a coarse representation of a
naked youth, sleeping, surrounded by flowers, with an hour
glass at his feet ; above is a coffin, covered with a pall, from
which angels are represented as in the act of conveying the soul
of the defunct, shrouded in a cloud, to happiness: over the
whole is this inscription : —
To the memory of Mrs. Elizabeth Barrett, the wife of John
* The inscription originally was thus : — Walter Dowrich, of Dowrich, Esq.
married the only sister of this Sir Peter Carew, Knyght, under figured, elder brother
to tlie Lord Carew, of Clopton ; which Sir Peter Carew, Knyght, was slayne in
Flanders.
H 4

Mrs. Eliz.
Barrett.

302 ™E HISTORY OF
Chap.VI. Barrett, Gent, whose body is interred at the east end of lady
chappell, neere the high altar, under a marbell stone.
For that the Elder Atride's grief
No Pensill can expresse to Life
For Iphigenises luckless hap
His Face a blacke veile must enwrap
And for the graces here enshrid
Cannot by art's Quill be defined
Loe here a Veile of sable Herse
Insteed of Comment of all verse
Great Greifes as Graces are neere one
They silence both expression
Blesd Soule who Angel'' hads yet strive to raise
Whe Angels Togues faylter in thy due Praise.
Matthew Adjoining this is a small monument of freestone, representing
Godwin. a young man in the act of praying; before him is an organ,
and behind him several musical instruments ; and over his head
are cherubims appearing from the clouds: the inscription is
partly obliterated ; it was as follows : —
Matthei Godwin
Adoloscentis pii, mitis,
Ingeniosi, Musica Bacchalaurii:
Cathed. Cantuar ¦ et Exon: Archimusici ;
JEterna Memoria posuit G. M. Fr :
Vixit Annos 17, Menses 5.
Hinc ad Calos migravit
12 Januarii 1586.
Dr. In this chapel is another monument, fixed against a pillar; it
Bidgood. is 0f biue marble, partly gilt, and has the following inscription :
Memoria
Johannis Bidgood, M. D.
Hoc Civitate III. Id. Martii nati
CIOIOCXXIH
Denato vero Idibus Januarii cioiocxc
S.
Quam si Artis Medica
Anglicaniq : Nominis
Decus et Ornamentum,
Si Hippocratem, Galenum,
Istiusve Saculi JEsculapium
Dixeris
Verecunde dixeris Viator.
Upon a tablet below this epitaph is as follows : —
Hum : Bidgood Consanguineus

THE CITY OF EXETER. 303
Et in totum Assem Hares institutus Chap.VI.
Gratitudinis aterna =
Hoc Testimonium venerabundus
Posuit.
Near the centre of the chapel is a grave stone, on which is
the portrait of a priest, engraved and inlaid in brass, with a
scroll issuing out of his mouth, bearing this inscription : —
" Dne Jhu scdm actu meu noli me judicari," and on the stone
is this epitaph : —
Hie Jacit Magister Willius Langeton Consanguineus Magri William
Edi Stafford Exon Epi quond^ Canonicus hujus Ecclia, Qui Langeton-
o6nr29.° Die Januarii Anno Dni mil Imo CCCC.° tertio decimo
cujus Anima ompe Deus. Amen.
In the chapel, on the south side of the library, is an altar sir John
monument of freestone, without any inscription remaining; it Gilbert, &c.
was erected to the memory of Sir John Gilbert, Knight, and
his wife, daughter of Sir Richard Chudleigh, of Ashton, their
effigies are represented lying at full length, side by side, upon
a bed of state, over which is a canopy, supported by pillars ;
on the back are three shields, on the first of which are the arms
of Gilbert, on the second Gilbert and Ckudleigh's impaled,
and on the third Ckudleigh's alone.*
Near this is a white marble monument, on which is a bust
finely executed ; underneath is this short epitaph : —
¦J!1 i- tn • Edmund
Memoriam Ldmuncli Davie, Davie.
Qui Obiit 22 Januarii:
1692.
Against the south wall is a mausoleum, consisting of a lofty
plinth of freestone, on which is a very large white marble
pedestal, supporting two busts, the one of a priest, in his gown
and band, the other of a lady in a loose dress; also an angel
holding a medallion, on which is a profile bust of a young
woman, in basso relievo, around it is this inscription : —
" Mearum, heu! Dulce Decus, Columque Rerum."
The back part of the monument is of black marble, over
which is a pediment, and under the pediment are three shields,
charged with painted armorial bearings ; on the pedestal is this
inscription : — Hie placide in Christo dormit
Martha Fursman :
* This Sir John Gilbert was knighted by Queen Elizabeth, in 1570 ; and was
Sheriff of Devon in 1574.

304 THE HISTORY OF
Chap.VI. Qua Patre orta Gasparo Radcliffe de Franklyn Arm.™
'• Matre autem Iana Filia Salamonis Andrew de Lyme-Regis
Utrisq: Natalibus Generosa;
Nata est 15 Die Mensis Mali A. D. 1688 :
Sub benignis autem penetralibus Matertera sua carissiima
Marthze, Henrici Manaton Arm.ri Uxoriset Vidua pientissimee
E Parvula enutrita est : et amata multum :
Hares tandem ex asse ab Improle instituta
Chancellor Viro Reverendo Johanni Fursman Clerico, A. M.
Fursman. 18 Mail A. D. 1721, nuptum data est:
Et summo decore omnes Matrona Partes sustinebat :
Pia, Proba, Casta, Verecunda, Recti Tenax, intemerata
fide Se honore
In sodalium Consuetudine et Colloquiis
Non morose silens ; nee muliebr iter gar rula :
Erat enim Illi lentus Risus, sermo rarus, Censura nulla.
Forma porro Gratia et Dignitati Animam adjungebat
candidem et sinceram
Ingenium Mite Sf Benevolum ;
Prudentiam rerum agendarum scientem ;
Et verendam quondam morum Gravitatem ;
Nihil leve, nihil indecorum, nihil se indignum tolerantem.
Hie virtutibus exercitata
Proh dolor ! Affectu convulsivo subito correpta,
4 Die Mensis Junii A. D. 1727, Gravida e vivis excessit !
Et triste sui Desiderium reliquit
Pauperibus, Amicis, Cognatis, Marito, et Filia unica,
Martha Fursman
Qua 2 SeptrM A. D. 1723.° Nata
Virtutum Matris et Bonorum Hares,
Variolis, eheu Genere maxime pestiferis ! quam in feliciter !
lecto affixa,
Morbum adgravascentem sensit non timuit
Et ingruentem Mortem Animo pertulit.
Forti, Erecto, et minime Pertubato ;
Quali Innocentem quali Christianam decuit :
Et 23 die Oct. A. D. 1741, Animan puram et incontaminatam
Deo redidit ;
Uxori et Filia heu ! nimis propere abreptis !
Hoc monumentum superstes posuit
Johannes Fursman Eccl.a CathedM Exon Cancellarius ;
Et cum Illarum Cineribus suos etiam admisceri cupit ;
Et una cum Dilectis Calestem ad Gloriam feliciter resurgat,
Nunquam iterum Disjungendus*
* In this chapel is a female skeleton, in a wooden box, which is shewn to
the vulgar as that of a woman that was executed for the murder of her bastard
child ; how it came to be placed here we can get no information ; but probably
it was the property of Dr. Vilvaine, and removed to the church with his library.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 305
On the centre of the pediment is an urn of white marble, Chap.VT.
which during Mr. Fursman' s lifetime occupied the place 
where his bust now stands ; but at his decease it was removed
to its present situation.

A LIST OF
THE PRESENT DIGNITARIES, CHAPTER,
AND
OTHER MEMBERS,
OF THIS ANCIENT AND VENERABLE FABRIC.
THE BISHOPRICK. The LordBishop. John Fisher, L.L.D.
elected 1803.
Value. — First fruits, on the King's books, £500. Yearly
tenths, £50. Estimated rental, about £2000.
THE DEANRY. Charles Talbot, B. D. 1803.
Value. — Endowed with the great tythes and patronage of
Colyton Rawleigh, Bishop's Tawton, Braunton, Lankey,
and Swimbridge. First fruits, in the King's books, £158.
Yearly tenths, £15 16s. The King Patron.
DEAN and CHAPTER, as a Body.
Value.— First fruits, £1132 18s. lljd. The Dean and
Chapter were returned by the Commissioners, temp. Henry
VIII. to be worth, in temporal possessions, the clear annual
sum of £1179 12s. lid.
COLLEGE of VICARS CHORAL.
Value.— First fruits, £205. Yearly tenths, £20 10s.
PRECENTOR. George Gordon, A. M. Preb. Canon,
and Precentor, 1789.
Value.- — Endowed with the great tythes of Paignton and
Chudleigh, in the King's books, £99 13s. 4d. Yearly
tenths, £9 19s. 4d.
CHANCELLOR. Nutcombe Nutcombe, L. L. B.
Preb. 1755, Chanc. of the Church, and Canon, 1757.
Value. — Endowed with the great tythes of Stoke Gabriel, in
the county of Devon, and Newlyn, in Cornwall, in the
King's books, £99. Yearly tenths, £5 18s.
I 4

306 THE HISTORY OF
Chap.vi. ARCHDEACON of EXETER. The Bishop.
 Preb. Treasurer, and Canon, 1803.
Value. — The Treasurership is endowed with the great tythes of
Probus, in Cornwall, with several other estates, in the
King's books, £32 17s. 3Jrf. Yearly tenths, £3 5s. 8\d.
Archdeaconry of Exeter, King's books, £60 15s. lOd.
Yearly tenths, £4 18s. Od.
ARCHDEACON of CORNWALL. George Moore, A.M.
Preb. 1769. Canon, 1775. A. D. 1788.
Value. — The King's books, £50 6s. 5|d. Yearly tenths,
£5 Os. l\d.
ARCHDEACON of TOTNES. Ralph Barnes, A.M.
Preb. 1769. Canon, 1772. A. D. 1775.
Chanc. Diocess, 1794.
The Archdeaconry is rated, in the King's books, £37 19s. Id.
Yearly tenths, £3 15s. Xl\d.
ARCHDEACON of BARNSTAPLE. Jonathan Parker
Fisher, B. D. A. D. 1805.
The Archdeaconry is endowed with the impropriation of Lynton
and Countisbury, King's books, £49. Yearly tenths, £4 18s.
SUB-DEAN. John Sturges, L. L. D. Sub-Dean, 1796.
Value. — Endowed with the great tythes of Egloshaile, in
Cornwall, King's books, £22 10s. Yearly tenths, £2 5s.
FIRST CANON. Thomas Heberden, B. D. 1778.
SECOND CANON. John Francis Howell, A. M. 1794.
THIRD CANON. Joseph Martin, A. M. 1796.
Twenty-four Prebendaries. — King's books, £4 each ; tenth of
each, 8s. The annual income is now augmented to £20 each.
James Carrington, L. L. B  1775.
John Gandy, A. M  1777.
Richard Milles, A. M  1778.
John Swete, A. M  1781 .
William Carpenter, D.D  1785.
Sir H. Trelawney, Bart. A. M. 1789.
Walter Kitson, A. B  1796.
Gilbert Burrington, A. M  1798.
Edward Honeywood, L. L. D. 1799.
Edmund Gilbert, A. M  1800.
John Robert Hall, A. M  1802.
Charles Davie, A. M  1803.
William Oxnam, A. M  1803.
William Short, A. M  1805.
Philip Fisher, D.D  1805.

'a ssssififi:

THE CITY OF EXETER. 307
LECTURERS. Chap.VI.
William Stabback, A. B  1799. 
John Bradford, A. B  1804.
CUSTOS and COLLEGE of VICARS.
James Newcombe, A. B. Sub-
Treasurer and Dean's Vicar .... 1758.
Richard Eastcott, S. C. L  1775.
George Long, A. B  1775.
Edward Chave, A. M. Custos. . . 1799.

Having finished a description of the Cathedral, I shall pro
ceed to give some account of those places most worthy of
notice in the Close of St. Peter, which is extra-parochial,
and is so denominated from its having been separated from
the city by walls and gates. The walls are now demolished,
and houses built on their sites; but the gates are still remaining.
The principal gate is now called the Broad-gate, anciently
St. Michael's, from its having the statue of. that Archangel,
overcoming Satan, placed in the interior front ; this embellish
ment is now much mutilated. In the vaulting of this gate is
displayed elegant tracery. St. Martins-gate appears formerly
to have been ornamented with tracery; a small part now remains.
Little Stile is not void of ornaments. The other three gates
at present have a mean appearance, and deserve no particular
attention, except for their antiquity.
About the year 1750 another" passage was made into the
Close, through the city wall, which makes a convenient avenue
into Southernhay, and is termed the New Cut.
Within the inclosure is the Bishop's Palace, and residentiary
houses for the Dean, Chanter, Canons, &c. That part which
is now termed the Church-yard was anciently the general
Cemetery ; and though it has been disused for that purpose
upwards of two centuries, human bones of the ancient Citizens
are still discovered in great numbers whenever there is an
occasion for digging.
This yard was first railed round at the expence of the Cham
ber, who granted one hundred trees from Duryard Wood for
that purpose, in the year 1657. It has of late years been
greatly improved, and railed out in separate divisions, well

308

THE HISTORY OF

Chap.VI. gravelled and planted with elms in various rows, forming
===== several pleasant and shady walks. y
Among the late improvements one in particular claims obser
vation, which is the judicious removal of the Treasurer' s-house ;
this extended from the north tower quite across the church
yard, and entirely intercepted the view of the Cathedral, from
the north transept, eastward; by the removal a pleasing opening
was made, by which the whole northern side was presented to
the view, and which now forms a noble perspective of ancient
architecture. The part which was formerly the garden belonging
to the Treasury now forms a fine grass plat, planted round
with evergreens, and is separated from the ancient part of the
Church-yard by iron palisades.
The south side of the Cathedral is so crowded with con
tiguous buildings that no near view can be taken but from the
Bishop's gardens. On this side is the Chapter-house, a large
building founded by Bishop Lacey, and finished in 1456 by
Bishop Nevill.
The inside of this edifice was embellished with a great
number of statues, as appears by the niches still remaining ;
but they fell a prey to the puritanical superstition in the grand
Rebellion, when it was used as a stable for soldiers' horses :
the outside is so closely surrounded by the Cloisters and other
buildings that scarce any part is seen but the battlements.
Chapter jn front 0f the Chapter-house are the Cloisters, forming a small
"""'•''• square area, round which are houses for the Sub-Chanter,
Secondaries, Vergers, &c. and a music-school, in which is a
small organ, for the instruction of the young choristers. This
area was also a burying-place, but has not been used for many
years ; several of the grave-stones are still remaining ; it is
planted with rows of elm trees; and through it is the passage by
the south door into the church. These Cloisters, an assemblage
of ancient and modern architecture, appear to have been
formerly more extensive. Near the west front of the Cathedral
is the College of Choral- Vicars ; f consisting of four Priests and
eight Lay-Brothers, who have each of them a convenient house;
they formerly lived in common together, for which purpose they
had a common kitchen and hall, both of which are now re
maining ; the kitchen is at this time a public-house, called the
College Kitchen; the hall is large and commodious, neatly
wainscoted, and on the panels are the arms and portraits of
* The whole of the yard was new gravelled, at the expence of the Chapter,
in the year 1802.
t This College was formerly termed the Calender-hay; and the Gate-house,
with some other parts of the building, was re-built by John Ryse, Treasurer
of the Church, in the year 1529.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 309
their benefactors; ou one side of this hall is a music gallery. Chap.VI.
The Gate-house of the College is a strong stone building, in the :
front of which are the arms of England and France, quarterly ;
and under them are the arms of Bishop Oldham, supported by
two angels. Adjoining to this Gate-house is an ancient building
in which the Registrar's-Office for the Archdeaconry of Exeter
is held.The Bishop's Palace adjoins the south east part of the Bishop's
Cathedral ; and though not a regular is a very extensive and Palace-
commodious house ; it has a neat chapel, and several elegant
apartments, in one of which is an ancient and curious chimney-
piece, embellished with carving, in the gothic style; it was erect
ed by Bishop Courtenay, as appears by his arms still remaining
upon it. The gardens are large, containing upwards of two
acres, bordered on one side by the city walls, on which is a
terrace, commanding a pleasant view of the neighbouring
country. On this terrace his present Majesty, with his royal
consort and daughters (in their late visit to this city) walked for
some time, and greatly admired the beauties of the surrounding
scene.* The palace and gardens have been greatly improved of
late years, particularly by Bishop Keppel, who intended to
have done much more if death had not prevented him. There
is a private covered passage from the Palace to the Church, for
the convenience of the Bishop and his family.
The Deanry (which was originally a house of nuns, of the The
order of St. Augustine) adjoins the College ; it was greatly Deanry.
ruinated during the civil wars, being set out to mean tenants ;
but on the appointment of Dr. George Carey to the Deanry,
A. D. 1663, he caused it to be thoroughly repaired and beauti
fied; and it has since been further improved by succeeding
Deans, particularly by Dean (afterwards Bishop) Buller, in
such a manner as to render it not unworthy of the habitation of
Princes. The gardens are not extensive, but are well laid out
and planted with trees: here his Majesty, during his short stay,
enjoyed his usual practice of very early and salutary walking.
The Chantry is a very ancient and roomy house, entirely The
surrounded by other buildings, and no part of it is to be seen Chantry.
except the entrance, which has a modern frontispiece.
The Chancellor's house stands eastward of the Cathedral ; Chancel-
it is a neat brick building, with its front to a pleasant garden 0°h^an
that leads to the city wall, on which is a terrace: this house was houses.
re-built about the year 1740, by the Rev. Chancellor Fursman.
The other residentiary houses (several of which have been
re-built or modernised) are roomy and convenient, and have
pleasant gardens.
* The perspective beauties of this walk are greatly destroyed by the new
buildings erected on Southernhay.
K 4

310

THE HISTORY OF

Benefactors to this

Chap.VI. Within the Close are many genteel private houses; and at the
Mol's upper end is a very ancient coffee-house, named Mol's,* from
Coffee its proprietor, an Italian of that name ; it is regularly supplied
house. wjth newspapers and other periodical publications, and is
frequented by gentlemen of the first distinction in the city and
country.
St. Catha- Adjoining St. Catharine's (anciently Berkly) gate is an
rine'sAlms- alms-house for twelve poor women, under the patronage of
house. tne Dean and Chapter; these houses were founded by John
Stevens, D. D. Canon Residentiary of the Cathedral, who
endowed them with seventeen shillings and four-pence yearly;!
but this small stipend is increased by the bounty of the Chapter:
there is a small chapel belonging to this house, which has a
bell still remaining. J There have been several other benefactions
to these houses, viz : the Rev. William Heme, Rector of St.
Alms- " "° Petrock's in this city, by his last will and testament, dated
house. the 10th of April, fourth of Elizabeth, A. D. 1562, gave to
the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty of Exeter, the sum of
£168 5s. in consideration of their paying weekly to the poor of
this house thirteen-pence ; and for other purposes, as will be
hereafter mentioned. Robert Hall, D. D. Treasurer of the
Cathedral, by his last will and testament, dated 25th of April,
1667, bequeathed the sum of £10 per annum, to be paid
quarterly in equal portions. Edward Young, D. D. sometime
Dean of this Cathedral, by his last will and testament, dated
the 6th of June, 1663, bequeathed the sura of £250, to be paid,
at farthest, within two years after his death, towards the pur
chasing of lands in fee-simple, or a rent charge, to the amount
of £12 per annum; of which forty shillings a year he directed
(by his said will) should be paid to the poor of St. Catharine's
alms-house ; forty shillings to the choristers of the Cathedral ;
and twenty shillings a year to the prisoners in the Goal, near
* Anthony Wood, in his Athen. Oxon. says that the first coffee-house opened
in Oxford was in the year 1656, by a Jew, named Cirques Jobson, who after
wards removed to London, and opened one in Southampton Buildings. From tbe
accounts that can be gathered Mol's was established prior to this, which is very
probable, as till very lately there was a pediment over the doorway on which
was carved the arms of Queen Elizabeth, with the initials E. R. and the
date 1596.
t This donation of 17s. id. per ann. was confirmed by a Decree of Chancery,
in Trinity term, the 6th of July, 1033, tbe ninth of Charles I.
t This alms-house, with the Country-house public-house adjoining, are
the remains of a Benedictine Nunnery, but by whom founded or when dissolved
is not mentioned in the Notitia of Mr. Tanner. There is still great part of this
ancient structure remaining, particularly the chapel, which is almost entire,
with its vaulted roof, and underneath is a stone orypte ; this chapel has long
been desecrated, and has of late years been occupied as a carpenter's workshop.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 311
the Castle ; to be distributed by the Dean of Exeter (for the Chap.VI.
time being) annually, on the 29th of May, in commemoration 
of the happy restoration of monarchy on that day.
Dr. Hall was also a great benefactor to the Cathedral and
Precinct of St. Peter, as appears by an extract from his will :
first, he bequeathed in trust to the Dean and Chapter £200, to
be paid within six months after his decease, the interest
whereof to be appropriated forever to the binding forth appren
tices such poor children, born within the said Close, as the
Dean and Chapter should approve of. Secondly, he gave £150
towards purchasing a new set of hangings for the further
embellishment of the Choir of the Cathedral Church. Thirdly,
he bequeathed sixty folio and forty quarto volumes of books,
to be selected from his library in Exeter and Clisthydon, by
and at the choice of the then Dean and Chapter ; which books
were to be kept chained in the library of the Cathedral, and
were not to be lent or removed without, sufficient security for the
speedy returning of the same given to the Treasurer of the
said Church for the time being. Fourthly, he gave to the said
Church his double silver gilt bason and ewer of Nuremberg
work, to be made use of for the adorning the communion table,
in the choir, and not to be exposed to any private use or
employment whatever. Besides these he also left the following
benefactions: to the poor of Exeter twenty pounds; to the two
Vergers of the Cathedral five pounds each ; to the Bell toller
fifty shillings ; to fifty decayed tradesmen of the said city one
pound each; and to the Dean and Chapter ten pounds to pur
chase rings, as a small testimony of his affection for them.
In the Close or Precinct of St. Peter, according to the late Number of
returns made by order of government, in the year 1800, there inhabitants
were one hundred and eight houses, inhabited by one hundred ln,llose
and fourteen families, amounting to five hundred and seventy-
one inhabitants; at the same time there were six houses unin
habited in the said Precinct.
I shall next proceed to the parochial description, and begin
with that of St. May-tin's, which is contiguous to St. Peter's
Close, and in the same ward or quarter of the city.
This Church, which as well as the parish is but small, is St. Martin.
dedicated to Martin, Bishop of Tours, in France ; there is no
account of the time of its first erection ; but it is probable that
it was after the Norman conquest, from its being dedicated to
a Gallic saint. The earliest account we have of it is in the
year 1222, when the parishes in this city were regulated. The
Church, as before observed, is small, consisting of a nave and
small chancel, with a recess under the tower, forming a small
aisle : the chancel is separated from the nave by a handsome
gothic screen ; the pulpit (which has been newly erected) is a

312 THE HISTORY OF
Chap.VI. specimen of neat workmanship, and the Church is well seated,
:=:===:= and kept in good repair ; the tower is pretty lofty, and sur
mounted with a gilt vane ; it contains one bell, of a deep note,
and which is easily distinguished by its sound from every other
bell in the city ; the tower seems to have been erected since the
period above mentioned, as an addendum to the church, its
site not being within the bounds of the parish, but in the
Precinct of the Close ; the parishioners paying a small annual
acknowledgment to the Dean and Chapter, of four-pence, for
its standing on their land. The monuments and inscriptions
within the church are as follow : —
On the south side, near the altar, is a small neat monument,
to the memory of William Holwell, M. D. who died the 23rd
of June, 1707, with others of his family.
On the north side is a large heavy monument, rudely executed,
to the memory of William Hooper, Merchant, of this city, who
died the 3rd of December, 1715. He was the founder of
several charities in this city.
Behind this Church are the remains of a small Chapel, now
converted into a Malt-house. This rectory is in the gift of the
Dean and Chapter, valued in the King's books at £8 14s. 9\d. ;
certified value £15; Rector, the Rev. James Carrington.
Hotel. The only house worthy notice in this parish is the Hotel, a
large and commodious Inn, with elegant apartments and accom
modation for people of the first quality, with a large assembly-
room, in which are held the assize balls, concerts, and winter
assemblies of the most distinguished persons of the city and
county: in the front is a neat coffee-room. The situation of the
Hotel is very pleasant, as it opens to the parade, and commands
a noble view of the Cathedral.
Adjoining the Hotel is the Exeter Bank, the oldest established
Banking-house in this city, under the firm of Sir John Duntze,
Bart. Sanders, Hamilton, #¦ Co.
At the late return of the inhabitants of this city there were
forty-five inhabited and five uninhabited houses in this parish,
in which were resident fifty one families, consisting of one hun
dred and forty-nine males, and one hundred and sixty-one
females ; in the whole three hundred and ten inhabitants.
St.Pancras. As the parish of St. Pancras has been held for many years
in commendam with the parish of St. Martin it will be proper
(though it is not in the same ward) to continue the description
with an account of that Church, &c.
It is dedicated to Pancrasius, a British saint, and bears
evident marks of great antiquity ; but when or by whom built
we have no account. It is a very small but plain building,
forty-six feet six inches in length, and sixteen feet in breadth ;
it is not decorated with any of those grotesque ornaments so

THE CITY OF EXETER. 313
common among our Saxon ancestors in their ecclesiastical Chap.VI.
buildings ; or with armorial shields, so much used by the ======
Normans. The interior is dark and gloomy, consisting of a
nave and chancel; the latter only is seated ; the pulpit and font
are very old_ As no use is now made of this Church, excepting
as a Cemetery for a few families, it is consequently very much
neglected, and may soon be desecrated.
It has no campanile ; its only bell is hung in a turreted arch,
at the west end of the Church ; it is a Rectory, in the gift of
the Dean and Chapter, and valued in the King's Books at
£4 13s. 4d. per annum ; certified value £5.
In this parish is the Guildhall, an ancient structure, the Tl)e
front of which projects into the High-street, and is a jumble Guildhall.
of ancient and modern architecture, supported by moorstoiie
columns. Over the vestibule is a capacious room, in which the Chamber
and principal Citizens, on occasional events, enjoy their con
vivial meetings, and drink, in bumpers of wine, health and
prosperity to the King, Royal Family, &c. In this room the
Grand Jury hold their Inquests, at the Assizes, Quarter
Sessions, &c. Over this are other apartments, in which, some
years since, was a quantity of ancient armour, with a number
of matchlock-muskets, &c. ; but these rooms serve now as re
positories for the plans of the estates, writings, &c. belonging
to the Chamber, and which are regulated with great order.
From the balustraded leads there is a fine prospect ; and on
the summit of all is a turret, in which is a bell, to give notice
of the opening the Mayor's court, and to alarm the Citizens
in cases of fire, &c.
Behind the Grand Jury room is the Council Chamber, where
the members of the Common Council hold their meetings, and
deliberate together in private.
The Common Hall is spacious: at the upper end is the Court
of Hustings, with elevated seats for the Mayor, Justices, &c.
and galleries for the Grand and Petty Juries. The arched roof
is lofty, with a single span, after the manner of Westminster
Hall, and supported by grotesque figures of beasts, in lieu of
brackets : from the centre hangs a large brass chandelier, over
which is a ventilator.
On each side of the Hall is a wainscot press, carved and
partly gilt; that on the right hand containing a fine whole
length portrait of his late Majesty King George II. painted and
presented to the Chamber by Mr. Hudson, a native of this city ;
the opposite press contains a similar portrait of the Princess
Henrietta Maria, who was born in Bedford-house, in this city,
daughter of King Charles I. painted by the celebrated Vandyke,
L 4

314 THE HISTORY OF
Chap.VI. and a present to the city from her brother, Charles II. Over
^^==== the Sheriff's seat is a fine whole length portrait of John Tuck
field, Esq. who for many years represented this city in parliament,
whose upright conduct as a senator, and philanthropic dispo
sition, justly merited the esteem of the Citizens. Opposite
the hustings, against the wall of the Council Chamber, are
three more elegant full length portraits, in superb gilt frames;
the central one is that of Sir Charles Pratt, Lord Chief
Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, afterwards created Earl
of Cambden, who immortalized his name by his final decision
of the illegality of general warrants, which secured to the
subject the blessings of liberty, and put a stop to the arbitrary
proceedings of men in power; this picture was a present to the
city by John Rolle Walters, Esq. one of its representatives in
parliament. The portrait on the right hand of this is General
Monk, afterwards Duke of Albermarle, who had so great a
share in the restoration of monarchy, and of our present happy
established government, both in Church and State, after it
had been overthrown, by civil discord and designing men, for
many years : this picture was painted by Vandyke. The other
on the left is the portrait of Benjamin Heath, Esq. Barrister-
at-Law, uncle of the present Judge Heath, and Town-Clerk of
this city, who greatly exerted himself in procuring the repeal of
the act of parliament for laying a very heavy impost on cider,
as already related ; in return for this the Chamber, out of
gratitude to his merit, caused the painting to be placed here.
Over these paintings is a projecting canopy, to which is affixed
a large green curtain, which when drawn up forms a festoon of
drapery, and has a pleasing effect ; when let down it effectually
covers and preserves them from the dust and damp air. The
Hall is wainscoted round with carved mouldings and brackets,
and in the cornices are regularly arranged a number of small
shields, on which are painted the arms of the different incor
porated trades, &c. Behind the Hall are two dark and gloomy
prisons, termed the Backgrate, used for the confinement of
offenders before their final examination and commitment to
South-gate; over those cells is a large and capacious cistern,
lined with lead, that will contain several hundred hogsheads of
water, designed as a reservoir in case of accidental fires.
rh^MhCnDt According t0 tradition the ancient Pratorium of this city
Guildhall. was situated in Waterbear -street, where an ancient Saxon
building was lately standing, and which, from its spaciousness,
seemed to have been erected for some public purposes, but
from the style of the architecture does not seem probable that it

THE CITY OF EXETER. 315
was designed for a religious use. The origin of the present Chap.VI.
Guildhall was a Chapel, dedicated to St. George; but of the 
time when it was appropriated to its present use history is silent.
The first mention we have of it is in the year 1330, in the
Mayoralty of Martin Lekenn, when it was re-built, and pro
bably about this period we may date its first appropriation for
judicial purposes. In the year 1464 this structure becoming
ruinous it was again re-built; and in the year 1484 the front
part and Council Chamber were re-built ; in 1556 the Council
Chamber was wainscoted ; in 1576 the Court of Hustings was
newly erected, with elevated seats for the Mayor, Justices,
&c. ; and two years after the whole was new ceiled and glazed,
and the pump erected in the front; in the year 1593 the whole
of the front was re-built; some few years since the roof was
plastered withinside ; and in 1802 the Hustings were greatly
improved, and a new gallery built, for the better accommodation
of the Petty Jury.
In this small parish are thirty-five houses, containing fifty-
three families, numbering ninety-three males and one hun
dred and thirty-eight females ; in the whole two hundred and
thirty-one. The next parish to St. Martin's is St. Stephen's, dedicated st.
to the protomartyr. The Church is a handsome gothic building, Stephen.
consisting of a nave, one aisle, a chancel, and long gallery ;
it is light, roomy, well seated, and kept in good repair. The
chancel is erected on an arch, which crosses the adjoining lane,
called St. Stephen's Bow ; consequently it is above the floor of
the Church, and is ascended by a flight of steps. The altar-
piece is very neat, and from its elevated situation has a pleasing
effect. At the west end is a lofty tower, in which are three
small bells. The time of erecting the old church is not recorded,
but that it was built before the Conquest is evident from its
being given by the Norman conqueror to William Warlewest,
Bishop of this Diocess; and it has been held ever since as a
Barony, by the succeeding Bishops. In 1222 it is mentioned
as one of the regulated parishes of this city.
The ancient Church becoming ruinous, the present edifice
was raised about the year 1665 ; the expences of which were
partly defrayed by donations, and partly by subscriptions
from the parishioners. In the Church are the following
monuments : —
On the north wall is a large marble monument to the
memory of Thomas Bolithoe, Esq. and several of his family.
He died in 1753.

316 THE HISTORY OF
Chap.VI. On the south wall is one to the memory of Mr. George
- p0ffer> Merchant, and Alderman of this city, and a great
benefactor towards the building of the Church. He died in
1667. There is another to the memory of James Rodd, Esq. of
Bedford-house, who died in 1678.
The living is valued in the King's books at £7 17s. 3\d. ;
certified value £26. The present Rector is the Rev. James
Simmons. An annual rent is paid to the Prince of Wales for the
encroachment of the Bow over the street.
The following donations have at different times been given to
this Church and parish : —
Thomas Bridgman, Gent, of this city, son of Arthur
Bridgman, sometime Registrar of the Archdeaconry of Exeter,
among other charities, bequeathed £30 for the better support
of this Church.
Lady Anne Clifford, Countess Dowager of Pembroke, Dorset,
and Montgomery, Baroness Clifford, of Westmoreland, Lady
of the Manor of Skipton, in Craven, and only daughter and
heiress of the Right Hon. George, Earl of Cumberland, by
her deed indented, dated the 30th day of December, sixth
Charles II. A. D. 1654, in memory of her mother, the Lady
Margaret Russell, Countess Dowager of Cumberland, who was
the youngest daughter of the Right Hon. Francis Russell, the
second Earl of Bedford of that family, born in Bedford-house,
in this city, and baptized in this Church, July the 9th, 1566,
did grant and enfeoff the Right Hon. William Russell, Earl of
Bedford, the then Mayor of Exeter, and eleven persons more,
as feoffees, with one close of land, meadow, or pasture, with
the appurtenances, lying in the parish of St. Sidwell, near
St. Ann's Chapel, containing by estimation four acres and half,
and then of the yearly value of twelve pounds, or thereabouts,
to have and to hold the said close of land, with the appur
tenances, unto the said feoffees, their heirs and assigns for
ever; upon special trust and confidence, nevertheless, that the
sum of ten pounds yearly out of the same should be for ever
raised and disposed of for the putting out and placing (in the
way of an apprentice, in some honest trade or course of living)
yearly, to the world's end, one poor child, boy or girl, born
and residing within the said parish of St. Stephen, (being
such a one as shall be found to be destitute of other' means of
worldly preferment, and to stand most in need of a charitable
provision) to be approved by the said Countess Dowager during
her life, and after her decease by the Right Hon. William,

THE CITY OF EXETER. 317
Earl of Bedford, and his heirs, and the Mayor of the said city, Chap.VI.
for the time being, and his successors, upon the recommendation
of the Minister and Churchwardens of the parish, for the time
being, and their successors: and upon further trust, that when
eight of the trustees shall be dead, the surviving trustees shall
convey over the premises to ten other persons of good worth
and reputation, inhabiting within Devon and Exeter, to be
nominated by the said Countess and her heirs for ever; to
the end that the good intentions of the said Countess may be
observed and performed, touching this said pious and charitable
use, for ever.*
George Potter, Esq. late Alderman of this city, by his last
will and testament, dated the 4th of March, 1662, devised as
follows : whereas, Thomas Bridgman, Gent, my near kinsman,
gave the sum of one hundred marks, lawful money of England,
to be laid out and bestowed in a monument, and for the repara
tion of St. Stephen's Church, in the said city ; in lieu thereof
I give towards the new building of St. Stephen's Church
aforesaid the sum of five hundred pounds, of like lawful money,
to be paid within the space of three years after my decease, as
the said work shall be set onward and be perfected. Also I
give my dwelling-house, wherein Mr. Lee now resides, in this
city aforesaid, for a perpetual habitation for the incumbent of
St. Stephen's Church aforesaid, successively from one to another,
and in the vacancy to remain in the hands of the Churchwardens,
for the time being, and they to be accountable to the next
succeeding Minister for the proceeds and profits which shall out
of the same arise, f
John King, some time a Merchant in Exeter, by his last
will, &c. (among other benefactions to this city) dated the
1st day of June, 1672, bequeathed to the Churchwardens
of the parish of St. Stephen, in Exon, and their successors,

* This charitable donation is now invested in the power of the parish
Feoffees, and the field is at present held by lease by Mr. Carter, Upholsterer,
of the said parish, at more than double its former rent ; yet notwithstanding
the great enhancement of the value of the land, and the care of the present
Trustees, by the great advances in the taxes, poors'-rate, and tithes, the
income is not sufficient to fulfil the pious intention of the donor. The Trustees
have lately caused a number of large elms, which were growing in the hedges
surrounding'this field, to be felled and sold, which produced a considerable
sum of money ; this they intend to apply to the use of the charity, and to
plant a number of others in their room.
t This house is situated in King's Alley, is very small, and unfit for a genteel
residence, therefore it is never occupied by the Minister, but by the parish
Clerk, who rents it of him .
M 4

318

THE HISTORY OF

Chap.VI. the sum of £125, to be lent on good security, or laid out in the
- purchase of lands or lease, and the profits and increase
thereof, by them and their successors, for ever hereafter, to be
employed and disposed of in manner following: that is to say,
the sum of ten shillings to be paid to the Vicar of the said
parish, for the time being, for such preparation sermon by him
to be preached in the said Church of St. Stephen, in order to
the sacrament, every last Saturday in the month, as is now
usually at Plymouth, and for thirteen months in the year, and
in default of the said Vicar not preaching at any time or times
hereafter on such Saturday, my will and meaning is that the
said sum of ten shillings shall be paid unto any other lawfully
authorized Minister, which the said Vicar, for the time being,
or the parishioners of the said parish shall appoint, or procure
to preach such sermon or sermons, for each sermon which such
other Minister shall preach as aforesaid ; and the overplus of
the profits of the same sum of £125, at six percent, per annum,
being twenty shillings, my will-is that twelve shillings thereof
shall yearly be paid to the Clerk of the said parish, and the
eight shillings residue to the Sexton, for the time being, for
their attendance on the said Vicar or Minister to preach as
aforesaid; my farther meaning is that when or as often as there
shall be default or neglect in preaching, in any month hereafter,
in such manner before expressed, the said sum of ten shillings,
for every neglect or default, shall be given and bestowed on the
poor of the said parish, or to any good use which the Church
wardens or any other substantial householders and parishioners
shall think fit and direct for the use of the said parish.
On the late survey there were in this parish sixty-one inhabited
and two uninhabited houses, containing seventy-four families,
numbering one hundred and eighty-four males and two hundred
and ninety-seven females, in all four hundred and eighty-one
inhabitants.
Bedford Adjoining the parish of St. Stephen is the extra-parochial
Precinct. Precinct of Bedford, occupying all the land formerly belonging
to the Monastery of Benedictine or Black Monks, which was
founded by one of the Abbots of Tavistock, to which it was a
a cell. It was a large and sumptuous building, and had elegant
apartments for the accommodation of the lordly Abbots of
Tavistock, whenever they came to Exeter: there was also a fine
Church and large Cemetery. At the dissolution it was granted
(together with the Abbey of Tavistock) to John Lord Russell,
afterwards created Earl of Bedford; and from the Earls and
Dukes often residing here it received the name of Bedford-
house ; but latterly it was very much neglected by that family,
and divided into several tenements. In the year 1780 the

THE CITY OF EXETER. 319
ancient house, with great part of the gardens, were let on a Chap.VI.
building lease to Mr. Robert Stribling, an eminent builder, of 
Exeter, who demolished the old remains, and erected a handsome
uniform crescent, * consisting of fourteen genteel houses. In
the front is a large circular area, surrounded with iron rails,
within which is a circular gravel walk, bordering a level grass
plat, which is planted irregularly with trees. In the centre of
the building is placed an ancient tablet, (taken from the front
of the old house) ou which is carved, in relief, the armorial
bearings of the noble house of Russell, quartered with several
coats of arms, supported by two angels. Behind the houses is
a mew, consisting of stables and coach-houses ; every house
having a passage through the garden.
On the erection of the crescent a fine avenue was made to
it, with the Chamber's consent, by taking down part of the
city walls, and making a new road across the Fosse and
Southernhay. On the right hand of this road, just without the walls, (not The
in the Precinct of Bedford, but in the parish of St. David) Theatre.
was erected, some few years since, a neat and convenient
Theatre, of brick, with stone copings : in the front is a
colonade, supported by Tuscan columns, and over the colonade
is a stone escutcheon, on which are carved, in relievo, the
city arms.
In this precinct are seventeen houses, inhabited by seventeen
families, consisting of forty-five males and seventy-one females,
in all one hundred and sixteen inhabitants.
To the parish of St. Stephen is annexed that of Allhallows, Allhallows,
Goldsmith-street, which is dedicated to all the saints. The Goldsmith-
Church is small and gloomy; and not being made use of is street.
consequently dirty, and in bad repair within : it consists of a
nave, which extends itself under the tower, forty-one feet in
length, and twenty in breadth; and a small chancel, fifteen feet
by twelve; it has no gallery; the tower is low, and has only one
bell ; the pulpit, font, and altar, are very ancient, and the
whole Church bears the marks of great antiquity, but of the
time of its erection we are left in darkness ; the first mention
that is made of it is in the year 1222, when it was regulated as
one of the parish Churches of Exeter; but since the Reforma
tion, the parish being very small, and private masses, &c. (that
mint of papal superstition) abolished, the income is too small
to maintain an incumbent : it is valued in the King's books at
£6 4s. Id. per annum, certified value £12; and the presentation

* According to the original plan fourteen more houses were to have been
erected on the opposite side, which would have formed i complete circus ; but
this side is at present occupied by a few old buildings, stables, &c.

320 TUE HISTORY OF
Chap.VI. is in the gift of the Dean and Chapter. In the papal times
there was an image of the blessed Virgin, before whom candles
were kept perpetually burning ; the expences of which were
defrayed by an estate near Duryard, appropriated for that
purpose : this image was much resorted to by the superstitious,
and brought great profits to the Rector; it was destroyed at the
Reformation. In this Church the only monumental inscriptions
worth preserving are the following : —
On the left hand, against the wall of the chancel, is a
monument of white marble, consisting of a square tablet,
surrounded with festoons of flowers, and underneath are two
human skulls, conjoined with bats' wings; on the top is a shield,
on which are painted, in a lozenge, the lady's arms; the whole
of the carving is executed in a masterly manner; and on the
tablet is this inscription : —
Loveday, the daughter of Christopher Bellett, Esq. (late of
Bochim, in the county 0/ Cornwall) by Bridget, the daughter of
William Pendarves, Esq. (of Roscrow, in the said county) lyes
buried near this place. She died in this city, the 16th day of
September, A. D. 1711, of the small pox. A distemper so
remarkably fatal to her family that no less than four of her
sisters died of it in the months of February and March, 1716,
in the boroughs o/Penryn and Fowey, in Cornwall aforesaid.
Adjoining this is a plain white marble oval tablet, and over
it a shield, on which are painted the arms of Hele and Bellett,
impaled ; on the tablet is this inscription : —
Near this place lieth Bridget, the wife of Sampson Hele,
of this city, sister to Loveday Bellett, &c. as set forth in the
adjoining monument, who also died of that fatal distemper, the
smallpox, the 10th June, 1719.
On a plain tablet, against the north wall, is the following : —
Underneath lieth the body of Mr. Thomas Cornish, who
departed this life 4th August, 1759, aged 47 .*
On a flat stone, in the aisle, just below the chancel, is this
epitaph : —
Here lieth the body of Thomas Westlake, Gent, who departed
this life the 3d day of Jan. A. D. 1665. f
Zenas secundus nouerint universi suum
Nactus quietus est lite et tumultu fori
Obdormit intus ulla non excitandus tuba
Nijudicis supremi quam exaudiet hilarij

• This Mr. Cornish was a member of the Common Council of this city and
died in the year of his Sheriffalty.
t Thie gentleman was an ancestor of the present Mr. Alderman Wtsttake.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 321
Vixit Maritus Genitor patronus dominus Chap.VI.
Fidusq. amicus Conjugi natis Clientibus 
Servis bonisq. omnibus vix flendus satis abi
Nunc lector el dekinc Causidicis magis fave.
Here also lieth the body of Mary Westlake, relict of Thomas
Westlake, who died the 28th August, 1669.
Here with her husband lies a saint, wife, mother,
The world can hardly boast of such another ;
Her knowledge 'bove her sex in things divine,
Was not unfruitful, but in grace did shine ;
One month to her, birth, wedlock, death, did give,
Now she is gone in endlesse blisse to live.
Just above this, in the chancel, is another flat stone, bearing
this inscription : —
Here lieth the body of Sarah Westlake, y« daughter o/Thos.
Westlake, of this city, Gent, deceased, who departed this life
the 20th day of October, A. D. 1666.
Here lies the heir esse of her father's face,
Sage, with grave carriage and diviner grace,
The Muses' Vot'ry, whom kind eruellfate
Ravisht from us, and did to Heaven translate:
Such plants God from earth's nurs'ry doth remove,
Betimes to heavenly paradise above.
In this parish is the market for fish, oats, grain, potatoes,
&c. This market-place was originally part of the Swan
Tavern, and was erected, at. the expence of the Chamber,
about the year 1778 ; by which means a great nuisance was
removed from the High-street, where before this period it was
held ; it is small but convenient ; part of it is colonaded, and
round two of the sides are small shops for the fishmongers,
greengrocers, &c. ; and the other is occupied by the Swan Inn
and Tavern. At the corner of Gandy's-lane is the Mayoralty-
house; it has no front in the street, but is large, commodious,
and well furnished with plate, linen, and every other necessary
accommodation for the public entertainments made by the
Mayor and Chamber, and for the lodging of the Judges
during their stay in this city, at the Assizes : the sword-
bearer, with his family, always resides in and has the care of
this house.
In this parish are fifty-one houses, inhabited by fifty-nine
families, containing one hundred and twenty-nine male and two
hundred and nine female inhabitants.
There is no table of benefactions in this Church, and the
only one mentioned on record is that of Sir John Ackland, of
Columb-John, in the county of Devon, Knight, who, by his
N 4

322 THE HISTORY OF
Chap.VI. last will, &c. dated the 14th of September, 1609, enfeoffed
 certain members of the Chamber with the Rectory and Sheaf
of Churchstow and Kingsbridge, for certain charitable purposes
therein mentioned, one of which was that sixpence weekly be
for ever bestowed in bread, and given to the poor of this parish.
Saint North-eastward of St. Stephen's is the parish of St. Lawrence ;
Lawrence. tne church consists of a nave, with one small aisle, and at the
west end is a capacious gallery.* The altar, which is separated
from the body of the Church by low balustrades, is a neat piece
of painting, executed a few years since by Mr. Eastment of
this city. This Church is a light gothic structure, well seated,
is kept in good repair, and has sufficient room for the accommo
dation of the parishioners. The tower, iu which is only one
bell, is a clumsy ill-proportioned building, much too large for
its height, without any spire or vane; and from its being finished
at the summit with a coping wall without battlements has a
very odd appearance, f Adjoining this tower is a porch,
forming the principal entrance into the Church ; over the front
of the porch, in a gothic niche, is a small statue of Queen
Elizabeth; this statue once decorated a Conduit, which
heretofore stood in the middle of the street, from the remains
of which this porch was erected. Behind the Church is a small
cemetery, formerly a garden, the donation of a parishioner,
for the purpose of interring, gratis, the bodies of poor parish
ioners. The date of the foundation of this Church, (which
was once appropriated to St. John's Hospital) is not recorded,
nor is there any account of it before the year 1222, when it is
mentioned as one of the nineteen parochial Churches then in
this city. I
During the usurpation of Oliver Cromwell it was one of the
thirteen parish Churches exposed to sale by the Parliament
* In the year 1803 another gallery was erected over the aisle, at the expence
of the parishioners.
t The singularity of this tower is noted by the facetious Mr. Andrew Brice,
in his Mobiad, where he relates the following humorous story : — A couutry boy,
in company with his mother, happening to pass by this Church, and observing
the tower mistook it for the chimney of the adjoining house, and exclaimed to
his parent, "Mother, Mother, what a gurt Chimbley that little house has got."
} There were two Chapels in this parish ; one in Trinity-lane, with alms
houses, as appears from the following memorial : — Sub PrmsiSo S. Petri,
Gulielmus Musgrave, M. D. S. S. Trinitatis hanc Capellam vetustate collapsuram
annis 1694, et 1711, restituit et auxit. And Bishop Lade's register mentions
another Chapel, dedicated to St. Bartholomew, of which there are now no
remains : but it may be remarked that on re-building the house belonging to
Mr. Taylor, Cabinetmaker, an ancient building, with a vaulted roof remaining,
was discovered, which plainly appeared of a religious construction, and
probably was the remains of this ancient Chapel.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 323
Commissioners, when it was purchased by a worthy parishioner, Chap.VI.
and given by him to the parish, and thus preserved from ruin. ^====z
It is a Rectory, in the gift of the crown; valued in the King's
books at £10 7s. 4d. per annum ; certified value £16.
The monuments in this Church are few. One to the memory
of Thomas Bradford, " Qui juventum Exoniensem instituerat."
And another inscribed " Optimi integerrimique viri Hugonis
Vaghan, armigeri." And against the north wall is a neat marble
monument, of modern erection, to the memory of  Jeffery,
Esq. of this city.
The following benefactions have been given to the poor of Benefac-
this parish, viz: Elizabeth Bucknam, widow and relict of tion.s t0 the
William Bucknam, Esq. (Alderman and sometime Mayor ofPa"shof
this city) by her last will and testament, dated the 16th of May, Lawrence.
ninth of Elizabeth, 1567, gave to the Mayor, Bailiffs, and
Commonalty of Exeter, and their successors for ever, all that
tenement, with the appurtenances, situate in the parish of St.
Petrock, in the High-street, late in possession of Richard
Lane, Esq. of London, to the intent that out of the rent of
£2 15s. 8d. there be distributed to five poor householders, of
the parish of St. Lawrence, yearly, as the Mayor and twenty-
four shall think meet, thirteen shillings and four-pence, viz:
to every one of them, quarterly, eight-pence*
Sir John Ackland, of Colomb-John, by his last will and
testament, dated the 14th of September, seventh of James I.
1609, among other charities, enfeoffed certain members of the
Chamber with the Rectory and Sheaf of Churchstow and
Kingsbridge, in the county of Devon, for and towards the
buying of bread for the poor of the several parishes men
tioned in the said will, of which this parish was to receive
£1 6s. yearly.
Elizabeth Seldon, widow of Lawrence Seldon, a native and
merchant of Exeter, in addition to her said husband's charities,
which are mentioned in their different parishes, f granted,
enfeoffed, and confirmed to the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Common
alty of Exeter, and their successors for ever, the lands given
by her said husband, with the addition of one hundred marks,

* The remainder of the said rent, in equal proportions, was to be given in
like manner to the parishes of Allhallows on the "Walls and the Holy Trinity,
(which will be mentioned in the course of this description ;) and the three
shillings and four-pence overplus were to be equally distributed among the poor
of the three parishes aforesaid.
t See St. Mary Major, Trinity, St. Sidwell, and St. Thomas' parishes.

324 THE HISTORY OF
Chap.VI. her free gift, on condition that the said Mayor, &c. should
"cause to be distributed every Sunday, weekly, after forenoon
service, six pennyworth of bread to the poor of this parish, and
maintain the same for ever, as appears by the deed tripartite,
dated the 29th of September, forty-first of Elizabeth, 1599.
St. John's In this parish, adjoining the site of the ancient East-gate,
Hospital. are the Hospital and Chapel of St. John. But before I proceed
to give any account of this foundation it will be necessary to
give some account of the ancient Cell or Priory, built before
this, and dedicated to St. Alexius. Of this small religious
foundation we have little more left than the name, and that it
was erected by William Fitz-ralph, a Citizen hereof, for the
habitation of certain poor Priests, in the year 1164; it was
afterwards termed St. Burians; and in the year 1240 was united
to this Hospital of St. John. Its site cannot at this time be
determined, but it has been supposed that it stood in or near
Gaudy's- lane,* from the similarity of the name, that lane
Foundation having heretofore been termed St. Lucie 's-lane. This Hospital
ofSt. John's of St. John appears by an indented deed, dated A. D. 1238,
Hospital, to have been founded by Gilbert and John Long, sons of
Walter Long, an inhabitant of this city, who endowed the same
with all their lands, for the maintenance of certain poor people,
by them therein placed ; and appointed the Mayor and Citizens
to be guardians in trust thereof after their decease. But Mr.
Speed says that "this Hospital was a Priory of Franciscan
Monks, and so continued until the year 1536, when it was
suppressed by act of parliament." This contradictory account
is easily settled, it being common in those religious foundations
to blend religious and eleemosynary acts together, and it is
certain that at the dissolution, besides the religious there were
four poor alms-men therein, (who were termed the poor pen
sioners of St. John's Hospital) who had a yearly allowance of
£l Is. 8d. for their better maintenance, during their lives;
and Queen Elizabeth, by her letters patent, dated the 8th of
November, 1562, granted to the Mayor and Aldermen the
perpetual nomination of tbem.f In the year 1224 a dispute
arose between the Mayor and Citizens, on the one part, and the
then Bishop, Brewer, concerning the patronage of this Hospital
and that of St. Mary Magdalene in this city, when it was

* Gandy's-lane received its present epithet from a very respectable family of
that name who long resided in it, and of which the present Rev. John Gandy,
of Plymouth, Prebendary of this Cathedral, is a descendant.
t These Pensioners have been discontinued but a few years, and the author
•.informed that one if not two of them are now living, (1802) but deprived of
both their bouses and pensions.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 325
finally agreed, by the arbitration of the Earl of Devon, that the Chap.VI.
Bishops in future should be patrons of St. John's Hospital, and 
the Mayor and his successors should have the government of
St. Mary Magdalene's. In the year 1256 Bishop Bronscombc
repaired this house, and endowed it with the Manors of
Rokesdon and St. Mary Clist. His successor, Bishop Quivill,
was likewise a considerable benefactor to it, both in lands and
goods. There is no account of any more gifts or legacies to
this charity, but that it continued in the same state until its
dissolution : after that period it was deprived of all its revenues,
and remained in a ruinous state until the year 1623, when the
whole fee and inheritance, together with the orchard, gardens,
and contiguous buildings belonging to the same, were purchased
by Dame Joan Crossing, widow of Hugh Crossing, Esq. some
time Mayor of this city, and her only son, Francis Crossing,
Esq. for the sum of £740 ; who, by their deed indented, dated
the 14th of January, 1623, granted the whole of the said
premises unto thirteen persons, then members of the Common
Council, and to their heirs forever; upon trust, nevertheless,
that the trustees should at all times continue the said house
and premises as an Hospital or Workhouse, for the poor of the
said city and county, in such manner as the Mayor and Common
Council, for the time being, or the major part of them, should
direct; the said poor people or childrern to be always chosen,
received, taken, set to work, governed, directed, disposed of, con
tinued and removed into, out of, and from the said Hospital, by
the Mayor and Common Council aforesaid. Notwithstanding the
good intentions of this donation, through the errors of the
trustees, little benefit accrued to the poor; several attempts were
made to remedy the evils, but no good effect was gained, to the
great discontent of the pious donors. At length, by additional
donations of several other worthy Citizens, the Chamber was
enabled to procure letters patent from King Charles I. for the
foundation of an Hospital, for the relief and pious education of
poor children ; the expences of which, together with the re
pairing and new building the edifices thereunto belonging,
amounted to upwards of £400 ; since which time great bene
factions have been given to this Hospital, as follow : —
Walter Borough, Esq. (twice Mayor of Exeter) by his deed
indented, dated October the 28th, 1625, gave £20, yearly, for
ever, to be paid quarterly, at the four most usual feasts in the
year, by equal portions.
Nicholas Martyn, Esq. (sometime Mayor of Exeter) by his
last will, dated August the 29th, 1694, bequeathed £200 to
purchase land, for the better support of the Hospital, to which

O 4

326 THE HISTORY OF
Chap.VI. his widow, Susanna Martyn, added £130. With this money
 — two houses were purchased, opposite St. Kerrian's Church,
North-street ; the rents of which are appropriated to the use of
the said Hospital, for ever.
Thomas Tooker, Brewer, of this city, and sometime Sheriff
thereof, by will, March 21st, 1640, gave an annuity of £4, to
continue for ever.
James White, Merchant, by will, dated September the 28th,
1643, gave, for ever, a garden and court, adjoining to the
Hospital, situate in Little Britain, in the parish of Allhallows
on the Walls, in lieu of the annual sum of 40s. which for
several years he had paid towards the support thereof.
Grace Gill, servant to Mr. Francis Dabynot, by will, April
18th, 1645, bequeathed £5.
James Gould, Esq. late Mayor, gave by will, September
10th, 1656, £100, to be vested inlands, for its use.
John Mongwell, Stationer, late of this city, by will, October
10th, 1658, bequeathed certain lands, of the yearly value of
£5, to the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty, for ever, towards
the purchasing of bibles for the use of the poor scholars from
time to time.
Rebecca Borough, widow of Walter Borough, Esq. by an
indented deed, dated October 1st, 1649, gave £200.
Richard Crossing, Esq. late Mayor, for many years in his
lifetime gave £8 per annum for the support of the Hospital:
he also gave in land and money to the value of £500 more,
with which the present Corn Market was erected, out of the
profits of which an annual rent-charge of £30 is paid to the
said Hospital for ever, as by an indenture tripartite, dated
September 30th, 1661, more particularly appears.
Ralph Herman, Esq. late Mayor, by his will, dated July
25th, 1661, gave an annual rent-charge of £8 for ever.
Gilbert Kent, Esq. late of London, Merchant, by an inden
ture, dated August the 12th, 1656, gave to the Mayor, Bailiffs,
and Commonalty £400, for the maintenance of four children,
two boys and two maids, from time to time to be taken out of
the parish of St. Mary Major, being the place of his birth
and baptism: the said two boys and two maidens to be received
in the mentioned Hospital, and the intended Hospital for
maids, within the city, there to be educated, and from thence
bound out apprentices : the said children to wear on the
sleeves of their hospital gowns, G. K.*
John Cook, Merchant, late of the Common Council, by his
will, dated April the 19th, 1667, gave £100 to this Hospital.
* That part of the will respecting their being ohosen out of the parish
of St. Maty Major and wearing the badge on the sleeves of their gowns is
»ot fnlfijled.

THE CITY OF EXETER.

327

Stephen Olivean, Merchant, also one of the Common Council, Chap.VI.
by will, dated May the 20th, 1668, gave an annuity of £10. =====
John Bidgood, M. D. a native of Exeter, by his last will
gave £600 towards the maintenance and education of three
poor children to be admitted into the Hospital. The Chamber,
by making an addition to this legacy, purchased a rent-charge
of £30 per annum, issuable from Duryard Mill, in the parish
of St. David, which, according to the will of the donor, they
settled upon the Hospital for ever.
John Tucker, Merchant, a native of Exeter, by his will,
made in 1695, gave to this Hospital £100.
John Gupwill, sometime Mayor, gave £30. Joan Taylor,
widow of Peter Taylor, late of this city, Merchant, gave
£100. John Hayne, Merchant, late Sheriff, £10. Philippa
Hayne, his widow, £10. John Lovering, Merchant, late of
the Common Council, £120. Dorothea Mogridge, widow,
for many years during her life, £8, annually, and by her will
bequeathed for ever the income of a tenement, situate in Colyton,
named Bearsdon.
Robert Vilvaine, M. D. a native of Exeter, was a generous
benefactor to this foundation : first, he expended near £600 in
erecting a new building within the same : and towards the
endowment of the Free Grammar School he gave the inheritance
of a tenement, situate in Paris-street, then of the yearly value
of £2 13s. 4a\ He likewise purchased of the Mayor and
Chamber, for a term of 999 years, a piece of ground, in Exe
Island, on which he built a large Brewhouse, with a Malthouse
adjoining, called the Public Brewhouse, which he gave to the
Chamber for the following charitable purposes, viz : — For and
towards the maintenance of four poor scholars, to be taken out
of the Free Grammar School here and sent to Exeter College,
in Oxford; and for allowing £8 per annum for a School
mistress, to teach poor children, freely, in the parish of St.
Sidwell. The following instructions the worthy Doctor also penned,
and left to the trustees for the better fulfilling his charitable
intentions : —
" 1st. I give for ever Thirty-two pounds, yearly, to be paid
quarterly, to four scholars, pensions, (to wit) forty shillings
each, towards their maintenance in the University, which shall
be paid to the Rector or Sub-Rector of Exeter College, for
the time being, by the Mayor and Chamber, or Corporation
of Exeter city, out of my Brewhouse and Malthouse built,
or shortly to be built, in the Manor of Exe Island, belonging
to the said city, which land I have purchased for that and other
charitable uses."
" 2d. These four Pensioners are to partake of this exhibition,

328 THE' HISTORY OF
Chap.VI. who have not of their own, and whose Parents are not of ability
~ to maintain them in the University."
" 3d. These shall be chosen, two out of the High School,
Exon, and two out of the Free Grammar School, * and this
order is still to be observed in the Hospital, which the Master
of the School, when he is to present those that are fittest,
without any partiality, to the Mayor and Recorder of the said
city, for the time being, who shall be electors after my death,
together with the Schoolmaster of that school, out of which he
or they are to be chosen, or any two of them, who shall choose
city born children before strangers, if they be so well qualified
for learning, behaviour, toward lives, and poverty, without
respect to persons."
"4th. These shall enjoy this pension seven years, if they
shall so long continue in the University, and have no better
preferment; but if they take any cure or benefice, academical
fellowship or scholarship, or other advancement, exceeding
£20 per annum, or if they be absent from the University more
than two months in each year, not giving satisfactory reason
for their absence to two, or at least one, of the electors, then his
or their places and pensions shall be ' ipso facto' void ;
and the electors shall instantly proceed to election for the
supply of the place or places which shall become void, that no
time may be lost."
"5th. If any of those places shall be void, and the School
wherein the election is to be made have no Scholar at the
time qualified to be elected, then the place or places void
shall be supplied out of the other School, if it has any fit or
eligible." "6th. What exhibition shall come to the Receiver's hands,
during such vacancy, the same shall be given to that Scholar or
Scholars who shall be next chosen to succeed."
" 7th. It is not the donor's intent to diminish or abolish the
present or future bounty and benevolence of any well-disposed
person or persons towards the maintenance of any poor scholars,
whose parents are unable to maintain their Children at the
University, but he much desires that people would be so well
minded to advance learning by free contribution."
" 8th. If hereafter the two Grammar Schools in the said city
shall be united in one, then from thenceforth all the said four
Scholars or Pensioners shall be chosen out of the school
remaining, by the said Mayor, Recorder, and Schoolmaster,
or any two of them as aforesaid."
*' 9th. The pensions shall be paid to them from quarter to
quarter, or a week or fortnight before each quarter, by the
* These two Schools have been for many years united in one.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 329
Rector or Sub-Rector of Exeter College, their battels or Chap.VI.
commons first deducted, but if it exceed forty shillings  '
(aforesaid) quarterly, they shall battel or common no more
until they have discharged or satisfied the overplus for security
or indemnity to the said College."
Thomas Walker, Esq. (thrice Mayor of Exeter) by his last
will, dated November the 20th, 1628, gave to his executors in
trust £200, that they should, within one year after his decease,
therewith procure from the Mayor and Common Council an
annuity or rent charge, out of the city lands, of such yearly
value as should be agreed upon; or in default of such agreement
that the said £200 be laid out in purchasing other lands, which
were to be conveyed to the Mayor and Common Council, or
such others as they should appoint, towards the founding,
erecting, and endowing of a free Grammar School, within the
said city, whereby the children of the freemen might be
freely instructed in the Latin tongue.
Robert Walker, Esq. (late Mayor) son to the aforesaid
Thomas Walker, by his last will, dated February the 10th,
1663, bequeathed to the Mayor and Common Council £100, to
be paid within one year after his decease, and bestowed in
lands, the yearly issues and profits thereof to be employed in
such manner and to such purposes as the gift of his father.
The Lady Mary Prideaux, a native of this city, sent £100
to the Chamber, to be disposed of for the placing children in
the Hospital, which was erecting for the relief and education of
poor children ; for which they gave their receipt, dated Sep
tember the 19th, 1630.
Sir Benjamin Oliver, Knight, (late Mayor) by will, dated
April the 16th, 1672, bequeathed £200 towards the mainten
ance of poor scholars in the said Hospital.
George Jourdaine, Grocer, of this city, by will, dated
August the 22nd, 1632, gave to a new School, to be erected,
£30. And his widow and executrix, by will, dated September
the 27th, 1633, gave £400, to five persons, to be employed to
such good and pious uses, within the city and county of Exon,
as they should think fit; which £400, after much controversy,
was, in October, 1646, by the Trustees, paid to the Mayor,
Bailiffs, and Commonalty, towards founding and erecting an
English School, within the said city, and providing a conve
nient room in St. John's Hospital for that purpose, to be
called the Free English School, for the reception of fifty poor
children, to be taught to read, write, and cipher: that the
Master of the said School shall have £20 per annum, to be
paid him quarterly, in equal portions ; that the said Trustees,
at every vacancy of a Schoolmaster, within sixty days after
p 4

330

THE HISTORY OF

Chap.VI. notice given, do nominate two honest men, fit to undertake
- the charge of the said School, of whom the Mayor and
Common Council, within twenty days after the nomination,
are to choose one ; and after the decease of the said Trustees
the Mayor and Common Council are to nominate the Master
for ever.
Mr. Peter Hellyer was elected Master of this School in
1637, to which, as well as to the Hospital, he was a liberal
benefactor, and gave, out of his own salary, &c. for the pro
moting this charity, the following sums:— First, by computation,
he taught forty supernumerary boys, gratis, (besides those
for which he had a pension) for thirty years together, reckoned
at £600. Secondly, he deducted forty shillings per annum
for each Hospital boy, out of the stipend allowed him ; which,
upon thirty boys, for thirty years, amounts to £1,800 more.
Thirdly, he remitted upon the rent of the Malthouse, and £5 a
year, both of which his predecessors had (respecting monies
lent him) valued at £13 per annum, for ten years, making £130.
Fourthly, he produced receipts for £500, which he left in the
hands of different Stewards of the said Hospital, and which he
gave out of his pension of £6 per annum for each boy; the
whole amounting to £3,030.
Sir John Maynard, Knight, one of the executors of the will
of Elize Hele, Esq. (who left a plentiful estate to be disposed
of in charitable and pious uses) among many other charitable
actions, gave £530 towards the enlargement, and for the better
support of the boys in this Hospital. And for their continual
maintenance he settled upon the said Hospital the rents of the
Manors of Clist St. Lawrence, Clist St. Giles, Clist Gerrard,
and Teignharvey ; also of certain lands and tenements situate
in Bovey Tracey and Newton Ferris, all being in the county
of Devon.
Christopher Lethbridge, Esq. (sometime Mayor of Exeter)
by will, dated November the 21st, 1669, gave to the Mayor,
Common Council, &c. several lands, tenements, &c. (which
will be mentioned in the proper place) for several charitable
purposes; the overplus of the rent of the said estates he
devised should for ever be appropriated for the maintenance of
one poor boy in this Hospital.*
Sir Edward Seward, Knight, (sometime Mayor, and one of
the representatives for Exeter) A. D. 1703, gave towards the
education of the poor children in the Hospital the sum of £600,
which money, with the addition of £119, paid by the Gover
nors of the said Hospital, was disposed of in the purchasing
an estate in land, and settled on the Hospital for ever.
* See parish of Holy Trinity.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 331
Mary Modgford, (widow of John Modgford, Esq. sometime Chap.VI.
Mayor) gave, in her lifetime, £20 for the better support of 
the same.
Edward Mitchell, Gent, by will, gave thereto £400, * for
the continual maintenance of two boys (if it could be done)
within the same.
Sir John Ackland, Knight, of Columb-John, gave £16 per
annum towards the support of two poor scholars in Exeter
College, Oxford, to be chosen from the High School, which
choice is to be approved of by the Mayor, Recorder, School
master, Rector of Exeter College, and the proprietor of Columb-
John, or any three of them, for the time being.
Nicholas Clarke, Weaver, of the parish of St. Sidwell,
gave £5.
Elizabeth Dowrich, widow of  Dowrich, Esq. of
Dowrich, in the county of Devon, and daughter of Thomas
Walker, Esq. (thrice Mayor of Exon.) by will, bequeathed to
the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty £50, towards erecting
and endowing a free Grammar School within this Hospital.
Henry Gandy, Esq. (twice Mayor) gave to this Hospital the
fee-simple and inheritance, for ever, of a tenement, situate in
the parish of St. Sidwell, towards the maintenance of two
poor boys in the same ; which said Boys were by the Donor's
will always to be chosen out of the parish of St. Paul, in
this city.
Tristram Mitchell, Woollen Draper, late of this city, by
will, dated July the 27th, 1653, bequeathed, for the use of the
poor children in this Hospital, twenty coloured English rugs
and five pieces of Welch flannel for blankets.
John Martyn, Esq. (sometime Mayor) bequeathed to the
Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty, by will, dated October the
15th, 1669, the sum of £400, to be paid by his executors
within twelve months after his decease, and in case of default
the said Mayor, &c. were empowered to enter and take pos
session of two pieces of ground in the parish of St. Thomas the
Apostle, in the county of Devon, commonly called Wood
Meadows, and the inheritance to be theirs for ever ; the interest
or income of which are for ever to be appropriated for the
binding out poor children apprentices, such as the Mayor and
Justices shall think fit.
Nicholas Ricost, Merchant, late of Exeter, bequeathed the
sum of £20 towards the maintenance and better support of
this Hospital.
Grace Sheer, widow of John Sheer, Esq. (sometime Mayor)
gave £50 towards erecting a Dwelling-house within the
* There was only £320 of this money paid to the Trustees.

332 THE HISTORY OF
Chap.VI. Hospital, for an habitation for the Master of the free Grammar
 " School there.
John Newcombe, Esq. (Alderman, and sometime Mayor)
bequeathed, by will, three large and convenient dwelling-houses,
with the courts and offices belonging to them, situate in the
High-street, and in the parish of St. Stephen, Exeter; the
profits from thence arising are for ever to be appropriated to
the use of the Hospital.
Thomas Bridgman, Gent, (a native of this city) by will,
dated April the 3rd, 1641, gave £500, to be paid by his
executors within one year after his death ; which sum should
be employed by the Chamber of Exon, at their religious dis
cretion, towards the relief of the poor of the said city and
suburbs, and so to continue for ever; the interest of this money,
by the mutual consent of his executors and the Chamber, has
ever since been appropriated towards binding out the poor boys
educated in this Hospital, when they became of a proper age.
The Chamber of Exeter have also been great benefactors to
this charity, by improving its revenues, and re-building and
enlarging the buildings, in which they have of late years ex
pended great sums. The Dwelling-house for the Master of the
Grammar School (which heretofore was within the front gate,
on the left side of the quadrangle) being small and inconvenient,
which prevented the said Master from accommodating the nu
merous boarding scholars that made application, the Chamber
erected a capacious brick building without the city walls, but
contiguous to the Hospital, with every accommodation for that
purpose ; and, to prevent the young gentlemen from having too
much communication with the Citizens, they enclosed with a
stone wall a large piece of ground behind the house, which
forms a spacious area for their exercise and pastime. On
taking down the East-gate the front of the Chapel (which
before was hid by the contiguous buildings) was found, on a
survey, to be greatly decayed, and necessary to be re-built,
which was accordingly done, and the whole Chapel repaired
and beautified.
A few years afterwards the ancient gateway (which by its
projection into the street was a great nuisance) was taken down,
and the present elegant gothic structure erected in its stead ;*
and in the year 1802, the west wing of the front, being
greatly decayed, and likely to fall, was re-built, in a style corres
ponding to the Chapel, which entirely completes the front, and
forms a regular gothic building; at the same time the Grammar

* On digging for a foundation for the present gateway the remains of several
human bodies were discovered, which were interred across t lie ancient entrance;
they must have Iain there for many centuries.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 333
School was repaired and beautified. The great expences occa- Chap.VI.
sioned by these repairs, together with the great advances in the  '
price of the necessary articles of life, obliged the Trustees to
lessen the number of boys on the foundation, but it is to be
hoped that in a few years they will be enabled to put this
charitable foundation on a better footing than ever.
We shall next proceed to a particular description of this
Hospital, and first of the Chapel.
After the dissolution of this Hospital, in the reign of Henry St. John's
VIII. the Chapel was neglected, and left in a ruinous state, Chapel.
until the year 1638, when it was thoroughly repaired and
beautified, at the sole charge of Alice Hele, widow of Elize
Hele, Esq. and re-consecrated by Bishop Hall. This edifice
(which is part of the front, on the left side of the gateway) is
small and neat, with an arched roof, and gothic windows, which
were formerly glazed with painted glass, of which some remains
are left, and arranged in different figures, particularly in the
window over the altar, where the arms of the ancient Earls of
Cornwall, and those of the families of Crossing and Hele are
still in tolerable preservation.
The altar-piece is neatly painted, with the decalogue, &c.
and the half-length portraits of Moses and Aaron, decorated
with Cherubims' heads, neatly carved.
The communion table, which is separated from the body
of the Chapel by a balustrade, has a beautiful covering of
crimson velvet, decorated with gold fringe, the gift of Miss
Webber, of this city. Soon after the late repairs the Chain*
ber gave to this Chapel a neat service of communion plate,
of silver, to which B. H. Walker, Esq. Alderman, added a
silver cup.
The pulpit is very neat, and on the summit of the baldequin
is a gilt statue of an angel, sounding a trumpet. Opposite
is an advanced seat, richly carved, for the Mayor and Cham
ber, who generally attend Divine Service in this Chapel one
Sunday afternoon in each month, when service is performed
alternately by one of the Mayor's Chaplains, who are four in
number. Adjoining the reading desk, and opposite the Mayor's seat,
are other advanced seats for the Mayoress, the wives of the
Stewards, and those of the gentlemen of the Chamber who
choose to attend ; at the west end of the Chapel is a gallery
for the accommodation of the boarders, which has a private
passage to the Master's house and school. There is one bell

Q 4

334 THE HISTORY OF
Chap.VI. belonging to the Chapel, which is hung in a turreted arch, at
the west end.*
In the front of the Hospital, over the gateway, is a clock,
dial, and bell, which were taken from East-gate at the time of
its demolition.
Grammar The other wing in the front is appropriated to the Grammar
School. School, in which is a capacious room, with elevated seats for
the Master and Assistants, who are Clergymen in orders; the
School at present is held in great reputation, and the boarders
and scholars are very numerous. In the roof, over the School
room, is a glazed cupola, surmounted with a vane, and behind
the School is a Library : the present Master of the Grammar
School is the Rev. Robert Bartholomew.
Cloth Hall. Under the School and Library are large halls, anciently the
Cloisters, these are termed the Cloth Hall, and are used for
the sale of broad and narrow woollen cloths, during the fairs
held in this city, and which brings in a considerable revenue to
the Hospital.
That part which is appropriated to the use of the Governor
and boys on the foundation are irregular buildings, the work
of different times: the entrance into them appears very ancient,
and from the arches and columns remaining is probably a work
of the Saxons: on the right hand of this entrance is a statue
of one of the Hospital boys, in his gown, &c. + The beys
are carefully looked after, and provided with food, clothing,
and lodging, are educated in reading, writing, and arithmetic,
and at a proper age a premium of five pounds is given for
binding them apprentices to different trades. Besides the
Governor's house there is a good house and school for the
Writing Master, who has an annual salary, with the privilege
of instructing more scholars than those on the foundation : the
Governor, Master of the Grammar School, and Writing Master
have gardens belonging to their respective houses; and in
that part which is termed Dr. Vilvayne's building there is a
capacious committee-room for the Trustees, in which are large
tablets containing the different benefactions to this charity.
The present House Governor is George Hayman, and the
Writing Master Arthur Pye.

* Divine service is regularly performed in this Chapel twice every Sunday
by the Master of the Grammar School, who has the farming out the seats
(except those appropriated to the use of the Hospital) for bis emolument.
t It is related that this statue was designed to represent George Wall, a boy
npon the foundation remarkable for his good behaviour and attachment to
learning : there is still G. W. to be seen on the inside of his cap.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 335
In Bampfylde-lane, in this parish, is an ancient house, Chap.VI.
which has for many ages been in the possession of that Bampfylo^
most respectable family the Bampfyldes, of Poltimore, as an House.
occasional residence, when county business or pleasure called
them to Exeter ; it belongs at present to Sir Charles Warwick
Bampfylde, Bart, one of the representatives in parliament for
this city : this house, though not very large, has several good
rooms, neatly furnished ; and in the lobby is a curious antique
chimney-piece, in the centre or umbo of whose entablature is
a statue of the royal martyr King Cliarlesl. in complete armour,
mounted on a charger, and holding a truncheon in his right
hand ; on each side of this statue, instead of pilasters, are the
statues of Peace and Plenty ; and on the outer side of these are
two grotesque statues of a Cavalier and Puritan, clothed in the
habits of the times; the whole of the figures, with the other
embellishments, are in good preservation, and neatly executed
in alto relievo ; they were designed and placed here by Sir
Copplestone Bampfylde, soon after the restoration.
In the window of the lobby are several armorial bearings
in stained glass, with inscriptions round them, relating to the
intermarriages of the family : from the style of the characters
these paintings appear to have been executed in the fourteenth
century. The old goal for the county of Devon stood partly in this New
parish ; the site of which is now occupied by a Dissenting Meeting-
Meeting-house, which is a capacious good building, and has a nonse>
large congregation belonging to it; the interior part is very neat,
and well seated, and the design does great credit to the architect;
adjoining it is a small burying ground.
At the corner of Castle-street stood an ancient edifice, lately
re-built, formerly the Castle Tavern, which, according to tradi
tion, was for many yeans the dwelling-house of the Governor of
the Castle ; from its architecture it appeared to have been re
built in the fourteenth century, on the ruins of a building of more
ancient date, which was supported by semicircular arches,*
filled up with rough masonry, (probably the remains of some
Cloisters;) underneath were large stone vaults, and an arched
doorway, that led to a subterranean cavern, walled up and
filled with rubbish, which in all probability communicated with
the Castle. In the house was a decent Chapel, with a vaulted
roof, quite entire till the late alterations.
In Musgrave's Alley, formerly Trinity Lane, was a small
religious foundation, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, containing

* One of the arches is still remaining, in an adjoining tenement, behind the
new building.

336 THE HISTORY OF
Chap.VI. a House and Chapel for two Priests, which in the year 1445
- — : were converted by the Dean and Chapter into a Grammar
School, for instructing youth in the classical languages, and
£20 per annum settled upon the Master. This School, in
the year 1561, was re-built by a voluntary contribution of the
Citizens, and the nomination of the Master conferred on the
Methodist Chamber, by Bishop Cotton: about the year 1740 it was
Meeting- united, by consent of the Trustees, to the free Grammar
house. School, in St. John's Hospital, and is now again converted into
a Chapel, by the followers of Mr. John Wesley, who have
decently fitted it up, and erected a gallery : they have a large
congregation. In this parish, according to the late survey, there were
seventy-eight houses, four of which were uninhabited, contain
ing one hundred and twenty-three families, consisting of two
hundred and twenty-eight males and three hundred and twenty
females, in all five hundred and forty-eight inhabitants.
Precinct of Adjoining St. Lawrence is the Precinct of Bradninch, in old
Bradninch. ... 11 i r>
writings called Braines.
This small district, which is part of the ancient glacis of
the Castle, is the land of the Prince of Wales, (as Duke of
Cornwall) and held as such by leases granted from that Dutchy
Court. The part most commonly termed Bradninch consists of
genteel houses, near the city walls, built on an elevated situation ;
they have good gardens, and a pleasant prospect to the south
and west, and from its not being a thoroughfare it is very
retired, enjoying all the peace of a country village, in the midst
of an opulent city. In this district are the neat house and
gardens of Edmund Granger, Esq.; the gardens (partof the
Castle fosse) are beautifully laid out, and planted with forest
and other trees, the design of the laje ingenious Mr. John
Patch, Surgeon, of this city, who built the house: the present
possessor has greatly improved the house and gardens, which
are justly admired, and deserve the attention of all visitors.
The district contains but eight houses, one of which, on the
late survey, was uninhabited, there were but seven families,
comprising six males and twenty-six females, total thirty-two
inhabitants.
??jnt North-east of St. Lawrence (without the city walls) is the
Sidwell s. extensive parish of St. Sidwell. The church of which is a
regular gothic edifice, consisting of a nave, two aisles, a chan
cel, and two galleries, spacious enough to contain a numerous
congregation: these galleries were in the year 1804 greatly
enlarged, and rebuilt in a semicircular form ;" in the centre part
of which an elegant organ is erected, purchased at the expence
of the parishioner'! and feoffees.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 337
The roof is vaulted, and supported by eight gothic pillars, Chap. VI.
which have remarkable capitals, each consisting of four demi- ====
angels, supporting shields on their breasts ; between each angel
is a small niche containing a statue.
The Pulpit* is a neat piece of workmanship; on the panels
are carved, in basso relievo, the four Evangelists, &c. ; and on
the top of the baldequin is the gilt statue of an angel, sounding
a trumpet ; the pulpit-cloth and cushion, as well as those of
the reading-desk, are of crimson velvet, with gold fringe and
tassels, (the gift of Thomas Strong, of this parish, brick-
maker ;) in the centre of the nave is a large brass chandelier,
(presented by the parishioners about the year 1780.) The font
is very ancient, and, by its ornaments, appears to be of Saxon
construction. The chancel is separated from the nave by a gothic screen,
which, in the papal times, supported a rood loft ; this screen
has lately been re-painted and gilt ; the altar-piece, (which
was newly erected in the year 1801) is composed of marble
panels, on which are engraven the decalogue, &c. the letters
gilt. In the windows are still some remains of painted glass, (the
vestiges of their ancient beauty ;) among which are the arms of
King Edward the Confessor, and some other armorial bearings. f
When a church was first erected on this spot is not known, but
as it is mentioned soon after the Norman Conquest it is very
probable that a religious structure stood there during the Saxon
era; for in doomsday book it is recorded, with the parish, as
part of the possessions belonging to Exeter; and in the
year 1222 it is mentioned as being one of the parochial
churches then in this city ; but the present edifice is of much
later date; and from the arms of the Courtenays, Earls of
Devon, carved on one of the blocks of the roof, probably the
date of its erection might be about the latter end of tbe
thirteenth century, as it much resembles the architecture of that
period. Adjoining the church is a small chapel, now used as a
vestry. The ancient tower was much ruined during the Rebel
lion of the Commons, A. D. 1549, when both it and the church
were converted into a prison for the Royalists ; and in the year
1659 it was re-built by the contribution of the Citizens at
large : this tower is lofty, and of a reddish stone ; it has a
projecting staircase, and strong buttresses ; at one corner there
* This pulpit is constructed on the model of that in the nave of the
Cathedral, but is much inferior in size aud excellence of workmanship.
t It would be a great ornament to the church if the coats of arms and other
remains of the painted glass were collected, replaced, and properly arranged in
the window over the altar, similar to those newly done in the Cathedral.
R 4

338

THE HISTORY OF

Chap.VI. is a small spire, supporting a gilt weathercock, which formerly
 ' graced the spire on the Cathedral ; at the other corners are
pinnacles : it has a fine peal of eight bells, which were re-cast
about the year 1770.*
There was a set of chimes belonging to this tower, but being
often out of repair, and occasioning great expences, they were
taken down ; the barrel is still remaining under the belfry. The
tower has a good clock and dial.
This living is an appropriation belonging to the Dean and
Chapter, who are also Lords of the Manor, and hold a Court-
leet within the same : at this court Stewards appoint annual
Ale-Tasters, and Manor Constables ; and great disputes have
oftentimes occurred between them and the Mayor and Citizens,
concerning their different prerogatives and liberties.
This church being only a daughter church to that of Heavi
tree, the Vicar of that parish appoints his Curate to serve.
The Rev. James Newcombe, B. A. Dean's Vicar, and one of
the Priest Vicars of the Cathedral, has the present cure.
The monumental inscriptions in this church are but few ; the
following are the only ones worth preserving : —
In the north aisle is one of variegated marble, representing a
large urn, standing upon an altar, over which are the arms of
Cheeke, impaled with other coats, and on the front of the altar
is this inscription : —
Sacred to the memory of Phineas Cheeke, Esq. who died the
7th of October, 1753, and lies interred near his ancestors, in
the south aisle of this church, aged 80.
In the chancel is interred the body of Hugh Grove, Esq. a
gentleman of Wiltshire ; who, in the year 1655, with several
others, taking up arms for the restoration of their lawful
Sovereign King Charles II. were defeated at Southmolton,
taken prisoners, and brought to this city, where they were
tried, and condemned by the then ruling democracy ; and two
of them, viz : Hugh Grove and John Penruddock, Esquires,
were beheaded, on the 16th of May, 1655, in Exeter Castle;
and three days after Mr. Grove's friends had licence to inter
his body in this church : on his grave-stone is a brass plate,
with the following inscription : f

* There is a tradition that three of these bells formerly belonged to
Allhallows on the Walls, and that on its demolition they were taken down by
order of the Republican Governor of this oity, in order to be converted into
cannon ; but the inhabitants of St. Sidwell's having intelligence of this, privately,
by night, conveyed them away ; George Cheeke, Brewer, of St. Sidwell's, lent
them his cart and horses for that purpose.
t This plate being much worn was lately supplied by anew one, and the
inscription copied verbatim.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 339
Hicjacet Hugo Grove de Enford, in Comitatu Wilts Armiger, Chap.VI.
in Restituendo ecclesiam, in asserendo regem, in propugnando
legem, et liber tatem Anglicanam, captus et decollatus, 16 May,
1655. It appears that this plate was re-placed the 16th of May, 1788.
On a plain tablet, fixed in the chancel wall, is this
inscription : —
In memory of Elizabeth Turner, wife of Thomas Turner,
great-grandchild of the Earl of Huntingdon, who died 
1705, and lies buried underneath.
The benefactions given to this church and parish are numerous,
of which the following are the principal : —
Sir John Ackland, Knight, of Columb-John, by his will,
dated September the 14th, 1609, gave to the poor, of this
parish one dozen of bread weekly, for ever.*
The Dean and Chapter of the Cathedral having for many
years paid to the poor of this parish eight shillings weekly,
and discontinuing the same for upwards of thirty years, a
commission was issued forth upon the statute of charitable uses,
in 1630, to enquire into the original ground of this charity,
which was executed at the Guildhall, before the Rev. Joseph
Hall, Bishop of this Diocess, and several other persons of
quality ; the matter was much controverted, some pleading it
as a matter of right, others only a voluntary act. At length,
on March the 17th, 1631, an inquisition was found for the
poor, and a decree made, signed by nine of the Commissioners,
and returned to the Court of Chancery ; this being objected to
by four of the Commissioners, fresh Commissions were issued,
and the cause was heard before Thomas Lord Coventry, Lord
Keeper of the Great Seal, by whom it was decreed that the
said eight shillings weekly, amounting to £20 16s. per annum,
should for ever be paid to the poor of the said parish of St.
Sidwell; and that the sum of £572, for twenty-eight years
arrears of that payment due, should be paid at two instalments,
to the Guardians of the Poor, for the use of the poor of the
said parish ; which said sum was accordingly paid : but
£151 3s. 8d. being expended in the prosecution of this suit,
only £420 16s. 4d. remained clear for the use of the poor.
James Tucker, Esq. (sometime Mayor) by his will, dated v
June, 1643, bequeathed to the Chamber £100, to be bestowed
in land, and the profits arising to be for ever appropriated
towards the curing the lame, and relieving the sick and needy,
(especially such as shall by accident break their limbs) of the
parish of St. Sidwell.

* See parish of Saint Lawrence.

340 THE HISTORY OF
Chap.VI. Thomas Tooker, Brewer, of this city, gave to the poor of
 this parish an annuity of twenty shillings yearly, to be for ever
issuable out of a field called Job's Park; and in case of non
payment of the same the Churchwardens and Overseers shall
have power to enter and distrain for the same, until satisfaction
shall be made.
Ralph Herman, Esq. (sometime Mayor) by his will, dated
July the 25th, 1661, gave to the Wardens of this parish an
annuity or rent-charge of £2 12s. yearly, for the purchasing
one dozen of bread weekly, which said bread is to be delivered
to twelve poor inhabitants of this parish every Sunday, after
forenoon service. The said Ralph Herman (besides his former
donation of fifty-two shillings yearly) gave to the Mayor and
Chamber, in trust, £400, to be laid out in the purchase of
lands, the rents of which were to be for ever employed towards
the relief of poor people of the city, and the parish of St.
Sidwell. Mrs. Hester Bussel, by her last will, bequeathed an annuity
of twenty shillings, yearly, for ever, to be laid out in six shifts,
which said shifts were to be annually given on the Monday after
Christmas-day, to six poor women of this parish, who did not
receive parochial relief.
Thomas Bussel, son of the aforesaid Hester Bussel, likewise
gave an annuity of twenty shillings yearly, for ever, to be laid
out in six shirts, annually, to be given to six poor men,
inhabitants of the said parish, on St. Stephen's-day.
John Cheeke, Merchant, of this city, gave one dozen of
bread, to be for ever distributed weekly to the poor of this
parish. Christopher Sandford, Merchant, gave to the Churchwardens
and Overseers of this parish an annuity or rent-charge, of £6
per annum, to be for ever payable out of those fields called
Summerlands, lying near the Workhouse, which said annuity
is for ever to be appropriated towards the binding out two or
more boys, natives of this parish, apprentices.
Mrs. Ann Baker, of this city, gave an annuity of fifty shil
lings, issuing out of tbe same lands, to be distributed yearly,
by the Minister, Churchwardens, and Overseers, the Thursday
in Easter week, to the poor of the said parish.
John Moffatt, by will, dated November the 23d, 1717, gave
unto John Osmond and others, in trust, £100, to be laid out
by them in the purchase of a field or fields, and the rents
thereof to be distributed annually to ten poor housekeepers,
(not receiving alms) on the 29th day of September.
Thomas Smallridge, by will, dated October the 21st, 1719,
charged all his lands with an annuity of £1 5s. for the pur
chasing of six new shirts or shifts, to be distributed to six poor

THE CITY OF EXETER. 341
persons, inhabitants of the said parish, who have no other Chap.VI.
relief, at the choice of the Wardens and Overseers : the money = '
to be paid and laid out yearly, for ever, on Christmas-day, or
as soon after as possible.
The Rev. John Newte, of Tiverton, by will, gave to the
Rector, Vicar, or Curate of this parish, and to their successors
for ever, the moiety of two fields, situate in Mary-Bow-lane,
in the said parish, to the intent that the rents thereof be for
ever yearly disposed by him or them in the purchase of Bibles,
with the Common Prayer prefixed, the Whole Duty of Man,
and the Practice of True Devotion, by Robert Nelson, which
said books were to be annually distributed to the poor of this
parish, on or about Christmas-day, as the means of increasing
true religion and devotion.
Lawrence Seldon, Esq. gave to the poor of this parish an
annuity of £2 12s. yearly, one shilling of which was to be dis
tributed weekly in bread, after morning service, every Sunday.
The church is dedicated to St. Sidwella, (sister to St.
Juthwara) who was martyred and buried near this church,
afterwards canonized, and much esteemed for her sanctity.
William of Worcester has this record of her : —
" Sancta Sativola, virgo Canonizata, jacet in Ecclesia
sancta sativola civitatis Exonia ultra portam orientalem."
This St. Sidwella lived about the year 740 ; and near the
church is an ancient well, supplied by a fine spring, named
St. Sid's Well, near which, according to tradition, she lived a
recluse life.
At the upper end of St. Sidwell' s-street is an ancient chapel
and alms-house, dedicated to St. Ann; these houses are under
the patronage of the Dean and Chapter, and are eight in
number, each consisting of two small rooms and a garden plat.
Notwithstanding they have had several bequests since their
foundation they are but meanly endowed ; the stipends of the
poor inhabitants not amounting to seven pence weekly. There
was formerly an hermitage annexed to this chapel, but the
date of the foundation of this small religious structure is now
lost. The chapel, with the adjoining house, (fomerly the
habitation of the Priest) appear of an ancient date; the chapel
is very small, but has been beautifully ornamented in the gothic
style ; over the brackets, which supported the altar, are two
gothic niches of neat workmanship, and there are some remains
of painted glass in the window, it is now desecrated, without
seats or ornaments, filthily kept, and sometimes used as a
mortar house; over the chapel is a small turreted arch, formerly
the receptacle of its only bell.*
* The ringing of this bell was formerly the signal given for assembling the
s 4

342 ™E HISTORY OF
Chap.VI. After the general dissolution this house was purchased by
===z=== Oliver and George Manwaring, brothers, and inhabitants of
this city, who, about the year 1561, repaired it, added to its
buildings, and converted it into an alms-house for eight poor
people, committing the patronage thereof to the Dean and
Chapter, and their successors.
During the intestine troubles in the reign of Charles I. the
dignified Clergy being deprived of their benefices, it conse
quently lost its patrons ; and when the city was straitened by
the Royalists, this chapel, &c. was seized by a small party of
them detached from the garrison of Poltimore House, who
took post there, which they maintained, and greatly annoyed
the Parliament garrison in the city, until its surrender to
Prince Maurice ; by this means the buildings were greatly
ruinated, and continued in that slate until the Restoration,
when it was again repaired, and the alms-people replaced, by
the Dean and Chapter.
The following benefactions have been given to this alms
house, viz : —
Ralph Duckenfield, Gent, of this city, by will, dated 1576,
bequeathed a tenement, situate in Preston-street, in this city,
towards the poor of the said houses, but the original deed
having been embezzled in the troubles before mentioned the
poor were deprived thereof.
About the year 1617, Ann, widow of Francis Debina, M. D.
and afterwards wife of Christoplter Manwaring, Esq. gave
the fee-simple and inheritance of a meadow and tenement,
situate near Taddiford Bridge, in the parish of St. David;
this bequest was for many years concealed, and the poor
deprived of it, but being at length recovered by a decree of
chancery, May the 7th, 1665, the rents were decreed to be for
ever paid for the better maintenance of the poor of these houses.
In this parish are likewise four other alms-houses, founded
by John Webb, for four poor widows, inhabitants of the said
parish, who endowed them with the rents and profits of four
small fields, for ever : for which purpose he appointed certain
Trustees, respectable inhabitants of the said parish, who, after
his decease, were to have the sole management of this charity,
and appointment of the alms-women therein ; and after the
death of one or more of the Trustees, the survivors were to
appoint others in their room.
These houses are gloomy habitations, consisting of only one

Grecians, (as the inhabitants of the parish are ludicrously termed) who-
frequently proceeded to riotous acts ; it was taken down some years since by
order of the Chapter, and lodged in the Chapter-house, where it at present
remains.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 343
room each, with a small garden behind; their weekly stipend is Chap.VI.
trifling and uncertain, as all necessary repairs of the houses ~====
are discharged from the income of their small estate : in the
front is a tablet, on which is this inscription : — " Webb's Alms
houses, repaired in 1730."
In a brick -ground, adjoining Well-lane, some years since,
were discovered several urns, containing human ashes, as
supposed ; they were of very coarse workmanship, and bedded
very deep in the clay; one of these urns is now in the possession
of Nicholas Strong, Gardener. And in another brick-field,
near St. Ann's Chapel, a small patera, of a regular circular
figure, with a foot neatly turned, was found at the depth of
twelve feet, in a solid bed of clay, which to all appearance had
never been broken into : this patera is made of a beautiful red
earth or clay, of excellent workmanship, and had been highly
glazed, some part of which is still remaining ; it is now in the
possession of James Wescombe, Brickmaker.
In Paris-street is an ancient brick house, bequeathed by
Phineas Cheeke, Esq. to certain Trustees, to the intent that an
academy should be there instituted, for the education of young
gentlemen for the ministry, (among Protestant Dissenters and
other learned professions) as well as for civil and commercial
life. The tutors were the Rev. Mic. Towgood, Samuel
Merivale, John Turner, and John Hogg. After this institution
had existed about ten years it sustained a great loss by the death
of Mr. Turner, who read lectures in mathematics and natural
philosophy, and at length totally sunk under the loss of Mr.
Merivale, the divinity tutor. Soon after a school for the
instruction of poor children was established in its place ; this
school, by the care of the Trustees, and liberal contributions of
the Dissenters in general, has succeeded beyond expectation ;
at this present time upwards of one hundred children of both
sexes are clothed and educated in such useful branches of
literature as are sufficient to qualify them for the middling
paths of life. And such are the philanthropic dispositions
of the Trustees of this excellent institution that no exception
is made to the religious tenets of the parents, but children
of all christian persuasions are admitted, which is a great
benefit to rising generations, and to the promoting of piety and
christian virtue.
At the lower end of Paris-street, just as you ascend the hill Saint
towards Heavitree, there formerly stood (according to tradition) Catharine's
an ancient chapel, dedicated to St. Catharine, of which not ape '
the least vestige is now remaining, except in the name of an
adjoining well, supplied by a fine spring, that issues from under
the garden wall, and which in ancient writings is termed St.
Catharine's Well.

344

THE HISTORY OF

Chap. VI. Beyond this is the Workhouse for the city ; which is a
- large capacious building, situate on an airy healthy eminence:
Workhouse thig house havino. Deen already described in the historical part,
it would be unnecessary to say more of it.
At the lower end of Longbrook-street is a small village,
partly in this parish, and partly in St. David's; in this hamlet
are several genteel houses, with good gardens, in a pleasant
retired situation, free from the noise and smoke of the city,
™,s yet almost contiguous to it; this place is termed Hill's Court,
'' from a knightly family of that name who formerly had a
spacious mansion there, and in which they lived with great
splendor; it was long the residence of Sir John Hill, Lord
Chief Justice of the Court of King's Bench : but it has long
since changed its owners, and no vestige of the ancient house
is now remaining.
Marypole- From this place there is an easy ascent to the top of the hill,
head. now cai[ed Marypole-head* where there is a stone fixed as a
boundary to the county of the city of Exeter ; this stone is
evidently sepulchral, but from whence it was brought is not
known ; on it are the following remains of an inscription : —
Mo CCCCCXI QUORUM MAJES.
Stoke Hill. As you ascend this hill a beautiful prospect opens to the view
of part of the city, the Castle hill, clothed with wood, the
Barracks, and the estuary of the river Exe, from Topsham to
Exmouth, with the Bar and its mouth ; also the fine cultivated
country, interspersed with woods, villages, gentlemen's seats,
&c. between the city and the heights of Haldon and Penhill;
and at a great distance the bleak hills of Dartmoor and the
Haytor Rocks. After a small descent you again ascend to the
heights of Stoke Hill, from the top of which there is a circular
prospect, extending in some places as far as the eye can reach;
to the north-east as far as the vale of Taunton Dean, in
Somersetshire; to the east beyond Honiton; to the south and
west the sea from Portland, almost to the entrance of Torbay,

* From whence this hill obtained its name of Marypole-liead, at this distance
of time, can only be conjectural ; there is a great probability that here was
formerly a chapel dedicated to one of the Marys, which, from its elevated
situation, being visible a great way to the surrounding country, obtained the
name of Mary's Pole, (an ancient name for head) and the additional tautology
of head was added by the ignorant in after ages ; what leads further to
strengthen this conjecture is that the road leading to this place from the Tiverton
road is called, in old writings, Mary-Bow-lane, which probably alludes to some
religious edifice situate in this lane, and built on stone arches, as it is well
known that the church of St. Mary-k-Bow, in London, obtained the additional
epithet from its being built on stone arches ; however there is no vestige
remaining of any building of this kind.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 345
with the intervening country, esteemed the garden of Devon- Chap.VI.
shire ; and to the north-west and north the hills of Dartmoor, =====
the vale of Crediton, and the mountainous tract which divides
the county of Devon into two parts, (the Jugum Ocrinum of
Ptolemy, and other ancient authors;) a little further on a
landscape opens to your view, that can scarcely be excelled ;
Pyne's-house and park, (the seat of Sir Stafford Henry
Northcote, Bart.) the beautiful valley beneath your eye, inter
spersed with arable and meadow lauds, woods, villages, churches,
farms, &c. with the rivers Exe and Culm, gliding in meanders,
and joining their streams ; this prospect almost exceeds
description. Near this, on the summit of another hill, is an ancient Roman
entrenchment ; the fosse in some places near twelve feet deep, jEstivum,
and quite entire, as well as the graffe in some parts ; this work or Summer
is of a circular figure, two hundred and fifty-six paces in st"kP,Hl'ii
diameter, inclosing the whole summit, and contains about five
acres of land; without this intrenchment, at the distance of /
about forty paces, are the remains of another fosse, which sur
rounded it at an equal distance, except the side next the river,
where it trended down the declivity close to the river's bank.
There are adjoining hills more elevated than this, but pro
bably its constructors made choice of this spot from its vicinity
to the river, for which reason the outer ditch was extended to
the river, to cover the watercrs.
We have no accounts to elucidate who were the first con
structors of this fortification ; by some it has been attributed to
the Romans; but their camps were generally of a square form,
and its vicinity to their chief fortress in Exeter makes it impro
bable that they should construct another so near it. It might
with more probability be ascribed to the Britons, whose camps
were generally of a circular form, situate on the summit of a
hill, and surrounded with almost impenetrable woods ; with
which, there can be no doubt, but that all those hills, before
their being cleared for cultivation, were clothed, as StokeWood
and others are still remaining ; probably its antiquity might be
dated as far back as the invasion of the Belga, under the com
mand of Diviaticus, (upwards of two hundred years before the
landing of Julius Casar) who penetrated into the heart of the
Danmonian kingdom, and fb-noed numbers of the inhabitants to
seek for shelter in Ireland. In answer to this an objection
might be made from its present name, Bury Park, which is
evidently derived from the Saxons, burgh,* (signifying a
camp or settlement) or from byrig, a town; but it was common
for those last invaders to take possession of the fortresses of the
* From whence is derived the present English term, borough.
T 4

346 THE HISTORY OF
Chap.VI. natives, and to give a cognomen to them according to their
language. Their successors, the Danes, followed their example, in pos
sessing and maintaining themselves in the strong holds of the
English ; and there is great reason to suppose that they took
refuge here after their defeat at Pinhoe, in its vicinity. *
Not far from this intrenchment, at the bottom of Mary-Bow-
lane, where the ancient road crosses the present turnpike, are
two large stones, lying by the side of each other : they consist
of moor-stone, or Devonshire granite, and by their regular
symmetry and oblong shape seem to have been nicely hewn,
but for what purpose cannot now be determined; they at present
serve as a boundary mark between the county of Devon and
that of the city of Exeter ; but it does not seem probable that
this was the original intention, from their large size, and their
non-similarity to any of the other city boundary stones, which
evidently were all taken from the ruins of religious edifices; (the
city of Exeter being made a comity of itself after their dissolu
tion ;) besides, there being two of them in one place, a circum
stance very uncommon, as the bringing stones of such magnitude
from Dartmoor, or its environs, must require much labour, and
consequently great expence, and one would have answered
every necessary purpose as a boundary mark. The largest of
these stones is five feet eight inches in length, two feet eleven
inches broad, and two feet five inches thick; the other measures
in length five feet six inches, in breadth three feet one inch, and
in depth one foot one inch. According to tradition, across stood
on this spot, from whence the adjoining lane obtained the name
of Cross-lane ; but an observer may evidently determine that
these stones were never any part of a cross, nor of the base of
one, as there is no cavity to receive or support the shaft, so
common in the erection of those structures, f

* The neighbouring cottagers informed the author that many bricks had been
dug up in this fosse, and that they were thinner and wider than those made
now ; they were of a coarse brown mould, aud very hard ; that bricks were well
known to tbe ancient Britons is not to be doubted. The very name of hike
being truly British, which they very probably brought with them at their first
emigration. " At Babel they had bricks for stones, fyc."
+ The late learned and Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Mills, Dean of Exeter, and
President of the Royal Antiquarian Sooiety, on an inspection of these stones
was of opinion that they were sepulchral, and of Druidical erection, as it was
customary with the ancient Britons to erect one or more large stones over the
graves of princes and men of note amongst them. They likewise had a
custom of covering the graves of heroes with heaps of stones, which they termed
karns. Many of their sepulchral monuments are in Wales, Cornwall, &c. which
are composed of five stones in the form of a chest, two forming the sides, one

THE CITY OF EXETER. 347
Adjoining to Southernhay, in this parish, in part of the Chap.VI.
fields formerly termed St. John's Fields, but of late years the " ~
Barn-field, there is at this present time a stately pile of build- in tl,e
ings erecting, in the form of a crescent; the houses are of Barn-field.
brick, on a gravelly soil, and in an healthy air, commanding
a beautiful prospect of the neighbouring country ; five houses
are already constructed and inhabited ; and the whole, when
finished, will scarcely be excelled by any pile of brick buildings
in the kingdom, even in the capital itself.
In digging a drain behiud these buildings the labourers dis- a Bath
covered a bath, which was supplied with water from a neigh- discovered.
bouring spring ; this bath was of an angular shape, built with
grey bricks, very hard burnt, and strongly cemented together ;
the steps which led down to it were of the same materials : no
account could be obtained, or conjecture formed, by whom or at
what time this bath was made ; but from appearance it did not
seem to be of a very ancient date.
This discovery suggested to the architect the utility of erecting
a public bath, the want of which had been long complained of;
and accordingly, on this spot, abounding with fine springs,
and being very eligible for the purpose, a handsome and very
commodious one is now erected, with every conveniency for the
inhabitants. This parish, although it has decreased in population, * has
been greatly improved, and is still improving in its buildings,
which seems a paradox, yet it is easily accounted for ; the old
cottages which have been taken down were very numerous, and
lodged a great number of weavers and other poor manufacturers,
who, for the sake of easy rents, crowded themselves together ;
and in the room of several cottages large spacious mansions have

the top or covering stone, and two smaller the ends ;' in the vacuum of which
they deposited the bones, ashes, &c. of the defunct ; and often offered sacrifices
on the top to their manes : this monument they termed a Kistvaen, and the
before-mentioned judicious antiquarian had great reason to think that these
stones, from their similarity to those which he had seen composing such
monuments, were parts of a Kistvaen; and that the other stones had been carried
off for some particular uses. There is a tradition which is firmly believed by
old women, &c. and by them transmitted to their descendants, that a giant of
immense bulk and strength was buried in this spot ; and as it is well known
that fables become blendid with true history in traditions of this kind, there is
great probability that these stones marked the spot of interment of some
British Chief; as it was customary with all the northern nations to describe their
ancient leaders and heroes as men of great strength and stature : see the Edda,
Ossian, and Dr. Piercy's collection of ancient English poetry.
* The author is credibly informed that, by the late returns, the inhabitants
of this parish are reduced in number upwards of five hundred since the year
1780.

348 THE HISTORY OF
Chap.VI. been erected, which, notwithstanding they make a splendid
• appearance, do not contain half the number of useful inha
bitants ; and should this spirit of improvement continue, the
poor manufacturers (so necessary to the trade of the city, and
to the comforts and conveniences of the rich,) will be greatly
distressed for habitations, unless some worthy gentlemen will
stand forth in their favour, and erect small convenient cottages,
at easy rents, in the back streets, where there is room sufficient.
According to the returns made by order of Government, in
the year 1801, there were then in this parish four hundred and
seventy-three houses, of which twenty-three were uninhabited ;
occupied by six hundred and eighty-nine families, containing
one thousand and seventy-two males and one thousand six
hundred and thirty-five females, in all two thousand seven hun
dred and seven inhabitants.
St. David. Before I proceed to give an account of the remainder of the
parishes within the city walls, I shall describe that of St. David,
being contiguous to St. Sidwell's, and like it a daughter church
dependant on that of Heavitree, whose Vicar appoints the
Curate of the parish, which is of large extent, being nearly two
miles in length, comprising within its bounds great part of the
county of the city of Exeter.
The church, which is situated on the summit of a hill,
(called in ancient records St. David's Dune * ) is small and
irregular, consisting of a nave and one aisle, without a chancel;
the communion table being situated in the eastern angle of the
nave. The whole of the building is remarkably low, as is the
tower, which is square, containing four small untunable bells ;
the church is light, well seated, and kept in good repair. The
present edifice cannot lay claim to great antiquity, as it was
Situation of built in the fifteenth century. The ancient church (or parochial
the ancient chapel, dedicated to St. Clement) was situate at the bottom of
c uro • the hill, in a meadow, washed by the river, which being subject
to floods, and incommodious to the parishioners, they erected
the present church : of this ancient chapel, which was probably
erected during the Saxon era, and is mentioned in doomsday-
book, there is not the least vestige remaining, except in the
name of the meadow, which is called Chapel Meadow ;\ as is
the lane leading to it called Chapel-lane.
In the present church is a commodious gallery; the pulpit is
neat, and similar to that in St. Sidwell's; it seems to be the
workmanship of the same artist : around the church is a small

» So termed from the British, dunum, signifying a hill or elevated situation.
t This meadow has long since been alienated from the parish, and is now
the property, by gift, of the parish of St. Petrock, in this city.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 349
cemetery, which was enlarged in the year 1800, and the Chap.VI.
additional part consecrated by Bishop Courtenay, in the fol- 
lowing year.
Against the north wall is a mural monument, painted and
gilt, to the memory of Sir Thomas Gifford,— " equitis aurati
hujus civitatis iterumpratoris," — who died in 1703. Accordino-
to tradition this Mr. Gifford was knighted for his ingenuity in
dying a piece of cloth scarlet on one side and blue on the other,
which he presented to King James II. : he built Great Duryard-
housc, where he died.
In an obscure corner of the yard, behind the church, is
interred the body of the late Dr. Glass, of Exeter, whose
professional skill, eminent learning, and amiable disposition,
justly acquired the esteem of all his numerous acquaintance; on
the covering stone of his plain tomb is this short memorial : —
Thomas Glass, M. D. who died on the 6th of February,
1786, in the 16th year of his age.
Thomas Tooker, Brewer, of this city, bequeathed an annuity
of twenty shillings yearly, to be for ever distributed to the poor
of this parish.*
John Jordan, Gent, of Millbrook, by will, gave the sum of
£100 to the Churchwardens and Overseers of the poor of this
parish, to be by them vested in the public funds ; the interest
of which to be laid out in bread, and distributed by them and
their successors twice every year, viz : one half on December
the 25th, and the other half on June the 2nd, from year to
year, for ever, to such poor people (inhabitants of the parish)
as they shall think fit and proper objects ; the first interest was
received in 1768.
The street termed St. David's Hill has many good houses, St. David's
pleasantly situated in an healthy air, and commanding an ex- Hl11-
tensive prospect of the surrounding country; this hill terminates
on the south-west side, in a lofty abrupt cliff, that overhangs
the river : this cliff is near one hundred feet high, and beneath
it are two strong stone weirs, which turn the river into different HeadWeir.
leats, on which is situated the engine that supplies the city
with water, many fulling, grist, and other mills, dye-houses,
&c. a great accommodation to woollen and other manufacturers;
the walk between the river and leat is not above six feet in
breadth, and when the river is swelled by floods is awfully
grand ; the great expanse of water foaming over the weirs
on the left hand, the lofty cliff, clothed with wood, (which
is only separated from you by the leat) on the right, and the
beautiful prospect in front of the bason of the river, with the

* See benefactions to the parish of St. Sidwell, &c.
u 4

350 THE HISTORY OF
Chap.VI. adjoining meadows, excite a sensation in strangers that cannot
be described.*
Duryard. Duryard is the name of several houses and estates in this
parish, which name was probably derived from the British,
dwr (water,) as they are situate at no great distance from the
river, and there can be no doubt but that the course of the
ancient channel was much nearer than at present ; the largest
of those houses is an elegant villa, on an elevated situation,
surrounded with pleasure grounds, and well wooded ; it was
erected by the before-mentioned Sir Thomas Gifford, Knight;
and is now the property of Richard Cross, Esq.
Duryard Near this house were formerly mills, supplied with water
Mills. by a leat, cut from the river above Cowley Bridge; these
mills were erected before 1463, as appears from an ordinance
made by the Mayor and Common Council in that year, to
compel all Bakers (residing in the city) to grind their wheat at
the city mills, viz: Duryard and Cricklepit : these mills have
long been neglected, and thus fell to ruin ; but a manufactory
has been lately erected on their site for spinning woollen yarn
by machinery.
Middle The next adjoining estate is called Middle Duryard; it
Duryard. consists of a small neat brick house, with a fine estate, well
wooded, belonging to it, and is now the property of Mrs. Cross,
widow of George Cross, Esq. who resides in it.
Little Little Duryard adjoins this, on which has lately been built
Duryard. a neat villa, and great improvements made to the estate
belonging to it.
Duryard Nearer the city, on a very elevated situation, is Duryard
Lodge. Lodge; this house enjoys a fine prospect, with large plantations
of trees behind it, which screen it from the north-east winds ;
it was built by Phineas Cheeke, Esq. a native of this city, who
long enjoyed a lucrative place in the stamp office, London;
from which circumstance it obtained the name (by which it is
vulgarly called) of Mount Stamp.
Belle Vue. Above Great Duryard, on the side of Stoke Hill, is Belle
Vue, a pretty villa, in a delightful situation ; it was originally
a small farm house, and modernized into its present state by its
owner, Richard Cross, Esq.f

* Several remains of antiquities have been discovered in digging on part of
this cliff, such as bones of oxen and other beasts, broken potsherds, and a
brazen lamp, with a crescent described on it; from which some have con
jectured that here stood a temple of the goddess Diana.
t In a field adjoining this house, (about a furlong from the camp already
described) are two moor-stones, standing erect, about sixty paces from each
other ; (hey appear to have been hewn to an inclining plane, and are five feet
ten inches in height, above ground, and deeply sunk into the earth. In a field

THE CITY OF EXETER. 351
The justly admired terrace walk of Northernhay is in this Chap.VI
parish ; it is of a circular figure, and extends almost round one ~ "
quarter of the city, from the site of the East to the North gate; „"' ern"
it was anciently a counterscarp to the Castle, and is planted
with lofty elms, well gravelled, and kept in repair by the
Chamber ; it is much resorted to for the benefit of its fine air
and agreeable shade ; many seats are erected on it for the use of
valetudinarians ; it is bordered on one side by the remains of
the Castle, and the back front of the new County Court, (from
the latter of which it is separated by iron palisades ;) and on the
other side by a deep declivity of great height, planted with elms ;
on this walk are two neat houses, one contiguous to the city
walls, the property of Captain Bailey, Paymaster of the North
Devon Regiment of Militia, and the other on the mount
opposite, (anciently termed Gallants' Bower) the property and
residence of Warwick Hele Tonkin, Esq. Recorder of Plymouth.*
At the lower end of this walk there are twelve alms-houses, Atwill's
erected by the Chamber, from a charity left by Lawrence Alms-
Atwill, Esq. which had for many years been sequestered, and »°«ses.
the estates leased out to private individuals; this Mr. Atwill
was a Skinner, and Citizen of London, born in this city of
respectable parents, his grandfather having served the office of
Mayor five several times, in the reigns of four Kings of
England, \ namely, Edward IV. and V. Richard III. and
HenryVW. three of whom visited the city during his magistracy.
In the former part of his life Mr. Atwill was very unsuccessful,
and met with great losses at sea ; but. in the end providence so
blessed his endeavours that he acquired great riches ; but
having no issue he bequeathed the chief part of his fortune to
charitable uses, as appears by his will, dated November 6th,

adjoining this, about one hundred and twenty paces distant, is a similar stons ;
these stones are erected in a direct line, nearly north and south : on what
occasion they were set up in this place cannot at present be surmised, as it is
not probable they were boundary stones, to denote the limits of either parish
or county, being far within the limits of the county of Exeter and parish of
St. David; therefore it must be left to better antiquarians to determine. It is
well known that the ancient Britons often erected monuments of this kind.
* From these houses the walk is continued down the hill towards North-gate-
street, between two rows of lofty elms, whose tops meeting form a pointed
arch, which has a pleasing effect ; and without doubt, from similar scenery,
our ancestors borrowed their ideas of saracenic architecture.
t " He saw five princes which the sceptre bore,
Of these he was a magistrate to four."— Dr. Vilvayne.

352 THE HISTORY OF
Chap.VI. 1588, wherein he left, in trust, to Thomas Spicer, Esq. (then
 " one of the Aldermen) and by him to be conveyed to the Mayor,
Bailiffs, &c. several estates in the parishes of St. Thomas the
Apostle, Whitstone, and Uffculm, in the county of Devon,
the high rents of which amounted at that time to £11 7s. 5d.
per annum, with the other profits and income arising from the
said estates, to be accumulated into a perpetual fund or stock
of money, which by the Mayor and Aldermen should be applied
in the best manner possible to keep the poor of the said city
employed in some useful work from time to time ; the stock
nevertheless not to be decreased, but increased if necessary, out
of the said lands, &c. for ever.*
Hurst's At the east end of Northernhay are six small houses, each
Alms- containing two rooms, with a small garden behind, built for
houses. twelve poor tradesmen of this city, by William Hurst, Esq.
who endowed the same with lands sufficient for allowing each
poor inhabitant yearly twenty shillings, to be paid to them
quarterly, appointing the Mayor, Bailiffs, &c. Trustees thereof,
as appears by his deed, dated the 13th of October, 1567.
John Lant, Esq. (sometime Mayor) by his will, dated July
the 9th, 1614, gave towards their better support £100, for the
purchase of land ; the rents and profits of which were to be
solely applied to their use for ever. In the front of these houses
is the following inscription : —
Built and endowed A. D. 1568, by William Hurst, Esq. who
had been five times Mayor of this city.
Londonlnn. Opposite these houses is the London (formerly the Oxford)
Inn, lately re-built by Mr. John Land. It is large, elegantly
furnished, and has every accommodation for families of the first
distinction.
Southern- Part of Southernhay, anciently Crollditch, is in this parish,
nay- where there is now erecting an elegant pile of buildings, called
Southernhay Place, to consist of thirty-six houses, twelve of
which are already finished and inhabited ; these houses are
built in an airy healthy situation, with convenient avenues to
any part of the city, by which they have an easy access to the
markets ; the large area in front is to be levelled, and sur
rounded with iron palisades, which will form pleasant walks
for the occupiers of the houses.
The Cavalry Barracks and new County Goal are both situate
in this parish, but as they have been described in the historical
part no farther description need be given, except an account of
the benefactions left by some pious christians for the relief of

* See list of benefactions in the latter part of this chapter.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 353
the unhappy prisoners confined in the old Goal, which it is to Chap. VI.
be hoped are continued to the present. 
Griffith Ameredith, (sometime Mayor) considering that the
decent burial of the dead was not the least office of christian
charity, (though people of formar ages little regarded it) and
that though many persons justly suffered death for their offences,
yet, being moved with pity to see their naked bodies interred,
gave by will, dated August the 3rd, 1561, all his lands,
tenements, and possessions, lying in Sidbury, in the county of
Devon, for and towards purchasing coffins for every malefactor
who should be executed from the county or city Goal.
Edward Ameredith, his son and heir, desirous that his father's
will should be duly executed, did, by his deed poll, dated
April the 9th, 1562, give and grant to the Mayor, Bailiffs, and
Commonalty of Exeter, and to their successors, for ever, all
those his messuages, lands, rents, reversions, &c. with their
appurtenances, for the purpose aforesaid.
William Paramore, Merchant, late of Exeter, by will,
February the 22nd, 1570, bequeathed to the needy prisoners
in the King's Gaol, near the Castle of Exeter, ten shillings
yearly, for ever, to be paid by his heirs, out of his lands in
Cook Row, * in the said city, late in the several possessions of
George Pyle, Merchant, John Lovers, Goldsmith, and John
Madocke, Haberdasher.
Elizabeth Seldon, widow of Lawrence Seldon, Esq.\ be
queathed sixpence weekly, for ever, to be distributed among
the poor prisoners in this Gaol. %
Mrs. Joan Tuckfield, widow and relict of John Tuckfield,
Esq. sometime Mayor of this city, by her will, dated June the
14th, 1568, among other acts of charity, granted and gave to
the Corporation of Tailors, in this city, her lands in the parish
of St. Paul, on condition of their performing such charitable
acts mentioned in the said will ; one of which was that they
distribute yearly, for ever, among the poor prisoners confined
in the Gaol, near the Castle, two shillings, at Midsummer, and
also keep in constant repair the walls, or inclosure, doors, and
locks of a piece of ground appropriated, at her expence, to the
burial of malefactors executed at the adjoining gallows, at
Ringswell, near Exeter: (previous to this they were interred in
the common highway.) In case of failure the Mayor, Bailiffs,

* Cook Row, i. e. the upper eud of South-gate-street, from the Little Style to
the corner of High-street.
t See parish of St. Lawrence.

t See Rights of the Freemen of Exeter, page 142.
x4

354

THE HISTORY OF

Chap.VI. and Commonalty of this city are empowered to enter and enjoy
 the lands for the uses mentioned.
Edward Young, D. D. (sometime Dean of this Cathedral)
by his will, dated June the 6th, 1663, devised as follows, viz :
that his executor lay out £250, within the " space of two years
after the death of the testator, towards purchasing a rent-
charge, or other land in fee-simple, (the rent thereof to amount
to £12 a year) for different charitable purposes. One
of which was, that twenty shillings out of the said rent or
income be annually distributed to the poor prisoners in the
King's Goal, near the Castle, on the 29th of May, for ever.
Near the site of the ancient North-gate, at the Falcon Inn,
is a cold bath, supplied by a fine spring that issues from under
the city walls. This bath is much frequented by the female Jews.
Ancient In a field near the new Goal is an ancient mound or barrow,
barrow. 0f a circular form, with a concavity in its centre. It appears
Danes' to nave Deen IornJerry trenched round, part of the trench still
Castle. remaining; it is vulgarly called Danes' Castle; but it is evident,
from the smallness of the inclosure, and its concave form, that
it was never designed for a fortification, not being capable of
containing more than one hundred men: nor is there any
remaining vestige of contiguous works. Notwithstanding the
tradition that it was a fortification of the Danes, there is more
probability that it was designed for a Tumulus ; but whether it
owes its construction to the Britons, Danes, or Saxons, is at
this distance of time uncertain, this kind of Tumuli being
common to all the northern nations, by whom they were erected
over the graves of Kings, or persons of note slain in battle,
every soldier bringing his helmet or morion full of earth or
stones, by which means those enormous mounds were easily
constructed . *
* Barrows of this construction are very common, and owe their origin to
very early ages ; most authors agreeing that in the concave bason (if it might
be so called) they annually offered sacrifices, and their bards sung the virtuous
and heroic actions of the defunct ; others (and those of no mean note) think
that those concave mounds were designed as beacons, they being generally
constructed on the most elevated spots, (which is the case of this) and that
they lighted fires in the centre, which the surrounding graff prevented from
being dispersed by the wind, and by that means gave signal of the descent or
approach of an enemy. From the centre of this barrow there is a drain cut
through the mound, evidently for the purpose of discharging the rain water,
which otherwise would pond it, and make a stagnant pool. This barrow, in
its mutilated state, is one hundred feet in diameter, and the graff sixteen feet
in height, in its most perfect part. Tradition informs us that the field in which
it is situated was the site of a Danish camp, in one of their frequent sieges of
this city ; which, although no intrenchments are now visible, seems very
probable, its elevated situation commanding the Castle, from which it is
separated by a deep ravine, and naturally fortified on the other side by one
much deeper and wider, and which has evident signs of having once been an
impassable morass, effectually securing it from any attempt on that quarter.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 355
In the year 1800 there were in this parish three hundred and Chap.VI.
thirty-two houses, nineteen uninhabited, containing four hun- 
dred and forty-three families, consisting of eight hundred and
four males and one thousand and fifty females; total one
thousand eight hundred and fifty-four inhabitants.
Adjoining the parish of St. David is that of St. Paul, St. Paul.
wholly situate within the city walls. The ancient church was
dark, mean, and in a ruinous state ; and the present one was
erected on its site about the latter end of the seventeenth
century : it is a handsome edifice, consisting of a nave and
large gallery ; it is very neat withinside, well seated, and full
lighted, and has a marble font. The tower, under which is
the principal entrance, is square, and ornamented with a dial,
a handsome niche, and festoons of flowers ; the tower contains
a clock and one bell, and on its summit is a small spire, sup
porting a gilt weather-cock. The Architect grossly deceived
the parishioners, by imposing upon them a soft sandy stone,
which is greatly decayed ; and though erected only about one
hundred and twenty years since, appears in a ruinous state,
especially the cornice and ornaments in front, the side next
the street having been lately repaired. At what time a religious
edifice was first erected on this spot we have no memorial ; but
in the year 1222 it was made parochial, and is now a rectory,
in the gift of the Dean and Chapter, valued in the King's books
at £8 2s. Gd. per annum, certified value £25 : present rector
the Rev. John Leigh.
In this church are the following monuments : near the altar,
on the north wall, is a large white marble monument, embel
lished with angels, holding the magisterial fasces, a broken
column, and other decorations ; in the centre of which, on a
black marble tablet, is inscribed :¦ — ¦
Ob Honor em Viri nobilissimi Edvardi Seaward, Equitis, qui
Patre Johanne Seaward, Danmonio e curia Clistensi, Divi
Georgii, Generosa ibidem natus v. Calend. Novemb. Anno
mdcxxxiv. post Christum mdcciii. Kal. Mart, diem Obiit
supremum. Uxorem Hannam Nicolai Brokingg hujus Loci
civis, gentem habentis filiarn duxit, ex qua nati sunt Nicolaus,
Edvardus, Johannes et Hanna, quibus Omnibus patrem Deus
superstitem esse voluit. Summo magistratui in civitate nostra
prafuerat, ab Eadem delectus in regni senatum nostrorum
militum Tribunus, et primus summa liberalitate ab se donato
prafectos, quos omnes honoris gradus rite Sf Pervigili adminis-
tratione, laude cumulatus tenuit Se Implevit. Excellebat
abstinentia, erat moribus, vitaque sanctissimus Sf tanta
munificentia ac pietate, ut tanquam si id sibi Negotii crederet
solum dari, bonitotem Sf humanitatem, Ejus erga se quam
plurimos sentire indigentes egregie. Sed quantum potuit,
occulte sine teste, sine ullo Conscio studuerit.

356 THE HISTORY OF
Chap.VI. Hinc multos illos, quos in hac Urbe habitavit annos, magna
 autoritas apud Cives, nobili nomen, laus omnium bonorum
Maxima. A grave-stone near this monument has this inscription : —
Here lyeth the body of Sit Edward Seaward, Knight, Alder
man, and sometime Mayor of this city, who departed this life
on the 1st day of March, 1703, in the 10th year of his age.
And also the bodys of Nicholas, Edward, John, and Hannah,
children of the said Sir Edward Seaward. Also here lyeth the
Lady Hannah Seaward, relict of the said Sir Edward Seaward,
who departed this life the 23rd of July, 1112, in the list
year of her age.
On the left side of the altar is a neat monument of black and
white marble, in memory of Anne, relict of John Gilbert, Esq.
of Compton, in the parish of Marldon, and daughter of Richard
Courtenay, Esq. who died in 1775 ; and in memory also of
Mary, relict of Pomeroy Gilbert, Esq. son of the aforesaid John
and Anne, daughter of Admiral Williams, who died in 1786.
On the north wall is a plain oval white marble tablet,
erected to the memory of Jurgen Hachmeester, Gent, who de
parted this life in 1762. He was a sincere christian, lived justly
esteemed, and died greatly lamented by his friends.
Against the south wall is a small plain white marble tablet,
erected to the memory of Richard Langdon, B. M. (sometime
Organist of Exeter Cathedral,) who died the 2nd September,
1803, aged 74.
On the right side of the altar is a neat monument of white
marble, in the form of a Roman altar, over which is a female
figure, mourning by a mausoleum shown on the back ground,
consisting of a pyramid, with five urns. In the front of the
altar is the following inscription : —
Sacred to the memory
o/John Codrington, Esq. of this city,
who died January x, mdccci. aged lxx.
Of Mary his wife,
who died December xvn, mdccxcv, aged lx.
And of Samuel and Sarah, their son and daughter,
who died in the bloom of youth,
while hope illumined every scene,
and embellished future prospects with delusive expectations
of prosperity and happiness.
Maria,
wife of Bartholomew Parr, of this city, M. D.
the only remaining child and sister,
had with deep regret directed this monument to be raised,
as a testimony of her affection and grief,
but before its completion

THE CITY OF EXETER. 357
was herself consigned to the same tomb, Chap. VI.
at the early age of xxxm years, >
An. mdccciii.
This neat monument was executed by Mr. John Kendall,
Statuary, of this city.
Adjoining the church is a small burying ground, probably
part of the site of the ancient edifice, omitted in the present
building for the sake of its retaining a regular figure.
Benefactions to the parish of St. Paul : —
Elizabeth Buckenam, widow, bequeathed 13s. 4rf. yearly,
to be divided among five poor householders of this parish,
quarterly, viz : eight pence to each. *
Mr. John Pillet, Surgeon, bequeathed £25, the interest of
which he willed should be given to the poor of this parish, in
twopenny loaves, at Christmas, Easter, and Michaelmas eves,
by the Minister and Churchwardens, for ever.
Mrs. Mary Pillet, widow of the above, bequeathed to Mr.
John Codrington and Mr. James Grant £20, the interest of
which she ordained should be distributed in shirts and shifts
yearly, at Christmas, to such poor people of this parish as
they should think fit, for ever.
Henry Gandy, Esq. (twice Mayor of this city) by his last
will bequeathed a tenement, situate in the parish of St. Sidwell,
then of the yearly value of £16, to the Governors of St. John's
Hospital, for the maintenance of two boys within the said
Hospital, which said boys are to be inhabitants of this parish,
and to be taken out of the poor of this parish for ever.
Mr . Paul Phillips bequeathed an annuity of twenty shillings,
to be distributed to three poor men, and three poor women,
inhabitants of this parish, in shirts and shifts, on every Easter
Monday. He also bequeathed forty shillings to the then War
den, the interest of which he ordered should be for ever applied
to defray the expences of making the said shirts and shifts.
Mr. John Yorke bequeathed, by will, an annuity of thirty
shillings yearly, issuing out of a garden iin the parish of St.
David, to be distributed by the Wardens to twelve poor people
of this parish, who have no parochial relief.
Thomas Binford, Esq. bequeathed an annuity of £3, issuing
out of an estate in the parish of St. Sidwell, to be expended
in wheat, and made into loaves, which said loaves are to be
distributed to the poor of this parish on every Christmas-eve
for ever- Flave's
Nearly adjoining St. Paul's church are Flaye's alms-houses. a]raj.
These alms-houses were erected according to the will of Thomas houses.
* See parish of St. Lawrence.
Y 4

358

THE HISTORY OF

Chap.VI. Flaye, Esq. Alderman, (and sometime Mayor of this city) who,
 ' on the 26th of June, 1634, devised to Elizabeth his wife and
executrix, divers lands and tenements in the parishes of St.
Paul, St. Sidwell, and St. David, in this city, to the intent
that she should erect, within six years after his decease, upon
part of the said land in St. Paul's parish, four convenient
alms-houses, with four gardens adjoining, to be called Flaye's
alms-houses, for four poor widows, to be at first placed in by
his said wife, and after her decease by the Mayor and Aldermen
for the time being, or the greater number of them ; and after
the erection of the said houses, the said Elizabeth Flaye, her
heirs and assigns, should for ever pay out of the rents and
profits of the said lands, to every one of the said widows,
twelve pence, weekly, and the residue or overplus of the said
rents should be appropriated towards the reparation and main
tenance of the said alms-houses for ever : which said trust this
charitable lady faithfully performed, and out of her own
bounty added to her said husband's endowment one shilling
more to each weekly ; she also erected two more houses in the
garden behind, appropriating them for the habitations of two poor
Clergymen and their wives, (who should be destitute of better
habitations) or for the widows or relicts of such, endowing
each of them with four shillings weekly, forever; and appointed
the eastern part of the garden to their use.
Over the entrance are the founder's arms, impaled with those
of his wife, with an inscription alluding to the foundation ;
over them is a winged hour-glass, with other emblems of mor
tality, and the date of their erection, carved on a stone table ;
over the inner entrance is another inscription.
Tailors' Adjoining these alms-houses is the Tailors' Hall, consisting
Hall. 0f a convenient dwelling-house, with a handsome hall for their
meetings, the gift of Mrs. Joan Tuckfield, widow of John
Tuckfield, Esq. (sometime Mayor of this city) who, by her
will, dated the 14th of June, 1568, bequeathed to the Corpo
ration of Tailors within this city all her land in the parish of
St. Paul, on condition that they bestowed yearly, for ever, at
the Feast of Easter, out of the profits of the said land, six
shillings and eight pence, viz : to the Ten Cells one shilling and
eight pence, to the poor prisoners in the Goal, near the Castle
two shillings, and to the prisoners in South-gate one shilling and
four pence, and to repair the walls, with the doors and locks,
around a piece of ground at Ringswell, which she had caused
to be inclosed for the interment of the malefactors there
executed. Joan Cleveland, (late servant to the said Mrs. Tuckfield)
by her last will, dated the 24th of May, 1599, bequeathed to
the Mayor and Chamber £20 yearly, for ten years, until the

THE CITY OF EXETER. 359
sum amounted to £200, which money she devised to be lent Chap.VI.
unto ten poor artificers from year to year, they giving good
security for the repayment of the same ; and that £100 of the
said money should be so lent to five poor Tailors (freemen of
the said corporation) without interest.
The ancient city Bridewell stood in Goldsmith-street, in this Ancient
parish ; but the site is now alienated from the Chamber, and Bridewell.
no vestiges of the old building are remaining.
On the city walls, near the site of the North-gate, the City alms-
Chamber, in the year 1763, erected twelve Alms-houses for houses.
poor decayed freemen, and endowed the same with 2s. 6d. each
almsman weekly.
Adjoining these are three more small houses, built by the Staff-
Chamber, for the habitations of three of the Staff-bearers or bMrers
~ *. houses.
Scavengers. Near the church was an ancient edifice, built of hewn stone, King
consisting of circular stone staircases, leading to many small Athelstan s
vaulted rooms : this building, according to tradition, was once
the habitation of King Athelstan, termed by the vulgar King
Addlestone's palace : it was taken down some years since, and
modern buildings erected on its site, particularly large and com
modious wine vaults, the property of Edmund Granger, Esq.
According to the late returns there were in the parish of
St. Paul one hundred and eighty-nine inhabited and ten
uninhabited houses, containing two hundred and sixty-nine
families, in which were four hundred and ninety-two males and
six hundred and six females, in all one thousand and ninety-
eight inhabitants.
More towards the centre of the city is the small parish of St.Kerian.
St. Kerian. The church is dedicated to an obsolete Irish
Saint, (also called, in Cornwall, St. Piran, who came into
that county about the year 460, where he died, and was buried
at Bodmin.) It is dark and gloomy, and from its not being
used for divine service little attention is paid to its interior
part ; the tower, which is over the entrance, is low, and con
tains one bell and a clock, with a dial fronting the street. This
church bears evident marks of antiquity, but the era of its
erection is not known ; nor is their any mention made of it until
the year 1222, when it was made parochial; and probably at
that period, from the superstition of the times, afforded a toler
able subsistence to a massing Priest ; but since the Reformation
it has been usually held with that of St. Petrock; it is a
rectory, in the gift of the Dean and Chapter, and is valued in
the King's books at £5 18s. 6\d. per annum, certified value £16.
* The eldest of the Staff-bearers has his residence in the city Bridewell, in
Paris-street, he being the Marshal or Keeper of it.

360 THE HISTORY OF
Chap.VI. In this church there is a mural monument, in a dilapidated
 state, on the base of which is an excellent carving, in bass-
relief, representing the resurrection, at the day of judgment;
the inscription informs us that it was erected to the memory of
Jonathan Ivie, who died March the 14th, 1717 ; also Elizabeth
Ivie.
Ancient ln Waterbeer-street, in this parish, lately stood a very ancient
building in building ; it originally consisted of three semicircular arches,
street ""' supporting an angular front, with an arched window in the
centre: those arches or gateways led into a spacious hall, which
(according to tradition) was the Pratorium or Town-hall;
while some respectable antiquarians judge it to be the remains
of a religious edifice ; * but this does not seem probable from
the structure of the building, it having no remains of a vaulted
roof, neither had it any of those grotesque embellishments so
common in the religious edifices of our Saxon ancestors; from its
ruinous state it was of necessity taken down in the year 1803,
and capacious warehouses erected on its site, by Mr. Kingdon,
Ironmonger, of this city.
Boys' Adjoining is a large ancient roomy house, bequeathed to the
charity charity schools, and now appropriated as habitations for the
schools. ^wo Schoolmasters, with school-rooms for the boys.
According to the late returns there were in this small parish
forty-two houses, of which four were uninhabited, containing
fifty-eight families, the number of males one hundred and four,
females one hundred and twenty-six, in all two hundred and
thirty inhabitants.
St.Petrock. Contiguous to St. Kerian is the parish of St. Petrock.f The
church is an irregular building, which appears to have been
erected at different periods, and is so obscurely situated, and

* The learned Dr. Ducarel is of opinion that it was a religions edifice ; and
the first stone building erected in this city, the churches of the Britons being
composed of wattles. On its demolition nothing was discovered to strengthen
this conjecture; the back part appeared to be designed for a prison, under
which were strong stone walls, surrounding a square vault, (in which were a
privy and sewer) probably a dungeon. The only remains of antiquity disco
vered were several Roman coins, in good preservation, particularly one of
Constantius, having on its exergue a column of trophies, at the foot of which
were two captives chained in a sitting posture ; and a brass coin, on which,
within a lozenge, were four flowers-de-luce, and on its exergue a ship with a
large ensign,— the only part of the inscription legible is the word house, in
ancient characters ; also a groat of Henry VIII. of silver, much debased.
t This Petrocus lived a religious life in Cornwall, where he was much famed
for his sanctity ; and after his death he was admitted into the British balendar :
he gave name to Padslow, (anciently written Petrockstow) where he resided
and died. Leland says, in his time his tomb and shrine were still remaining in
the church there. — Cambden, page 11.

THE CITY OF EXETER, 361
surrounded by houses, that scarce any part of it can be seen, Chap.VI.
except the tower, which is octagonal and small, with a spire 
and vane ; in this tower are six small musical bells, and a clock,
with a double fronted dial that projects over the houses ; this
clock has a set of chimes, which plays part of the 137th Psalm,
at the hours of four, eight, and twelve ; there are two narrow
entrances into the church, one from the High-street and the
other from St. Peter' s-yard ; it is kept in good repair, and
neatly seated, and was made parochial in 1222 ; it is now a
rectory, in the gift of the Dean and Chapter, valued in the
King's books at £14 10s. 2\d. certified value £16 per annum.
Rector, Rev. Wm. Oxnam, A. M.
The following monuments are the only ones deserving notice
in this church : —
Fixed against the north wall is a very large and heavy stone
mausoleum, on which are two busts, erected to the memory of
William Hooper, Merchant, of this city, and Maria his wife,
who died in 1682.
Near this is a small mural monument to the memory of
Francis and Alexander Worth, sons of Henry Worth, Esq. of
Worth, in the county of Devon ; Francis was a member of the
Common Council of this city, who died in 1675 ; Alexander
died in 1680. There are two other small mural monuments
fixed against the same wall, with mutilated inscriptions, not
worth remarking.
The whole of the ground round this church (now crowded
with houses) appears to have been a cemetery, great numbers
of human bones having been discovered in digging for the
foundations of houses. Near the church, under the house now
occupied by Mr. George Cox, is a cellar, which, from its
arched stone groins, has occasioned conjectures that it was
originally the crypt of an ancient chapel ; and at a small
distance west of the church is a stone front of very ancient
architecture and excellent masonry, beautifully disposed iii
panels of gothic fretwork, surmounted with stone battlements,
on which a more modern and inelegant attic story has been
raised. This fine specimen of ancient architecture is now so
obscured by buildings that it cannot be seen to any advantage,
except from the narrow back court of the Globe Tavern, though
it is evident it was originally open to the churchyard.
At the corner of North-gate-street was a very ancient house,
lately rebuilt by Mr. Thomas Floud. This house is one of the
original corners of the Carfoix, (which was of much greater
extent than at present ;) and from the simplicity of its archi
tecture appeared to have been erected in some part of the
thirteenth century; it was constructed of wood, the stories
jutting over each other as they rose upward, with a battlemented
z 4

362

THE HISTORY OF

Chap.VI
Ancient
Statue of
St. Peter.

Banking
houses.

St. Mary
Major.

roof, on which an attic story had been raised in after ages.
" The only remains of this ancient structure is a statue of St.
Peter, large as life, treading on another figure representing
paganism ; this statue is of wood, well executed, in a crouching
posture, supporting the angle of the house, (its original situation)
holding in its right hand a gothic church, and in its left a book
open ; and on the fourth and fifth fingers hung the usual em
blems, two keys, but these are now broken off.
Near Broad-gate in this parish are two public banking-
houses, adjoining each other, the first established of which is
the Devonshire Bank, under the firm of Barings, Short, and
Collyns; the other is termed the City Bank, at present the
firm is Milford, Nation, and Co.
By the last returns there were forty-six houses in this parish,
two of which were uninhabited, containing fifty-four families,
in which were one hundred and thirty-two males and one hun
dred and fifty-five females, in all two hundred and eighty-seven
inhabitants. The parish of St. Mary Major joins the last described parish.
The church, in order to distinguish it from others of the same
dedication, has had various adjunct appellations, being called
in ancient writings St. Mary Michael, * St. Mary the Moor,
and St. Mary Major. It is an ancient edifice, but from the
style of the building the present church does not appear to be the
original religious structure erected on this spot, it being of
Norman construction ; whereas mention is made of it during
the Saxon epoch, it being appropriated for holding the Arch
deaconry Court of Exeter, on the removal of the See from
Crediton, and the said court is still held in it. In the year
1222 it is recorded as one of the parish churches then in this
city : it is built in the Saxon manner, consisting of a nave only,
without any supporting columns, with pointed arched windows.
At the east end, through a lofty gothic arch, it opens into a
large chancel, which is of a different construction, and appears
of a more ancient date than the body of the church ; it has a
separate entrance from the yard, and over the north window is
a small tablet, representing St. Lawrence in a state of martyr
dom on a gridiron ; and on the angles of this and the other
windows cherubims supporting gridirons are represented in bass-
relievo ; f opposite the entrance into the chancel is a small
vaulted room, now used as a vestry.
* From the Anglo-Saxon, micel, signifying much; whence the Scotch, mickhs.
t Tradition informs us that this chancel was a chapel, dedicated to St.
Laiorence, unconnected with the church ; and the vestry the cell or habitation
of the officiating priest, which, from the singular embellishments of the windows,
and their non-similarity with those of the church, carries some air of proba
bility with it. r

THE CITY OF EXETER. 363
The tower, which is situate at the west end of the church, Chap. VI.
is of a singular construction, and has more the appearance of.

the keep, of an ancient Castle than of a campanile or bell J"™,,"'
tower ; it is evidently a Saxon building, and of more ancient Major"*
date than the church ; in its original state it was of greater
height than at present; for about the year 1768, a survey being
taken of it, the uppermost part was found decayed, and in
danger of falling, greatly overhanging the base; therefore
thirty-five feet of it were taken down, and an ill-constructed
cupola erected in its place. On the south and west angles are
two strong projecting circular staircases, which lead to its
summit; and the other two angles are strengthened by vast
buttresses : the original entrance into this building was through
a semicircular arched gateway, between the projecting stair
cases, and over it is a large semicircular arch, in the middle of
which is a small window ; and on the buttress, in the north
angle, is an antique niche or recess, surrounded by a plain
band or moulding : for what purpose this recess was intended
cannot be conjectured ; its situation in the buttress proves it
not designed for a window, neither are there any signs of a
statue having ever been placed there ; this niche is the only
embellishment to be seen in this antique fabric. Nor does history
or tradition inform us of the original intent of our ancestors
in erecting this massy building, and therefore conjecture only
can be offered ; some are of opinion that it was a pharos, or
watch tower ; others that it was a fortification, and the dernier
resort of the inhabitants .in time of war,* for which its strength
in those days seems calculated ; but these are opinions only :
from the construction of the pointed arch, by which a com
munication is opened from the tower to the church, it seems the
work of some ages after its first building. Against the front
there was injudiciously erected a dwelling-house, (which, like a
veil, shrouded its beauty) and a long brick wall before the
church ; but these are now taken down, and a battlemented
porch, with iron palisades, are substituted in their places. It
had in former ages a lofty spire, but that has been removed
for upwards of two centuries ; also six bells, five of which were
sold (to the great regret of many of the parishioners) towards
defraying the expences incurred by taking down part of the
tower, in the year 1768.
The church is light, kept in good repair, and has a neat
well-toned organ, erected in the year 1775, by the voluntary

* See Judges, chap. IX. v. 51. — " But there was a strong lower within the
city, and thither fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut
it to them, and gat them up to the top of tho tower."

364 THE HISTORY OF
Chap.VI. contributions of the parishioners ; the artist was Mr. Micheau,
 of this city : it is a rectory, in the gift of the Dean and Chapter,
and valued in the King's books at about 15/. 14s. 9\d. per
annum, certified value, 36/.: present Rector, Rev. Walter
Kitson, Sen.
The monumental inscriptions mostly deserving notice are the
following : —
On the south wall is a plain tablet, on which are the fol
lowing acrostic lines : —
M ade ripe for heaven by God's rich grace,
A nd called hence to that blest place ;
R emoved shee is from parents sight,
Y et lives above with Saints in light.
P repare, O blessed Lord, my soul, —
O n thee I rest, on thee I roll,
L onging to be where saints above
E ternally enjoy thy love.
Departed this life, 1676.
Near the entrance into the chancel, on the north wall, is a
handsome monument painted and gilt, the pediment supported
by two Corinthian columns ; on an oval black marble tablet, in
the centre, is this epitaph : —
M. S. Johannis Webb, armigeri, qui ex antiqua familia
ultimus optimum vitam felicissima morte commutavit anno dom.
m,dc,lxxvi, Aprilis 22do cum 46tum atatis annum unico die
excessisset Johanna vidua marens posuit.
On the north side of the altar is a mural monument of
white marble, decorated with angels and other divices neatly
executed ; in the centre, on an oval tablet, is the following
inscription : — M. S.
Viri Optimi
Nicholai Hele, doctoris in medicina quam permultos annos
scienter et feliciter exercuit. Obiit 3 Dec. mdcxcvi, atatis
sua 62. Una subjacit Elizabeth Hele, uxor tali viro digna.
Obiit x« die Decern, anno salutis mdccxxi, ano atatis sua 81.
Near the vestry door is a plain tablet, on which is inscribed :
To the memory of Thomas Tooker, Brewer, and Sheriff of
this city in 1638. He died in 1640. His only daughter and
heiress, Mary, was married to Henry White, Esq. of Henlane,
in the county of Pembroke.
Near the west entrance is a plain white marble tablet, to the
memory of that much lamented and able antiquarian Mr.
William Chappie, to whose extensive knowledge and amiable
conversation latter chorographers are greatly indebted; on it
are the following mementos :

THE CITY OF EXETER. 365
Near this place lie buried the children of William and Chap.VI.
Elizabeth Chappie, of the Close, viz: —
William (1st) born 9th September . 1748. O. S.
Died 1 lth February . 1755. N. S.
John, born 11th October .... 1751. O. S.
Died 3rd February . 1755."}
Elizabeth, born 21st September . 1753./
Died 7th May . . . 1756. W. S.
William (2nd) born 31st January J inza \
Died 20th June . J J75o.^
Talium est Reynum Dei.
Close beside them rests also the above-named Elizabeth,
their mother, who died the 3rd Oct. 1777, having completed
nearly the 30th year of her marriage, and the 60th of her age.
Morte Deo placuit firmum sic solvere nodum:
Pro casta at remanet conjuge fidus amor.
Also William Chappie, husband to the said Elizabeth, and
father to the above-named children, who died September the 1st,
1781, in the 63rd year of his age.
On a wooden tablet, hung in the angle of one of the windows,
on the north side of the church, (now removed) were painted the
arms of Petre: gules on a bend or, a cornish chough proper,
between two cinquefoils azure, between two escalops argent ;
and underneath the following lines in black letter : —
Twenty churches can reporte
The goodness of the manne
Who bare those arms in his life,
Through virtue he them wanne :
Of customers I think it meet
He ought to have best prayse,
John Petre, f *° ne knowe his name,
He dyed by Exe, at Hayes,
Who by his will and testamente,
The Lord be praysed therefore,
Gave twenty pounds, in yearly rente,
To thepoorefor evermore:
So that the, poore should have some part
Which he was blessed withalle,
God give us grace to do the lyke
When hee us hence shall calle.
t This John Petre was sometime the King's Customer for this port ; he, by
his will, dated 1579, left £20 per annum, issuing out of the sheaf of Cornworthy,
in the county of Devon, to twenty different parishes, (of which this was one)
for the preferment of poor maids in marriage ; but no parish in this city at
present receives any benefit from this donation.
A 5

366 THE HISTORY OF
Chap.VI. Benefactions to the poor of this parish : —
Lawrence Seldon, by his last will, dated 8th May, 1598,*
bequeathed one shilling weekly to the poor of this parish, to be
distributed in bread.
Sir John Ackland, Knight, of Columb-John, enfeoffed the
Chamber of this city with the rectory and sheaf of Churchstow
and Kingsbridge, for divers charitable uses, one of which was,
that one shilling weekly should be for ever distributed in bread,
to the poor of this parish. \
Thomas Tooker, Brewer, of this parish, besides divers other
charities, \ by will, bequeathed an annuity of twenty shillings
yearly, to be divided by the Churchwardens and Overseers
respectively, among the most aged poor people of the most
honest conversation in this parish, for their better relief, as to
them shall be thought most needful.
John Reed, Fuller, of this city, by will, dated the 9th of
August, 1680, bequeathed to the poor of this parish an annuity
or rent-charge of £2 12s. yearly, to be distributed in bread, at
the rate of twelve pence weekly.
Gilbert Keate, § Merchant, late of London, and native of
this parish, bequeathed to the Mayor and Chamber of this city,
(as appears by his will, dated the 12th of August, 1656) £400,
in trust, for and towards the maintenance of four poor children,
two boys and two girls, to be taken out of this parish, and to
be maintained and educated ; the boys in St. John's Hospital,
and the girls in Hele's Hospital in this city, and from thence to
be bound out apprentices, which said children, during their
residence in the said Hospitals, were to wear on the sleeves of
their Hospital gowns the initials, G. K. ||
Serge ln the open street, before the Bear Inn, is weekly held, on
Market. Fridays, the Serge Market, formerly much noticed, and sup
posed to have been the largest in this kingdom, except that of
Leeds, in Yorkshire; but it has, from various causes, greatly
declined of late years.
Anabaptist Near this is the Anabaptist Meeting-house, very commodious,
hoTse118' and fre<luented by a lal¥e an°" genteel congregation ; it is neatly
seated, has large galleries, and is kept in good repair ; but its
situation behind the houses entirely intercepts any exterior view.

* See Parish of St. Lawrence. f Idem.
t See parish of St. Sidwell. § See St. John's Hospital.
|| This charity, in respect of the four children being nominated from this
parish, and wearing G. K. on their upper garments, is not performed accordiDg
to the donor's intention.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 367
At the bottom of Rock-lane, in an obscure situation, is a Chap.VI.
neat well-built Chapel, belonging to the followers of the Rev. „ ...
Mr. George Whitfield; it was built about the year 1772, by chapel.
its present pastor, Mr. Tanner, Shipwright, of this city.
Near Little Style, in South-gate-street, stood the ancient Old
Shambles ; over which was a long open gallery, supported by Shambles.
moor-stone columns, in which was kept the wool and yarn
market. At the upper end of the said street, near the High-
street, is the General Bank, under the firm of Joshua Williams,
Robert Cross, and Thomas Sparkes.
Grendon's Alms-houses, situate in Preston-street, in this Grendon's
parish, was founded about 1408, by Simon Grendon, Esq. A,ms-
(who had been thrice Mayor of Exeter) for the habitation of
ten poor women, who, acccording to the superstition of those
times, were bound to celibacy ; but widows were not to be
excluded provided they entered not into a second marriage, from
which circumstance they obtained the name of Ten Cells; the
said founder also endowed them with several fields, named
Culverlands, in the parish of St. Sidwell, and appointed the
Mayor and Commonalty of this city to be trustees of the same,
and to have the nomination of the poor women for ever. Since
their foundation they have received the following additional
benefactions : —
Alice Heyth, widow, by her deed poll, dated May the 18th,
1556, gave to certain feoffees, and their heirs, all her lands,
situate in East and West Teignmouth, or elsewhere, in the
county of Devon, for the only use and benefit of the poor
women in these alms-houses.
David Hensley, Clerk, by his deed, dated October the 8th,
1556, gave to the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty of this
city, and their successors for ever, an annuity or yearly rent
charge of twenty shillings, issuing out of certain lands, called
Lamp Lands, situate in the parish of Kenn, in the county of
Devon, towards the better relief, and for the sole use of the
poor inhabitants of these houses for ever.
William Buckenam, Esq. (sometime Mayor) by will, be
queathed a certain sum of money to be appropriated to charita
ble uses, and appointed Philip Chichester, Esq. his executor
and trustee thereof, who therewith purchased the moiety of the
Bear Inn, in South-gate-street, which he, by his deed, dated
March 6th, 1566, conveyed to the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Com
monalty of this city, and their successors for ever, on condition
that they do for ever pay and distribute the profits accruing
therefrom towards the better support and maintenance of these
houses and almswomen. The said Mr. Chichester also pur
chased a high-rent, of ten shillings per annum, issuing out of

368

THE HISTORY OF

Chap.VI. the said premises, and heretofore paid to the Priory of
¦¦ Plympton, which he likewise settled on those houses for ever.
William Heme, Clerk, late Rector of St. Petrock's, in this
city, by deed, dated April 10th, 1562, gave to the Mayor,
Bailiffs, &c. thereof £168 5s. for sundry charitable purposes,*
one of which was, that they weekly pay to the poor almswomen
in these houses one penny each.
John Haydon, of Cadhay, in the parish of Ottery St. Mary,
by his deed, dated March 6th, 1587, gave and granted to the
Chamber of Exeter divers lands and leases, to which he added
twenty pounds in money, for the relief of the poor for ever ;
that is to say, at the two feasts of Easter and Christmas,
yearly, they were to pay to the Churchwardens of Kenn, in the
county of Devon, at each of the said feasts, £2 8s. to be by
them bestowed in bread, and distributed to the most necessitous
poor of the said parish ; and to the poor of the Ten Cells
£2 6s. 8d. viz : to every one of the said poor women therein,
4s. 8d. yearly, or Is. 2d. quarterly.
John Baker, Baker, of this city, by will, dated February
8th, 1603, bequeathed to the Mayor, Bailiffs, &c. an annuity
or yearly rent of 15s. 4d. to be for ever issuable out of certain
lands in Swithen-street, in the parish of St. Olave, in the said
city, for certain charitable uses, one of which was, that they
yearly pay to the poor of the Ten Cells, within the city, the.
sum of 3s. id.
Robert Lant, Esq. of Kingston, in the county of Surrey, a
native of this city, and son of John Lant, Esq. sometime
Mayor of Exeter, being informed that these houses were in a
ruinous state, gave £100 towards their rebuilding, and also
endowed them, together with Bonville's alms-houses, with
lands of inheritance, situate in the parish of Buckland, in
Buntish, in the county of Dorset, called Newhouse Tenement,
of the yearly value of £50. He also ordered that an account
should be yearly made of the receipts and disbursements of the
said estate, within one month after Michaelmas ; and that the
Town-Clerk for his trouble in making out the said accounts
should receive an annual pension of twenty shillings.
These houses are not built quadrangular, as most of our
ancient buildings of this kind are, but in a direct line, each
house having an upper and. under room, with a small garden
behind ; they are kept in good repair, and in the front they
have a plain portico, or gallery, flagged with Purbeck stone,
which runs the whole length of the building, and makes a dry
and comfortable communication for the aged inhabitants with
each other.

See St. Catharine's Alms-houses.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 369
In Rock-lane* in this parish, Lord William Bonville, Baron Chap.VI.
of Shute, founded an Alms-house for twelve poor people, to , :
have continuance for ever; and, by will, dated the 18th of^,°m""es
April, 1408, gave towards their maintenance seven pence houses.
weekly, to be paid out of Floyer's Hayes, Great Lynch, in
Silverton, Cowley Barton, in Brampford Speke, the Manor of
Roughorne, in Whitslone, and divers houses and cellars in
Rock-lane ; but his lordship being afterwards attainted for his
adherence to the house of York, all the said lands were
escheated to the Crown : however the pay to the poor was
continued by the King's Receiver-General of the county ; and
Queen Elizabeth, by her letters patent, dated November the
7th, 1562, granted to the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty of
this city, and their successors, that the Mayor and Aldermen,
or the major part of them, should have full power and authority
to nominate and appoint to all vacancies that might happen in
the said Alms-houses, according to the intention of the rounder,
and that none of her Majesty's officers or successors should
interrupt or do any act in hinderance of the same; her Majesty
reserving to herself and successors a power, within two months
after the death of every one of the said poor, to name and
appoint, by her privy signet, one other or others of the poor of
the said city unto the said place or places, whenever they shall
happen to be void.
John Baker bequeathed an annuity of 3s. 4d. to the poor of
these houses for ever, f
Robert Lant, Esq. was a great benefactor to these houses. %
During the unhappy dissensions in the reign of Charles I. the
stipend, granted to this charity by government, being discon
tinued they were in consequence thereof neglected by the
trustees; and, notwithstanding the said pay was recovered after
the Restoration, little attention being paid to them they sunk
into a heap of ruins, and, rubbish being continually added,
their site formed a lofty mount, commonly termed the Brick
field, in which state it continued until the year 1770, when
Colonel Newton obtained a grant of the land from the Crown,
caused it to be levelled, and converted it into a garden.

* At the time of this foundation Rock-lane was termed the Combrew, that is
a row of houses situate in a comb or valley. Nearly opposite these houses
stood an ancient chapel, which was pulled down near a century back, by the
then owner, who built several tenements with the materials : the superstitious
tradition says that no person ever prospered who inhabited them, therefore they
were pulled down, and the site converted into a garden.
t Seethe Ten Cells.
% Idem.
B 5

370 ™E HISTORY OF
Chap.VI. History informs us that there were other Alms-houses in this
======= parish, near Quay-gate, but by whom founded is not men-
ho'uses tioned ; these houses, through the neglect of the trustees, are
near Quay- now dilapidated, and the land alienated, so that their exact site
gale. cannot at this time be ascertained. The following is the only
endowment belonging to them that has been transmitted to
posterity : —
The aforesaid John Baker* bequeathed an annuity of two
shillings per annum to the Alms-houses near Quay-gate, to be
paid quarterly, in equal portions, for ever.
The Bear Inn, in South-gate-street, was the site of an
ancient Priory, founded by Bishop William Warlewest ; it was
an appendage to the Priory of Plympton, whose Prior had
sumptuous and convenient lodgings here for his accommodation,
whenever he resided in this city. Great part of the old build
ings, particularly the chapel, was standing a few years since ;
they were built with free-stone, of excellent gothic workmanship,
decorated with fretwork panels ; mutilated inscriptions, and
different sculptures were seen, and over the cornice, even with
the battlements, was a cabossed statue of a bear, holding a
ragged staff between its paws, \ (the badge of the ancient Priors
of Plympton.) This venerable pile of building, being in a
ruinous state, was pulled down, and a dwelling-house, offices,
&c. erected on the site, by Mr. Robert Russel. %
The opposite corner of Bear-lane bears evident marks of
antiquity. According to tradition it was a Nunnery, but by
whom founded, or when dissolved, there is no mention ; pro
bably it was one of those religious houses annexed to the Deanry,
at its foundation, by Bishop Brewer, as it still continues part
of its possessions.
The Black Lions Inn, near the same spot, is a very ancient
building, and from its appearance seems to have been erected
for monastic purposes ; it occupies a large spot of ground. In
the front, which was a few years since rebuilt, is an antique
carving, representing an angel, holding a shield, on which is
inscribed the date 1421, in ancient characters.
This parish was formerly very opulent, and contained many
respectable clothiers and merchants; but that trade having got

* See the Ten Cells.
t It is supposed that from this statue the Bear Inn received its appellation.
X Mr. Russel is the principal of a large concern in the waggon business, in
which are employed a great number of horses. In 1798, when the French
threatened invasion, he offered to assist government with three hundred capital
draught horses, and to have them in readiness whenever required.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 37 1
into other channels, it is now chiefly inhabited by mechanics Chap.VI.
and labourers: it contained, at the late survey, two hundred 
and ninety-nine inhabited and eleven uninhabited houses, occu
pied by five hundred and fifty-two families, in which were nine
hundred and thirty-eight males and one thousand one hundred
and ninety-seven females, in all two thousand one hundred and
thirty-five inhabitants.
South of the parish of St. Mary Major is that dedicated to Trinity
the Holy Trinity. It is extensive and populous, being partly parish.
within, but the greatest part without the city walls. The church
is a handsome gothic edifice, kept in good repair, which being
situate almost contiguous to the South-gate appears at a dis -
tance to be part of it: the tower, which projects into the street,
contains four small untunable bells, and a clock and dial ; this
projection greatly narrows the avenue to the gate, which is
rendered still worse by an arched building adjoining the tower,
once the habitation of the Priest, but now of the Sexton-; we
have no accounts of the era of the foundation of this church,
nor do we find it mentioned before the year 1222, when it was
made parochial; it is now in the gift of the Dean and Chapter,
valued in the King's books at £11 16s. 5|d. per annum, cer
tified value £31. The present rector is the Rev. William
Henry Car ring ton.
This church consists of a chancel, nave, and one aisle,
separated by six clustered pillars, and two galleries.
On the north side of the chancel is a neat monument, erected
to the memory of John Wyse, Merchant, of this city, who
died the 29th of October, 1686. And near the west end of
the church is a plain stone tablet to the memory of Mr. John
Carter. Benefactions to the poor of the Holy Trinity : —
Sir John Ackland, * by will, dated the 14th of September,
1609, bequeathed an annuity of £2 12s. yearly, to be weekly
distributed in bread to the poor of this parish.
Elizabeth Buchenam, f by will, dated May the 16th, 1567,
bequeathed an annuity of 13s. 4d. yearly, to be distributed to
five poor widows, householders of this parish, eight pence each
quarterly. Lawrence Seldon, by deed, dated the 8th of May, 1598, J
granted to the Chamber of Exeter one shilling weekly to be
distributed in bread to the poor of this parish for ever.
* See the parishes of St. Lawrence ; Allhallows, Goldsmith-street ; St.
Mary Major ; St. Sidwell's ; and Allhallows on the Walls.
t See parish of St. Lawrence.
} See donations to the parish of St. Sidwell.

372 THE HISTORY OF
Chap.VI. it has already been related that South-gate is nearly conti-
guous to this church.
South-gate. fbe gate is a massy building of hewn stone. The entrance
from the suburbs is through a lofty pointed arch, flanked by
circular towers ; over the gateway is a niche, where lately stood
a mutilated statue in a magisterial robe ; this front is likewise
decorated with angels, supporting the royal and city arms;
the interior arch of the gateway, from its semicircular form,
appears of Saxon construction, * and is probably some remains
of the ancient gate, the present one being erected in the reign
ef Henry VII.
It has from time immemorial been the common prison, and
Sheriff's compter for this city aud county, and a worse can
hardly be imagined. The felons' prison is on the western side,
consisting of three separate ground rooms, two of them appro
priated for the men and one for the women ; these rooms, from
their damp situation and darkness, may not improperly be
termed dungeons ; f and to add to their miserable state the
common sewer and drain from Southernhay runs directly under
them, into which an opening being made for their own conve
nience a very noisome smell frequently arises. The debtors'
side, though not so bad as the felons, is gloomy and unwhole
some, and confinement in it is too severe a punishment for
those unhappy objects whose crimes are too often only misfor
tunes and poverty. J Over the felons' cells is a large room
called the shoe, from the poor debtors begging the charity of
passengers from the barred window, and to receive which they
let down an old shoe by a cord : this room served formerly for
a chapel, as appears by part of the decalogue, lately remaining,
painted on the wall, but at present no clergyman administers
spiritual comfort to the afflicted inhabitants. On the tops of

* The learned Dr. Stmkley is of opinion that this arch was of Roman
construction. t Mr. Andrew Brice, in his description of this prison, facetiously introduces
two lines from an old ballad, termed Lydford Law, in which he says,
Ten men less room within this cave
Than five mice in a lantern have.
X During the latter part of the reign of Charles II. the Dissenters were
much persecuted ; and their Pastors, for not conforming to the established
church, were imprisoned ; one of them, the Rev. Mr. Bretland, a gentleman
much respected for his learning and piety, was confined in this place several
years, which occasioned his penning the following lines, which were painted
and hung up in the hall, where they remained many years : 
This prison is a house of care, no place for man to thrive,
A touchstone for to try a friend, a grave for men alive!

©

=
,s

5

THE CITY OF EXETER. 373
the towers are battlemented leads, which command a fine Chap.VI.
prospect ; here the debtors are sometimes permitted by the ==
gaoler to recreate themselves, and enjoy the blessings of
wholesome and free air. The late humane and philanthropic
Mr. Howard, on an inspection of this prison, declared it to be
one of the most unwholesome and dismal places of confinement
he had visited during his peregrination. This prison having
been several times presented by the Grand Jury as a public
nuisance, proposals were made for taking it down, and re
building it on a more convenient spot, but this salutary and
philanthropic scheme has been abandoned for the present •, and
only some small additions and alterations on the felons' side,
not much to the advantage or relief of the unhappy objects in
confinement, have been adopted.
There have been several benefactions for the relief of the Benefac-
unhappy objects confined here, by which the debtors (if not too tions t0
numerous) are nearly supplied with bread ; if one only he ""."'"'S8'6
receives the whole.
Reynold Hayne, by will, dated the twenty-eighth of Edward
III. A. D. 1354, bequeathed all his lands and tenements, lying
in the suburbs of this city, to the cathedral church of St. Peter,
within the same, for the relief of those imprisoned in the com
mon goal of the said city.
Joan Tuckfield (as before mentioned) bequeathed several
houses to the Corporation of Tailors, on condition of their
performing several charitable acts : one of which was that they
annually distribute, at the feast of Easter, to the poor prisoneis
confined in South-gate prison, Is. 4d.
William Parrymore, Merchant, of this city, by will, dated
the 22nd of February, 1570, bequeathed to the poor felons in
this prison ten shillings yearly ; and likewise the same sum to
the most needy debtors ; the said sum of twenty shillings to
be annually paid out of his lands in Cook-roio, in this city,
then occupied by George Pyle, Merchant ; John Lovers,
Goldsmith ; and John Madocke, Haberdasher.
John Haydon, Esq. sometime Alderman of the city of
London, by will, dated the 11th of March, 1579, bequeathed
to the Mayor and Chamber of Exeter £200, on condition that
the same should be lent out to four young men of the said city
of Exeter, Merchants, and trading over the seas, for four
years space, they putting in four sufficient securities for the re
payment of the same, at the expiration of the time specified,
paying yearly interest for the same £l 13s. 4rf. each, which
amounts to £6 13s. 4d. per annum; and at the end of the four
years the same £200 to be lent to four other young Merchants,
and so on for ever: his will is that the said Mayor and Chamber,
c 5

374 ™E. HISTORY OF
Chap. VI. and their successors, should from time to time employ and
" bestow the said £6 13s. 4d. interest in the following manner,
viz : to the poor prisoners remaining within the goals of the
city of Exeter, yearly, £3 6s. 8d. ; and to the poor inhabitants
of the parishes "of Woodbury and Ottery St. Mary, yearly to
each parish, £1 13s. 4d. for ever, as the gift of the said John
Haydon. *
Lawrence Seldon, Merchant, of this city, by his deed, dated
the 8th of May, 1598, granted unto ten feoffees (members of
the Chamber) their heirs and assigns for ever, all those
messuages, lands, tenements, reversions, and hereditaments
whatsoever, with all the appurtenances, commonly called Moor
Estate, (otherwise Le Moor) in the Manor of Ringswell,
Sowton Parish, Devon, to the use of himself and wife, during
their lives, and after their decease that his said feoffees, out of
the rents and profits of the said estates, should for ever weekly
pay and deliver, in bread, as follows, viz : to the parishes of St.
Mary Major, Trinity, and St. Sidwell, within the city of
Exeter, one shilling each ; to the parish of St. Thomas the
Apostle eight pence; and to the parish of Sowton four pence;
which said bread was to be distributed by the Churchwardens
and Overseers of their respective parishes every Sunday, to the
most deserving poor people of the said parishes ; and that the
said feoffees, after paying all high rents, suits, services, and
reparations, should yearly, on the 20th of October, for ever,
give up to the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Town-Clerk, a true account
of the receipts and disbursements ; and pay yearly to the said
Mayor and Officers 4s. 6d. for their trouble in seeing the said
will performed ; and the residue of the said rents to be given to
the poor prisoners confined in the city and castle of Exeter.
The said feoffees, by their deed, dated the 29th September,
1599, expressing that some things in the said will were uncer
tain, and that Elizabeth Seldon, the widow of the said Lawrence,
was desirous to add some portion to the premises for tbe better
accomplishment of the said will, and performance of the
covenants expressed in a schedule annexed, did grant, enfeoff,
and confirm to the Mayor, Bailiffs, &c. of the said city, and
their successors for ever, the premises mentioned in the first
grant, and to the uses aforesaid therein declared : and the said
Elizabeth, by this deed, did covenant to pay to the said Mayor,
cVc. within six months after her decease, one hundred marks, on
condition that sixpence more weekly should be added to the

* This charity is not fulfilled according to the will of the donor, the said
money not having been lent as directed for upwards of fifty years— Rights and
Privileges of the Freemen, page 80.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 375
parish of St. Lawrence; sixpence more weekly to the prisoners in Chap.VI.
the gaol, near the castle ; and to the prisoners in the compter, ~ ""
sheriff's ward, gaol, and prisons of the said city 2s. 6d. in
bread and meat, weekly, according to the discretion of the
Mayor for the time being, with increase of the fees of the
officers for their care : and if the rents be defective the said
Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty are to make them good out
of their own lands; and the account thereof to be made yearly
as aforesaid. She also gave to the Mayor, &c. a large standing
cup of silver, with a cover, double gilt, weighing fifty ounces, to
be used by the Mayors successively. *
William Tryvett, (some time one of the Common Council of
this city) by will, bequeathed to the Chamber one great brass
pot, for the use of the prisoners in South-gate, to boil their
meat in, which, after his decease, was accordingly sent by his
widow and executrix, t
In Magdalen-street, in this parish, is situate Palmer's alms- Palmer's
houses, founded by John Palmer, Baker, of this city, for four A,ms-
poor women ; and the said founder, by will, dated the 26th of
October, 1487, bequeathed unto six feoffees, in trust, all his
messuages, lands, &c. in the said street, then an Inn, called
the Bull Inn, with a tenement adjoining, and other land in the
county of Devon, to the intent that the said feoffees should pay
to the warden of the said parish 13s. 4d. yearly; and that his
anniversary should be honourably kept in the parish church, by
the warden, executors, and feoffees, with 6s. 8d. ; that they
should also pay to every one of the said poor alms-women 6s. 8d.
at the feasts of Easter and Christmas, by equal portions ; and
that the houses should be well repaired ; and if anything re
mained it should be disposed of in pious uses; and that when
three of the said feoffees should die the survivors should make
a new feoffment to six other honest persons to perforin his will.
These houses consist of two rooms each, with a small garden in
front ; they are kept in good repair by the Chamber, who at
present hold the trust.
In the same street are Wynard's alms-houses and chapel, Wynard's
founded by William Wynard, Esq. (sometime Recorder of AJ°>S-
Exeter) for the habitation of a Priest, and twelve poor men.
The said founder ordered the chapel to be dedicated to the Holy
Trinity, and the hospital to be called God's House ; and that
the Priest, together with the twelve poor men, continually
reside there. And for their better maintenance he, by a
* This cup has long been alienated. — Rights and Privileges, page 143.
t This extraordinary donation has long since either been embezzled or worn
out ; and was it still remaining it would prove of little use to the prisoners,
unless some philanthropic person would provide them with meat to boil in it.

376 THE HISTORY OF
Chap.VI. feoffment, dated the 20th of January, 1436, granted divers
lands and tenements, in this city and the county of Devon, unto
fifteen gentlemen, and their heirs successively, the remainder
in the crown, that the tertenant should pay to the said
Chaplain yearly the sum of eight marks ; and to every one of
the said poor men eight pence each weekly ; appointing to the
said men several religious services to be done by them, particu
larly that they should, twice a day, repair to the chapel to hear
divine service ; that none should be vagrant or beg ; that all
alms given should be put into the common box placed near the
gate, and to be equally divided among them ; that the Mayor
and Bailiffs should, twice every year, visit the said houses, viz:
within eight days of Easter and St. Michael the Archangel,
to hear the complaints of the poor, and remedy the abuses,
appointing a collation for the visitors, and fees for the officers ;
that the moiety of the rents, issues, and profits of the lands
remaining, at all times to come, (beyond the finding and sus
taining the said chaplain and poor) should be reserved to the
tertenant fulfilling his ordination ; and the other moiety to be
reserved for the use of the houses, for defraying the expence of
suits at law, and preserving the rights to the lands thus be
queathed, which said moiety was constantly to be kept in a
strong box, provided for that purpose by the donor, secured
with three locks. These ordinances were for many years duly
observed ; and the lands descended by the aforesaid conveyance
to the Spekes ;* and although the salary granted to the Priest
by the statute of chantries (at the Reformation) came to the
Crown, it was continued ; and the yearly value of the lands
greatly increasing, Sir George Speke, of White Lackington,
being the tertenant, increased the poors' pay from eight pence
to thirteen pence weekly, during his life ; but soon after, the
unhappy differences breaking out between King Charles and the
Parliament, their weekly pay was discontinued ; and about the
year 1643 the chapel and houses were demolished. During
these troubles the lands came by descent to George Speke, Esq.
who not only refused to rebuild the premises, (notwithstanding
the great income he received from the lands) but also retained
five pence weekly of the thirteen pence granted to the poor
by his predecessors, as aforesaid; whereupon the Mayor and
Bailiffs (as visitors of the said foundation) endeavoured to
prevail on the said Mr. Speke to fulfil the will of the founder,
hut without effect : accordingly, in Michaelmas Term, 1654,
they exhibited a bill in chancery against him, to compel him

i,r* By, "£ marri,,8e of sir Geor9e Speke, Knight, with Joan, daughter of John
Wynard, Esq. B

THE CITY OF EXETER. 377
thereto ; this suit, owing to the convulsions of the times, was Chap.VI.
much litigated, and continued in debate near eight years, '"
in which suit the Chamber expended £300; but after the
Restoration, in Trinity Term, 1692, they obtained the follow
ing decree : —
1st. That the chapel be repaired by the defendant, and made
fit for divine service by Michaelmas come twelvemonth ; and
that the divine service of the church be read there every
morning, by eight o'clock, to the poor; and the owner of the
land to appoint one of the secondaries of the cathedral to read
prayers there, and allow him twenty nobles per annum for his
salary, to be paid quarterly.
2nd. That the defendant, Mr. Speke, pay the poor two
shillings a week for their maintenance, in all times to come; and
this to be paid to them weekly ; and he to secure the payment
thereof by charge on the land, or decree in chancery, as shall
be advised.
3rd. That when the leases of the houses and tenements,
now in the tenure of Roger Cheeke, lying within the city of
Exeter, shall be renewed, or fall into hand, that upon renewing
the lease thereof the rent reserved shall be increased £12 per
annum, and so continue for ever hereafter, which £12 shall go
unto and be equally divided among the twelve poor people of the
said alms-houses.
4th. That all fines, casualties, and profits of all lands shall
go and be paid to the defendant, Mr. Speke, and his heirs,
without any account to be given thereof, charged with the pay
ments before mentioned, and with the maintenance and repara
tion of the said houses and chapel, and the other charges
named in the said ordination; and no future or further increase
of maintenance to be claimed or made to the poor in time to
come ; but the visitation of the houses to be according to the
ordination. 5th. That the Mayor and Aldermen of Exeter, for the time
to come, shall have the nominating of eight of the twelve poor
men of the said hospital, as poor decayed tradesmen of the
said city ; and Mr. Speke, and his heirs, the appointment of
the other four, to be poor decayed men of Devon or Somerset,
in turn, as places shall fall : first, the city twice, and Mr.
Speke the third; and when the city's turn is they shall nominate
two poor men of the said city to Mr. Speke, of which he shall
admit one to be the alms-man within twenty days after such
nomination ; and those that are appointed by Mr. Speke, in his
turn, out of Devon or Somerset, shall be such as shall not be
burthensonie to the said city, but live upon their own, and
the allowance of the said alms-house.
D 5

378 THE HISTORY OF
Chap. VI. 6th. That £100 costs be paid by the defendant, Mr. Speke,
^o ^e corrjp]ainantS) towards the great charge the city of
Exeter has been at in prosecuting this suit, for settling the said
alms-houses, and the relief of the poor therein.
7th. And lastly, it is ordered and decreed, that the said
lands shall stand chargeable to the performance of this decree,
and that the owners of the said lands (when it comes in their
turns to nominate as before said) shall, within three months
after the decease of either of the said alms-men, nominate
another to succeed him.
These lands, by failure of issue male in the Speke's family,
came by marriage to the Right Honourable Frederic Lord
North, who some years since sold them, together with the
patronage of this foundation, to the late William Kennaway,
Esq. an eminent merchant, of this city, (father of the present
Sir John Kennaway , Bart.) This gentleman proved a faithful
patron, he not only thoroughly repaired the houses, but greatly
beautified the chapel, and presented to it a neat service of
silver communion plate ; he also caused a large vault to be made
in it for a dormitory for himself and family, in which he lies
interred ; and a handsome marble monument has been erected
to his memory. There is likewise an ancient monument to the
memory of the pious founder, on which is this epitaph : —
Hac nova structura retinens habitacula plura,
Sit permansura per tempora longa futura,
Debilibus Simula senibus fuit a edificata,
Pauper ibus non divitibus fuit ista beata,
Hanc quifundavit, donavit, perpetuavit,
Crimina cum davit sua credimus omnia lavit,
Constructor cijus patria edecas verbis et hijus,
Atq: Recordator Wynardheu! nomine Willus,
Sit domus ista Dei, aut hac mea non reputetur,
Sic baptizetur, sit domus ista Dei.
M : C : junge quater sit opus hac numerater,
Anno octavo regni regis Henrici sexti :
Annoq. Dni 1430.
The above monkish verse is thus translated : 
May these new walls, which boast their founder s name,
To distant times his piety proclaim !
Not for the rich his many cells appear,
Age, sickness, penury, find shelter here.
To Him whose glory fills the eternal throne,
The rising fane he consecrates alone.
A lasting fabric, nor endow' d in vain,
It clears, we trust, his soul from earthly stain.
Wynard, all hail! though noiv to us deny' d,

THE CITY OF EXETER. 379
Recording magistrate, our city's pride, Chap.VI.
Yet thy bright name, not to these walls confin'd, 
Thy country graces, dignifies mankind.
The present chaplain is the Rev. Richard Eastcott, one of
the priest vicars of the cathedral, and rector of St. Edmund's
and St. Mary Steps' .
At the foot of the hill is a very ancient chapel and hospital,
dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene, (from whence the street
derives its name of Maudlin;) this, with a small district around,
is extra-parochial, and formerly had considerable revenues.*
It was built soon after the Conquest, on the return of the first
Crusaders from the Holy Land, who imported with them that
loathsome disease the elephanthis, or leprosy, a malady un
known to the Anglo-Saxons. Who were the founders of this
hospital is not recorded, but most probably, as it was under the
protection of the Bishops of Exeter, it was founded by one of
them, for the reception of those unhappy objects who should be
infected with that disorder, and to prevent the contagion from
spreading. In 1163 Bishop Bartholomew Iscanus granted to the infected
people of this hospital liberty to collect a toll on all corn and
bread sold in the fairs and markets of this city, and also to
collect alms, from door to door, of the Citizens, on certain
days every week ; accordingly they continued so to do until
the year 1244, when the Citizens complaining that their fre
quent intercourse through the markets and streets was obnoxious
to them, and occasioned the spreading of the disease, forbid
them the markets, and refused them any relief, which much
grieved the then Bishop Brewer: and to prevent any future
dispute an agreement was made between the Mayor and Citizens
on the one part, and the Bishop on the other, to exchange their
right of patronage ; accordingly the Bishop surrendered to the
Mayor, &c. his claims on this hospital, and received in exchange
the patronage of that of St. John, near East-gate.
Richard Orenge, Esq. a gentleman of noble parentage, and
Mayor of this city in 1454, being infected with the leprosy,
notwithstanding his great wealth, submitted himself to a resi
dence in this hospital, where he lived many years, and finished
his days, and was buried in the chancel of the chapel; his
grave, with a mutilated inscription, is still remaining.
The following benefactions that have been given to this Benefac-
hospital are the only ones preserved : — Leper's"' 'he
John Periman was a great benefactor, f Hospital.
* The leases of the lands still remaining to this hospital are granted in the
name of the brothers and sisters of the hospital of St. Mary Magdalene.
t See the list of general benefactions to this city.

380 ™E HISTORY OF
Chap.VI. JohnBaker bequeathed to the poor of this hospital an annuity
 " of 3s. 4d. yearly.
Robert Chafe, Esq. (sometime Mayor) bequeathed an annuity
or yearly rent-charge of 14s. to be for ever issued out of a
dwelling-house in St. Mary Arches' parish.
It having been proved, by an inquisition held before the
Right Honourable Thomas Lord Coventry, Lord-Keeper of the
Great Seal of England, 6th July, 1633, that from time imme
morial the Dean and Chapter were accustomed to pay the sum
of £2 12s. yearly to the poor of this hospital, the said Lord-
Keeper confirmed a decree,* that the said sum should for ever,
henceforth, be paid to them by the Dean and Chapter, which
is still continued.
Joan Tuckfield bequeathed yearly to the poor lazar people
in this hospital Is. 8d. f
What was the extent or form of the original building of this
hospital cannot now be ascertained, no part, except the chapel,
bearing any vestige of antiquity ; the houses, about six in
number, not being contiguous, appears to have been erected at
different periods; and as claimants that are leperous are not now
to be found sufficient to occupy them they are filled with other
poor people, nominated by the Warden and Chamber. The
chapel is now desecrated, and kept in a filthy condition, no glass
being in the windows ; it still has one bell, and some mutilated
grave-stones, with broken inscriptions.
Leth- In James' s-street, within South-gate, are six alms-houses,
bridge's founded by Christopher Lethbridge, Esq. (sometime Mayor of
houses. Exeter ) before the year 1669, for six poor people; the said
founder also endowed them with £15 12s. per annum, to be
equally divided, and paid monthly to the poor occupiers,
appointing the Mayor and Chamber to be trustees; he also
ordered that one of the said alms-people should for ever be
chosen from the poor of St. Mary Arches' parish.
The Friars. Just without South^gate is the Manor anciently occupied and
belonging to the Grey Friars, and from them is still de
nominated the Friars; on this site they founded a sumptuous
house and church, with large orchards and gardens, of which
there is not at present the smallest vestige remaining. The
choice of this place confirms the old adage, "that wherever
there was a good prospect, or a pleasant spot of land, a Friar
was sure to be found." On this ground there is now erecting a
beautiful pile of buildings, which is to consist of twenty-nine
houses, comprising a small segment of a circle. The first stone
of these buildings was laid by Mrs. Graves (wife of the present
* See donations to the parish of St. Sidwell.
t See benefactions to the Company of Tailors, St. Paul's parish.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 381
and daughter of the late proprietor) and Thomas Floud, Esq. Chap.VI.
late Mayor, who named it Colleton Crescent. Behind the '
gardens of these houses it is intended to erect convenient
mews and coach-houses, and another street parallel to Holloway,
to be named Graves' -street. When the whole is finished it will
be an ornament to the city. In front of Colleton Crescent a
fine terrace walk is to be made, which will be near one hun
dred feet above the bed of the river : from this walk, and from
the houses, there is one of the most charming prospects
imaginable ; the navigable river Exe, the shipping, and crowded
bay beneath, whilst the elevated situation is a protection from
the damps of the one and the noise of the other ; the beautiful
reach of the river, from the quay to the bridge, the water of
which being embayed by Trew's Weir, and always full, has the
appearance of an artificial lake ; the meanders of the haven,
with its pleasant and often crowded banks; the shifting scenery
of vessels passing up and down ; and the church and parish of
St. Thomas, are truly picturesque ; beyond these the finely cul
tivated country, interspersed with villages, farms, &c. between
the city and the brown heights of Haldon, Penhill, &c. ; and
to the south, the estuary of the Exe to its junction with the
ocean. In short, for salubrity of air, fine prospects, and de
lightful situation, it cannot be exceeded, if equalled, in any city
or town in the kingdom.
The Quakers' Meeting-house is situate in Magdalene- street ; Quakers'
it is a plain structure, remarkably clean and neat within, and Meeting-
behind it is a cemetery. house.
Opposite the Quakers' Meeting-house is a large burying- Dissenters'
ground, belonging to the Presbyterians. And adjoining it is Burying-
another belonging to the Jews. * |lound\
In South-gate-street is a large and handsome dissenting ews ' '"'
meeting-house, named George's Meeting ; it is built of brick, S601!?68
with Portland stone bands and copings, and in the front is a l"s'
large and lofty portico, supported by tuscan columns; the whole
is spacious and elegant, and is not excelled by any edifice of
the kind in the kingdom ; it has a large and genteel congre
gation belonging to it; and was erected in the year 1760, in the
room of one which stood in James' s-street.
The quay is likewise in this parish, which is large and com
modious, ships of one hundred and fifty tons burthen and
upwards being capable of lying alongside it, and discharging
their cargoes; the passage to it from Topsham is by an artificial
canal, on which are four sluices, which opens into a large bay,
formed by Trew's Weir. On this quay is a handsome custom
house, with apartments for the collector, comptrollers, and
* Near these burying-grounds is an ancient stone cross, fixed against the
wall ; its shaft is either broken off or sunk into the ground.
E 5

382 THE HISTORY OF
Chap.VI. land-waiters' offices, and a handsome office for the wharfinger,
 ' with lofts and cellars for storing goods. A new canal is now
began, which is to extend from the quay bay to the town of
Crediton, which will be of great advantage to the county, and
it is to be hoped will be further continued. *
According to the late returns there were in the parish of the
Holy Trinity two hundred and ninety-four houses, fifteen of
which were uninhabited, containing three hundred und forty-
five families, in which were eight hundred and twenty-one
males and one thousand one hundred and nineteen females, in
all one thousand nine hundred and forty inhabitants.
St. George. Proceeding more towards the centre of the city is the parish
of St. George. The church is small, consisting of a nave,
chancel, and small aisle under the tower ; from this aisle there
is an aperture made through the wall, for the convenience of
that part of the congregation to behold the elevation of the
host, (the custom before the Reformation.) This church is
kept in good repair, and is neatly seated ; the tower is large,
but not lofty, and is not decorated with either spire or vane ; it
contains a good ring of five bells, and also a clock, without a
dial. This parish is usually held in commendara with that of
St. John, and divine service is here performed, to the united
parishes, in the forenoon only. The era of its foundation is not
known, but it appears to be an ancient structure, though not
mentioned till the year 1222, when it was made parochial ; it
is now a rectory, in the gift of the Dean and Chapter, and is
valued in the King's books at £9 13s. 4d. per annum, certified
value £28. f
The only monuments deserving notice are the following : —
On the north side, near the altar, is a neat mural monument
to the memory of the Rev. William Chilcot, rector of this
church, and of his daughter. He died the 30th of May, 1711.
Near this is a large heavy stone monument, on which is a
bust, erected to the memory of Thomas Baron, Esq. sometime
of Exeter.
Likewise another, with a bust neatly executed, to the memory
of Richard Vivian, Merchant, of Exeter, who died in 1746.
* The advantage of inland navigation is too well known to need any comment
thereon ; and it is quite certain that great benefits wonld accrue by forming a
junction of the North and South Seas by this canal, a scheme very practicable,
as a branch of the river Taw runs not six miles from Crediton, which would
form a communication between the ports of Exeter and Barnstaple, by which
means the dangerous and circuitous passage round the Land's End would be
avoided, insurance needless, and trade greatly benefited, to the incalculable
advantage of the whole county.
t This living must be overvalued in the Liber Regis,— the late worthy
rector, Mr. Marshall, never received £16 a year from it.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 383
Benefactions to the poor of St. George's parish : — Chap.VI.
John Baker, Baker, of this city, among other charities,

bequeathed to the poor of this parish an annuity of 3s. 4d. ti(l

Benefac-
mcu iu mc jjuui ui 11115 piuisu an milium oi as. Hi.
yearly. The remains of antiquity in this parish are few ; the only one King John
deserving notice is an ancient house, opposite Little Style-gate, Palace.
vulgarly called King John's Palace; this house has been
greatly altered from its original state by its present owner, Mr.
Henry Flashman, Cabinetmaker. The decorations of the
principal entrance are very remarkable, consisting of two
grotesque figures in a crouchant posture, supporting statues;
that on the left hand representing a clown, in an antique dress,
holding a club in the attitude of striking; and over his head, on
a shield, are the royal arms of England and France, quarterly.
The other statue represents a zany, in an antique dress,
trimmed with small round bells, his head covered with a long
peccadillo cap, and holding a child's doll ; over him are the
arms of the city. *
The Butcher-row (the greatest part of which is in this Butcher-
parish) consists of a narrow street, the buildings in general low row.
and mean, with heavy hanging window shutters ; here the
knights of the steel reside in a sort of community among them
selves, slaughter their cattle, and expose their meat for sale.
Adjoining to it is the Corn Market, a quadrangular building, Corn
supported by wooden pillars, surrounded with stalls for the use Market-
of the country Butchers, on Wednesdays and Saturdays. These
shambles, as well as the stalls of the resident Butchers, afford
a great variety, and are as well supplied as any market in the
kingdom. The Corn Market is open for the sale of all sorts of
grain and seed every Friday, and is greatly resorted to.
The slaughtering of cattle, with the accumulation of dung,
blood, &c. thrown in heaps behind the houses, makes the
Butcher-row a noisome place in the summer ; but such is the
force of habit that the inhabitants cannot be prevailed on to
remove such a nuisance. + Some years since the Chamber
erected, at a great expence, a row of slaughter-houses, with
hogsties, and every necessary convenience, upon the banks of
the river, and opened an avenue to them over the city walls,
but they were soon deserted, and the building was converted
into a brewhouse. Notwithstanding the noisome smells arising
from such an accumulation of putrid matter, tradition informs
* From the peculiarity of this device some gentlemen are led to conjecture
that it is satirical.
t Since the removal of the Conduit to its present station the waste water is
conveyed into the Butcher-row, which, by cleansing the kennel, in some
measure alleviates the nuisance.

384

THE HISTORY OF

Chap.VI. us that during the ravages of the most severe pestilence in this
: city it did not appear in that district.
Thomas Flood, Esq. during his Mayoralty, introduced a
new method of slaying cattle, recommended by the Right Hon.
Lord Somerville, which is (instead of the barbarous method of
breaking the skull with a poleaxe) by thrusting a double-edged
sharp pointed dagger between the cervical vertebra of the
forehead, * which occasions almost instant death ; and by this
means diminishes the sufferings of the poor animals.
Mr. George England first put this method in practice in this
city ; but few others have as yet followed his example.
According to the last returns this parish contained seventy-
five inhabited houses and seven uninhabited, in which were one
hundred and forty-three families, consisting of two hundred
and ninety-one males and three hundred and fifty-one females,
in all six hundred and forty-two inhabitants.
St. Mary The parish of St. Mary Arches is contiguous to that of St.
Arches. George. The church (which is situate in a lane of the same
name) is a large and regular building, in the gothic style,
consisting of a nave, two aisles, a chancel, and spacious
gallery ; the vaulted roof is supported by slender pillars,
forming pointed arches, from whence it obtained its epithet of
St. Mary Arches, (like St. Mary le Bow, in London) to dis
tinguish it from others dedicated to the blessed virgin in
different parts of this city. It is kept in very good repair,
has an organ, is neatly pewed, and has three large brass
chandeliers. The tower, under which is the principal entrance,
is square and low, containing four small bells, and a clock and
dial ; the summit is crested with a modern erected cupola, in
which is a small shrill-toned bell, to give notice of the time of
divine service. The church is ancient, but does not appear,
from the style of the architecture, to be the original sacred
edifice erected ou the same spot : we find it was made
parochial in the year 1222: it is now a rectory, to which is
united that of St. Olave, in the gift of the Dean and Chapter,
and is valued in the King's books at £10 per annum, certified
value £16. Rector, Rev. Benedict Pering. The rector has
a neat parsonage house, in Bartholomew-street, the only one in
the city deserving notice.
There are many sepulchral monuments, among which the
following only are worthy notice : —
On the north side is an ancient monument, in a good taste,

* This method has for many years been practised in Gibraltar, by the English
Butchers, who learnt it from their African neighbours ; and it is to be hoped
the legislature will soon make a compulsory law to enforce it.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 385
and well executed. The inscription is now imperfect; it was Chap.VI.
erected to the memory of John Davye, Esq. who was three z:^=
times Mayor of this city, and died on the 11th day of January
1611. Mr. Prince has preserved the verses formerly on this
monument : —
This marble monument, this fading brass,
Might have been spar'd, for neither needful was
To stand a register of Davye's name ;
Who living did erect a fairer frame,
And far more lasting ; whose foundation
Was firmly grounded on the corner stone;
Whose bar was faith, whose pillars piety,
And whose engravings works of charity.
Then let the dead trust to a dying tomb;
But how can death in Davye find a room,
Whose soul in heaven alive does aye remain,
Whose works on earth so many lives maintain.
There are several mural monuments to the memory of the
ancient and pretorian family of the Walkers, of this city ; but
the inscriptions are much defaced by time, particularly one on
the east side, on which is Robert Walker, son of Thomas
Walker, (sometime Mayor of this city,) who died 23rd August,
1673. Also another, to the memory of Thomas Walker, son of
the said Robert Walker, who died the 24th November, 1682.
Near the last mentioned is another, inscribed to the memory of
Mary, wife of John Ceely, Canon of St. Peter's, and daughter of
Robert Walker, Esq. On the south side is a large decent
monument, on which are two figures in a kneeling posture, and
well executed, in the dress of the times, to the memory of
Thomas Walker, Esq. (three times Mayor) and his wife ; he
died November the 3rd, 1628. On the north side is a large
stately monument, erected to the memory of Richard Crossing,
(sometime Mayor) who died October the 3rd, 1672. And
another to the memory of Nicholas Brooking, Esq. Mayor,
who died the 3rd of October, 1666. And against the south
wall there is one to the memory of Christopher Lethbridge,
Esq. Mayor, who died May the 15th, 1670, and of his wife.
Benefactions to the poor of St. Mary Arches: — •
Richard Bevy, Merchant, of this city, by deed, dated the Beoefac-
16th of June, 1602, granted to William Tickle and John tl0ns-
Marshal, Gents, and their heirs, four messuages, one barn,
and two acres of land, lying in the parishes of St. Mary
Major and St. Sidwell, to the use of himself for life, and to

F 5

336 THE HISTORY OF
Chap.VI. several others entail, provided that the said feoffees, and their
 heirs and assigns, should and might for ever levy and receive
an annual rent-charge of £4 per annum ; and in default of
payment thereof to enter and distrain, &c. ; and further, that
the said feoffees, their heirs and assigns, should yearly pay to
the Wardens of the several parishes of St. Mary Arches, St.
Olave, St. John, and Allhallows on the Walls, in this city, at
the feasts of Easter and St. Michael the Archangel, by equal
portions, twenty shillings, to the intent that the said Wardens,
by and with the consent of the sidesmen of their respective
parishes for the time being, and in default of such consent, by
and with the consent of the Mayor of the said city, and of the
heirs of the said land, shall give and pay unto such poor
maidens as shall happen to be married in any one year, within
any of the respective parishes, being such as have served
within the said parish wherein they shall so happen to be
married the full term of two years, before the time of such
marriage or marriages, the sum of ten shillings each. And if
but one poor maid be married, in any one several parish, in
any one year, that then the said wardens, by and with the like
consent, shall give and pay unto such maid, so to be married,
twenty shillings. And if no such marriage should take place in
any one year, the said annuity to be yearly kept in that parish
until such marriage shall happen ; which, with the arrears, to
be paid to two maids respectively, and equally, if married in
any one year, in any one of the said parishes ; and if but one,
then she is to receive the whole.
Robert Chafe, by his will, dated the 20th of November,
1613, bequeathed to the poor of this parish an annuity of two
shillings yearly, to be for ever issuable out of a tenement in St.
Mary Arches-lane, in this parish.
Christopher Lethbridge, Esq. (sometime Mayor of this
city) by will, dated the 17th of November, 1669, bequeathed
to the poor of this parish an annuity or yearly rent of £3 Os. 8d.
to be paid quarterly, for and during the term of three thousand
years, issuing out of a dwelling-house situated in the said
parish; and appointed, according to his said will, that the same
should be bestowed in bread, by equal portions, every Lord's
day, by the Churchwardens of the said parish for the time
being, and by them given to fourteen poor people, inhabitants
thereof, such as they shall think fit objects ; and if the said
Churchwardens shall think proper, so many may have it on the
first Lord's day, and so many on the next ; but his will is that
the said bread be given to none but those that go to the church,
and remain there every Lord's day during the time of divine

THE CITY OF EXETER. 387
service, and sermon, if any, unless such as are hindered by Chap.VI.
infirmity or sickness ; the same to commence immediately after
his death ; and if it be not paid as aforesaid, that then it shall
be lawful to and for the said Churchwardens to enter into the
premises charged with the said annuity, and to distrain for the
same, with the arrears unpaid, if any be; and the distress and
distresses there from time to time taken to detain and keep
until the annuity so being behind, and the arrears thereof, be
unto them fully satisfied and paid.
Nicholas Spicer, Esq. (twice Mayor) by deed, dated the 7th
of March, 1609, among other charities, bequeathed an annuity
of ten shillings yearly, for ever, to be constantly bestowed in
the reparation of this church.
In an obscure corner, behind St. Mary Arches' church, is Jews'
the Jews' Synagogue, a small, plain, but neat edifice, erected Synagogue.
in the year 1764. The congregation is but small, the resident
families of Jews being few in number, and their travelling
visitors not so numerous as they were some years since. *
In the same lane is situate the Bluemaids or Hele's Hos- Bluemaids'
pital, an ancient house, with a battlemented roof. This hos- Hospital.
pital was founded by Sir John Maynard, Knight, as executor
in trust of the will of Elize Hele, Esq. who left a large
estate for charitable purposes. Accordingly he purchased this
house and garden for the sum of £600, being money arising
from fines levied on estates in the Manor of Lawrence Clist,
appropriating it as an hospital for the maintenance and
education of a certain number of poor girls. He also endowed
the same with an annuity or rent-charge of £50 per annum, to
be for ever issuable out of Bovey Mills, in the county of
Devon. The said Sir John Maynard also gave £500 towards
the erection of a Bridewell, or House of Correction, for
vagabonds, within this city ; and he was a great benefactor
also to St. John's Hospital.
John Mayne, Merchant, of this city, gave £100, in his
lifetime, towards the better support of this hospital.
Richard Ducke, Esq. of Mount Radford, by will, dated the
21st of July, 1656, bequeathed £50 (in addition to the like
sum given at the death of his wife) for the better support of this
hospital, to be paid out of his estate, in lieu of the expences
which would occur from a pompous funeral; but which he
desired might be plain and private.

* From all appearances there was anciently an open lane of communication
from this place through the George Inn yard, into North-street; but it has long
since been closed up with buildings.

388

THE HISTORY OF

Chap.VI. Edmund Prideaux, Esq. also gave £100 for the like
 purposes. Simon Snow, Esq. (besides his charities already mentioned
to St. John's Hospital) by will, devised as follows : I give and
bequeath to the Corporation of the city of Exeter, and their
successors for ever, all that brewhouse and malthouse, called
the Common Brewhouse, lately erected near the Duckingstool
Mills, in Exe Island, to be by their care and foresight
managed for the public good of the said city, and particularly
for the payment of £32 per annum to four pensioners, called
Dr. Vilvayne's pensioners.* He also further devised and
ordered that after the payment for all necessary repairs and
disbursements the said estates should stand in need of, and the
following fees yearly, viz : to the Warden of the Magdalen
£1 12s. ; to the Mayor 10s. ; to the Recorder 10s. ; to the
seven Justices of the Peace, each 6s. ; to the Town-Clerk, for
his trouble in making out and settling the annual accounts, £5;
to the Chamberlain 3s. ; to the rest of the Common Council
15s. 2d. ; and to the Sword-Bearer and four Sergeants at Mace
8d. each ; that after the expences occurring for procuring the
King's patent for establishing this hospital be paid, and the
annual discharge of the said pensions and salaries, the whole
rents and profits of the said malt and brewhouse, with their
appurtenances remaining, should be for ever settled on and
converted to the use of this hospital, until there should be a
sufficient fund raised for the maintenance of forty poor maids
therein ; and that the choice and nomination of the said maids
be for ever invested in the then Chamber, and their successors ;
and after such provision made for the said forty maids, he
further desired that provision be made and raised for the
binding out the said maids apprentices, and for portions for
such of them as shall marry with the consent and approbation
of the said Chamber, and their successors ; and that none else
should enjoy the benefit thereof.
Notwithstanding these great bequests to the Hospital, the
number of poor girls educated therein amounts to a small
number, seldom exceeding ten ; they are provided with food,
clothes, &c. ; and are taught reading, knitting, sewing,
and household work, to qualify them for servants; and at
a proper age are bound out apprentices, a small premium
heing given with them. Part of this hospital is now ap
propriated to the use of one of the girls' charitv schools for
this city.

See St. John's Hospital.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 389
Near the above-mentioned hospital are Davye's Alms-houses, Chap.VI.
founded by John Davye, Esq. (who was Mayor three times) ' ;
for six poor people, viz : two married couple, and two single A*nl- s
persons, men or women ; the said founder also liberally en- houses.
dowed them with two tenements adjoining ; a yearly rent of
6s. 6d. issuing out of the George Inn, in the parish of St.
Kerian, in this city ; the rectory and parsonage of Morleigh,
alias Mariansleigh, in the county of Devon, with all the
tithes and profits issuing therefrom, together with the parson
age-house, and two acres of land ; and one other tenement
lately erected by him in a corner of the churchyard ; all these
estates he conveyed to the Mayor of Exeter, six Aldermen, and
eight other members of the Common Council, as appears by his
indented deed, dated the 10th of February, 1599, to have and
to hold the premises for ten thousand years, upon trust to per
form certain ordinances annexed to the deed, with provision
that if the trustees should willingly break any of the said
ordinances, within fourteen months next after warning in that
behalf given by his heirs, that then it shall be lawful for his
heirs to re-enter and bestow the same as the said trustees ought
to do, until the trustees should amend the same ; by which
ordinances he appointed that the trustees should demise the
said rectory to the uttermost yearly value, not taking any fine,
and that they should bestow on the Minister there, for the
time being, all the profits which they should make thereof, over
and above the yearly sum of £16 10s. and the reasonable
charges and expences attending the same ; that they should,
from time to time, appoint a sufficient Minister to serve the
cure there ; that so often as any of the alms-houses should be
void, the trustees, with the consent of the Mayor and Common
Council, should place some other decayed people of honest
conversation there, to remain during their lives, demeaning
themselves well, to be chosen out of the poor inhabitants of the
said city, and to be viewed in the guildhall there, every of
them to be of the age of sixty years at least, and there
inhabiting ten years before ; and if no such people are to be
found in the city, then in the county of the said city ; that the
trustees, weekly, on every Saturday, should pay out of the
issues and profits of all the premises, unto each of the married
couple, 2s. 4d. and to the single persons Is. 6d. each, for their
better relief ; and if any one of the said married couple should
die, the surviving party to have only Is. 8d. and the other 8d.
to be divided among the rest, poll and poll alike; and if one or
both of the married couple die every of the poor to have
Is. lOd. each, until a new choice be made, with direction that

G 5

390

THE HISTORY OF

CHAP.vr. if any of the said poor, being single, should marry, to lose
" their houses and pay; also to help one another in sickness;
also to accompany one another to their burials, without reason
able cause of excuse ; and not to beg, on pain of losing their
contributions for a week ; that the poor should be continually
resident in their houses, and demean themselves orderly, on
pain of expulsion ; that for the better observing these ordi
nances the said John Davye did appoint that the said Mayor
and Common Council should, once every year at least, make
enquiry whether the poor people do observe the said ordinances;
and that when the number of the said trustees should be reduced
within six, that they should assign over their estate in charge to
ten others of the residue of the Common Council ; that the said
trustees should yearly bestow upon the poor of the parish of
Morleigh ten shillings ; that the overplus of the said premises
(over and above the said weekly contribution) the trustees should
keep in a chest, for the reparation of the said houses, to be locked
with three keys ; and the writings concerning the premises to be
kept also in that chest ; the orders touching the election of the
alms-people to be contained in a table, to be read before the
election of any alms-man ; that the trustees yearly, on the 20th
of October, should be called to give the accounts in writing,
of and concerning the premises, before the Mayor, Town-
Clerk, and Bailiffs, for the time being, which should be
entered into a book kept for that purpose by the Town-Clerk,
for which labour the trustees are to pay to the Mayor Is. ; to the
Town-Clerk Is. ; to the Bailiffs 4d. each ; to the Sword-Bearer
and Sergeants 2d. each ; and the book and overplus to be put
into the said chest.
Over a doorway leading into the Corn Market is a very
remarkable armorial bearing, carved in wood, viz : on a shield
(the colours not emblazoned) two calvary crosses, in saltier,
with a crosier in pale ; it appears ancient, and was probably
the arms of some religious community to whom the house
belonged. According to the late returns there were in this parish sixty-
four houses, five of which were uninhabited, containing ninety-
three families, in which were one hundred and sixty males and
two hundred and eighteen females, in all three hundred and
seventy-eight inhabitants.
St. Olave. Adjoining the last described parish is that dedicated to St.
Olave. The church bears evident marks of antiquity, particu
larly the tower, which is of Saxon construction ; it has three
aisles, and a vaulted roof supported by six massy pillars ; it is
dark and gloomy ; and as divine service is not performed in it

THE CITY OF EXETER. 3gl
little attention is paid either to cleanliness or interior repairs. Chap.VI.
The tower, which is in front, is square, and at its summit are -
grotesque figures serving as spouts to convey the water from the
leads ; adjoining the tower is a flight of circular stairs, leading
to a small room over the gateway, once the habitation of the
Romish rectors, but now occupied by the sexton. After the
Norman Conquest this church was given to the new-erected
Abbey of Battle, in Sussex ; and it continued part of its
possessions until the dissolution of that Abbey, the rectors being
generally members of the adjoining Priory of St. Nicholas.
After the Reformation, this benefice, being small and the income
trifling, remained many years without an incumbent, the
parishioners uniting themselves with that of St. Mary Arches,
and which still continues. After the revocation of the edict of
Nantes, great numbers of the Protestants fled for refuge to this
kingdom, and many of them settled in this city ; when, on
applying to the then Bishop for a place of worship, this church
was granted to them ; and for many years divine service was
performed in the French language, by pastors of their own
electing, the last of whom was the Rev. Lewis Courtauld, on
whose death, about the year 1758, the congregation having,
through their long connexion and intermarriages with the
natives, become incorporated with them, the further con
tinuance of religious worship in the French language was
thought unnecessary, and this church was again shut up ;
after that it was used at times by such regiments of soldiers as
were quartered in the city, and their chaplains performed
divine service in it ; but this has been long discontinued, and it
is now used only as a cemetery for a few families.* It is a
rectory, in the gift of the Dean and Chapter, valued in the
King's books at £7 18s. 4d. per annum, certified value £18.
In the year 1778, this church undergoing some repairs, the
workmen found a number of octangular pieces of thin paste
board, painted red on both sides, and on one side, within a
circular border, was stamped this French inscription, " Christ
est le Pain de Vie." They were supposed to have been certi
ficates, delivered by the Priests after confession, to qualify the
bearers to receive the holy eucharist.
On the north side is an antique monument, with a Latin in
scription much defaced, erected to the memory of John Acland,

* From this church being dedicated to St. Olave, the first Christian King of
Norway, (who was martyred by bis Pagan subjects in tbe latter end of the
ninth century) it seems probable that it was erected during the Danish usurpa
tion over this kingdom, as he was held in great veneration by the Scandinavian
nations.

392

THE HISTORY OF

Chap.VI. descended from the ancient families of the Aclands and
- Stapledons, who died January, 1640. Part of the inscription
runs thus : " Hujusque civitatis senioris peril Custris." On
the same monument is an inscription to the memory of Margery,
daughter of John Acland, Jun. Esq. and wife of Arthur
Duck, Merchant, of London, who died the 8th of August,
1695. Against the north wall is an oval marble tablet, lately
erected, to the memory of Henry Farrant, Druggist, late of
this city, and of his brother, the Rev. Robert Farrant, Rector
of St. Petrock. This monument is so very injudiciously placed,
in an elevated situation and dark corner, that the inscription
cannot be read without the help of a candle.
Richard Bevy, Gent, was a benefactor to the poor maidens
of this parish. *
Saint The Priory of St. Nicholas, already mentioned, was situated
Nicholas's ;n this parish ; great part of the ancient building, particularly
Pnory. ^ pr;or's lodgings and some of the cells, are still remaining,
and converted into a dwelling-house, lately inhabited by N. E.
Cosserat, Esq.; but modern alterations having been introduced
into the structure it has lost its gothic beauty, and is now in a
ruinous state, seven hundred years having elapsed since its
erection, f Another part of this ancient structure has for
many years been occupied by the Roman Catholic Priests, in
which was a private chapel, where the citizens of that persuasion
performed their devotions. On the late Revolution in France
great numbers of emigrant Priests fled for refuge to this country,
where they were maintained and protected by the bounty of its
inhabitants, many of whom resided in this city for some years.
Part of them formed a religious community, and resided in this
house until their return to their native land. The beautiful
and sumptuous church belonging to this Priory was purchased,
soon after the Reformation, by the Chamber of this city, who
caused it to be demolished, and applied the materials towards
the repairs of Exe Bridge and the City Walls. On part of
its site a Roman Catholic church was built a few years since ;
this edifice is very neat, but plain, and capable of holding a

* See the foregoing parish of St. Mary Arches.
t We have no accounts to whom the buildings and site of this Priory were
granted at tbe Reformation ; but from its being different freeholds, the deeds of
which reach no further back than the reign of Edward VI. it was probably sold
in different lots, the Chamber purchasing great part ; and they are still propri
etors of some of the lands, St. Nicholas and Lammas Fairs, and the Oat Market,
which were part of its ancient demesnes.

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THE CITY OF EXETER. 393
much larger congregation than at present frequent it. On Chap.VI.
digging for the foundation of this church many remains of the 
ancient one were discovered, such as carved mouldings, parts of
sepulchral monuments, mutilated inscriptions, &c. Adjoining
stands a large Dissenting Meeting-house ; a plain and neat Aria1
building ; it is commonly called the Arian Meeting. The con- Meetln5-
gregation is very numerous, and though they dissent in some
particulars from their Presbyterian brethren, it does not appear
that they follow the doctrine of Arius.
The lane which leads from the Fore-street to this Priory The Mint.
has long' been called the Mint, and, according to tradition,
part of the old building was formerly used for coining, but at
what time we are ignorant; part of Hele's hospital, as has
already been related, having been appropriated for that pur
pose during the reign of William III. ; and it is not probable
that it has retained the name of the Mint ever since the days of
King Athelstan: that the liberty of coinage was often granted
to the principal Abbeys must be acknowledged, but we have no
account that it was ever conferred on this Priory.*
St. Bartholomew's Burying-ground is contiguous, and was St. Bartho-
once the orchard and garden belonging to this Priory ; it is 'omew's
bounded on one side by the city wall, on which is a pleasant BurJ-in5"
walk, commanding a noble prospect. On a designed elevation
of the parapet is a large Portland stone tablet, on which is
carved the arms of the Diocess, impaled with Hall, the
arms of the city, and those of Mallack; and underneath is this
inscription : —
Repositorum Dei fidelium Dormitorum. This Platte of
Grounde was gyven by the cytte of Exon, fytted and encom
passed by the concurrent charge, of both the churche and cytte,
with the carefull oveseeing of Mr. Roger Mallack, merchante,
then maior, and ivas solemnly consecrated by the reverende

* Before the introduction of copper coin, in the reign of Charles II. the
principal tradesmen and shopkeepers made use of small pieces of brass money,
stamped with their names, and devices alluding to their several callings ;
these were called tradesmen's tokens, and served as small change ; every
shopkeeper, &c. keeping a box, in which were many partitions ; and
this was termed a sorting box ; in this box they lodged the tokens of the
different traders, and when they amounted to a certain sum carried them to
their issuers, who were obliged to exchange them for lawful coin ; many
of these tokens, of different inhabitants of this city, are still preserved ;
and probably the engine or fly press by which they were struck was kept
in this place ; one machine of that kind being sufficient to supply the city
and neighbourhood ; and from this circumstance it might have obtained the
name of the Mint,
H 5

394 THE HISTORY OF
Chap.VI. Joseph Halle, then Lord Bishoppe of Exon, upon Sainte
— _garfAofo»ietees Day: Auguste XXlIII. 1637.
Preciosa inconspectu Dei Mors Sanctorum. *
On opening a grave, in the year 1762, a large blue marble
stone was discovered, deep sunk in the ground, on which was
the following inscription : —
Epitaph upon Captain Nicholas Vaughan, Muster-Master of
the Train Bands, in the county of Devon and the city of Exeter j
who, in the execution of a warrant for taking away malignants'
arms, designed for the assistance of rebellious forces against
King and Parliament, was treacherously slain by a shot out of
a window, at Dunsford, in Devon, December the 11th, and
here interred December the 15th, 1642.
Underneath this inscription is this armorial bearing, viz : on
a shield, three boars' heads, in pale, erased, (the colours not
described ;) and under the arms the following lines : —
Under this stone, good reader, lyes,
The man whose blood to heaven cries ;
Not like a fool or fettered slave,
But Abner like he went to grave.
In loyalty to just commands,
He fell by false and wicked hands.
This stone shall lie a monument,
To crye avenge this innocent.
This stone is not injured by time, and from its high state of
preservation, after a lapse of upwards of one hundred and
twenty years, to the time of its discovery, it is probable that it
was purposely secreted by his friends, to prevent its being
injured by the Republicans, after the decline and ruin of the
royal party. There are many handsome altar tombs in this
burying-ground, too numerous for a particular description; and
near the city wall are interred the remains of the learned Mr.
Andrew Brice, who, notwithstanding his pompous funeral, has
neither stone nor memento to denote the spot, but his works
will preserve his memory to future ages.
In this parish, according to the late returns, there were
ninety-seven houses, six of which were uninhabited, containing
one hundred and eighteen families, consisting of two hundred
and fifty-two males and three hundred and fourteen females ;
total five hundred and sixty-six inhabitants.
St. John. The parish of St. John is contiguous to that of St. Olave.
The church is evidently an ancient structure, but no mention is
made of it until the year 1222, when it appears in the list
* The old inscription being much mutilated a new stone was erected in its
stead, ,n the year 1798, in the mayoralty of John Balle, Esq

THE CITY OF EXETER.

395

of parochial churches. The tower is square, with a circular Chap.VI.
projecting staircase, battlemented at its summit, and crowned T:====
with a vane ; in the tower are three small bells, and a clock,
with a double projecting dial, which may be seen at a great
distance. This church is an irregular building, the floor being
greatly elevated above the level of the street; and, notwith
standing the parishioners have expended considerable sums in
its improvement, it is low, incommodious, and incapable of
containing a large congregation, so that the parishioners, with
those of its united parish, St. George, are greatly distressed for
want of proper seats. The chancel, which is supported by an
arch thrown over the adjoining street, commonly called St.
John's Bow, is more elevated than the floor of the church.
For the standing of this arch the parishioners pay an annual
rent to the Duke of Cornwall, as Lord of the Manor of this
city. From the uncommon situation of this chancel on the
north-east side of the church, it seems very probable that it is
of later erection, and that the original chancel was at the
eastern end of the nave ; but there is no record that mentions
such an alteration ; and it is rather surprising that the parish
ioners should saddle themselves with an annual expence for so
small an addition to their church, when more room might have
easily been procured. The whole of the building is paid great
attention to, and is kept in good repair. Underneath part of
the church is a small room, for many years appropriated to the
use of a cobbler ; but now, with more propriety, glazed and
altered into a vestry. This living was once appropriated to the
Priory of Plympton, until its dissolution, when it fell into the
hands of the King, in whom it still remains, and is now
held by sequestration, by the Rev. Theophilus Barnes, Jun. ;
certified value £18 per annum.*
The only monument deserving notice is fixed against the
south wall, on which is this inscription : —
In memory of Sir Benjamin Oliver, of this city, (who had
the honour of being knighted in the year of his mayoralty, by
King Charles II. in his Majesty's passage to London, from
Plymouth, July the 23rd, 1671) who departed this life, in the

* A dispute took place this present year, 1804, between the incumbent and
parishioners, the origin of which was this :— the rector, who resides at
Pontefract, in Yorkshire, neglecting to provide a regular curate, the parishioners,
who paid very liberally, applied to him by letter, and complained how irregu
larly they were served, and saying further that unless an alteration was made
they would reduce their subscriptions to bare dominicals ; the rector returned
a peremptory order to the warden, with an injunction to his successor, (it being
near Easter) to lock up the church, and suffer no service to be held therein ;
this was complied with, but tbe dispute was soon amicably terminated.

396

THE HISTORY OF

Chap.VI. 71st year of his age, November the 2nd, 1672. Also of Jane,
¦ his wife, aged 66, who died July the 7th, 1670, after they
had lived together in a sober profession of religion and dear
affection 44 years. Also of Benjamin and Jane, their grand
children ; the latter died March the 6th, 1667, aged 3 years
and 5 months ; the other died December the 26th, 1668, aged
6 years and a half.
Benefac- The following benefactions have been bequeathed to the poor
tions. of this parish : —
Johanna Cole, widow, of Bishop's Mor chard, A.D. 1640,
gave £20, to the intent that it should be bestowed in some
convenient parcel of land, the rents and profits arising from the
same to be for ever applied towards purchasing linen cloth
yearly, at Easter, for and towards clothing the aged and
industrious poor of this parish.
Nowell Pearse, A. D. 1726, bequeathed to this parish ten
shillings yearly, for ever, issuing out of an estate in the parish
of Allhallows on the Walls, then in the possession of Mrs. Jane
Cosserat, to be distributed to four poor men of this parish, at
Christmas. Esther Langworthy, A. D. 1729, gave to the Churchwardens
of this parish £20, in trust, to be put out at interest, the
yearly produce thereof to be for ever applied for providing shifts
for six poor widows of this parish, at Christmas.
Ann Pitman, A.D. 1748, gave £10, to be put out on good
security, the interest thereof to be for ever applied to purchase
shifts for three poor widows of this parish, who shall duly
attend divine service, and receive the holy sacrament, to be
distributed yearly, on the 1st day of March.
Thomas Potter, Fuller, late of this parish, who died the
24th of September, 1695, by his last will and testament
(besides divers other charities) bequeathed the sum of £735,
to be by his executors bestowed in the purchase of lands in fee-
simple, the rents and profits of which should for ever be equally
divided among eight poor Tuckers or Weavers, inhabitants
within the city and county of Exon, such as do not receive
parochial relief, (except forty shillings per annum, which was
to be expended in a dinner, by the trustees thereof, at the
annual distribution of the said money;) also, that no person
who shall receive the benefit of this donation shall again be a
partaker thereof within five years after his so receiving the
same. Mr. William Baker, executor of the said will, pur
chased a messuage and tenement, with the appurtenances, of
the tenure of Old Barton, at Rillwith, in the manor and
parish of Ottery St. Mary; and one close of land lying at
Langthorn, on the north part of the Greenway, leading

THE CITY OF EXETER. 397
towards Arrill's Hays, containing three quarters and half of Chap.VI.
an acre, or thereabout. Item. To JohnAymes and John Sheers,
both of this city, he gave forty shillings each yearly, during
their natural life, to be paid out of an estate in Farringdon, in
the county of Devon, called the North Fields; and the residue
thereof unto Edward Dally, son of Edward Dally, one of
the trustees, during his natural life; and after their decease the
whole rents and profits were devised to the only use and behalf
of the said eight poor men, in addition to the gift aforesaid.
He also gave, on the 8th of December, 1694, two silver flagons
for the use of the communion table.
Mary Rigg, widow, late of this parish, by will, dated the
12th of October, 1765, bequeathed £21, to'be placed out at
interest, and the profits arising therefrom to be annually be
stowed in good wheaten loaves, to be distributed among the
poor of this parish every Christmas-day ; but no one person
to receive a loaf exceeding a shilling in value.
Richard Bevys, Merchant, of this city, by will, dated the
16th of June, 1602, bequeathed an annuity of twenty shillings
a year, for ever, to be paid out of his lands in the several
parishes of St. Mary the Moor and St. Sidwell, for the use
of such poor maidens as should be married in the said parish,
after having served as servants to any inhabitant of this said
parish for the space of two years, next and immediately before
such day of marriage, which said money is to be equally
divided among the claimants, if more than one.
Edward Bartlett, the elder, Sergemakerj of this parish, by
will, dated the 25th of August, 1778, and proved the 29th of
April, 1780, gave £10, the interest whereof to be divided
among ten poor people of this parish, who do not receive
weekly pay, on every New-Year's-day for ever. For which sum
and interest due thereon, being omitted to be paid, Mr. Edward
Bartlett, his son and executor, paid the Churchwardens £20,
November the 3rd, 1790.
The hall belonging to the incorporated trades of Weavers and Tuckers'
Fullers (commonly called Tuckers' Hall) is in this parish; it Hall.
was originally a chapel, dedicated to one of the Marys, but
since its dissolution it has undergone great alterations, and the
only remains of its pristine state is the arched entrance and
vaulted roof; * it is now divided into two large apartments, the
under one being appropriated to a school, where a master,
appointed by the elders of the corporation, has a salary for

* In all probability there was a cemetery belonging to (his chapel, as many
human bones have been dug up in the garden behind it ; and, according to
tradition, the small area in front, between the building and iron rails, has been
used for the same purpose.
I 5

398 THE HISTORY OF
Chap. AT. teaching the sons of freemen belonging to the hall reading,
 writing, and arithmetic, gratis. Ou the upper story is a large
handsome hall, where the elders transact the business of the
corporation ; and also apartments for the schoolmaster. In this
hall are some curious specimens of ancient warlike weapons,
once the property of the company of merchant adventurers, now
united to this corporation. They are possessed of several
charities, which trust they carefully perform. They were first
incorporated, under the common seal of this city, the fifth of
Henry VII. 1490, which charter was again renewed the 44th of
Elizabeth, 1602. The merchant adventurers trading to France
were incorporated the 4th of May, 1556. The arms of the
Corporation of Weavers, &c. is Party per Saltier, azure and
gules; on the first, two shuttles, or ; on the second, above, a
brush, beneath, a pair of shears, argent; on a chief, ermine,
a slea, between two burling irons, or. The merchant adven
turers, in consideration of the loyal service of the Citizens, in
defending the said city against the rebels, in the reigns of
Henry VII. and Edward VI. were re-incorporated, by letters
patent, dated the 17th of June, 1560, by the title of the
Governor and Four Consuls, in consideration of which, the said
company (then consisting of forty-nine persons) promised for
themselves and successors to give and bestow to twelve poor and
impotent men of the said city twelve frieze gowns, viz : to each
of them one, at the feast of All Saints, for ever. This said
charity is still continued by the Corporation of Tuckers and
Weavers, but in lieu of gowns they receive coats.
In Friernhay-lane are some small unendowed alms-houses,
built by the Speke family: they are now under the patronage of
James White, Esq. of this city.
According to the last returns in this parish there were seventy-
seven houses, five of them uninhabited, containing one hundred
and seven families, in which were two hundred and thirty
males and three hundred and ninety-one females, in all six
hundred and twenty-one.
Allhallows The next parish is Allhallows on the Walls, so called from
Wa'lls the cllurch having been situated on the city walls ; it was
demolished during the Rebellion, and nothing but the outer
walls and tower left; these were taken down to complete the
avenue to the New Bridge, and the road is now on the site of
this ancient church. The tower, which was square, large, and
lofty, was built of a reddish stone ; and, from its situation,
appeared to haye been erected as an additional defence to the
city walls ; and it was converted to that purpose during the
siege of the city by the Parliament army, the Royalists having
placed a culverin on it, which greatly annoyed the besiegers,

THE CITY OF EXETER.

399

and occasioned the demolition of the church, though the tower Chap.VI.
received very little damage. The only sacred remains belono-mo- :
to this edifice are a very curious bible and some old communion
plate, (most of it pewter;) these are annually delivered by the
Warden to his successor in office. The presentation of this
church, which was a rectory, in the gift of the Dean and
Chapter, was valued in the King's books at £5 4s. O^d. per
annum, certified value £15. It is now united to St. Mary Steps.
Benefactions to the poor of the parish of A llhallows on the Benefac
Walls.— tiongi
Elizabeth Buckenam (see the parish of St. Lawrence) be
queathed to the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty of Exon, a
house, &c. situated in the parish of St. Petrock, for certain
charitable purposes ; one of which was that they should pay
and distribute annually, to five poor householders of this parish
13s. 4d. viz : 2s. 8d. each.
Sir John Ackland, Knight, (among other charities to St.
Lawrence and St. Sidivell) bequeathed the sum of £1 6s. to
be equally distributed, sixpence weekly, in bread, to six poor
inhabitants of this parish,
John Hurst, Esq. Merchant, late of this city, by will, dated
the 16th of November, 1552, devised six tenements, lying in
this parish, to be for ever appointed as alms-houses, for poor
people to dwell in ; he also endowed the same with six other
tenements, a shop, and a stable, situate in the parish of St.
Mary Arches, to the intent that the whole rents and profits
arising from the same should be for ever appropriated towards
the repairs of the said alms-houses ; and that the residue of
the said rents and profits should be equally divided anion"- the
poor inhabitants of the said alms-houses, for their better
maintenance. He also gave 200 marks in money, to be paid to
the said poor by 2s. weekly ; also 20 marks towards the
amending of the highways ; and 20 towards the making of the
haven ; with other sums to pious uses. *
In the year 1800 the number of houses in this parish were
eighty-nine, four were uninhabited ; one hundred and fifty-
seven families, consisting of three hundred and two males and
three hundred and sixty-seven females, in all six hundred and
sixty-nine. The parish of St. Mary Steps joins Allhallows, being situate St. Mary
part within and part without the city walls. The church is Steps.
small, and from its situation, at the foot of a steep hill, the
floor is much elevated above the level of the street, from which,
at the principal entrance, you ascend into the church by a flight

It is not mentioned who were appointed trustees of this gentleman's will.

400 ™E HISTORY OF
Chap.VI. of steps, and from this circumstance it obtained the adjunct
== appellation of St. Mary Steps. It is of a square figure, con
sisting of a nave, gallery, and small aisle under the tower ; the
whole (which is much to the credit of the parishioners) can
scarcely be excelled for its clean and neat appearance. The
pulpit is a fine piece of workmanship : on the top of the
baldequiu is a gilt statue of an angel, sounding a trumpet, well
executed ; the pews are neat and regular, and the altar-piece
carved and painted. The tower, which stands at the west end,
contains four small bells, and a curious clock, the dial of
which is embellished with basso relievos, representing the four
seasons; over the dial is a small statue of Henry VIII. in a
sitting posture, which, on the clock striking the hour, bends
forward its body at every stroke ; on each side is a statue, in
ancient military habit, their morions crowned with feathers;
they hold in their right hands javelins, and in their left small
hammers, with which they alternately strike the quarter hours,
on two small bells placed beneath their feet. These figures are
vulgarly called Matthew the Miller and his two sons, * and are
much noticed by country people and strangers. Underneath
the east end of the church is a vaulted room, (formerly a guard
house for the soldiers who kept the gate opposite) and a lodge
for the porters, f
In front of the church was a stone bench, which extended
from the watch-house to the entrance of the church, and
supposed to be designed for the accommodation of the soldiers.
This seat being much resorted to by idle and disorderly per
sons obtained the name of pennyless bench, and at length
becoming a public nuisance it was taken down, about the year
1757. Opposite the east end of the church is a narrow crooked
lane, called Parsons-lane; at its upper end is a small ancient
house, once the habitation of the rector, but now divided into
two tenements for poor widows, who are placed there by the
wardens of the parish.

* This Matthew was an opulent Miller, who resided at Cricklepit ; he was
remarkable for his integrity, and regular course of life ; and his punctuality
of going at one hour for, and returning from the city with, his grist, occasioned
him to be so much noticed by the neighbourhood that they knew exactly the
hour of the day by the time of his passing ; and from this circumstance the
statue received the name.
t Since the writer's memory the whole of the city gates were constantly shut
during the night; in winter, from nine in the evening to six in the morning ;
in summer, from ten to five ; also on Sundays, during divine service ; which
required the porter's attendance necessary to open them for occasional
passengers, who, on a slight examination, were suffered to pass, by givine him
a small gratuity for his trouble.

ab©H

THE CITY OF EXETER. 401
Opposite the church stands the West-gate of the city, a very Chap.VI.
ancient but mean structure, and inferior in point of architecture ZT~
to the other city gates; it consists of a square tower, something es ga "
loftier than the walls, without any projection on the outside, or
flanking bulwarks; in this tower is an ill-contrived room, with a
small window looking towards the suburbs; on the interior front
is the remains of an inscription now obliterated: the entrance
into the city is through an irregular pointed arch, and the whole
has the appearance of remote antiquity ; it has no insignia of
arms or ornament remaining on it; and being now in a very
ruinous state will, in all probability, be soon taken down.
The ancient course of the river formerly ran much nearer to
this gate than at present, and a branch from it still runs under
the road at a few paces distant ; the open space without the
gate* is called West-gate-Quarter, near the centre of which
anciently stood a cross, called Toisa's Cross, long since
demolished. *
Benefaction to the poor of the parish of St. Mary Steps : — Benefac-
James Slade, (sometime Sheriff of this city) by will, dated tion.
the 12th of July, 1672, bequeathed an annuity or yearly rent
of £10 per annum, to be for ever issuable out of a dwelling-
house wherein his brother, William Slade, then resided, as
long as his estate remained therein.
The return of this parish was one hundred and one inhabited
and four uninhabited houses, containing one hundred and thirty-
eight families, in which were two hundred and ninety-eight
males and four hundred and twenty-one females, total seven
hundred and nineteen.
The last parish that remains to be described in this city and St. Edmund
county is St. Edmund. The whole of this parish, which is
situated without the walls, together with part of St. Mary Steps,
forms the Manor of Exe Island ; this Manor (as before men
tioned) was the cause of long dispute between the ancient Earls
of Devon and the Citizens, until it was given to the latter, and
their right fully confirmed, by Edward VI. A. D. 1548. The
whole of these lands appear to have been gained out of the
river, as large stakes are often discovered in digging, and the
soil to some depth consists of strata of river sand and small
pebbles. It is intersected by several branches and cuts from
the river, very convenient for mills, dye-houses, &c. which
occupy great part of it ; and the inhabitants are mostly fullers,
dyers, &c. The profits of the mills, tenter grounds, &c. bring
in a great revenue to the Chamber. The church, which is
* At the head of one of the piers of the Old Bridge there was an ancient stone
cross, curiously diapered; this cross was placed as a cutwater to preserve the
pier; and probably might have been placed there after the Reformation.
K 5

402

THE HISTORY OF

Chap.VI. situated on that part of the Old Bridge left standing, is
 dedicated to St. Edmund, * and consists of a nave and one
aisle, with two galleries, one at the west end, and another over
the aisle, extending the whole length of it, so that notwith
standing the smallness of the fabric it is capable of containing
a large congregation. The aisle is separated from the nave by
a row of clustered columns. The communion-table is enclosed
by neat wooden balustrades; and the altar-piece well painted —
the figures of Moses and Aaron are finely executed, f The pulpit
is of good workmanship, and on the baldequin is the statue of
an angel, very highly gilt. In one of the windows is the city
arms, and in the others are some fine remnants of painted glass,
and which, having been properly arranged on their re-glazing,
have a very good effect. The panels in front of the western
gallery are painted with armorial bearings ; and those on the
side gallery with figures of the Apostles. The tower \ is small,
and not very lofty ; it is crowned with a small spire and vane ;
it has six bells, which, from their situation near the river, have
a very pleasing sound ; it also contains a good clock, with
chimes. The whole of the decorations and furniture of this
small edifice is kept in perfect repair, and in the neatest
manner, the parishioners sparing no expence. The situation of
this church, on the arches of the bridge, does not admit of any
funeral interments ; and the arch underneath it is now used
as a cellar. It is a rectory, in the presentation of the Mayor
and Chamber ; valued in the King's books at £10 16s. 8d. per
annum, certified value £28 10s. Present rector, Rev. Richard
Eastcott. The New Bridge crosses the Island, the level of which being
much under that of the city it was necessary to elevate the
road to a great height, and the communication from the bridge
to the area below is by a long flight of steps, adjoining which
is a lofty arch that communicates with West-gate-Quarter and
the Island, (commonly so called ;) this is an open piece of
ground, railed round, gravelled, and surrounded with genteel
houses: from this place there are several avenues to the
* This St. Edmund was a petty King of the East-Angles, who, in the year
871, bravely opposing the Pagan Danes that invaded his dominions, was by
them defeated and taken prisoner, and whom they afterwards most cruelly
murdered in cold blood, at Hoxton, in Suffolk; after which he was canonized,
and held in great veneration by the Anglo-Saxons.
t This altar-piece was painted in the year 1755, by Mr. Hooker, an ingenious
native of this city.
X In 1800, during » violent storm of thunder, this tower was struck by
lightning, which shivered the dial to pieces, and forced some stones out of the
foondation; but no other damage ensued, though several people were passing
by at that instant.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 403
Bonhay, a pleasant river island, regularly planted with lofty Chap.VI.
elms, forming agreeable walks, where, even in the hottest ===
weather, the refreshing breezes from the river are highly
exhilarating. Just below the bridge the river forms another island, round
which is a pleasant walk, capable of great improvements, if the
number of them in the vicinity of Exeter did not make it
unnecessary ; this island is called the Shilhay, and is now full
of racks, being used as a tenter ground. A scheme is now
planned for cutting a canal through the Shilhay, and building
a street, with large warehouses, for the better accommodation
of the merchants, &c. This, if carried into execution, will
greatly improve the Chamber's estates.
On the east end of the Old Bridge, John Moor and
Bartholomew Fortescue, Esqs. founded three small alms-houses
for the habitation of three poor persons, but it is not known
that any endowment was ever made for their support ; they left
the government and nomination of the poor persons to be
therein to the Mayor and Chamber, and their successors, for
ever, as appears by an order made the 11th of March, 1520.
These houses are still standing, and repaired by the Chamber.
According to the late returns there were in this parish two
hundred and sixteen houses, of which ten were uninhabited ;
containing two hundred and eighty-three families, in which were
four hundred and five males and five hundred and thirteen
females, in all nine hundred and eighteen inhabitants.
Having completed the parochial description of this city, it
will be necessary, before I proceed to those of the adjacent
parishes, to give an account of such benefactions and legacies
as have been bequeathed to the Citizens in general, and which
have not been mentioned in the parochial description.

Benefactions to the Citizens in general.
John Talbot, Esq. (twice Mayor of this city) by will, dated General
the ninth of Henry V. 1420, bequeathed to the Mayor and tions
Commonalty the reversion of a tenement, situate in the High-
street, in the parish of St. Martin, opposite the Guildhall,
then an Inn, called the Eagle ; the rent of which was to be
appropriated for ever towards bringing water to the conduits or
cisterns of the said city, through pipes of lead, and to the
repairing of the same.

404

THE HISTORY OF

Chap.VI. John Slugg, by will, dated the second of Henry VII. 1486,
- gave an annuity of twenty shillings yearly, to be for ever
issuable out of a house in the High-street, sometime inhabited
by William Hurst, Merchant, and situate below the Great
Conduit; the said annuity .to be bestowed in twenty dozen of
bread, and given to the poor of the said city, on the eve of
St. John the Baptist, yearly.
Thomas Calwoodley, Esq. (thrice Mayor) by deed indented,
dated the 30th of April, sixth of Henry VII. 1491, did give
and grant to certain feoffees, and their heirs, his Manor of
Awliscombe, with all its rights, members, and appurtenances
whatsoever, situate in the county of Devon, to the use of
the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty of the city of Exeter,
and their successors for ever, in help and ease of the poor
Citizens and inhabitants thereof, as well as fee farm rents due
to the King, and of other payments, impositions, and taxes,
and other pious uses therein mentioned ; all which the said King
confirmed under his privy seal.*
William Obleigh, Esq. (sometime Mayor) by will, dated the
10th of August, 1510, bequeathed all his lands and tenements
in Swithen-street, in this city, to Robert Mayne and Catherine
his wife, and to the issue of the said Catherine, and for want
of such issue to the Mayor, Bailiffs, &c. of Exeter.
Thomas Andrew, Esq. (twice Mayor) enfeoffed John Row,
Esq. Sergeant-at-Law, and Sir Thomas Dennis, Knight, with
divers lands and tenements, situate in this city, to certain
pious uses, as appears by his will, dated the 23rd of April,
1517, therein declaring that the sum of £14 yearly should be
bestowed out of the said lands, by his executors, to find a
chaplain, and to be distributed every year to twelve poor men,
as in the said will was set forth ; which will was proved in the
Proctors' Court, at Canterbury, the 13th of December, 1529;
and afterwards, for the better performance of the said will,
John Blackaller, Gent, one of the executors, by deed, dated
the 3rd of September, 1572, did give and grant to the Mayor,
Bailiffs, &c. their successors and assigns for ever, all those
messuages, lands, and tenements aforesaid, with their appur
tenances, to maintain and sustain twelve poor men, according
to the contents of the said will, with a covenent from the
grantees, that the grantor, his heirs and assigns, should receive
the issues and profits of the said lands so long as he, his heirs
and assigns, should in all things fulfil the said will. And
afterwards Sir Thomas Dennis aforesaid, by his deed tripartite,
* This Manor of Awliscnmbe is now of considerable value ; it produced, near
sixty years since, £40 per annum, upon an average ; and a well-informed
gentleman assured the author that its present valuation is upwards of £12,000.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 405
dated the 6th of September, 1594, enfeoffed and confirmed to Chap.VI.
Gilbert Blackaller, his heirs and assigns, divers tenements, 
in several parishes in this city, on condition of the said Gilbert
Blackaller distributing yearly, out of the rents and profits of
the said premises, one yearly rent or annuity of £14, to be
employed and distributed yearly unto and upon twelve poor
people, inhabiting within the said city, according to the true
intent and meaning of the said Thomas Andrew's last will.
And the said Gilbert Blackaller, for himself and his heirs, by
the same indenture, did further give, grant, and agree to, with
the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty, (the third party to the
said indenture) that if the said annuity of £14, and every part
thereof, should not yearly be paid to the said poor people, that
then it shall be lawful for them to enter into the said premises
and distrain, and the distress to detain until the same be paid
for the end aforesaid ; which said deeds remain in the Council
Chamber of this city, and where the said will was also enrolled
the 6th of November, 1531. That part of these lands was
afterwards conveyed, by indenture, dated the 6th of October,
1608, by Gilbert Blackaller and others unto Thomas Achym,
Esq. and his heirs, who for many years performed the said
will, but afterwards failing a commission was sued forth out of
the Court of Chancery, upon the statute of charitable uses,
whereupon this agreement between the Commissioners and the
said Mr. Achym was concluded, viz : that Mr. Achym should
pay the arrears of the said gift, being the sum of £30, and that
he and his heirs for the future should and would, fourteen days,
yearly, before Christmas, pay unto the said Mayor, Bailiffs,
and Commonalty the said sum of £14, according to the will of
Thomas Andrew, and the ends aforesaid.
John Gilberd, Esq. founded an alms-house near Newton
Bushel, in the county of Devon, for the habitation of three
poor lazar people, towards whose maintenance, by his deed
tripartite, dated the 4th of October, 1 538, he granted three
cottages and two closes of land, in the parish of Kingsteignton,
unto the Mayor and Commonalty of Exeter, and their succes
sors for ever, in consideration whereof, and of the sum of two
hundred and twenty marks to them paid, they covenanted to
repair the said houses, and to pay the said poor therein the sum
of £4 yearly, by quarterly payments.
Lawrence Atwill, Skinner, and Citizen of London, a native
of this city, (descended from a genteel family, whose ancestors
had often borne the office of magistracy, particularly his grand
father, who had been five times Mayor of this city, in the reigns
of four successive Monarchs, viz: Edward IV. Edward V.
Richard III. and Henry VII.) after repeated revolutions of
L 5

406 THE HISTORY OF
Chap.VI. fortune, attained a great estate, which, in gratitude to the
z  Almighty, who had thus blessed his endeavours, he (having no
issue) by will, dated the 6th of November, 1538, (among
many other legacies to charitable uses) bequeathed divers lands
and tenements, situate in the several parishes of St. Thomas
the Apostle, Whitstone, and Uffculm, in the county of Devon,
which he had purchased in the name of Thomas Spicer, Esq.
one of the Aldermen of this city, the high rents of which were
then valued at £11 7s. 5d. per annum; appointing by his said
will that these lands should be conveyed to the Mayor, Bailiffs,
and Commonalty of the city of Exeter, to the intent that out
of and with the rents and profits of the same, there should be
accumulated a stock of money, which, by the Mayor and Alder
men of the said city, for ever, should be employed in raising a
stock, for setting and keeping the poor people of the said city
in some kind of work or employment ; and yet the money not
to be diminished in any manner, but rather increased by the
revenues of the said lands.*
Sir Thomas White, Knight, Merchant Tailor, and Citizen
of London, (sometime Lord Mayor) a great encourager of
learning, and liberal benefactor to the poor, among divers acts
of charity, gave to the Mayor, Burgesses, and Commonalty of
the city of Bristol £2000, for purchasing an inheritance of
£120, yearly value, for ever, which rent he ordered and
appointed by them to be paid and delivered unto the following
cities and towns, one after the other, as they are named,
who are to receive the same at Merchant Tailors' Hall, in
London, every one of them £104, upon the feast-day of St.
Bartholomew, between the hours of two and six in the after
noon, to be put forth to four young men of every of the said
cities and towns, being freemen thereof, (clothiers always to
be preferred before others) that is to say, to every of them
£25, to have and to occupy the same for the term of ten years
freely, upon good security for the repayment of the same;
and then to be put out again to such others for the same time,
and so on from ten years to ten years for ever ; and after the
said following twenty-four cities and towns, viz : first, Bristol;
second, York; third, Canterbury; fourth, Reading; fifth,
Merchant Tailors; sixth, Gloucester; seventh, Worcester ;
eighth, Exeter; ninth, Salisbury; tenth, Westchester; eleventh,
Norwich; twelfth, Southampton; thirteenth, Lincoln; four
teenth, Winchester; fifteenth, Oxford; sixteenth, Hereford ;
* This donation was for many years abused, and the lands alienated on long
i'f Mr' AH }eV? ^T^ °f lhM* *ears arrea" were then in the hands
IImI'a Aer""T fT"\ tne,Acc°»Pt<".t; but in the year 1772 the Chamber
X an,d e"d°wed tw«'~ alms-houses, for decayed woollen manufacturers,
with the stock and profits arising from those lands.-(See page 351.)

THE CITY OF EXETER. 407
seventeenth, Cambridge; eighteenth, Shrewsbury; nineteenth, Chap.VI.
Lynn ; twentieth, Bath ; twenty-first, Derby ; twenty-second, ==
Ipswich; twenty-third, Colchester; twenty-fourth, Newcastle-
upon-Tyne, have in their several courses received the said
£104, then the same course to begin again at Bristol, as
before, and so continue for ever ; and the said £4 over and
above the £100 are to be given to the surveyors of every such
city or town for their care and pains to see the due execution
thereof; provided that what city or town do make any default
in observing this order, the same city or town to lose the
benefit thereof for ever hereafter.*
Joan Tuckfield, widow of John Tuckfield, Esq. (sometime
Mayor of Exeter) by will, dated the 14th of June, 1568, be
queathed several lands and tenements to charitable uses : first,
to the Corporation of Tailors of this city, (as already men
tioned;) also to twenty poormaidens a noble each. And whereas
there were certain good debts due to her, to the value of £300,
she appointed by the same will that the same sum should be
paid to the Mayor and Receiver of the said city, to the Master
and Wardens of the said Company of Tailors, and to the
Governor and Treasurer of the Company of Merchant Adven
turers of the said city, for the time being, or their deputies,
to be employed for the following uses, that is to say : that on
the 20th day of July yearly, for ever, they shall deliver the
same unto such of the inhabitants and freemen of the said city
as to them shall seem convenient, by £5 or more, under £20,
for the space of two full years, by bond, paying Is. for the
same; and 20s. yearly to the said trustees, for their trouble, to
be paid by her feoffees out of the said lands. Also, she gave
to the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty of the said city two
tenements, the one in the parish of St. Petrock, then in the
possession of Mr. Nicholas Savery, Merchant, and the other
in St. Stephen's parish, then divided into two dwellings, one
being in the possession of John Gandy, and the other of
Richard Reynett, Barber, to this intent, that there should be
given and delivered one hundred dozen of bread to the poor
inhabitants of the said city and suburbs of the same, to the
sum of £5, viz : fifty dozen in the week before Easter, and
fifty dozen in the week before Christmas-day yearly, for ever,
to be carried to the dwelling-houses of the said poor people, in
the presence of the Mayor and Trustees; and £1 residue to

* Exeter received this donation in its turn, in the year 1802, and it was
distributed according to tbe will of the donor ; notice of its distribution having
several times previously been advertised in the public papers, by order of the
Chamber. — Signed, H. Ley, Town-Clerk.

408 THE HISTORY OF
Chap.VI. the said Mayor and Trustees for their trouble. And afterwards,
by her deed, dated the 31st of August, in the same year, she
gave and granted to twelve feoffees, their heirs and assigns for
ever, all those tenements and shops, with the appurtenances
adjoining, in the parish of St. Martin, near the Broad-gate,
then in possession of Edward Spicer, Goldsmith, Nicholas
Elwill and William Warren, Confectioners, to the uses in a
schedule annexed, specifying that the said feoffees, with the
rents, revenues, issues, and profits thereof, should cause to be
made aud delivered to twelve poor women, inhabitants of the
said city and county of the same, yearly, against the feast of
Christmas, twelve frocks of frieze, apt and meet for their
bodies ; and yearly, against the feast of Easter, twelve smocks
of new linen cloth, to be made and delivered unto them, or to
such others, according to the distinction of the said feoffees ;
and that they shall yearly, at the following feasts, viz : the
Ascension of our Lord, Pentecost, Midsummer, the Nativity
of our Lady, and All Saints, distribute of the said rents Is.
to twelve poor women of the said city, at their discretion,
viz : to every of them, at every of the said feasts, Id. and so
to do and continue for ever; and that an account be made
thereof yearly, on the 20th day of October; and appointed
£l 6s. 8d. for fees to the said feoffees. Also, that if any of
them are not present at the settling of the said accounts, their
shares, with all the other overplus of the said rents that shall
then remain unbestowed, should be from time to time disposed
and distributed among the poor people of the said city, as the
feoffees shall think good, whereof the said feoffees are to be
accountable. *
Alice Macey, widow, by will, dated 1578, bequeathed the
sum of £50 to the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty of
Exeter, to be lent unto poor tradesmen for three years, giving
good security for the repayment, t
John Bettie, Dyer, of Exe Island, by deed, dated the 8th
of March, 1569, granted to the Mayor, &c. and to their
successors for ever, an annuity or yearly rent of £5, to be
issuing out of certain lands, tenements, and hereditaments,
lying in Exe Island, (late the inheritance of Christian Chapman,
widow, deceased) being an Inn, called the Bell, then in pos
session of Sabina Holder, widow, and divers other tenements
there, which were afterwards purchased by William Martin,
Esq. as chantry lands, to be paid at the four most usual feasts

* This charity is but partly MRUeA.— Rights and Privileges, page 159.
t This is decayed.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 409
of the year, by equal portions, with a condition therein contained, Chap.VI.
that if the said annuity should be behind hand, or unpaid in part, 
or in the whole, the grantor or his heirs should forfeit 10s. with
power to distrain, as well for the said annuity as for the penalty.
This grant was made to fulfil the will of Christian Chapman,
as by several deeds made by her and her feoffees, still remaining
in the Council Chamber, fully appears.
John Peryam, Esq. (sometime Mayor) by will, dated 1571,
bequeathed to the Mayor, Bailiffs and Commonalty the sum of
100/. to be lent, free of interest, to two young merchants of the
said city for four years ; and to continue so for ever.*
Thomas Prestwood, Esq. (who died during his Mayoralty) by
will, dated 13th December, 1576, gave to the Corporation of
Merchants in this city, the sum of 40/. either for building an
alms-house for four poor people, or for providing some yearly
rent towards their relief, which said poor persons were to be
elected by the Mayor and Bailiffs of the said city for the time
being. Thomas Chappel, Esq. (sometime Mayor) by will, dated 22d
August, 1589, bequeathed to the Mayor, Bailiffs, &c. the sum
of 30/. to be paid within three years after his decease, by instal
ments of 10/. yearly, on the 20th day of July, upon trust, that
after the receipt thereof, the Mayor and Receiver, Governor and
Treasurer of the Company of Merchants, and the Master and
Wardens of the Tailors of the said city of Exeter, on the 20th
day of July, should yearly deliver forth the same unto six
inhabitants, freemen of the said city, as to the most part of
them should seem meet, by £5 each, for three years, upon
good sureties, as Mrs. Tuckfield's money is limited, and so to
be continued for ever.
Joan Cleveland, widow, of this city, by her last will, dated
the 24th of May, 1599, bequeathed as follows, viz : that out
of her estate the sum of £20 should be yearly paid to the
Mayor for the time being, upon the 20th of June next after
her decease, and so to continue for ten years, until the sum
amounted to £200, to be employed for the benefit of young-
beginners in trade, artificers of the said city, forever; and that
the Mayor should put out the money so paid in, to poor artificers,
on the 20th of July, yearly, from year to year, putting in good
securities for the repayment of the same, in such manner, and
as nearly agreeable as possible, to the will of Mrs. Joan Tuck
field, deceased, (sometime her mistress;) and that £100 of the
said £200 should be lent to poor Tailors; and the other £100

This money was received, but not applied.— Rights and Privileges.
M 5

4]0 THE HISTORY OF
Chap.VI. to other artificers ; with provision that such as should have any
- of the said money should not receive less than £5 nor more
than £10 each.*
Huqh May, Baker, of the parish of St. Lawrence, in this
city, by will, dated the 16th of September, 1592, appointed
that the Mayor and Bailiffs thereof should receive from his
executors £60, and that the said Mayor, &c. with the consent
of the Masters of the Corporations of Tuckers, Weavers, Shoe
makers, and Haberdashers of the said city, should deliver the
said £60 unto the poor artificers of the said Corporations,
and not unto any other, by £5 or £10, and no more to one
person ; taking bond for every of them, with two or three
sufficient securities for repayment of the same, at the end of
four years after the delivery thereof; and for payment of six
pence in the pound, thirty shillings in the whole, yearly, as
interest thereof, to the use of the poor of the said city, to be
distributed to them, on the 24th of March yearly, either in
money or victuals, at the discretion of the Mayor, by the hands
of the Bailiffs, or one of them, — to be so continued for ever.
And if the Mayor and Bailiffs should refuse or neglect to
perform the same, within six months after his decease, then he
willed that Thomas Chase, Gent, and Jasper Horsey, Merchant,
should perform the same.
Peter Blundell, Clothier, of Tiverton, by will, dated the
9th of July, 1599, bequeathed to the Mayor, Bailiffs, and
Commonalty of Exeter £900, to be paid by his executors
immediately after his decease, to be for ever continued to the
uses following : £500 the said Mayor, &c. should for ever, on
the Wednesday next after the feast of St. Michael the Arch
angel, put forth until the Wednesday next before the fourth
feast of St. Michael, then also next following, that is to say, for
four years (lacking six days) to twenty-five such poor artificers
and handicraftsmen, of honest reputation, continued dwellers
and householders within the said city, and suburbs of the same,
as to the said Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty should be
thought meet, that is to say, to each of them £20, taking good
security, such as they will answer for, for the repayment of the
principal, and also for £2 per cent, per annum as interest for
the same ; and if any decay should happen to be made, by
death or otherwise, supply to be made with other assurance, as
to the Mayor, Bailiffs, &c. shall be thought proper. The
other £400 to be lent unto twenty artificers, Weavers and
Tuckers, of the town of Tiverton, and in default of such to
others of honest trades, dwellers and householders in Tiverton

This charity is not fulfilled. — Rights and Privileges, page 43.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 4U
aforesaid, in like manner as before in Exeter; the said £400 Chap.VI.
always to be delivered by ten of the inhabitants of Tiverton 
taxed most to the subsidy, to be nominated to the Mayor,
&c. of Exeter aforesaid, twelve weeks at least before the
day limited for putting forth the same, having good security ;
and then the same to be put forth to twenty such persons of
Tiverton, as to the said Mayor, &c. should be thought proper,
as aforesaid; and as for the £18 interest, to be received yearly,
he willed that so long as there should be no decay of the said
£900 the same should be employed as follows, viz : to the
Town-Clerk 40s. for writing and keeping the accounts, (for that
no premium should be taken from any party receiving any of the
said stock, or fees for making his assistance;) and the £16
residue to the said Mayor, &c. for and towards their trouble in
disposing and preserving the said stock; and towards a supper,
always on the said Wednesday limited for the receipt of the
said money, to be taken where they think fit ; and towards one
dinner to them yearly, on St. Peter' s-day, in remembrance of
him ; and towards such other good uses as shall be thought
proper ; but when any decay shall be made of any of the said
stocks, then to go to the supply of every such decay, until the
said stock and stocks shall be made good again, and that course
to be observed for ever. Further, that if the said Mayor, &c.
should not accept the charge of the premises, that then his
executors should discharge the same ; and if any borrower
should make default of repayment that then he nor any of
his ever afterwards should have any benefit of the same; and
that no Baker, Brewer, Butcher, Tailor, Innkeeper, Vintner,
Tanner, Ale Seller, or Seller of any kind of Wares, should be
capable of having any part of the said money.*
Christopher Spicer, Merchant, of this city, by will, dated
the 17th of October, 1599, bequeathed to the Mayor, Bailiffs,
and Commonalty of Exon the sum of £100, to be paid by his
executors, in three succeeding years after his decease, upon
condition that they should deliver £40 of it to eight Weavers ;
£30 to three Butchers; and the remaining £30 to six Bakers, or
other artificers, dwelling in the county of the said city, at the
same time when they deliver forth Mrs. Tuckfield 's gift ; and
the same course to be kept for ever ; provided that if the said
Mayor, &c. do refuse or neglect to perform this trust, then the

* This donation is not fulfilled. The author of the Rights and Privileges
of the Freemen of Exeter mentions that he was then in possession of the
Chamber Bond, given to his grandfather in the year 1688, for £500 of the
said money. — Rights and Privileges, page 22.

412 THE HISTORY OF
Chap.VI. said £100 to be paid to the Governor, Consuls, and Society of
 Merchants, to be disposed of as aforesaid.*
William Spicer, Merchant, likewise of this city, by will,
dated the 1st of June, 1604, bequeathed to the Mayor, Bailiffs,
and Commonalty £60, to be lent by £5 each, to twelve poor
Weavers or Tuckers, inhabitants and freemen of the said city,
in such manner as Mrs. Tuckfield's money is disposed of. f
Nicholas Spicer, Esq. (twice Mayor) by deed, dated the 3rd
of March, 1609, granted unto twelve feoffees all his messuages,
called Slow, otherwise Slow Lake, in the parish of Halberton,
in the county of Devon, to hold to the said trustees, their
heirs and assigns for ever, to the use of the said Nicholas and
Honor his wife ; and after their decease, upon trust for the
payment of a yearly rent-charge of £20, unto Eleanor Brayley
during her life; and twenty shillings worth of bread to be dis
tributed to the poor people of this city, at or about the feast of
Easter, at their houses ; another ten shillings yearly towards
the reparation of the parish church of St. Mary Arches, in this
city; another ten shillings yearly towards the reparation of the
parish church of Halberton aforesaid, for ever; and of £2 for
the better maintenance of candlelight, in the dark nights,
between the feasts of All Saints and the Purification of the
blessed Virgin Mary; to be placed and setup in such conve
nient places of the said city as the Mayor and Aldermen should
think fit, and to be kept burning from the hours of six to ten
at night; and of 6s. 8d. yearly to the night bellmen, for ever;
and during the life of the said Eleanor, for the loans from
time to time of the residue of the issues and profits of the said
messuages to such of the freemen of the said city as the Mayor
and Aldermen should think proper, by £5 or £10 to each, for
four years or under, on good security for the repayment of the
same ; and after the decease of the said Eleanor, for the dis
bursements for ever of the residues of the issues and profits of
the said messuages, to such of the freemen of Exeter, as like
wise by the Mayor and Aldermen should be thought fit, by £10
or above, to £21 to each, for four years, or for a less time, on
good security for repayment as before ; and also for payment
* This donation is decayed. — Rights and Privileges, page 144.
t Decayed also. — Ibid. It may be here mentioned that the decay of these
and other considerable charities ought not to be attributed to the present
members of the Chamber, they having been sunk through the negligence or
avarice of their predecessors, for many years past ; however, gratitude to the
memory of those worthy and liberal benefactors to the wants of their poor
fellow Citizens, and justice lo the present age, impels me to give a just
and correct account of such benefactions, as far as they have come to my
knowledge.

THE CJTY OF EXETER. 413
of the fees following, viz : to the Mayor, yearly, £l ; to the Chap.VI.
Recorder 10s. ; to the Receiver and Stewards each Is. ; to each
of the Feoffees that should be present at making up the accounts
10s; to the Sword-Bearer Is. ; to each of the Sergeants 8d. ;
to the Town-Clerk, for keeping the accounts 10s. ; and to the
Chamberlain 3s. 4d. for their trouble in and about the per
formance of the said trust, and procurement of an accompt
yearly, for ever, on the 12th day of December, to be made ;
and afterwards, by his will, dated the 20th of August, 1629,
he desired that his wife, every year after his death, during her
life, on Good Friday, should deliver and give in bread £1 to
the poor of Halberton aforesaid, and £1 to the poor of this
city, to be continued by his feoffees for ever. *
Hugh Atwill, Clerk, in the year 1602, gave to the Mayor,
Bailiffs, &c. of this city, in trust, the sum of £6 13s. 4d.
to be lent out to one or more artificers of the said city, for
three years gratis, and so from three years to three years for
ever, f
Jane Hewet, widow, of Huxham, in the county of Devon,
by will, dated the 29th of September, 1603, bequeathed to the
Chamber of the city of Exon the sum of £10, to be employed to
such good uses as Mrs. Joan Tuckfield's money was ; which
said sum was paid in by Thomas Pengelly, her executor, the
20th of June, 1605.
Nicholas Hurst, Esq. of Exon, in the county of Devon,
by will, dated the 22nd of June, 1604, bequeathed to the poor
of this city the sum of £40, to be continued as a stock, and
employed by the direction of his executor ; which said bequest
being for many years concealed from the Chamber, and the pay
ment thereof delayed on demand, it was recovered on the
statute of charitable uses, with £30 damages, for interest due
thereon ; the sum of £6 7s. 8d. was expended in its recovery ;
and the sum of £63 12s. 4d. remaining was duly brought into
the Chamber, and paid to Mr. Walter Borough, the then
Mayor. John Pley, Merchant, late of this city, by will, dated the
23rd of May, 1609, bequeathed to the Mayor, Bailiffs, &c.
and to their successors for ever, an annuity or yearly rent of
£5, issuing out of two tenements in Lyme Regis, in the
county of Dorset, to be paid quarterly, by his heirs, in equal
portions, with power to distrain if the annuity be unpaid for two
months after being demanded, then the lands to be the property
* This property has been discontinued about eighty years; the rents whereof
were then received by Mr. Alderman Dewdney, the then accoroptant.— Rights
and Privileges, page 148.
t Sunk upwards of sixty year6.
N 5

414 THE HISTORY OF
Chap. VI. 0f the legatees aforesaid for ever ; to this intent that the said
 annuity of £5, or the said tenements, (the annuity being unpaid)
and all the profits thereof, should be by the said legatees spent
and employed only towards a lecturer, or preacher of God's
Word, in the Cathedral church of St. Peter, in Exeter, or
elsewhere in the said city, at morning prayer, or in the after
noon, or at both these times, upon the Sabbath-day ; or
towards erecting, founding, and maintaining an hospital within
the county of the said city, at the election and choice of the
said Mayor, &c. of Exon, for the time being, and to no other
use whatever.
Sir John Ackland, Knight, of Columb-John, in the county
of Devon, by his deed, dated the 2nd of January, 1609, gave
to the Mayor, &c. of Exon, the sum of £66 13s. 4d. towards
binding out fourteen poor boys, and six poor maids, apprentices,
born in the said city and county of Exon, in such manner and
sort as shall be thought by the said Sir John Ackland (during
his life) and the said Mayor, &c. to be most fitting and conve
nient ; and after his death by the said Mayor, &c. only, in
such manner and sort as the said Sir John Ackland has already,
or shall by his will and testament, under his hand and seal, set
down and appoint, for the continual binding out of twenty such
poor apprentices as aforesaid ; five marks to be always de
livered out with every apprentice boy to his master, and the like
with every maid. And afterwards the said Sir John Ackland,
by will, dated the 14th of September, 1609, confirmed the
same ; and ordered that the said apprentices, at the time of
their binding out as aforesaid, should not exceed the age of
fifteen years, and that at the end of the said term their
respective masters should pay 20s. unto the said apprentices.
Also, he enfeoffed certain members of the Chamber, in trust,
with the rectory and sheaf of Churchstow and Kingsbridge, in
the county of Devon, for and towards the purchasing of bread
for the poor of the undermentioned parishes, in this city and
county, viz : St. Sidtvell, yearly, £2 12s. ; St. Mary Major
£2 12s.; Holy Trinity £2 12s. ; Allhallows, Goldsmith-street
£1 6s.; Allhallows on the Walls £l 6s.; St. Lawrence £l 6s.
and to the Town-Clerk of the said city also, yearly, £1. Provided
that if the Churchwardens of the several parishes do not bring
in their several accounts yearly, to the Mayor and Recorder of
Exeter, then the said parishioners are to lose their next year's
pay, which, by the Mayor, Recorder, and two eldest Justices
of the said city, is to be distributed to the two next adjoining
parishes. He also bequeathed £16 per annum for the mainte
nance of two scholars in Exeter College, Oxford, to be
appointed and approved of by the Mayor of the said city,

THE CITY OF EXETER. 415
Recorder, Schoolmaster of the High School there, the Rector Chap.VI.
of Exeter College aforesaid, and the owner of Columb-John, ~===^=
or any three of them.
John Berryman, Gent, of Bishopstawton, in the county of
Devon, by will, dated the 20th of November, 1614, bequeathed
unto the Mayor, Bailiffs, &c. of this city the sum of £100,
upon good security, to be given to his executors, to the intent
that they and their successors should from time to time lend the
same to ten poor men, by trade Weavers or Tuckers, inhabitants
of the said city, viz: to every one of them £10, taking o-0od
security for the repayment of the same : and that at the end of
every year the said sum shall be received in, and again put
forth in like manner for one whole year, and no longer, and so
to continue for ever. *
Lawrence Bodley, D. D. one of the Canons Residentiary of
this Cathedral, by will, dated 1615, devised as follows : I do
will, and by this, my last will and testament, I give and be
queath to the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty of the city of
Exeter, the sum of £400, of lawful money of England, to be
paid by my executors, within four months after my decease, to
the use, intent, and purposes hereafter expressed, and herein
set down ; that is to say, my will and desire is that they with
the £400 do, within one year after my decease, procure and pur
chase as much land in fee-simple as shall be yearly worth, for
ever, the sum of £20, to be received for the continual and
yearly maintenance of a sufficient preacher, within the said city,
for ever, to be chosen by the said Mayor and his company of
the Chamber of the said city, and by them to be always
appointed to preach a sermon weekly, on the Sabbath day,
for ever, in such convenient places, within the said city, as
shall by them be procured, and best adapted for the edification
of the Citizens ; which said preacher so nominated shall have
sufficient testimonials, either from the Bishop of the Diocese,
or the Archbishop of Canterbury, of his conformity to the
laws of the realm. This lecture was continued many years by
the interest of the said £400, as a convenient purchase could
not presently be met with ; but afterwards, by the addition
of £200 more, the donation of Thomas Mogridge, Merchant,
of this city, the school and rectory of Hennock, with the
vicarage there, were purchased for the uses above-mentioned,
of  Southcott, Esq.
Ralph Hamor, Merchant Tailor, and Citizen of London, by
will, dated the 5th of August, 1615, bequeathed to the Mayor
and Chamber of this city £100, to be by them lent unto two

* Sunk for upwards of sixty years.

416

THE HISTORY OF

Chap.VI. young men, new beginners, using the trade of Merchants, to
- each of them £50, free of interest, for the term of seven years,
only paying to the Town-Clerk 3s. 4d. for making out the
bond, and putting in good security to the Mayor and Chamber
for the repayment of the same, at the end of the said term ;
and if either of the parties to whom the said £50 shall be so lent
shall die, decay, or depart this city, and reside elsewhere,
within the seven years, that then in every such case the sureties
shall repay and bring unto the Mayor and Chamber for the time
being the £50, within two months next after such dying, decay
ing, or departing the city as aforesaid, whereby the same might
be lent out in like manner, according to the intent of the said
will. There was only £75 paid of this legacy by the executors
of Mr. Hamor, and that part was recovered by the care and
diligence of the then Chamber; which sum was lent for many
years to two young Merchants, in equal portions of £37 10s.
to each.* William Martin, Esq. (sometime Mayor) bequeathed by will,
dated the 20th of August, 1609, to the Chamber of this city
£20, to be lent to two or four young artificers, from three
years to three years, after the manner of Mrs. Tuckfield 's; and
that those who shall receive this £20 shall, on their first
receipt, pay five shillings, to be divided as follows, viz : to the
Mayor twelve pence ; to the Receiver eight pence ; to the Town-
Clerk and Chamberlain sixpence each ; to the three Stewards
twelve pence ; to the Sword-Bearer four pence ; to the four
Sergeants at Mace eight pence ; and to the four Beadles
four pence, f
Walter Borough, Esq. (twice Mayor) a great benefactor to
the poor of this city, by his deed, dated the 28th of October,
1625, enfeoffed twelve members of the Common Council, and
their heirs and successors, with certain lands and tenements in
the parish of St. Paul, within the city of Exon, then of the
value of £30 and upwards, to the uses following : that the
feoffees and their heirs, with the rents, issues, and profits of
the said lands, should yearly, for ever, against the feast of
All Saints, provide and give to eight poor men, of the said
city and county, eight gowns of good black cotton, and against
the feast of Easter eight shirts ; t also £20 yearly towards the
maintenance of the poor children in St. John's Hospital; and
for the better performance of his said will he appointed that
* This donation has not been fulfilled for upwards of seventy years. 
Rights and Privileges, page 83.
t This is also sunk.
X This part of the benefaction is now disused.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 417
regular accounts thereof be kept and settled yearly, on the Chap.VI.
20th of October, appointing one to receive the said rents, keep =====
the accounts, and oversee the reparation of the houses, allowing
him twenty shillings yearly for his trouble, and five shillings
vearlv to the Town-Clerk, for entering the said accounts in a book
fairly, and seeing the same safely laid up; and to every one of the
members of the Common Council, for subscribing his name, one
shilling. And when the said feoffees should be reduced to four,
a new assurance should be made to twelve others of the said
Common Council, and so to continue for ever. He also, by his
will, dated March, 1630, (besides other charities) bequeathed
£30 to the poor of this city ; £30 more to thirty poor house
keepers ; £100 to purchase lands, the yearly profits of which
he devised should for ever be appropriated to the benefit of the
poor of this city, and distributed in bread, beef, wood, or
coals, against the feasts of Christmas and Easter; £100 more
towards erecting and endowing a free Latin Grammar School in
the said city; £10 more towards bringing water to the conduits
thereof; £120 to the Company of Merchants, to be lent to six
persons, free of the said city and company, £20 to each, for
three years ; 20 marks to twenty poor maid servants, for their
better preferment; and £10 more towards the reparation of the
highways ; he likewise presented to the Chamber four muskets,
with their rests, and four corslets, with their head-pieces.
Rebecca Borough, widow and relict of the said Walter
Borough, during her lifetime, (already mentioned) gave the
sum of £200 to St. John's Hospital; and also, by deed, dated
the 1st of October, 1649, granted unto twelve trustees all that
tenement, called Nadder, in the parish of Whitstone, in the
county of Devon, reputed a parcel of the Manor of Hallesf or d,
subject to a lease for four hundred years, at the yearly rent of
£20; and also one annuity or yearly rent-charge of £10, issuing
out of the said premises, to the following uses: that the trustees,
and the survivors of them, out of the rents, issues, and profits
of the said tenement, should yearly pay and distribute to and
among six or more honest housekeepers, of the said city and
county, either old men, and such as by casual means are
become poor, or young men of honest life and conversation,
such as are natives of the said city or county, or that had
honestly served an apprenticeship in the same, being indus
trious to live, but not having wherewith to prefer themselves,
such reasonable sums of money whereby every such person
mio-ht be enabled the better to maintain himself and family,
not° exceeding the sum of £5, nor less than £3, to any such
person, as the free gift of the said Rebecca Borough according
to the trustees' discretion, and so far as the said rents will
extend to, and no further, (all necessary charges in and about
O 5

418

THE HISTORY OF

Chap.VI. the execution of the said trust, or the defence and maintenance
- of the title of the land, first deducted and allowed.) No
person who has had the benefit of the said gift is to have the
same again within six years after ; nor is it to be disposed of
but by the major part of the trustees subscribing their names.
A new feoffment to be made from time to time by the four
surviving trustees, for perpetuating this pious and charitable
work. *
John Peryam, Esq. (sometime Mayor of this city) son of
the aforementioned John Peryam, Esq. by deed, dated the
20th of October, 1616, did covenant that before the feast of
St. Andrew the Apostle then next ensuing he would pay and
deliver to the Mayor, &c. the sum of £1000, lawful money of
England, (and a silver bason and ewer) to be ordered and dis
posed of by them for ever, in such manner as should be declared
bv him in a schedule annexed, which the said Mayor, &c.
covenanted to perform, faithfully, and without any partiality ;
and by the said schedule he ordered the said bason and ewer to
be for ever preserved to the use of the said city ; and that the
Mayor, Bailiffs, &c. should retain to themselves £100, partof
the £1000, for payment of the city debts, or otherwise, as they
should think fit. He also requested that £100, heretofore
bequeathed by his father, might be added to the £900 residue;
and that upon <S'r. Andrew s-day then next following, and so
for ever afterwards, upon the said day in every year, the £1000
should be lent to five Merchant Adventurers, trading beyond
the seas, (not to shopkeepers, trading by retail) and free of
the city and Corporation of Merchants there, inhabitants
thereof, especially unto them of the meaner sort, that were
born, or had been apprentices therein ; not excluding any that
should be decayed in his estate by losses at sea, (except he
had been a bankrupt, or had lavishly spent his estate, or
compounded with his creditors for less than he was able to pay;)
no person who had been married, or was a widower, except he
had one child or more ; nor any person that had declined trade
for the space of two whole years or more next before to
receive the said loans : each of the said merchants to receive
£200, and to find three sufficient sureties to the satisfaction of
the Mayor, Recorder, and Common Council, or the major part
of them, and to be bound in double the sum for the repayment,
on the 24th day of November, in the third year following, and
such other conditions as they shall think fit; no one to be

* The will of the donor of this charity is strictly fulfilled by the present
trustees; and the money is annually distributed in the week before Christmas.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 419
accepted as a surety but for £200 only, and no one that has Chap.VI.
the loan of £200 to be capable of receiving it again at the next
putting forth : every person that has the 200/. is to pay, on
receiving the same, to the Warden of the Magdalen, without the
South-gate, £5 6s. 8d. for its use the first year, and to give
bond, with one good security, for the payment of the like
sum on the 24th of November in each of the two latter years,
amounting in the whole to £26 13s. 4d. : that the said Warden,
by the advice and consent at least of two Justices of the Peace
of the said city, shall from time to time disburse and lay out
20/. thereof yearly, for relieving such sick poor people, inhabiting
within the said city, and in the parishes of St. David, St.
Edmund, and the Holy Trinity, as cannot, by reason of their
great poverty, relieve themselves ; and also for easing and
curing such poor people so inhabiting, who, by any casual
accident, should break any bone, dislocate any joint, receive
any bruise or hurt, or be grieved with any ulcer, cancer,
dangerous sore, or the like ; the same to be continued only
during the time of such sickness or impediment. And the same
Warden shall keep a regular account of his receipts and dis
bursements; and in every year, on the 24th of November, shall
he produce the same, fairly engrossed on parchment, subscribed
with his name, and present it in the Council Chamber, to the
Mayor, Recorder, and Common Council, or the greater number
of them, whom he entreated to be present at the time, giving
power to the Mayor and Recorder to appoint deputies. The
said Mr. Peryam, also appointed the following fees to be then
paid, viz: to the Warden, for his trouble, £1 12s.; to the
Mayor (next before the settling the account) 10s.; to the Re
corder 10s. ; to the seven Justices of the Peace each 6s; to
the Town-Clerk and Chamberlain each 3s. ; to the rest of the
Common Council £1 10s. ; and to the Sword-Bearer and four
Sergeants at Mace 8d. each. And if any of those be absent
at the time of settling the said accounts they are to be mulcted
of their pay ; and the surplus, if any, to be delivered over to
the succeeding Warden of the Poor, as aforesaid.*
Sir Richard Lawdry Bauncraft, (killed in the service of
Charles I. and who was married to Susanna, widow of Nicholas
Martyn, Esq. sometime Mayor) by his will, dated the 15th of

* The produce of this great and eminent charity was for many years received
by Alderman Hickman, who kept the Magdalen accounts ; and there was, in the
year 1736, a considerable sum in his hands, to the amount of several hundred
pounds, unaccounted for. — Rights and Privileges, page 134.

420

THE HISTORY OF

Chap.VI. August, 1642, bequeathed to the poor of Exeter £100, to be
;^===: paid by his widow and executrix, within twelve months after
his decease. This money being detained, and the bequest
concealed for many years, his executrix, after being applied
to for the same, agreed to pay the money unto the Chamber
of Exon, on condition of its be'ing employed as Mr. Peryam's
money was. *
Thomas Walker, Esq. (twice Mayor) by his will, dated the
20th of November, 1628, gave to his executors £400, in trust
that they therewith should, in one year after his decease,
procure from the Mayor and Common Council of the city
one annuity or yearly rent-charge out of the city lands, of such
yearly value as they shall agree on ; and in default of such
agreement, then to bestow the said £400 in lands, and convey
the same unto the said Mayor and Common Council, or such
others as they shall appoint, to and for the uses hereafter men
tioned, and no other, that is to say : the one moiety towards
founding, erecting, and yearly endowing a free Grammar School
within the said city, whereby the children of freemen might be
freely instructed in the Latin tongue ; and the other moiety to
be employed yearly towards the relief of the poor people of the
aforesaid city, in such manner and to such purposes as the
yearly gift of John Peryam was used, with a desire to the
Mayor and Common Council that the same might be accepted,
paid, and ordered by the Warden of the Magdalen and Justices
of the Peace, in all things as Mr. Peryam's was ; and an
account thereof to be yearly given, on the 24th of November ;
and for the writing and regular keeping of the said account
he ordered that the Town-Clerk of the said city should receive
an annual rent-charge, fee, or pension of ten shillings, to be
for ever issued out of his tenement situate in the parish of
St. Mary Arches, to be paid annually, upon the 24th day of
November, f
James Tucker, Esq. (sometime Mayor) by will, dated the
10th of June, 1643, bequeathed to the Chamber £100, to be
laid out in land ; and the annual profits accruing therefrom to
be for ever appropriated to the benefit of the sick and needy,
especially to those who accidentally break their limbs, or are
incapacitated from labour through lameness; and he devised,
as the parishioners of St. Sidwell are deprived of the benefit
of Mr. Peryam's and Mr. Walker's gifts, the whole of the profits

* This money was never applied to any charitable use— Riqhts and Privileqes,
page 101. V "a ,
t The moiety of this £400, to be applied as Mr. Peryam's gift was designed,
has been sunk for sixty years, or upwards.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 42i
of the said legacy he bestowed on the poor of the said parish ; Chap.VI.
and also that some charitable member would keep the account =====
for them, to be made out on paper, without any cost or charge ;
and the benefit of this £100 to be paid out by a note under
one or two Justices hands; the said money to be paid unto the
Chamber within six months after his decease.
Thomas Ford, Esq. (late Mayor) by will, dated the 11th
of May, 1659, devised as follows : — Item. I give and devise
unto the Chamber of Exeter £250, to be employed towards
erecting and settling an Hospital, for the maintenance and
curing of poor, sick, lame, and wounded persons, inhabitants of
the city and county of Exeter, who have no means or friends
to help and assist them in their sad conditions ; and towards
the payment of a Physician, Surgeon, and Nurses, to attend
the said poor people, until they shall be cured or recovered,
according to the maimer and order of St. Thomas's Hospital, in
Southwark. The said money to be paid within twelve months
after my decease ; and after the payment, until the said Hos
pital shall be erected, to be lent out, and the profits thereof to
be employed in such manner as Mr. Peryam and others have
ordained several sums of their gifts.*
Richard Evans, Esq. (late Mayor of this city) by his will,
dated the 30th of March, 1659, devised as follows: — Item. I
give unto the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty of the city of
Exeter, for the time being, and their successors, the sum of
£500 ; I say £500 to be added to Mr. Peryam's gift, upon this
trust and confidence that they the said Mayor, Bailiffs, and Com
monalty, and their successors for ever, shall lend the said monies
to honest and frugal artificers of the city and county aforesaid,
upon good security, under the common interest of money, not
exceeding £100 to one man, for three years ; which profit of
employment so to be taken shall be given to such poor people
of the city and county aforesaid, from time to time, as two
Justices of the Peace of the said city shall sign and appoint; and
the accounts thereof to be made -at the same time and place,
yearly, as Mr. Peryam's are ; and that there shall be expended
and taken yearly to every Common Councilman then present,
signing the said accounts, Is ; and to the Town-Clerk, for
making out the said accounts, 6s. 8c/. This £500 to be paid
by my son Nicholas, his executors or assigns, within one year
after my decease. Provided always, that if I pay inxthe same,

» No such Hospital having been erected for many years after this donation
was made the money was sunk.— Rights and Privileges, pag« 67.
i* 5

422

THE HISTORY OF

Chap.VI. or any part thereof, by any other means during my lifetime,
 then my intent and purpose is that so much of the £500 as shall
be so paid, or secured to be paid, shall cease to all intents and
purposes. I have secured £300, part of this legacy, to be paid
by Giles Moore, the younger, in my lifetime. *
Robert Walker, Esq. (sometime Mayor) by will, dated the
10th of February, 1663, bequeathed to the Mayor and Common
Council £100, to be paid within a year after his death, and to
be bestowed in lands, within six months after they shall have
received the same ; and the yearly issues and profits to be em
ployed in such manner and to such uses as the moiety of the
gifts of Thomas Walker, his father, deceased, has been, and
is employed, for the benefit of the poor.
Catherine Gifford, widow and relict of Thomas Gifford,
Esq. of Halesbury, by will, dated the 10th of March, 1665,
bequeathed unto the poor of Exeter the sum of £100, to be
kept in stock or store by the Chamber of the said city, and
by them to be so employed that the yearly profit or benefit of
it might be bestowed on six poor widow women of the said
city, such as my executor, Nicholas Leach, shall think fit:
and the said £100 to be paid to the Chamber as soon as my
executor shall receive the money now due to me from John
Gifford, Esq. of Halesbury, which money was accordingly
brought in. f
WilliamBruin, Merchant, late of this city, by will, dated the
4th of April, 1675, devised as follows: — Item. I give to the
Mayor and Aldermen of the said city £100, to be by them
bestowed in and about the new-erected workhouse of the said
city, and to set the poor therein to work ; which said legacy is
to be paid within six months after my decease.
Nicholas Broking, Esq. (sometime Mayor) by will, dated
the 5th of October, 1666, bequeathed tinto the Mayor and
Common Council, and their successors for ever, the sum of
£400, for and towards purchasing some lands of inheritance,
of the yearly value of £20, to them and their successors for
ever, for such ends and uses as are hereafter expressed, that
is to say: to the end that any two Justices and Aldermen
of the said city, for the time being, shall dispose of the rents
and annual profits of the said lands, for ever, to such poor,
sick, weak, and impotent persons of the said city as the said
Justices shall think fit; and my will further is that before the

* This money was paid into the then Chamber, but never applied according
to the will of the donor; and not a farthing interest given to the uses directed.
— Rights and Privileges, page 63.
t This charity has been decayed for upwards of seventy years.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 423
said £400 shall be laid out and bestowed in the purchase of Chap.VI.
lands as aforesaid, that £20 yearly, for the interest and profits
thereof, should be employed by the said two Justices and Alder
men for the relief of the said weak, sick, and impotent persons,
of the said city, in manner aforesaid ; also he devised that just
accounts of the distribution and profits of this legacy be kept
in such manner and form as those of Thomas Walker and
John Peryam are appointed to be made and kept in their
several respective wills, in reference to the gifts and bequests
to the said city. He also bequeathed £100 to be distributed
at the discretion of his executors, immediately after his decease,
to such poor people of the said city and county as they should
think fit.*
Elizabeth Dowrich, widow and relict of  Dowrich, Esq.
of Dowrich, in the county of Devon, by her last will, gave to
the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty of this city the sum of
£100, to be bestowed in land, and the profits thereof, computed
at £5 per annum, to be distributed as Walkers (her father)
gift is ; one moiety thereof to the poor people who are sick,
maimed, or hurt, at the discretion of two Justices of the Peace
of the said city, by a note under their hands ; the other moiety
towards erecting and maintaining a free Latin Grammar School,
within St. Johns Hospital, in this city.f
John Bury, Clerk, one of the Canons Residentiary of the
Cathedral of St. Peter, Exeter, by will, dated the 15th of June,
1667, devised as follows: — Item. I give and bequeath £10, to
be distributed the day after my funeral, among the poor of my
parish of St. Mary Michael, alias St. Mary the Moor, within
this city, who have weekly pay towards their relief ; and that
I may return some farther tribute of thankfulness to my most
gracious God, for his singular goodness towards me, that if,
within twenty years after the date of this my will, there shall
be founded/ erected, and established, within the parish of
St. Sidwell, in the county of the said city, a convenient and
sufficient Workhouse, wherein all the poor people of that
parish, that shall be able to work, shall be maintained therein,
and kept to work, then, and as long as the employment shall be
continued, I give, devise, and bequeath unto the Master,
Governor, Steward, Treasurer, or Receiver of the said Work
house that shall be so erected, by and within the time aforesaid,

» Lands were purchased with this £400 ; the profits of which were, in the
year 1732, received by Alderman Hickman, but not applied according to the
will of the donor.— Rights and Privileges, page 37.
t The first £50 moiety of this gift has been sunk upwards of seventy
years. — Rights and Privileges, page 60.

424 THE HISTORY OF
Chap.VI. for the time being, for ever, the annual or yearly rent of £40,
 to be paid quarterly, by equal portions, out of my lands and
estate hereafter mentioned, viz : £30 thereof to be issuing,
due, and payable out of the Barton of Netherstover, alias
Netherstofford, in the parish of Colyton Rawleigh, in the
county of Devon ; and £8 8s. more thereof, which I have
already made in my deed to the Dean and Chapter of St.
Peter, in Exon, bearing date the 12th of May, in the seven
teenth year of his Majesty's reign, as the remainder of the
rent of £25 per annum, among other charitable uses therein
mentioned, issuing out of my tenement in the parish of
Tiverton, commonly called Rock, alias Woodend; and the other
£1 12s. residue thereof to be issuable, due, and payable out of
that little messuage and cottage, with its appurtenances, situate
and being in Broadnymet, after the decease of Elizabeth
Lethbridge. John Martyn, Esq. (late Mayor of this city) by will-, dated
the 15th of October, 1669, bequeathed to the Mayor, Bailiffs,
and Commonalty of Exeter £400, to be paid by his executor,
in one year after his decease, in good and lawful money of
England ; and if it shall happen that in the said time the said
£400 be not paid unto the said Mayor, &c. that then it shall
and may be lawful for the said Mayor, &c. to enter and take
possession of two pieces of land, in the parish of St. Thomas
the Apostle, commonly called Wood Meadows, and the inheri
tance thereof to be theirs for ever ; and the interest and profits
arising from the said £400 should for ever be appropriated
towards binding out poor children, natives of this city and
county, apprentices, at the discretion of the Mayor and Justices
of this city of Exeter.
Philip 'Whitrow, by will, dated the 10th of May, 1592,
bequeathed to the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty of the city
the sum of £16, to be by them disposed of and lent out to
four poor artificers, in equal portions of £4 each, they giving
good security for the repayment thereof at three years' end, on
the 20th of June, that the same might be again disposed of to
others for the like term; and in this manner the said benevolence
is to be continued for ever.*
Christopher Lethbridge, Esq. (sometime Mayor of this city)
a great benefactor to the poor, as already related,! among
other benefactions, by his last will, dated the 17th November,
1669, gave to the Mayor and Common Council of the said city,

* Decayed.
t See Lethbridge's alms-houses, page 380; and the parish of St. Marti Arches,
page 386. *

THE CITY OF EXETER. 425
and their successors for ever, all his messuages, lands, tenements, Chap.VI.
rents, annuities, and hereditaments whatsoever, with the ap- ¦-
purtenances thereunto belonging; and all his part, property,
and portion of his messuages, lands, tenements, and heredita
ments situate lying and beina; in the several parishes of St.
Thomas the Apostle and of Neivton Abbot, in the county of
Devon, or either of them, or which are issuing and payable to
him, his heirs, executors, or assigns, out of any messuages,
lands, or tenements, lying in the said parishes, or either of
them : in trust, nevertheless, that they the said Mayor and
Common Council, and their successors, shall for ever hereafter
dispose of the rents, issues, and profits of the said premises
in such manner as is hereafter expressed, that is to say : £6
thereof to be yearly, for ever, employed and disposed of in
such manner as the gift of one Peryam, deceased, (sometime
one of the Aldermen of the said city) is disposed and employed1;
also, £15 12s. of the said rents for a yearly endowment of
his new-erected alms-houses, in the parish of the Holy Trinity.
He also willed and ordered that one honest person be appointed
to collect the rents of the said premises, and to dispose of the
same according to his will, allowing him, for his trouble in
keeping and passing a fair account thereof to the Mayor and
Common Council, a salary of forty shillings yearly, for so long
a time as he shall continue so to do : also, that the Mayor, and
such members of the Common Council who should be present
at the settling and passing the said accounts should receive
one shilling each ; and the Town-Clerk, if also present, two
shillings and sixpence ; also, that the residue of the yearly
rents and profits of the said premises, after the said alms
houses being repaired, and other incidental charges of the said
premises being discharged and paid, shall be for ever yearly
paid to the Governors of St. John's Hospital, in the said city,
towards the maintenance of one or more poor boy or boys
there, or for the binding out of apprentices from thence, at the
discretion of the Governors. He also bequeathed to the poor
of the city and county of Exeter, who had weekly relief, £40,
to be proportioned to each parish according to the number of
their poor, by his executors in trust, to be distributed at or
soon after his funeral, by the several Overseers of their respective
parishes. Also, to one hundred tradesmen of the said city and
comity, having each a wife and child, or children, £100, to be
equally divided between them, and paid within one year after
his decease ; desiring that six or eight of the said poor men
might be nominated from St. Mary Arches' parish, by the
Mayor aud Common Council.

Q 5

4-26 PARISHES ADJACENT TO
Chap.VI. In 1676 Mr. Robert Phipps, Merchant, of Exeter, left by
will £30 per annum to trustees, for the relief of ten poor
tradesmen of the said city, to be distributed annually, in £3 to
each, to provide such tradesmen with a set of tools ; or a small
sum which, if well improved, would contribute towards the
support of themselves and families, and, by degrees, render
them useful membersof the community. The present trustees
are William Kennaway, Esq. the Rev. James Manning; and
Mr. Pope.16

PARISHES ADJACENT TO EXETER.
St.Thomas. St. Thomas the Apostle. This parish is contiguous to the
city, being separated from it only by the river Exe, over which
is the New Bridge ; but it is and ever was independent of the
city government, being a parcel of the county of Devon. The
part nearest to the city consists principally of three streets,
leading to different roads, the longest of which has a westerly
direction, and is termed Cowick-street ; that to the south is
named A Iphing ton-street ; and the other branches nearlv north,
and, from being the road to, is called Oakhampton-street ; in
these streets are many good houses, and large shops; and
were it not for its vicinity to Exeter this parish would appear as
a large country town.
The church, which is situate on the south side of Cowick-
street, is large and well built, consisting of a nave, chancel,
a large aisle on the south side, and a smaller one on the north ;
it is neatly pewed, and has a large convenient gallery. The
tower, which is at the west end, is embattled and lofty,
with a small spire ; it contains a good peal of six bells, a
clock and dial.
Before the Reformation the parish church was the priory
church of Cowick ; but the inhabitants in general resorted to a
chapel, situate near the river, dedicated to Thomas a Becket,
Archbishop of Canterbury: this chapel being situate in a damp
marshy spot, much subject to inundations of the river, the
inhabitants petitioned for a removal, f which being complied
* This trust is annually performed.
X According to tradition the site of the ancient chapel was iu Ford's garden,
visihlelt T''l fft °f * S,°"e "'""' with some frnndatioiii, were lately
visible near the edge of the river.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 427
with, the new erected edifice was dedicated to St. Thomas the Chap.VI.
Apostle* According to Bishop Stafford's Register the first parish church
was erected about the year 1418.
There are several monuments ; and upon the walls are fixed
several banners, achievements, and armorial trophies, chiefly
of the families of Gould, Buller, and Northmore.
The following inscriptions are mostly deserving notice : — •
Against the south wall is a large stone monument, badly
executed, on which is this inscription : — M. S. Hicjacet corpus
Thomas Northmore armigeri Johannie Nor.thmore (de Well in
parochia South Tawton, in hoe comitatu generosi semper fidelis)
filii legis consiliarii et senatus Britaniei nuperdecoris ; qui tres
duxituxores, videlicet D .nam Pridham, D. nam Andrews, &D.nam
Saint Aubyn ; ex prima genuit binas filias quorum altera
moritur tenella, altera superstes hoe mausolaum posuit, ut
gratitudinis officiiq ; pignus in mortuum charissimumq . patrem ;
qui obiit die 25 Julii, annoq domini 1713. — En veterem
senatorum ecclesia, patria et corona fidelem qui nunquam
suffragium vendidit nee male lulit suum; ad augustiorem
falicioreneq : senatum migrasse speramus : ubi deus ipse
(plaudentibus calicolis) omnipotenti manusceptrum tenet.
Near this monument is a small decorated white marble tablet,
bearing this inscription : — Sacred to the memory of Mrs.
Fanshawe, whose excellent understanding, unfeigned piety,
exemplary virtue, happily blended with the most amiable and
domestic endowments, rendered her loss a sore affliction to her
surviving friends. She was the wife of Charles Fanshawe,
Esq. Barrister-at-Law, and daughter of John Seale, Esq. of
Mount Boone, in the county of Devon, by Elizabeth, daughter
of John Fownes, Esq. of Netherway, in the same county,
and, with two of her children, viz: Elizabeth Maria, aged
two years, and Robert Henly, aged six months, lie interred in
the vault beneath.
Against the same wall is a very elegant marble monument,
on which is this just eulogium to the memory of James Buller,
Esq. of Shillingham, in the county of Cormvall, and Dowries,
in the county of Devon, who departed this life February 11th,
1772, aged 31 ; and Husey, his wife, who died September 26th,
1768, aged 31.
The cherub, charity, in their hearts enshrin'd,
" Breath'd faith in God, and love to all mankind,"
Taught them to soothe the pangs of deep distress,
To melt at others grief, to pity, and to bless.
* The fair or revel is still held on the Tuesday after the 7th of July, that day
being dedicated in our calendars to Thomas a Becket.

428

PARISHES ADJACENT TO

Chap.VI. Lovd and lamented, in life's smiling bloom,
" They sunk resigned, and found an early tomb !
Their days benevolence and peace endeared,
Their nights congratulating conscience cheer d ;
And all their prospects bright'ning to the last,
Their heaven commenc'd ere this vain world was past.
On the north wall of the nave there is a large monument,
enriched with sculpture, and bearing this inscription : —
H. S. E. Gulielmus Williams, M. D. virartis sua singulari
scientia preaditus.—Quid prastitit, si quaras, eorum testentur
Caehryma quorum valetudini dum nimis studiose inserviebat
ipse suamperdidit, Mortemque. acceberavit. — Obiit V . Kelend:
Maii, anno MDCCXL. JEtatis sua 59. — Marensfilius nalu
maximuspro pietate qua patrem clarissimum coluit, hoemarmor
memoria saerum esse votuit.
And against the south wall of the chancel is fixed a marble
monument, on which is inscribed : — Sacred to the memory of
Mrs. Elizabeth Williams, relict of William Williams, of the
city of Exeter, M. D. who departed this life the 25th of June,
1776, aged 11 years. She was the daughter of Joseph Oliver,
o/Exwick, Esq. and the last of that respectable family. In
her were united the christian and the social virtues ; the best
of parents, a sincere friend, a cheerful companion, and a
liberal benefactress to the poor. In the same vault are interred
John, Oliver, William, Benjamin, William, and Bridget, sons
and daughter of the above William Williams, and Elizabeth his
wife. Anne, relict of Samuel Newte, of Tidcombe, Clerk;
Eliza, relict of David Hamilton, of Bristol, Merchant; William,
son of David Hamilton, Esq. and Bridget his wife; in dutiful
respect and affectionate regard caused this monument to be
erected, in the year 1781.
This parish is a vicarage, formerly belonging to the Priory
of Cowick; it was granted, at the Reformation, to John Lord
Russell, in which family it continued through a long descent.
The present patron is James Buller, Esq. Incumbent, Rev.
John Bradford Copplestone. First fruits, £11 2s. 8\d. Yearly
tenths, £l 2s. 3|rf. *

* During Cromwell's usurpation marriages were performed by Justices of the
Peace. The following curious extract is taken from the parish register of
that time : — " On the S\st of March, 1657, were married Richard Hooper, of this
parish, Woolcomber, and Elizabeth Baker, servant to Richard Bulford, of the
parish of Alphington, Spinster, by the Right Worshipful John Quick, Esq. ami
Justice of the Peace for this county." '1 he same register gives an account of nine
other marriages in the same manner, from the aforesaid 31st of March to th»
12th of September following.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 429
Near the church are several small habitations for the aged Chap.VI.
poor, who are maintained by the parishioners ; but we do not 
find that they have any other endowment. Near the Moreton
Turnpike is a large and convenient Workhouse, where the aged
and orphan poor are comfortably provided for; their appearance
in general is much cleaner and more healthy than that of others
on similar foundations.
It is with great pleasure we mention another public and Lanatio
charitable institution, the Lunatic Asylum. Of all the calami- iWum-
ties incident to human nature no one is more deplorable than
the deprivation of those exalted faculties that more especially
distinguish man from the animal creation. Every species of
this disorder produces a degree of distress peculiarly humiliating,
makes the most forcible appeal to our best feelings, and calls
for our deepest compassion. To place such objects under the
care of skilful Physicians, and the protection of gentlemen who
shall be influenced by the most benevolent motives, is a benefit
to society, and a great relief to private families. With these
views subscriptions were began about the year 1795 ; and in
1800 a neat mansion called Bowhill-house was purchased, just
without the Moreton Turnpike, and converted into an Asylum
for Lunatics, on account of its local situation, peculiarly
calculated for the four western counties ; but patients are
admitted from any part of the kingdom, on very easy terms,
proportioned to their ranks in life. It was opened the 1st of
July, 1801, but containing only about fifteen wards it was found
necessary to erect a large additional edifice adjoining the old
one, and capable of containing about thirty-fi\e wards, with
correspondent offices, the first stone of which was laid on the
29th day of March, 1803, by the Rev. James Manning, the
Vice-President. The institution has been liberally encouraged
by the friends of humanity, and promises to be a permanent
and comfortable asylum for the distressed and distressing part
of the community. The institution is managed by a President,
Vice-President, and Treasurer, with a Committee, elected
annually, of ten Governors, benefactors of ten guineas each ;
also a Physician, who attends at least twice a week, and
oftener if called upon ; and a Surgeon w*en occasionally
required. The house establishment consists of an Apothecary,
a Keeper, and Matron, three men and four women servants.
By the fourth annual report, to the 30th day of June, 1805, it
appeared that eighty-nine patients had been admitted since the
opening of the house, whereof 46 had been discharged cured ;
2 went to their friends on trial ; 4 went out with benefit, at the
request of their friends; 3 were discharged as improper objects;
8 deceased; 26 remained in the house, 20 much recovered,
and 6 not worse than when admitted ; total 89.
R 5

430 PARISHES ADJACENT TO
Chap.VI. In Cowick-street is the Bridewell for the county of Devon;
 this is a large ancient building, strong and well calculated for
the purposes to which it is appropriated, having received of late
years great and additional improvements ; the Governor has a
convenient house and large gardens ; a Clergyman and an
Apothecary are appointed by the Justices of the county of
Devon, and have handsome salaries for their attendance on the
prisoners. This building seems to have been erected in the
fourteenth century, and, according to tradition, was a mansion-
house, belonging to John Holland, Duke of Exeter, and con
verted to its present use in the reign of Elizabeth.
Almost opposite to the Bridewell stands the Sheriff's Ward,
or Prison for Debtors for the county of Devon; it is surrounded
by a lofty stone wall, enclosing a green plat of ground planted
with lofty elms ; the building, though large in itself, is ill
adapted to the convenience of the numerous debtors of this
extensive county, as they are too often crowded together in a
miserable and filthy manner ; and, as no donations have been
bequeathed to this prison, nor any subsistence allowed by the
county, they are frequently driven to the greatest distress, and,
to the disgrace of humanity, unable to procure even the common
necessaries of life.
At the western extremity of Cowick-street is an ancient
house, called, according to Sir William Pole, from its situation
below the hill, Bowhill. This building bears evident marks of
antiquity, and has a desecrated chapel remaining. In the reign
of Henry VI. it was the residence of Richard Holland, Esq.
whose grand-daughter, Tkomasin, by marriage with John Carew,
Esq. of Anthony, brought it into that family, many of whom
resided here in great affluence, till the male issue failing it came,
through Sawle, <lfec. to John Graves, Esq. Captain in the royal
navy, whose property it now is.
To the west of Bowhill is Barley, an elegant house, situate
on an eminence, commanding an extensive prospect of Exeter,
and the adjoining county. It was built by John Pinnock, Esq.
to whom the estate came by marriage, together with Bowhill,
Higher Barley, and Cocklesford,* and is now the residence of
John Graves, Esq.
South-west from Bowhill was the ancient Priory of Cowick,
founded by Hugh Courtenay, Earl of Devon, but very little of
the building is now remaining ; the present edifice (converted
into a farm-house) appears, from the style of architecture, to
have been erected since the Reformation, soon after which its
fine church was so effectually demolished that its site cannot
now be ascertained ; in this church several of the noble family of
* Partof Bowhill, Higher Barley, and Cocklesford were purchased by Charles
Celhjns, Esq. Banker, of Exeter. J

THE CITY OF EXETER. 43l
the Courtenays were buried, particularly Hugh Courtenay, Earl Chap.VI.
of Devon, who died the eighteenth of Edward I. and his lady ; '  ¦ — '
the estate round the house is considerable ; the land rich,
abounding with fine timber, and from several parts commanding
fine views ; at the foot of the lawn, before the house, is a very
fine spring, which flows in a deep sedgy bottom, formerly a fish
pond ; at the head of this spring human bones have been found,
from whence it has been conjectured that the church stood near
this spot. This Priory was a cell to the Abbey of Tavistock,
and at its dissolution was granted to Francis, Lord Russell,
in whose family it continued for many descents, since which it
became the property of Mrs. Speke, of Tidwell, who left it by
will to its present possessor, James White, Esq. of Exeter.
Near Cowick is Franklin, a neat pleasant house, command
ing a fine prospect, the grounds well wooded, forming beautiful
avenues ; it is at present the seat of Charles Fanshawe, Esq.
Recorder of Exeter.
On the eastern side of the Plymouth-road are some remains
of an ancient mansion house, named Flayer's Hayes, the habi
tation of a family of the name of Floeru, or Floyer, from the
Conquest to the latter end of the sixteenth ceutury. They held
these lands from the Eatl of Devonshire, by half a knight's fee,
on condition " that whensoever this Lord, the Earl of Devon,
cometh into Exe Island the tenant for the time being is to come
seemingly apparelled, with a napkin about his neck, or upon
his shoulders, and a pitcher of wine, and a silver cup in his
hand, and shall offer his Lord thereof to drink." This estate is
now the property, by purchase, of Thomas Templar, Esq.
Near this are the remains of another ancient mansion,
formerly named Heighin, sometime appropriated to maintain
a Prebend in the colleniate church of the blessed Virgin Mary,
within the Castle of Exeter, by the name of the Prebend of
Hayes. After the Reformation it was purchased by John Peter,
Esq. Customer, of Exeter; and was afterwards sold by his
grandson, Sir William Peter, Knight, to William Gould,
Esq. ; it is now the property of James Buller, Esq.
South-east from Hayes is Marsh Barton, situate in a deep
fenny soil, surrounded with ditches; here was, a small Priory of
Black Canons; some part of the building still bears the ap
pearance of antiquity. After the dissolution it became the
property of  Coffin, Esq. of Portlege. Part of the chapel
of this 'small religious house was taken down by Mr. Coffin,
the proprietor, and the timber and stones given towards the
rebuilding of St. Paul's church, in Exeter; the estate at
present belongs to James Buller, Esq.
On the west side of the parish, near the river, stood a large
mansion, long the seat of the opulent family of the Goulds, and

432 PARISHES ADJACENT TO
Chap.VI. from whom it took the name of Goulds' -hays ; not the least
vestige of this ancient seat of English hospitality is now re
maining — a large barn and deep pool near retain the names of
Goulds' Barn and Goulds' Pond; the latter formerly a fish
pond. Near this house the ancient Roman- British road, from
the West-gate, crossed the river, (the ford being still visible)
from whence it took a westerly direction, up an enclosed lane,
called Greenway- lane, (where vestiges are still plainly to be
seen) by Cleave-house, to the Oakhampton-road.
On Red Hill is a neat new-erected villa, commanding a
delightful prospect of the city, river, and adjacent country,
built by John Dennis, Esq. Alderman of Exeter.
Further west is Cleave, a neat mansion, situate on an emi
nence, having extensive views of variegated country ; it has
long been the residence of the Northmore family. Behind this
is a neat villa, called Little Cleave, the property also of
Thomas Northmore, Esq.
Further up the river is the village of Exwick: this hamlet
took its rise from the fulling and grist mills long established
there ; a leat being cut from the river, below Cowley Bridge,
they are constantly supplied with a stream of water. In this
hamlet Edmund Granger and Samuel Banfill, Esqrs. have
established a large woollen manufactory, and erected spinning
machines, workshops, dye-houses, tenter grounds, &c. ; also
dwelling-houses for the manufacturers, an establishment which
has greatly increased the number of inhabitants; here is
Exwick House, once the residence of the family of Oliver, from
whom it came by marriage to William Williams, M. D. of
Exeter; it was the residence of his widow for many years,
whose heirs sold it, with the Barton, to the present proprietors
of the manufactory. It is now the residence of Samuel Banfill,
Esq. the directing partner of that extensive concern. The walk
from St. Thomas, by the river side, to Exwick, is in summer
exceedingly pleasant.
Between Cowley Bridge and Exwick is a neat cottage, built
on the edge of a clift, hanging over the river; underneath are
waving walks cut out of the rock, and beautifully overhung by
trees and coppic* wood, in a most romantic manner: the
roaring of the river below, over an artificial weir, the hanging
cliffs, &c. are very pleasing ; this cottage was built, and the
improvements to the natural beauties of the spot designed, by
John Merivale, Esq. of Barton-place.
The hamlet or tithing of Oldridge, though at the distance
of six miles from the church of St. Thomas, belongs to this
parish; it consists of five estates, containing about 453 acres;
and the Manor belonged for several generations to the family of
Trowbridge, who sold it to the Yardes. To accommodate the

THE CITY OF EXETER. 433
Chap.VI.

inhabitants, situate at such a distance from the parish church, a
chapel of ease was maintained in this hamlet time immemorial,
but was destroyed by George Trowbridge, Esq. of Trowbridge;
the stones were carried to Trowbridge to repair a kitchen, and
the communion table was made a drinking board in a neigh
bouring ale-house : * but the want of a chapel in this detached
part of the parish having been long complained of a handsome
one was erected at the joint expence of James Buller and the
late Giles Yard, Esquires.
According to a return made by Mr. Chappel in 1778, the
number of families in the town part, near the church, and
within the turnpikes, was three hundred; without the turnpikes,
and detached farm-houses, (exclusive of the villages of Exwick
and Oldridge, those in the alms-houses, prisons, and workhouse)
fifty-nine, in all three hundred and fifty-nine families, which,
allowing six to a family, make two thousand one hundred and
fifty-four inhabitants.
St. Leonard. This parish is situate southeast of the city, Saint
on the road to Topsham. The church, which is on the right Leonard.
hand of the road, is built on an eminence, and is very small,
consisting of a nave and small chancel ; it has no tower, the
bell being hung in a turret ; the whole has the appearance of
great antiquity, and is probably the remains of a larger edifice,
as at the west end are vestiges of a circular stone staircase ;
the interior is plain and neat; the windows are open only on the
south side, those on the north being filled up. On the north
wall is a handsome monument of white marble, to the memory
of Mr. Collings, of Parker's Well; and in the churchyard is
an altar tomb, the sides of which are decorated with white
marble tablets, on which are carved, in relief, different degrees
of sickness ; and on the cover stone is this inscription : —
Depositum Wilhelme Musgrave, Med. Doc. Rici. Musgrave,
de Nettlecombe, in comitatu Somerset, Filii natu tertii
Medico, rum Londinensi e Regia Societate et e Coll. Regali
nuper e Novo Collegio Oxon. Practici Exoniensis non infelicis
Natus est 4to. Novbris. A. D. 1655. Obiit 1721. Hie jacet
etiam Uxor ejus Philippa, Wilhelmi Speke de Jordan prope
Whitelackington Filia, Qua obiit Nov. 24. 1715. JEtat.
sua 55.
From the burying-ground there is an extensive prospect.
During the grand Rebellion this was fortified by the Parliament
army, which effectually blockaded the city on this side, and
greatly distressed the Royal garrison ; and it is probable the
church was much injured at that period.
* The village historians positively relate that the family of Trowbridge never
prospered after this sacrilege ; and that all those concerned in it, particularly
one who had the chapel bell for his trouble, died miserably.
s 5

434 PARISHES ADJACENT TO
Chap.VI. This parish is a rectory, exempted from the Archdeacon's
jurisdiction, valued in the King's books at £4 19s. 9jd. per
annum, certified value £34. Patron, John Baring, Esq.
Present Rector, the Rev. Gayer Patch.
A small brook divides the county of Devon from that of
Exeter. On this brook is situated (a part in both counties) the
ancient house of Larkbear, mentioned in Doomsday-book by
the name of Laurocbeare : the front has been modernised, but
the remaining parts have much the appearance of a religious
edifice of remote antiquity. * It was for many ages the seat of
the family of Hull, who sold it to Sir Nicholas Smith ; after
wards it was in the possession of the Voiolers, Merchants, of
Exeter; and a daughter in that family brought it, by marriage,
to Mr. Baring, Merchant, father of the present John Baring,
Esq. ; it is now the property of Charles Baring, Esq. There
are large press-shops, packing-rooms, linhays, tenter-grounds,
and all other conveniencies on the demesne for finishing
woollen cloths. Great mercantile concerns have been carried
on here for more than a century.
Opposite Larkbear House is a large neat house, with exten
sive gardens, built by the late Matthew Lee, Esq.
On the hill above Larkbear is the spacious mansion of
Mount Radford, delightfully situated, and commanding exten
sive prospects. This house was built by Lawrence Radford,
Esq. whose son, Arthur Radford, sold it to Edward Hancock,
Esq. whose daughter brought it, by marriage, to Sir Amias
Bampfylde, Knight ; after his decease she was married to Sir
John Doddridge, Knight, one of the Justices of the Court of
King's Bench, who resided there for some years. In 1628 it
was in the possession of the family of Duck, as  Duck,
Recorder of Exeter, died there in that year. His descendants
lived there in high reputation till they became extinct, by the
death of Richard Duck, Esq. without issue, in 1695.
About 1750 it was the residence of Mr. John Colsworthy,
Merchant, who, from repeated losses at sea, becoming bank
rupt, the house and demesne was purchased by Mrs. Baring,
of Larkbear ; and it is now the property and residence of her
eldest son, John Baring, Esq. Justice of the Peace for the
county of Devon, and, in several parliaments, one of the
representatives for the city of Exeter. He has greatly im
proved the house, almost to a rebuilding; he also greatly
added to the demesne, laid open the grounds around it,
planted numbers of trees and shrubs, altered the road, and
There is a tradition that a subterranean passage communicated from this
house with the Cathedral ; to corroborate which is shewn an ancient pointed
archway opening into the ditch, through which the brook passes uuder
tbe house.

THE CITY OF EXETER. 435
built a pallisadoed arch over it, by which an easy communication Chap.VI.
is made to the church and the adjoining grounds; in short, 
this splendid mansion is now as complete and desirable a
residence as any in the county.
A little to the south-east of Mount Radford is a neat and
pleasant villa, built on a gentle eminence by Henry Weymouth,
Esq. Merchant, of Exeter, and on the site of a smaller house,
which was long the residence of the family of Collings ; '* it is
called Parker's Well, from a noted spring that issues from
under the bank into a square bason.
Near Trew's Weir has been established of late years a
manufactory for cottons : the buildings are very extensive ; the
machinery is worked by a large water wheel, which is supplied
by a canal cut from the river ; many dwelling-houses have
been erected near the manufactory for the accommodation of
the workmen and their families, which has added greatly to
the number of the inhabitants of this parish.
The ancient Priory of St. James was partly iri this parish, an
account of which has been already mentioned.
A branch of the ancient and respectable family of Drewe
had a mansion-house in this parish, where they resided for
several generations, till they became extinct. The last was John
Drewe, Esq. who had twenty children by Agnes his wife, the
daughter of Watkin York, of Exeter; but they all died without
male issue.
The last parish to be described is Heavitree, anciently called Heavitree.
Woonford. It is situated east of Exeter, the church being
about one mile from the city; it is dedicated to St. Michael;
is large and regular, about ninety-eight feet in length, and its
extreme breadth sixty-five feet ; it consists of a nave, two
aisles, a chancel, and large gallery ; the roof is supported by
eight clustered pillars, four on each side, the capitals decorated
with coarse carvings of angels and foliage ; the chancel is
separated from the nave by a neat gothic screen ; and the
altar-piece is wainscoted in panels, on which are painted the
Lord's prayer, the creed, and different texts of scripture ; on
each side of the chancel are apertures in the walls, supposed
to have been made to enable those who sat at the extremity
of the aisle to see the elevation of the host in the Romish
service. The font has, from the coarseness of the carving,
strong marks of antiquity. The tower, which is square and
low, contains four small bells. There are only two monuments
in this church ; one is against the north wall of the aisle, on
which is the following inscription :
* This house has lately been purchased by, and is now the residence of,
Robert Sproule, Esq.

436 PARISHES ADJACENT TO
Chap.VI. Near unto this place lyeth the body of Sebastian Isacke, of
~ Polsloe, Esq. who departed this life on the 8th of November,
1688. The other monument is a plain white marble tablet, fixed
against a pillar on the south side of the nave, and bears this
epitaph : —
Near this place are interred the bodies of Ambrose Rhodes,
Esq. of Bellair, in this parish, who died the 1st of March,
1777, aged 72. And of Sarah, his beloved wife, (sole daugh
ter of Solomon Andrew, Esq. of Lyme Regis, in the county of
Dorset, deceased) who died the 22nd of August, 1783, aged
73. And of Mary, their daughter, who died the 17th of
November, 1760, aged 24.
On a grave-stone in the chancel is the following quaint
inscription : —
Here lyeth the bodyes of Thomas Gorges, of Heavitree, Esq.
and Rose his wife. He departed this life the 17th of October,
1670; and shethe 14th day of April, 1671.
The lovinge turtell havinge mist her mate
Beg'd shee might enter ere they shut the gate ;
Their dust here lies, whose soules to heaven are gonne,
And waite till angells rowle away the stone.
The present vicarage house is neat and pleasantly situated,
with a good glebe around it. It was built by the Rev. John
Snell, Canon-Residentiary of the Cathedral of Exeter, and the
Vicar of this parish, in 1728.
This parish is a peculiar, belonging to the Dean and Chapter
of Exeter, and to which are annexed the daughter churches of
St. Sidwell and St. David, in Exeter. The first fruits
£34 6s. 8d. ; yearly tenths, £3 8s. 4d. Present Vicar, the
Rev. George Moore, Archdeacon of Cornwall. Proprietors
and Patrons, the Dean and Chapter of Exeter.
The ancient name of this village, which gives name to the
largest hundred in the county, evidently points it out to have
been of importance in early times. Woonford, or Wonford,
is supposed to have been a contraction of the British, avon, a
general name for all rivers ; but it does not seem probable that
this name should be given to an insignificant brook ; neither is
the alteration of avon to ivoon similar to the practice of our
ancestors; and we find a river in this county named, by some
authors, Avon, now named Aune. It seems probable that its
true name was Wodensford; the present contraction, Wonford,
being similar to Wodensdike, now Wonsdike; and Wodensberig,
now Wonsborow, from the idol, Woden, so much in repute
with our Saxon ancestors.
The present name of Heavitree it is conjectured was derived

THE CITY OF EXETER. 437
from its being the common place of execution for malefactors, Chap.VI.
signifying the heavy or sorrowful tree. ~~
According to Sir William Pole, Henry I. gave the hundred
and manor of Wonford to Geoffry de Mandeville, Warden of
the Castle of Exeter, who gave it in marriage with his
daughter to William Fitz- John. It came afterwards by descent
to Henry de Tilly, from whom, on his rebelling against his
Sovereign, King John, his Majesty seized the Manor, but after
some time restored it to Robert de Mandeville, a descendant
from Geoffry : it became then part of the possessions of the
Montacutes, Earls of Salisbury ; after them of the Courtenays,
Earls of Devon. And on the decline of that noble family
the Manor was purchased by Mr. Walrond, of Tiverton, from
whom it descended to the Kellys ; and, in the year 1773,
Arthur Kelly, Esq. sold it to its present possessor, John
Baring, Esq. of Mount Radford.
The summit of the hill between Exeter and Heavitree was
anciently the place of execution for the county of Devon, before <
the removal of the gallows to Ringswell. This place is named
Liverydole, from the magistrates and citizens, in their Midsum- '
mer watch and other public processions, dressed in their livery
gowns, dispensing here their alms to the poor, formerly termed
a dole — hence, Liverydole.
On this spot, after the execution of Mr. Bennet, for heresy,
in the reign of Queen Mary, Sir Robert Dennis, Knight,'
founded a chapel and alms-house, in the year 1591, which was
finished by his brother, Sir Thomas Dennis, Knight, in 1594,
and liberally endowed by him.
From Sir Thomas Dennis the patronage of this charity
came, by marriage with Anne, one of his daughters and
co-heiresses, to Sir Henry Rolle, of Stevenstone, in whose
descendants it has ever since continued ; the present patron
being the Right Honourable John Lord Rolle, of Bicton, who
laudably fulfils the trust, keeping the buildings in perfect
repair, and punctually paying the chaplain and alms-men.
Present Chaplain, the Rev. Richard Eastcott.
From this chapel, on an easy descent to the village of
Heavitree, (properly so called) on a gravelly soil, are erected
several small neat houses, in a delightful situation, both for
prospect and air ; and if, through the interposing hand of
providence, a lasting peace might be procured, it is very
probable that in the course of a few years the village of
Heavitree will be united by buildings to the city of Exeter.
In the village itself are several good houses, many of which
are let out in lodgings, occupied by the Citizens, for the
benefit of their health, the air being thought very pure and
salubrious.
T 5

438 PARISHES ADJACENT TO
Chap.VI. From the village to the hamlet of East Wonford is near half
 a mile, on the great London road, where are many houses dis
persed, some of them neat buildings, of modern erection. At
East Wonford are likewise several good houses, one of which
is of ancient date, and has for many generations been the resi
dence of the family of the Pines. The brook has its course
near this hamlet, and over it is a stone bridge, of two arches,
repaired by the county ; near it is a continual spring of fine
water, which, from an iron ladle formerly fastened by a chain
to the wall, for the benefit of passengers drinking, it obtained
the name of Iron Dish; here it was customary for the unfor
tunate culprits conducted to execution to stop and drink.
From East, the rivulet directs its course to West Wonford,
through beautiful meadows, and a serpentine course glides
near the chapel of St. Eligius. * This very ancient edifice
was a few years since entire, consisting of a nave and chancel ;
and, from some remains of the decalogue, painted on the
eastern end, it appears to have been used for sacred service
since the Reformation ; it has long been desecrated, and its
revenues appropriated to the relief of the poor. The
building has been of late years much neglected, and from
want of necessary repairs the vaulted roof and one side fell very
lately into ruins ; the remains are now converted into a stable.
Near this is a cot-house, patched up from old materials;
and some part of it appears of age coeval with the chapel ;
probably it was the habitation of the officiating priest. The
yard was decorated with lofty elms, of ancient growth, which
gave a gloomy shade to the whole. This sequestered spot,
its beautiful meadows, and the meandering brook, overhung
with undulating hills, clothed with ash and other trees,
were very happily chosen to inspire the mind with religious
contemplation. The hamlet of West Wonford was evidently of greater note
and extent than it is at present, as it gives name to the hundred,
and as the ancient Roman road passed through it from Harpford
Bridge: it now consists of detached farm-houses and cottages,
many in a decayed state, and the ruins of others visible ; the
removal of the great western road hastened its decline, and
gave rise to the present Heavitree.
West Wonford House is a large old stone mansion, and
was long the residence of the family of Atkins, (two of whom
were Judges ;) it is now the property of Mr. Spicer, of
Mount Weir.
The ancient Nunnery of Polsloe was situated in a detached
* This chapel is called, in Bishop Stafford's Register, " The Chapel of St.
Clement and St. Elidius ; " and in Bishop Brentingham s , " St. Eliqius's Chapel,
at Wonford."

THE CITY OF EXETER. 439
part of this parish, a mile and a half north of the church ; it Chap.VI.
was founded by Bishop Brewer, in the year 1236, who endowed ^====
it with the Manor of Polsloe and other lands.
At the dissolution the house and manor were granted to
Sir Arthur Champernowne, who exchanged it for Darlington ;
it was then purchased by John Peter, Esq. Merchant, of
Exeter, in whose family it continued for several descents ; it
became next the property of the Izackes, and now belongs to
Montague Parker, Esq.
There are still some remains of the ancient building, parti
cularly the west end, which, though patched up with modern
repairs, retains strong vestiges of its gothic state ; the princi
pal entrance was through a pointed arch, now walled up.
The chapel was demolished by Colonel Sebastian Izacke,
and its site is not to be ascertained. The Manor is at present
divided into different farms, whose houses, garden walls, &c.
clothed with ivy, have a ruinous and antique appearance.
There are several gentlemen's seats in the detached parts of this
parish, the principal of which are the following : — ¦
Coaver, near Mount Radford, is a small neat house, plea
santly situated on the Topsham Road, late the residence of
John Stephens, Esq.
Bellair, contiguous to Coaver, is a neat villa, belonging to
the Rev. Mr. Rhodes; both of these houses have pleasant
lawns, enriched with plantations of trees and shrubs, and
extensive prospects.
Northbrook, the property of Daniel Hamilton, Esq. of
Exeter, is a neat mansion, greatly improved by its present
owner ; it is beautifully situated in an extensive paddock, one
side of which is bounded by a branch of the river Exe, and
through the grounds the brook from Wonford meanders in view
of the house.
Stoke-hill House, a neat modern villa, belonging to Joseph
Sanders, Esq. of Exeter, is delightfully situated about half a
mile north-east of the city ; it commands a fine prospect of
the estuary of the Exe, and the surrounding country ; from
a barren waste, overrun with furze and fern, the proprietor has
greatly improved the surrounding lands, and rendered them
fruitful and pleasant.
Ruxham (anciently named Dunscomb, from the British,
dunum, a hill, and comb, a valley) is a large farm on the
heights of Stoke, anciently belonging to the Priory of £r.
Nicholas, in Exeter; it is now the property of the Marchioness
of Donegal, and rented by Mr. John Land, of Exeter. From
different parts of this estate are very extensive prospects, the
grounds undulating from lofty hills to deep vallies ; and a fine

440 PARISHES ADJACENT TO EXETER.
Chap.VI. spring of water meandering through the lower grounds renders
it capable of great improvement.
Ringswell lies to the east of Heavitree village, near the
place where lately stood the gallows : here was formerly a
large mansion, granted, in the reign of Henry III. by Robert
de Mandeville, to Nicholas Gervaise, of Exeter, whose son,
Sir Walter Gervaise, gave it in marriage, with his daughter,
Alice, to Sir William Speke. The said Sir William Speke,
with the consent of his wife, granted the same to Sir John
Wiger, of Creedy- Wiger, reserving to himself and his heirs
£5 yearly rent. Part of this Manor afterwards became the
property of the Prydhams, of Exeter; and by an heiress of the
Prydhams came to the Whitings. It belongs at present to
Edward Cotsford, Esq. who purchased it of Gregory Jackson,
Esq. of Exeter.
Madford, situate west of Heavitree church, is the remains
of an ancient mansion, the residence of Ralph de Basco,
in the reign of Henry III. Afterwards it was the seat of
Lord Dinham, from whom it descended to Sir George Smith,
who erected a spacious house there, (the remains of which
are now converted into a farm-house.) From the Smiths it
became the property of Phineas Cheeke, Esq. of Exeter,
on whose decease it came, by marriage, to William Mackworth
Praed, Esq. who sold it to the late John Stephens, Esq.
of Coaver.
Whipton, anciently written Wapon, is a hamlet and manor,
at the north-east extremity of the parish ; it has long been in
the possession of the family of the Bampfyldes, of Poltimore,
and is now the property of Sir Charles Bampfylde, Bart.

\PPENDIX. 441

APPENDIX.
An Acte for the Enlarging the Liberties of the
Ci tie of Exceter, 2d and 3d Edward VI.
Humblye sheweth unto youre mooste excellent Majestye
youre obedyente and loving subjects the Mayo Bayliffs and
Comynaltie of your Citie of Exceter that where of late sovaigne
lorde of famous and moste worthie Memorie Kinge Henry the
viij Father yor. Highnes by his mooste gracyous Lres Patents
under his great Scealleof Englande bearinge date the xxiij daye
off Auguste in xxxth yere of his mooste noble raigne for the
Love Zealle and ffavor. whiche he have towards his lovinge
subjects the Mayors Baylyffs Comynaltie of his sayde Citye of
Exceter and also towardes the sayde Citye did notonlve ratyfie
and confirme all such grauntes as were by hyme or any of his
noble pgenytors gyven and granted unto the Mayors Bayliffs and
Comaltie of the sayde Citye or any of the Inhabitants thereof
But also by his sayde Lres Patents of a more larger benyvolence
did erecte ordeyne constitute and make the sayde Citie to be a
Countye in yt selffe clearely seperated and devyded from the
Countye of Devon and for the better mayntenance of the same
did gyve and graunte unto the sayde Mayor. Bayliffs and
Comynaltie and to their successors dyvers and sundrye Jurys-
diceyons preheamynences liberties ffraunchesses and Privileges
to be exercysed and within the sayde Countie of the sayde Citie
of Exceter as by the saide Lres Patent more playnlie yt doth
and maye appeare And forasmoche as it is nowe doubtefull
where and howe farre the aunceynte boundes and lymitts of the
lybties of the saide Cytie doth extende and for lacke of certen
knowledge and lymittacon thereof ryseth not onely at dyvers
tymes varyaunce betweene the officers of the sayde Countye
of the savde Citie of Exceter and the sheriffe and the officers
of the sayde Countye of Devon and the Byshoppe of Exceter
and the Dean and Chapiter of the Cathedrall Churche of
Saynte Peter of Exceter and their Mynysters for and con-
cernynge the servynge and executinge of processe within certain
places surmised by the sayde Mayor Bayliffs and Comynaltie of
the sayde Countye of the sayde Citie of Exceter to be within the
lymitts and boundes of the saide Countye of the saide Citie &
denyed by the sayde Sheriffe of the sayde Countye of Devon and
the sayde Byshoppe Deane and Chapiter and their Officers to be
within anye of the Boundes of the saide Countye of the saide
Citie but also th. Inhabitants of divers Houses and Habitations
U 5

442 APPENDIX.
being sett and buylded in certain places within the sayde Cytie
and Suburbes of the same and in the confyne and border of bothe
the sayde Countyes callinge and namiuge themselves for the
Maintenance of their unthriftie rule which they kepe there some
tyme when for there purpose yt so best serveth to be von of the
sayd Countyes and some tyme of the other and by occasion
thereof in and to these Howses resorte (as it were to a Den and
refuge for unthrifties)Innumorabsortes of dyvers Carders Nyghte
Watchers Vagabonds Theves Bawdes Hores and suche other
yvell and lewde psons whiche their doo lorke abyde and escape
unpunyshed by reason that the lymitts of the sayde Countye of
the sayde Citie are unknowne not onely to the great Corrupcon
of prentyses Servaunts and Children broughte uppe within the
sayde Citie to the great anoyance of the sayde Citie and of the
Inhabitants of the same. — But also to the great Inquietacon and
disturbance of other Quarters thereabout which is to the greate
mayntenance boldenynge and increase of theves robbers harlotts
bawdes and sundrye Vagaboundes which things within shorte
tyme will be a greate Cause of rewin and decaye of your gracys
sayde Citie and to the Oppression and greate disquietinge
of the sayde Citie and the whole Countreye thereaboute yf
remedye be not provided For Reformacyon whereof yf may please
youre mooste excellent Majesty wt. and by the assent of Lordes
Squall and Temporall and the Commons in this present Parly-
ment assembled and by the Authoritie of the same that the
boundes and lymitts hereafter envewing may be hadde reputed
and taken for the undoughted lymitts devysyon and boundes
betwene the sayde Countye of the sayde Citie of Exceter taken
for no parte nor parcell of the sayde Countye of Devon, but
clearlye seperated from the sayde County of Devon evermore
withowte questyon color, doughte or ambyguytie which boundes
of the sayde Countye of the sayde Citie as well within the walles
of the sayde Citie aswithoute shall be and begynne as hereafter
followeth that is to sayeffirste at and from the Estegate of the
sayde Citie together with all the wholle precynte and Circuyteof
the Parrishe off Saynte Sydwell withoute the sayde Estegate and
with all tbe Inhabitaunts and soyle of the same Parishe unto the
Sowthegate of the same Citie with all the wholle Circuyte and
preyncte of the Parrishe of the Trynytie there and with all the
Inhabitaunts and soyle of the same Parrishe withoute the sayde
Southegate and at and from the sayde Southegate with the whole
Cyrcuyte and Precynte of the sayde wholle Parrishe of the
Trynytie aforesayde unto the Westegate of the sayde Cytie toge
ther with all the whole Circuyts and p'cinte of the Parrishes°of
Saynte Edmondes and Saynte Marye Stappes unto the greate
Ry ver of Exe and with all the Inhabitaunts and Soyle within the
sayde Parrishes unto the grete River of Exe and withoute the
sayde Westgate and at and from the said Westgate with the

APPENDIX. 443
Cyrcuyte of the saide wholle Parrishes of Saynte Edmondes and
Saynte Mary Stappes as before is sayde unto the Northegate of
the sayde Citie together with the Cyrcuyte and precynte of the
whole Parrishe of Saynte David called Saynte David is Downe
without the Northegate of the sayde Citie and with all the Inha
bitaunts and Soile within the sayde Parrishe of Saynte David is
Downe and at and from the sayde Northegate with the Cyrcuyte
and precyncte of the same whole Parrishe of Saynte David is
downe unto the Estegate aforesayde, — And that also by the
Authoritie aforesaide yt maye be Enacted that all manner of
Howses Lands Tenements Possons Grounds and Soyle as well
within the Walls of the sayde Citie and Suburbes of the same
as also all Howses Lands Tenements Groundes and Soyle sette
layinge and beinge within the Parrishes afore lymvlted and
expressed and every of theyni shall be at all tyme and tymes
from henseforthe taken accepted reputed knowne and accompted
to be parcellof and within the sayde Countye of the sayde Citie
of Exceter and to be no parte nor parcell of the sayde Countye
of Devon and that yt may be fferder enacted by the Authoritie
aforesayde that as well the Sheriffe of the sayde Countye of the
sayde Citie of Exceter for the tyme being his Deputies and
Mynisters as also the Officers and Mynisters of the sayde Mayor
Bayliffe and Constable of the sayde Citie of Exceter and every of
them for the Tyme beinge shall and may lawfullye at all tyme
and tymes from hensforthe execute and serve within the sayde
Countye of the sayde Citie of Exceter all and all manner of
Wryttes Precepts and Proceses to thein or any of them directed
or delyvered as well from the Kings Majesty his heirs or
Successors or from any of his Justices as also from the sayde
Mayor Bayliffs and Comynalties or their successors or any other
their Officers or any of them in suche manner and forme as the
sheriffs of the sayde Countye of Devon Justices of Peace or other
the Kinges Officers or Mynisters of the sayde Countye of Devon
myght have lawfully done before the makynge of this Acte and
Statute. And furder to doo and execute all and everye other
lawfull Acte and Thinge within the sayde Countye of the sayde
Citye of Exceter in as ample and large manner as the Sherriffe
of the sayde Countye of Devon Justices of Peace or other the
Kinges Officers or" Mynisters of the said Countye of Devon
might have lawfullye doon before the makynge of this Acte.
Provided allwayes that the Castell commonly called the Castell
of Exceter and the Soyle of the same beinge within the Walles of
the saide Castell and allso the Common Gayle of the sayde
Countye of Devon nye adjoininge to the said Castell and the
Mansyon House of the same Gayle with all such and singler
other Howses and Buyldings belonging to the same shall not be
accepted or taken to be within the Citye of Exceter nor of any
thereoff but shall be at all accepted reputed adjudged and

444

APPENDIX.
demyd to be within and parcell of the sayde Countye of Devon
any thing in this Acte mencyoned resyted or expressed to the
contrarye notwithstondinge. Provided also that this Acte nor
any thinge therein conteyned shall in any wise extend or be
piejudicyall or hurtfull to* the Kinge his Heires or Successorors
or to the Ryghte Noble Prince Edwaid Duke of Somsett or to
any of his Heires or to the sayde Bysshoppe of Exceter or his
Successoures the Deane and Chapiter of Exceter and their Suc
cessoures or to any of theym or to any other Persone or Persones
their Heires or Successoures for or concerninge any Liberties
Privilegs Courtes Leetes Fraunchises Profitts prior to any Proces
Judgment and Ejectmentes to bee had in any Action or Sute
now depending or concerning the Limitts and Boundes afore
sayde excepted by this Acte to bee off the sayde Countye of the
Citie of Exceter but that they and everye of them shall and may
lawfullye have hold use take exercise and enioye all and syngler
suche liberties pvilegs Courtes Leetes Fraunchises Proffitts and
all other Commodities and everye of them whatsoever in suche
lyke manner fourme and Condicon as they or any of them law
fully had helde occupied or enioyed the same or any of them
before the making e of this Acte, and in such maner and fourme
as if this Acte had never been made any thinge before in this
Acte to the contrarye notwithstanding e. Provided allwayesand
beyt furder Enacted that as well all and singler Covenants
Graunts Coposycons Agreements Recognisances and Bonds
Obligatory had made or knowledged by the Mayor Bayliffs and
Comaltie of the sayde Citie of Exceter or any of them unto the
Byshoppe Deane and Chapiter of the Cathedral Chnrche of
Exceter or any of them as also all and singler such Covenants
Graunts Coposicons Agreements Recognisaunces and Bonds
Obligatorie had made or knowledged by the sayde Bysshoppe
Deane and Chapiter or any of them to the sayde Mayor Bayliffs
and Comaltie or any of them for. or concerninge any other thynge
or thyngs then is expressed or mencyoned in this Acte shall
stande and be to all Intents and Purposes in effecte force and
strengeth as they weare before the makynge of this Acte and as
thoughe this Acte had never been had or made any thing con
teyned in this Acte to the contrarye in anywise notwithstondinge.
George Rose, Cler. Parliamenter.
Examined with the Original Record at the Parliament-Office
this 5th day of Oct. 1799 by us
Fenwick William Feary,
J. Pacey.
finis.

Norton, Printer, 247, High-Stre«t, Exeter.

YALE UNIVERSITY

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