EXETER AND TORQUAY MEETING. xlvii. 



Bishopric was removed from Crediton to Exeter, Exeter being at 

 that time a safer place for the see. On his removal to Exeter, 

 Leofric wrote on one of the fly leaves of this book the pathetic 

 complaint that when he came to Exeter he found no books. It 

 became a passion with him to collect manuscripts and to form a 

 library. All these MSS. were given up to the Bodleian Library 

 about the seventeenth century ; but 'by good hap this book 

 escaped, and about a hundred years ago was lighted upon in the 

 muniment room. Mr. Foweraker then called attention to some 

 runes, into which was woven the name of Cynewulf, a disciple of 

 Caedmon. 



Another interesting MS. was the well-known Exeter Domes- 

 day Book. The Library also has the document by w r hich 

 Edward the Confessor transferred the see from Crediton to 

 Exeter and appointed Leofric Bishop of Exeter. 



The MSS., to the number of 6,075, have been catalogued and 

 an index made of their contents. 



When Mr. Richardson had thanked the Sub-Librarian for his 

 vivid and interesting description of the MSS., Sub-Dean 

 Bramley again assumed the direction of the party. 



Leading the way downstairs, the Sub-Dean gave a brief pre- 

 liminary sketch of the history of the Cathedral, doing justice to 

 the important transitional work carried out by that great designer 

 and builder, Bishop Quivil, and also by Bishop Grandisson. 

 Then, entering the Cathedral, the Sub-Dean conducted the party 

 in turn to the Chapels of Bishop Leofric and Bishop Oldham 

 and St. Gabriel's Chapel, the last built by Bishop Bronescombe, 

 the Lady Chapel, and finally through the Cathedral itself, point- 

 ing out as they passed each feature of interest, including the 

 daring and dexterous work of Quivil in cutting out a Norman 

 arch and putting in a pointed arch in its place, without causing 

 a suspicion of a crack or subsidence; the Minstrels' Gallery, 

 with its parapet decorated with carved angels playing on 

 mediaeval musical instruments ; and the marble font, interesting 

 historically in that it was put up for the baptism of the daughter 

 of Charles I., the Princess Henrietta, who was born in Exeter. 



