350 
JOURNAL OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 
You will notice that the buildings are to be newly made and 
built, which would imply that this was only an extension, or 
alteration, or enlargement of former buildings ; but further on it 
would appear that the brethren were only then about to dwell in 
the town. The only way of reconciling this is, I think, by sup- 
posing, that although there were some Franciscans in the town, 
and working there, and having buildings, yet they were only 
sojourners, and now, having an opportunity of acquiring land, they 
were about to make a permanent settlement. 
When the church was finished a great difficulty arose. It was 
necessary to obtain the sanction of the bishop of the diocese both 
for its erection and consecration. The independent Franciscans, 
however, took no trouble to procure either ; but, without consult- 
ing any one, they built their church, and, when it was ready, took 
the first bishop that came in their way, and asked him to con- 
secrate it. This happened to be one John Berham, a Dominican, 
who gave himself out to be the Bishop of Naples ; but of whose 
claims to episcopacy the Bishop of Exeter (Brantyngham, the same 
who patronized the leper's house, and who a few years before had 
difficulties with the Carmelites) had some doubts, and visited all 
the parties with his high displeasure. Bishops were bishops in those 
days, and Berham was excommunicated, as well as the Franciscans 
themselves, and the building was laid under an interdict. This was 
in the year 1390, and things took some little time getting right 
again. How long the trouble continued, or how the matter was 
remedied, we know not. Perhaps you may remember how the 
Franciscans were persecuted and worried by the older orders in 
Exeter, and how they were accused of having poisoned Bishop 
Quivil ; and probably this affair was promoted by some of their 
enemies, who had the bishop's ear. 
The friars are not likely to have been much inconvenienced. By 
this time they had made their way among the people, and having 
abandoned some of the stricter rules of their great founder, their 
ministrations were sought, not only as spiritual advisers, but as 
skilful physicians, they having from their intercourse with the 
poorer classes found it necessary to devote some attention to the 
healing of the body, and to other matters pertaining thereto, as well 
as to those more especially connected with the health of the soul. 
Soon after this, in 1402, came the dispute with the vicars of 
St. Andrew, of which I have already spoken. 
