OF THE MIDDLE AGES. 59 



of Saint Bartholomew " iu Smitlifield, wliich, iu accordance with 

 his instructions, his executors repaired. This noble institution was 

 founded by Rayere, in 1102, for the relief of the sick and lame poor; 

 but falling into decay, it became a worthy object of "SVhittington's 

 thoughts. This, at a time when physicians and surgeons were so scarce, 

 was indeed a most timely aid to the wants of suffering humanity. 



In short there seems to have been scarcely any legitimate want of 

 a poor man to which "Whittington had not turned his attention, with a 

 view of alleviating his distresses; and surely they who have themselves 

 suffered need ought to know best where the shoo of poverty and afflic- 

 tion pinches. It is not, however, all who will take the pains and 

 interest in them which Whittington took. That passage in the Psalms 

 has always struck me as peculiarly striking and appropriate, — 

 " Blessed is the man that considereth the poor and needy." The con- 

 sideration of their wants, the supply of the right thing at the right 

 time, even if it be only a cup of cold water, is worth double the 

 same gifts when not so immediately required. This was peculiarly 

 Whittington's character, he considered the poor and needy, and made 

 their wants his study. 



In the midst of these acts of charity it might be supposed that he 

 would have had no means to spare for the embellishment and improve- 

 ment of the City ; far from it, he was one of the first to advance im- 

 provements, architectural and otherwise, in the City in which he had 

 acquired his wealth. We find, from Stow, that his executors had in- 

 structions for glazing '' and paving Guildhall. Xow this was indeed 

 progress, for at that time few houses were glazed, glass having been 

 but recently introduced, and paving in public buildings was scarcely 

 known ; the floors of churches generally remained in their original 

 clay, strewed from time to time with fresh layers of rushes. So high 

 was the king's opinion of "Whittington's good judgment and taste 

 with regard to the improvements in the City, that we find the follow- 

 ing entry in the Minutes of the Council at the Tower of London, 27th 

 May, 3rd Henry V. 1415 : — " Item q le dit maire no face riens en la 



Stow's Survey of London. 

 p Glass was first introduced for glazing windows about 1180. It was im- 

 ported from the continent at so vast an expense that it was little used, except in 

 royal palaces. It was first manufactured in England in loo7. 



