OF THE MIDDLE AGES. 67 



arms appear on the altar in the Chapel of the Virgin Mary, otherwise 

 called Abbot Boteler's ' Chapel, in which is placed the effigy of Eobert 

 Curthose, Duke of Xormandy ; from which circumstance we are led to 

 suppose that AVhittington, and the Fitzwarrens perhaps, through his in- 

 fluence, had been contributors towards the erection of that once beauti- 

 ful altar, and not improbably of other parts of the Cathedral also. Thus 

 we observe, that Whittington was not one of those persons who having 

 made their money, know not how to spend it ; or having no further en- 

 joyment to expect from it in life, are ready to give away in charity what 

 they can hold no longer ; hoping to derive some undefined benefit to 

 their souls hereafter, from bequeathing on their death bed that which 

 they would have grudged in the hour of health and strength. Whit- 

 tington was altogether a difierent character. Desirous of knowing how 

 his money was laid out in works of charity, he would see to its expendi- 

 ture himself, and would not leave to be done by others that which he 

 knew must be a responsible,'' and ought to be a pleasurable office. 

 He laid himself out for that pleasure, and he had a right to the enjoy- 

 ment. We will give his own words : — " The fervent desire and besy 

 intention of a prudent, wise, and devout man shal be to cast before and 

 make seure the state and the ende of this short life with dedys of mercy 

 and pite, and specially to provide for those miserable persones whom the 

 penurie of poverty insulteth, and to whom the power of seeking the ne- 

 cessaries of life by art or bodily labour is interdicted.'" In short, he left 

 nothing undone of all the great deeds which he designed, except those 

 in the midst of which sickness overtook him — that last fatal sickness 

 which must overtake the good as well as the evil ; but here is the 

 difference, that while with the one, all is confusion and dismay, with 

 the other, all is order and regularity, evidencing calmness, combined 

 with method. The good man is not afraid to die ; he has been li^•ing 

 the whole of his life for no other purpose. 



e So called because Abbot Reginald Boulars, Boteler, or Butler, who was Abbot 

 of Ibe Abbey of Gloucester in 1437, was buried there. 



d The large discretionary powers which testators in those times were accustomed 

 to vest in their executors must have frequently been productive of a considerable 

 amount of labour and responsibility.— Brewer's Life and Times of John Carpenter, 

 p. 24. 



e Charter of Foimd-ation of Whittington' s Cofffz/c— Dugdalc's Momsticon. 



