74 THE MODEL MERCHANT 



estabKshing the nursery tales, at least in this particular. There is 

 every probability that this lady left him a widower several years before 

 his own death. The other persons named in Whittington's Ordinances 

 are his own father and mother, Sir "William de Whytyngton, Knight, 

 and Dame Joan his wife ; thus clearly identifying his parentage and 

 his pedigree. At the same time, his mention of liis mother shews that, 

 whatever might have been his feelings with regard to her at one time, 

 his wrongs, real or imaginarj', had passed into oblivion in her grave. 

 T^' hittington appears to have died in the month of March,"" 1423, 

 (the cutting winds of which, according to his epitaph, were too 

 cold for him,) having lived during the reigns of Edward III., 

 Richard II., Henry IV., Henry V., and Henry YI. Ko children ap- 

 pear to have blessed his union, and therefore he was free to bestow the 

 riches accumulated by his own prudence in the way which might please 

 his own taste. No mention is made in his will of his elder brother, 

 but we learn from an ancient memorandum, kindly supplied to me by 

 Clement Bush, Esq., descended from the Whittingtons in the female 



his estate. It is remarkable of this Fulk, playing at chess -with King John, the 

 King broke his head with a chess-board ; but Fulk returned the blow, and almost 

 killed the King. He was succeeded by his son, Fulk, who was slain at the battle 

 of Le\ris, 48 Henry III. This family obtained the name of Fitzwarinc, from 

 Waiine theii- ancestor, who came in with the Conqueror." 



In Roice Mores Nomina et Insignia Gentilitia Nobilium Equitumqtcc sub Edoardo 

 2)rimo rcge miUtantium, the Arms of Fitzwarren are described as — " Quartile de 

 Argent c de goules endente." And elsewhere as — "Quartile de Argent e dc Sable." 

 See also Notes * and || to page 17 of this work. 



X The Charier of Foundation of his Hospital pro%adcs that the day of his decease 

 shall be celebrated the 23rd or 24th day of March, and that of Alice, his wife, the 

 last, or last day but one, of July, in every year; and on each of those occasions, 

 the Master shall have 20d., the Chaplains shall have 12d., each Clerk 6d., each 

 Chorister 3d. In the reign of Edward VI. the Mercers' Company kept a memorial 

 of his death by a feast, of which the follo%ving furnishes an accoimt: — "Paide 

 yerely for the obitte of Master Whittington, for spicest brede, Avith the spices, and 

 whytc buncs and butter, with other thingcs thereto appertyning, xlis. viiid. 

 For perrcs, apples, pyskcttes, chcse, ale and wjme, and the butteler's fee, with other 

 things, xxviiis. viiid. For waxe and ringing of bells, iis. To the poor men for to 

 offer, xiiid. To the Lord Maior of London, vjs. viiid. To the three Wardens of 

 the Mercers, iijli, and to the Rent Warden, xls. To the Clarke of the Mercer, 

 vis. viiid. And as for the Preslcs andClaikcs, we never paid none.— ixli. vjs. ijd." 



