OF THE MIDDLE AGES. 75 



line, that Richard Whittington gave to his brother " Robert Lord of 

 of Pauntley and his heires a Collour of SS, three dosn. of Sylvcr 

 Cupps with Covers : the on dos'. gilt, the other pcell gilt, the third 

 whyte. Three basons and Ewres, 3 nests of Bowles, three flagons and 

 three Lyverye potts all of the same sorte." 



If it was a fact that these gifts were really made, it must have been 

 during Richard Whittington's life time and also towards its close, for 

 it is scarcely probable that he would have given away his decoration 

 or badge of office, as long as there was any probability of his requiring 

 the use of it, or of his plate either ; as we know that services of plate 

 were not over extensive in those days. 



It is clear from the illumination which represents his death-bed, 

 that none of his family were present on that solemn occasion. 

 As his brother Robert was in possession of the family estates, and his 

 nephew Guy would, in the course of events, succeed him in his 

 property, he probably saw no necessity to make further provision for 

 them. We find a Robert AYhittington," a citizen of London, raised to 

 the Shrievalty in 1416, and again in 1419, the year of Sir Richard's 

 last Mayoralty, and a Hcniy "VSHiittington,' who, after serving an ap- 

 prenticeship to one Richard Aylmer, in 1434, was admitted as a 

 member of the Mercers' Company. We do not, however, find mention 

 made of any Robert or Henry in the family pedigrees at all cor- 

 responding with these individuals. It is evident that Richard Whit- 

 tington was not a man to leave things to be done after his death, any 

 more than he could avoid ; he wished to see the fruits of his own 

 liberality, and therefore having probably done what he thought requi- 

 site for his relatives during his life time, there would be no occasion 

 to remember them again in his will, which is short and simple, 

 and contains but few clauses. 



The bulk of his property he left to his executors, to be laid out in 

 purposes of charity, leaving the disposal of it to their good judgment, 

 after having explained on his death bed the principal objects on which 

 he desired it to be bestowed — chiefly in completing those works 

 which had been commenced under liis own superintendence, in his 



y Stow. 

 z Record in the Mercer's Compam'. 



