Page:History of Whittington and his cat (3).pdf/23

 Sir Richard spent the remainder of his days in honourable retirement at home, in his house in Grub-street, beloved by rich and poor. By his wife he left two sons, some of whose posterity are still worthy citizens. He built many charitable houses, founded a church in Vintry Ward, Upper Thames-street, dedicated to St. Michael. HeroHere [sic] he built a vault, for the sepulchre of his father and mother-in-law, and the remainder of the Fitzwarren family, and where himself and wife lay afterwards.

In 1413, hohe [sic] founded an alms-house and college, on College-hill; which was afterwards suppressed by an order of council in King Edward the Seventh's time. And his alms houses remained till late years, when they were pulled down, and an elegant gothic structure erected near the foot of Highgate-hill, at the entrance of the Tunnel-road: these are under the direction of the Mercer's Company, who allow each pensioner 3s. 10d. per week.

The executors of the will of Richard Whittington constituted five chaplains in his college founded in this church; which were confirmed by the king in the third of Henry VI.

Sir Richard Whittington was three times buried, by his executors, under a fair monument; then in the reign of Edward VI., the parson of that church, thinking some great riches (as he said) to be buried with him, caused his monument to be broken, his body to be spoiled of his leaden sheet, and again the second time to be buried; and in the reign of Queen Mary, the parishioners were forced to take him up to lap him in lead, as afore, to bury him a third time, and to place his monument, or the like, over him again, which remained; and so he rested, till thothe [sic] great fire of London, in 1666, violated his resting place again.

Sir Richard built the gate and prison of Newgate as it formerly stood; gave large sums to Bartholomew's Hospital: founded a library in Grey Friars; endowed Christ's Hospital with a considerable sum; built Guildhall Chapel, and the east end of thothe [sic] Hall.

Dame Alice, his wife, died in the 63d year of her age; after which he never remarried, though he outlived her near twenty years. At last he died like the patriarch, full of age and honour, leaving a good name to posterity.