Whittington, further, built a library for the Franciscan House; part of
the building still remains at Christ's Hospital. It was 129 feet long
and 31 feet broad. He also gave the friars 400_l._ to buy books. He
restored and repaired the Hospital of St. Bartholomew's, to which he
gave a library. He paved and glazed the new building of Guildhall: he
gave large sums for the bridge--and the chapel on the bridge--at
Rochester--as a merchant he was greatly interested in keeping this
important bridge in order: he repaired Gloucester Cathedral--the
cathedral church of his native diocese: he made 'bosses,' i.e. taps of
water, to the great aqueduct: he rebuilt and enlarged Newgate Prison;
and he founded a library at Guildhall.
Many of these things were done after his death by his executors.
Such were the gifts by which a City merchant of the fourteenth and
fifteenth centuries sought to advance the prosperity of the citizens.
Fresh water in plenty by 'bosses' here and there: the light of learning
by means of libraries: almshouses for the poor: mercy and charity for
the prisoners: hospitals for the sick: help for the young: prayers for
the dead. These things he understood.
We cannot expect any man to be greatly in advance of his age. Otherwise
we should find a Whittington insisting upon cleanliness of streets:
fresh air in the house: burial outside the City: the abolition of the
long fasts which made people eat stinking fish and so gave them leprosy:
the education of the craftsmen in something besides their trade: the
establishment of a patrol by police: and the freedom of trade.
He did not found any school. That is a remarkable omission. One of his
successors, Sir William Sevenoke, founded a school for lads of his
native town Sevenoaks: another, Sir Robert Chichele, founded a school,
an almshouse, and a college in his native town of Higham Ferrers. A
friend of his own, Sir John Niel, proposed to establish four new grammar
schools in the City. And yet Whittington left no money for a school. We
may be quite sure that there was a reason for the omission. Perhaps he
was afraid of the growing spirit of doubt and inquiry. Boys who learn
grammar and rhetoric may grow into men who question and argue; and so,
easily and naturally, get bound to the stake and are consumed with the
pile of faggots. Everything was provided except a school for boys.
Libraries for men; but not a school for boys. The City of London School
was founded by Whittington's executor, John Carpenter. There must have
been reasons in Whittington's mind for omitting any endowment of
schools. What those reasons were I cannot even guess.
34. THE PALACES AND GREAT HOUSES.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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