Nor were other places without their public-spirited townsmen. Unlike “Dick” Whittington who died childless, THOMAS ELLIS left twenty-three sons and daughters: nevertheless this large-hearted draper provided an almshouse for his poorer neighbours in Sandwich. The wealth of WILLIAM BROWNE of Stamford and of ROGER THORNTON of Newcastle-upon-Tyne was proverbial when Leland visited those industrial centres and saw the charities which they had established. Browne, founder of the bede-house (Fig. 5), “was a Marchant of a very wonderful Richeness.” Thornton, a very poor man, reported to have been a pedlar, who rose to be nine times mayor, was remembered as “the richest Marchaunt that ever was dwelling in Newcastelle.” While in this way many that were rich made offerings of their abundance, there were those, too, who gave of their penury. Such was “ADAM RYPP, of Whittlsey, a poor man, who began to build a Poor’s Hospital there, but had not sufficient means to finish it.” His work was commended to the faithful by briefs from Bishop Fordham of Ely (1391–4). TOMBS OF FOUNDERS AND BENEFACTORS [Illustration: 12. JOHN BARSTAPLE (Burgess of Bristol)] Many benefactors associated themselves so closely with their bedemen that they desired to be buried within the precincts of the hospital. Robert de Meulan, one of the [p084] Conqueror’s lords, is said to have founded and endowed Brackley hospital, where his heart was embalmed. His descendant, Roger, Earl of Winchester, a considerable benefactor in the time of Henry III, “ordered a measure to be made for corn in the shape of a coffin, and gave directions that it should be placed on the right side of the shrine, in which the heart of Margaret his mother lay intombed,” providing that it should be filled thrice in a year for ever for the use of the hospital.[60] The chapel [p085] continued to be a favourite place of interment, for Leland says:—“There ly buryed in Tumbes dyvers Noble Men and Women.” Bishop Suffield directed that if he should die away from Norwich—as he afterwards did—his heart should be placed near the altar in the church of St. Giles’ hospital. The blind and aged Henry of Lancaster and Leicester was buried in his hospital church, the royal family and a great company being present (1345); and there likewise his son was laid. Few founders’ tombs remain undisturbed in a spot still hallowed by divine worship, but some have happily escaped destruction. Rahere has an honoured place at St. Bartholomew’s. The mailed effigy of Sir Henry de Sandwich—lord warden of the Cinque Ports—remains in the humbler St. Bartholomew’s near Sandwich. The fine alabaster monument of Alice, Duchess of Suffolk, is in perfect preservation at Ewelme. The rebuilt chapel of Trinity Hospital, Bristol, retains a monumental brass of the founder (Fig. 12) and his wife. AIMS AND MOTIVES OF BENEFACTORS