year of his mayoralty he entertained King Henry V. and his Queen, after
his conquest of France, upon which occasion the King, in consideration
of Whittington's merit, said, "Never had prince such a subject;" which
being told to Whittington at the table, he replied "Never had subject
such a king." His Majesty, out of respect to his good character,
conferred the honour of knighthood on him soon after.

Sir Richard many years before his death constantly fed a great number of
poor citizens, built a church and a college to it, with a yearly
allowance for poor scholars, and near it erected an hospital. He also
built Newgate for criminals, and gave liberally to St. Bartholomew's
Hospital and other public charities.


* * * * *


Two old houses in London, which were pulled down at the beginning of the
present century, have been associated with the name of Whittington, but
there is no evidence that he really dwelt in either of them. One ruinous
building in Sweedon's Passage, Grub Street, engravings of which will be
found in J.T. Smith's _Topography of London_, was pulled down in 1805,
and five houses built on its site. A tablet was then set up, on which
was an inscription to the effect that the house had been called Gresham
House, and that Whittington once inhabited it.

The magnificent house which stood in Hart Street, Crutched Friars, a few
doors from Mark Lane, is said to have been called Whittington's palace
in the old leases, but this is the only evidence in favour of the
popular belief. The front was elaborately carved in oak, the work of a