Richard’ Whittington

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John Fitzwarren’s house was the residence of John Fitzwarren, the master and father-in-law of Richard Whittington and a rich merchant in medieval London. He was born in London in the mid-14th century. He was the head of the mercers’ company and a prominent citizen of London. He took Richard Whittington as his apprentice when he was 13 years old. He was a supportive and generous mentor to Whittington, and helped him to rise in the ranks of the mercers’ company and the city government. He died in 1417 and was buried in St. Michael Paternoster Royal
William of Puntley’s house
William of Pauntley’s house was the manor house of Pauntley, a village in Gloucestershire, England. It was the ancestral home of the Whittington family, who held the manor from the 12th century until the 16th century. It was a large and impressive building, with a hall, a chapel, a solar, a kitchen, a buttery, a cellar, and several chambers. It was surrounded by a moat and a park, and had a view of the Malvern Hills12
William of Pauntley’s house was the birthplace of Richard Whittington, who was born there in the late 1350s. He was the third of four sons of William and Joan Whittington, both from wealthy and influential families. He inherited some of his father’s wealth and ambition, but as a younger son, he did not inherit his father’s estate. He moved to London to become a merchant and apprentice to John Fitzwarren, and later became a successful trader, a four-time mayor of London, and a generous philanthropist. He is also the real-life inspiration for the folk tale of Dick Whittington and His Cat, which has been adapted into many forms of entertainment13
William of Pauntley’s painting
illiam of Pauntley’s painting is a portrait of him in his suit of armor and helmet, with his sword and shield. It was painted by an unknown artist in the late 14th century, and is one of the oldest surviving paintings of a member of the Whittington family. It shows his coat of arms, which are gules, a fess chequy or and azure in the dexter chief an annulet or. The annulet is a difference of his paternal arms, which he used to distinguish himself from his elder brother1
William of Pauntley’s painting is currently displayed in the National Portrait Gallery in London, as part of the collection of medieval and Tudor portraits. It was donated to the gallery by Sir John Whittington, a descendant of Richard Whittington, in 1856. It is one of the few paintings of a medieval knight that have survived to the present day2
William of Pauntley’s painting is also featured in the book The History of Sir Richard Whittington, Knight, Four Times Lord-Mayor of London, which was published in 1770. The book is a biography of Richard Whittington, based on historical sources and legends. It includes an engraving of William of Pauntley’s painting, along with other illustrations of Richard Whittington and his cat. The book is available online in this link: [The History of Sir Richard Whittington]3