and dilapidations by fire and
water, but that they had caused enquiry to be made, and the names of men,
women and other persons (_hominum, feminarum et aliarum personarum_)
mentioned in the commission were forwarded by them in the following a, b,
c (_in sequenti a, b, c_). What lands and tenements the "men, women and
other persons" had elsewhere they had no means of discovering.(746) The
schedule, or "a, b, c," is not entered in the City Letter Book, but is to
be found among the Exchequer Rolls, preserved at Her Majesty's Public
Record(747) Office. The gross rental was returned at L4,220, and the sum
paid into the exchequer at 6_s._ 8_d._ for every L20, under the provisions
of the act amounted to L70 6_s._ 8_d._ The mayor and commonalty of the
city are credited as possessing lands, tenements and rents of an annual
value of no more than L150 9_s._ 11_d._, whilst the Bridge House Estate
was returned at L148 15_s._ 3_d._ Of the livery companies, the Goldsmiths
appear as the owners of the largest property, their rental of city
property amounting to L46 10_s._ 1/2_d._, the Merchant Tailors following
them closely with L44 3_s._ 7_d._ The Mercers had but a rental of L13
18_s._ 4_d._ whilst the Skinners had L18 12_s._ 8_d._ Robert Chichele, the
mayor, was already a rich man, with an annual rental of L42 19_s._ 2_d._,
derived from city property, or nearly double the amount (L25) with which
Richard Whitington was credited.

(M396)

Whitington had already three times occupied the mayoralty chair; once (in
1396) at the word of a king, and twice (in 1397 and 1406) at the will of
his fellow citizens. On the occasion of his third election a solemn mass
was for the first time introduced into the proceedings, the mayor,
aldermen and a large body of commoners attending the service at the
Guildhall Chapel, before proceeding to the election.(748) The custom which
then sprang up continues in a modified form to this day, the election of a
mayor being always preceded by divine service. Its origin may perhaps be
ascribed in some measure to the spirit of Lollardry which, in its best
sense, found much favour with the citizens.

The enormous wealth which he succeeded in amassing was bestowed in
promoting the cause of education, and in relieving the sufferings of the
poor and afflicted. He built a handsome library in the house of the Grey
Friars and also the Church of Saint Michael in the "Riole." He is credited
by some writers with having purch