Bishop John Carpenter was willed, by the subject of this article, "that book on architecture which Master William Cleve gave me".

Cleve was King's Chaplain and clerk of the works, and carried out building at the Palace of Westminster and the Tower.

The exemption mentioned on page 14 suggests that John Carpenter had been in the City of London's service "from the time of his youth".

Genealogical efforts have revealed a baptismal date of 18 December 1378 at Hereford Cathedral, but he was probably born earlier, with about 1372 being generally accepted.

[5] His father, Richard or Renaud Carpenter, is believed to have been born about 1335–1337 in or of Grand Pont, Cambrai, France.

[7][8] Proclamacio sup' judicio billor' appears to be the first public document signed by John Carpenter with his surname only.

[9] He obtained a letter of patent from Henry VI dated 3 December 18 (either 1418, or the 18th year of Henry's reign, i.e. 1439), exempting him "for the whole of his life from all military and civil duties whatsoever, which included election as a member of Parliament and receiving the Honour of Knighthood".

[11] John Carpenter's arms appear to be of French or Norman heritage, "Paly of six, argent and gules, on a chevron azure, 3 cross crosslets or."

He was a Lt. General and commander-in-chief of all the Crown's forces in Scotland when he was elevated to the peerage of Ireland, by patent dated 29 May 1719, as Baron Carpenter, of Killaghy, county Kilkenny.

Sir Noel Paton, upon painting the family arms, informed him that the supporters were originally a round-handled sword, which in drawing over time became shortened, until nothing but the cross and globe were left beneath it.

surmounted by a mitre Or, three cross crosslets or – nine pales alternating red and blue, with a silver chevron bearing three gold cross-crosslets.

The statue of John Carpenter, now residing within the City of London School for Boys, shows him holding this book.

[19] Bequest for the betterment of poor children: John Stow[20] recorded the actual bequest as, "He gave tenements to the Citye for the finding and bringing up of foure poore men's children with meate, drinke, apparell, learning at the schooles in the universities, &c., until they be preferred, and then others in their place for ever.

That continued for almost 400 years until an Act of Parliament (1834) permitted the combining of several accounts to establish the City of London School.