The History of Sir Richard Whittington | Page 3

Keightley also quotes two similar stories from Thiele's _Danish Popular Traditions_ and another from the letters of Count Magalotti, a Florentine of the latter half of the seventeenth century.
Mr. Lysons gives much information as to the great value of cats in the Middle Ages, but the writer of the History of Whittington does not lead us to believe that they were dear in England, for he makes the boy buy his cat for one penny. The two following titles are from the Stationers' Registers. The ballad is probably the one subsequently referred to as by Richard Johnson:--
"The History of Richard Whittington, of his lowe birthe, his great fortune, as yt was plaied by the Prynces Servants. Licensed to Thomas Pavyer, Feb. 8, 1604-5."
"A Ballad, called The vertuous lyfe and memorable death of Sir Richard Whittington, mercer, sometymes Lord Maiour of the honorable Citie of London. Licensed to John Wright, 16 July, 1605."
The first reference that we find to the cat incident is in the play Eastward Hoe by Chapman, Ben Jonson, and Marston; for, as the portrait which was said to have existed at Mercers' Hall is not now known, it can scarcely be put in evidence. This half-length portrait of a man of about sixty years of age, dressed in a livery gown and black cap of the time of Henry VIII. with a figure of a black and white cat on the left, is said to have had painted in the left-hand upper corner of the canvas the inscription, "R. Whittington, 1536."
In Eastward Hoe, 1605, Touchstone assures Goulding that he hopes to see him reckoned one of the worthies of the city of London "When the famous fable of Whittington and his puss shall be forgotten."
The next allusion is in Thomas Heywood's _If you know not me, you know nobody_, 2nd part, 1606.
Dean Nowell. "This Sir Richard Whittington, three times Mayor, Sonne to a knight and prentice to a mercer,?Began the Library of Grey-Friars in London,?And his executors after him did build?Whittington Colledge, thirteene Alms-houses for poore men, Repair'd S. Bartholomewes, in Smithfield,?Glased the Guildhall, and built Newgate.
Hobson. Bones of men, then I have heard lies;?For I have heard he was a scullion,?And rais'd himself by venture of a cat.
Nowell. They did the more wrong to the gentleman."
Here it will be seen that, although the popular tale is mentioned, it is treated as a mere invention unworthy of credence.
The next in point of time is the ballad by Richard Johnson, published in the Crowne Garland of Goulden Roses (1612), which probably had a much earlier existence in a separate form. It is the earliest form of the story of Whittington now in existence.
_A song of Sir Richard Whittington, who by strange fortunes came to bee thrice Lord Maior of London; with his bountifull guifts and liberallity given to this honourable Citty._
(To the tune of "Dainty come thou to me.")
"Here must I tell the praise?Of worthie Whittington,?Known to be in his dayes?Thrice Maior of London.?But of poor parentage?Borne was he, as we heare,?And in his tender age?Bred up in Lancashire.
Poorely to London than?Came up this simple lad,?Where, with a marchant-man,?Soone he a dwelling had;?And in a kitchen plast,?A scullion for to be,?Whereas long time he past?In labour grudgingly.
His daily service was?Turning spits at the fire;?And to scour pots of brasse,?For a poore scullions hire.?Meat and drinke all his pay,?Of coyne he had no store;?Therefore to run away,?In secret thought he bore.
So from this marchant-man?Whittington secretly?Towards his country ran,?To purchase liberty.?But as he went along?In a fair summer's morne,?London bells sweetly rung,?'Whittington, back return!'
'Evermore sounding so,?Turn againe, Whittington;?For thou in time shall grow?Lord-Maior of London.'?Whereupon back againe?Whittington came with speed,?Aprentise to remaine,?As the Lord had decreed.
'Still blessed be the bells'?(This was his daily song),?'They my good fortune tells,?Most sweetly have they rung.?If God so favour me,?I will not proove unkind;?London my love shall see,?And my great bounties find.'
But see his happy chance!?This scullion had a cat,?Which did his state advance,?And by it wealth he gat.?His maister ventred forth,?To a land far unknowne,?With marchandize of worth,?And is in stories shewne.
Whittington had no more?But this poor cat as than,?Which to the ship he bore,?Like a brave marchant-man.?'Vent'ring the same,' quoth he,?'I may get store of golde,?And Maior of London be,?As the bells have me told.'
Whittington's marchandise,?Carried was to a land?Troubled with rats and mice,?As they did understand.?The king of that country there,?As he at dinner sat,?Daily remain'd in fear?Of many a mouse and rat.
Meat that in trenchers lay,?No way they could keepe safe?But by rats borne away,?Fearing no wand or staff.?Whereupon, soone they brought?Whittington's nimble cat;?Which by the king was bought;?Heapes of gold giv'n for that.
Home againe came these men?With their ships loaden so;?Whittington's wealth began?By this cat thus to grow.?Scullions life he forsooke?To be a marchant good,?And soon began to looke?How