The Excellent and Renowned HISTORY Of the Famous Sir Richard Whittington, Three times Lord-Mayor of the Honourable City of LONDON.  
Giving an Account of all the Remarkable and noted Passages of his Life.  

This may be Printed,  
R. P.    depiction of incidents from the Legend of Dick Whittington  depiction of Dick Whittington's cat at the court of the King of Barbary  depiction of Mr. Fitz-warren's ship 
Mew   depiction of Dick Whittington's cat  depiction of Dick Whittington, Lord Mayor of London on horseback  

The Excellent and Renowned History of the Famous Sir Richard Whittington.  

CHAP. I. ●ow Richard Whittingon came to London, and being almost starved, was taken by a Merchant into his House.  
THat there is something more than ordinary, in the Fares and Fortunes of Men, relating to Adversity and prosperity; is wonderfully evident by the 〈◊〉 or sinking of some in the World, who 〈◊〉 their utmost labour, industry and diligence, to prevent it: and the rise of others 〈◊〉 neither strive for it, or in the least ex●●● it. And one of this Fortunate Ones 〈◊〉 the Person, whose unexpected advancements and great increase of Riches, etc. … s this Relation, to whose story I 〈◊〉 proceed.  
Richard Whittington, born of obsc●●● Parents, so that the certain place of 〈◊〉 Birth is unkown; being in his Child●●●● cast out to a desperate Fortune, he wan●●●●● for a considerable time, about the Cou●t●● but finding no employment whereby he c●●●● subsist, he resolved for London: where, ●●ter many weary steps, he arrived; but 〈◊〉 there a stranger, and altogether friendless he did little but wander up and down 〈◊〉 streets for the space of two days. But 〈◊〉 the third, being tired and faint for want food, he laid himself down at the door of 〈◊〉 Rich Merchant, to bemoan his present ●●happy condition: which he had scarcely d●●● before the Merchant came out to go to 〈◊〉 Exchange, and finding him there, began 〈◊〉 chide and threaten him as a lazy Pi … and a Loiterer; telling him that suc● 〈◊〉 able Fellow, as he appeared to be, ought 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 taking upon him such an idle course of 〈◊〉 to be sent to the Stocks or Whipping-p●●● But his Replies being modest and ●●affirming that he would refuse no La●●● he was capable of performing, if he c●●●● find a Master by whom he might be sum … ed with Victuals to ease his Hunger, 〈◊〉  to cover his Nakedness: 〈◊〉 made such a visible Relation, of the … ing and perishing condition he was in; ●●●t the Merchant, whose name was Hugh … warren, who was naturally compassionate melting at the story, changed his Pas●●●● to mildness; and calling one of his … 'tis, ordered him to take in that stran●●●, and supply his wants with provision▪ 〈◊〉 withal, not to dismiss him till his Re●●●●. And so proceeded to look after his Af●●●●● abroad.   

CHAP. II. 〈◊〉 Mrs. Alice, the Merchant's Daughter procured his being taken into Service, and of the hard usage he received him the Cookmaid, how he purchased his Cat and sent her for a Venture.  
WHittington being taken out of the pinching cold to a warm fire, and ●ed with provision to his content; did 〈◊〉 a little inwardly rejoice at this begin●●●● of good luck: But whilst his thoughts 〈◊〉 employed many ways, and busied in an … ng the many Questions the Servants 〈◊〉 him, in relation to his Birth, Coun●●● Travels▪ fair Mrs. Alice the Mer●●●●●s only Daughter, upon notice a stranger was ordered by her Father to be … tained, came out of curiosity to see him: 〈◊〉 on sight of whom (his colour and Comp●●●●on being by this time pretty well reco●●●●● she was not a little pleased, & the more 〈◊〉 by his modest, though suitable, Answer her Questions, she found him Witt● 〈◊〉 Ingenious, beyond what his habit o●●●●ward form could reasonably promise: 〈◊〉 hearing her Father was returned and 〈◊〉 upon the Board, she left him to dine with Servants: Yet so far he ran in her 〈◊〉 that although her Father, through the 〈◊〉 of Business, had, in a manner, forg●t he had caused him to be entertained, 〈◊〉 him in mind of him, and so prevailed; 〈◊〉 she, upon urging that he might be servic●● in the Kitchen, going of Errands, clea … of Shoes and Boots, etc. procured him be listed or entertained in the Family: 〈◊〉 in consideration a Lodging was want●● she further pleaded, that allowing 〈◊〉 homely Bed, the Garret, that lay usel●●● and unemployed, might afford him a c … niency. And thereupon, all scruples of th●● kind, being removed, he joyfully 〈◊〉 upon his new Service; as not doubting 〈◊〉 give content for the meat, drink and cl … which he only expected to be the Reward h●● Labour and diligence: but being most●● put to drudge in the Kitchen, the Cook- 〈◊〉, under whom he served in the nature of 〈◊〉 Scullion, being of a cruel and froward ●●●per, used her Authority beyond the Rule 〈◊〉 Reason or Humanity, by not only rating 〈◊〉 frequently scolding at him, though he was no ways remiss in performing what ●●e●er was enjoined him; but upon the least … ous occasion, and frequently, without 〈◊〉 cause, would lay on him unmercifully ●●●h the Spit, Tongues, Ladle or what ●●me next to hand; and the rather she used ●●is Cruelty, because she found him so good ●●tured as not to complain of his hard Usage; being resolved if possible, to over●●me Perverseness with Patience. During which suffering of his, it so happened, 〈◊〉 through his diligence had gained the good●●ll of all the Family beside, and especially 〈◊〉 fair Mrs. Alice. But now another trouble happened, the Garret wherein he lay, by ●e●son of its long unfrequentedness, being ●●●●edingly pestered with Rats and Mice; 〈◊〉 his quiet was molested in the day by the cookmaid, so they did the like in the night, 〈◊〉 running over his Face and frequently … aching to the disturbance of his Repose, which obliged him to consider some way to destroy them: and thereupon he conclu●● to purchase a Car with a penny that he 〈◊〉 got for cleaning a pair of Boots for a G●●tleman who accidentally lodged in his master's House. How it so happened that th● generous Merchant, whom he served, nev●● sent any Ship to Sea, but he caused t●●● one of his Family, as well Servants 〈◊〉 others, to send some part of their prope● Goods as an Adventure, for which they 〈◊〉 to have their respective Returns, Fraught free. And now being about to set out th● prosperous Ship called the Unicorn; he ca●led his Daughter and Servants to deliver their Adventures to his Factor, who accordingly came, Whittington excepted, ea●● according to his or her Ability, delivering something valuable. At what time Whittington came into remembrance, and bein● called, the Merchant told him the custome● and demanded what he had that he could ca●● properly his own to send as an adventure To which he replied, his Poverty rendere● him uncapable of any thing in that nature▪ Whereupon, fair Mrs. Alice drew out he● Purse and offered to lay down moneys fo● him; but her Father would except nothing but what was his proper Goods; and aga●● demanded if he had nothing that he coul● properly call his own: to which the poor 〈◊〉 replied, with a sigh, that he had nothing could rightly call so, unless his  〈◊〉 a Cat which he had purchased with a … ny; the latter of which, the Merchant ●●●ered him instantly to fetch, which he with 〈◊〉 unwillingness and almost with tears, 〈◊〉 as being loath to part with what was 〈◊〉 serviceable to him. And now their Ad●●●ture being delivered to the Factor, he decried them aboard the good Ship the Unicorn, which was fallen down to Black●●all; and soon after set sail upon the intend●● Voyage.   

CHAP. III. ●ow Whittington, by reason of his hard Usage, attempting to run away, was brought back by the ringing of Bow Bells; and of the great Riches he received for the Adventure of his Cat, and how it came to pass.  
WHittington being still in Mr. Fitzwarren's house, under the unperi … Cookmaid; and she finding her power 〈◊〉 him, used it with such rigour, that it 〈◊〉 him, in a manner, weary of his Life: which put him upon purpose of running way; and in order thereto, early in the ●●●ning on St. Allhallows-day, he packed 〈◊〉 his  and went as far as Bun hill- 〈◊〉 where, it being yet scarce day, he sat 〈◊〉 down to consider whether or to what plac● 〈◊〉 should go; and to bewail his unhappy 〈◊〉 uneasy Condition: when, to his think●●● he heard the Bells at Bow-Church 〈◊〉 Cheapside, in their tuning express th●●● Words; viz. 

Turn again Whittington  
Thrice Lord Mayor of London.   

Turn again Whittington  
Thrice Lord Mayor of London.    
This made so deep an impression in h●● mind, that it quite altered his former ●●termination and made him resolve upon returning again to his Service; which 〈◊〉 accordingly did, e'er he was miss by any 〈◊〉 the Family: where we must leave him 〈◊〉 a while to follow his drudgery, and bear patiently the Cook-maids Doggedness 〈◊〉 Cruelty, to follow the Ship; which, 〈◊〉 this time, was tossing in a fearful 〈◊〉 upon the Ocean.  
The good Ship the Unicorn being dri●●● by Storms and Tempests, through … y dangerous Seas, not without great ●●zard of being Cast away; arrived at last 〈◊〉 the Coast of Barbary or the Golden 〈◊〉, then unknown and un-navigated by ●●e Christians; and there exposing their … s to the view of the Moors, who flock●● to the shore to admire them. It was ●●t long before the news was carried to the King of the Country, who sent one of his Lords to bring the Master and Factor to Court; and with them some of every Commodity they had to expose to Sale: which so highly pleased him, that he commanded they should be feasted at his own Table in his Royal Palace; bargaining beforehand for their whole Ships Cargo.  
Now so it happened, that whilst they were ●●●●ing on Carpets spread on the Pavement, 〈◊〉 the Moorish fashion is, the smell of the ●●inties, which were their present, drew … her such a multitude of Rats and Mice, ●●●t they, in a manner, covered the Table ●●twithstanding the diligence the Servants used to drive them away; which made the Master inquire of one of the Noblemen ●●●t sat by him, whether they cherished that sort of Vermin for increase, seeing they were there in such numbers: to which h● replied, no, but that they were the Pla●●● of the Palace, and so annoyed it, that 〈◊〉 King could neither eat nor sleep in quiet 〈◊〉 them, although he kept many person's 〈◊〉 purpose to guard him and drive them aw●● and that he would give half the Reven●● of his Kingdom to be rid of them and 〈◊〉 his Repose.  
At this the Master inwardly rejoy●●● told him he had in his Ship a little Bea … though very rare and strange, that he d●●●●ed not, in a short time, would clear the Palace of them. This discourse passing 〈◊〉 way of an Interpreter, came soon to 〈◊〉 King's Ear; who expressed much I●● thereat, and Embracing the Master and t●● Factor, desired them instantly to send f●● the Beast they spoke off, and that if she p●●formed what they averred; he would 〈◊〉 Lieu of her Ballast their Ship with S … and Lad it with Gold and Pearl. T●● great offer at the first dash, that the 〈◊〉 might be the more valued, and the 〈◊〉 more desirous of her, made them seem 〈◊〉 willing to part with her; alleging, 〈◊〉 she was so useful in the Ship in preser●●●● their Victuals and Merchandise from t●● like spoil, that they were very loath to 〈◊〉 her▪ but the King continuing his offers, 〈◊〉 more earnestly desiring her, she was 〈◊〉 the end sent for, and from under the 〈◊〉 of him that brought her, whilst great 〈◊〉 the expectation of all that were present 〈◊〉 what manner of Creature it might 〈◊〉 ●he was cast suddenly upon the Table; 〈◊〉 espying the Vermin busy at the ●●ers which were prepared as a second feast, 〈◊〉 fell upon them with such fury, that by … off the Heads of some, the Legs of o●●●●s; leaving some panting for Life and ●●●●rs quite dead: she in less than half an ●●●rs space killed and put them to flight, in 〈◊〉 a manner, that not one alive was to be ●●●●d in the Room. The which whilst she ●●a doing, great was the pleasure the ●ing and his Nobles conceived thereat, commending the sport beyond that of the … ing the Lions; with which Creatures 〈◊〉 Country abounded: some praising her 〈◊〉 her Tabby skin; others for her noble ●●●age; and some again for her Lion-like ●●●ntenance: when, in the mean while, ●●●ing no more work to do; she came pur●●●● and curling to the King and Queen as 〈◊〉 she had proclaimed her own Victory. ●●●ch made them the more Rejoice, especially when the Master told them that she was with Young, and that those young, 〈◊〉 time, might furnish the whole Coun●●● so that the King, having first paid for 〈◊〉 Cargo and caused it to be Landed, se●● 〈◊〉 Lieu of the Cat, Silver, Gold, P●●●●● Diamonds and other precious Stones i● such abundance, that the Master was ●●●zed; and finding himself sufficiently fr … ed he took his leave; and weighing Anc●●● soon after came safe to Black-wall. W … upon the Master and Factor with others 〈◊〉 the Ships crew came to Mr. Fitz-warres House, situate in Leaden-hall-street, bri●●ing with them the Gold, Pearls and jewels, etc. as being too precious to be lon●●● trusted on Board: And first presenting t●● Bills of Lading, the Merchant was wonderfully satisfied therewith: but when 〈◊〉 saw the Treasure, which was not containe● therein, he grew amazed, demanding t● whom it appertained and having heard th● whole Story, as before recited; he cause● Whittington by the Title of Master to be called; who, after some excuses, with much cringing and bashfulness, came; where he was saluted by the name of Mr. Whittington by all present, and forced to sit down▪ and when he had a while wondered what thi● strange alteration, in carriage towards him, should mean, and made many excuses of his unworthiness, as merely supposing they did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mock him: his Master came to him ●n● told him, that what they did was in earnest, though he might take it otherwise; for th●t he was a better man in Estate than himself: and thereupon presented him with the Treasure, and told him all that he had been ●●formed; saying, God forbidden that he should ●●●●in from him any thing that was his. 〈◊〉 which the poor man, overjoyed, fell down ●●●n his knees, and returned most hearty ●●●nks to God, that had looked upon his ●●sery and taken compassion on him: and ●●ereupon distributed liberally, not only to the Master and Seamen, but to all his fell●● Servants; giving even the ridged Cookmaid, who had so severely used him, 100 l. towards her Marriage: but above ●ll, he remembered fair Mrs. Alice with a present of Pearls and jewels, as an acknowledgement of her kind offer.   

CHAP. IU. How Whittington married his Master's Daughter, and was chose Sheriff of London, and afterwards chosen the first time Lord Mayor: with other things that happened.  
WHittington upon this great success, being put into good , having his Lodging changed from the Garret to the best Room in the house; began to look like himself: insomuch that being a comely Person, from that moment fair Mrs. Alice began to cast her Eyes upon him, and he to be caressed by Merchants and others, abroad and at home, who were taken as much with his Person and modest discourse, as with his admirable Fortune.  
Long it was not e'er Mrs. Alice having discovered her Affections she bore Whittington to her Father; he propounded a Match between them, which was joyfully embraced to the content of either Party: so that they were splendidly married, the Lord Mayor, aldermans and many worthy Citizens, being at the Wedding. And now his fame spreading wide, by his trading in merchandise, which he above all things chose, since at first he had been so fortunate therein. He was pricked for Sheriff, which he, in modesty, would have refused to hold; offering his Fine to be excused: but his Father-in-law resolving to have him take upon him that honourable Trust he complied with his desires, and so well behaved himself in his Office, that he ever after gained the Love of the whole City; Drewry Barratine being his Brother-Sheriff and Sir John Hudly Mayor of London, as we find it in Stow and Fabian, Anno 1493. and four years after, himself was chosen Lord-Mayor and Knighted: and so well he managed that great Office, that although there were Differences and Discontents between the King and the Commons, Trade flourished in the City in the greatest Splendour imaginable, and Merchandise improved more than ever; so that the Commodities of all Nations flowed in upon us: And in this year of his Mayoralty, it was that the Dukes of Hereford & Norfolk were banished by K. Richard the second, after he had suspended the Combat that was to be fought between them; the former for ten years and the latter for ever. So well did Sir Richard Whittington behave himself in his first Mayoralty, that in the eighth year of the Reign of Henry the fourth, he was a second time chosen Lord-Mayor; and again so well discharged his Trust to the honour and advantage of the City; that the Citizens being, as it were, enamoured of so good a Magistrate, men of great Estates being then scarce, that he was a third time chose Lord-Mayor, in the 7th. year of the Reign of Henry the 5th. so that he had the honour to bear the Sword in the Reign of three Kings. And in this last Mayoralty, King Henry the 3 d. having conquered the greatest part of France; returned into England victorious, with Katherine his Queen, Daughter to Charles the French, was met on Black-heath by Sir Richard Whittington and his Brethren, the Aldermen and other prime Citizens, in gold Chains and Scarlet, to the number of 300, who had prepared Pageants and many splendid devices for their Entertainment: and on St. Mtathews-day following, the Queen being solemnly Crowned in Westminster Abbey; and the Magnificence attended by all the Dukes, Marquesses, Earls, Bishops, etc. Sir Richard Whittington and his Brethren the Aldermen, gave likewise their attendance; and taking their places at the Table of feasting, were welcomed and in their order as highly entertained as the rest. And all Lord-Mayors of London, have ever since had the honour to be at the solemn Inaugurations of Princes; claiming it as ●h●ir ●ight to attend, etc.   

CHAP. V How Whittington being a third time Lord-Mayor of London, Entertained King Henry the fifth at Dinner in Guildhall; of the Entertainment and Satisfaction the King and his Nobles received, and other matters of note.  
SIR Richard Whittington flourishing and abounding in Riches, beyond what can reasonably be credited; his Estate likewise augmented by the Death of Mr. Fitzwarren his Father-in-law, who left him sole Executor. He soon after the Inauguration of the Queen invited the King and his Royal Consort, together with the Ambassadors and Nobility of the Court to a splendid Entertainment at Guild hall, London; where they vouchsafed to come and honour the City with their Presence; and were entertained not only with Pageants and pompous Shows, but with all the varieties imaginable; with music and whatever might be thought pleasing to the Royal Guest: and in the Presence Chamber where the King and Queen, etc. dined, the fire was made of Cedar, Cinnamon and Cyprus; into which were cast Myrrh, Frankincense, Nutmegs, Mace, Cloves and the like; which so fragrantly perfumed the place, that the King being wonderfully pleased thereat, told Sir Richard, that although every thing was costly and delicate to his high contentment, yet he was taken with nothing more than the scent the fire cast through the Apartment: to whom he humbly replied, that it much rejoiced him that any thing was in his power to give his Majesty satisfaction, or the least cause to be pleased; but since his Highness had been pleased to praise that fire, he purposed, e'er he departed, to entertain him with one that should give him far greater content: which the King being desirous to prove, he went out and suddenly returning, brought under his arm a bundle of Writings: saying, May it please your Majesty, I have here a Faggot, left designedly for this Fire, which I humble conceive will more redound to your Majesty's satisfaction; and thereupon opening the Bundle he said, here is your Highness' security for moneys lent by the Company of Mercers, to maintain your Wars in France, viz. 10000 marks; which I here ●●ncel in the flames: and after it I send ●●is security of 1500 marks lent by the City upon the like occasion; and next, another for 20000 marks borrowed of the Company of Grocers: a fourth for 3000 marks borrowed of the Merchant-Taylors: a fifth for 1000 marks borrowed of the Drapers: a sixth for 1000 mark borrowed of the Skinners: a seventh for 1000 marks borrowed of the Ironmongers: an eighth for 1000 marks borrowed of the Merchant-Staplers: a ninth for 3000 marks borrowed of the Goldsmiths: a tenth for 3000 marks borrowed of the Haberdashers: and three others for a thousand marks, each borrowed of the Vintners, Brewers and brown Bakers: with divers others, which here I sacrifice to the flame, due from your Majesty to Mr. Fitzwarren my Father-in-law, deceased, to whom I am sole Executor: with others likewise due from divers of your Nobility present; all which I sacrifice to the Love and Honour I bear my Sovereign: amounting to the sum of 60000 pounds sterling. And can your Majesty, said he, desire a fire more pleasing? at which voluntary generosity, the King, not being a little surprised, risen from his Seat, and taking him in his Arms, tenderly embracing him, said he, I believe no King had ever such a Subject: and upon the returning to his Palace, did him all the honour imaginable; promising ever to esteem him amongst the first rank of those he held his friend and wore nearest his heart: and so highly satisfied with his magnifieent Entertainment; Sir Richard Whittington Lord-Mayor, carrying the Sword before the King, conducted him out of the City: and having received the thanks of the Noblemen at parting, who highly commended his generosity and greatness of Spirit. He returned to his Charge, and flourishing many years after; lived and died beloved of all men.  
Thus he, who rising from a mean Estate,  
Was three times London's chiefest magistrate;  
Favoured of Princes, and beloved of all;  
For which, him luckey Whittington we call.   

CHAP. VI His Deeds or Acts of Charity in Buildings and Gifts were many; the most material of which I shall not spare to mention.  
IN the Vintry he built a Church, dedicating it to St. Michael; calling it Paternoster in the Royal; adding a College dedicated to St. Mary and an Hospital called God's House, indowing them liberally. He built likewise another College, which he called by his own name. And of his sounding was the Prison of Newgate. He added to and much repaired St. Bartholomew's Hospital: And erected a Library at the Gray-Fryers, London. And built a Stone Market-house in the place now called the Stocks. He enlarged and paved Guildhall, adding a Conduit to serve the places near it with Water: and many other things worthy of himself and of imitation by others.   

CHAP. VII. Of things of note that happened in his three several Mayoralties.  
THE two Duke's  were banished.  
Constantinople was taken by Mahomet the second, Emperor of the Turks.  
A great Tempest of Thunder and Lightning happened, which destroyed in divers places 600 Houses and 3000 People.  
William Foxly Potmaker to the Mint in the Tower, slept 14 days and 15 nights, and afterwards waking it seemed to him that he had slept but one night.  
Great justs were held in the Town before the French Nobility taken Prisoners in France at the Battle of Azin Court.  
Seven Dolphins came up the River of Thames, and played up and down till four of them were killed and the other three carried off by the Tide.  
A terrible and universal Earthquake, accompanied with Tempest of Thunder and Lightning, happened for the space of six hours.  
A Combat was fought before the King in Smithfield; but taken up e'er any of the parties were killed.  
Paul's steeple was set on fire and burnt with Lightning, after it had been once quenched with Vinegar.  
And thus much for famous Whittington, and what happened whilst he filled, as her worthy praetor, the Chair of London.    
FINIS.  
 depiction of vignettes from the Legend of Dick Whittington  depiction of Dick Whittington's cat at the court of the King of Barbary  depiction of Mr. Fitz-warren's ship 
Mew   depiction of Dick Whittington's cat  depiction of Dick Whittington, Lord Mayor of London on horseback