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Ebook has 1511 lines and 63331 words, and 31 pages
Editor: Henry B. Wheatley
~ THE HISTORY
SIR RICHARD WHITTINGTON.
BY T. H.
EDITED, WITH AN INTRODUCTION,
HENRY B. WHEATLEY, F.S.A.
LONDON: PRINTED FOR THE VILLON SOCIETY. 1885.
~Introduction.
"Turn again, Whittington, Lord Mayor of London, Turn again, Whittington, Lord Mayor of London."
These words took complete possession of him, and he returned before it was known that he had run away. In the more modern chap-book Whittington is made to reach Holloway, where it would be less easy to hear Bow bells, and from which place he would have found it more difficult to return before the cook had risen. As far as I can find there is no allusion to Holloway or Highgate hill in any early version, and it is evident that this localization is quite modern. Mr. Lysons is certainly wrong when he says that at Highgate "a stone continued to mark the spot for many centuries." It is not known when the stone was first erected there, but it was probably put up when the name of the place was first foisted into the tale. One stone was taken away in 1795, but others have succeeded it, and now there is a Whittington Stone Tavern; and the situation of Whittington College, which was removed to Highgate in 1808, has helped to favour the supposition that Whittington himself was in some way connected with that place.
The form of invitation which the bells rung out varies very much in the different versions.
In Richard Johnson's ballad we find--
"Whittington, back return."
which is then amplified into--
"Turn againe, Whittington, For thou in time shall grow Lord Maior of London."
"Turn again, Whittington, Lord Mayor of London."
In the later chap-book version this is altered into--
"Turn again, Whittington, Lord Mayor of great London."
It will be seen that the special reference to the fact that Whittington was three times Lord Mayor is not to be found in either the ballads or the chap-books.
"Return again, Whittington, Thrise Lord Mayor of London."
"Turn again, turn again, Whittington, Three times Lord Mayor of London."
In many other particulars the later chap-book which contains the story as known to modern readers is amplified, and thus shows signs of a very late origin.
With regard to the three fictitious points of Whittington's history mentioned at the beginning of this preface, the first--his poor parentage--is disposed of by documentary evidence; the second--his sitting on a stone at Highgate hill--has been shown to be quite a modern invention; and the third--the story of the cat--has been told of so many other persons in different parts of the world that there is every reason to believe it to be a veritable folk-tale joined to the history of Whittington from some unexplained connection. None of the early historians who mention Whittington allude to the incident of the cat, and it is only to be found in popular literature, ballads, plays, &c. The story seems to have taken its rise in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. The reason why however the life of Whittington should have been chosen as the stock upon which this folk-tale should be grafted is still unexplained. Some have supposed that he obtained his money by the employment of "cats," or vessels for the carriage of coals; but this suggestion does not appear to be worthy of much consideration.
It is said that at Newgate, which owed much to Whittington, there was a statue of him with a cat, which was destroyed in the Great Fire; and in 1862, when some alterations were made in an old house at Gloucester, which had been occupied by the Whittington family until 1460, a stone was said to have been dug up on which was a basso-relievo representing the figure of a boy carrying a cat in his arms. This find, however, appears rather suspicious.
"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."
Here it will be seen that, although the popular tale is mentioned, it is treated as a mere invention unworthy of credence.
"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' , '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.
After that he was chose Shriefe of the citty heere, And then full quickly rose Higher as did appeare. For to this cities praise Sir Richard Whittington Came to be in his dayes Thrise Maior of London.
More his fame to advance, Thousands he lent his king To maintaine warres in France, Glory from thence to bring. And after, at a feast, Which he the king did make, He burnt the bonds all in jeast, And would no money take.
Ten thousand pound he gave To his prince willingly, And would not one penny have. This in kind courtesie. God did thus make him great, So would he daily see Poor people fed with meat, To shew his charity.
Prisoners poore cherish'd were, Widdowes sweet comfort found; Good deeds, both far and neere, Of him do still resound. Whittington Colledge is One of his charities, Records reporteth this To lasting memories.
Newgate he builded faire, For prisoners to live in; Christ's Church he did repaire, Christian love for to win. Many more such like deedes Were done by Whittington; Which joy and comfort breedes, To such as looke thereon.
Lancashire thou hast bred This flower of charity; Though he be gone and dead, Yet lives he lastingly. Those bells that call'd him so, 'Turne again, Whittington,' Call you back may moe To live so in London."
This ballad is the original of all the later ballads, although the titles have been greatly varied. The Roxburghe ballad is dated in the British Museum Catalogue 1641. Its full title is as follows:--
"London's Glory and Whittington's Renown, or a Looking Glass for Citizens of London, being a remarkable story how Sir Richard Whittington came to be three times Lord Mayor of London in three several kings' reigns, and how his rise was by a cat, which he sent by a venture beyond sea. Together with his bountiful gifts and liberality given to this honourable City, and the vast sums of money he lent the King to maintain the wars in France; and how at a great Feast, to which he invited the King, the Queen, and the Nobility, he generously burnt the writings and freely forgave his Majesty the whole Debt. Tune of 'Dainty, come thou to me.' London: Printed for R. Burton, at the Horse Shoe in West Smithfield."
The bulk of the ballad is the same as Richard Johnson's, but the following first stanza is added, the original first stanza becoming the second:--
"Brave London Prentices, Come listen to my song, Tis for your glory all And to you both belong. And you poor country lads, Though born of low degree, See by God's providence What you in time may be."
The second half of the original seventh stanza, and the eighth, ninth, and tenth stanzas, are left out.
Immediately before the last stanza the following one is introduced:--
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