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.

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 recei∣ved for the Adventure of his Cat, and how it came to pass.

WHittington being still in Mr. Fitz∣warren's house, under the unperi∣…… Cook-maid; 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 runnin•• way; and in order thereto, early in the ••••••¦ning on St. Allhallows-day, he packed 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his cloaths and went as far as Bun hill-〈◊〉〈◊〉 where, it being yet scarce day, he sate 〈◊〉〈◊〉 down to consider whether or to what plac•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 should go; and to bewail his unhappy 〈◊〉〈◊〉 uneasie Condition: when, to his think•••••• he heard the Bells at Bow-Church 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Cheap-side, 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 r••¦turning again to his Service; which 〈◊〉〈◊〉 accordingly did, e'er he was missed by any 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Family: where we must leave him 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a while to follow his drudgery, and bear p••¦tiently the Cook-maids Doggedness 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Cruelty, to follow the Ship; which, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 this time, was tossing in a fearful 〈◊〉〈◊〉 upon the Ocean.

The good Ship the Unicorne 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 Com∣modity 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 before-hand 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 ••sed to drive them away; which made the Master inquire of one of the Noble-men ••••••t sat by him, whether they cherished that sort of Vermin for increase, seeing they

were there in such numbers: to which h•• replyed, no, but that they were the Pla•••••• of the Pallace, and so annoyed it, that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 King could neither eat nor sleep in quiet 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them, although he kept many persons 〈◊〉〈◊〉 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 P••••¦lace 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 Lade 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; alledging, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 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 busie at the ••••ers which were prepared as a second feast, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 fell upon them with such fury, that bi∣…… 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, ••••••mending the sport beyond that of the ……ing the Lyons; with which Creatures 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Country abounded: some praising her 〈◊〉〈◊〉 her Tabby skin; others for her noble ••••••age; and some again for her Lyon-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 Rejoyce, espe∣cially 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 payed 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, scituate in Leaden-hall-street, bri••••¦ing with them the Gold, Pearls and Ie••¦els, &c. as being too precious to be lon•••••• trusted on Board: And first presenting t•••• Bills of Lading, the Merchant was ••••••¦derfully 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. Whitting∣ton 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 ••••worthiness, as meerly supposing they did 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 mock him: his Master came to him ••n•• told him, that what they did was in ear∣••est, though he might take it otherwise; for th••t he was a better man in Estate than him∣self: and thereupon presented him with the Treasure, and told him all that he had been ••••formed; saying, God forbid 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 Sea-men, but to all his fel∣l•••• Servants; giving even the ridged C••••k-maid, who had so severely used him, 100 l. towards her Marriage: but above ••ll, he remembred fair Mrs. Alice with a present of Pearls and Iewels, as an ac∣••nowledgement of her kind offer.