The History of Sir Richard Whittington

In Short

This seventeenth-century chap-book chronicles the rise of Richard Whittington from a destitute orphan to the thrice-elected Lord Mayor of London. It blends the rags-to-riches legend—centered on his famous cat—with a moralizing account of his historical civic contributions, including the founding of colleges and hospitals. The work has endured because it encapsulates the quintessential English myth of the "model merchant," transforming a historical figure into an archetype of industriousness, charity, and social mobility, proving that a modest beginning need not dictate a life's end.

The Story

The narrative opens with young Richard Whittington, an orphan so obscure he knows neither his parents nor his birthplace. Driven by rumors that London’s streets are paved with gold, the ragged boy travels to the capital by foot, only to be met with immediate, crushing disappointment. He finds no gold, but rather a city of filth and hostility. Starving and exhausted, he collapses at the doorstep of a wealthy merchant, Mr. Fitzwarren. After a cruel cook drives him away with threats, a moment of genuine mercy from the merchant saves him, and he is taken into the household to perform menial labor.

Life in the kitchen is miserable, defined by the cook’s constant tyranny. Feeling utterly broken, Whittington decides to flee. As he reaches the outskirts of the city, the bells of Bow Church ring out, seemingly calling him back with the promise that he shall one day be Lord Mayor of London. Inspired, he returns to his station, enduring the cook’s abuse with renewed, secret hope.

The turning point occurs when Mr. Fitzwarren, preparing a ship for a trading voyage, allows his servants to invest in the cargo. Whittington, possessing nothing but a cat he bought with a single penny, tearfully entrusts the animal to the ship’s captain. While the ship is at sea, it is driven by storms to a foreign coast inhabited by Moors. The King of this land is plagued by a massive infestation of rats and mice that devour his food and terrorize his palace. When the cat is introduced, she swiftly destroys the vermin. Astonished and relieved, the King purchases the cat for a king’s ransom in jewels and gold, far exceeding the value of the ship’s entire cargo.

When the ship returns, the merchant recognizes the immense wealth as rightfully belonging to Whittington. Transformed from a scullion into a man of means, Whittington adopts the dress and manners of a gentleman. His confidence grows, and he eventually wins the hand of his master’s daughter, Miss Alice. The narrative follows his rapid ascent through the ranks of city government, serving as Sheriff and eventually being elected Lord Mayor three times. He becomes a pillar of the city, using his vast fortune for the public good—rebuilding Newgate prison, establishing libraries, and funding almshouses. The story culminates in his later years, where he hosts King Henry V and his Queen in a final display of loyalty and magnificence. He dies a man of great repute, his life serving as a template for virtue and the rewards of honorable labor.

How It Unfolds

The arrival in London Whittington travels to the city as a penniless boy, believing the myth of golden streets. He encounters only hunger and social cruelty before finding a reluctant home with Mr. Fitzwarren.

The call of the bells Driven by the abuse of the household cook, the boy attempts to run away. Hearing the bells of Bow Church, he interprets their sound as a prophecy and resolves to return to his life of service.

The feline investment The merchant initiates a custom where servants may trade in his ships. Whittington, having nothing else, offers his only companion—a cat—to sail on the Unicorn.

The foreign triumph In a distant kingdom, the cat’s natural hunting abilities solve a crisis of vermin that has tormented the local monarch. The merchant’s crew returns with immense wealth for the boy, marking the transition from servant to merchant.

The rise to power Whittington sheds his humble persona, marries his master’s daughter, and enters civic life. His administrative skill and charity lead him to the mayoralty and the favor of the crown.

The legacy of charity The narrative concludes with an account of the institutions Whittington built. The author uses his life to urge the wealthy to follow his example of public service.

The People

Richard Whittington begins as a "ragged" and "simple" boy, characterized by his desperate poverty and readiness to work. His desire is basic survival, but he is transformed by his cat's success into a man of confidence, eventually becoming the embodiment of the "model merchant."

Mr. Fitzwarren serves as the benevolent mentor figure. He is an affluent merchant who values "necessary commerce" and fairness, insisting that the profit from the cat belongs entirely to the boy. He provides the structure and opportunity that allow Whittington to realize his potential.

Miss Alice acts as the catalyst for Whittington’s social integration. She offers him compassion when he is a servant and later becomes his wife, cementing his status as a respectable member of the merchant class.

The Cook is the primary antagonist of the early chapters. She is described as an "ill-natured hussey" whose tyrannical treatment of the boy creates the necessary conflict to drive him to the city gates, where he hears the bells.

The King of Barbary represents the external world that validates Whittington's fortune. He is a desperate monarch who, by valuing the cat, unknowingly sets the path for Whittington’s immense wealth and subsequent rise to power.

In Its Own Voice

Describing the boy’s initial, painful entry into the city, the text notes the contrast between his expectations and his grim reality:

The poor boy was, in a little time, so cold and so hungry that he wished himself in a good kitchen and by a warm fire in the country.

When Whittington finally feels the weight of his destiny, he interprets the sound of the bells as a personal message:

“Turn again, Whittington, Lord Mayor of great London.”

The author concludes the work by drawing a moral lesson for the reader, framing Whittington’s life as a blueprint for the affluent:

The glory they seek to invade here will (no doubt) for ever shine on them elsewhere.

What It's Really About

At its core, this book is an argument for the intersection of providence, industry, and social responsibility. It suggests that wealth is not merely for personal accumulation but is a tool for civic repair. The text treats the "cat" not just as a fairy-tale animal, but as a symbol of the modest, honest efforts that, when properly invested, lead to vast returns. It tackles the question of how a society should treat its most vulnerable members, arguing that charity is a duty of the affluent, and that the "model merchant" is the one who, like Whittington, uses his success to build walls for the city and hospitals for the poor.

Why Read It Today

Readers interested in the evolution of folklore will find this book fascinating for its historical layering. It is a portal into the seventeenth-century mindset, where the boundary between historical biography and myth was porous and where the values of the mercantile class were actively being codified.

The experience of reading it is similar to viewing an old, hand-colored engraving: it is earnest, occasionally repetitive, and deeply sincere in its moralizing. You will encounter archaic spellings and phrasing that require patience, as well as period attitudes that reflect the social hierarchies of the 1600s. The text is not a modern novel, but rather a instructional piece of "chap-book" literature meant to be read aloud or shared.

What remains with you is the sheer tenacity of the central figure. Despite the factual inaccuracies noted by later historians, the legend of Whittington functions as a powerful meditation on the idea that even the most obscure life can, through a mix of grit and fortune, leave a permanent mark on a city. It is a short, rhythmic read that captures the spirit of a London that was both harsh to the poor and grand in its possibilities. It is an ideal companion for anyone curious about the roots of the enduring "Whittington" myth.