The History of Sir Richard Whittington

In Short

This text collects the early printed histories and ballads of Sir Richard Whittington, detailing his dramatic rise from a destitute country boy to a prosperous merchant and three-time Lord Mayor of London. Through his modest purchase of a mouse-hunting cat—which is shipped overseas and sold to a rat-infested foreign king for a vast fortune—Whittington achieves immense wealth. Grounded in seventeenth-century chap-book tradition and municipal chronicle, the work illustrates how personal industry, providential luck, and civic charity combine to elevate a humble drudge into one of London's most revered medieval benefactors.

The Story

The narrative begins with young Richard Whittington, born into such deep poverty that he knows little of his own origins. Starving in the countryside, he travels to London hoping to find charity. Instead, he spends two days hungry and exhausted, staring at shopfronts. Collapsing upon a bench at the gate of Master Hugh Fitzwarren, a wealthy merchant, Whittington is initially met with harshness. Fitzwarren threatens him with the stocks and a whipping, while the merchant's ill-natured cook orders him away under threat of scalding. However, when Whittington explains that he has gone three days without food and asks only for work, Fitzwarren takes pity on him, hiring him to perform dirty labor under the cook.

Life in the Fitzwarren household remains difficult. The cook abuses and pummels the young servant constantly. Furthermore, Whittington's garret is infested with rats and mice that run across his face while he sleeps. Earning a single penny by running errands and cleaning boots, Whittington purchases a young cat, keeping her in his room and sharing his food with her. Soon, the cat clears the garret of all vermin.

Opportunity strikes when Master Fitzwarren follows his custom of allowing every member of his household—from his daughter down to the lowest servant—to adventure something on his trading ship, the Unicorn. Having no money, Whittington is reluctant to participate, but his master insists that he must venture something of his own. Reluctantly, Whittington surrenders his beloved cat.

Despondent over the loss of his pet and the ongoing cruelty of the cook, Whittington packs his belongings before daybreak on All-Hallows day and runs away. Walking as far as Holloway or Bunhill, he hears the distant ringing of Bow bells. The chimes seem to call him back, promising that he will return to become Lord Mayor of London. Inspired by the prophecy, he slips back into the merchant's house before the cook awakes.

Meanwhile, the Unicorn is driven by contrary winds to the coast of Barbary. The local king invites the English crew to a banquet, but the feast is instantly ruined when swarms of rats and mice devour the food. The factor presents Whittington's cat, which slaughters the rodents and charms the royal court. The king purchases the cat for inestimable riches of gold, jewels, and pearls.

When the ship returns to London, Fitzwarren insists that every farthing belongs to Whittington. Transformed from a dirty kitchen drudge into a well-dressed, confident gentleman, Whittington earns the admiration of Fitzwarren's daughter, Mistress Alice. They marry in a grand ceremony attended by city dignitaries. Whittington becomes a successful merchant, serves as Sheriff, and is elected Lord Mayor three times. He uses his immense wealth to fund public works, building Newgate prison, establishing Whittington College and almshouses, repairing St. Bartholomew's Hospital, erecting a library at Greyfriars, and generously feasting King Henry V.

How It Unfolds

The arrival in London Penniless and starving, Whittington arrives in the city after fleeing rural poverty. He collapses on a bench outside Master Fitzwarren's house, where the merchant takes him in to work as a lowly kitchen assistant.

The penny investment Tormented in his garret by rats and mice, Whittington spends a hard-earned penny on a young cat. The animal quickly clears his room of vermin, earning his deep affection.

The departure of the cat Master Fitzwarren obliges all household servants to venture goods on his trading vessel, the Unicorn. Whittington has no money, so he reluctantly surrenders his cat to the ship's captain.

The call of Bow bells Driven to despair by the cook's physical abuse, Whittington flees London on All-Hallows day. Hearing the ringing of Bow bells, which seem to predict his future as Lord Mayor, he returns to his master's home.

The royal banquet in Barbary The Unicorn lands in a foreign kingdom plagued by rats that overrun the royal dining table. Whittington's cat is unleashed, exterminating the pests and securing a vast fortune of gold and jewels from the grateful monarch.

The transformation and marriage Whittington receives his full fortune, washes away his kitchen grime, and dresses as a gentleman. He wins the heart of Fitzwarren's daughter, Alice, and their lavish wedding is celebrated by the city's leaders.

A legacy of civic charity Now a wealthy merchant, Whittington serves as Sheriff and three-time Lord Mayor. He devotes his fortune to public works, erecting libraries, repairing hospitals, building Newgate prison, and entertaining royalty.

The People

• Richard Whittington

Beginning as a destitute, sheepish country boy, Whittington desires only food, shelter, and honest labor. Despite physical abuse from the cook and extreme poverty, he shows loyalty, modesty, and deep gratitude. Wealth grants him confidence and gentility, and he ends his life as a knighted, three-time Lord Mayor renowned for immense charitable works.

• Master Hugh Fitzwarren

A prosperous and scrupulously honest merchant, Fitzwarren demands fairness in his household. He insists that every servant venture property on his ship and refuses to keep a single farthing of Whittington's extraordinary profits, facilitating the young man's rise to civic prominent standing.

• The Cook (Cicely)

A tyrannical, ill-natured servant who mistreats Whittington, beating him severely and mocking his decision to send a cat to sea. Her cruelty drives him to run away, though Whittington later shows forgiveness by offering her gifts once he obtains his wealth.

• Mistress Alice Fitzwarren

The daughter of Master Fitzwarren, she initially views Whittington with pity and offers to cover his venture. As he transforms into a refined gentleman, her compassion grows into romantic affection, ultimately leading to their happy marriage.

• The King of Barbary

A foreign monarch whose court is tormented by swarms of mice and rats that invade his meals and bedchamber. Desperate for relief, he pays heaps of gold, jewels, and pearls to acquire Whittington's mouse-killing cat.

In Its Own Voice

"He that made all things of nothing can of a little make much, and multiply a mite into a magazine, as will easily appear by the succeeding history."

This opening moral frames Whittington's ascent as a lesson in divine providence and modest beginnings.

"Turn again, Whittington, Lord Mayor of London, Turn again, Whittington, Lord Mayor of London."

The famous prophecy of the bells halts the boy's flight from the city and inspires him to endure hardship.

"He then distributed presents to all the servants in the house, not forgetting even his old enemy the cook, though she little deserved it."

This quiet detail highlights Whittington's forgiving nature and charitable spirit immediately after receiving his immense wealth.

What It's Really About

Beneath its legendary folklore elements, the book explores the dynamic interplay between human providence, commercial enterprise, and moral responsibility. It contrasts the harsh realities of urban poverty and domestic servitude with the transformative power of honesty and diligence. The story argues that wealth is not merely a reward for individual fortune, but a trust meant to serve the broader community. Whittington's journey from a starving drudge to a public benefactor mirrors early modern anxieties and hopes regarding social mobility within London's merchant class. By highlighting civic improvements such as libraries, almshouses, and prisons alongside royal banquets, the text insists that true greatness is measured by charity rather than personal accumulation.

Why Read It Today

This compilation offers a fascinating glimpse into the evolution of English folklore and municipal history. Readers interested in medieval lore, London history, or the origins of classic fairy tales will appreciate comparing the actual historical record of Sir Richard Whittington with the popular legends that grew around him. The text captures the vibrant atmosphere of seventeenth-century chap-books and early chronicles, complete with period details of trade, royal feasts, and city administration.

The prose reflects its historical era, featuring archaic spellings, seventeenth-century vocabulary, and shifting narrative perspectives that move between biographical facts, ballad lyrics, and popular theatrical commentary. Modern readers may find the inclusion of varied historical sources and legal records somewhat disjointed compared to modern narrative fiction. Nevertheless, the charm of the central tale—the enduring appeal of an underdog rising from poverty through a humble cat—retains its timeless warmth. It remains a rewarding read for anyone curious about how civic heroes were celebrated in early popular literature.