his
shield may still be seen. Richard was the youngest of three sons of whom
the eldest, William, died without children: and the second, Robert, had
sons of whom one, Guy, fought at Agincourt. From the second son there
are descendants to this day.

Richard, at the age of fourteen, was sent to London, where he had
connections. Many country people had connections in London who were
merchants. Remember that in those days it would be impossible for a boy
to rise from poverty to wealth and distinction by trade. Such a lad
might rise in the church, or even, but I know not of any instance, by
distinguished valour on the field of battle. Most certainly, he would be
prenticed to a craft and a craftsman he would remain all his life.
Whittington was a gentleman: that was the first and necessary condition
to promotion: he came to London, not to learn a craft at all, but to be
apprenticed to his cousin Sir John Fitzwarren, Mercer and Merchant
Adventurer. The Mercers were the richest and most important company in
London: the merchant adventurers were those--the foremost among the
Mercers--who owned ships which they despatched abroad with exports and
with which they imported stuffs and merchandise to the Port of London.
Whittington's master may have had a shop or stall in Chepe--but he was a
great importer of silks, satins, cloth of gold, velvets, embroideries,
precious stones, and all splendid materials required for an age of
splendid costume.

[Illustration: A SEA-FIGHT.

(_From the 'Life of Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick'; drawn by John
Rous about 1485._)]

What is the meaning of the 'cat' story? Immediately after Whittington's
death the story was spread about. When his executors repaired Newgate
they placed a carven cat on the outside: when Whittington's nephews, a
few years later, built a house in Gloucester they placed a carven cat
over the door in recognition of the story. All sorts of explanations
have been offered. First, that there never was any cat at all. Next,
that by a 'cat' is meant a kind of ship, a collier. Thirdly, that the
cat is symbolical and means something else. Why need we go out of our
way at all? A cat at that time was a valuable animal: not by any means
common: in certain countries where rats were a nuisance a cat was very
valuable indeed. Why should not the lad entrust a kitten to one of his
master's skippers with instructions to sell it for him in any Levantine
port at which the vessel might touc