s left to a
desperate fortune, and rambled the country till necessity and fear
made him come to London.

CHAP. II.

How, at the instance of Mrs. Alice, the Merchant's daughter, he
became a servant in the family under the cook maid, who used him
cruelly, and how Mrs. Alice took pity on him, and interpos'd her
authority.

CHAP. III.

How, lying in a garret, he was ready to be devoured by rats and
mice, and to prevent it purchased a cat with a penny given him for
cleaning shoes; and how, with the servants, he adventured the cat,
being all his stock.

CHAP. IV.

How the bitter jade of a cook maid encreasing her cruelty towards
him he grew weary of his service, and was running away on
All-Hallow's day; but upon hearing the ringing of Bow bells came
back again. Also how the merchant abroad disposed of his cat.

CHAP. V.

Of the great riches received for Whittington's cat more than for
all the goods in the ship; on the arrival of which his master sent
for him upstairs by the title of Mr. Whittington, and the excuses
he made, and how he distributed part of his wealth to his
fellow-servants giving the ill-natur'd cook maid 100l.

CHAP. VI.

How Mr. Whittington, being genteely dress'd, became, to all
appearance, a very comely, proper person; how Mrs. Alice, his
master's daughter, fell in love with him, and, by her father's
consent, married him; and also how he was chosen sheriff of London.

CHAP. VII.

How he was thrice elected Lord Mayor of London; how he entertain'd
King Henry V. in his return from the conquest of France: with an
account of his buildings for pious and charitable uses, great
liberality to the poor, his death, burial, and epitaph.

EPITAPH.

Here lies Sir Richard Whittington, thrice mayor,
And his dear wife, a virtuous, loving pair;
Him fortune rais'd to be belov'd and great,
By the adventure only of a cat.
Let none who read of God's great love despair,
Who trusts in Him of him He will take care;
But growing rich chuse humbleness, not pride,
Let these dead persons' virtues be your guide.

The following reprint of a later version of the chap-book is almost
identical with a large number of editions:

THE

ADVENTURES

OF

SIR RICHARD WHITTING