uld not spare her from the ship, in regard
when they were asleep yet she was still waking in the night, not only to
preserve their merchandise but there dyet from the like spoyl. The more
dainty that he made of the matter the more earnest was the king for this
beast, insomuch that he was presently sent for.

And a second feast being prepared and the rats and mice appearing as
they did before, the young merchant having the cat under his cloak the
king desired to see the thing which he had before so much commended;
when presently he discovered her, and cast her among them; she no sooner
saw these vermine but fell upon them with such a fury that here lay one
panting, there another quite dead; nor left them till she had frighted
and disperst the whole number, but such as she seized their carkasses
lay there as witnesses of their unexpected slaughter.

Great pleasure took the king and the nobility in the sport, vowing that
the hunting of the lyon (of which there was plenty in that country) was
not answerable unto it. In the interim one began to praise her for her
colour, another commending her for her valour, one said she had the
countenance of a lyon, and every one gave his sentence. When the poor
cat finding no more work for her to do, went round to the King and Queen
purling and curling (as their manner is), which they apprehended to be,
as if she inquired of them what she had deserved for that late service.

To cut off circumstance, no price could part them, and the rather when
the factor had told the king that she was with kittens, and that her
brood would in some few years, being carefully lookt into, furnish the
whole kingdom, so that Whittingtons cats adventure only surmounted all
the ships lading beside, with which fortune and unexpected gain we bring
them safe into England; the ship lying at anchor near Blackwal, and the
Pilot and Cape-merchant, with some other officers in the ship at Mr.
Fitzwarrens house, which was by Leaden-Hall, to give accompt of their
voyage. But these caskets of jewels and pearls, with other unvaluable
(_sic_) riches which were given for the cat, they caused to be brought
along, not daring, by reason of their inestimable value, to trust them
in the ship. The Bills of lading and the benefit of the return of the
Commodities being viewed and considered of by the owner, he praised God
for so prosperous a voyage, and called all his servants and gave order
that according to their adventures every