"Still blessed be the bells;
(This was his daily song)
They my good fortune tells,
Most sweetly have they rung.
If God so favour me, 45
I will not proove unkind;
London my love shall see,
And my great bounties find."
But see his happy chance!
This scullion had a cat, 50
Which did his state advance,
And by it wealth he gat.
His maister ventred forth,
To a land far unknowne,
With marchandize of worth, 55
As is in stories showne.
Whittington had no more
But this poor cat as than,
Which to the ship he bore,
Like a brave marchant-man. 60
"Vent'ring the same," quoth he,
"I may get store of golde,
And Maior of London be,
As the bells have me told."
Whittington's marchandise, 65
Carried was to a land
Troubled with rats and mice,
As they did understand.
The king of that country there,
As he at dinner sat, 70
Daily remain'd in fear
Of many a mouse and rat.
Meat that in trenchers lay,
No way they could keepe safe;
But by rats borne away, 75
Fearing no wand or staff.
Whereupon, soone they brought
Whittingtons nimble cat;
Which by the king was bought;
Heapes of gold giv'n for that. 80
Home againe came these men
With their ships loaden so,
Whittingtons wealth began
By this cat thus to grow.
Scullions life he forsooke 85
To be a marchant good,
And soon began to looke
How well his credit stood.
After that he was chose
Shriefe of the citty heere, 90
And then full quickly rose
Higher, as did appeare.
For to this cities praise,
Sir Richard Whittington
Came to be in his dayes 95
Thrise Maior of London.
More his fame to advance,
Thousands he lent his king,
To maintaine warres in France,
Glory from thence to bring. 100
And after, at a feast
Which he the king did make,
He burnt the bonds all in jeast,
And would no money take.
Ten thousand pound he gave 105
To his prince willingly,
And would not one penny have;
This in kind curtesie.
God did thus [make] him great,
So would he daily see 110
Poor people fed with meat,
To shew his charity.
Prisoners poore cherish'd were,
Widdowes sweet comfort found;
Good deeds, both far and neere, 115
Of him do still resound.
Whittington Colledge is
One of his charities;
Records reporteth this
To lasting memories. 120