The poor man excused himself that his shooes were durty and the room was rubb'd and if he should but touch any thing there he should spoyle and deface those things in the room But still the Master of the house called for Master Whittington sending one servant after another till he was brought before him and having scraped some few legges instantly his Master took him by the hand and called for a chair for Master Whittington his Daughter the Pilot and the Factor every one of them saluted him by the name of Mr. Whittington and forced him to sit down He wondring what this should mean desired them not to mock a poor simple man who meant none any harm c. and wept the tears dropping from his eyes desiring them not to deride his poverty for his ambition was never to come so high as from the Kitchen to the Hall much more from the Hall into the Parlour Then came his Master to him seriously and said Indeed Mr. Whittington we are all in good earnest for you are at this tune a better man than my self in estate and then she wed him all those Cabinets and Caskets and how richly they were lined When hee perceived by all their earnest asseverations that all was true he first fell down upon his knees and gave God most hearty thanks who out of his great bounty would vouchsafe to cast an eye upon so poor and wretched a creature as himself Then turning to his Master he presented all his Riches before him and told him that all he had was at his disposing and service who answered him again that for his own part God had lent him sufficient of his own neither would he take from him the value of one Barbary Ducket He came next and with a low legge saluted his Mistriss and told her that when shee pleased to make choice of an husband he would make her the richest Marriage in London because she was so willing out of her own purse when he was altogether pennilesse to lay out for his adventure To the Pilot and Master and every officer or common Sayler he gave liberally according to their degrees even to the ship-boy and then to every servant of the house nay to the very kitchen wenth who was so churlish unto him and had so often basted him in the stead of her roast meat haviug caused her to be called unto him he gave her an hundred pound towards her marriage This being done Taylers were sent for Sempsters and the like to put him into Clothes and linnen of the best who were to accommodate him with all speed possible and his lodging in the Garret was chang'd into the best Chamber of the house And when the Barber had been with him and the rest to make him compleat in his habite there was a strange and suddain Metamorphosis for out of a smoaky and dirty Kitchin-drudge there appeared a proper and well proportioned man and a gentile Merchant in so much that his young Mistrisse began to cast a more amorous eye upon him than before which not a little pleased Master Fitzwarren her Father who intended a match betwixt them The brute of this great adventure was presently noysed through the whole City in so much that his Master intreated his late servant to walk with him into the Exchange to see the fashion of the Merchants which he did where all of them came about him and saluted him some bid God give him joy of his fortune others desired of him better and further acquaintance and every one as his severall fancy led him Some commended him for his person others for his modest answers and discreet carriage Indeed Wealth is able to make all these good where they are most wanting which was not in him as appeares by the sequell After this the Father in law de manded of his Son what course hee purposed to take his freedom being offered him and accepted of who made answer again that suice God had so blest him in his small adventure he would not leave it off so but prove his goodnesse in a greater and that his purpose was to turne Merchant which reply gave him no small content in regard he knew the best amongst them would be glad to have the society of so hopefull a Citizen which he continued adventuring in divers bottoms with his Father and had very happy and prosperous returnes The time when he was prickt for Sheriffe which he modestly refused as unable to undertake so great a charge and would willingly have pay'd his Fine which his Father in law would not suffer at whose perswasion hee took the place upon him in which he so welll behaved himselfe in the management of all affairs belonging to his Office that hee not only left it without the least taxation but with a generall love and approvation in so much that the universall eye of the whole City was fixt on him in an hopefull expectation what a profitable member of that united body he might futurely prove And this happened in the year of our Lord 1393. Sir Iohn Hardley Grocer being Maior and Drewry Barentine his fellow Sherffe of the truth of which Master Fabian in his Chronicle and Master Iohn Stow in his Survey of London can fully sarisfie you And in this year also about the Feast of St. Bartholmew grew a great discord betwixt the Duke of Hereford and Mowbrey Duke of Norfolk the beginning thereof being as followeth The two Dukes riding from the Parliament towards their lodgings the Duke of Norfolk said to the other Sir you see how variable the King is in his words and reflecting upon what had past how without mercy he putteth his Lords and Kinsfolks to death imprisoning some and exiling others There it hehooveth us not too much to trust to his fair and smooth language for doubtlesse in time he will bring even to us the like death and destruction Of which words he accused him to the King which the other denying it was to be tryed by combate the Lists were appointed and the day of meeting the eleventh day of September to which place and on the day assigned came both the Dukes and bravely accoutred appeared before the King ready to enter into battail where the King threw down his Warder and staying the combate banished the Duke of Hereford for ten years but the Duke of Norfolk for ever who travelling many Countries at the last came to Venice and there ended his life Again in the year 14â—6 and in the eighth of Henry the fourth Sir Richard Whittington was the second time Lord Maior Nicholas Worton and Geffrey Brook being Sheriffs Again in the year 1409. being the sevenâ—h year of Henry 5. he supplyed the Pretorship Robert Whittington his neere Kinsman Iohn Butler being Sheriffs and which is more remarkable of him than of any other that either precded him in that place of Honour he was once Sheriffe and three times Lord Maior of this famous and honourable City
THE FAMOVS AND Remarkable History of Sir Richard Whittington Three times Lord Major of London Who lived in the time of King Henry the Fift in the yeare 1419 With all the remarkable Passages and things of Note which hapned in his time with his Life and Death Written by T. H. LONDON Printed by W. Wilson and are to be Sold by Francis Coles in the Ould-Bayley 1656. The Life and Death of Sir Richard Whittington who was Three times Lord Major of LONDON THe saying is not so old as true He that refuseth to buy counsell cheape shall buy Repentance deare neither let any mock a man in his misery but rather beware by him how to avoid the like misfortune If thou intend to doe any good deferr it not till the next day for thou knowest not what may happen over night to prevent thee Behold thy selfe in a Looking-glasse if thou appearest beautifull doe such things as may become thy beauty but if thou seem foule or deformed let the actions of thy life make good that splendor which thy face lacketh Tell not thy minde to every man make thy selfe indebted to no man bee friend to few men be courteous to all men let thy Wit be thy friend thy Minde thy companion thy Tongue thy servant Let Uertue be thy Life Valour thy Love Honour thy Fame and Heaven thy Felicity These Reader be good decuments for thee to follow and I am now to present thee with a worthy President to imitate observe his beginning forget not the middle passage of his life and thou wilt no question crowne his end Hee that made all things of nothing can of a little make much and multiply a Mite unto a Magazin as will easily appeare by the succeed This Richard Whitington was so obscurely bred that hee could scarcely give account of his Parents or kindred and being almost starved in the Countrey necessity compelled him up to London hoping to finde more charity in the City than Country To begge he was ashamed to steale he did abhorre two dayes he spent in gaping upon the shops and gazing upon the buildings feeding his eyes but starving his stomack At length meere faintnesse compell'd him to rest himselfe upon a bench before a Merchants gate where he not long sate but the owner of the house having occasion of businesse into the Towne finding him a poore simple fellow and thinking that he had no more within than appeared without he demanded of him why he loytred there and being able to worke for his living did not apply himselfe unto some lawfull calling threatning him at the first with the Stocks and Whipping-post but the poore man after the making of some plaine leggs and courtesie desired him to pardon him and told him that he was a dejected man who desired any imployment and that no paines how meane or course soever could seeme tedious or burthensome unto him so he might but finde some good Master by whose charity hee might releeve his present necessity for his greatest ambition was but to keepe his body from nakednesse and his stomack from hunger and told him withall how long it was since hee had tasted meate or drinke The worthy Merchant seeing him of a personable body and an ingenious aspect howsoever both were clouded under a rustick habit began somewhat to commiserate his estate and knocking for a servant bade him take in that fellow and give him such victuals as the house for the present afforded and at his returne hee would have further conference with him The servant did as hee was commanded and tooke him in The Merchant went to the Exchange which was then in Lumberstreet about his affaires In which interim poore Whittington was had into the Kitchin to warme himselfe for faintnesse by reason of hunger and cold for it was then in the winter time had quite rob'd him of his colour Meate was set before him in plenty and being dred in the Country as the Proverbe goeth hee fed like a Farmer and having sated himselfe sufficiently and warmed him to the ful a teeth colour began to come into his cheekes At which time the Merchants Daughter hearing of a new-come guest came into the Kitchin and began to question him of divers things concerning the Countrey to all which hee gave her such modest and sensible answers that she tooke a greatliking unto him and so left him Dinner time came and Master Fitzwarren for so was the Merchant called came home with a good stomacke and brought a friend or two with him from the Exchange downe they sate to meate and had speech of many things at the Table meane time the servants were set also to Dinner who would needs have whitting on though hee had so lately broke his fast to keep them company some of them delighting in his Countrey speech others deciding his supposed simplicity But to come to the purpose the Table being with-drawn in the Parlour and the guests departed Master Fitzwarren and his Daughter left alone shee being of a good and gentle disposition began to commend â—is charity concerning the poore man whom he had relieved that morning to whom he answered Godamercy Daughter thou hast done wellto remember me such an one I sent indeed but have my servants done as I commanded them and where is he now who answered him that she had given order he should stay Dinner and not depart the house till he himselfe had further spoken with him At which they both went into the Hall and called the Fellow before them who appeared unto them with such a bashfull humility that it seemed to them both to begge a charity Some language past betwixt them concerning him which gave them content at length they bid him retire himselfe When the Father the Daughterhad some private conference concerning him she urged him to entertaine him into his house and that there would be some employment for him either to runne or goe of Errands or else to doe some drudgery in the Kitchin as in making of fires scouring ketles turning the spit and the like To whom the Father replyed that indeed his worke might be worth his meat but hee had no lodging to spare She againe answered there were Garrets in the house that were put to no use at all and in one of them he might be conveniently lodged and put the house to no trouble at all Well at length he was admitted and made a member of the Family in which he demeaned himselfe so well by his willingnesse to runne or goe or to doe any service how meane soever that hee had got the goodwill of all the whole houshold onely the Kitchin-maide being a curst queane and knowing him to be an under-servant to her domineered over him and used him very coursely and roughly of which he would nâ—ver complain though he had cause enough The Garret in which he lay by reason it had been long unfrequented was troubled with Rats and Mice in so much that he
might have raised the siege of the Turkes It is an old and a true saying Covetousnesse is the mother of ruine and mischief This strange thing hapned in the second time that he was elected Lord Maior and that was upon the twenty seventh of Aprill being Tuesday in Easter-week William Foxley Pot-maker for the Mint in the Tower of London fell asleep and so continued sleeping and snoring and could not be wakened with oricking cramping or otherwise burning whatsoever till the first day of the Terme which was full 14. daies and 15. nights The cause of this his sleeping could not be known though the same were diligently searched for by the Kings command of his Physitians and other learned men yea the King himself examined the said William Foxley who was in all points found at his waking to be as if he had slept but one night and yet lived 41 years after But in length of time he did call to minde how he did wish to God that he might sleep a Fortnight together if it was not so and so concerning a bargain between a neighbour of his and himself On thursday in Whisun week following the Duke of Somerset with Anthony Rivers and four other kept Justs and Turnaments before the King and Queen and other of the Nobility in the Tower of London against three Esquires of the Queens Bed-chamber which were performed before some of the French Nobility that then were prisoners to the King which he took in France to the great admiration of those strangers who never saw the like action before being so earnestly performed There was also Sir Richard Whittington and the two Sheriffes and that night the King and Queen did suppe with the Lord Maior Those strangers which beheld the Justs were prisoners in the Tower at that time namely the Duke of Orleance and Burbon brother to the Duke of Brittain the Earls of Vandosme of Ewe and Richmond and the High Marshall of France and many other Knights and Esquires to the number of seven hundred all all which were at one time prisoners to the King but nobly used and attended every one according to their rank and quality who when they were ransomed made it known to their King how honourably they were attended in England and what reâ—pect the King and our English Nation shewed them being prisoners who might have taken their lives away as well as their persons prisoners The second thing that was remarkable in Sir Richard Whittingtons yeare was that the King kept his Christmas at Lambeth and at the feast of Purification seven Dolphins of the Sea came up to the River of Thames and played there up and down while four of them were kill'd On Saturday the Eve of Saint Michael the Arch-angell the yeare following in the morning before day betwixt the hour of one and two of the clock began a terrible Earthquake with Lightning and Thunder which continued the space of six hours and that universally through the whole World so that menhad thought the world as then should have ended The unreasonable beasts roared and drew to the Tow n with ahideous noise also the Fowles of the Air cryed out such was the work of God at that time to call his people to repentance The four and twentieth day of January following a battail or combate was fought in Smithfield within the lists before the King between two men of Feversham in Kent Iohn Upton Notary Appellant and Iohn Downe Gentleman Defendant John Upton accused John Downe that hee and his Compiers should imagine the Kings death on the day of his Coronation following When they had fought some what long and had received each of them some wounds and still persisting in their violent action and no hopes to finde out the truth the King took up the matter and forgave both parties On Candlemas Eve following in divers places of England was great weathering of wind hail snow rain with thunder and lightning whereby the Church of Baldock in Hertfordshire and the Church and part of the Town of Walden in Essex with other neigbouring Villages were sore shaken and the Steeple of Saint Pauls in London about two of the clock in the afternoon was set on fire in the midst of the shaft first on the West side and then on the South and divers people espying the fire came to quench it in the steeple which they did with Vinegar so far as they could find so that when the Lord Maior with much people came to Pauls to have holpen if need had been returned again every man to his own home trusting to God all had been well But anon after between eight and nine of the clock the fire burst out again atresh out of the steeple by reason of the wind more hot and fervent than before and did much hurt to the Lead and Timber thereof Then the Lord Maior and many people came thither again and with vinegar quenched the fire which was so violent so that no man received any hurt Moreover in Sir Richard Whittingtons time lived one Richard Fleming Bishop of Lincoln in the year 1430 Who founded Lincoln Colledge in Oxford which was afterwards in Richard the thirds time in the year of our Lord 1479. by Tho. Rotheram Bishop of the same Sea much augmented and enlarged with great revenews Likewise Magdalen College in Oxford was built and also a great part of Eaton Colledge in Oxford was built and also a great part of Eaton Colledge by William Wainfleet Bishop of Winchester who was a loving and a constant friend to Sir Richard Whittington and did much good in many parts of this Kingdom and the said Sir Richard did largely contribute to these and the like pious uses by the intreaty of this Bishop The four and twentieth day of February following being Saint Matthews day her Coronation was solemnized in Saint Peters Church in Westminster which being ended she was ateerwards royally conveyed in the great Hall and there under a rich Canopy of State sate to Dinner upon whose right hand sate at the end of the same Table the Lord Archbishops Grace of of Canterbury and Henry called the rich Cardinall Bishop of Winchester upon the left hand of the Queen sate the King of Scots in a chair of estate and was served with covered Dishes as the Bishops were But after them and upon the same side next to the boords end were seated the Dutchesse of York and Countesse of Huntington the Earl of March holding a Scepter in his hand kneeled upon the right side the Earl Marshal in the like manner kneeled upon the left hand of the Queen The Countesse of Kent sate under the Table at the right foot and the Countesse Marshall at the left foot of her Majesty Humphrey Duke of Glocester was that day Dverseer and stood before the Queen baresheaded Sir Richard Newell was Carver and the Earles brother of Suffolk Cup-bearer Sir Iohn Steward Sewer the Lord Clifford instead of the Earle of Warwick Pantler