Dick Whittington

Dick Whittington

Dick Whittington, a character in a popular children's story, was a real historical figure. He was a mercer supplying luxury fabrics to the royal court; he also lent money to the King, and was Mayor of London four times between 1397 and 1420.

But what is fact and what is fiction?

The Facts - Businessman and Benefactor

Dick Whittington may be a singing pantomime character today, but 600 years ago he was a clever businessman who became the Lord Mayor of London. His beginnings were much more humble. Born in Gloucester in the 1350s, he began life as a landowner's son who travelled to London to make his fortune in trade.

Whittington knew the market for luxury cloth and made a killing at the royal court where Richard II was particularly partial to expensive gold cloth. When the King was deposed in 1399, he owed Whittington a large sum of money. He regularly lent large sums of money to the Crown, and invested heavily in the wool trade. He was appointed Lord Mayor of London in April 1397.

Records show that he married but had no children. His social conscience and charitable reputation became legendary. Perhaps most notable was the almshouse he funded, which was moved to Archway Road in 1824, and then to Surrey in the 1960s. Whittington's Will also financed the building works at Bart's Hospital, the improvement of London's water supply, Newgate gaol's rebuilding, and a contribution to the first library at Guildhall.

So how did this story end up in a pantomime with his successes attributed to his trusty cat? Like many stories told and retold, it became exaggerated and embellished, and by the 17^th century it had become a stage play which included the addition of a cat. A memorial stone, complete with cat, can be found Half way up the south side of Highgate Hill. The stone is beside the Whittington Stone & Cat Public House and the Whittington Hospital..

Another lasting reminder of Dick Whittington is the Mercers' Company, a property company in the city which started out as a merchant trader. Today it administers the Whittington Charity, and helps Islington Age Concern, Islington Mencap and Islington International Festival, to name but a few. Whatever his motivations, Whittington's moneymaking has made an impact on helping the disadvantaged. Dick Whittington and his cat have been adopted by the Museum of London as their logo.

The Story - Dick Whittington and his cat.

When Dick Whittington was just a child, his father and mother died. Left alone and poor, he wandered from village to village looking for work and scraps of food. In those days, the country folk told many tales of London. They spoke of rich ladies and gentlemen and whispered about streets paved with gold. Dick listened longingly to the stories. He decided he must go to London to find his fortune there.

One day Dick spotted a wagon pulled by many horses. "Are you going to London?" he asked the driver. "I am indeed," the man said. "Please take me along" Dick begged. The driver agreed to take him. Once in London, he dropped the boy in the centre of the city then he went on his way. Dick looked around him, but nowhere did he see a single street paved with gold. And everywhere he went, the people teased him for his dirty hands and face and clothes. He wandered through the city for days, begging for work or a penny for a piece of bread.

One day he chanced to stop at the home of a man named Mr Fitzwarren. A wealthy merchant was Mr Fitzwarren and a friendly fellow indeed. He agreed to employ Dick in his kitchen. Dick was overjoyed and he would have been completely happy in the Fitzwarren home if not for the cook, who took every opportunity to punish him. And there was one more problem, Dick's tiny attic bedroom was filled with rats and mice that scampered about all night.

One day Dick earned a penny for shining a gentleman's shoes, and with his penny Dick bought himself a cat. "Puss he said, looking into the creature's green eyes, "you may help to solve my problem." Little did he know how true this would turn out to be. He hid Puss in his room, for he knew the cook would scold him if she heard the creature. And Puss did her work as well as her master did his own. She chased off all the rats and mice, and soon Dick Whittington was sleeping soundly.

Life went on this way for many months. One day Mr. Fitzwarren had a ship ready for sail. He called to all his servants, for it was the custom in those days for each of the servants to offer something to the ship. Whatever price the gift received, the servant would receive it all in full. Mr Fitzwarren would make no charge to servants. All the servants came to offer gifts except poor Dick. He was ashamed to come, for he had nothing to offer. "I have nothing in the world but my cat; he said sadly. Then fetch the cat said Fitzwarren.

Dick had no choice but to part with his friend Puss. Tears filled his eyes as he handed the cat to the Captain. Not only would he miss his friend, but now he would again be bothered by the rats and mice. While Puss was at sea, Dick suffered the teasing of his fellow servants. "Who would send a cat to sea?" They laughed. "A cat has no sea legs for the sea," Dick could bear the teasing no longer, and so he packed up his few things and left the house.

Once he had walked to the outskirts of the city, he had to climb Highgate Hill. Half way up the steep hill he stopped and sat down on a stone to get his breath. As he sat there looking out over London town the Great Bells of Bow began to ring. ''What's this?" he said aloud. For when he listened he was certain he could hear the bells singing to him. "Turn again, Dick Whittington, Lord Mayor of London." "I would endure anything to have a chance to be Lord Mayor of London," he said to himself. "I'll return and put up with the cook rather than miss my great chance." And he returned to the Fitzwarren's house.

Meanwhile out at sea. Puss travelled to the coast of Africa on a perilous journey. Great winds threw the ship off its course so that it came to rest upon the coast of Barbary. The Moors who inhabited this land were kind to the exhausted crew and so the captain displayed for them his goods. The King of the Moors was so impressed, he invited the captain and his men to share a feast in his palace.

They sat on rich carpets. Soon the servants began to serve a delicious meal but no sooner did each dish appear than dozens of mice and rats appeared from everywhere to gobble up the food. "Oh!." The king cried. "I would give anything to be rid of these creatures." The captain smiled, for he was thinking of Puss. "I have a creature on board my ship who could rid your whole country of mice and rats," he said. The captain knew his trade, and so he quickly added, "But we do not wish to part with our Puss." "Please," the queen said, "show us this magical creature."

The captain sent for Puss. The moment Puss entered the hall, she chased the mice and rats, who fled for their lives. And then Puss, tired from her labour, curled up beside the queen and fell fast asleep. "I will give you 10 times as much for the cat as for all the rest of your cargo," the king said. The captain readily agreed, and with his ship filled with treasures, he set off for England once more.

One morning in England, Mr. Fitzwarren was sitting down to settle his business when a knock came at the door. The merchant opened the door, and who was standing there but the captain and the agent with a cabinet full of jewels. They told him the tale of the cat. "Send for Whittington," said Mr. Fitzwarren. "And call him Mr Whittington, for he is now a wealthy man." When Dick learned the news, he fell to his knees and gave thanks for his great fortune. So full of joy was he that he offered gifts to everyone, even his old enemy, the cook.

When Whittington's face was washed and his hair brushed and he was dressed in a fine suit of clothes, he looked a gentleman indeed. And since his wealth had given him great confidence, in a little time he grew into a sprightly fellow. Miss Alice, who had always pitied him, now fell in love with him, and he with her. Her father suggested they marry, which they did and the Lord Mayor, a number of merchants and other notables, all came to the wedding.

Dick Whittington and his beloved wife lived happily together to a ripe old age. They raised many children together, and taught them to be hardworking and generous. Mr. Whittington, as he was called, served as Sheriff of London and was, three times, Lord Mayor. In the last year of his mayoralty, he entertained King Henry V and his queen, and everyone spoke of Dick Whittington's fine character.

Sir Richard, as he then became known, always looked after the poor citizens. He built a church and hospital and college for the poor, and gave a yearly scholarship, for he never forgot his humble beginnings.

Acknowledgement: The History Of The Holloway Police

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