DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70267#0290
256 PARTICULARS OF THE LIFE OF THE
servants an opportunity of sending something for a venture,
by one of his ships named the Unicorn, that was going to
the coast of Africa ; Whittington having nothing but his
cat, and unwilling to part with his favourite, it was most
happily for him, accepted.
On the coast of Africa where the ship touched, the
monarch’s residence, and even his table were so pestered
with vermin, that every attempt to destroy them had proved
aboitive.—But Whittington’s cat being- brought in, through
the suggestion of the captain of the vessel, she made such
havock, that the monarch and his queen were so pleased
and surprised, that they thought no price too great for a
creature of such amazing usefulness and activity.-—The
consequence is said to be, that the return for Whittington’s
venture was so great, that his master immediately advanced
him from his servile condition; and seeing his industry and
attention to business, first made him his son-in-law, then
his partner, and dying, left him the whole of his trade,
and which it will appear in the sequel, was no more than
what was due to his integrity and the excellent qualifica-
tions of both his head and his heart.
It does not appear that Whittington was married more
than once, for the daughter of this merchant was certainly
named Alice, and was the person who, in his will, ac-
cording to the manner of the times, is there designated
under the title of Dame Alice, wife to Sir Richard Whit-
tington.
The munificence of Whittington, it would appear,
though he was an inhabitant of Vintry Ward, and near
the Tower Royal, was felt and acknowledged ail over the
city. The library of the famous Church of the Grey
Friars, near the spot where Christ Church, in Newgate-
street, now stands, was founded by him in 1429. It was a
129 feet long, and 31 broad ; it was cieled with wainscot,
had 28 desks, and 8 double settles of wainscot. In three
years
servants an opportunity of sending something for a venture,
by one of his ships named the Unicorn, that was going to
the coast of Africa ; Whittington having nothing but his
cat, and unwilling to part with his favourite, it was most
happily for him, accepted.
On the coast of Africa where the ship touched, the
monarch’s residence, and even his table were so pestered
with vermin, that every attempt to destroy them had proved
aboitive.—But Whittington’s cat being- brought in, through
the suggestion of the captain of the vessel, she made such
havock, that the monarch and his queen were so pleased
and surprised, that they thought no price too great for a
creature of such amazing usefulness and activity.-—The
consequence is said to be, that the return for Whittington’s
venture was so great, that his master immediately advanced
him from his servile condition; and seeing his industry and
attention to business, first made him his son-in-law, then
his partner, and dying, left him the whole of his trade,
and which it will appear in the sequel, was no more than
what was due to his integrity and the excellent qualifica-
tions of both his head and his heart.
It does not appear that Whittington was married more
than once, for the daughter of this merchant was certainly
named Alice, and was the person who, in his will, ac-
cording to the manner of the times, is there designated
under the title of Dame Alice, wife to Sir Richard Whit-
tington.
The munificence of Whittington, it would appear,
though he was an inhabitant of Vintry Ward, and near
the Tower Royal, was felt and acknowledged ail over the
city. The library of the famous Church of the Grey
Friars, near the spot where Christ Church, in Newgate-
street, now stands, was founded by him in 1429. It was a
129 feet long, and 31 broad ; it was cieled with wainscot,
had 28 desks, and 8 double settles of wainscot. In three
years