The story of Dick Whittington is one of the most iconic in children’s literature. However, the boy who had the cat and became three times Lord Mayor of London was, in fact, a real person of consequence in late 14th and early 15th Century England.
The children’s story is well known. A poor boy named Dick Whittington from Gloucestershire comes to London to seek his fortune. He became the apprentice to a wealthy merchant named Fitzwarren. He fell in love with Fitzwarren’s daughter, Alice, but being a poor apprentice knew that there was no future in it. Later, Fitzwarren invited his employees to invest money in a trading voyage to a far eastern land, sometimes identified as Persia, other times identified as China. Dick had no money, but gave his pet cat to the Captain to sell for his share.
Disillusioned, Dick Whittington decided to return to Gloucestershire. As he passed over Highgate Hill, the bells of London began to peel. They seemed to speak to him, saying, “Turn again, Whittington, three times Lord Mayor of London.” Seeing this as a good omen, Dick turned around and returned to London.
Shortly thereafter, the trading ship returned with wonderful news. It seemed that the Shah of Persia’s (or Emperor of China’s) palace had been overrun with rats. Dick Whittington’s cat made short work of these vermin, killing or driving them out. In gratitude, the Shah (or the Emperor) paid an enormous sum for the cat. Dick Whittington, poor boy from Gloucestershire, was suddenly very rich. He married Alice Fitzwarren, eventually took over Fitzwarren’s business, and presumably lived happily ever after.
Dick Whittington, far from being a fictional character in a children’s story, was very much a real person. And there is plenty of truth about him in the story. However, there are some details in the story of Dick Whittington and his Cat that vary from the historical reality.
The children’s story is well known. A poor boy named Dick Whittington from Gloucestershire comes to London to seek his fortune. He became the apprentice to a wealthy merchant named Fitzwarren. He fell in love with Fitzwarren’s daughter, Alice, but being a poor apprentice knew that there was no future in it. Later, Fitzwarren invited his employees to invest money in a trading voyage to a far eastern land, sometimes identified as Persia, other times identified as China. Dick had no money, but gave his pet cat to the Captain to sell for his share.
Disillusioned, Dick Whittington decided to return to Gloucestershire. As he passed over Highgate Hill, the bells of London began to peel. They seemed to speak to him, saying, “Turn again, Whittington, three times Lord Mayor of London.” Seeing this as a good omen, Dick turned around and returned to London.
Shortly thereafter, the trading ship returned with wonderful news. It seemed that the Shah of Persia’s (or Emperor of China’s) palace had been overrun with rats. Dick Whittington’s cat made short work of these vermin, killing or driving them out. In gratitude, the Shah (or the Emperor) paid an enormous sum for the cat. Dick Whittington, poor boy from Gloucestershire, was suddenly very rich. He married Alice Fitzwarren, eventually took over Fitzwarren’s business, and presumably lived happily ever after.
Dick Whittington, far from being a fictional character in a children’s story, was very much a real person. And there is plenty of truth about him in the story. However, there are some details in the story of Dick Whittington and his Cat that vary from the historical reality.
|
|