WHITTINGTON AND HIS CAT. 459

dressed like a gentleman; and told him he was welcome to
live in his house till he could provide himself with a better.

When Whittington’s face was washed, his hair curled, his
hat cocked, and he was dressed in a nice suit of clothes, he was
as handsome and genteel as any young man who visited at
Mr. Fitzwarren’s ; so that Miss Alice, who had been so kind to
him, and thought of him with pity, now looked upon him as
fit to be her sweetheart; and the more so, no doubt, because
Whittington was now always thinking what he could do to
oblige her, and making her the prettiest presents that could be.
Mr. Fitzwarren soon saw their love for each other, and pro-
posed to join them in marriage ; and to this they both readily
agreed. A day for the wedding was soon fixed ; and they were
attended to church by the Jord mayor, the court of aldermen,
the sheriffs, and a great number of the richest merchants in
London, whom they afterwards treated with a very fine feast.

History tells us that Mr. Whittington and his lady lived in
great splendour, and were very happy. They had several
children, He was sheriff of London in the year 1360, and
several times afterwards lord may the last time he enter-
tained King Henry the Fifth, on his majesty’s return from the
famous battle of Agincourt. In this company, the king, on
account of Whittington’s gallantry, said, “ Never had prince
such a subject ;” and when Whittington was told this at the
table, he answered, “Never had subject such a king.” -Going
with an address from the city, on one of the king’s victories,
he received the honour of knighthood. Sir Richard Whit-
tington supported many poor; he built a church, and also a
college, with a yearly allowance to poor scholars, and near it
raised an hospital, The figure of Sir Richard Whittington,
with his cat in his arms, carved in stone, was to be seen till the
year 1780, over the archway of the old prison of Newgate,
that stood across Newgate-street.