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The Lords of England afterwards
Did fend for him again,

While that King Richard at the Wars
In Ireland did remain :

Who, by the vile and great Abuse
Which thro' his Deeds did spring,
Deposed was; and then the Duke
Was truly crowned King.

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XVI. Sir Richard Whittington's Ad

vancement.

BEING

An Hiftorical Account of his Education, unexpected Fortune, Charity, &c.

To the Tune of, Dainty come thou to me.

There is fomething fo fabulous, or, at least, that has fuch a Romantick Appearance in the Hiftory of Whittington, that I fhall not chufe to relate it; but refer my credulous Readers to common Tradition, or to the Penny Hiftories. Certain it is, that there was fuch a Man; a Citizen of London, by Trade a Mercer; and one who has left Publick Edifices, and Charitable Worksenow behind him, to tranfmit his Name to Pofterity. Amongst others, he founded a Houfe of Prayer; with an Allowance for

a Ma

a Mafter, Fellows, Chorifters, Clerks, &c. and an Alms-Houfe for Thirteen poor Men, called Whittington College. He entirely rebuilt the loathfome Prifon, which then was ftanding at the Weft Gate of the City, and call'd it Newgate. He built the better Half of St. Bartholomew's Hofpital, in West Smithfield; and the fine Library in Grey-Fryars, now called Chrift's Hofpital: As alfo great Part of the Eaft End of Guildhall, with a Chapel, and a Library; in which the Records of the City might be kept. He was chofen Sheriff, in the Seventeenth Year of the Reign of King Richard the Second, and of the Chriftian Æra 1393; William Stondon, by Trade a Grocer, being then Mayor of London. After which he was knighted; and in the One and Twentieth Year of the fame Reign, he was chofen Mayor. Which Honour was again conferr'd on him in the Eighth Year of King Henry the Fourth, and the Seventh of King Henry the Fifth. 'Tis faid of him, That he advanc'd a very confiderable Sum of Money, towards carrying on the War in France, under this laft Monarch. He marry'd Alice, the Daughter of Hugh and Molde Fitzwarren: at whofe Houfe, Traditions fay, Whittington liv'd a Servant, when he got his immenfe Riches by venturing his Cat in one of his Master's

Ships. However, if we may give Credit to his own Will, he was a Knight's Son; and more obliged to an English King, and Prince, than to any African Monarch, for his Riches. For when he founded Whittington College, and left a Maintenance for Jo many People, as above related; they were, as Stow records it, (for this Maintenance) bound to pray for the good Eftate of Richard Whittington, and Alice his Wife, their Founders; and for Sir William Whittington, and Dame Joan his Wife; and for Hugh Fitzwarren, and Dame Molde his Wife; the Fathers and Mothers of the Jaid Richard Whittington, and Alice his Wife; For King Richard the Second, and Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Glocefter, Special Lords and Promoters of the faid Richard Whittington, &c.

Ere muft I tell the Praise
Of worthy Whittington,
Known to be in his Days

Thrice Lord-Mayor of London:

But of poor Parentage

Born was he as we hear,

And in his tender Age

Bred up in Lancashire.

Poorly

Poorly to London then

Came up this fimple Lad; Where, with a Merchant-Man, Soon he a Dwelling had ;

And in a Kitchen plac'd,
A Scullion for to be;
Where a long Time he pass'd
In Labour drudgingly.

His daily Service was
Turning at the Fire;
And to fcour Pots of Brass,
For a poor Scullion's Hire:

Meat and Drink all his Pay,
Of Coin he had no Store ;
Therefore to run away,

In fecret Thought he bore.

So, from the Merchant-Man,
Whittington fecretly
Towards his Country ran,
To purchase Liberty.

But as he went along,

In a fair Summer's Morn, London's Bells fweetly rung Whittington's back Return;

Evermore founding fo,

Turn again, Whittington; For thou, in Time, fhalt grow Lord-Mayor of London.

Where

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