LIST OF VERSIONS, EDITIONS, &c.
Reading edition
1604-5, Feb. 8. Play licensed, see ante, p. vii.
1605, July 16. Ballad licensed, see ante, p. vii.
1612. Johnson's Ballad published in Crowne Garland of Goulden Roses, see ante, p. ix.
1641? Roxburghe Ballad ("London's Glory"), see ante, p. xiv.
1670? Famous and Remarkable History by T. H., reprinted in this volume (see p. 1).
1678. Another edition with the same title as the above (see p. 1), but with the following imprint:
"London: Printed by A. P. and T. H. for T. Vere and J. Wright, and are to be sold at their shops at the Angel without Newgate and at the Crown on Ludgate Hill. 1678."
There are a few alterations in spelling, &c. but otherwise it is the same as the earlier edition.
1730. The History of Sir Richard Whittington, thrice Lord Mayor of London. Durham: Printed and sold by I. Lane.
This is the earliest version of the common chap-book tale in the British Museum. It is divided into chapters, and the headings of these chapters are given at p. xxx. of the present preface. All the other chap-books that I have seen are more or less versions of this story, but one of the most complete is that printed in this Introduction (p. xxxii.) The book was printed in most of the chief towns, as Newcastle, Edinburgh, &c. but one of the most interesting editions is that printed at York and illustrated by Bewick:—
The History of Whittington and his Cat; how from a poor country boy destitute of parents or relatives he attained great riches and was promoted to the high and honorable dignity of Lord Mayor of London. York: Printed by J. Kendrew, Colliergate.
The frontispiece represents the stiff figure of a man in wig and gown of the time of Charles II., underneath which is printed—
"Sir Richard Whittington behold In mayor's robes and chain of gold."
1808. In the Antiquarian Repertory (vol. ii. pp. 343-346) there is a good account of Whittington.
1811. The Life of Sir Richard Whittington, Knight, and four times Lord Mayor of London, in the reigns of Edward III. Richard II. and Henry V. Compiled from authentic documents; and containing many important particulars respecting that illustrious man never before published: intended to amuse, instruct, and stimulate the rising generation. By the Author of "Memoirs of George Barnwell." Harlow: Printed by B. Flower for M. Jones, No. 5, Newgate Street, London. 1811. Small 8vo.
1828. The Life of Sir Richard Whittington, Knight, four times Lord Mayor of London. London: Published by Thomas North, 64, Paternoster Row. 1828. (Lysons.)
1841. The Life and Times of Dick Whittington: an Historical Romance. London: Hugh Cuningham, St. Martin's Place. 1841. 8vo.
This is a novel written in imitation of Ainsworth, illustrated with plates in imitation of Cruikshank.
[1845.] Woodcock's "Lives of Illustrious Lords Mayors and Aldermen of London, with a Brief History of the City of London." London. 8vo. Pp. 28-46, Life of Whittington; but it contains no information of any value.
1860. The Model Merchant of the Middle Ages, exemplified in the Story of Whittington and his Cat: being an attempt to rescue that interesting story from the region of fable, and to place it in its proper position in the legitimate history of this country. By the Rev. Samuel Lysons, M.A. London: Hamilton, Adams & Co. 1860. 8vo.
1871. The Story of Sir Richard Whittington, Lord Mayor of London in the years 1397, 1406-7, and 1419 a.d. Written and illustrated by Carr. London: Longmans, Green and Co. 1871. Folio.
A new Ballad prettily illustrated, in which Canon Lysons's researches are taken into account, and the boy is made of good parentage, but the rest of the legend is retained.
1881. Sir Richard Whittington, Lord Mayor of London. By Walter Besant and James Rice. London: Marcus Ward and Co. 1881. Sm. 8vo.
Whittington and his Cat. By Ernest J. Miller. Published by the Albany Institute, Albany, N.Y. Weed, Parsons, and Company. 1881. 8vo.
A valuable paper, which contains a great mass of information on both the true and——the fictitious Whittington.
Whittington and his Cat, an Entertainment for Young People, by Miss Corner.
The Remarkable History of Richard Whittington and his Cat. Aunt Busy Bee's New Series. Dean and Son. Coloured illustrations on the page.
The following title is taken from Mr. Lysons's book, and I presume it is merely an edition of the ordinary chap-book.
History of Sir Richard Whittington. Printed at Sympson's in Stonecutter Street, Fleet Market.
The following extract from Granger's History of England is curious as showing that the public would not have a portrait of Whittington without a representation of his famous cat:—
"The true portraicture of Richard Whitington, thrise Lord Maior of London; a vertuous and godly man, full of good works, and those famous. He builded the gate of London called Newegate, which before was a miserable doungeon. He builded Whitington College, and made it an almose-house for poore people. Also he builded a great parte of the hospitall of St. Bartholomew's, in West Smithfield, in London. He also builded the beautiful library at the Grey Friars in London, called Christe's Hospitall. He also builded the Guildehalle chappell, and increased a great parte of the east ende of the said halle, beside many other good workes."—R. Elstracke sc. Collar of SS.; his right hand on a cat.
Granger says of this:
"The cat has been inserted as the common people did not care to buy the print without it. There was none originally in the plate, but a skull in the place of the cat. I have seen only two proofs of this portrait in its first state, and these were fine impressions."—1775, vol. i. p. 62.
The following is a copy of the headings of the chapters in an early form of the chap-book version of Whittington's life: