Whittington although unwilling to part from so
good a companion yet being forced by his masters command by whom he had
his subsistence he brought her and (not without tears) delivered her to
his factor who was partly glad of her, by reason they were troubled with
mice and rats in the ship, which not only spoyled their victuals but
damaged their wares and commodities.
I must leave the cat upon her voyage at sea and honest Whittington on
land, who by that cursed quean the kitchin maid was so beaten and abused
that he was as weary of his life as of his service: for she (usurping
upon his plainness and modesty) would be quarrelling with him, upon
every small or no occasion at all; sometimes beating him with the broom,
sometimes laying him over the shoulders with a laddle, the spit or what
came next to her hands, being of so dogged a disposition that she still
continued her cruelty towards him, and therefore he resolved with
himself to run away, and for that purpose he had bundled up those few
clothes which he had, and before day broke was got as far as Bunhill,
and then he sat down to consider with himself what course he were best
to take; where by chance (it being all-hallows day) a merry peal from
Bow Church began to ring, and as he apprehended they were tun'd to this
ditty,--
Turn again Whittington, Lord Mayor of London,
Turn again Whittington, Lord Mayor of London.
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