“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: 

  THE

  HISTORY

  OF

  SIR RICHARD WHITTINGTON,

  THRICE LORD MAYOR OF LONDON.

  Durham:  Printed and sold by I. Lane. [1730.]

     THE LIFE OF

     SIR RICHARD WHITTINGTON.

     CHAP.  I.

     How, Whittington, being born of unknown parents, was left to a
     desperate fortune, and rambled the country till necessity and fear
     made him come to London.

     CHAP.  II.

How, at the instance of Mrs. Alice, the Merchant’s daughter, he became a servant in the family under the cook maid, who used him cruelly, and how Mrs. Alice took pity on him, and interpos’d her authority.

     CHAP.  III.

How, lying in a garret, he was ready to be devoured by rats and mice, and to prevent it purchased a cat with a penny given him for cleaning shoes; and how, with the servants, he adventured the cat, being all his stock.

     CHAP.  IV.

How the bitter jade of a cook maid encreasing her cruelty towards him he grew weary of his service, and was running away on All-Hallow’s day; but upon hearing the ringing of Bow bells came back again.  Also how the merchant abroad disposed of his cat.

     CHAP.  V.

Of the great riches received for Whittington’s cat more than for all the goods in the ship; on the arrival of which his master sent for him upstairs by the title of Mr. Whittington, and the excuses he made, and how he distributed part of his wealth to his fellow-servants giving the ill-natur’d cook maid 100l.

     CHAP.  VI.

How Mr. Whittington, being genteely dress’d, became, to all appearance, a very comely, proper person; how Mrs. Alice, his master’s daughter, fell in love with him, and, by her father’s consent, married him; and also how he was chosen sheriff of London.

     CHAP.  VII.

How he was thrice elected Lord Mayor of London; how he entertain’d King Henry V. in his return from the conquest of France:  with an account of his buildings for pious and charitable uses, great liberality to the poor, his death, burial, and epitaph.

      EPITAPH.

      Here lies Sir Richard Whittington, thrice mayor,
      And his dear wife, a virtuous, loving pair;
      Him fortune rais’d to be belov’d and great,
      By the adventure only of a cat. 
      Let none who read of God’s great love despair,
      Who trusts in Him of him He will take care;
      But growing rich chuse humbleness, not pride,
      Let these dead persons’ virtues be your guide.