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  _Chap-Books
  and
  Folk-Lore Tracts._

  _Edited by
  G. L. Gomme, F.S.A.
  and
  H. B. Wheatley, F.S.A._


  _First Series._

  =V.=




  THE HISTORY

  OF

  SIR RICHARD WHITTINGTON.

  BY T. H.

  EDITED, WITH AN INTRODUCTION,

  BY

  HENRY B. WHEATLEY, F.S.A.

  LONDON:
  PRINTED FOR THE VILLON SOCIETY.

  1885.




Introduction.


The popular story of Whittington and his Cat is one in which a
version of a wide-spread folk-tale has been grafted upon the history
of the life of an historical character, and in the later versions
the historical incidents have been more and more eliminated. The
three chief points in the chap-book story are, 1, the poor parentage
of the hero; 2, his change of mind at Highgate Hill by reason of
hearing Bow Bells; and, 3, his good fortune arising from the sale
of his cat. Now these are all equally untrue as referring to the
historical