Dick Whittington and His Cat

Dick Whittington and His Cat is the name of English folklore surrounding the real-life Richard Whittington (c. 1354–1423), wealthy merchant and later Lord Mayor of London, telling a story of how he supposedly escaped his poverty-stricken childhood and made his fortune thanks to the ratting abilities of his cat. However, the real Whittington did not come from a poor family of common stock, and there is no compelling evidence supporting the stories about the cat, or even whether he owned one.

Another element considered essential to the legend is that Dick attempted to flee his service as a scullion one night, but was dissuaded by the tone of the church bells, which promised he would become mayor of London one day.

Written forms date from the early 1600s, long after the death of the historical Whittington. A drama play (1604–5) and ballad (1605) are lost, and Richard Johnson's ballad of 1612 is the earliest surviving piece. A prose rendition occurs in The Famous and Remarkable History of Sir Richard Whittington by "T. H." (Thomas Heywood), first published 1656. Chapbook editions of the legend more or less after T.H.'s version appeared after 1730 into the 19th century.

These chapbook editions were embellished by a number of "amplifications" leading to factual inconsistencies, for example, later chapbooks assert that Dick reached Holloway on the night he fled, even though it has been noted that this was too far to be within earshot of the bells of Bow Church, or for a child on foot to double back during the course of one night. However, the legend has propagated among the populace exactly in embellished forms such as this. Thus, the landmark Whittington Stone at the foot of Highgate Hill (which belongs within the confines of "Upper Holloway") is commonly perceived to be place where Dick Whittingon stopped and heard the famous bells.

The story was adapted into puppet play by Martin Powell in the early 18th century. Later, it has been performed as stage pantomimes and children's plays. It has also been retold as a children's story by a number of printers and authors to this day.

...
Wikipedia