The first reference that we find to the cat incident is in the play _Eastward Hoe_ by Chapman, Ben Jonson, and Marston; for, as the portrait which was said to have existed at Mercers' Hall is not now known, it can scarcely be put in evidence. This half-length portrait of a man of about sixty years of age, dressed in a livery gown and black cap of the time of Henry VIII. with a figure of a black and white cat on the left, is said to have had painted in the left-hand upper corner of the canvas the inscription, "R. Whittington, 1536." In _Eastward Hoe_, 1605, Touchstone assures Goulding that he hopes to see him reckoned one of the worthies of the city of London "When the famous fable of Whittington and his puss shall be forgotten." The next allusion is in Thomas Heywood's _If you know not me, you know nobody_, 2nd part, 1606. _Dean Nowell._ "This Sir Richard Whittington, three times Mayor, Sonne to a knight and prentice to a mercer, Began the Library of Grey-Friars in London, And his executors after him did build Whittington Colledge, thirteene Alms-houses for poore men, Repair'd S. Bartholomewes, in Smithfield, Glased the Guildhall, and built Newgate. _Hobson._ Bones of men, then I have heard lies; For I have heard he was a scullion, And rais'd himself by venture of a cat. _Nowell._ They did the more wrong to the gentleman." Here it will be seen that, although the popular tale is mentioned, it is treated as a mere invention unworthy of credence. The next in point of time is the ballad by Richard Johnson, published in the _Crowne Garland of Goulden Roses_ (1612), which probably had a much earlier existence in a separate form. It is the earliest form of the story of Whittington now in existence. _A song of Sir Richard Whittington, who by strange fortunes came to bee thrice Lord Maior of London; with his bountifull guifts and liberallity given to this honourable Citty._ (To the tune of "_Dainty come thou to me_.") "Here must I tell the praise Of worthie Whittington, Known to be in his dayes Thrice Maior of London. But of poor parentage Borne was he, as we heare, And in his tender age Bred up in Lancashire. Poorely to London than Came up this simple lad, Where, with a marchant-man, Soone he a dwelling had; And in a kitchen plast, A scullion for to be, Whereas long time he past In labour grudgingly. His daily service was Turning spits at the fire; And to scour pots of brasse, For a poore scullions hire. Meat and drinke all his pay, Of coyne he had no store; Therefore to run away, In secret thought he bore. So from this marchant-man Whittington secretly Towards his country ran, To purchase liberty. But as he went along In a fair summer's morne, London bells sweetly rung, 'Whittington, back return!'