The History tells us that this merchant, Master Hugh Fitzwarren, was
so generous that he never adventured any ship to sea but he would have
his daughter, his cashire, and every one of his servants, whar (_sic_)
or whatsoever, to put in something, and to adventure with him, and
according to that proportion which they could spare, every one received
to a token at the return of the ship. His daughter she began, the
rest followed, and the servants borrowed out of their wages everyone
according to their abilities, and when they all had done Whittington
was remembered and called for, and his master telling him the custome
of his home, asked him what he had to hazard in this adventure, who
replyed again, he was a poor man, and had nothing in the world saving
the cloaths upon his back, but for money he had none at all: then
his daughter drew out her purse and told her father, that for his
servant Whittington she would lay down whatsoever he would desire. Who
answered again, that what she had spoke was nothing to the purpose; for
whatsoever was ventured in that kind must be out of ones proper goods
and chattels, and again demanded of him if he had anything he could
call his own to put to hazard, and charged him deeply concerning that
point, who making some unnecessary leggs, told him that he had nothing
which he could call his saving a cat, which he had bought with his
penny, which he could not spare because she had done him so many good
offices, and told them every circumstance before related, which when
the merchant heard he told him that he should venture that commodity
and none else, and charged him to fetch her instantly (for the ship
which was called the Unicorn) was fallen down as low as Blackwal
and all their lading was already had aboard. 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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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