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.

I must leave the cat upon her voyage at sea and honest Whittington on
land, who by that cursed quean the kitchin maid was so beaten and abused
that he was as weary of his life as of his service: for she (usurping
upon his plainness and modesty) would be quarrelling with him, upon
every small or no occasion at all; sometimes beating him with the broom,
sometimes laying him over the shoulders with a laddle, the spit or what
came next to her hands, being of so dogged a disposition that she still
continued her cruelty towards him, and therefore he resolved with
himself to run away, and for that purpose he had bundled up those few
clothes which he had, and before day broke was got as far as Bunhill,