Dick Whittington

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6624, 10 August 1931, Page 7

Dick Whittington

EPISODE IN HIS CAREER KINDLINESS TO APPRENTICE LONDON, July 29. A romantic cpisodo of Dick Whittington’s career has just been revealed during a search of city archives, 500 years old. as related by Lord Wakefield, Lord Mayor of London, 1915.16, at the unveiling of a stained glass window installed at Guildhall iff memory of Whittington. Lord Wakefield said a master secured damages against an apprentice whoso only fault was an error of judgment. Tho Mayor’s Court, sympathising with the apprentice, suggested that he should pay by small deductions from his wages. Tho apprentice, resenting his mas. ter’s attitude, preferred to go to prison, whereupon he was handed over to Dick Whittington, the sheriff, to be taken to Ludgate prison. Five months later it was found that the prisoner had disappeared. _ The master sued Whittington, -who did not defend the case, and paid the apprentice’s damages. Later it appeared that Dick Whittington, realising the essential justice of the apprentice’s ease, had permitted the apprentice to go free, and assisted him to start life afresh. The window', of which Lord Wakefield is the donor, shows Whittington’s legendary cat, also Whittington as Lord Mayor, entertaining Henry V. after the battle of Agincourt, when he threw into the flames of the Guild, hall fireplace King Henry’s bonds, valued at £60,000, which sum the King owed him.