mile from the sea. Here they were placed, according to the custom of the country, on rich carpets, flowered with gold and silver; and the king and queen being seated at the upper end of the room, dinner was brought in, which consisted of many dishes; but no sooner were the dishes put down, but an amazing number of rats and mice came from all quarters, and devoured all the meat in an instant. The factor, in surprise, turned round to the nobles, and asked, if these vermin were not offensive? “O yes,” said they, “very offensive; “and the king would give half his treasure to be freed of them; for they not only destroy his dinner, as you may see, but they assault him in his chamber, and even in his bed, so that he is obliged to be watched while he is sleeping for fear of them.
The factor jumped for joy; he remembered poor Whittington and his cat; and told the king he had a creature on board the ship that would despatch
