THE SCENE: The ancient fable of the King of Cats was first recorded by William Baldwin in this short and haunting passage.
THE TEXT: There was in my countrie (quoth he) a man that had a young Cat which he had brought up from a kitten & [he] would nightly and daily and play with it. And on a time as he rode through Kank wood, about certain business, a Cat (as he thought) leaped out of a bush before him and called him twice or thrice by his name, but because he made no answer, nor spake (for he was so afraid that he could not) she spake to him plainly twice or thrice these words following. ‘Commend me unto Titton Tatton, and to Pus Thy Catton, and tell her that Grimmalkin is dead. This done she went her way, and the man went forward about his busines. And after that he was returned home, in an evening sitting by the fire with his wife and his household: he told of his adventure in the wood, and when he had told them all the cat’s message: his Cat which had [begun listening to] the tale, looked upon him sadly and finally said. ‘And is Grimmalkin dead, then farewell Dame, & therewith went her way and was never seen after.’
– Beware the Cat, William Baldwin, 16th Century AD
