The nine Worthies of London Explayning the honourable exercise of Armes the vertues of the valiant and the memorable attempts of magnanimious minds PLEASANT FOR GENTLEmen not vnseemly for Magistrates and most profitable for Prentises Compiled by Richard Iohnson Imprinted at London by Thomas Orwin for Humfrey Lownes and are to be sold at his shop at the west doore of Paules 1592. To the right Honourable sir William Webbe Knight Lord Maior of the famous Citie of London Richard Iohnson wisheth health with increase of honour BEING not altogether right honorable vnacquainted with the fame of this wel gouerned citie the heade of our English florishing common wealth I thought nothing considering it somewhat touched my dutie could be more acceptable to your Honour then such principles as first grounded the same as well by domesticall policie of peace as forraine excellence in resolution of warre This caused me to collect from our London gardens such especiall flowers that sauoured as well in the wrath of Winter as in the pride of Sommer keeping one equiuolence at all kinde of seasons Flowers of chiualrie right honorable I meane some that haue sucked honie frō the Bee sweetnesse from warre and were possessed in that high place of prudence wherof your Lordship now partaketh Other some that haue beene more inferiour members and yet haue giuen especial ayde to the head beene buckler to the best and therby reached to the aspiring toppe of armes If your Lordship shall but like of it proceeding from the barren braine of a poore apprentice that dare not promise moulhils much lesse mountaines I shall thinke this by-exercise which I vndertooke to expell idlenesse a worke of worth whatsoeuer the gentle cauld kind that are vngently inkindled shall with ostentation inueigh These right Honorable the nine VVorthies of London now vnable to defend themselues seeke their protection vnder your gracious fauour and the Authour pricked on by Fame to be patronagde for his willing labour whereof not misdoubting I humbly commit your Honour to the defence of heauen and the guider of all iust equalitie Your L in all humble dutie to be commaunded Richard Iohnson To the Gentlemen Readers as well Prentices as others AL is not gold Gentlemen that glisters nor all drosse that makes but a darke shew so should copper some time be currant pearles of no price Aesope for all his crutchback had a quick wit Cleanthes though in the night he caried the watertankard yet in the day would dispute with Philosophers A meane man may look vpon a king and a wren build her nest by an Egle. In the games of Olympus any man might trie his strength and when Apelles liued others were not forbid to paint So gentlemen though now a dayes many great Poets flourish from whose eloquent workes you take both pleasure and profite yet I trust inferiours whose pens dare not compare with Apollos shall not bee contemned or put to silence Euery weede hath his vertue studious trauaile though without skill may manifest good will Vouchsafe then intertainment to this new come guest his simple truth shewes he is without deceyte and his plaine speech proues he flatters not He can not beast of Art nor claime the priuiledge of scholasticall cunning what he sayth is not curious being without any great praemeditation or practise more then his necessarie affaires would permit If his vnpollished discourses may merit the least motion of your good liking let the enuious fret and the captious malice melt themselues neither the obiection of Mechanicall by such as are themselues diabolicall whose vicious basenesse in a selfe conceyte presuming aboue the best is in deede but the dregges and refuse of the worst nor the reproch of prouerbiall scoffes as Ne sutor vltra crepidam shall discorage me from proceeding to inuent how further to content you And so trusting to my fortune and ending in my hap neither dispairing of your censures nor fearing what the maleuolent can inflict Yours to commaund as he may Richard Iohnson A Catalogue or briefe Table declaring the names of these worthie men and when they liued First SIr VVilliam VValworth Fishmonger in the time of Richard the second Second Sir Henrie Pitchard Vintener in the time of Edward the third Third Sir VVilliam Seuenoake Grocer in the time of Henrie the fift Fourth Sir Thomas VVhite Marchant-tailer in the time of Queene Marie Fift Sir Iohn Bonham Mercer in the time of Edward the first Sixt. Sir Christopher Croker Vintener in the time of Edward the third Seuenth Sir Iohn Haukwood Marchant-tailer in the time of Edward the third Eight Sir Hugh Cauerley Silke-weauer in the time of Edward the third Ninth Sir Henrie Maleueret Grocer in the time of Henrie the fourth To the Gentlemen Readers GEntlemen being incouraged through your gentle acceptance of my Cynthia I haue once more aduentured on your Curtesies hoping to finde you as I haue done hertofore friendly Being determined to write of somthing yet not resolued of any thing I considered with my selfe if one should write of Loue they will say why euery one writes of Loue if of Vertue why who regards Vertue To be short I could thinke of nothing but either it was common or not at all in request At length I bethought my selfe of a Subiect both new as hauing neuer beene written vpon before and pleasing as I thought because Mans Nature commonly loues to heare that praised with whose pressence hee is most pleased Erasmus the glory of Netherland and the refiner of the Latin Tongue wrote a whole Booke in th◠prayse of Folly Then if so excellent a Scholler writ in praise of Vanity why may not I write in praise of that which is profitable There are no two Countreys where Gold is esteemed lesse than in India and more then in England the reason is because the Indians are barbarous and our Nation ciuill I haue giuen Pecunia the title of a Woman Both for the termination of the Word and because as Women are shee is lov'd of men The brauest Voyages in the World haue beene made for Gold for it men haue venterd by Sea to the furthest part of the Earth In the Pursute wherof Englands Nestor and Neptune Haukins and Drake lost their liues Vpon the Deathes of the which two of the first I writ this The Waters were his Winding sheete the Sea was made his Toome Yet for his fame the Ocean Sea was not sufficient roome Of the latter this England his hart his Corps the Waters haue And that which raysd his fame because his grave The Praetorians after the death of Pertinax in the election of a new Emperour more esteemed the money of Iulianus then either the vertue of Seuerus or the Valour of Pessennius Then of what great estimation and account this Lady Pecunia both hath beene in the Worlde and is at this present I leaue to your Iudgement But what speake I so much of her praise in my Epistle that haue commended her so
moue alone Then he betooke him to his former meditation from whom he was first awaked when another knight of that aduaunced crew was by Fame assigned to speake called sir Thomas White the Goddesse cleaped him who lifting vp his aged limmes yet not decayed sayd as followeth Sir Thomas White WHyte is my name and milke white are my haires White were my deedes though vaine is proper praise White for my countrie were my kind affayres White was the rule that measurd all my dayes Yet blacke the mould that coutcht me in my graue By which more pure my present state I haue I cannot sing of armes and blood-redwarres Nor was my colour mixt with Mars his hew I honour those that ended Countrey iarres For therein subiects shew that they are trew But priuately at home I shewde my selfe To be no louer of vaine worldly pelfe My deedes haue tongues to speake though I surcease My Orator the learned striue to bee Because I twined paulmes in time of peace And gaue such gifts that made faire learning free My care did build them bowers of sweete content Where many wise their golden time haue spent A noyse of gratefull thankes within mine eares Descending from their studies glads my heart That I began to wish with priuate teares There liued more that were of Whites desert But now I looke and spie that time is balde And Vertue comes not being seldome calde But sith I am awaked not to waile But to vnfolde to Fame my former life I must on forward with my single tale For sorrow will but breake the heart with strife White is no warriour as I sayd before Nor entred euer into daungers doore The English Cities and incorporate townes Doe beare me witnesse of my Countreys care Where yearely I doe feede the poore with crownes For I was neuer niggard yet to spare And all chiefe Burrowes of this blessed land Haue somewhat tasted of my liberall hand He that did lend to me the grace of wealth Did not bestow it for to choake with store But to maintaine the needie poore in health By which expence my wealth encreased more The oyle of gladnesse euer chear'd my hart Why should I not then pitie others smart Lord Maior of London I was cal'd to bee And Iustice ballance bare with vpright hand I iudg'd all causes right in each degree I neuer partiall in the law did stand But as my name was White so did I striue To make my deedes whilest yet I was aliue But my prefixed fate had twinde my thread And White it was and therefore best she like it She set her web within a loome of lead And with her baulme of grace she sweetly dight it And with consent her sisters gaue this grace That White should keepe his colour in this place WHen this aged knight had peaceably obseruing decorum with his passed state tolde his plame and vnpolished tale in all points like himselfe clothed with the fashion of his minde vpon a bed of Lillies hee layde him downe whose colour answerable to his snowie beard made them take especiall delight in the simpathie of their qualitie Then sayde Clio thou faire and swift foote Goddesse winged with the Doue and eyed with the Eagle let me bee boldned with thy fauour to demaunde one question which of all this noble companie shall next dilate his life Sweete Muse quoth Fame this knight pointing to sir Iohn Bonham sometimes apprentice to a Marchant in London Your deitie sayde Clio then vnder correction will mistake the placing For this gallant liued in England in the time of Edward the first we are alreadie come downe so farre as Quéene Marie Therein sayde Fame wee doe preferre their age and the honour of their calling before the obseruation of time which derogates from no other course then that which sometimes our Poets haue vsed placing euer the worthiest formost as to induce the rest by example not to be starke for want of courage Therefore it shall not be vncomly or preposterous when the yonger knights shall speake after those that bare the honour of the Maioraltie This excuse wel contented the labouring Muse who framing her golden pen in her fingers fixed it ready to her memoriall leaues whilest Fame did rouse this worthie from his rest A man of stature meane in countenance milde in speach man-like and in performance couragious his beard Abron and his bodie bigge and thus he began when Fame had giuen him caueat to speake Sir Iohn Bonham knight LEt them that pull their quils from Griffons wings And dippe them in the bloud of Pagans bane Let them describe me from the brest that sings A Poem of bloudie showers of raigne And in my tale a mournefull Eleagie To such as do the lawes of God denie A gentleman I am of gentle blood A Knight my Father was yet thought no scorne To place his sonne within a prentise hood For nature will appeare as she was borne A Deuonshire man to London loe I came To learne to traffique of a Marchant man Shortelie from thence to Denmarke was I bound Well shipt with ware my master gaue in charge I deemd the water better then the ground And on the seas a man might see at large Me thought that Fortune there might flie her fill And pitch and light vpon what place she will Ariud at last in Denmarke was I sett Where Bonham did demeane himselfe sowell That though some strangers there had pitcht a nett To catch my feete themselues therein soone fell And such dishonour dropt vpon their head As they their natiue Countrie quicklie fled My worthlesse Fame vnto the King was brought Who shewd himselfe both mild and debonare A cause of gracious kindnes still he sought And for my Countrey did commend my care And though I say it that might better cease Bonham did purchase fame and loues encrease A vertuous Ladie and a curteous prince This famous king vnto his daughter had Hir countenance did the baser sort conuince Yet did she bare her gently to bad Such was her beautie such was her grace and fauour That watchfull Enuy no way could depraue her Excepting still the praise of Proserpine I may a little glance vpon her grace The words shee spake did euer seeme diuine And Nature chose her alters in her face Where in the day her golden flames do burne And they that gaze shall frie except they turne There bodies once consum'd loue tooke their soules And there satte binding them within her haire She neede not frowne her smoothest lookes controles See how shee slayes yet dooth the guiltlesse spare Guiltlesse they are that dare not stay so long To heare the musick of inchaunting song Should I but speake the words vnto her face Perhaps you would suppose I flatter her If so I haue too long vpheld the chace And negligentlie spard the pricking spurre In whose sweete praise I end not yet begunne Because my lame conceipt wants feete to runne Who will not iudge the brauest
I stabd my dagger to his damned heart The rest perceiuing of their captaine slaine Soone terrified did cast their weapons downe And like to sheepe began to flie amaine They durst not looke on Iustice dreadfull frowne The king pursude and we were not the last Till furie of the fight were ouerpast Thus were the mangled parts of peace recurde The Princes falling state by right defended From common weale all mischiefe quite abiurde With loue and dutie vertue was attended And for that deed that day before t'was night My king in guerdon dubbed me a knight Nor ceast he so to honour that degree A costly hat his highnesse likewise gaue That Londons maintenance might euer be A sword also he did ordaine to haue That should be caried still before the Maior Whose worth deserude succession to that chaire This much in age when strength of youth was spent Hath Walworth by vnwonted valour gaind T'was all he sought his countrey to content Successe hath fortune for the iust ordaind And when he died this order he began Lord Maiors are knights their office being done WOrthily had this father of his Countrie the formost place in this discourse whose valerous attempts may be a light to all ensuing ages to lead them in the darkenesse of all troublesome times to the resurrection of such a constant affection as will not faulter or refuse any perill to profite his Countrey and purchase honour Such was his desert as euen then when good men dispaired of their safetie and the verie pillars of the common wealth tottered his courage redéemed the one and vnderpropped the other Martialists and patrones of magnanimitie trembled at that which he beyond all expectation aduentured Let enuie therefore retract the malice of her blistring tongue which heretofore and now not a litle striueth by her contentious and ripening nature to obscure the brightnesse of their praise and scoffe at their ingenious dispositions whose education promiseth small But yet when occasion hath required haue performed more then they whose brags haue vapord to y e clouds I wish the like mind and the like loyaltie in all those that make the Citie the Nurse of their liues and subiect of their fortunes that London may continue stil that credite to be called the great chamber of her kings and the key of her Countreys blisse But to procéede Fame hauing marked the grauitie eloquence and orator-like gesture of this good knight during the continuance of his talke was so well pleased as shee vowed to erect his stature where in spight of al contrarious and maleuolent blasts of vertues carpers it should stande immoueable and Clio that had pend his speach grieued she had not leysure as she desired and he deserued to set down his actions in better and more ample maner for alreadie another of the knightly crew stood vp readie to delate what Fame expected therefore she was forced to let it somewhat rawly passe hoping that the excellency of the matter would excuse the rudensse of the rime The next being a man whom nature had likewise bewtified with the colour and badge of wisedome and authoritie as one on whom a greater power then Fortunes faigned deitie had bestowed the fulnesse of worldly treasure and heauens perfection beganne accordingly to frame his tale Sir Henrie Pitchard Knight THe potter tempers not the massie golde A meaner substance serues his simple trade His workemanship consistes of slimie molde Where any plaine impression soone is made His Pitchards haue no outward glittering pompe As other mettels of a finer stampe Yet for your vse as wholsome as the rest Though their beginning be but homely found And sometime they are taken for the best If that be precious that is alwayes sound From gould corrupting poysons do infect Where earthen cups are free from all suspect So censure of the Pitchard you behould Whose glorie springes not of his lowlie frame Though he be clay he may compare with gould His properties nere felt reproachfull shame For when I first drew breath vpon the earth My mind did beawtifie creations byrth I dare not sing of Mars his bloodie scarres It is a stile too high for my conceipt Yet in my youth I serued in the warres And followde him that made his foes entreat Edward the third the Phoenix of his time For life and prowes spotted with no crime From France returnd so well I thriu'd at home As by permission of celestiall grace I rose by that men termd blind Fortunes dome To such a loftie dignitie of place As by election then it did appeare I was Lord Maior of London for a yeare I vsde not my promotion with disdaine Nor suffred heapes of coyne to fret withrust I knew the ende of such a noble gaine And saw that riches were not giuen for lust But for reliefe and comfort of the poore Against the straunger not to shut my doore I could repeate perhaps some liberall deedes But that I feare vaine-glories bitter checke His plenties want his haruest is but weedes That doth in wordes his proper goodnesse decke It shall suffice he hath them in recorde That keepes in store his stewards iust reward Yet for aduauncement of faire Londons fame I will omit one principall regarde That such as heare may imitate the same When auarice by bountie shall be barde Rich men should thinke of honour more then pelfe I liu'd as well for others as my selfe When Edward triumpht for his victories And helde three crownes within his conquering hand He brought rich Trophies from his enemies That were erected in this happie land We all reioyc'd and gaue our God the praise That was the authour of those fortunate dayes And as from Douer with the prince his sonne The King of Cypres France and Scots did passe All captiue prisoners to this mightie one Fiue thousand men and I the leader was All well preparde as to defend a fort Went foorth to welcome him in martiall sort The riches of our armour and the cost Each one bestowd in honour of that day Were here to be exprest but labour lost Silke coates and chaines of golde bare little sway And thus we marcht accepted of our King To whom our comming seemd a gracious thing But when the Citie pearde within our sights I crau'd a boune submisse vpon my knee To haue his Grace those Kings with Earles and knights A day or two to banquet it with me The king admirde yet thankefully replide Vnto thy house both I and these will ride Glad was I that so I did preuaile My heart reuiud my parts me thought were young For cheare and sumptuous cost no coine did faile And he that talkt of sparing did me wrong Thus at my proper charge I did retaine Foure kings one prince and all their royalltraine Yet lo this pompe did vanish in an houre There is no trusting to a broken staffe Mans carefull life doth wither like a flower The destenies do stroy what we do graffe For all his might my gold wherewith
I pleasde Death tooke vs both and would not be appeasde Of all there now remaines no more but this What vertue got by toyling labours paine To shrine our spotlesse soules in heauenlie blisse Till to our bodies they returne againe What else we find is vaine and worthlesse drosse And greatest getting but the greatest losse AFter that Clio had writ what this famous knight had tolde shee no little wondred at his modest audacitie Therefore she sayde this to Fame Renowmed Goddesse enemie to the fatall sisters aud onely friend to the good deseruers it were beséeming thy excellencie to procéede altogither with the honourable acts of these memorable men and onely touch their vertuous endeuours whereunto the Goddesse condiscended and séeing another lift vp his head as if he were desirous to speake Fame heartned him on with smiling countenance to say as followeth Sir William Seuenoake MY harmelesse byrth misfortune quite contemd And from my pappe did make my youth a pray So scarcely budd my branches were vnstemd My byrth howre was Deathes blacke and gloomie day Had not the highest stretched forth his might The breake of day had beene the darkest night Some Monster that did euie Natures worke When I was borne in Kent did cast me foorth In desert wildes where though no Beast did lurke To spoyle that life the Heauens made forwoorth Vnder seauen Oakes yet mischiefe flung me downe Where I was found and brougha vnto a towne Behold an ebbe that neuer thought to flowe Behold a fall vnlikelie to recouer Behold ashrub a weed that grew full lowe Behold a wren that neuer thought to houer Behould yet how the highest can commaund And make a sand foundation firmelie stand For when my infants time induste more yeares After some education in the schoole And some discretion in my selfe appeares With labor to be taught with manuall toole To learne to liue to London thus being found Apprentise to a Groser I was bound To please the honest care my master tooke I did refuse no toyle nor drudging payne My handes no labor euer yet for sooke Whereby I might encrease my masters gayne Thus Seuenoake liud for so they cald my name Till Heauen did place mee in a better frame In time my prentise yeares were quite expirde And then Bellona in my homelie brest My Countries honour with her flames had firde And for a Souldior made my fortune prest Henry the fifi my King did warre with France Then I with him his right to readuance There did couragious men with loue compare And striue by armes to get their Prince renowne There sillie I like thirstie soule did fare To drinke their fill would venter for to drowne Then did the height of my inhaunst desire Graunt me a little leasure to aspire The Dolphyne then of Fraunce a comelie Knight Disguised came by chaunee into a place Where I well wearied with the heare of fight Had layd me downe for warre had ceast his chace And with reproachfull words as layzie swaine He did salute me ere I long had layne I knowing that he was mine enemie A bragging French-man for we tearmd them so Ill brookt the proud disgrace he gaue to me And therefore lent the Dolphyne such a blow As warmd his courage well to lay about Till he was breathlesse though he were so stout At last the noble Prince did aske my name My birth my calling and my fortunes past With admiration he did heare the same And so a bagge of crownes to me he cast And when he went away he saide to mee Seauenoake be prowd the Dolphyn fought with thee When English had obtainde the victorie We crossed backe the grudging seas againe Where all my friends supposed warre to be For vice and follie virtues onelie bane But see the simple how they are deceaude To iudge that honour Honour hath bereaud For when my Souldiors fame was laid aside To be a Grocer once againe I framde And he which rules aboue my steps did guide That through his wealth Seuenoake in time was famde To be Lord Maior of London by degree Where iustice made me sway with equitie Gray haires made period vnto honours call And frostie death had furrowed in my face Colde Winter gashes and to Sommers fall And fainting nature left my mortall place For with the date of flesh my life decayde And Seuenoake dide for euery flower must fade By Testament in Kent I built a towne And briefly calde it Seuenoake from my name A free schoole to sweete learning to renowne I placde for those that playde at honours game Both land and liuing to that towne I gaue Before I tooke possession of my graue Thither I bare my flesh but leaue my fame To be a president for London wights And you that now beholde faire Vertues maime Thinke he is happie for his Countrey fights For for my guerdon to this pleasant field My carkas did my dying spirit yeeld BY that time this famous man had thus innobled his name by telling his nature the pitifull and louely Muse had delated at large his eternall honour hauing in no part béene nigardly of his prodigall prayse but Fame dismissing him to his former rest hard by a still siluer streame that beate warbling Ecchoes into the vaultie bankes whereas deceassed Sea-nymphes vse to sport pressing his manlike paulme vpon the ground hee bent his comely bodie to the earth where not as possessed with heauinesse but with Paradice-like ioy he safely and swéettly reposed his comely limbes like as the woonted Martialists of former memorie were accustomed to doe when returning from hot encountred broyles they vnbuckled their steeld enclosures to enioy the fresh and delightsome breath of peace There they y t woonted to be of Pans musical Parliament fayre Forresters and carrolling shéepheards delighted and almost inchaunted with this Champions storie thought to present him with some short recreation therefore vpon a bush of Iuniper brambles where Philomelie had set her speckled breast they all at once did beate with siluer wings then from this swéete sauouring thicket rowsed the tripping Deare and after them the nimble footed Fawne wrestling together once ouertaken with pleasing and delectable sport rubbing their horned browes vpon their sweete twined bowers this did they do in fauour of his birth being cōmitted to their gouernments before his mothers milke had made him blithe This pastime put the famous Seuenoake in minde of his beginning how Nature first had inniciated her worke in miserie and ended it in miracles not arguing herein her vnconstant kinde but her prouident foresight to withstand the mischiefe of all misfortunes and whilest Fame with her admiring Muse was busied in posing the rest this meritorious man did please himselfe with this Poem WHere Fortune had her birth the Sunne sate downe Yet gaue no liuing glorie to the childe She grew and gaue the God a golden crowne It pleased him not for he was euer milde Yet drew she disposition from his throne That without her no wight can