The nine Worthies of London Explayning the honourable exercise of Armes, the uertues 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 |
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Sir Iohn Haukwood knight.
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 | The nine Worthies of London |  |
Sir Iohn Haukwood knight.
Who
knowes my ofspring, doth not know my prime,
Who knowes my birth, perhaps will scorne my deedes,
My valour makes my vertue more then slime,
For that suruiues though I weare deaths pale weedes:
Ground doth consume the carkas vnto dust,
Yet cannot make the valiants armour rust.
Who knowes my birth, perhaps will scorne my deedes,
My valour makes my vertue more then slime,
For that suruiues though I weare deaths pale weedes:
Ground doth consume the carkas vnto dust,
Yet cannot make the valiants armour rust.
After that eighteene yeares had toucht my head.
Being a Printice boy in Lumbard streete,
A Taylor by my trade, and I had lead
A few wilde yeares for striplings farre vnmeete:
A Souldior I was prest to serue in Fraunce,
The Prince of Wales mine honour to inhaunce.
Being a Printice boy in Lumbard streete,
A Taylor by my trade, and I had lead
A few wilde yeares for striplings farre vnmeete:
A Souldior I was prest to serue in Fraunce,
The Prince of Wales mine honour to inhaunce.
I serude as priuate souldiour for awhile,
Till courage made me greedie of renowne,
And causde me giue a noble man the foile,
That though with sturdie Launce did beare me downe,
On foot that day my selfe did keepe in chace,
Some worthie knights that feard to shew their face.
Till courage made me greedie of renowne,
And causde me giue a noble man the foile,
That though with sturdie Launce did beare me downe,
On foot that day my selfe did keepe in chace,
Some worthie knights that feard to shew their face.
That day the Prince of Wales surnamde the blacke,
Did mount me on a gallant English steed.
Where I bestirde me so vpon his backe,
That none incountred me that did not bleed,
It was not I, nor Fortune, nor my fate,
His hand it was that seldome helpes to late.
Did mount me on a gallant English steed.
Where I bestirde me so vpon his backe,
That none incountred me that did not bleed,
It was not I, nor Fortune, nor my fate,
His hand it was that seldome helpes to late.
His be the honour then, and his the prayse,
Yet haue I leaue to speake what Haukwood did,
When noble Edward had disperst the rayes,
And by his prowes of the French was rid.
Three more then I (my selfe did make the fourth)
The gentle Princes then dub'd knights of worth.
Yet haue I leaue to speake what Haukwood did,
When noble Edward had disperst the rayes,
And by his prowes of the French was rid.
The gentle Princes then dub'd knights of worth.
His knights he tearmd vs still amongst the rest,
And gaue vs honour fitting our estate,
For England to be bound it seemd him best,
Because the French had swallowed Edwards baite:
I tooke my leaue, and begged on my knee,
That I might wander other parts to see.
And gaue vs honour fitting our estate,
For England to be bound it seemd him best,
Because the French had swallowed Edwards baite:
I tooke my leaue, and begged on my knee,
That I might wander other parts to see.
The Prince inkindled with my honours heate;
Discharging me, bestowde on me a chaine,
For still fresh courage on my heart did beate,
Which made me loue, and womens acts refraine:
Hearing the Duke of Millaine was distrest,
To Italie my voyage then was prest.
Discharging me, bestowde on me a chaine,
For still fresh courage on my heart did beate,
Which made me loue, and womens acts refraine:
Hearing the Duke of Millaine was distrest,
To Italie my voyage then was prest.
The Seas I quickly past, and came to shore,
With me were fifteene hundred English men,
We marcht to Millaine walles, where we had more
Of other nations to conioyne with them.
There did the Italians tearme me Iohn Acute,
Because I had their foes in such pursute.
With me were fifteene hundred English men,
We marcht to Millaine walles, where we had more
Of other nations to conioyne with them.
There did the Italians tearme me Iohn Acute,
Because I had their foes in such pursute.
Castels and towers I had for my reward,
And got enough to pay my men withall:
But I to hired pay had no regarde,
That prickt me on which climbs the highest wall,
Honour and Fame, whereof they gaue me store,
Which made me more audacious then before.
And got enough to pay my men withall:
But I to hired pay had no regarde,
That prickt me on which climbs the highest wall,
Honour and Fame, whereof they gaue me store,
Which made me more audacious then before.
Millaine thus peac'd, the Pope oppressed Spaine,
Then thither was I sent to quell his pride:
Which being done I did returne againe,
And stoopt with age, in Padua Palace dide:
And he that yet will heare of Iohn Acute,
In Millaine shall not find the people mute.
Then thither was I sent to quell his pride:
Which being done I did returne againe,
And stoopt with age, in Padua Palace dide:
And he that yet will heare of Iohn Acute,
In Millaine shall not find the people mute.
All warres you see do ende as well as peace,
And then remaineth but a tumbe of dust,
A voyce of Fame, a blacke and mourning hearce,
To what then may we like this worldly lust:
It is an euill vapouring smoke that fumes,
Breaths in the braine, and so the life consumes.
And then remaineth but a tumbe of dust,
A voyce of Fame, a blacke and mourning hearce,
To what then may we like this worldly lust:
It is an euill vapouring smoke that fumes,
Breaths in the braine, and so the life consumes.
| The nine Worthies of London | |