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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Henry Maleueret Grocer, surnamed Henrie of Cornhill.
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 | The nine Worthies of London |  |
Henry Maleueret Grocer, surnamed Henrie of Cornhill.
A precious
cause hath still a rare effect,
And deedes are greatest when the daungers most,
It is no care that trauels dooth neglect,
Nor loue that hath respect to idle cost:
A Bramble neuer bringeth forth a Rose,
Where fields are fruitfull there the Lillie growes.
And deedes are greatest when the daungers most,
It is no care that trauels dooth neglect,
Nor loue that hath respect to idle cost:
A Bramble neuer bringeth forth a Rose,
Where fields are fruitfull there the Lillie growes.
By this coniecture what may be the end,
Of his defensiue force that fought for Christ,
It is no common matter if we spend
Both life and goods in quarrell of the hiest:
The least desert dooth merit his reward,
And best employde should haue not worst regard.
Of his defensiue force that fought for Christ,
It is no common matter if we spend
Both life and goods in quarrell of the hiest:
The least desert dooth merit his reward,
And best employde should haue not worst regard.
No vaine presumption followes my deuise,
For of my actions t'is in vaine to boast,
Yet with the Pagans I encountred twise,
To winne againe faire Sion that was lost:
Vnto which warre I was not forst to go,
T'was honours fire that did incense me so.
For of my actions t'is in vaine to boast,
Yet with the Pagans I encountred twise,
To winne againe faire Sion that was lost:
Vnto which warre I was not forst to go,
T'was honours fire that did incense me so.
For when the Iewes opprest with heathens pride,
Of Christian princes craude some friendly ayd,
In euery Countrey they were flat denide
Saue that in England here their sute preuailde:
Such was the farie of intestine strife,
All Europe sought to spoyle each others life.
Of Christian princes craude some friendly ayd,
In euery Countrey they were flat denide
Saue that in England here their sute preuailde:
Such was the farie of intestine strife,
All Europe sought to spoyle each others life.
And as in London there was order tane
To make prouision for the holy land,
My youthfull mind that fearde no forraine bane,
Was so admirde by might of conquering hand:
As for a single combate they did see,
Th'ambassadours made speciall choyse of mee.
To make prouision for the holy land,
My youthfull mind that fearde no forraine bane,
Was so admirde by might of conquering hand:
As for a single combate they did see,
Th'ambassadours made speciall choyse of mee.
Then for the Tankerd I did vse to beare
And other things belonging to mine art,
Mine hand did weeld Bellonas warlike speare,
For I was armde in steele to play my part:
A long we went to beard our daring foes,
That soone were queld with terrour of our blowes.
And other things belonging to mine art,
Mine hand did weeld Bellonas warlike speare,
For I was armde in steele to play my part:
A long we went to beard our daring foes,
That soone were queld with terrour of our blowes.
I neuer left the field, nor slept secure,
Vntill I sawe Hierusalem regainde,
To watch and labour I did still endure,
What ist that diligence hath not obtainde?
Yet grudging enuie valour to deface
By treasons malice brought me indisgrace.
Vntill I sawe Hierusalem regainde,
To watch and labour I did still endure,
What ist that diligence hath not obtainde?
Yet grudging enuie valour to deface
By treasons malice brought me indisgrace.
The good that I had done was cleane forgot,
Ingratitude preuailde agaynst my life,
And nothing then but exile was my lot,
Or else abide the stroke of fatall knife:
For so the ruler of the Iewes concluded,
His Grace by false reports was much deluded.
Ingratitude preuailde agaynst my life,
And nothing then but exile was my lot,
Or else abide the stroke of fatall knife:
For so the ruler of the Iewes concluded,
His Grace by false reports was much deluded.
There was no striuing in a forraine soyle,
I tooke it patient though t'were causelesse done,
And to auoyde the staine of such a foyle,
That slaunderous tongues had wickedly begunne,
Where to the holy well of Iacobs name,
I found a caue to shroude me from their blame.
I tooke it patient though t'were causelesse done,
That slaunderous tongues had wickedly begunne,
Where to the holy well of Iacobs name,
I found a caue to shroude me from their blame.
And though my bodie were within their power,
Yet was my minde vntouched of their hate.
The valiant faint not, though that fortune lower,
Nor are they fearefull at controlling fate:
For in that water none could quench their thirst,
Except he ment to combate with me first.
Yet was my minde vntouched of their hate.
The valiant faint not, though that fortune lower,
Nor are they fearefull at controlling fate:
For in that water none could quench their thirst,
Except he ment to combate with me first.
By that occasion for my pleasures sake,
I gaue both Knights and Princes heauie strokes,
The proudest did presume a draught to take
Was sure to haue his passeport seald with knocks:
Thus liu'd I till my innocence was knowne,
And then returnde, the king was pensiue growne.
I gaue both Knights and Princes heauie strokes,
The proudest did presume a draught to take
Was sure to haue his passeport seald with knocks:
Thus liu'd I till my innocence was knowne,
And then returnde, the king was pensiue growne.
And for the wrong which he had offerd me,
He vowde me greater friendship than before,
My false accusers lost their libertie,
And next their liues, I could not chalenge more:
And thus with loue, with honour, and with fame,
I did returne to London whence I came.
He vowde me greater friendship than before,
My false accusers lost their libertie,
And next their liues, I could not chalenge more:
And thus with loue, with honour, and with fame,
I did returne to London whence I came.
| The nine Worthies of London | |