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 William Wallworth Fishmonger, sometime Maior of London.
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 | The nine Worthies of London |  |
Sir William Wallworth Fishmonger, sometime Maior of London.
What
I shall speake, suppose it is not vaine,
Nor thinke Ambition tunes my sounding voyce;
It bootes not clay to stand on glorious gayne,
An other place bereaues vs of that choyce:
For when the Pompe of earthlie pleasures gone,
Our goasts lie buried vnderneath a stone.
Nor thinke Ambition tunes my sounding voyce;
It bootes not clay to stand on glorious gayne,
An other place bereaues vs of that choyce:
For when the Pompe of earthlie pleasures gone,
Our goasts lie buried vnderneath a stone.
Nor when I liu'd carpt I at Phœbus light
My deeds did passe without comparing pride,
Who shone the least (mee thought apear'd more bright)
I wisht it secret what the world discride,
Nor would now shewe (fayre Goddesse but for thee,)
The charge beseemes an other and not mee.
My deeds did passe without comparing pride,
Who shone the least (mee thought apear'd more bright)
I wisht it secret what the world discride,
Nor would now shewe (fayre Goddesse but for thee,)
The charge beseemes an other and not mee.
To ouerpasse then how I was instaul'd
To weare the purple robe of Maiestrate,
It shall suffice I su'de not, but was calde,
Of Fortunes gifts let baser minds relate:
In such a time it was my chaunce to sway,
When riches quaild, and Vertue wonne the day.
To weare the purple robe of Maiestrate,
It shall suffice I su'de not, but was calde,
Of Fortunes gifts let baser minds relate:
When riches quaild, and Vertue wonne the day.
In Richards Raygne the second of that name
Of Londons weale Liefetenant to his Grace,
Wallworth was chose vnworthie of the same
Within his hand to beare the Cities mace:
To Fishmongers the honour did redownd,
Whose brotherhood was my preferments grownd.
Of Londons weale Liefetenant to his Grace,
Wallworth was chose vnworthie of the same
Within his hand to beare the Cities mace:
To Fishmongers the honour did redownd,
Whose brotherhood was my preferments grownd.
These were not dayes of peace but broyling warre,
Dissention spred hir venom through the land,
And stird the Prince and subiect to a iarre
Hated loue, Rigor dutie did withstand:
In such a tempest of vnbridled force,
As manie lost their liues without remorse.
Dissention spred hir venom through the land,
And stird the Prince and subiect to a iarre
Hated loue, Rigor dutie did withstand:
In such a tempest of vnbridled force,
As manie lost their liues without remorse.
For by a taxe the King requirde to haue,
The men of Kent and Essex did rebell,
Their first Decree concluded none to saue
But hauocke all, a heauie tale to tell:
And so when they were gatherde to a head,
Towards London were these gracelesse Rebels ledd.
The men of Kent and Essex did rebell,
Their first Decree concluded none to saue
But hauocke all, a heauie tale to tell:
And so when they were gatherde to a head,
Towards London were these gracelesse Rebels ledd.
What spoyle they made in Countries as they came,
How they did rob and tyrranize in pride,
The widowes cries were patterns of their shame,
And sanguin streames of infants blood beside:
For like the sea when it hath caught a breach,
So rusht these Traytors, past compassions reach.
How they did rob and tyrranize in pride,
The widowes cries were patterns of their shame,
And sanguin streames of infants blood beside:
For like the sea when it hath caught a breach,
So rusht these Traytors, past compassions reach.
So desperate was their rage as they preuailde,
And entered the Citie by the sword,
The towre wals were mightely assayld,
And prisoner there made headlesse at a word:
Earles manner houses were by them destroyd,
The Sauoy and S. Iones, by Smithfield spoyld.
And entered the Citie by the sword,
The towre wals were mightely assayld,
And prisoner there made headlesse at a word:
Earles manner houses were by them destroyd,
The Sauoy and S. Iones, by Smithfield spoyld.
All men of law that fell into their hands
They left them breathlesse weltering in their blood,
Ancient records were turn'd to firebrands,
Anie had fauour sooner then the good:
So stout these cutthrotes were in their degree,
That Noblemen must serue them on their knee.
They left them breathlesse weltering in their blood,
Ancient records were turn'd to firebrands,
Anie had fauour sooner then the good:
So stout these cutthrotes were in their degree,
That Noblemen must serue them on their knee.
In burning and in slaughter long they toyld,
That made the King and all his traine agast,
Such rancour had their stomackes ouerboyld
They hopte to get the Soueraignitie at last:
In deede his Maiestie was young in yeares,
Which brought distresse to him and to his Peeres.
That made the King and all his traine agast,
Such rancour had their stomackes ouerboyld
They hopte to get the Soueraignitie at last:
In deede his Maiestie was young in yeares,
Which brought distresse to him and to his Peeres.
Yet with a loyall guard of bils and Bowes
Collected of our tallest men of trade,
I did protect his person from his foes,
Where there presumption trembled to inuade:
It yerkt my soule to see my Prince abusde,
In whose defence no danger I refusde.
Collected of our tallest men of trade,
I did protect his person from his foes,
Where there presumption trembled to inuade:
It yerkt my soule to see my Prince abusde,
In whose defence no danger I refusde.
In these extreames it was no boote to fight,
The Rebbels marched with so huge an host,
The King crau'd Parley by a noble Knight
Of sterne Wat Tiler ruler of the rost:
A countrie Boore, a goodlie proper swayne,
To put his Countrie to such wretched payne.
The Rebbels marched with so huge an host,
The King crau'd Parley by a noble Knight
Of sterne Wat Tiler ruler of the rost:
A countrie Boore, a goodlie proper swayne,
To put his Countrie to such wretched payne.
This Rustick scoft at first the Kings request
Yet at the last he seem'd to giue consent,
Aleaging he would come when he thought best:
T'is well (quoth he) is all their courage spent:
Ile make them on their bended knees intreat,
Or cast their bodies in a bloodie sweat.
Yet at the last he seem'd to giue consent,
Aleaging he would come when he thought best:
T'is well (quoth he) is all their courage spent:
Ile make them on their bended knees intreat,
Or cast their bodies in a bloodie sweat.
Begirt with steele, our gownes were laid apart,
Age hindred not, though feeble were my ioynts.
T'would make a fearefull coward take a heart
When Prince opprest a Countries cause appoynts:
Who would refuse, and death or grieuous paine
To follow him that is his Soueraygne?
Age hindred not, though feeble were my ioynts.
When Prince opprest a Countries cause appoynts:
Who would refuse, and death or grieuous paine
To follow him that is his Soueraygne?
The place appoynted where to meete these mates
(That like audatious pessants did prepare,
As if their calling did concerne high states,
With brasen lookes deuoyd of awfull care)
Was Smithfeeld, where his Maiesty did stay,
An howre ere these Rebels found the way.
(That like audatious pessants did prepare,
As if their calling did concerne high states,
With brasen lookes deuoyd of awfull care)
Was Smithfeeld, where his Maiesty did stay,
An howre ere these Rebels found the way.
At last the leaders of that brutish rowt
Iacke Straw, Wat Tiler, and a number more,
Aproacht the place with such a yelling showt,
As seldome had the like been heard before:
The King spake faire, and bad them lay downe armes,
And he would pardon all their former harmes.
Iacke Straw, Wat Tiler, and a number more,
Aproacht the place with such a yelling showt,
As seldome had the like been heard before:
The King spake faire, and bad them lay downe armes,
And he would pardon all their former harmes.
But as fierce Lions are not tam'd with words,
Nor sauage Monsters conquered but by force,
So gentlenesse vnshethes a Traitors sword,
And fayre perswasions makes the wicked worse:
His clemencie prouoakt, and not dismaide,
Because of them, they thought the King affraide.
Nor sauage Monsters conquered but by force,
So gentlenesse vnshethes a Traitors sword,
And fayre perswasions makes the wicked worse:
His clemencie prouoakt, and not dismaide,
Because of them, they thought the King affraide.
And as a witnesse of their inward vice
Their tongues beganne to taunt in sawsie sort,
Obedience blusht, and Honour lost her price,
A modest shame forbids the fowle report:
How Presumption made these Caitifes swell,
As if the Diuels did bellowfoorth of Hell.
Their tongues beganne to taunt in sawsie sort,
Obedience blusht, and Honour lost her price,
A modest shame forbids the fowle report:
How Presumption made these Caitifes swell,
As if the Diuels did bellowfoorth of Hell.
Their loathsome talke inkindle angers fire
And fretting passions made my sinewes shake,
T'was death to me to see the Base aspire:
Such woundes would men in deadlie slumber wake.
Yet I refrainde, my betters were in place,
It were no maners Nobles to disgrace.
And fretting passions made my sinewes shake,
T'was death to me to see the Base aspire:
Such woundes would men in deadlie slumber wake.
It were no maners Nobles to disgrace.
But when I saw the Rebels pride encrease,
And none controll and counterchecke thier rage,
T'were seruice good (thought I) to purchase peace,
And malice of contentious brags asswage:
With this conceyt all feare had taken flight,
And I alone prest to the traitors sight.
And none controll and counterchecke thier rage,
T'were seruice good (thought I) to purchase peace,
And malice of contentious brags asswage:
With this conceyt all feare had taken flight,
And I alone prest to the traitors sight.
Their multitude could not amaze my minde,
Their bloudie weapons did not make me shrinke,
True valour hath his constancie assignde,
The Eagle at the Sunne will neuer winke:
Amongst their troupes incenst with mortall hate,
I did arest Wat Tiler on the pate.
Their bloudie weapons did not make me shrinke,
True valour hath his constancie assignde,
The Eagle at the Sunne will neuer winke:
Amongst their troupes incenst with mortall hate,
I did arest Wat Tiler on the pate.
The stroke was giuen with so good a will,
It made the Rebell coutch vnto the earth,
His fellowes that beheld (t'is strange) were still
It mard the manor of their former mirth:
I left him not, but ere I did depart,
I stabd my dagger to his damned heart.
It made the Rebell coutch vnto the earth,
His fellowes that beheld (t'is strange) were still
It mard the manor of their former mirth:
I left him not, but ere I did depart,
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.
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.
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,
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.
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.
| The nine Worthies of London | |