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 Thomas White.
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 | The nine Worthies of London |  |
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.
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-red warres,
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 likt 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.
And White it was, and therefore best she likt it,
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.
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