“The Worthies nine that were of might, By travaile wonne immortal praise; If they had lived like carpet knights, Consuming idly all their dayes, Their praises had been with them dead, Where now abroad their fame is spread.”
The work is reprinted in the _Harleian Miscellany_, vol. viii., from which I take the following extracts: first, William Walworth (p. 443):—
“But when I saw the rebells’ pride encrease, And none controll and counterchecke their rage; ’Twere service good (thought I) to purchase peace, And malice of contentious brags asswage; With this conceyt, all fear had taken flight. And I alone prest to the traitor’s sight.
Their multitude could not amaze my minde, Their bloudie weapons did not make me shrink; True valour hath his constancie assignde, The eagle at the sunne will never winke; Amongst their troupes, incenst with mortall hate, I did arest Wat Tiler on the pate.
The stroke was given with so good a will, I made the rebell coutch unto the earth; His fellows that beheld (’tis strange) were still; It mar’d the manner of their former mirth; I left him not, but, ere I did depart, I stab’d my dagger to his damned heart.”
Second, Henry Picard, or Pilchard, who entertained the four kings of England, Scotland, France, and Cyprus, with the Black Prince (p. 445):—
“When Edward triumpht for his victories, And held three crownes within his conquering hand, He brought rich trophies from his enemies, That were erected in this happie land; We all rejoyc’d and gave our God the praise, That was the authour of those fortunate dayes.
And as from Dover, with the prince his sonne, The king of Cypres, France, and Scots, did passe, All captive prisoners to this mightie one, Five thousand men and I the leader was; All well prepared as to defend a fort; Went forth to welcome him in martiall sort.
The riches of our armour, and the cost, Each one bestows 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 seem’d a gracious thing.
But when the citie pearde within our sights, I carv’d a boune submisse upon my knee; To have his grace, those kings, with earles and knights, A day or two to banquet it with me; The king admirde, yet thankfully replide, ‘Unto my house both I and these will ride.’”