''Nine Worthies of London'' is a book by Richard Johnson (16th century), Richard Johnson, the English romance writer, written in 1592. Borrowing the theme from the Nine Worthies, Nine Worthies of Antiquity, the book, subtitled ''Explaining the Honourable Excise of Armes, the Vertues of the Valiant, and the Memorable Attempts of Magnanimous Minds; Pleasaunt for Gentlemen, not unseemly for Magistrates, and most profitable for Prentises'', celebrated the rise of nine famous Londoners through society from the ranks of apprentices or ordinary citizens.
The nine were:
*Sir William Walworth, who killed Wat Tyler, the leader of the Peasants' Revolt of 1381. Sir William was originally a fishmonger, and later twice became Lord Mayor of London (in 1374 and 1380).
*Sir Henry Picard (Lord Mayor of London), Henry Pritchard, a vintner, who in 1356 provided a feast for Edward III of England, Edward III and 5,000 men returning from France, including Edward the Black Prince; John, King of Austria; the Hugh IV of Cyprus, King of Cyprus; and David II of Scotland, David, King of Scotland.
*Sir William Sevenoke, who fought against the Dauphin of France, Dauphin in France, and later, having made money as a grocer, became a philanthropist and built twenty almshouses and a school. He was Lord Mayor of London in 1418 and in 1420 became a Member of Parliament.
*Sir Thomas White (merchant), Thomas White, who, in 1554, helped keep the citizens loyal to Mary I of England, Mary Tudor during Wyatt's rebellion. A merchant tailor and son of a poor clothier, he founded St John's College, Oxford. He became both Sheriff of London, Sheriff and later Lord Mayor of London.
*Sir John Bonham (mercer), John Bonham, a Mercery, mercer, who was entrusted with a valuable cargo bound for Denmark and found favour at the Danish court. While there he was made commander of the army raised to stop the progress of the "great Suleiman the Magnificent, Solyman". He made peace with the Turkish leader and returned to England a rich man.
*Christopher Croker, originally a vintner, who with the Black Prince assisted Pedro of Castile in maintaining his claim to the throne of Kingdom of Castile, Castile.
*Sir John Hawkwood, who served under Edward III of England, Edward III in France and later became a mercenary commander in Italy, where he was known as Giovanni Acuto. He was the son of an Essex tanner or a London tailor.
*Sir Hugh Calverley (hunter), Hugh Calverley, a silk weaver, who was a renowned hunter and famed for killing a huge boar (or bear) for the Poland, Poles.
*Sir Henry Maleverer, generally called Henry of Cornhill, a grocer who lived in the reign of Henry IV of England, Henry IV. He was a knight in the Crusades, and highly regarded by the King of Jerusalem. He eventually fell out of favour and became the guardian of Jacob's Well in the Holy Land.
The term "Nine Worthies" was later used to refer to nine of the privy councillors of William III of England, William III: the British Whig Party, Whigs William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Devonshire, Devonshire, Charles Sackville, 6th Earl of Dorset, Dorset, Charles Mordaunt, 3rd Earl of Peterborough, Monmouth, and Edward Russell, 1st Earl of Orford, Edward Russell; and the Tory, Tories Peregrine Osborne, 2nd Duke of Leeds, Caermarthen, Thomas Herbert, 8th Earl of Pembroke, Pembroke, Daniel Finch, 2nd Earl of Nottingham, Nottingham, John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, Marlborough, and John Lowther, 1st Viscount Lonsdale, Lowther.
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External links
Full textat mapoflondo.uvic.ca
{{Authority control
1592 books
British books
Social history of London