Fourth, Thomas White, who founded schools and almshouses (p. 449):— “I cannot sing of armes and blood-red warres, Nor was my collur mixt with Mars his hew; I honour those that ended countrey jarres, For herein subjects shew that they are trew; But privately at home I shewde my selfe, To be no lover of vaine worldly pelfe. My deedes have tongues to speak, though I surcease, My orators the learned strive to bee, Because I twined paulmes in time of peace, And gave such gifts, that made faire learning free; My care did build them bowers of sweet content, Where many wise their golden time have spent. A noyse of gratefull thankes within mine eares, Descending from their studies, glads my heart, That I began to wish with private teares, There lived more that were of White’s desert; But now I looke, and spie that time is balde, And Vertue comes not, being seldome calde.” Fifth, John Bonham, citizen and mercer, who went to Denmark with his merchandise, there was received at Court and distinguished himself at a tournament—the only occasion on record of a merchant fighting in a tournament—and finally led an army to victory over the Great Solyman, who made him a knight after the defeat of the Turk:— “Then, at a parley he admirde me so; He made me knight and let his armie go.” Sixth, Christopher Croker. Alas! the world has forgotten Christopher. He was a vintner’s ’prentice. He was loved by Doll Stodie, his master’s daughter; and he burned to give her a better position; he joined the army of the Black Prince in France; distinguished himself there; went with him to Spain, and returned a knight:— “And when Don Peter, driven out of Spaine, By an usurping bastard of his line, He craved some helpe his crowne to re-obtaine, That in his former glorie he might shine; Our king ten thousand sever’d from his host; My selfe was one, I speake it not in boast. With these Don Peter put the bastard downe, Each citie yielded at our first approch; It was not long ere he had got the crowne; And taught his wicked brother to encroch; In these affaires so well I shewed my might, That for my labour I was made a knight. Thus labour never looseth his reward; And he that seeks for honour sure shall speed; What craven mind was ever in regard? Or where consisteth manhood but in deed? I speake it, that confirm’d it by my life, And in the end, Doll Stodie was my wife.” Seventh, John Hawkwood, the Prince of Mercenaries. He, too, belonged to the Black Prince and was knighted by him. Eighth, Hugh Caverley, silk weaver, who also became a knight in France and signalised himself afterwards by slaying a monstrous wild boar which devastated Poland. Ninth, and last, Henry Maleverer, grocer, Knight Crusader and Custodian of Jacob’s Well:—