Wave after wave, each mightier than the last;
Till last, a ninth one, gathering half the deep
And full of voices, slowly rose and plunged,
Roaring, and all the wave was in a flame.
Tennyson, The Holy Grail (1858-59).
A wonder is said to last three times three days. The scourge used for criminals is a “cat o’ nine tails.” Possession is nine points of the law, being equal to (1) money to make good a claim, (2) patience to carry a suit through, (3) a good cause, (4) a good lawyer, (5) a good counsel, (6) good witnesses, (7) a good jury, (8) a good judge, (9) good luck. Leases used to be granted for 999 years. Ordeals by fire consisted of three times three red-hot ploughshares.
There are three times three crowns recognized in heraldry, and three times three marks of cadency.
We show honor by a three times three in drinking a health.
The worthies are three Jews, three pagans, and three Christians: viz., Joshua, David, and Judas Maccabæus; Hector, Alexander, and Julius Cæsar; Arthur, Charlemagne, and Godfrey of Bouillon. The worthies of London are three times three also: (1) Sir William Walworth, (2) Sir Henry Pritchard, (3) Sir William Sevenoke, (4) Sir Thomas White, (5) Sir John Bonham, (6) Christopher Croker, (7) Sir John Hawkwood, (8) Sir Hugh Caverley, (9) Sir Henry Maleverer (Richard Johnson, The Nine Worthies of London).
⁂ Those who take any interest in this subject can easily multiply the examples here set down to a much greater number. (See below, the Welsh Triads.)