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:—