Nine Worthies

So very famously in thirteen twelve, there was this French poet called Jacques de Longuyon, and he drew up a list of the nine exemplars of chivalry, and he chose three pagans to illustrate, you know, the nobility of the classical world.

Three Jews, so th-these are biblical heroes, and three Christians, and together these constitute the nine worthies.

And Arthur is the single British entry, and he is named as the first of the three Christian men, so he is the greatest of the Christian worthies.

As you say, it's a measure not just of his fame, but of his kind of moral stature.

do assure sir the king is a noble gentleman and my familiar i do assure ye very good friend for what is inward between us let it pass i do beseech thee remember thy courtesy i beseech thee apparel thy head and among other important and most serious designs and of great import indeed too but let that pass for i must tell thee it will please his grace by the world some time to lean upon my poor shoulder and with his royal finger thus dally with my excrement with my mustachio but sweetheart let that pass by the world i recount no fable some certain special honours it pleaseth his greatness to impart to armado a soldier a man of travel that hath seen the world but let that pass the very all of all is but sweetheart i do implore secrecy that the king would have me present the princess sweet chuck with some delightful ostentation or show or pageant or antique or firework now understanding that the curate and your sweet self are good at such eruptions and sudden breaking out of mirth as it were i have acquainted you withal to the end to crave your assistance sir you

shall present before her the nine worthies sir as concerning some entertainment of time some show in the posterior of this day to be rendered by our assistants at the king's command and this most gallant illustrate and learned gentleman before the princess i say none so fit as to present the nine worthies

where will you find men worthy

enough to present them joshua yourself myself and this gallant gentleman judas machabeus this swain because of his great limb or joint shall pass pompey the great the page

Now, understanding that the curate and your sweet self are good at such eruptions and sudden breaking out of mirth, as it were, I have acquainted you withal to the end to crave your assistance.

Sir, you shall present before her the nine worthies.

Sir, as concerning some entertainment of time, some show in the posterior of this day, to be rendered by our assistance at the king's command, and this most gallant, illustrate, and learned gentleman before the princess.

I say none so fit as to present the nine worthies.

Where will you find men worthy enough to present them?

Joshua, yourself.