John Bonham (mercer) explained

Sir John Bonham (fl. 13th/14th century) was a mercer of the City of London, revered as one of the Nine Worthies of London by Richard Johnson in his 1592 biography of eminent citizens.^{[1] [2]}

According to Johnson's account, Bonham was an apprentice mercer of London, of Devonshire parents. He was entrusted with a valuable cargo bound for Denmark and found favour at the Danish court (then ruled by the House of Oldenburg). While there he was made commander of an army raised to stop the progress of "the great Solyman" during the reign of Edward I of England. He made peace with the Turkish leader, who knighted him and gave him chains of gold.^[3] It is not clear which war he took part in, or even if Bonham was a real historical person.^{[4] [5]} He has been linked with a Sir John Bonham of Wishford (fl 1336–37).^[6]

Notes and References

1. Book: The London Encyclopaedia. Christopher. Hibbert. Ben. Weinreb. John. Keay. Julia. Keay. September 9, 2011. Pan Macmillan. 9780230738782. Google Books. 3rd.
2. Web site: The Book of Days: A Miscellany of Popular Antiquities in Connection with the Calendar, Including Anecdote, Biography, & History, Curiosities of Literature, & Oddities of Human Life and Character. Robert. Chambers. October 9, 1883. W. & R. Chambers. Google Books.
3. Book: Brewer, Ebenezer Cobham. Character Sketches of Romance, Fiction and the Drama. March 9, 2004. The Minerva Group, Inc.. 9781410213365. Google Books.
4. "Hys worthy deedes might be eternized in the Bookes of memorie": Syncretic Memory in Richard Johnson's Chivalric Romances and Shakespeare's 2 Henry VI. Christophe. Hausermann. April 1, 2013. Actes des congrès de la Société française Shakespeare. 30. 73–86. journals.openedition.org. 10.4000/shakespeare.1923. free.
5. Web site: Brewer, E. Cobham. Dictionary of Phrase & Fable. Worthies (The Nine).. www.bartleby.com.
6. Web site: Bonhams of Wiltshire and Essex.. George Jardine. Kidston. October 9, 1949. Devizes [Eng.] C.H. Woodward [1949]. Internet Archive.