Page:Comical history of the king & the cobler.pdf/19



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When on a sudden several of the nobles came into the cellar, extraordi- nary rich in apparel, and all stood un- covered before Harry Tudor, which put the cobler into great amazement at                     first, but presently recovering himself, he looked more wishfully upon Harry Tudor, and soon knowing him to be                     the king, whom he saw in the presence chamber, though in another habit, he                     immediately fell upon his knees, saying,

May it please your Grace, may it                     please your Highness, I am a poor ho- nest cobler, and mean no harm.

No, no, said the king, nor shall re- ceive any here, I assure you.

He commanded him therefore to rise, and be as merry as he was before; and though he knew him to be the king, yet he should use the same freedom with him as he did before, when he                     mended the heel of his shoe.