Page:Comical history of the king & the cobler.pdf/9



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on a sudden, the cobler's wife Joan be- gan to awake. I'faith, says the cobler, you must be gone, my wife Joan begins to grumble, she'll awake presently, and I would not for half the shoes in my                   shop she should find you here.

Then taking the king by the hand, he led him up the stairs, saying, Fare- well honest friend, it shan't be long before I make a holyday to come and see thee at court.

Thou shalt be kindly welcome, re- plied the king.

So they parted the king on his way to Whitehall, and the cobler to his cellar, and there putting all things to                   rights before, his wife Joan got up, he went to work again, whistling and singing as merry as he used to be, being much satisfied that he happened on so                   good and jovial a companion, still pleas- ing himself in his thoughts how merry he should be when he came to court.